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__label__wiki	0.503531	0.503531	Jefferson man tails theft suspects until their capture A Jefferson man shadowed two theft suspects as they fled from his home with a utility trailer, and kept law enforcement abreast of their whereabouts over his cellphone, Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum said Monday. The theft of the trailer occurred about 11:10 p.m. Friday on Ethridge Road. After a woman heard a noise outside, her husband went to investigate and discovered the trailer was gone, Mangum said. The woman called 911 and told the dispatcher she was in contact with her husband, who was following the suspects. At the time of the call, the suspects, in a silver Chevrolet Silverado, had reached Georgia Highway 211 in neighboring Barrow County, according to a Jackson County Sheriff's Office report. The dispatcher told the woman to tell her husband to hang up and call 911, but he refused and kept giving updates on their whereabouts. He eventually did hang up and called 911 to report the suspects were coming back into Jackson County on Ga. 11, and had turned onto Ebenezer Church Road. A sheriff's deputy caught up to the vehicles and stopped the pickup truck. Jeffrey Shane Reed, 41, of Winder, and Amy Lea Blakely, 45, of Atlanta, were arrested and charged with theft by taking and receiving stolen property. Reed also was served with a child support warrant. During a search of the pickup, deputies found a purse that was stolen earlier that day from a car in the Jefferson area, the sheriff said. Reed and Blakely remained in jail Monday without bond.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2274
__label__wiki	0.866865	0.866865	Sports Gambling Focus: Cricket Online cricket betting is big money and here's why! Topics Addressed Leading Sportsbooks Cricket Betting Online Cricket Betting Online and Offline *Previously Required Knowledge An account at an online sportsbook and some understanding of cricket. Online betting enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to with cricket betting. Two of the world's premier sportsbooks, William Hill Sports and bet365 provide fans of cricket with a wide range of bets, stats, news, reviews and highlights of present and upcoming cricket contests. Cricket aficionados can be found throughout the world in countries including: South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, England, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya. The game is played with passion and revered by fans as a compelling game of strategy and attrition between teams. There are multiple cricket betting options available to punters at bet365 Sports and William Hill Sports. These include the likes of straight up bets on winning team selections and draw options too. The range of markets available to punters includes the likes of Team Totals Markets, Player Markets, Wicket Markets and Other Markets. In total there are myriad betting selections available to cricket aficionados and these cover everything from who wins the toss, first innings totals, half-centuries scored, centuries scored, top ODI bowler, top Test bower, highest first innings opening partnerships, markers for scoring winning totals, next batsman to go out, 5 wicket halls and many other betting selections. William Hill Sports and bet365 provide players with competitive odds and a wealth of betting options. About Cricket Betting Online and Offline Indeed there has been tremendous scandal in recent times with regards to cricket betting online and offline. The Hansie Cronje saga (erstwhile captain of the Proteas) rocked the cricketing world and indeed resulted in a massive ICC investigation into allegations of match-fixing and spread betting. Cricket recovered somewhat from the scandals involving former players and attempted to clean up its act. Recently, the Pakistani cricket board announced a purging of its former players following corruption charges against two star players. India and Australia alike have dealt with issues of corruption and by and large the stage has been set for a re-launch of cricket with online betting. Cricket ranks among the favourite of betting sports online as it encompasses so many possibilities that punters find it difficult not to place bets on cricket matches. There are multiple formats of cricket to bet on. These include One Day International (ODI) cricket comprising 50 over games, T20 Matches comprising 20 over games and of course Test Match Cricket comprising 2 innings per team. The latter category is the variant of cricket most loved by purists of the game. Punters are fixated by the ongoing battle between bat and ball in the Test Arena. Cricket fans literally have 3 versions of the same game to enjoy. For the avid fan or sports bettor looking for a fast and furious game with quick results and betting selections, then T20s and ODIs are the order of the day. For cricket historians, legends of the game and true enthusiasts, then nothing tops Test cricket and scores of betting selections available in this arena. In-Play and Live Betting Sport Bet Types: Football Sports Betting Essentials The Odds System Sport Bet Types: Basketball Sports Betting Basics for Rookies How to Find the Best Sports Odds and Free Bets Online Casino Gambling Guides Baccarat Guides Backgammon Guides Gambling Responsibly Guides	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2276
__label__cc	0.510593	0.489407	Home Open Access News Government News Budget to support new housing, high streets and local services Budget to support new housing, high streets and local services ID 49020627 © Lucian Milasan \| Dreamstime.com Budget will boost efforts to build homes, restore the dream of home ownership, help our high streets and support councils to deliver local services, says Communities Secretary Building on the current comprehensive package of reform and targeted investment to deliver the homes the country needs, the measures outlined in the Budget include: continuing to help people onto the housing ladder by announcing a new Help to Buy scheme from April 2021 and exploring proposals to deliver a new wave of shared ownership homes supporting councils and housing associations by removing borrowing restrictions to enable them to deliver a new generation of council housing and affordable homes further planning reforms to make the most of available space for homes and ensuring developers pay their fair share to support new and existing communities Recognising the pressures faced by councils, almost £1 billion of extra funding will be provided to help deliver the services communities need and support the most vulnerable residents: a £650 million boost for adults and children’s social care, including £240 million to support vulnerable people over winter months and help manage the impact on the NHS This is alongside a package to support high-streets meet the new challenges brought about by changing shopping habits, providing short-term relief for struggling retailers and a long-term vision for town centres. Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said: “This Budget provides positive news for those struggling to get on the housing ladder with certainty given on the future of Help to Buy and freeing up councils to deliver a new generation of council housing. “It also supports communities across the country by helping councils deliver services for their most vulnerable residents while also helping our high streets to flourish.” Building the homes communities need The Housing Revenue Account borrowing cap has been the biggest barrier to councils building homes and the Chancellor has no confirmed that this has been removed- freeing up councils to deliver a new generation of council housing – up to an estimated 10,000 homes a year. In a move to help more first-time buyers get a foot on the housing ladder, a new Help to Buy scheme has been announced from April 2021 – restricted to first-time buyers and including regional property price caps to ensure it is more targeted on people who need it most. And with most first-time buyers now exempt from paying Stamp Duty following last year’s Budget – benefitting over 120,000 buyers so far – this year’s Budget went a step further by extending this relief to all first-time buyers of shared ownership properties worth up to £500,000 – and making this retrospective, so any first-time buyer who has made such a purchase since the last Budget will benefit. To make sure that the infrastructure is in place to support new and existing communities ahead of development of new homes, the Housing Infrastructure Fund has been boosted by £500 million – bringing the total to £5.5 billion with the potential to unlock up to 650,000 homes. Grant funding of £291 million for vital infrastructure on the Docklands Light Railway in East London has been announced, meaning less pressure on existing services in the area and the potential to unlock over 18,000 homes. The next wave of deals with 9 housing associations were announced, allocating £653 million from the Affordable Homes Programme to deliver over 13,000 additional affordable housing starts by March 2022 and £1 billion of new guarantees to support small and medium sized builders, implemented by the British Business Bank. A consultation on a package of planning reform to allow greater flexibility to extend existing buildings upwards and allow a change of use has been launched – to ensure that the planning system is speeding up the delivery of homes and supporting the regeneration of high streets. Support was confirmed for up to 500 neighbourhoods to develop plans to allocate or permission land for homes sold at a discount. Almost £1 billion extra support for local services This Budget has provided a boost of £650 million to help councils support the most vulnerable people in their communities. Of this £240 million will be focused on winter pressures next year with flexibility to use the remainder where it is needed most – for adult or children’s services. This is on top of the £240 million announced last month to address winter social care pressures this year. An additional £84 million over 5 years will also be made available as a targeted children’s social care fund over the next 5 years, along with an additional £55 million Disabled Facilities Grant in this financial year. This will mean councils will be able to deliver the services their residents need while also protecting them from excessive Council Tax bills. Help for the high street A £1.5 billion plan that includes a cut to the business rates bills for small retailers worth almost £900 million over 2 years, funding to transform town centres and a relaxation of planning rules has been announced as part of the Budget to support the country’s high streets. the launch of a £675 million Future High Streets Fund to transform local high streets so that they can remain firmly at the heart of communities; this will be used to improve infrastructure and transport and also support areas to redevelop under-used retail space into homes and offices, helping to restore high street properties and put historic buildings back into use business rates relief targeted at small retailers to cut their bills by a third and a new mandatory relief for public lavatories, building on over £10 billion of business rates support since 2016 relaxing planning rules to support new mixed-use businesses on the high street and the conversion of under-used retail units into offices and homes This is accompanied by additional support for local leadership to prepare and implement new strategies for their high street, including a new High Streets Taskforce to offer support and advice to help revitalise high streets. Must Read >> £420 million budget for potholes welcome but it is not enough Must Read >> Small businesses receive boost from Budget plans How social innovation can support citizen participation The evolution of local authorities: Transforming to become more customer-centric New report urges Government to improve its digital capabilities New boost for UK-India tech startup sectors Places with purpose: Reinvigorating Britain’s town and city centres How can we help solve the housing crisis? The importance of the modern workplace for employment The City of Varberg: Reinventing the community, building on creativity The decline of the traditional office: Are smarter ways of working... What will smart working look like 10 years from now? Swindon & Wiltshire: Inward investment overview The City of Varberg The consequences of urbanisation	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2277
__label__wiki	0.872537	0.872537	Packers CB Gunter benefiting from versatility Shifting to the slot, where he has been aligned with some consistency so far in camp, represented the biggest change in LaDarius Gunter’s game entering 2016. Packers CB Gunter benefiting from versatility Shifting to the slot, where he has been aligned with some consistency so far in camp, represented the biggest change in LaDarius Gunter’s game entering 2016. Check out this story on packersnews.com: http://pck.rs/2aL4aJN Michael Cohen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Published 2:20 p.m. CT Aug. 2, 2016 \| Updated 3:20 p.m. CT Aug. 2, 2016 Green Bay Packers rookie cornerback LaDarius Gunter is working in the slot and on the perimeter this season.(Photo: Evan Siegle/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis) GREEN BAY — After a week of training camp, the only consistency about the Green Bay Packers' cornerback combinations has been the pattern of inconsistency. Players have shuffled through positions like a game of musical chairs — outside to inside, inside to outside — as the coaches assess their versatility. “It’s training camp,” Packers cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt Jr. said Tuesday. “Trying to figure out who can play where.” And while it was not surprising to see Quinten Rollins and Damarious Randall split time between the perimeter and the slot, especially after Randall asked to move inside last year, it was with widened eyes that reporters noticed LaDarius Gunter there, too. At 6-1½ and 200 pounds, Gunter made the team last season as an undrafted free agent from Miami. He aggravated receivers with his long arms and forceful punch, the result of which was a penchant for aggressive man coverage. That he intercepted quarterback Aaron Rodgers on more than one occasion surely improved his chances. RELATED: Burnett continues with hybrid role RELATED: Quinten Rollins making strong case to start But Gunter spent his time as a perimeter corner last season, just as Randall and Sam Shields lined up almost exclusively outside. Any playing time he might have earned on the interior — perhaps behind the closed doors of practice — likely invoked but a fraction of his reps at most. Shifting to the slot, where he has been aligned with some consistency so far in camp, represented the biggest change in Gunter’s game entering 2016, according to Whitt. “I didn’t think he would play as well inside as he has,” Whitt said. “I’ve been really, really pleased with his understanding of the passing routes and working with the backers and safeties. I think he’s done an outstanding job of that.” And Gunter has flashed at times throughout camp. He keenly deflected a pass intended for wideout Geronimo Allison during the team’s second practice. He has earned significant time in the nickel package to allow either Randall or Rollins the chance to shift inside. He also was beaten badly by receiver Jared Abbrederis on a jab step that sent Gunter the wrong direction. Like Whitt said, it’s training camp. “The goal of camp is to try to see if guys can handle more than one position,” defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. “If they can, their stock obviously goes up. We talk about that with the defense all the time, that if a guy can play multiple positions, that’s good for them. That’s good for us because as we go through the course of the season from week to week, what you don’t want is to where you have to throw half your game plan out because you’ve got one injury. “So that’s all the possibilities that we try to work our way now as we put the defenses in and start to play the preseason games. You could see guys work two or three different positions so we can see how they handle it, can they still play with the same kind of speed? You don’t want to ask too much of them when you start to get into the real competition.” Whitt’s belief in Gunter, and by extension the organization’s belief, dates back to a strong point early last season prior to a game against the San Diego Chargers. Whitt recognized that Gunter, who until that week had played just five snaps from scrimmage, was potentially better suited to handle the Chargers’ receivers than some of his regular starters. “I was scared to do it,” Whitt said last season. “I knew he would probably match up well against those receivers, and I didn't do it. “So that's on me, because I have to do what I think is right. I didn't do it. I get paid pretty good money to make those decisions, but I didn't get it done. I kick myself for that.” With Casey Hayward gone through free agency and Demetri Goodson suspended for the first four games, the possibility of a roster spot and legitimate playing time both are attainable for Gunter. If the season began today, he likely would be the fourth cornerback behind Shields, Randall and Rollins, with the possibility of additional playing time based on matchups. In the words of Capers: Gunter’s stock is rising. “(Gunter) is a pro,” Whitt said. “He works at this. He’s probably as hard-working a guy as I have in the room. He’s doing well.” Rodgers cites key to comfort in LaFleur offense McCaffrey set to shoulder more of Newton's burden	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2281
__label__wiki	0.626223	0.626223	The new Portsmouth Yardstick explained Laura Hodgetts The RYA explain their new boat handicapping scheme for club racers RYA Portsmouth Yardstick yachts racing The Portsmouth Number (PN) list and new National Handicapping Scheme for Cruisers (NHC) will be published tomorrow. The RYA technical department say while some of the changes to be published will be as expected, others will leave some scratching their heads as to what the RYA are up to. So in order to put some of the changes into perspective, here’s how the numbers are born: The data was collected and collated by the RYA from its clubs and amalgamated into a document known as the ‘Digest’. The Digest contains the recommended performance numbers for all of the classes submitted by each club. When looking at how a club assess the relative performance of each of its classes, you need to take into account the vast variety of factors that will affect its perceived performances. Andy Wibroe, RYA technical co-ordinator, said: ‘The data that we get may not necessarily be the championship winning boat or reflect the absolute speed performance of the boat but will be an accumulated average. ‘If a boat is consistently used as a youth training boat within club sailing then it will never really be sailed to a high consistent level. ‘On the other hand a class which is more actively sailed in open meetings, where sailors get to test their skills more keenly the average club boat may be sailed to a higher level than average.’ This will result in certain classes having a higher than average performance factor and others a lower average, meaning that classes will continually over achieve against the RYA published number and others under. The method of collecting the data from the clubs has meant that the Portsmouth Number list published this year is closer to the National Average performance factor of each of the classes, but still needs to be tweaked by each club to allow for their own local adjustment factors. On its own, the PN list aims to give a starting point for club racing. One thing missing from this years’ number list will be the cruiser numbers. The RYA have not received enough data from clubs to be able to publish a PN list for this area of racing and instead have been working on replacement scheme built on slightly different foundations. The National Handicapping for Cruisers or NHC, has been built up and developed over the past three months with welcome assistance from a variety of partners. NHC moves away from the traditional process of collecting club data but instead works on a formula and measurement system to build up a base list. This base list will contain more than 1,200 different boat types. Bas Edmonds, RYA technical manager, said: ‘The idea behind NHC is not to create a measurement scheme where owners are measuring their own yachts to gain an advantage. ‘It is based around a performance handicapping element where small variations in the boats measurements are effectively smoothed out by looking at how the boat actually performs around the race track with its crew on board. ‘The difference of having a folding propeller in the past has been treated as a set percentage, however under NHC this is not assumed as a certain performance factor instead looking to see how the boat sails. ‘Performance handicapping is very successful in developing the sport of golf and we feel it has a strong position in helping the sport of sailing continually develop its sailors through their learning experiences in racing.’ An important part of NHC is the adjustment process and the RYA is grateful to be working with Sailwave and HAL who have developed their programs alongside the RYA and will be releasing new versions of their programs at the same time as the RYA release the base list. Bas adds: ‘With the increasingly strong data we are getting for the Dinghies from PY Online and the change of scheme for the cruisers, I am confident that the RYA is starting to offer some strong options for clubs in helping develop their racing for their members and to continue motivation within our sport.’ The PN list and the NHC base list will be published on the RYA website tomorrow. Follow this link for the PN list. Click here for the NHC list. Alternatively, join the RYA team at this weekend’s RYA Dinghy Show in London where Andy will be happy to discuss your clubs needs further.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2282
__label__cc	0.595962	0.404038	Top 10 Sites for Finding After-Christmas Deals You survived the holidays, so now it's time to treat yourself to some post-holiday sales, and we're here to help you easily find the best deals. By Hilary Scott December 26, 2010 9:00AM EST VIEW ALL PHOTOS IN GALLERY You survived the madness of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, that last-minute shopping rush before the holidays, and the holidays themselves, so give yourself a pat on the back. Better yet, do some me shopping. You deserve it. And there's no better time to snag a good deal than Boxing Day (if you're from Canada, Greenland, Romania, or one of the handful of the other countries that celebrate the holiday) or, as most of us know it, "the day after Christmas." Now's the time to get the best bargains on all the hot tech products you wanted but didn't get. Retailers started marking down products earlier this year, so you can count on some epic discounts during the "slash it and unload it" time period between Christmas and New Year's. Thankfully, "Boxing Week" doesn't have to be a battle. We've rounded up the best deal sites to help you find the best prices on those most-wanted devices. Plus, if you don't want to deal with mall madness, you can just stay in your pjs and order online. We know you're tired after all the celebrations, so kick back and browse through these sites to find the products you want at prices that won't make you feel guilty for splurging on yourself. Also if you need a little bit of help picking out the tech product that's right for you, check out "The Ultimate Guide to Technology Buying." Happy bargain hunting! Organize, Edit and Share Your Photos Keep Your New Year's Resolutions Thanks to Tech Hilary Scott Assistant Editor More From Hilary The Best Tech for Weathering Hurricane Irene Level-up Your Dorm Room Fujitsu Platform Lets You Deploy, Zap Location-Based Apps Twitter Celebrates Fifth Anniversary of Its Launch Researchers Develop Pliable 'Jell-O' Memory Device How to Bet on the 2017 Kentucky Derby Online The Definitive List of Google Search Easter Eggs How to Delete Your Accounts From the Internet Get $40 Off Amazon Echo, $15 Off Fire TV How to Watch the Presidential Election Results Online	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2283
__label__wiki	0.623218	0.623218	We're excited to help you complete your booking with Sol Chariots Pedicab Cooperative. One-Hour Pedicab Art Tour in Providence Cruise around Providence in a pedicab to get an up-close look at the local art that's found in every nook and cranny. Check out this modern city's surprising art scene as you learn about the people behind it. Cancellation: 2 days in advance. Pedal off on an one-hour pedicab tour around Providence to scope out the local art scene with a local Get a behind-the-scenes look at art that's found all over the city: Discover hidden gems and tourists hotspots full of creativity Hear about the people and organizations, which create artwork that is on display for everyone to see One-hour pedicab art tour Full refunds for cancellations made at least 48 hours in advance. One-Hour Pedicab Tour in Providence Tour Providence and learn all about its history and ever-changing landscapes on this one-hour narrated pedicab tour. Enjoy the gorgeous weather in an open-air vehicle, riding around to all the best spots in town. One-Hour Guided Tour of Providence in a Pedicab Sit back and relax as you see Providence from the comfort of a guide-driven pedicab. Learn the history of this classic New England city, which lies along the Atlantic and showcases gorgeous colonial architecture.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2286
__label__wiki	0.71286	0.71286	WE WANT TO BUY YOUR USED RECORDS! WE PAY TOP DOLLAR FOR QUALITY RECORDS! No collection is too big or too small. You can bring your records by Permanent Chicago or LA and we're also always ready to travel to you! Drop us a line anytime: la.permanent@gmail.com (Los Angeles) PERM-056 Salt Lick Doctor (Of Love) 45 Ltd. 300 Copies 100 on Coke Bottle Clear 200 on Black The early 70s were an incredible time for RocknRoll. Music had lost it’s virginity and abuse of all sorts was running rampant. Bands were turning up, de-tuning, and dropping out left and right. Bad trips and other people’s battles were bumming everybody out and the discontent was palpable. These vibes are what informed Salt Lick’s first recordings. Informed and influenced by the Motor City scene as much as the boneheaded side of the American underground, Salt Lick recorded these two crunchy tunes in one short late-night session in a seedy LA neighborhood. Bargain basement beer flowed like wine and you can almost hear the pull-tabs being popped over the hiss of the tape machine. The men of Salt Lick came together over a collective disdain of the castrated rock they’d been hearing and wanted to toughen things up a bit, all while keeping it groovy. “If the ladies ain’t having a good time, no one is.”, one member recalls thinking. This 45 was pressed in a limited quantity of 300 copies, 100 of which on coke-bottle clear vinyl. No picture sleeve necessary. Everything you need to see is on the label. Recorded by Hunter Scztroop and Erik Lake at Black Diamond. Engineered by Jorge Explosion at Circo Perrotti Studios in Gijón, Spain. <CONTINUE> Digital Downloads & Streaming Many Permanent Records label releases are available for digital download through: Revolver, emusic, Google play, iTunes, Amazon. Also many Permanent Records label releases are streaming through pretty much everything that has a “play” button on the internet. Examples include: Spotify, Rhapsody, rdio, Deezer, and YouTube. You might have luck tracking down titles listed as OUT OF PRINT or SOLD OUT directly from the band at a show, your local record store, or one of the following distributors: Revolver, Forced Exposure, and Forte (UK). If you're a distro or shop that would like to stock our releases, please get in touch for wholesale rates. Still Available Label Releases Direct On Permanent Records! LP - Leather Slave - Leather Slave (Black Wax, Ltd 200) ♫LISTEN♫ PERMANENT RECORDS' 43RD LABEL RELEASE! Leather Slave are from LA and sound a lot like Brainbombs. Here are some review excerpts from Julian Cope's Head Heritage site: "I've never heard any band...match what [Leather Slave] did. Period. From what I heard the band is still going strong, although I dunno if it's still the same lineup... Of course one of the enigmatic things about this band is that they don't list credits or any information about themselves...But the thing that really sets this band apart is not only that the musicianship is brilliant, but that they have no redeeming value whatsoever(!) It's rock 'n roll at it's most primal and destructive -- what your parents feared in such music. Think Rolling Stones circa Exile on Main Street crossed with an even more stripped-down Raw Power by the Stooges, along with the more anarchic moments from the Swans, topped off by the writings of De Sade and Peter Sotos and yr halfway there... It's "Horror-Punk" except inspired by "Last House on Dead End Street" rather than "Teenage Frankenstein" or whatever... Their...album starts off deceptively innocuous...but gets shattered by a devastating discordant riff, with what could be a manifesto of some sort. "If you have the fucking power, then use it to kill them all!" Again the amazing thing about the band is the musicianship, although the songs are not songs as much as they could be called loops in a way -- mostly a series of tight grooves that threaten to fall apart and often do. The drummer has a particularly nimble touch here, but can kick out the jams just as John Bonham can... The guitars manage to sound incredibly sick and brutal, pretty much adding to the theme, but even when they restrain it a little the effect is still quite disturbing. As for the vocals, it's not singing as much as speaking...but somehow it still works in the overall musical fabric, so to speak... But the playing's extremely good -- they seemed to have studied rock 'n roll right down to its blues/country roots. Of course the album closes with a totally repellent track that's a noisy, discordant mess, although that drummer still manages to keep it together which is (again) amazing... Probably this band isn't for everyone's taste, but if you like good rock 'n roll and at the same time appreciate what Whitehouse does, then this is for you." This review is technically of Brainbombs "Obey", but since Leather Slave have so much in common with Brainbombs, we imagine Mr. Cope would have exactly the same thing to say about Leather Slave. Genius and Brutality. Taste and Power. For days. RIYL: Brainbombs, Francis Harold & the Holograms, Rectal Hygienics, Fang, AmRep LP - Basic Cable - I'm Good To Drive (Black Wax, Limited to 200) Permanent Records' 39th label release! Our buds at the Empty Bottle penned this little bit about Basic Cable for our 7th Year Anniversary party and we think it sums these snide booze fueled bad vibe bringers up very fucking nice: "Channeling bad vibes, worse hangovers and a general life-keeps-shitting-on-us attitude, Chicago's BASIC CABLE find a way to have fun as they commiserate with each other, and their listeners. Fairly new to "the scene," their blown out guitars, shouted, monotone vocals and punishing rhythms make for a noisy, punk-as-fuck attack that tingles our dingles in ways we can barely comprehend." – Empty Bottle Review snippets from split flexi single with Endless Bummer on Notes and Bolts / Eye Vybe Records: "Basic Cable, formed by ex-Loose Dudes, Heavy Times, and current Running members, is a thrashing two minutes of caterwauling vocals, and instruments that sound like they're going to fall apart at any moment." – Notes and Bolts / Eye Vybe Records "Basic Cable, comprised of some Chicago's assorted noteworthy maniacs from various other quality acts mentioned above, lean in thick and mean with a paranoid rocker that pummels a riff into the ground while some terrifying laser sound sets its sights for your soul. It's all over waaaay too soon, so here's hoping we're getting more material from BOTH acts in the near future. Savagely Recommended." – Permanent Records RIYL: Cows, Jesus Lizard, Pissed Jeans, METZ, Watery Love, Fang, AmRep LP - MERX - 20000 Sq Ft Under The Sea $14.99 $7.99 - $14.99 A's MERX is back with another platter of menacing post-punk, no-wave, cold-wave, industrial electronic thinking-man's creep terror. Reviews of 20000 Sq Ft Under The Sea: "Second release from this LA band, originally a Skrot Up cassette but now a spin down slab of vinyl thanks to this Permanent press. If you like mad intoning renegade preacher/vocalists, even if you never stumbled across Suicide before, this album is for you. On first listen, I was smitten. And that first track, with deep voice wordless and reverbed into wanton rant. Hell, yeah! Side 1 songs come and go like sitting at a busy intersection during rush hour and watching for weirdos go by in cars. These songs feel like they are chrome-plated with tinted windows so you can’t quite see what’s inside them. Maybe a body, maybe a couple of tanks of oxygen, or is it a toxic chemical? Like those car occupants, the 8 songs on side 1 are gone but leave an indelible impression. Drum machine makes you want to dance, but the baritone madman vocalist is staring at you so you better not move. Little rifflets of guitar that could have an ocean of spy surf behind them. Rev’d up synths idle wildly. After my second listen, I felt like I was in a dingy bar with only bouncers, and each bouncer is trying to throw another bouncer out. The flip side is a single track at 45 RPM PLEASE NOTE. It’s kind of a chaotic free form take of the tighter vibe from the songs on the flip (indeed lyrics from 20 Sq Ft get howled into the fray). Kind of a lunatic jam with that poet/prophet/pervert shouting in the storm. Really digging this release. A rare burly form of synth rock!" (Thurston Hunger, KFJC 89.7 FM, 12/12/2013) [cassette version on Skrot Up] "I thought I read somewhere that Merx is an offshoot of some sort stemming from the German Army family tree, which would be awesome. No matter: Twenty Sq Ft stands on its own at the summit of randomness, flitting from disguise to disguise until they barely recognize who’s staring back at them in the mirror. They can be muscular and threatening or, as “Swim Job” attests, quite funky, or at least as funky as a limited-run tape band can be. I suppose gloomy post-punk would have to be brought up in the conversation if you were trying to describe this cassette to a dipshit, but umbrella terms aren’t going to protect you from the unrestrained, infectious enthusiasm pouring from the pores of these sketchy tunes. Let them do their work and Merx will reward you in a perplexing manner. Which reminds me: Do you have the proper documentation to be listening to Twenty Sq Ft? Write Skrot Up to secure the appropriate paperwork." (Grant 'Gumshoe' Purdum, Tiny Mix Tapes, 10/28/2013) RIYL: Suicide, Throbbing Gristle, DNA, SPK, German Army, Brotman & Short, Cold Wave LP - Afflicted Man - I'm Off Me 'Ead (Official 2013 Reissue, Repress, Black Wax, Ltd 300) "I'm Off Me 'Ead" is DIY psych punk (or "Hippy Punk" as Steve Hall calls it) at it's finest, but don't just take my word for it. Heavyweight record aficionados such as Henry Rollins, Byron Coley, Tom Lax, Doug Mosurock, and Geoffrey Weiss are BIG fans... The idiosyncratic music critic, Byron Coley (Forced Exposure, Bull Tongue, Spin, Wire, Arthur), really lays it out there: "Steve Hall's Afflicted (Man) project was one of the greatest mystery wobbles to come out of the Brit DIY explosion. Trying to figure out what the hell these records were about took years to unravel. We even thought there might be a Nurse With Wound connection when United Dairies released the Afflicted Man's Musica Box LP. We were stupid, but can you blame us? The slurred psych blues of I'm Off Me 'Ead were so unlike anything else going on at the time, it almost seemed like the whole thing had to be a put-on of some kind. There had been those earlier records, sure, this one felt way different. The concept of UK stoner-punks had existed for a few years, but their output had tended towards the arty end of things before this. There's a latent brutality to Im' Off that truly lashed our feeble minds. But maybe that's only because L.A. was awash in very good acid right about then. Still, it remains extremely difficult to place this music inside the contextual history of what was going on then. Jesus, I would have loved to have caught a gig or two. Unimaginable. I bought I'm Off Me 'Ead at the old Vinyl Fetish store on Melrose in '81, same year I finally managed to snag a copy of Randy Holden's Population II, and they were both records I'd play to anyone who dropped by our pad in Santa Monica for a listening session. The utterly fucked-up-ness of both guitarists never failed to astonish anyone who wasn't too wasted to acknowledge what they were hearing. And so it is." Tom Lax's Siltblog posted this: "Afflicted Man's style could best described at stock-in-trade Brit DIY w/an almost Street Level sort've quality to it…Too freaked out for punks, too punked out for freaks... must've felt like a rusty safety pin stuck straight through the heart of whatever DIY fanbase Hall had acquired. And for all the Pink Fairies or Hawkwind type's that mighta come across it, it was too primitive & animalistic for their quid." Geoffrey Weiss' is one of the most venerable record collectors in the world. He summed it up like this: "Deliriously incompetent, frighteningly direct, and bafflingly out-of-time, there is no doubt that Steve Hall is in touch here with something most of us can't get near. " We here at Permanent absolutely love this record and are incomprehensibly honored to be the label reissuing it on vinyl for the first time ever. It's been fully licensed by Steve Hall himself and painstakingly remastered by the total pros at Penguin Recording in Eagle Rock. The jacket artwork was graciously reconstituted and touched-up by Bill "Trouble In Mind" Roe. The full-color "I'm Off Me 'Ead" inner sleeve contains a bunch of unseen Afflicted Man photos, an unpublished interview with Steve Hall and a fully authorized reprint of Chris Stigliano's article from Forced Exposure #9 (Winter 1986). The second pressing (let's hope there's demand for multiple) is limited to 300 copies worldwide. RIYL: Hawkwind, Pink Fairies, Deviants, The Fall, Alternative TV, Coloured Balls, Michael Yonkers, Vic Godard, Mark Perry, Private Press / Outsider Rock, and REPETITION Official Tshirts Still Available! LP - Bitchin Bajas - Krausened EP (Black Wax Repress Ltd 300) AVAILABLE AGAIN!!!!!! Fans of Terry Riley, Kraftwerk, Conrad Schntizler, and Kosmische Musik in general take note! Bitchin Bajas has returned to Permanent Records (following their split single with Moon Duo) with a brand new record of side-long transcendental synth workouts. This is Bitchin Bajas most accessible and autobahn ready delivery to date! Bitchin Bajas began as a side project, but Cooper Crain of CAVE and Dan Quinlivan formerly of MAHJONGG have been spending as much time, if not more, with Bitchin Bajas as they have with the aforementioned groups and they've been progressing very quickly. In just two or so years, Bitchin Bajas have released three critically acclaimed LPs (one on Important Records and two on Kallestei Editions), two incredible splits (one with Moon Duo and the other with the Peaking Lights- related Faceplant), and one very limited edition cassette tape. The two side long pieces on this nearly 40 minute EP were written on their 2012 European tour and recorded and mixed over three days by Bitchin Bajas at Minbal Studio in Chicago, Illinois. Features eye-popping cover artwork by artist Jeremy Kannapell. "A whole mess of cats in the drone-age try to spiral upward to the heights of Bitchin Bajas, but few nail the sacred combination of Harmonia/Neu! and Steve Hillage circa Rainbow Dome Music with the same air of confidence." - Tiny Mix Tapes LP - Heater - God and Hair (Regular Edition on Black Vinyl) Permanent's 17th label release! Heater is a three-piece Columbia, Missouri super group, if such a thing exists. Heater's guitarist and lead singer, Zach "Zz" McLuckie, used to be a member of CAVE and Sneakers (both have released records on Permanent Records), among others. Heater's bassist / second guitarist, Jeremy "Jerusalem" Freeze also plays guitar in Jerusalem and the Starbaskets and both he and Heater's drummer, Jon "Wujj" Wujick, formerly jammed together in California Raisins (their only release was a split 10" with CAVE also on Permanent). Now that you have the band history, we might as well get into the sounds confined within, Heater's first widely distributed release. "God and Hair" is a super upbeat, melodic pop record in essence, but as I mentioned before, these guys come from a very DIY background. It's got some fast repetitive lo-fi punk rock jams with reverb enhanced vocals similar to those found on the Sneakers "Children Into People" EP, and some Clean-esque pop elements, but it's also got tracks with a great laid back summertime '90s alt-pop vibe not too dissimilar from the least noisy '90s moments of Sonic Youth and Sebadoh. All of these elements come together and make for a unique sound (thanks to a little help by Cooper Crain of CAVE's analog production techniques) and make for one hell of a summertime DIY pop jammer. Here comes the summer (of pop)! There are only 500 copies of this limited edition LP and it may never be pressed again. LP / CS - Purling Hiss - Purling Hiss Permanent Records' tenth label release, which sold out immediately upon its original release, has been repressed for a SECOND time in another edition of 300 copies! Purling Hiss has recently released records on Richie and Woodsist and garnered rave reviews from just about everybody who's heard 'em. This eponymous LP on Permanent is where it all began! Here's the story: Purling Hiss is the side-project of Holy Mountain recording artists Birds of Maya guitarist Mike Polizze. Birds of Maya are a full-on psychedelic rock band from Philly. Apparently, Birds just aren't full-on enough to satisfy Polizze's far-out tendencies. On his debut solo record Polizze plays bass drums and guitar relentlessly as if he's playing to save his life. This recording is so intense that the pressing plant told us they'd risk breaking their equipment if they cut the lacquers with the original master. We sent 'em a new master and it sounds great! For Fans Of- Birds of Maya Earthless, Loop, High Rise, Les Rallizes Denudes, and lo-fi, blown-out psych. Obviously, this one comes highly recommended. LP - Anals - Total Anal - 2015 Hand Screen Printed Reissue BACK IN PRINT WITH KILLER NEW ARTWORK AND LIMITED TO 50 COPIES!!!! NEVER TO BE REPRESSED AGAIN!!!!!! Metz France seems to be teeming with great bands these days. Cheveu Feeling of Love Normals and A.H. Kraken are just the tip of this incredibly huge Metz iceberg. Many of these bands share members but they all have their very own sound. The Anals sound is similar to the aforementioned bands in their abrasive weird punk base but this duo is more obliviously influenced by the German industrial electropunk group D.A.F. (via the Brainbombs) than any of their peers. Their single on Sweet Rot sold out almost immediately and the demand prompted a repress. Now heres your chance to hear this unique duo?s entire recorded output. This anthology LP includes both songs from the single plus ten previously unreleased tracks. LP - Frankie and the Witch Fingers - Sidewalk RECORD STORE DAY ONE TIME PRESSING LIMITED TO 500 COPIES: * 150 ON LYSERGIC SPLATTER VINYL EXCLUSIVELY AT PERMANENT CHICAGO AND LOS ANGELES! * 350 ON BLACK VINYL FOR WHOLESALE * DEBUT RELEASE FIRST TIME ON VINYL (previously cassette-only) I really don’t like to make comparisons when it comes to bands that I enjoy, there’s always something different and unique, at least in my eyes, about what I’m listening to. I do not enjoy derivative bands much. So, while Frankie And The Witch Fingers may sound like Ty Segall started a new band with Jay Reatard and they got Charlie Mootheart to join in on the fun, they’re really just a ridiculously talented lo-fi garage rock outfit in my eyes and I couldn’t mean that as a greater compliment. From the moment you start the titular title track on their debut album, Sidewalk, you can hear a deep appreciation for late 60’s and early 70’s psychedelia, refined and captured in the same emphatic and impulsive way, while dragging tricks and sounds from the last fifty years along for the ride. While Frankie And The Witch Fingers seem to incorporate a few more dissonant sounds and breaks, think 13th Floor Elevators or The Velvet Underground, to really spice up the sound and add a level of dissonance to the tightly crafted garage pop melodies, that just seem to melt out of your speakers. Reverberation and fuzz dosed guitars shimmer and undulate in the songs, while echoed vocals float above the instruments, blending in and out of fits of distortion and rave-ups. The bass and drums are like calm pounding waves, powerful enough to chip away at a mountain with out raising an un-needed racket while doing so. Tracks slowly build moment and break into amazing walls of sound and distortion, before fading back into the shadows to reveal the skeletal melody of the song again to let you take it all back in one more time before you’re done. My favorite tracks are when they just hit the gas though, pounding riffs and thundering bass twisting together like a Porsche hitting a lamp post at a hundred and eighty miles an hour, taking your mind along for the ride! Sidewalk has only been released as an extremely limited cassette tape at this point, but word is that might be changing sometime soon but either Frankie And The Witch Fingers is prepping for the release of their second full-length album before the end of the year. I would usually have held off talking to them until the album release but I have to admit, these tunes really got into my head! I couldn’t find a way to buy a tape, hell, I couldn’t even find out who put it out, and I was hoping to score a copy. While I was chatting with these guys though, I just couldn’t help but do an interview; listen to Sidewalk and tell me you wouldn’t have done the same! What follows is a glimpse at a band that in my opinion is on the brink of really bringing the heat. These dudes are just serious enough about what they do to make amazing music and they have enough fun making it, you can hear it through your speakers on every track. After a recent relocation from Indiana to California, I have no doubt you’re gonna be hearing a lot about Frankie And The Witch Fingers before long. In the meantime, get a head start and check out the story so far below, and for the love of all that’s holy – click the Bandcamp link and take in some of the best garage rock you’re gonna hear this side of 1969! - Roman Rathert (It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine, 2014) LP - Frankie and the Witch Fingers - Brain Telephone - Reissue As the diamond hits the plastic on Frankie and the Witch Fingers' Brain Telephone, a sonic tornado swirls out of the speakers and into your ears like a psychedelic party-line flipping a black-and-white world into technicolor. The quartet cooks up a cachophony of sounds which boil over as the troglodyte beat and the fuzzy phased-out guitars melt together. From here, the spell gets sweeter. A rock n' roll groove laced with slap back and heady lyrics quickly connects your call to the Witch Finger's acid boogie shack nestled deep in the belly of Los Angeles. A transformation occurs as mind bending shadows appear on a yet-to-be-named purple planet with lush gardens of grinning neon fungi bopping and swaying along to each catchy hook and chorus. The serpentine tape reels capture Texas barn burners, hallucinogenic Chuck Berry guitar licks, and middle-eastern rave-ups along the way as well. This adventure is littered with evil caricatures and surrealistic visions that will warble your mind, if you stay on the line. REISSUED! 150 black vinyl 100 clear vinyl LP - Watchout! - Flashbacker - Black Wax BACK IN PRINT!!! Domestic reissue of Chilean group's debut LP, previously available only on CD and a uber-limited lathe-cut import LP; WATCHOUT! is the lovechild proof that Os Mutantes and Popol Vuh had an elicit rendezvous in mid--’70s Santiago. This Chilean rock group blends krauty synth textures with a Tropicalian style not so successfully crafted since the ‘70s. Latin rhythms, fuzzy, wah--wah guitar leads, and melodic organ patterns are sewn sweetly together to create a quilt of psychedelic pop that would comfort even the coldest Brazilian psych aficionado. This LP was one of the best unheard and under--released records of 2011. Flashbacker includes seven tracks of ‘60s Brazilian psych, ‘70s German hypnotism, ‘80s UK fuzz pop, and Indian raga influenced jams all seamlessly and brilliantly woven together. Originally planned for Record Store Day 2013. New pressing in an edition of 300 copies. 7in - Hooveriii - Guillotine Never before has a debut single so seemlessly mixed all the best subgenres of 60 years of rock into such a fantastic crystalline stalactite. If the sounds contained within these grooves could be distilled down to something edible, even the smallest dose would be lethal. Both tracks were recorded and mixed in 6 hours with Mark Rains at Station House in Los Angeles, CA. The A-side is a chugging minimal number with a hooking riff. The song is about cutting your brain in half and letting your fears pour out. The flip is an improvised instrumental jam inspired by Krautrock staples like Can & Amon Düül II. Hooveriii is Bert Hoover from Mind Meld and Jesus Sons on vocals and guitar, Gabe Flores from Babylon on Guitar, Kaz Mirblouk of Numb.Er on bass, Shaughnessy of Jesus Sons and Triptides on Drums, and Jaiq Styne of various LA bands on synth. Limited to 300 copies 100 Translucent Purple 7" - Salt Lick - Doctor (Of Love) The early 70s were an incredible time for RocknRoll. Music had lost it’s virginity and abuse of all sorts was running rampant. Bands were turning up, de-tuning, and dropping out left and right. Bad trips and other people’s battles were bumming everybody out and the discontent was palpable. These vibes are what informed Salt Lick’s first recordings. Informed and influenced by the Motor City scene as much as the boneheaded side of the American underground, Salt Lick recorded these two crunchy tunes in one short late-night session in a seedy LA neighborhood. Bargain basement beer flowed like wine and you can almost hear the pull-tabs being popped over the hiss of the tape machine. The men of Salt Lick came together over a collective disdain of the castrated rock they’d been hearing and wanted to toughen things up a bit, all while keeping it groovy. “If the ladies ain’t having a good time, no one is.”, one member recalls thinking. This 45 was pressed in a limited quantity of 300 copies, 100 of which on coke-bottle clear vinyl. No picture sleeve necessary. Everything you need to see is on the label. Recorded by Hunter Scztroop and Erik Lake at Black Diamond. Engineered by Jorge Explosion at Circo Perrotti Studios in Gijón, Spain. LIMITED TO 300 COPIES: 100 Coke Bottle Clear (LIMIT 1 PER CUSTOMER) LP - Hooveriii - Hooveriii Never before has a debut album so seamlessly mixed all the best subgenres of 60 years of rock into such a fantastic crystalline stalactite. If the sounds contained within these grooves could be distilled down to something edible, even the smallest dose would be lethal. Recorded under the influence of Hawkwind, Amon Düül II, Black Sabbath and NEU! Only 300 pressed! 200 - black vinyl 100 - Seedling Splatter colored vinyl -SOLD OUT 30 - Test Pressings w/hand screened jackets. SOLD OUT Second Pressing! Only 100 pressed - Reptile Egg Yellow Only available online and on Hooveriii's 2019 Euro tour! Produced by Tomas Dolas (Mr. Elevator / OCS ) Mastered by Mikey Young (Total Control) Artwork by Jesse Fillingham LP - Grave Flowers Bongo Band - Flower Pot Hey man, could you use a little serenity? Grave Flowers Bongo Band thinks we could all use a little and they’re here to give it to us. In order to enjoy this record, you don’t have to get dressed. In fact, it’s probably better that you don’t. And you definitely don’t need to leave the house. This record is best experienced in the comforts of your own home, just as long as your home is as peaceful as it should be. If it’s not, “Flower Pot” should be enjoyed naturally. The organic vibes the Bongo Band project are just as soothing as they are psychedelic. There’s a lot going on here, but the record also feels very simplistic, like a more modern take on Ted Lucas, Sam Gopal, or Tyrannosaurus Rex. The journey is largely acoustic and serene, but the electric and slightly more chaotic moments compliment the rest of the instrumentation like honey on granola. “Flower Pot” is the perfect soundtrack for your next sacrificial effigy burning, but it’s also a record that you can make out to. It’ll ease you into the day or take you away after a long night. A perfect prescription for whatever ails you. I’m sure it’ll blow your mind, regardless of your mental state. Side note: It’d be a goddamn shame if the Bongo Band doesn’t turn into a cult, or at least develop a cult following. “Flower Pot” was recorded entirely on magnetic tape and the bulk was done at Uly Noriega’s Laundry Room Studio in the El Sereno neighborhood of East Los Angeles in February 2018. The remainder was done on Bert Hoover’s Tascam 388 at Black Diamond Rehearsal Studios with Hunter Stroope. The finishing touches were done in May 2018. Uly Noriega was the recording engineer and did all the mastering as well. Grave Flowers Bongo Band consists of: Vaughn Christensen: Bongo Andy Caly: Electric Bass Guitar Gabe Flores: Guitars, Vocals, Sax, Synth, Percussion Gabe Flores currently plays in Hooveriii and formerly fronted the LA rock powerhouse Babylon, but has “always loved Charles Manson’s “LIE: The Love And Terror Cult” sound with the shitty production campfire vibes hand drums and and acoustic guitar and wanted to try something like that!” So under the influence of Manson, Sam Gopal, Love, Kevin Ayers, Funkadelic, Peter Green, and “all the freaky folk freedom rockers from the 60s and 70s” Flores created “Flower Pot”. Grave Flowers Bongo Band has only played ten shows so to date, but has already shared the stage with Jessica Pratt, Ex-Cult, Shannon Lay, Follakazoid, Stonefield, Mad Walls, and Levitation Room among others. Keep your eyes peeled for more live performances in the near future! Only 30 Test Pressings available! LP + 7" - Permanent Records 2018 Bundle Get three of the four Permanent Record 2018 releases for a discounted price! Bundle includes: -Salt Lick - Doctor Of Love 7" -Frankie & The Witchfingers - BrainTelephone LP -Grave Flowers Bongo Band - Flower Pot LP LP - Stonewall - Stonewall First officially licensed release EVER! 100 COPIES ON METALLIC GOLD VINYL - LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON Release Date: 4/12/19 "So you're addicted to hard rock from 1972 and getting tired of LPs that don't take you for the full ride. You check out tons of 'em. Stonewall? Hmmm... only the most potent and rare stuff can get you off nowadays. Kicks intense enough to remind you why you got into it in the first place. Jams you can't wait to lay on your friends so uncontrollably alive you know it's gonna wipe 'em out. Yeah... you really need Stonewall. It's ritual time. I hear people all over the world saying Stonewall is a 'Holy Grail'. I agree. 'Holy Grail' status for an LP requires the most extreme and exciting combination of quality and rarity. That's not all. It has to have mystery. It has to reek of humanity. There can be no other LP that beats it at its game. Top dog. It has to be a mindfuck capable of destroying anybody who hears it, including those who have previously only experienced the usual killer classics. Finding a copy must come as close to impossible as possible and remain that way even after everybody knows about it. As an original pressing, Stonewall fulfills all of the 'Holy Grail' requirements and I am jacked that a legitimate reissue finally happens some 30 odd years after it first blew me away!" - Paul Major "Stonewall was a phenomenal hard rock band that almost no one heard in real time. For years, there was no story at all, only one very blurry picture, and the music was available only to the fanatical. The sounds, though, are extraordinary, and not just for a “rare” record. Stonewall’s combination of confidence and furious in-the-room energy means they sound ALIVE like the very best hard rock. That a band this fiery and original never got to make a conventional studio record is baffling, but what we have might be even better - the sound of a great band in it’s raw form, bursting at the seams with powerand ideas, live in the room. Like the very best private press LP’s, Stonewall effortlessly inhabits a space nobody else thought to get to. Nobody got to sand off Stonewall's rough edges, so we get to hear what the luckiest denizens of forgotten New York bars would have heard. Even the drum solo is thrilling, perhaps the only time that’s ever been true on a recording. This music looks backwards to psychedelica, forwards to punk, and straight into the stoned eyes of 1972. A producer or record company would have tried to mold them, and they would almost certainly have lost some of the innocence that makes this so fresh seeming almost 50 years later." - Geoffrey Weiss LP - Salt Lick - Salt Lick 150 Black Vinyl! 100 Midnight Oil Blue! Limited number of test pressings w/hand screened jackets still available. Hey Amigos! Lance from Permanent Records here! Historically, I’ve done all of the writing we use to promote new releases and I’m always stoked to do it. I’m excited about every new release we put out and I have plenty to say about each and everyone. That said, writing about this one ain’t quite as easy. I play bass in Salt Lick and I love it. It’s an absolute pleasure to jam with my boys Erik and Miguel (also my co-workers at Permanent). We get together once or twice a week after work, crank the amps, drink a few cervezas, and make some noise heavily influenced by our favorite kinds of rock’n’roll. Anyone following Permanent for the last 12+ years knows the kind of shit I’m into. I’ve compiled some of my faves in the form of Brown Acid and I’ve written an uncountable number reviews of some of my favorite reissues in our email blast. We all DJ late 60s and early 70s Hard Rock, Psych, Freakbeat, Garage, and Proto-Punk / Metal regularly. We eat, drink, and breathe this stuff. Erik has played in a bunch of great bands over the years including bands we’ve released music by like Jesus Sons and Mind Meld. Miguel is a veteran rock’n’roller from Spain and has travelled the globe playing in bands, DJing, and buying records for decades. So rather than describe how our band sounds beyond discussing our influences and previous endeavors, I’d just like to say please take a moment, click on the listen link, and decide for yourself if you dig the tunes. If you dig ‘em, please buy the record so we can keep doing what we do and keep the rock’n’roll flame burning! Your old pal, "Salt Lick is the very new L.A. trio with heavy connections to Permanent Records, Mock Records, Jesus Sons and that particularly collector-y Bonehead Crunchers/Crushers/etc.-style blunt-object 70s rock ‘n’ roll...Enthusiastically working the same grinding vibes of that recently rediscovered wave of old-school weirdos who got lost somewhere between prog rock they couldn’t play and punk rock they didn’t get, and who’s we-just-wanna-rock! 45s ended up creating a whole micro-genre of longhair off-the-grid proto-proto-punk. (Salt Lick also claims as an influence “the one good song on a bunch of major label LPs from the early 70s,” which is also very accurate—and Permanent/RidingEasy’s own Brown Acid comps also make a nice sampler of this sound.)" - LA Record "Coming on like an MC5 fever dream... Salt Lick’s debut ..shakes the window panes until they beg for mercy. See-sawing on a monster riff, the track is muddied and murky but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t knock the wind out of you. Salt Lick rounds up members from the Permanent staff, but its more than just a bit of nepotism here – it seems that those curating the power of pummel can also deliver it just as well. This is scuzzy, crusted, exhaust huffing garage rock with no spit shine in sight." -- RAVEN SINGS THE BLUES Dirty Dream Dead Drunk Blues Parapraxis Hi Babe Comedown Countdown Doctor (Of Love) Never Coming Back LP - Frankie & The Witch Fingers - Frankie & The Witch Fingers - Repress Limited Run Repress! 400 Black Vinyl Pressed! 100 Witches Spew Green Vinyl Pressed! "Opening their album with more fuzz than an exploded dustbuster, Bloomington, Indiana's Frankie and the Witch Fingers are riding high on the hallmarks of the 2010's pantheon of garage rock heroes. Adding to the sonic soup a heavy dose of witchy vibes, psychedelic shake and an incessant grind that makes it feel vital and raw as skin peeled back, their sophomore album for Chicago's chief gutwrenchers, Permanent Records, is fueled by more than just paint by numbers rock. The band knows when to ride the tide of fuzz-addled freakout, knows when to break in the shake n' shimmy and knows just when to tear all the good times down for a good old fashioned dark horse that draws the shades and draws a little blood in the process. A solid offering from this band, reportedly uprooting from the doldrums of the Corn Belt to LA. It'll be interesting to see how the move affects their sound in the future, but for now these nuggets are more than worth the price of admission." - Raven Sings The Blues "Frankie and the Witch Fingers are a garage rock outfit [originally] from Bloomington, Indiana, and with one song, they've made their forthcoming self-titled album on Permanent a hot album to pine for in 2015. Aside from the "True Detective" vibes, I'm not sure what exactly is going on in the "sexy and dangerous witchcraft" video for "Vibrations" which is puzzling, creepy and yet, sustains fascination. Regardless, this song is at the top of the heap when it comes to garage pop tunes that could've thrived in the 1960s. You just don't hear organ work like that anymore." - Evan Minsker @ Shake Appeal - The Pitch \| Pitchfork ("Vibrations" Video Premier) ONE COLORED VERSION PER PERSON	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2288
__label__wiki	0.711752	0.711752	Hire 60s Band in Letchworth Garden City 60s Band Hertfordshire 60s Band Letchworth Garden City Are you looking for a 60s band in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire? Our catalogue includes 42 acts available for hire in Letchworth Garden City. We also recommend to see: function bands, jazz bands, string quartets, swing bands Crocodile Mock Available in Letchworth Garden City from £600 About: Crocodile Mock is an amazing 8-piece band recreating the authentic sound of Sir Elton John, performing classics such as Sacrifice, Your Song and I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues, to name a few! A tribute with a difference, this show isn't just about impersonating Sir Elton John, It's a show The Carbonites About: We are The Carbonites a 5 piece wedding, function, club, party band from the home counties. With many years of experience playing weddings and functions we have honed our own blend of classic and current music that’s perfect for any occasion or venue. Our extensive repertoire caters for young a Chrissie Cadillac - 50's & 60's Act Plus Disco Recent review: Chrissie was fabulous. She arrived at the venue in good time, discreetly put her equipment in place and kept the music of 50's & 60's playing when the guests were eating making the whole afternoon and evening flow smoothly. I asked for and got the entertainment I requested and she sang very well, ma The Lollipops Recent review: Fantastic band, great sound, dance moves and fantastic vocals make for a brilliant show - professional and lovely in every way - couldn't recommend more highly. Looking forward to seeing them again! Recent review: An amazing afternoon with Gary Graceland who kept an audience entertained in the smallest of venues due to the rain , a true entertainer. Recent review: "I booked Sound of the Suburb for my birthday party in August 2018 and the evening was a tremendous success. The music played by the band was fantastic. Everyone at the party commented on how good the band was and that they had catered for all ages and musical tastes. They are a very talented bunch The Vintage Music Act Recent review: Thank you both for singing and playing the guitar! You were great. Hope to have you along in the future. Lovely songs, great vibe and everyone loved you. Singer & Disco Package Recent review: Chrissie has a great voice, powerful and emotive. We had a wonderful evening! Chrissie offers the complete entertainment package, live singing and a disco with lights. We also used her free photo projector service to display family photos which was a great talking point of the party. Carnaby Army Recent review: Had the privilege of seeing the New year in listening to these guys. Absolute amazing band covering all the classics of the 60s. A right crowd pleaser be sure to bring your dancing shoes! I'll have em at my wedding! The Rhythm and Blues Brothers Available in Letchworth Garden City from £1400 About: The Rhythm and Blues Brothers are a nine-piece Rhythm and Blues band with a dedication to paying tribute to perhaps the best showband of all time; The Blues Brothers. So much music these days is pre-programmed, electronic, plucked from the bowels of a computer by a software programmer and fed thr Available in Letchworth Garden City from £500-1500" Recent review: Wonderful performance, from professional, hard working, and all round lovely people. Looking forward to having them back at future events. Cant recommend this act highly enough. Superphonic Available in Letchworth Garden City About: This fantastic band (also known as "The Headliners") delivers over two hours of the funkiest hits: from 60s soul and rock 'n' roll to 70s disco; from classic rock and 80s pop to the latest hits and everything in between, in a spectacular live stage performance. Formed in 2001, Superphonic have ga Counterfeit Beatles About: Beatles tribute band the counterfeit Beatles London based,avilable for corporate hire perform globally, Japan, India, Thailand, South Korea, tel 07715131556 email counterfeitbeatles@btopenworld.com www.counterfeitbeatles.com The Swinging Retros About: The Swinging Retros is a 60s covers band, based in north west London. The band is made up of 6 members - 2 vocalists (1 female/1 male), lead guitarist and keyboard player, rhythm guitarist (also does vocals), bass player and drummer. We have performed at all kinds of functions/venues over the years, The Headliners About: The Headliners is one of the UK's leading party bands, providing world-class live music entertainment for corporate events, wedding receptions, military functions and much more. We're proud to feature some of the country's most talented session musicians and singers, and have gained a reputation The Jets About: The Jets are made up of 4 talented ladies, bringing you the best rock n roll sounds from the 50's and 60's, such as classic ladies Connie Francis and Etta James and favourites by Elvis and Chuck Berry Individually made up of top sought after professional musicians who have played all over the glob Move Over Sandy About: We specialise in 50s and 60s rock n roll, rhythm and blues and soul hits from that era. We have a website, professional photos and videos. We have a sample set list and a full set list on request. We can do weddings, birthdays and all sorts of function events. Available in Letchworth Garden City from £1,000 About: Extremely entertaining, energetic, engaging, interactive and charismatic four piece band guaranteed to put not only feet on dance floors but also smiles on faces. Imagine a group with all the style of an "originals" band but playing all your favourite tracks. Covering present day hits and back to	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2295
__label__cc	0.724941	0.275059	Hire 60s Band in Tenbury Wells 60s Band Worcestershire 60s Band Tenbury Wells Are you looking for a 60s band in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire? Our catalogue includes 17 acts available for hire in Tenbury Wells. We also recommend to see: function bands, jazz bands, string quartets, swing bands Rock and Roll Jukebox Available in Tenbury Wells from £500.00 Recent review: "Everyone loved the evening and your music - as you could tell! Many thanks to you and all the band for creating such a great atmosphere. Cheers for now, and thanks again Toby" The Breakfast Club 80s and Iconic Party Songs Band Recent review: "The Breakfast club were absolutely fantastic and really made our night !! They were so professional and all our guests were so impressed with them and the dance floor was packed all night! Thanks so much for an amazing night and making our 50th so special !!" Available in Tenbury Wells from £500-1500" Recent review: "Thank you so much for a terrific evening's entertainment from Abba ReBjorn on Saturday for my wife's birthday party. I would and have highly recommended the band who were perfect, lovely people very friendly with a great sound and very accommodating. More than happy to get the birthday girl up on s The Undercover Beatles Tribute Band Available in Tenbury Wells from £400 Recent review: Absolutely amazing, very talented and a real crowd puller, We had people dancing from the minute they got on the stage! Had plenty of requests to re-book them too. Really nice guys and friendly, played a special song for me that they had never performed live before too. ***** Recommended Available in Tenbury Wells from £1289 Recent review: "AMAZING. Fantastic guys, arrived on time and set up no hassles. When they started their 1st Set everyone was up dancing all night, they created an amazing atmosphere ,everyone had a great night that will never be forgotten,they were brilliant from start to finish. These guys worked so hard it was Johnny Tarrino Available in Tenbury Wells Recent review: Johnny did a brilliant job singing at my parents’ surprise wedding anniversary party. He sang a great mixture of tunes and everyone loved him. Highly recommend! I-Generation About: I-Generation Band is the perfect music choice for your Wedding or Private Party. We are the perfect Entertainment for any event and have been together for 4 years performing up & down the whole of the UK. We have a great set of Rock, Pop & Classic Indie songs to rock any Wedding, Party, University The Revival Band Recent review: The band was absolutely amazing, the best I have ever seen. All my friends said how brilliant they were, and we danced all night. I had a great night and so did my friends. I am receiving thank you messages and everbody saying the band and music was great. So Last Century Recent review: Wow , what a fantastic band . Arranged this for a private party and they quiet literally brought the house down . Lots of the old tunes as well as some more up to date . Got everybody on their feet and couldn’t do enough for us . Will definitely rebook for future events ! The New Casuals About: Top class Sixties Band. The Casuals were a four piece British pop group in the 1960's and early 70's, best known for their hit "Jesamine" which reached No.2 in the UK in 1968. Johnny Deaville, who had a spell working with AlanTaylor from the original band, which unfortunately broke up in 1976, has The Mercy About: The Mercy have been on the U.K. music scene since 2005 performing at a host of different occasions across the West Midlands. Their membership consists of two guitarists, one bassist and one drummer. The Mercy perform hits spanning the decades from the 50’s right through to the present day. They per The All Seasons Available in Tenbury Wells from £1250.00 About: THE ULTIMATE 'JERSEY BOYS' TRIBUTE. SCINTILLATING VOCALS & INCREDIBLE HARMONIES. BRINGING TO LIFE THE MUSIC OF FRANKIE VALLI AND THE FOUR SEASONS, THE ALL SEASONS PRESENT A SHOW THAT WILL WOW FANS OF THE ‘JERSEY BOYS’ SOUND. Crammed with singalong hits, The All Seasons is a West End experience av The Hightones About: The High Tones are a Young ,Energetic Four Piece Midlands based Act, recreating the sounds of the 1960’s era, strictly 1960-1969 All the great Bands are covered with passion and integrity from The Beatles, The Stones, The Kinks, The Monkees, Van Morrison, The Hollies The small Faces & many more … Leekbrookmusic Available in Tenbury Wells from £50 About: Music available for weddings ( afternoon,evenings)/corporate events/functions. Full band,trio,duo( various combinations available - 1 guitar / 2 guitars / guitar keyboard / full band / full band including sax etc. Most genres covered - background-easy listening /.Jazz/pop / rock /blues etc Covers( About: An exciting four piece 60's Band providing great entertainment for any event. RPM 45 provide a seamless professional show taking their audience on a journey through the 60's. Abba One Recent review: Fantastic they created a great atmosphere, got everyone up and dancing. The whole booking was smooth and easy from beginning to end. Would highly recommend Jeremy Huggett's Band Of Gold - Music For All Occasions About: Band of Gold is one of the UK's top Wedding, Party and Festival bands led by Award Winning Musician Jeremy Huggett on saxes, flute & vocals. Formed in 1997 the band has performed at the UK's major music venues & festivals and appeared on BBC TV and radio. Band of Gold appeals to all musical taste The Retros About: The band's passion and obvious joy in the music is clear in their live act and their recordings. In addition, all of the band members are lead vocalists, enabling them to offer a range and depth of material that few other bands possess. In recent years, Go Go dancers have joined the band on stage, g The Del Sharrons Recent review: "Sara and Forbes Wedding Where on earth do I start!! Matt, we cannot thank you and the band enough for everything you did on Saturday. From getting there nice and early and set up, to stuffing yourselves with cake just to get us some winners. It was so kind of you to let us use your microp Forever Diamond Available in Tenbury Wells from £TBC Recent review: We booked Chris for our Valentine Ball,we weren't disappointed. The first set had us singing along and dancing with Neil Diamond and the party set for the second half continued in the same vein with Chris interacting with the crowd all night. We thoroughly recommend Chris for your social event. A gr Worcester, Worcestershire, Bewdley, Broadway, Bromsgrove, Droitwich, Evesham, Kidderminster, Malvern, Pershore, Redditch, Stourport On Severn, Tenbury Wells, Alvechurch, Upton upon Severn	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2296
__label__cc	0.585137	0.414863	Hire Ensemble in West Yorkshire Ensemble West Yorkshire Are you looking for an ensemble in West Yorkshire, West Yorkshire? We've selected more than 50 acts available for hire in West Yorkshire. We also recommend to see: function bands, jazz bands, string quartets, swing bands Kellermeister Oompah Band Available in West Yorkshire from £650 Recent review: "We booked Kellermeister Oompah Band for our Golf Club Oktoberfest. They arrived on time and set up their equipment then got into their traditional Bavarian Costumes. The evening took off with a bang right from the start. The band was brilliant, thoroughly entertaining and very professional. Th Fresh Piano Violin Duo Available in West Yorkshire from £250.00 Recent review: The music for our ceremony was beautiful and made our day so special, all the guests commented how lovely the Music was. Very organised and lovley people. Recent review: We asked Top Brass to play traditional brass band numbers which they did and we were very pleased with their performance. They played a special request for the bride, Lion King. They were a brilliant start to the celebrations! Skelmanthorpe Brass Band About: Skelmanthorpe Brass Band are an excellent championship section band competing in major competitions around the UK, We comprise of 28 members including a professional conductor. Smaller groups are available performing a vast range of music to suit all needs of the client. We also help other organi Lasting Notes Recent review: As soon as we arrived for our afternoon reception, the music drifted out, creating the perfect atmosphere. The saxophone and guitar duo were so classy and provided a wonderful backdrop to a lovely afternoon. Later in the evening, the post modern band entertained our guests and made sure that everyon Forever Tenors About: A brand new classical crossover–operatic pop trio that's full of class, elegance and vocal perfection. Forever Tenors feature three outstanding UK male stage vocalists with professional credits from both the world of Opera & London’s West End, International and National Tours, your event will dazz Wharfe Quartet About: We are a string quartet based in West Yorkshire, and would love to play for your wedding or other special event! Clifton and Lightcliffe Brass Band Recent review: I booked the Clifton and Lightcliffe Band for a Degree Ceremony held in the Harrogate Convention Centre and was thoroughly impressed!! Any queries I had were dealt with promptly and professionally, both by the band and by Poptop. The audience loved the band and so did we! I would certainly recommend About: Popular all-star band, Midnight Garden perform a plethora of beautiful jazz, blues and pop tunes. The trio, formed of graduates of Leeds College of Music, is inspired by jazz artists of today - such as Norah Jones, Jamie Cullum and Madeline Peyroux - to transform timeless standards with stunning mod Lofthouse Brass Band Available in West Yorkshire from £400:00 About: Lofthouse Brass Band, based in West Yorkshire, has been providing live music to local areas and further afield since 1999. We are a friendly community band, whose focus is to entertain our audiences, improve our ability as players, take part and succeed in contests and enjoy our company. Under th Available in West Yorkshire from £10 Sara and Piano About: This Classical duo are a perfect fit for your event, creating both a warm and refined ambience that won't be forgotten. They both have a high level of training, from a music conservatoire, with a broad amount of performance experience, to bring a unique edge to your event. Lynne and Vikki About: Violin/cello and violin/piano duo based in West Yorkshire Voci String Quartet About: Voci String Quartet are a versatile popular and classical music ensemble who have performed as a quartet for over 2 years, and promise to compliment any event. From corporate events, weddings to anniversaries and parties, with a large set of repertoire to choose from, Voci String Quartet is guar Available in West Yorkshire About: The members of Kairos Ensemble met in the early 90's whilst studying music at the Royal Academy of Music and City University in London, forming the quartet in 2001. Their extensive live work has included jazz concerts, workshops and tours. They have released four albums, most recently Rejoicing Blue Perfect Day Jazz About: Professional jazz group of saxophone, female singer, guitar and double bass. Perfect day jazz are ideal for background music at your special event. We can perform as a duo, trio or quartet as befits the occasion. Top Heavy About: Teesside`s top Classic Rock tribute act, playing favourites from AC/DC Aerosmith, Guns n` Roses, Led Zeppelin, Free and many more. Trouble at t'Mill About: Folk quartet Trouble at t'Mill have been playing private and public gigs since the band's formation in August 2015. The band is fully-equipped with a 1000W PA rig - plenty loud enough to fill a medium-large venue. "We have an extensive catalogue of music, fit for any occasion or venue, ranging from The Harrogate Band About: We're a seriously entertaining brass band and are a popular choice for performing at concerts and all sorts of great events. As well as putting on fantastic concerts we compete regularly so our standard of playing is consistently high and we have a reputation for innovation and performing exciting c Yorkshire Volubteers Band About: The band performs throughout the UK and Europe in both concert and marching band formations and maintains the long traditions of the Yorkshire Volunteers adding a touch of pomp and circumstance to any event from traditional summer bandstand concerts to country shows with everything in between. The Halifax, Otley, Ossett, Brighouse, Castleford, Shipley, Batley, Hebden Bridge, Ilkley, Pudsey, Bradford, Menston, Haworth, Keighley, Huddersfield, Pontefract, Ripponden, Burley in Wharfedale, Cleckheaton, Methley, Boston Spa, Holmfirth, Normanton, Mirfield, Silsden, Heckmondwike, Dewsbury, Liversedge, Wakefield, Leeds, South Kirkby, Sowerby Bridge, Knottingley, Bingley, Ackworth Moor Top, Wetherby, Elland, Denby Dale	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2297
__label__wiki	0.940094	0.940094	Vince Cable’s shake-up allows Lib Dem supporters to join for free and vote for new leader – UK Sir Vince Cable is planning an overhaul of the Liberal Democrats in an attempt to turn the party into a “Movement for Moderates”. The veteran politician will outline proposals for major reform of his party to allow new supporters to join for free and have a say in future leadership contests. The plans will be seen as an attempt by the Lib Dems to mirror the success of left-wing pressure group Momentum, which has attracted thousands of new supporters to Labour under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. Labour’s membership has soared in recent years since party reforms allowed anyone to sign up to vote in a leadership contest by becoming a registered supporter for a small fee. As of April this year, Labour had 540,000 members compared to 125,500 SNP members, 124,000 Conservative members and 99,200 Lib Dem members. READ Brexit news: Manfred Weber wades into Brexit no deal row \| Politics \| News - UK In a speech on Friday, Sir Vince will describe how he wants to create a formal link with online activists who “loosely identify” with the Lib Dems. The Lib Dems have struggled to regain voters since Nick Clegg entered a coalition with the Conservatives The 75-year-old, who has led his party since July last year, also wants to connect with “the vast swathe of voters in the centre ground whom we are yet to persuade”. He is expected to say: “We should widen membership with a new class of ‘supporters’ who pay nothing to sign up to the party’s values. “They should enjoy a range of entitlements, including the right to vote for the leadership and to shape the party’s campaigning online. “The Liberal Democrats already have an army of voluntary helpers and deliverers, as well as 200,000 online supporters, who loosely identify with us and campaign with us, but currently have no say in the direction of the party. READ What white paper means for sovereignty, immigration and money - UK “Whatever rights our new supporters gain, we as a party aim to be in constant conversation with them, engaging them in campaigns and urging them to begin campaigns of their own. “I want these not to be just about stopping things but about growing support for the things that matter to Liberal Democrat voters, and to the vast swathe of voters in the centre ground whom we are yet to persuade.” Gina Miller has ruled out a Lib Dem leadership bid Despite taking an anti-Brexit position, the Lib Dems have failed to capitalise on pro-EU sentiment among large numbers of voters. READ Donald Trump 'deal' with EU boss Jean-Claude Juncker averts trade war - UK The party is yet to recapture the same popularity it enjoyed prior to entering the coalition government in 2010. But, Sir Vince will point to how activists joining together through groups such as More United, 38 Degrees and Change.org have shown the Lib Dems how they “can engage hundreds of thousands of people online”. He is expected to add: “We are a centre-ground, pro-European, liberal and social democratic party, welcoming like-minded supporters. “This will be a Movement for Moderates.” A Lib Dem source recently confirmed Sir Vince’s plans for a radical shake-up of party rules could allow a non-MP to succeed him as leader. More from Liberal Democrats But they dismissed reports Sir Vince will use Friday’s speech to set out a timetable for him stepping down as leader. Businesswoman and prominent anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller ruled out a bid for the Lib Dem leadership following the emergence of Sir Vince’s proposals for future leadership contests. Previous articleJudge’s outrage at rapist’s three-year reign of terror while out on bail \| Politics \| News – UK Next articleREVEALED: Brexiteer MPs plan Chequers alternative to BREAK the deadlock on Irish question – UK	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2306
__label__cc	0.675074	0.324926	/content/lb/en/destinations/flights-to-bangkok/from-milan https://www.qatarairways.com/en-lb/search-results Bangkok: a rich blend of today and yesterday Bangkok Bangkok Passing clouds from Milan Book flights from Milan to Bangkok with Qatar Airways Arriving in Bangkok Book a flight to Bangkok with Qatar Airways and you’ll arrive at one of the world’s most exciting and popular destinations. Not only a beloved destination by the adventurous travellers and ‘backpackers,’ but it’s also a wonderful destination for the more discerning, luxury travellers. Whether you’re looking for ancient temples, bustling markets, lively nightlife or absolute luxury, you’ll find it in Bangkok. Many of the city’s best known sights can be found in the historic centre within the Rattanakosin district. The most spectacular attraction is the Grand Palace, which was once home to the King of Thailand and today offers visitors a rich mixture of history and architectural splendour. Within the palace grounds you’ll also discover Thailand’s holiest temple, Wat Phra Kaew. Other highlights in Rattanakosin include the large reclining Buddha statue at Wat Pho and the Thai-European fusion of Wat Ratchabophit. Other popular districts worth exploring during your trip to Bangkok include Siam Square for sheer high-end luxury shopping, and Silom for its bustling entertainment venues. For a very different perspective on the city and a more relaxing way to see the sights, go for a cruise down the Phraya River. Flights to Bangkok with Qatar Airways land at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Visa restrictions for entry into the country will depend on your country of origin, length of stay and whether your trip is for business or pleasure. Before you fly to Bangkok please check the visa and passport requirements. Visit Thailand in comfort, thanks to luxury, long-haul flights from Milan to Bangkok with Qatar Airways. Reach the 'Land of Smiles' relaxed; as our attentive cabin crew do everything they can make your journey truly special. Sit back, relax and enjoy award-winning service on board our state-of-the-art aircraft, and touch down feeling revitalised and ready to explore the exciting city of Bangkok. Bangkok, immensely popular with tourists, is one of the most vibrant, colourful and culturally intriguing cities on the planet. Visitors will discover a heady mixture of old and new, a modern transport system and many easy-to-reach natural wonders. The Thai capital really does offer something for everyone – whether you are there on business or pleasure. Let Qatar Airways take you there, and enjoy a smooth and stress-free journey from the moment you check in to the moment you arrive. Flying from Milan Milan’s Malpensa airport is the largest of two serving the northern Italian city. Approximately 25 miles northwest of the city, it is currently undergoing expansion and is set to grow considerably over the next few years. This modernisation makes Malpensa airport an excellent and efficient departure point for passengers flying from Milan with Qatar Airways. The staff are friendly, helpful and professional, and the airport itself offers passengers every amenity and facility to make their journey more pleasant. The airport is well served by public transport. Malpensa Express trains run direct services to and from Terminal 1 to Milan Cadorna Station, taking approximately 30-40 minutes. TrenItalia and Trenord services connect to other destinations across the immediate area. Buses operate from Milan Central station to both terminals, while the Malpensa Shuttle Air Pullman coach service also departs from Milan Central, taking approximately 50 minutes. Taxis are available – ask your hotel concierge to book for you so that you pay a fixed fare (usually around 90 Euros). Parking for both short and long-term stays are available with parking areas close to both terminals. Valet parking is available and a shuttle bus service links the more remote parks with the terminals (particularly Terminal 1). Arriving in Milan Passengers flying from Milan with Qatar Airways depart from Terminal 1C. The airport is very large, so allow plenty of time before your flight is due to board to clear check in and security, which is particularly tight in all European airports. Carriers recommend that you allow at least two hours prior to your flight’s departure. Facilities at the airport are excellent quality and very modern. Lounges for all passengers are available, and VIP and premium lounges are set aside for first class and business class travellers. The airport offers a range of conference and VIP services to business travellers, while paid-for Wi-Fi is available for a charge. Plenty of retail outlets provide travellers with luxury goods, accessories and Duty Free, including exclusive brands and specialist fashion outlets. Food and drink vendors range from coffee and pastries through to more substantial meals, pizza and international cuisine. Essential facts about Bangkok	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2313
__label__cc	0.638294	0.361706	Suzanne Shelton on Perceptions of Green and How to Market Sustainable Homes When it comes to green building, are buyers and builders on the same page? By Mike Beirne, Senior Editor \| November 28, 2018 Suzanne Shelton heads Shelton Group, a thought leader on sustainability issues that conducts proprietary research on Americans’ changing perceptions about energy efficiency and high-performance homes. A consultant once advised Suzanne Shelton that if she wanted her Knoxville marketing agency to grow into a nationally recognized shop, it should stop being a generalist and specialize. Almost two decades later, Shelton Group is a thought leader on sustainability issues, conducting proprietary research on Americans’ changing perceptions about energy efficiency and high-performance homes and sharing those insights in a weekly e-newsletter to about 8,000 subscribers. Shelton herself speaks at up to 30 national conferences annually on the topic. Among those engagements, Shelton has been a regular presenter at the annual summit of the Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA), a building science education nonprofit. Last year, she explained that connecting prospective homebuyers with green homes is about learning how they are wired and tailoring marketing materials and messaging appropriately. She categorized prospects most likely to buy green homes as either True Believers, Concerned Parents, or Cautious Conservatives. At this year’s EEBA summit held in October in San Diego, Shelton debunked builders’ belief that buyers don’t want green homes and don’t want to pay for them. Q: For about a decade, you’ve been saying builders should drop phrases like “high-performance home” from their marketing and use benefit terms like “comfort,” “health,” “safety,” and “resale” instead. Are builders getting that message? A: This is a tough habit for some to break. Builders committed to high-performance building are, rightfully, passionate about the science behind it. As I said in my EEBA talk, and you guys noted in your magazine last year, Thrive Homes is the poster child for a builder that “gets it” and communicates the benefits of the science in a human, emotional, and compelling way. Q: What’s motivating homebuyers to want energy-efficient homes? A: The people who say they’ve purchased a certified efficient or certified green home in the past and those who are in the market for a new home and say energy efficiency is a major driver in their purchasing decision are both more likely to say the environmental impact of their energy use is their top energy concern. While past buyers are driven by preserving quality of life for future generations as a reason to buy an energy-efficient home, for future buyers it’s about saving money. Both kinds of green are important. The way to package it is that these homes are truly the best-built, smartest, and most efficient, comfortable, environmentally friendly homes on the market today. "Shades of Green" - What is real, assumed, and imagined about how builders and buyers define and value green homes Q: To develop a marketing pitch for selling an energy-efficient home, is it primarily about connecting with buyer demographics or is there something else with which builders should connect? A: True Believers are a slam dunk, since they’re aware and informed about their impact on the planet, care deeply about it, and act on that belief. But so are Concerned Parents. They’re worried about their kids’ comfort and safety today and in the future. Those two consumer segments combined make up about half of the population. They’re the most likely groups to have purchased a green/efficient home in the past and most likely to do so in the future. So keep the message focused on comfort, smart, efficient, and low-impact—for your family today and for their future. Q: In your EEBA presentation, you compared builders’ and architects’ views regarding client perception and willingness to pay for energy-efficient features with homeowners’ opinions about green. What did you find? A: For builders to feel they can truthfully call their homes “green,” the house must have Energy Star appliances, a high-efficiency HVAC system, and higher R-value insulation, while for consumers to feel they have a green home, it has to have solar panels. Bottom line: Builders need to do all of the right things to make the home efficient and green ... but they need to add the visual cues so the folks buying the homes get to display that badge of honor and telegraph a message to anyone who visits their home that they’re people who care and do the right thing. So add solar, even if it’s just a little, say for water heating, and consider other visible cues, like a Nest thermostat, dual-flush toilets, controllable/color-changing LED lights, and reclaimed wood paneling on an accent wall. Certifications—clearly affixed to the home—are also a good cue. Q: What other words should home builders avoid in their marketing message? A: I wish every builder in America were building Net Zero Energy Homes. I think that’s the right thing to do for our country. But if we’re going to call them “Net Zero Energy Homes,” we must create consistent, easy-to-understand language that gets right to the benefits of a Net Zero Energy Home. Our data says 91 percent of Americans could not confidently, correctly explain that term to a friend, and when we explain what it means, they tell us it sounds “smart” and “high-tech.” They don’t say, ‘Warm, cozy, comfortable, a place where I want to make memories with my family.” We have to overcome that with a LOT of messaging, and everyone needs to use the same messaging, so we’re not putting conflicting stories out in the market and confusing the heck out of the people we’re trying to engage. Access a PDF of this article in Pro Builder's December 2018 digital edition Mike Beirne Mike Beirne is the senior editor of Professional Builder and Custom Builder magazines. A two-time Jesse H. Neal Award winner, Mike has nearly 30 years of journalism experience plus numerous news and feature writing awards, including honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, the American Society of Business Press Editors, and the National Association of Real Estate Editors. He also operated a masonry restoration business for more than two decades. New Home Marketing PB-Executive Corner,PB-Green Projects,PB-New Home Marketing What Model Home? Maronda's Website Brings Buyers Deeper Into the Sales Funnel Jason Adams on How Connecting Data to the Cloud Rained Actionable Insights KTGY's Bill Ramsey on overcoming the stigma surrounding density Matt Sauls on Pardee Homes' First 55+ Product and Why Local Flavor Is Key The O'Leary View of Building Affordable Homes and Competing With Big Builders	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2320
__label__cc	0.662091	0.337909	Home Most Popular Warning over “Chinese Ecstasy” drug linked to 125 deaths Warning over “Chinese Ecstasy” drug linked to 125 deaths Adam Beckett Ravers beware, for deadly batches of ecstasy lookalike tablets containing N-Ethylnorpentylone that are being produced in China have surfaced in the Britain area and dancing machines need to totally avoid them. In an alert to the summer music festival participants, the National Crime Agency warned about the dangers of the potentially lethal chemical that has already claimed one-hundred-twenty-five lives since it hit the streets in 2016. It is feared that the numbers will only increase as it spreads through different parts of the globe. China’s psychoactive drug factories have been flooding the international market with various drugs over the past few years, and it does not seem to be slowing down. In an attempt to combat the production of the extraordinarily lethal N-Ethylnorpentylone, the United Nations has ordered a worldwide ban on the chemical effective immediately. A World Health Organisation (WHO) investigation report, seen by The Telegraph, said the drug had been identified in 25 US deaths and “approximately 125 toxicology reports confirmed the detection (urine and blood) of N-ethylnorpentylone in fatal cases observed between 2016 and 2018.” The National Crime Agency warns people who take drugs that the chemical that is often sold as ecstasy can cause extreme cases of paranoia, anxiety, psychotic episodes, seizures, and can keep people awake for up to four days. The Loop, A UK based harm reduction service claims that it has been discovered over twenty times in tablets that were thought to be MDMA or ecstasy. The chemical is being compared to spice due to the fact that its first version was the exact chemical makeup of THC. Once the chemical was banned, chemists simply rearranged the chemical makeup of the Spice and re-released it to the public. After several times of this happening, what was one the synthetic form of THC was now something completely different, and it started to have detrimental effects on the people that used it. The same thing has happened with N-Ethylnorpentylone. The once MDMA synthetic is now a monster of its own, and it is wrecking lives and killing people. As we all know that just because something is banned, does not mean that it is not going to hit the streets. Drug peddlers can be soulless and have concern for the bottom line over human lives. People all over the globe need to be aware that this chemical exists and it looks just like actual ecstasy. People in the UK and Britain area need to be especially diligent when consuming tablets. It is highly recommended for people to test any chemical that they decide to put in their body. Sometimes with ecstasy, or things that resemble ecstasy, one tablet is not enough, and on the other hand, one tablet can have fatal consequences. Stay safe out there party people. Look out for your friends, and look out for yourselves. SOURCEtelegraph Adam has watched the EDM scene change from tiny underground warehouses, to massive festival grounds. A firm believer in spreading love and light, and dancing till the break of dawn. Life motto: So we dance ‘Talented’ teen dies after consuming up to 9 MDMA capsules at music festival Warning over Blue Punisher ecstasy tablets after the death of a teenager New report says Ecstasy & LSD have less damaging effects than Alcohol & Tobacco	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2324
__label__cc	0.594025	0.405975	Jeff Goodell Quotations Jeff Goodell Quotes about: Jeff Goodell Jeff Goodell is an American author and contributing editor to Rolling Stone magazine. Goodell's writings are known for a focus on energy and environmental issues. He is a 2016 Fellow at the New America Foundation... (wikipedia) ↪ Profession Author Quotes Amazon Quotes Once we start deliberately messing with the climate systems, we could inadvertently shift rainfall patterns (climate models have shown that rainfall in the Amazon might be particularly vulnerable), causing collapse of ecosystems, drought, famine, and more. You gotta love Rick Perry's swagger. The Texas Governor is out there in the Iowa cornfields, unabashedly going to toe-to-toe with President Obama, doing his best to instantly cast himself as the big dog in the Republican pack. President Obama is in no danger of being judged by history as an eco-radical. Ocean Quotes Australia is the only island continent on the planet, which means that changes caused by planet-warming pollution - warmer seas, which can drive stronger storms, and more acidic oceans, which wreak havoc on the food chain - are even more deadly here. Bully Quotes Ever since the collapse of cap and trade legislation and the realization that President Obama is unlikely to ever utter the words 'climate change' in public again, much less use the bully pulpit to prepare the nation for the catastrophic risks of inaction, the movement has been in a funk. Baths Quotes One of the big questions in the climate change debate: Are humans any smarter than frogs in a pot? If you put a frog in a pot and slowly turn up the heat, it won't jump out. Instead, it will enjoy the nice warm bath until it is cooked to death. We humans seem to be doing pretty much the same thing. Giving Up Quotes One thing you can say about nuclear power: the people who believe it is the silver bullet for America's energy problems never give up. Average Quotes In the Arctic, things are already getting freaky. Temperatures have warmed three times faster than the global average. Global Warming Quotes Have we failed to slow global warming pollution in part because climate and environmental activists have been too polite and well behaved? Fighting Quotes Bill Gates is a relative newcomer to the fight against global warming, but he's already shifting the debate over climate change. Oil Quotes Extracting oil from the tar sands is a nasty, polluting, energy-intensive business. Thinking Quotes You think the weather is weird now? Just wait. A new MIT study, just published in a peer-reviewed journal, projects that the Earth could see warming of more than 9 degrees F by 2100 - more than twice earlier projections. Uranium Mining Quotes But Big Oil and Big Coal have always been as skilled at propaganda as they are at mining and drilling. Like the tobacco industry before them, their success depends on keeping Americans stupid. Cousin Quotes From the industry's point of view, the problem is not that coal companies blast the top off mountains, turning the area into a moonscape and polluting the air and releasing toxic chemical into what's left of the local streams and aquifers. It's that the people who live near the mines are too cozy with their cousins. Would Be Quotes Nobody disputes that cheap natural gas would be a good thing for the economy. The question is, is this a sustainable new development that can be counted on for decades to come, or simply a 'bubble' brought on by a land grab and drilling frenzy? Stars Quotes Mark Ruffalo, aka the Incredible Hulk, is the natural gas industry's worst nightmare: a serious, committed activist who is determined to use his star power as a superhero in the hottest movie of the moment to draw attention the environmental and public health risks of fracking. Is it in our national interest to overheat the planet? That's the question Obama faces in deciding whether to approve Keystone XL, a 2,000-mile-long pipeline that will bring 500,000 barrels of tar-sand oil from Canada to oil refineries on the Gulf of Mexico. Impact Quotes Climate scientists have long pointed to the Southwest as one of the places in the U.S. that is most vulnerable to global warming impacts, especially drought. And if there's one thing that even climate denialists don't dispute, dry things burn. In reality, Republicans have long been at war with clean energy. They have ridiculed investments in solar and wind power, bashed energy-efficiency standards, attacked state moves to promote renewable energy and championed laws that would enshrine taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuels while stripping them from wind and solar. Facts Quotes Some studies have shown that natural gas could, in fact, be worse for the climate than coal. Jobs Quotes In reality, studies show that investments to spur renewable energy and boost energy efficiency generate far more jobs than oil and coal. Cleaners Quotes Ethanol doesn't burn cleaner than gasoline, nor is it cheaper. Coal Quotes Compared to coal, which generates almost half the electricity in the United States, natural gas is indeed a cleaner, less polluting fuel. But compared to, say, solar, it's filthy. And of course there is nothing renewable about natural gas. The biggest tab the public picks up for fossil fuels has to do with what economists call 'external costs,' like the health effects of air and water pollution. To understand how quickly we're cooking the planet, we need good data. To have good data, we need good satellites. Built Quotes So if you want to know how Exxon Mobil can make $10 billion profit in 90 days, just look around. The whole world was built for them. One of the pillars of backward thinking in America is the idea that you can have jobs or you can have clean air and water, but you can't have both. That myth has been busted a thousand times, but still it lives on. Fleeing Quotes Without electrons, there is no Google. And without clean electrons, there will be no Google customers, since we'll all be too busy fleeing from rising seas, droughts, and disease. Australia Quotes With so much at risk, you might expect Australia to be at the forefront of the clean-energy revolution and the international effort to cut carbon pollution. After all, the continent's vast, empty deserts were practically designed for solar-power installations. Companies Quotes But overall, Obama's record on the environment has been uninspired - and that's putting it kindly. He hasn't stopped coal companies from blowing up mountaintops and devastating large regions of Appalachia. Almost Quotes What is likely to vanish - or be transformed beyond recognition - are many of the things we think of when we think of Australia: the barrier reef, the koalas, the sense of the country as a land of almost limitless natural resources. Admitted Quotes Even the biggest coal boosters have long admitted that coal is a dying industry - the fight has always been over how fast and how hard the industry will fall. Bloomberg's $50 million is not going to revolutionize the electric power industry. But his willingness to fight is already inspiring others to see Big Coal differently. Billion Quotes Corn is already the most subsidized crop in America, raking in a total of $51 billion in federal handouts between 1995 and 2005 - twice as much as wheat subsidies and four times as much as soybeans. Ethanol itself is propped up by hefty subsidies, including a fifty-one-cent-per-gallon tax allowance for refiners. Drill Quotes Drill everything, mine everything, roll back regulations, tweak the science, expedite permits. Sound familiar? The Republicans offer up more 19th-Century solutions to our 21st-Century energy problems. Claims Quotes The oil industry fought hard to keep Keystone alive, making wildly exaggerated claims that the pipeline - the country's largest infrastructure project - would create tens of thousands of jobs and decrease America's reliance on oil from the Middle East. Energy Quotes Subsidies are hugely important; they represent America's de facto energy policy. Biggest Quotes Australia has suffered a decade of drought, epic floods, a Category 5 cyclone, and a plague of locusts. But just because Aussies have the biggest carbon footprint in the world, it doesn't mean they're stupid. Although Quotes Although most Americans don't know it, the U.S. gets more oil from Canada than it does from the entire Middle East. Beyond Quotes The relevant questions now are: How do we move beyond coal? How do we bring new jobs to the coal fields and retrain coal miners for other work? How do we inspire entrepreneurialism and self-reliance in people whose lives have been dependent on the paternalistic coal industry? Addicted Quotes Despite all the progress climate scientists have made in understanding the risks we run by loading the atmosphere with CO2, the world is still as addicted to fossil fuels as ever. Gas Quotes The natural gas industry has worked long and hard to smear Josh Fox, the director of 'Gasland,' and has failed. Drilling Quotes In any crass political calculation, drilling for oil will always win more votes than putting a price on carbon. But if I recall what I was taught in fifth-grade American government class, we elect presidents to do more than crass political calculations. Change Quotes If you are interested enough in the climate crisis to read this post, you probably know that 2 degrees Centigrade of warming (or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) is the widely acknowledged threshold for "dangerous" climate change. Alone Quotes In the U.S. alone, weather disasters caused $50 billion in economic damages in 2010. Batteries Quotes In recent years, America's wealthiest man has begun to tackle energy issues in a major way, investing millions in everything from high-capacity batteries to machines that can scrub carbon dioxide out of the air. With a personal fortune of $50 billion, Gates has the resources to give his favorite solutions a major boost. Atmosphere Quotes By burning fossil fuels, we are already dumping 30 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year, which has a profound effect on the climate. So, like it or not, we're already messing with a system we don't understand. Views Quotes When it comes to climate and energy, Gates is a radical consumerist. In his view, energy consumption is good - it just needs to be clean energy. This Dewdrop World is a beautiful, courageous, intimate film about love and loss. It may also be the deepest meditation on climate change that I've ever seen. Sexy Quotes Americans don't pay much attention to environmental issues, because they aren't sexy. I mean, cleaning up coal plants and reining in outlaw frackers is hugely important work, but it doesn't get anybody's pulse racing. Some studies suggest that the Arctic Ocean may be ice-free by the end of the century. Looks Quotes New York Quotes New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who also happens to be the 10th richest person in America, with a personal fortune of some $18 billion, likes to pick a fight - especially fights where the line between good and evil is particularly stark. Obama wants to be thought of as the president who freed us from foreign oil. But if he doesn't show some political courage, he may well be remembered as the president who cooked the planet. For better or worse, the bulk of coal industry jobs are in Appalachia - and when that coal is gone, so are the jobs. Needs Quotes Bloomberg is famously impatient with beltway politics and believes that to get anything done you need to work from the ground up. Firsts Quotes Among all the tests President Obama faced in his first term, his biggest failure was climate change. Party Quotes It's not all Obama's fault: His plans to rebuild America's energy infrastructure have been hampered by the recession, and his efforts on global warming have been stymied by Tea Party wackos and weak-kneed Democrats in Congress. Earth Quotes Geoengineering - the deliberate, large-scale manipulation of the earth's climate to offset global warming - is a nightmare fix for climate change. Climate change is a global issue - from the point of view of the Earth's climate, a molecule of CO2 emitted in Bejing is the same as a molecule emitted in Sydney. If you think Wall Street firms have it good, you haven't looked closely at Big Oil. In the United States, we do a pretty good job of protecting iconic landscapes and postcard views, but the ocean gets no respect. In the world of energy politics, the sudden vanishing of the word 'coal' is a remarkable and unprecedented event. Fall Quotes With nine degrees of warming, computer models project that Australia will look like a disaster movie. Habitats for most vertebrates will vanish. Water supply to the Murray-Darling Basin will fall by half, severely curtailing food production. Maybe more climate activists will think about the climate change not as an international problem to be resolved in an air-conditioned meeting hall, but as a guerilla war to be fought in the streets. Records Quotes Obama's record on climate issues is not all bad. Sky Quotes Not since the days of George W. Bush's 'Clear Skies' and 'Healthy Forests' initiatives has America been presented with a project as cravenly corporate and backward-looking as the Keystone XL pipeline. Presidential Quotes Nowhere has the political power of coal been more obvious than in presidential campaigns. Virginia Quotes It may be too late for West Virginia to save itself from the ravages of Big Coal. But it's not too late for America. Weather Quotes Political Quotes The coal industry is an even larger part of the Australian economy than it is of the American, and it has an enormous amount of political power. Want Quotes When it comes to energy, cost isn't everything - but it's a lot. Everybody wants cheap power. Gorillas Quotes When it comes to global warming, coal is the gorilla in the room. Land Quotes If we drill the hell out of everything, including protected public lands and fragile regions like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, America can emerge as an 'energy superpower.' Wells Quotes Coal boosters like to tout coal as cheap and plentiful - well, not anymore. At least not in China. The floods and fires and storms and droughts that Australia has suffered in the last few years have left no doubt in many Australians' minds about just how much is a stake in a super-heated world. America Quotes The end of coal in Appalachia doesn't mean that America is running out of coal (there's plenty left in Wyoming). But it should end the fantasy that coal can be an engine of job creation - the big open pit mines in Wyoming employ a tiny fraction of the number of people in an underground mine in Appalachia. Asserting Quotes The idea that human beings have taken a few steps closer toward asserting control over the Earth's climate is likely to strike you as a really bad idea. Climate Quotes The first sign of whether Obama is serious about confronting the climate crisis will be revealed by how he organizes the White House. Jeff Goodell Fans Also Likes Quotations from James A. Baldwin William Trogdon Richard Grant Phyllis Theroux Polly Berrien Berends	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2328
__label__wiki	0.953074	0.953074	1MATCH URL: https://assets.rappler.com/612F469A6EA84F6BAE882D2B94A4B421/img/E341A07237F2423280D48A6067F81970/aquino-binay-20140731.jpg Binay ‘begged’ Aquino to stop Senate probe Sources close to the President have a different version of what transpired during the October 14 meeting between President Aquino and Vice President Binay Natashya Gutierrez @natashya_g Published 11:52 AM, October 17, 2014 Updated 3:15 PM, October 17, 2014 WHICH IS WHICH? Palace sources have a different version of what transpired during the October 14 meeting between President Aquino and Vice President Binay. File photo courtesy of the Malacañang Photo Bureau MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay “begged” President Benigno Aquino III to stop the Senate hearings on the alleged overpriced Makati building, a Palace source privy to the meeting told Rappler. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the Palace source said that contrary to reports and Binay's statements that the two officials are closer than ever after the meeting, all is not well between the two top officials, as evidenced by the outcome of the October 14 meeting. The source said the Vice President, who reportedly sought out the meeting, “begged the President to intervene to stop the Senate hearings” on the Makati building that has exposed alleged corrupt practices of the Vice President and members of his family. (READ: Binay's 'dear friend' got P1.3B contracts in 4 years) Asked what the President’s reaction was to Binay’s supposed plea, the source said Aquino “basically listened patiently” and “discussed other things like Yolanda and housing,” in an attempt to steer the conversation to different topics. The source expressed the belief that the meeting "only further strengthened the position of the President that the Vice President should not succeed him." Aquino has yet to name his favored candidate for the 2016 presidential polls. On Friday, October 17, Rappler interviewed another source close to President Aquino who confirmed Binay’s plea, and the President’s immediate response: “He rebuffed Binay. The President made his position very clear.” Binay camp: No such appeal The Binay camp denied the claims. Asked whether the Vice President asked for a halt in the hearings, Binay’s spokesperson, Cavite Governor Juanito Victor Remulla told Rappler that this “didn’t happen.” Remulla also claimed the meeting was not initiated by Binay but “was at the behest of people close to both.” What Remulla did confirm, however, is that Binay will stay in the Aquino Cabinet, as head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) concerns. “The VP serves at the pleasure of the President. He will continue to serve the people especially with housing and OFW concerns,” he said. The Palace source said that the October 14 meeting was initiated by the Vice President primarily to “clarify he was not hitting the President,” and that “he has no plans of resigning from the Cabinet.” The meeting took place on the same evening that Binay, in a speech before state prosecutors, slammed Aquino’s allies and blamed them for the alleged demolition job against him. In his speech, Binay also hit the controversial economic stimulus package of the administration, the Disbursement Acceleration Program that Aquino has adamantly defended. He also criticized the “unfair” treatment of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who faces plunder complaints, saying that she was a former president with a serious illness and “a woman” at that. The source close to Aquino said that by explaining himself to the President – that they remain allies even after he had lambasted him and his policies in public – the Vice President made it appear that he “wants to have his cake and eat it too.” Palace mum on details On Thursday, October 16, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr confirmed the October 14 meeting between Binay and Aquino, but said they talked about “non-official matters.” Coloma declined to elaborate. Also on Thursday, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a vocal critic of the Vice President, said he thinks the meet-up between Binay and Aquino is merely Binay’s “propaganda” to prove everything is okay. “What he meant, by virtue of that pronouncement that everything between them is okay, [is so] the other government agencies will back off – but its not that way,” Trillanes told reporters. “President Aquino won’t call us to stop the investigation. And if he does call, sorry but this is our job, this is our mandate,” he said. Trillanes has expressed interest in seeking higher office in 2016. Binay and his son face plunder complaints before the Ombudsman over an allegedly overpriced Makati building. The complaint sparked a Senate probe into Binay that has led to other revelations such as a supposed P1.2-billion ($26.77 million) farm owned by the Vice President that is not declared in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. Binay has cried foul over the accusations, saying they are fueled by political aspirations. The Vice President leads the 2016 polls on presidential hopefuls despite a drop in his numbers since the start of the probe, while the presumed standard bearer of the ruling Liberal Party, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, trails far behind in 2nd place. – Rappler.com $1 = P44.8 Filed under:2016 elections•Antonio Trillanes•Jejomar Binay•Jonvic Remulla•Malacañang•Senate probe•corruption•demolition job•meeting•President Benigno Aquino III	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2333
__label__wiki	0.749562	0.749562	Why Georgia Dare Not Risk Declaring Neutrality It is feared that the crumbling of the pro-NATO consensus in Georgia might also imply the disintegration of the pro-democracy consensus. Georgian Authorities Propose 'Dialogue' As Opposition Closes Ranks On March 27, 13 Georgian opposition parties announced that they will coordinate the organization of peaceful protest rallies beginning on April 9 with the aim of forcing President Mikheil Saakashvili to resign and schedule an early presidential election. The announcement reflects a degree of unanimity among major opposition parties and leaders unprecedented in Georgia's post-Soviet history. Iran, Russia, Georgia 'Threaten Internet Freedom' A new study says Iran, Russia, and Georgia are among those nations where the rights of people who use the Internet are increasingly at risk, with governments expanding their ability to monitor, censor, and punish Internet users. PACE Urges 'Restraint, Calm' From Georgian Authorities, Opposition Two co-rapporteurs from the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) are calling on Georgian authorities and opposition protesters to exercise restraint during major antigovernment protests scheduled for April 9. NATO At 60: Big Enough? When the Berlin Wall came down, NATO was a tightly focused, 16-member military alliance with a clear-cut mission. With Croatia and Albania, the alliance has ballooned to include 28 countries -- with more banging on the door. As NATO turns 60, observers are wondering whether expansion has reached its limits. Georgia's Saakashvili Warns Rivals Against Unrest The warning comes against a backdrop of arrests and accusations that individuals with ties to the opposition were planning to ignite unrest during opposition rallies planned for April. Impetus For EU Enlargement Grinds To A Halt EU enlargement may not be dead, but it is certainly showing few signs of life. Warnings that the process is on hold came thick and fast on the final day of an EU meeting in the Czech Republic that saw the bloc play host to the Western Balkan countries and Turkey. Oligarchs Entangled In Georgian Political Intrigue Georgia's mounting political drama intensified further today when Georgian television aired photographs of the husband of former parliament speaker and opposition leader Nino Burjanadze in Kyiv earlier this month. The pictures showed Burjanadze's husband meeting with a shadowy Georgian oligarch known for his ties to the Moscow government. The new evidence has increased speculation that Moscow is playing an active role in Georgian politics ahead of a major opposition protest scheduled for April 9 South Ossetia Accuses Georgia Of Shelling Village The leadership of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia has accused Tbilisi of launching repeated attacks against an Ossetian village, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports. Made-For-TV Film Pushes Kremlin Line On Georgia War Ever since the five-day war between Russia and Georgia broke out in August, Moscow and Tbilisi have traded accusations about who unleashed the violence. Russian TV viewers just got treated to a new installment in the dispute. Obama, NATO Chief Agree Ties With Russia Must Improve U.S. President Barack Obama discussed relations with Russia and other issues with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in a 45-minute meeting at the White House. Georgian Police Ratchet Up Pressure On Burjanadze For the third day running, police in Georgia presented videotaped evidence purportedly implicating opposition activists in illegal arms purchases and organizing politically motivated violence.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2337
__label__wiki	0.658334	0.658334	Catch-up Features Industry Interview Krasimira Butseva, a solo exhibition at EEP Berlin EEP Berlin presents Balkan Mine solo exhibition & events Private view: 11th of July, Thursday 7PM Open daily: 12th - 14th July 2019 Address: EEP Berlin's Gallery Space. Liegnitzer Str. 34 \| 10999 Berlin Balkan Mine is an extensive research of the shifting layers of history, memory and trauma related to the forced labour camps of the Bulgarian communist regime (1946-89) by photographer and researcher Krasimira Butseva (1994, BG). In a multimedia installation including film, photography, sculpture and layers of sound, she is recreating her personal journey through the spaces where a dictatorship was once enforced at its hardest. This ongoing project starting in 2016 is Butseva’s collection of accounts of victims and a record of her own subconscious and fragmented experience of history as an outsider. By letting the spectator become part of the intimate narratives of both the survivors and the artist, she is able to construct an image of unseen historical events and formulate a bridge between past and present, thus referencing the unspoken trauma carried within a society and its future generations. Curated by Krasimira Butseva & Maya Hristova. Public Programme 13th July \| Saturday 5pm Remembering whilst Forgetting / In conversation Krasimira Butseva & Maya Hristova Curator Maya Hristova talks to Bulgarian-born-London-based artist Krasimira Butseva about her exhibition 'Balkan Mine', which includes a series of films and photographs investigating the collective silence and denial of the human rights violations of the communist regime in Bulgaria. 14th July \| Sunday, 4pm Trauma as Ritual / Reading & Writing Group Krasimira Butseva will do a series of readings of texts which have influenced her work on 'Balkan mine'. From excerpts of fictional stories to history books, artists’ texts and archival documents, this session will blur the lines between real and imagined allowing for the artist’s narrative to come across. The reading will also be followed by a writing exercise in relation to the themes discussed. Krasimira Butseva has an MA & BA degrees in Photography from the University of Portsmouth, she has exhibited her work at Seen Fifteen Gallery, London (2019), Phoenix Gallery, Brighton Photo Fringe (2018), In motion / Prototype, Sofia, Bulgaria (2017), Four Corners Gallery, London (2017), Pingyao International Photography Festival, China (2016) and Uncertain States / Mile End Art Pavilion, London (2016). She's also a co-creator of Revolv, a photographers' collective working with British universities and art institutions, with the goal of discovering new experimental forms of creating and teaching photography in the form of lectures, workshops and exhibitions. krasimirabutseva.co.uk \| IG: krasimirabutseva revolv.org.uk \| IG: revolvcollective EEP Berlin is an independent platform for contemporary photography from Eastern Europe. Its focus lies in exhibiting the work of Eastern European artists, emerging and established, and presenting it to Berlin audiences. eepberlin.org \| IG: eepberlin In Promotion Tags Photograd, Photogradsub, Photography, Graduate, Photography Graduate, University, UK, Support Network, Talent, Photo Blog, Exhibition, Berlin, Germany, Solo Exhibition, Solo Show, Events, Research, History, Bulgaria, Researcher, Multimedia, Installation An interview with female photography group, Uprooted UPROOTED features six female artists from different cultural backgrounds working with a distinctly diverse approach: photography, installation pieces and works on paper. The unexpected fusion of each artist’s practice leads to a metaphorical understanding of the concept uprooted. The exhibition celebrated the not-yet possibilities when something or someone is rooted out from its familiar locations. Private view: 29th May 2019, 6-9pm Dates: 30 May - 2 June, 12-6pm Location: Arts Hub Gallery. 509 Creekside, Deptford, London SE8 4SA Tell us about Uprooted.an.exhibition. Who does the group show consist of and have you all studied photography? We are an evolving group of six female artists from different cultural backgrounds, where photography is at the core of what we do. The Uprooted exhibition will consist of a diverse approach including, photography, installation pieces and works on paper. We all studied MA Photography at University of the Arts London in 17/18. Image by Clare Hoddinott Who or what motivates members to continue making new work? Our practice is research driven, so this sparks ideas and experimentation. We support one another to activate momentum to try things out and create a safe space to celebrate our achievements and our failures. How did Uprooted.an.exhibition come to the surface? What were the initial ideas and inspirations? We wanted to create a group of women to support one another in the next phase of our artistic journeys post studying a Masters. We wanted our work to be seen beyond the UAL network, to create and curate something that we had full control over and to try things we weren't able to do within an educational institution. We were inspired by the common threads running through our works and wanted to build a show around the unexpected fusion of each other’s practice which leads to the metaphorical understanding of the concept uprooted. Image by Jessie Edwards-Thomas What is the group’s biggest achievement to date? This is our first exhibition together. Watch this space… Individually, we are busy exhibiting elsewhere including, Photo London, Arles in France, Thomassen Gallery in Sweden and The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle. Image by Nazanin Raissi What's the main goal for Uprooted.an.exhibition? The exhibition celebrates the not-yet possibilities when something or someone is rooted out from it’s familiar location. We hope that each person that comes to the show will find something that resonates with them when thinking about the concept behind uprooted. Image by Laura Blight How can photographers get involved in what you do? Anyone is welcome to come along to the private view on 29th May between 6.00-9.00pm and the exhibition will remain open till the 2nd June, so do come along and say hi. The majority of the artists should be around most days too. Otherwise you can e-mail us info.uprooted@gmail.com or follow us on Instagram @uprooted.an.exhibition to get in touch. Image by SandraF Give one tip to new photography graduates. Perseverance. Things can take time. Our show has been 6 months in the making due to a few hiccups and hurdles, particularly in finding a suitable, affordable and available space in London. Image by Elizabeth Gabrielle Lee What does the future have in store for the group? We want to progress and expand our individual practices, collaborate with other artists and engage with the local community in practical ways. In Promotion, On the Radar, Industry Interview Tags Photograd, Photogradsub, Photography, Graduate, Photography Graduate, University, UK, Support Network, Talent, Photo Blog, Exhibition, MA Photography, UPROOTED, London, Female Photographers, Paper, De Terrain, Interview, Private View, Installation UPROOTED, an exhibition In Promotion Tags Photograd, Photogradsub, Photography, Graduate, Photography Graduate, University, UK, Support Network, Talent, Photo Blog, Exhibition, Uprooted, Installation, London, Photography Exhibition, Arts Hub Gallery, UAL, University of the Arts London	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2342
__label__wiki	0.511299	0.511299	Rates/Subscriptions Body found after reported house fire AMANDA HILL BOND Editor-Publisher A house fire went unnoticed last Tuesday night in the Travisville area. Sadly it resulted in a death. A neighbor notified the Pickett County Sheriff's Office what looked life remnants of a house fire on Wednesday, May 15th around 9 a.m. The fire was alleged to have occurred overnight at 660 Eulis Evans Road in Pall Mall. The property is located on a secluded dirt road within the county. When deputies arrived, they found that a single-wide mobile home had been completely destroyed by fire. Upon investigating the scene, it was discovered that a body was located in what was known as the living room and kitchen area. The remains were sent to the state medical examiner and is believed to be that of homeowner, 56-year-old Sherry "Dianne" Farmer. The incident is being investigated by the Pickett County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from state Bomb and Arson agents, and agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Special donation to the Pickett County Sheriff's Office Local business Brown Funeral Chapel has donated enough money to help the sheriff's office purchase a bulletproof vest. Owner Greg Brown recently presented a check in the amount of $814.50 to Pickett County Sheriff Dana Dowdy. Pictured above at left is PCSO Administrative Assistant Katy Smith; Greg Brown; Sheriff Dana Dowdy. Pickett County Rabies Clinic May 18 The Pickett County Rabies Clinic 2019 will be held Saturday, May 18, 2019 from 9-10 a.m. at Moodyville Cash Store and 10:30-11:30 a.m. at PCHS. The Pickett Co. Dept. of Health in coalition with Upchurch Animal Clinic and Dr. Upchurch DMV announces the annual rabies vaccination clinic. The vaccine will be a one year vaccine at the cost of $6. Tennessee Law requires that all dogs and cats over 3 months old have a current rabies vaccination. Local man charged with exploitation of minor A Pickett County man has been charged with Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. In March, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported to local authorities of videos being uploaded containing child pornography. The IP address was traced to 1725 Billy Zachary Road. Oscar Garcia a/k/a Gonzalez Garcia, 36, appeared in Pickett County General Sessions for a hearing on Tuesday, May 14th. The case was continued due to the defendant requiring an interpreter. Garcia remains in custody with a $500,000 bond. T.C.A. § 39-17-1004 makes it unlawful for a person to knowingly promote, sell, distribute, transport, purchase or exchange material, or possess with the intent to promote, sell, distribute, transport, purchase or exchange material, that includes a minor engaged in sexual activity or simulated sexual activity that is patently offensive based upon standards in the community. Aggravated sexual exploitation is classified as either a Class C or B felony depending on the number of individual items that are sexually exploitative. The case is still being investigated by the Pickett County Sheriff's Office and the 13th Judicial District Attorney's Office, with assistance from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office and Cookeville Police Department. Pickett County K-8 Kindergarten Registration Students entering kindergarten in the Fall 2019 must be five (5) years of age on or before August 15, 2019 and for the 2019-2020 school year you will need to follow the schedule below: Students whose last name begins with the letter: A-H register May 20th from 8:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m. I-P register May 21st from 8:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Q-Z register May 22nd from 8:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m. The following will need to be brought the day of registration: •your child must be present to be registered •your child's social security number/card, immunization/physical records, birth certificate and custody papers if appropriate •Parent must be present proof of Tennessee residency •registration will take approximately 30 minutes per child as they will receive a hearing/vision and speech/language screening and reading test. All parents and students need to enter through the front of the building and check in through the office. Stanley Paul Cope declined parole The Tennessee Board of Parole recently declined parole for Stanley Paul Cope and ordered that his next parole hearing shall not be held until 2021. Mr. Cope is presently serving a six-year sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction for aggravated burglary, theft of property valued at more than $10,000, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary and conspiracy to commit theft. He was investigated by the Pickett County Sheriff’s Department for the burglaries of two homes in the Cove Creek Road area of Pickett County. Assistant District Owen Burnett and a representative from the Pickett County Sheriff’s Department both testified at the parole hearing. Assistant DA Burnett expressed appreciation for the investigation of the Pickett County Sheriff’s Department and the criminal courts for the sentencing of those involved. Burnett stated that “Mr. Cope chose his path with the criminal justice system and this is the result.” Pickett County Sheriff Dana Dowdy stated that he wanted to thank Judge McKenzie and Judge Patterson for their work on these cases and that he was pleased that Mr. Cope would continue to be removed from Pickett County and remain in custody. County's first licensed tattoo shop Are you looking to get a tattoo? Pickett County now has a licensed tattoo shop. Slaughter House Tattoo is located at 526 Alleys Ally in Pall Mall. Owner and artist Kayla Johnson can help you with your ink work. Call 931-213-2614 to set-up your appointment. Breaking news and local news shared on our facebook page <strong>Breaking news and local news shared on our facebook page</strong> Pall Mall woman dies after dog attack (PHOTO: Courtesy of Brown Funeral Chapel) It has been a sad situation within our community after an elderly lady died from injuries she sustained after a dog attack. The incident occurred Tuesday, February 26th at around 5:00 p.m. A 911 call was made for a "dog bite" at 161 Evans Lane, in Pall Mall. Sheriff Dowdy reported that Bessie "Jill" Peterson, age 88, was the victim. She was airlifted from the scene to Vanderbilt Medical Center, but sadly, passed away shortly after arriving. Any details involving the injuries Ms. Peterson sustained from the attack will not be published in the PRESS. It has been confirmed by authorities that there were six dogs involved and are believed to belong to a neighbor. However, no official information has been released on the identity of the alleged owner(s). The dogs were later euthanized and were examined by a local veterinarian. Due to the investigation of the circumstances which resulted in her death, there is limited official information being released at this time. There has been a lot of speculation presented surrounding this horrible incident and we want to provide official information to our readers, but not sensationalize this tragedy. A Nashville news station initially released a report stating a "source" had confirmed it had been a pit bull attack, which sparked a breed debate and created controversy on social media. That information was inaccurate, along with the follow-up story that reported the dogs were all German Shepherds. While the dog breed shouldn't be the focus of this story, Sheriff Dowdy has stated that the veterinarian report determined each of the dogs as being mixed breed (mutt). While one could have had some type of shepherd mix, none of them had pit bull features. It was also reported that authorities had been contacted numerous times regarding the dogs. A records request was made by this newspaper to review the Pickett County Sheriff call logs pertaining to any calls at Evans Lane regarding dogs. Records show that there were a total of five calls regarding dogs that began on July 7, 2016 and the last one being on May 8th, 2018. Those calls were made by different individuals for complaints of unidentified dogs barking and approaching people. There was not a reported call noted that any dogs had attacked or bitten an individual. Under Tennessee Animal Law (T.C.A. 44-8-408) if a dog running at large causes the death of another: It is a Class D Felony if dog owner exercises reasonable care in attempting to confine or control the dog. It is a Class C Felony if the owner of the dog knew the dangerous nature of the dog and the dog had bitten one or more people that resulted in serious injury prior to the violation. Pickett County doesn’t have an animal control service to respond and assist law enforcement. "This is the first time we have had a death in this manner, so we want to make sure that we investigate this thoroughly," said Sheriff Dowdy. Sheriff Dowdy has requested assistance from the 13th Judicial District Attorney's Office to aid in the investigation. “The loss of Ms. Peterson’s life is heartbreaking. We are looking very closely into the circumstances of this incident to determine of there is any criminal responsibility,” said District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway. 2019 Copyright Pickett County Press Woman dies after dog attack Publisher-Editor Pickett County Sheriff Dana Dowdy has confirmed to the PRESS that an elderly lady has died after being attacked by a pack of dogs. The incident occurred yesterday, (Feb. 26th) at around 5:00 p.m. A 911 call was made regarding a dog bite at 161 Evans Lane, in Pall Mall. Sheriff Dowdy stated that Bessie Jill Peterson, age 88, was the victim. She was airlifted from the scene to Vanderbilt Medical Center, but sadly, passed away. There were six dogs believed to have been involved that are alleged to belong to a neighbor. A Nashville news station released a report stating according to a source, a pit bull had attacked, which is not the case. We wanted to make sure that factual information was being reported to the public as it was available. Due to the nature of the situation of circumstances that resulted in her death, there is limited information being released at this time. Sheriff Dowdy has requested assistance from the 13th Judicial District Attorney's Office to aid in the investigation. Town trying to get speed limit reduced on bypass The Town of Byrdstown Board of Mayor and Aldermen met in regular session on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. at Town Hall. Those present were Mayor Sam Gibson, Recorder Johnny Sells, Alderman Johnny Bilbrey, Alderman Rex Tompkins, Alderwoman Barb Mitchell, Water Plant Supervisor Malcolm Harmon, Town Engineer Nathaniel Green, Michelle Mitchell, Chamber of Commerce Director Billy Robbins, Robert Young, and Alex Kelso. An agenda was presented and a motion was made by Barb Mitchell to adopt the proposed agenda. A second was voiced by Johnny Sells and with all members voting aye, the motion carried. A motion was made by Johnny Bilbrey to approve the minutes of the Dec. 10, 2018 regular meeting as written. A second was voiced by Barb Mitchell and with all members voting aye the motion carried. Town Engineer Nathan-iel Green reported that the 2018 CDBG grant was finished. A motion was made by Johnny Sells to approve resolution #19-01 which approves the Town of Byrdstown to submit an application for a CDBG grant for 2019. The grant would be $525,000 and the city match would be $65,000 making the total amount to be $590,000. The purpose of the grant would be a need for continuing water system rehabilitation. A second was voiced by Johnny Bilbrey and with all members voting aye the motion carried. The mayor reported that a sewer pump was down at the pump station next to the county garage and needed to be replaced. The mayor also presented a quote from L&T Service in the amount of $22,000. A motion was made by Barb Mitchell to approve the emergency purchase of a sewer pump from L&T Service in the amount of $22,000 which includes the pump, installation and freight. A second was voiced by Johnny Sells and with all members voting aye the motion carried. A motion was made by Rex Tompkins to approve resolution #19-02 which asked the Tennessee Department of Transportation to consider lowering the speed limit to 40 MPH on Highway 111 Bypass and to install turning lanes throughout. A second was voiced by Barb Mitchell and Under General Discussion the mayor reported that on Jan. 18, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at town hall there will be a contract completion hearing of contract 53789-12011. The mayor discussed the 2nd quarter of the fiscal year budget. He went over expenditures and remaining funds of the different departments that make up the budget. There was a discussion of the improvements to be made on the new parking lot being constructed downtown. With no further business to discuss a motion was made by Barb Mitchell to adjourn until the next regular meeting on Feb. 11, at 5 p.m. at Town Hall. A second was voiced by Johnny Sells and with all members voting aye, the meeting adjourned at 5:53 p.m. Multiple accidents resulting in injuries last week There were multiple vehicle accidents occurring within an hour of each other last Friday, Feb. 1st. The first accident was on Moodyville Road and was reported at 4 p.m. A 2003 Dodge 2500 driven by Aaron Clark, 20, of Byrdstown, was traveling West on Highway 325. The preliminary report states that as the vehicle was negotiating a curve and it crossed the center line. A 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by Michael Roop, 24, of Cookeville was struck. The accident caused minor injuries to two of the passengers in the Tahoe. Both drivers were noted to have been wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. Mr. Clark was charged with Crossing Center Line and No Proof of Insurance. Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Toby Beaty investigated the accident. At approximately 4:44 p.m., a three-vehicle accident on Highway 111 occurred and resulted in several injuries. According to the THP Preliminary report, a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta, driven by Haley Dalton, 18, of Byrdstown, was traveling south and struck a vehicle that was stopped to turn left on Hillcrest Drive. A 2000 Pontiac Bonneville, driven by Tammy James, 35, of Byrdstown, was hit in the back and came to rest in the roadway facing south. After the impact, the Jetta traveled into the northbound lane of travel and was struck in the front end by a 2015 Volvo Conventional semi, driven by Joel Seda, 28, of LaVergne, TN. Both Dalton and James were injured and the report stated they were wearing seatbelts. Two juvenile passengers of the Pontiac also received injuries as a result of the accident. Charges were issued to Ms. Dalton for Failure to Exercise Due Care. Ms. James was charged with Revoked Drivers License and Child Restraint. THP Trooper Tyler McCulley investigated the accident. Overton-Pickett 911 ECD audit There were no findings in the 2018 independent auditor's report of the Overton/Pickett County Emergency Communications District. The audit was performed by Dennis E. Jeffers, CPA in Celina, Tennessee. According to the letter issued to the board of directors, the audit was to identify all deficiencies in internal control that might be material weaknesses or significant deficiencies. During the audit, there were no deficiencies considered to be material weaknesses identified in internal control found. However, material weaknesses may exist that have not been identified. The purpose of this report is solely to describe the scope of testing internal control and compliance and results of that testing. It is not to provide an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity's internal control or on compliance. This report is an integral part of an audit performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards in considering the entity's internal control and compliance. The prior finding 2015-002 budget was corrected. Photographer recently captures Comet 46P/Wirtanen Photo: Becky Beaty Huddleston Any astronomy lovers out there? Comet 46P/Wirtanen was one of three comets discovered by astronomer Carl Wirtanen at Lick Observatory in 1948. According to Space.com, it is also a member of the Jupiter "family" of comets — comets with relatively short orbital periods of 20 years or less, with aphelia (their farthest point from the sun) near the orbit of Jupiter. 46P/Wirtanen passed very close to the Earth — just 7,199,427 miles (11,586,350 kilometers) away in December, that's among the 10 closest comet approaches that have occurred since 1950 and the 20th closest approach of a comet dating as far back as the ninth century A.D. Local detective speaks about case studies at Cordell Hull Photo: James Purkey Detective Ralph Mayercik spoke at the Cordell Hull Birthplace last Saturday. He has 24 years of experience in law enforcement and is trained in death and homicide investigations along with child abuse. Detective Mayercik was recently featured in two episodes of The Devil Speaks, a true crime series on Investigation Discovery where he narrated dramatic reenactments of cases he worked while with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department. He discussed those featured cases in greater detail and provided guests with an insider's view on the process of a murder investigation. He is currently an SRO detective with the Overton County Sheriff's Department. THP receives traffic safety grants for 2019 The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) announced that it will receive traffic safety grants from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to provide increased enforcement, public awareness campaigns and help to reduce serious injury and fatal crashes on state roadways in 2019. The grant funds are distributed through the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO). The THP continues to target seat belt usage across the state. The Belts Eliminate Loss Tragedy and Suffering (BELTS) program will provide funding to allow state troopers to increase the current seat belt usage rate of 88.51%. Statistical data revealed that unrestrained fatalities are most likely to occur on Fridays and Saturdays. THP received $100,000.00 in grant monies for the BELTS Goals of the BELTS Program include: ·Conduct safety belt school zone enforcement blitz in each of the eight THP Districts each month; ·Conduct nighttime safety belt saturations. ·Each district will participate in 12 statewide seat belt blitzes scheduled; ·Reduce the number of unrestrained drivers in fatal and injury crashes by 5%; ·Increase the seat belt usage rate by 2.5%. “Just Drive” is a new THP distracted driving campaign. With the evolving of new communication technologies, more and more drivers are becoming negligent and paying less attention to safe driving. Distracted driving encompasses more than just texting while driving. Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. “Just Drive” grant funds that were provided to the agency in the amount of $100,000.00. Goals for the “Just Drive” program include: ·Reduce injury crashes where distracted driving was indicated as a contributing factor; ·Reduce fatal crashes where distracted driving was indicated as a ·Reduce the total number of crashes where distracted driving and other hazardous moving violations were noted as a contributing factor. The “Sober Up TN” program allows the THP to allocate additional hours for state troopers to patrol the interstates, conduct sobriety checkpoints, perform bar checks, and educate the public on the dangers of drinking and driving. State Troopers have utilized a data-driven approach to address alcohol-related crashes by targeting times and locations where these types of incidents are most prevalent. Predictive analytics has revealed that the majority of impaired driving crashes occur between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., and a higher rate of alcohol- related wrecks occurs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Goals for the “Sober Up TN” program include: ·Increase the number of sobriety checkpoints; ·Enforce DUI and alcohol-related offenses; ·Reduce fatalities where alcohol was indicated as a contributing factor; ·Facilitate community meetings to solicit citizen attendance and input and involve local agencies, District Attorney Generals Conference, school and court officials and associated stakeholders. “Sober Up TN” grant funds that were provided to the agency amounted to $630,000.00. Both grant programs will end on September 30, 2019. Top stories of 2018 •Investigation of possible murder of William Rich in Chanute •Former DAV Commander pleads guilty to stealing funds •Overton/Pickett Emergency Communications District - No findings in •Water supply violations for the Town of Byrdstown •Pickett County audit results in eight findings •Lady Bobcats third straight District Champions •Incident at school causes immediate action by school administration and law enforcement •Kentucky man indicted for murder of William Rich •Courtney Pritchett named Miss Basketball •New location for Dollar General •Pickett County Schools in need of resource •Questions over spending within the Overton/ Pickett Emergency Communications District •Board maintains confidence in 911 Director •911 Director answers to comptroller questions •Commission approves agreement for school •Johnnie Alline Keisling is recognized for service •Veterans memorial project begins •TECD Board votes for public hearing in Pickett •County commissioners approves unbalanced budget •Luke Bryan visits Dale Hollow Lake and shoots video •Remembering K-9 Deputy Yuri •EPA now enforcing glider kit production caps •TECD votes against request for Pickett Co. to create a new Emergency Comm. District •County attorney raises concern regarding commissioners meetings •Commissioners approve two tax anticipation notes •Law enforcement finds meth lab and explosives at Monroe residence •County spends $750,000 for jail project •Pickett County receives funds to replace camera equipment •Steven Stinson arrested for breaking into school office •Vehicle found overturned in Ringley Creek •Historical monument found under lake •Bank donates property to city •Crouch's Hardware building torn down •County commissioners vote to explore options of purchasing the Regions Bank building •GNT wins the best overall float in parade Breathtaking Tennessee sunset God's work is all around us, but sometimes, He shows us something special. This amazing sunset was captured by local photographer Misty Griffin. All we have left now are the memories WILL ROBBINS SPECIAL TO THE PRESS On Monday, Nov. 26, 2018, an era ended. With the release of a grapple from the cab of a crane, what had been the oldest standing structure in Byrdstown, dropped to the ground. The building that I had remembered throughout my life as Rich Hardware & Home Supply and later Crouch’s Hardware, was no more. What is uncovered about the hardware store truly boggles the mind. Who knew that in its earliest days it began its existence as a one- story timber frame building? Or that when the mill set up nearby cutting the lumber; that this post and frame expansion would continue to stand in Byrdstown for another 138 years? How about the second floor of the building being held in a separate ownership agreement from the ground level? The second floor served the community as the seat of the county government until a courthouse could be built. It was also a community space hosting dances and formal balls on special occasions. It also served two fraternal organizations. A look back in time... It is the late 1870's. Fourteen years had passed since the Civil War ended in these borderlands of Tennessee and Kentucky. Since the war ended, it had taken time to get general peace restored, for homes and lives to settle into a routine. Talk of forming, a new county became an item of common discussion in the community. Around 1877, before Byrdstown or Pickett County ever existed, a timber frame storefront was built in the community of Olympus in Overton County. This established the Miller Brothers Merchandise Company. Some men of the immediate area came together with the idea to form a Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons. The Olympus Lodge #496 was established August 30, 1877. Discussions between the Lodge and the Miller Brothers got underway to build a larger building that could be a shared space. These discussions could have begun around 1879. A partnership agreement was struck and the Lodge would help finance and build an expansion of the existing one-story structure. The new building would be owned and occupied by both the store and the Lodge. In this agreement, The Lodge owned from the staircase, then up to the second floor and that space in its entirety including the bell and the belfry at the top on the ridge of the gable roof. With a sawmill conveniently established nearby, work began on what was called back then the Arch Miller building. This construction began in 1880 and continued into 1882 until completion. Buchanan Mathaney and Thomas H. Babb were the local contractors on the project. Pickett County’s petition to form a county was approved by Tennessee’s General Assembly in 1881. Anderson Huddleston property is purchased by Pickett County to establish its public square. Soon after completing the construction project, Mathaney and Babb went on to build the original Pickett County Courthouse (circa 1884-Nov. 1934). From its completion in 1882 until 1890, the Arch Miller Building and more specifically the Lodge Hall upstairs served as the location of the court. The ringing of the bell became the signal for the convening of each session of the court. Legend has it, that the first man sentenced to the state penitentiary from Pickett County was sentenced from the Lodge Hall. The crime was stealing corn. In 1890, with the move into the courthouse, The Masonic Lodge along with another benevolent fraternal order known as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, move into the second story of the Arch Miller Building. Around this same time, the Otto Mercantile Company is established replacing the Miller Brothers in the storefront section. Lansden Robbins is the primary stockholder and general manager, Lansden’s brother James H. Robbins was another one of the stockholders among others in and around Pickett County. Briefly, the building’s basement also served as Lansden’s home. He lived in the basement for a time with his wife and four children. The basement of the Miller building was divided into five rooms. James H. Robbins also has a public role as Byrdstown’s Postmaster, this being effective April 21, 1914. The post office was relocated to the building’s north-facing wall in the back west corner. Lansden remained the manager of the store until his death on Jan. 7th, 1915. At which point James assumed the management and operations of the store. Eventually, this building would be referred to as the Robbins building. On Dec. 27, 1919, James Robbins purchased the store and inventory from the Otto Mercantile Company. On that day, it became J.H. Robbins & Sons, general merchandise store. James operated the store for a few years by himself until his stepson Jesse Coe returned from working in Nashville. Jesse worked for a company that was building homes in Flint Michigan. Around 1921 when Jesse’s mother Laura Avo Groce Coe Robbins became ill and required assistance, Jesse came back to Byrdstown. He decided to stay and bought into J.H. Robbins & Sons becoming a junior partner in this going concern. In this time, it was not uncommon for barter to be the primary exchange for goods. Payment could come in the exchange of goods for farm produce. For example, folks would come into the store with corn, eggs or chickens to trade for coffee, sugar, maybe an ax handle or some other bits and pieces of hardware for your screen door. This was a true general store. You could expect to find groceries, clothing, and household items. They kept in stock farm machinery, buggy attachments, and even caskets. Another unusual service in the general store, James Robbins also served as a druggist. James gained a special state exemption from advanced pharmaceutical training to do so. James’ involvement with the store continued until the time of his death on Nov. 2, 1948. In James’ last will and testament, dated April 17th, 1947, James expresses his wishes for the continued operations of J.H. Robbins & Sons, then names Jesse H. Coe as general manager and W.M. Huddleston (James’ son in law) as the assistant general manager. James final instruction was that “… they give to the customer of this business the same courteous reception and treatment that has for many years marked its progress. …” The estate with this building and property represented a complex set of arrangements with a variety among family members in the percentages of their ownership that made up the stockholders in the property and business. These arrangements were separate from the agreement with the Masons as they still own from the stairs along with the entire second floor. By 1949, the consolidated ownership of the first floor and the contents lock, stock and barrel were Jesse Coe and his sister Elva Robbins Huddleston. This partnership remained stable throughout the rest of the company’s existence. In June of 1963, Jesse and Elva purchased the Masonic Lodge’s interest in the building’s second floor along with the lodge’s interest in the lot that the property stood. This places ownership of the structure and property into the hands of a single organization for the first time in what was then the building’s 81 year history. Jesse continued to manage J.H. Robbins & Sons until failing health caused the closing of the store in 1968. A firm in Louisville, Kentucky purchased the entire inventory. In 1972, the Robbins Building was sold at auction. George W. Rich of Moodyville, owner and manager of a general merchandise store in Moodyville, takes possession of the Robbins Building and opens Rich Hardware & Home Supply. George runs the hardware and supply company until 1977. At this time David Crouch, George’s grandson purchases the store and stock reopening the store as Crouch’s Hardware. The store remained in continuous operations for thirty-three years until 2010. At this time, the inventory was purchased, then relocated to the Pickett Farm Supply store in town. The hardware store closed for the last time. In the summer of 2012, the final effort was made to preserve the building. By this time it was beginning to lean, panes of the original glass from 1881 had begun to fall from the window’s frames. The selection committee from the Tennessee Historic Commission overseeing the applications for the National Register of Historic Places came to Pickett County. It was determined by the committee that although culturally significant to the town's development, the building in its present state, was beyond repair and any preservation As I write this and consider the source materials, the different accounts of the history of Pickett County, I recognize that this is an obituary. Time does not stand still for anything under the sun. In the book “History and Genealogy of Families in Pickett County”, Wilma Coe’s article on the J.H. Robbins General Merchandise Store ends with the lines: "Just as the old time general store has virtually passed from existence, so too has J.H. Robbins and Sons gone forever. Yet, the old store building’s unchanging silhouette remains a landmark of, and a silent witness to, the growth and development of Byrdstown." Now we bid farewell to a building that began before the town existed even before Pickett County was formed. The timbers used to build the original structure and the post and frame addition were well over two hundred years old and could easily have started their lives as seedlings before Tennessee was even a state. This structure, figuratively speaking, stood watch silently observing our growth and progress as a town and a community, a building that served us dutifully in many roles. All that shall remain now are the memories we will have when we see pictures or in the hearing of the stories of those that grew up here and have vivid memories of going there. We can never recreate or recover what we have lost. Board meets, approves water plant filters session on Monday, Nov. 12, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at Town Hall. Those present were Mayor Sam Gibson, Recorder Johnny Sells, Alderman Johnny Bilbrey, Alderman Rex Tompkins, Alderwoman Barb Mitchell, Water Plant Supervisor Malcolm Harmon, Town Engineer Nathaniel Green, Eric Pierce, Chamber of Commerce Director Billy Robbins, and Robert Young. adopt the proposed agenda. A second was voiced by Johnny Bilbrey and with all members voting aye the motion carried. A motion was made by Johnny Sells to approve the minutes of the October 8, 2018 regular meeting as written. A second was voiced by Rex Tompkins and with all members voting aye the motion carried. Town Engineer Nathan-iel Green addressed the board of final adjustment on the current water rehabilitation project. A motion was made by Rex Tompkins to approve change order number 4 on contract 118 which consists of a reduction in the contract price of $16,956.75 making the total amount for the project being $452,192.70 approval contingent on if Cumberland Pipeline Company comes back to connect services between Dogwood Lane and Eagles Cove Road and the 2-inch water line on Dogwood Lane to the 8 inch water line on the north side of state route 325. A second was voiced by Johnny Sells and with all members voting aye the motion carried. A motion was made by Rex Tompkins to approve the low bid for 74 filters for the water plant which includes the modules and associated items from the Pall Corp. in the amount of $116,214.79 with the city to be responsible for installing. A second was voiced by Johnny Bilbrey and with all members voting aye the motion carried. A motion was made by Johnny Sells to accept the highest bids on surplus property. The highest bid on the 1999 Chevy S10 pickup was from Michael Nicholas. The highest bid on the 1999 Chevy half ton pickup, Epson printer, HP printer, and Sharp copier was received from Bill Robbins. A second was voiced by Johnny Bilbrey and with all A motion was made by Barb Mitchell to approve March 30 & 31, 2019 for the spring fishing tourney. A second was voiced by Johnny Bilbrey and Under General Discussion the water project, and the Christmas parade and singing were discussed. Mitchell to adjourn until the next regular meeting on December 10, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at Town Hall. A second was voiced by Johnny Sells and with all members voting aye the meeting adjourned at 5:51 p.m. Bank donates property to city People's Bank and Trust has recently donated property to the City of Byrdstown to use for parking. According to bank president Bruce Elder, pictured at right, things just worked out at the right time for the bank to purchase the old Crouch's Hardware building property. The property is adjacent to the bank. Since the building was beyond repair, it was to be demolished. Mayor Sam Gibson, at left, helped facilitate the agreement between the bank and the city. Demolition began on Monday morning, November 26th and things have moved very quickly. People's Bank is also covering the expenses for the demolition. The building was a key part of the history of our little town. Efforts to preserve the building over the years were unsuccessful. In the tradition of Thanksgiving, we’d like to share our thanks and best wishes with all of the good folks we know here in the community. Your friendship and goodwill have made this a very special year for us, and we are grateful for your kind support. God Bless you all! Happy Thanksgiving! The Pickett County Press office will be closed Thursday, Nov. 22 and Friday, Nov. 23 due to the holiday. PHOTO: Misty Griffin THP to conduct sobriety, driver license checkpoints November 23rd The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting driver license roadside safety checkpoints on November 23, at 9 a.m. on Highway 111 in Pickett County. Recognizing the danger presented to the public by unqualified drivers, Troopers will concentrate their efforts on vehicles being operated by drivers who violate the driver license laws of Tennessee. The Tennessee Highway Patrol has found these driver license roadside safety checkpoints to be an effective means of enforcing driver license laws of Tennessee while ensuring the protection of all motorists. Local Chamber of Commerce receives ThreeStar grant The Byrdstown-Pickett County Chamber of Commerce was one of 60 recipients of the 2018 ThreeStar grant. Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Economic Development District Commissioner Bob Rolfe announced which counties would be awarded funds in July. Pickett County received $15,000 out of the total ThreeStar funds of $955,000. ThreeStar focuses on best practices in five community areas, including jobs and economic development, education and workforce development, fiscal strength and efficient government, public safety and health. To be eligible for the grant, the county must meet requirements in those five areas and show how the project will move the county forward in at least one of those areas. Each application was also supported by the community's senator and representatives in the Tennessee General Assembly. Historical monument found under lake CHARLES T WHITTENBURG In 1971 a book titled Four Steps West was written by author James W. Sames III, documenting creation of the boundary line between Virginia and North Carolina, and Kentucky and Tennessee, compiling most of his findings from the state archives from each state. In 1990, the Tennessee Association of Professional Surveyors and the Kentucky Association of Professional Surveyors formed a committee of 28 land surveyors from both states called the “Joint State Line Committee,” with surveyors involved being volunteers. Their task was to relocate as many of the remaining stone monuments as set by the final complete survey of the TN/KY line as surveyed in 1859. Before this time, the line had only been witnessed by hacked trees, which were harvested as the wilderness was settled. The final survey, known as the Cox and Peeples survey of 1859, was task to monument the entire dividing line between TN/KY with large engraved stones every five miles. The task took 43 men, just over 12 months, at a total cost of $47,987.07. Mr. S.W. Stanley of Warren Co., KY was contracted to prepare and place each stone at a cost of $20 each. The report to the Governor of KY stated that 63 original large stones were set along the TN/KY state line at 5-mile intervals along with 10 smaller supplement stones. Forty-five of the original 73 were recovered between 1990 - 1992 by the committee and a data sheet for each stone found was compiled and added to a reprint of the book Four Steps West in 1992. Six stones lie in what is now Pickett County and only five were recovered by the committee. In 2005, members of the same committee volunteered yet again to reorganize and retrace the remaining monuments, yet this time to establish GPS coordinates on each one along with two reference monuments so they could be reestablished if they were ever destroyed. The technology of GPS at a survey grade was not easily accessible in the early 90’s. I was contacted by the committee in 2009, because I was a resident of Pickett County and a member of the Tennessee Association of Professional Surveyors, to volunteer and was assigned the five monuments in Pickett County that remained. In 2012 the committee met to summarize our findings, at this time I was appointed five more monuments which were not reestablished to the west of Pickett County. My parents, Hurlen and Rae Ann Whittenburg, were my survey crew for this project since it was being done voluntarily and on the weekends in the dead of winter. The committee never set a deadline for finalizing the work due to the fact it was voluntary; therefore we typically do one or two each year. This year we did the first one to the west of Pickett County and in doing so I made a discovery. The original committee may have looked in the wrong location (east of Sulphur Creek on Dale Hollow Lake) for the missing monument. Now that I had a monument to the east and west of the missing monument I thought I would try to recreate its position based on the distance from each stone I had found and mapped. The two stones I had located were actually 13 miles apart, which left 3 miles of search area. I decided to calculate five miles west of Stone #47, to begin my search, surprisingly it put me on the boundary line between Pickett Co. and Clay Co. which is east of Boys Island on Dale Hollow Lake. So then I considered maybe the original U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maps for the land acquisition of Dale Hollow Lake in 1942 could possibly have a location on what is known as Stone #46, which at that time would have been in place for 84 years. To my surprise it was labeled as clear as day. Utilizing my survey software I digitized the Corps map and orientated it to the stones I had found to try and fine tune its location. Once I did I was certain it was underwater at what is known as the Cook Pass east of Boys Island. I concluded that what is known as Cook Pass is most likely Coop Pass because the landowner at that location was Pauline Coop. I wasn’t ready to give up just because it was underwater, approximately +/- 30 feet by my calculations, so I discussed the entire project and my current findings with local business owner and fisherman Mitch Robertson who volunteered to scan for the stone if I would furnish him the GPS location I had calculated. We decided that when the water level dropped from summer pool and the temperature was still comfortable, it would be the best time to attempt a scan. Mitch found an object on his fish finder that was within 20 feet of our calculated location, so we decided a diver would be the best way to verify his finding. Tony Waters of Putnam Co. Rescue Squad Dive Team came highly recommended and through a mutual friend were acquainted. He vacations on Dale Hollow Lake and said he had always wanted to find some part of history that no one had found diving before. Nov. 5th at approximately 12:30 Tony finally got his part of history, as did myself and Mitch. Using a waterproof camcorder, Tony confirmed in less than five minutes of diving what Mitch had found and I had calculated. The stone was in 27 feet of water and had not been seen since 1943. For the past 160 years it has held its position, and for the past 75 years it had not been seen by anyone. In my career as a surveyor over the past 18 years, I have yet to find a monument that old. It was believed to be lost forever, yet recovered by a surveyor, a fisherman, and a scuba diver. It is a story we will tell for years to come, and most likely, our story, will be our only reward for our treasure. In my opinion, those stories are worth the effort. They keep us looking for that next journey, and inspire younger generations to follow in our footsteps. Just image what Cox & Peeples would say if you told them that stone would one day be under 30 feet of water created by a dam that creates electricity for thousands of people, “What the heck is electricity?” most likely. Pickett County Schools Internal School Funds 2018 Audit released The 2018 audit has been completed for the Pickett County Schools Internal School funds. The audit was conducted by Mitchell Emert & Hill, P.C. of Knoxville. The audit is in accordance with auditing standards in the Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. The Pickett County Internal School Funds comprises of combined and individual balance sheets, statements of revenue, expenditures and changes in fund balance as of June 30, 2018. The purpose of the report is to audit for internal control and compliance. In the letter addressed to the Pickett County Board of Education, the finding for 2018 was considered to be a significant deficiency. A significant deficiency in internal control is less severe than a material weakness, yet important enough to merit attention by those charged with governance. Finding Number 2018-001-Segregation of Duties (uncorrected from prior year) Condition: A lack of segregation of duties exists in the areas of issuing cash receipts, preparing bank deposits, posting accounting records, preparing bank reconciliations, preparing checks and approving purchases. Cause: This condition is as a result of the limited number of personnel available. Criteria: Sound internal controls include the division of accounting responsibilities to help mitigate the possibility of fraud, misappropriation of assets and improper financial reporting. Effect or potential effect: A lack of segregation of duties could result in misappropriation of assets or fraudulent financial reporting. Recommendation: Accounting duties should be divided among existing personnel to ensure proper segregation of duties. The principals should consider the cost and benefit of adding additional staff members to ensure that proper segregation of duties exists. Management response: Pickett County Director of Schools Diane Elder- We concur and will divide the duties among the existing personnel as best we can. It was also noted that repeat finding 2017-002 Financial Oversight- Pickett County Elementary School was corrected and no longer considered to be a significant deficiency. Agenda for Pickett School Board November 8th Meeting Work session 5:30 p.m. - Meeting 6:00 p.m. Adopt the agenda and approve the minutes from the September 13, 2018 meeting. Approve changes to following policies. Second reading. 1.701 School District Planning 1.900 Charter School Authorizing Principles 1.901 Charter School Applications 1.902 Charter School Agreements 1.903 Charter School Oversight 1.904 Charter School Intervention 1.905 Charter School Renewal 1.906 Charter School Revocation 3.212 District Water Testing 4.206 Homebound Instruction 5.802 Qualifications and Duties of the Director of Schools 6.200 Attendance 6.300 Code of Conduct 6.314 Corporal Punishment First reading. 4.700 Testing Programs Approve General Purpose School budget amendment #1 Approve LEA Compliance 2018-2019 Principal reports Supervisor's reports Editor's Note: The meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 25th was cancelled due to not having enough members for a quorum. According to Director of Schools Diane Elder, the agenda will be included in the November 8th meeting. Pickett County Football team playing to raise money for charity The Pickett County High School Football team is participating in a charity football classic this Saturday. The 7th Annual "CAREacter" Star Community Service Football Games will be held Thursday and Saturday at Grace Christian Academy. The CAREacter Star Community Service Football games are part of the non-profit organization CARE 365, which was founded by former football coach Dave Moore. Some of the core beliefs of the organization are to care unconditionally for others and make a positive difference in the lives of those less fortunate in our communities. Coach told the PRESS that God had put this vision on his heart many years ago. "You can't have character if you don't care," said Coach Moore. The games are an opportunity for communities to unite around the great game of high school football to assist families with children who have life-threatening diseases. There are six high schools participating this year. The teams that are selected are those who don't make the playoffs. "Every team is a winner and receives a big trophy. This is a win-win game," said Coach Moore. The funds raised at the games will be donated 100 percent to the East Tennessee Children's Hospital NICU's NAS program. This is a program for infants born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, or babies born after being exposed to medications and illicit drugs during pregnancy. Pickett County plays Unaka at 2:30 Saturday at Grace Christian Academy. Admission is $10. The community is encouraged to attend to help show support for the team and the cause. For more information on CARE 365, visit www.care365.org. Vehicle found overturned in Ringley Creek Someone traveling on Billy Zachary Road at Ringley Curve spotted a vehicle on its top in the creek and reported it Friday morning, at 7 a.m. According to the preliminary report, a 2012 Dodge Caravan was traveling on East Main Street on Highway 325, when it exited the roadway to the left and traveled over an embankment. The creek was shallow, but water was inside of the vehicle. The driver, Angela Thompson, 45, of Sunset Drive, was found trapped inside by her seatbelt and was extricated. She was transported to Livingston Regional Hospital. No one has confirmed the exact timeframe of how long the vehicle had been there, but it is believed to have been for several hours. It had been raining and the temperatures were in low 40's Thursday night and into Friday morning. Thompson sadly passed away several days later, but it is unknown at this time if the accident contributed to her death. Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Toby Beaty is investigating the accident and was assisted at the scene by the Pickett County Sheriff's Office. Haunted Trail at Cordell Hull Saturday Cordell Hull Birthplace State Historic Park will present their annual Haunted Trail Hike Saturday, October 27, 6-9 p.m. Kids of all ages will enjoy a short guided nighttime hike along the lantern-lit Bunkum Cave Trail. There will be a toasty fire at the trailhead, along with refreshments, including hot cider and cookies for everyone and bags of candy for the children. Attention Byrdstown Water Department customers The week of October 29th-November 2nd the Byrdstown Water Department will be doing a very aggressive flushing program of all waterlines that will cause some discoloration along with air and oxygen in the lines for a few days. The flushing will take place throughout the night to have a minimum effect on customers. There will be different areas all week throughout the night beginning at 8:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. King-Reagan team takes first place in Dale Hollow Bass Classic The 33rd Annual Dale Hollow Bass Classic hosted by Star Point Resort was held Oct. 13 and 14. The event was sponsored by Byrdstown-Pickett Co. Chamber of Commerce and Star Point Resort. The following are the winners, prize earnings and total weights in the tournament. 1st Place $1966.50 27.50 lb. Jerry Reagan and JB King of Byrdstown 2nd Place $1552.50 26.55 lb. Mark Neal and Jeff Neal of Livingston 3rd Place $1242.00 24.85 lb. Thomas Coomer and Bob Coomer of Albany, KY 4th Place $1035.00 24.55 lb. Billie Joe Johnson and Robby Johnson of Byrdstown 5th Place $931.50 24.30 lb. Josh Lockard and Brandon Waller of Somerset, KY Tim Reagan and Rex Reagan of Byrdstown Tony Poore and Willie Piercy of Byrdstown JR Stalcup and Patrick Crawley of Albany Shawn Baldwin of Nicholasville, KY and Travis Baldwin of Saideville,KY 10th Place $414.00 19.40 lb. Dennis Etheredge and Larry Sparks of Livingston Bobby Smith and Mike Stowers of Jamestown, TN Pat Smith, Burkesville and Adam Huff, Willowshade, KY Saturday Big Bass Winners 1st $500 5.75 lb. Lynn A. Davis and Donnie Durban of Somerset 2nd $300 4.45 lb. 3rd $200 4.00 lb. Keith Carr and Ethan Carr of Allons 4th $100 3.95 lb. Gary Farley and Randy Hunter of Albany Sunday Big Bass Winners Casey White, Cookeville and Donald Dailey, Mansville, In. Heath Elder of Byrdstown and Joseph Dowdy of Cookeville Levi Neathery and Perry Neathery of Albany County commission appoints various committees at meeting The Pickett County Commissioners met in regular session on October 15th, 2018. The following commissioners were present: Andrew Conner, Mitchell Cross, Brad Flowers, Darrell Garrett, Joe Harden, Carter Martin, Sheila Moon, Brad Richardson, Jim Richardson, Doug Scroggins and Terri Worley. Tony Beaty was absent when the meeting began. The agenda and minutes from the previous meeting were passed with all ayes. Tony Beaty entered the meeting. A motion was made by Darrell Garrett and seconded by Doug Scroggins with all ayes to approve the monthly reports as presented for month end, cash flow analysis for county general fund, transfer station/ solid waste, debt service, highway department and school federal projects. End of month reports are as follows: County General 101- $424,355.73 (note: that amount includes the loan of $252,148); Transfer Station/Solid Waste 116-$22,545.42; Debt Service 151- $179,188.25; Solid Waste 207-$270,193.71. Motion by Tony Beaty and seconded by Doug Scroggins to approve appointments to various committees as presented. All ayes except Andrew Conner who voted nay. There was a discussion on how the committee chairmen were to be appointed. Pickett County Committees 2018-2022 BUDGET-Eddie Holt, Kathy Mitchell, Jimmy Richardson, Sheila Moon, Carey B. Garner-Chairman. TAX & AUDIT-Darrell Garrett, Carter Martin, Tony Beaty, Brad Richardson, Sheila Moon-Chairman. EMS-Carter Martin, Jimmy Richardson, Mitchell Cross, Joe Harden, Darrell Garrett, Carey B. Garner. BUILDING & GROUNDS-Carey Garner, Brad Flowers, Andrew Conner, Brad Richardson, Mitchell Cross. LANDFILL/SOLID WASTE-Terri Worley, Carey B. Garner, Doug Scroggins, Mitchell Cross, Carter Martin-Chairman. FIRE-Garry Garrett, Andrew Conner. COUNTY CORRECTIONS PARTNERSHIP-Garry Garrett-EMS; Terri Worley- Commissioner; Fred Elder-Community Volunteer; Tony Beaty- Commissioner; Joe Harden-Commissioner; Dana Dowdy-Sheriff (non-voting member). Carried a motion by Jim Richardson and seconded by Brad Richardson to approve the nomination of Malcolm Harmon to be appointed to the E-911 board to replace Tim Ford. All ayes except Andrew Conner who voted nay. Passed a motion by Tony Beaty and seconded by Darrell Garrett to approve the reading from the Director of Office of Local Finance, Sandra Thompson, the approval of the Debt Obligation Notice and the note borrowing $252,148.00 from People's Bank & Trust Company for the 101 General Fund. All ayes. This note must be paid by June 30, 2019. There was a discussion with no action on the jail, EMS, and Transfer Station. County will not continue operating jail Editor/Publisher Pickett County Commissioner Andrew Conner addressed the commission regarding the jail situation during Monday's meeting. He asked Chairman Carey Garner if there had been a solution created on the issue. Chairman Garner replied that representatives from the state fire marshals had recently visited Pickett County and the jail was going to be closed/shut down. There was a lot of open discussion between members of the community and the commission on the jail and justice center for Pickett County, however, the focus of this article is that the county is not going to be able to continue to operate a jail. This newspaper asked Chairman Garner to clarify what was meant by "shut the jail down". Chairman Garner stated that when the fire marshals were here, they wanted to know the current plans for the jail progress. He said he told them that due to the county being broke, the only alternative is to shut it down, move prisoners somewhere else until we can do something else. Sheriff Dana Dowdy also clarified that the current jail would become a holding facility during the daytime. "A county has to have either a jail or holding facility according to state statute," said Dowdy. By changing to a holding facility, there are some stipulations. They can't have anyone in the holding cell during the hours it is dark outside. According to Sheriff Dowdy, the change will create a lot of overtime for deputies due to the time spent transporting inmates. If the county becomes a holding facility, it is believed to be that there will no longer be a requirement of the fire watch. A question was posed by Commissioner Conner on what happens if an arrest is made and there isn't a county who will take the inmate. Sheriff Dowdy explained that it would depend on if they could find a judge to allow a bond to be set. If that wasn't possible, there wasn't an answer on what would happen in that scenario. It was also said that the sheriff's office already has instances where there aren't any facilities available for our inmates. Tony Milsted asked to address Sheriff Dowdy and asked him if he wanted the jail. "If you're going to build one, do your homework and build a small jail that we can pay for. To get up to times, we need a jail, but we need to use our heads if we do one. Right now, I don't see how we could afford one if we are broke," said Dowdy. So where do we go from here? According to Communications Director Kevin Walters with the Department of Insurance and Commerce, Pickett County is to present a new plan of corrective action by November 1st. Sheriff Dowdy and County Executive Carey Garner have told the PRESS that they are going to be working together to present a plan to the Fire Marshal's Office. An audio of the county commission meeting can be found at http:// dhlcommunications.com, under Pickett County Government. Results from the Town of Byrdstown 5k/3k Run/Walk The Town of Byrdstown 5K/3K Run/Walk was held Saturday, October 13th. 14 & under female 1st Carolann Stockton, Byrdstown 2nd Makenzie Cope, Byrdstown 14 & under male 1st Joseph Stawicki, Nashville 2nd Adam Stawicki, Nashville 1st Maddilyn Arms, Cookeville 15-20 male-no entries 1st Brittney Crowder, Livingston 2nd Lindsey Stonecipher, Albany 3rd Laura Vitatoe, Pall Mall 1st Ryan Stone, Albany 2nd Tony Poore, Byrdstown 1st Rebekah Masiongale, Byrdstown 1st Donna Riddle, Albany 2nd Kim Stockton, Byrdstown 3rd Jenny Robke, Walton, Ky. 1st Sally Pendergrass, Byrdstown 1st Mike Robke, Walton, Ky. 2nd Eric Stawicki, Nashville 3rd Bryan Arms, Cookeville 1st Linda Young, Byrdstown 2nd Donna Branham, Byrdstown 61 and up female 1st Kathy Stawicki, Monroe 2nd Cathy Lee, Byrdstown 3rd Brenda Cross, Byrdstown 61 and up male 1st Rick Cross, Byrdstown Daleholloween set for Oct. 31st A community event for Halloween has been scheduled for October 31st. The first annual "Daleholloween" will be at the town park, across for town hall in Byrdstown from 5-7 p.m. This event is to help provide a safe area for trick-or-treating as well as providing some Halloween fun. There will be a costume contest at 6:30 for children and adults, so get those costumes ready! If you would like to sign-up to distribute candy/ goodies, please stop by Town Hall or call 864-6215. Burn permits required October 15-May 15 The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry is observing National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 7-13) by reminding citizens to follow simple safety practices to prevent wildfires. The official start of wildfire season in Tennessee is Oct. 15. "With the recent and forecasted rain, we expect favorable conditions for safe debris burning over the next couple of months," State Forester David Arnold said. "However, we shouldn't let our guard down. We encourage Tennesseans to remain vigilant and practice safe debris burning to prevent wildfires." Obtaining a burn permit is free, fast, and simple. If you are burning a leaf or brush pile that is smaller than 8 feet by 8 feet in size, our online system provides a quick and efficient way to apply. For a larger burn, call your local Division of Forestry burn permit phone number Mon. through Fri., 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The online system and burn permit phone numbers can be found at www.BurnSafeTN.org. In Pickett County burning permits are available by phone Monday- Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. except on holidays by calling 864-3466. Permits may be obtained in advance for weekends and holidays. Permits will not be issued on days and in locations if it is considered unsafe to conduct a debris burn. More than 300,000 permits are issued each year, and they are only issued when conditions are conducive to safe burning. If you live inside city limits, there may be additional restrictions. Check with your municipality before you burn. For a list of materials that may not be burned, check the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's open burning guidelines at www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/apc-air-pollution-control- home/apc/open-burning.html. Burning without a permit is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine. Wildfires caused by arson are a class C felony punishable by 3 to 15 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Anyone with information about suspected arson activity should call the state Fire Marshal's Arson Hotline at 1-800-762-3017. The hotline is answered 24 hours a day, and you may remain anonymous when providing information. Cash awards are offered for information leading to an arrest or conviction. To report illegal burning, please call 1-888-891-TDEC. Visit www.BurnSafeTN.org for additional tips to burn safely and to protect your community. The Division of Forestry promotes the wise use of forest resources by assisting landowners, fighting wildfires, providing quality seedlings, monitoring insects and diseases, improving urban forests, managing state forests, protecting water quality, and collecting forest inventory data. The Division also works to promote primary and secondary forest industries to stimulate the state's economy. Visit http://www.tn.gov/agriculture/forests for more information. Comptroller's investigative report released concerning Pickett County The Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury recently conducted an investigation of selected records within the Pickett County Ambulance Service. The time period for the investigation was from July 1, 2016 through May 31, 2018. The findings and recommendations were shared and reviewed with management prior to the press release of the investigative report. The following are the documents released from the Comptroller’s investigative report: Finding 1: Wireless device assigned to the director had questionable amounts of usage-The ambulance service has six Verizon jetpacks issued by the county. A jetpack is a device that creates an internet connection that can be shared with other devices. The director advised us that he kept his assigned device at home and hardly ever used it; however, we determined that the director's device/jetpack had the most data usage of the six devices. The average data usage for the director's device over 10 months through May 2018 was 13.9 GB. The director advised us that if the device showed data usage then his children were the ones using it without his knowledge. The devices are on an unlimited data plan; therefore, the usage is not costing the county. However, the director's device is not being used for its intended governmental purpose. RECOMMENDATION-The ambulance service should monitor its jetpacks usage for reasonableness, and the director should ensure his assigned device is used only for county business. MANAGEMENT'S RESPONSE- Pickett County Ambulance Service Director Tom Storie-The director provided Verizon documentation that two devices/lines ending in 3001 and 3002 were disconnected on August 3, 2018. One of the devices listed on the documentation pertains to the device in the finding. The ambulance service did not comply with Pickett County's personnel policy regarding compensatory time-Pickett County's personnel policy permits employees to accumulate a maximum of 80 hours of compensatory time, and the policy does not allow the transfer of accumulated compensatory time between employees. We noted that an ambulance service employee received compensatory time that was donated from the director's accumulated leave balance. This violation of policy was addressed by the Pickett County Executive who issued a written warning stating that the incident was a misunderstanding of policy and has since been corrected. RECOMMENDATION-The ambulance service should follow Pickett County's personnel policy for compensatory time. Pickett County's payroll department should review all ambulance service leave activity to ensure compliance with the county policy. MANGEMENT'S RESPONSE-Pickett County Executive Richard Daniel-We were provided documentation that shows management dealt with compensatory time when it first became a known issue. We were also informed that compensatory time requires prior approval and accumnated compensatroy time must be taken within a reasonable time. The findings and recommendations were also reviewed with the district attorney general for the Thirteenth Judicial District. Pickett County Schools to receive funds to replace camera equipment Senator Ken Yager (R-Kingston) has announced over $1 million in state grants for school districts he represents to improve school safety and security. These grants include $317,157.77 in Safe School grants, which are recurring funds and $762,850 in School Safety and Security grants, which are one-time funds. This year the General Assembly included $35 million in the 2018/2019 state budget for school safety, which Yager supported, following recommendations from Governor Haslam’s School Safety Working Group. “I was glad to support these grants for school safety and am pleased that local school districts will benefit from these funds,” said Yager. “Our students should be able to learn in an environment where they feel safe. The assessment process conducted by law enforcement in collaboration with local officials was an efficient way to determine the needs of each school district to ensure safety for In order to apply for grant funding, local school officials partnered with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the Department of Education, and local law enforcement to complete safety assessments for school facilities and safety procedures. This was the first time the state led a comprehensive effort to determine the security needs at individual schools. Based on the findings following this assessment, all school districts were eligible to apply for two grants to receive funding for local safety and security needs. Additionally, as a result of the working group recommendations, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security is working to secure a developer to complete a statewide school safety mobile application. The application will be designed for use by students, faculty and staff to anonymously report concerning or suspicious behavior to local law enforcement and school officials. “I appreciate the work that local officials did to complete the application process and work well with the Department of Safety and Department of Education to complete the assessments. The safety and security of our schools will continue to be a top priority in years to come,” added Yager. The grants for Senate District 12 include: ·Pickett County is receiving $8,110 in recurring funds and $20,270 in non-recurring funds to address access control, surveillance, and communication as areas of need. Pickett County Director of Schools Diane Elder told the Press the grant money will be used to replace camera equipment at the Pickett County K-8. Multiple water pump failures cause low water levels A water pump failure at the intake resulted in emergency action by the Town of Byrdstown Water and Sewer Department. Citizens were contacted by an automatic voice message from the Overton/Pickett County 911 to notify everyone of the situations. There are three intake pumps that help supply us with water. One of the pumps went out a few months ago. Bids were accepted and approved by the city council in the amount of $40,000 last month to purchase a new pump and motor. However, it has not arrived yet. Ironically, Sunday night, a second pump failed and created a serious problem with our water supply. The normal water level for the water storage tank is around 24 ft., but was at a very low level of 10 ft. by Monday night. "One pump cannot accommodate our water demand. We were doing everything we could to not be without water," said Mayor Sam Gibson. According to Mayor Gibson, the department acted quickly and contacted the state to see about getting a temporary portable pump set up. They were able to make contact with a company out of Illinois. They put the machine on a truck and it traveled to Byrdstown Monday. It was hooked up and pumped throughout the night to get the water supply closer to normal levels by Tuesday morning. The rental for the portable water pump is $1,000 per day. There has been an emergency purchase for another water pump but it will be weeks before it arrives. Man arrested for breaking into school offices A man has been arrested for breaking into the Pickett County Director of School office and garage office. According to reports, the offices were found in shambles on Sunday. The Pickett County Sheriff's Office was contacted to investigate the incident. The suspect was recognized on the video footage captured by the school system. An undisclosed amount of money was stolen and there was some property damage. Steven Joe Stinson, 36, of Byrdstown was arrested and has been charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of vandalism and theft. County has spent $750,000 for jail project During the last county commission meeting, it was referenced that there was a letter that was sent by County Executive Richard Daniel to the commissioners regarding Pickett County Jail and Finance. In that letter dated August 29th, Mr. Daniel states that there has been approximately $750,000 spent on the jail project. "This money was appropriated by the Pickett County Commission with the understanding that when the financing for the jail was complete, this money would be reimbursed to Pickett County as part of the finance plan for the new jail." It was also said that at each commission meeting, commissioners were given financial statements showing the total spending for each line item and were approved by majority vote. According to the documents, Mr. Daniel provided in the letter, the breakdown that has been provided to this newspaper for the $750,000 are as follows: $50,000-Nelson Mullins Riley & SC (legal) $121,069.50-People's Bank & Trust (property) $12.27-Town of Byrdstown (property taxes) $15,500.00-S&P Global Rating (county rating) $8,000-Beaver Engineering, Inc. (core drilling of property) $16,515.00-State of Tennessee (approval of first set of architect plans) $539,517-Thomas L. Anderson Architect (architect services) Total of $750,613.77 After reviewing the financial records that were presented to the county commission in the July meeting, under expenditures for the General Fund 101 Budget to Actual account number 91120 (Administration of Justice Projects) the year to date 2017-18 expenditures were $700,614. The original budget for that account was $323,714 but was amended to $717,129. The first budget amendment #7 was accounted for and approved in the amount of $110,773 in December While investigating the trail of expenditures and appropriations for this specific account, there are issues for concern that have been found. The most concerning has been regarding budget amendment #16 from the county general fund 101 2017-2018 that was approved in May 2018. That amendment was for 46 amounts with a total of $705,321.82. At the very end, there is an unassigned line item amount of $282,641.77. Every item is supposed to have an account, so what was that money used for and why did the commissioners approve an incomplete amendment? By going through the budget and amended budget amounts and matching up amendments for the administration of justice project, this newspaper has guessed that the $282,641.77 was to fund the 91120 account. However, there is no official record of that since it was without an account number. The reports that were submitted to the commission in the August meeting did not have account number 91120. There has been nothing placed in the budget for jail administration project for the FY The last two checks (dated Aug. 24, 2018) were written after the 2017-2018 budget for Nelson Mullins Riley & SC. Since there was nothing in the new budget for the jail project, where is that appropriation for the expenditure of that $50,000? The money that we have spent on the jail project so far was said to be gone by Mr. Daniel if the new commission didn't move forward with the "present" jail plans. This was to due to the finance plan being withdrawn for Pickett County. In December 2017, the Municipal Capital Markets Group Inc. sent a Non-Binding Engagement Letter for the general terms and conditions of financing the new Pickett County Jail project. It indicates the county and MCM plan to enter into a lease- purchase agreement to issue local government public improvement bonds through the Industrial Development board of Pickett County in order to finance the project. The letter didn't bind the county to proceed with the sale of the bonds if an agreement on terms can be reached nor obligates the county to compensate MCM. Neither the county nor the Industrial Board have entered into a contractual agreement or approved the issuance of a bond for this project. Not only did we have an additional $426,899.77 in increased expenses for the jail project, but Pickett County also had approximately a million dollars in budget amendments totals for 2017-2018. Meaning, the county spent an additional million over the budget which seems to have attributed to the current low fund balance. The county commission recently approved two tax anticipation notes in the amount of $300,000 for County General 101 and $50,000 for 116 Solid Waste. This money is to be used to operate on until the tax revenue starts coming in. As of Tuesday, Sept. 25th, the county has been approved by the Comptroller's Office of Local and State Finance to only borrow $252,148 for the County General 101 fund. There will be a discussion on the jail situation in Pickett County at the next county commission meeting on Monday, October 15th. Reagan wins BFL tournament Boater Robert Reagan of Byrdstown won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Mountain Division tournament on the Barren River Sunday with a two-day cumulative catch of nine bass weighing 30 pounds, 7 ounces. For his win, Reagan took home $7,329. Reagan said he caught most of the fish he weighed on a homemade football-head jig with a Watermelon Meat-colored Strike King Rage Tail Craw trailer in 18 to 20 feet of water. “I got on a shallow bite early in practice, so I went to the river Saturday but only caught one small fish by 1:30 p.m.,” said Reagan, who earned his fourth career win in BFL competition. “I ran back down to the main lake to the mid-lake area and ran some ledges. I marked fish and got four bites by the end of the day and they were the right ones.” Reagan flipped shallow wood with a green-pumpkin Zoom Speed Craw with a 3/8-ounce weight to catch his keeper from the river. “I returned to the same mid-lake area Sunday and caught two fish from a place I’d caught them Saturday, and the other two from ledges I hadn’t fished yet,” said Reagan. “I marked them and fished them with the same jig – I never laid it down. I lost my “fifth” a couple of times Sunday – it just didn’t get into the net.” Reagan noted that his Lowrance electronics were essential to his win. “I couldn’t have won without my Lowrance unit – they showed me the fish. I idled the ledges and when I‘d see them I’d stop the engine and cast in there. It seemed like I could catch them on a first or second cast.” The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 25-27 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, Tennessee. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200- horsepower Evinrude outboard. Local church vandalized A recent Facebook post was made by Moodyville Baptist Church Pastor Joel Chappell Jr. stating the church had been vandalized over the A somewhat rare purple Crafter guitar was stolen. If you have any information on the incident or the location of the guitar, please contact the Pickett County Sheriff's Office at "I don't know what it takes for a person to rob a church, but I would say they need some prayer," said Pastor Joel. Why is the county having to borrow money to operate on? During Monday's county commission meeting, the board approved two tax anticipation notes for 101 county general fund and 116 solid waste fund. That is because there isn't enough money to cover expenses. The question is being investigated by this newspaper as to what has happened to our county's finances. Check next week's PRESS for more information on this issue. Commissioners approve two tax anticipation notes The Pickett County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Sept. 17th, 2018. This was the first meeting since the new county officials took office on Sept. 1st. The following commissioners were present: Tony Beaty, Andrew Conner, Mitchell Cross, Brad Flowers, Darrell Garrett, Joe Harden, Carter Martin, Sheila Moon, Brad Richardson, Jim Richardson, Doug Scroggins and Terri Worley. Clerk of the Court Robert "Charlie" Lee addressed the commission for approval of chairman and vice-chairman of the board of commissioners. A motion by Carter Martin was seconded by Darrell Garrett to nominate and approve the election of Carey Garner as Chairman and Sheila Moon as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. All ayes. Sheila Moon also voted aye. The meeting was then turned over to Chairman Garner. The agenda was approved with all ayes. A motion was called to approve the previous months minutes. Commissioner Tony Beaty addressed the board and questioned what happens if the commission doesn't approve the minutes, does that mean the actions are still valid. It was stated that the actions are still approved. Motion by Jim Richardson and seconded by Brad Flowers to approve the minutes from the Monday, August 20th, 2018 County Court Meeting as presented. All ayes except Tony Beaty, Darrell Garrett, Joe Harden, Carter Martin, Sheila Moon, and Terri Worley. With 6 ayes and 6 nays, Chariman Garner broke the tie with an aye vote. The monthly reports which include county general, transfer station/ projects were approved with all ayes. Notary renewals for Debra S. Cummings, Emily Jane King, Donna S. Anderson, Christa Lee Tompkins, Catherine A. Smith and Melissa Tompkins were approved with all ayes. A motion by Joe Harden was seconded by Terri Worley to approve budget amendments as presented. This was from the request from the circuit court clerk to move line item funds in the budget. All ayes. The newly elected commissioners were presented with election certificates. Motion by Joe Harden and seconded by Doug Scroggins to approve two tax revenue anticipation notes: One tax revenue anticipation note in the amount of $300,000 for the 101 General Fund to be borrowed from People's Bank & Trust Company. The second tax to be in the amount of $50,000 for the 116 Solid Waste (Transfer Station) Fund to be borrowed from People's Bank & Trust Company. Both notes to be paid back by June 30th, 2019 using property tax revenues. This being authorized by the County Commission in Section #6 of the Appropriation Resolution FY 2018-2019-1 dated and passed June 18th, 2018. All ayes. Approval was made with all ayes to remove Patricia A. Braddock, David Harer and Richard D. Daniel from signature cards pertaining to county government at People's Bank and Trust Company. A motion was made and approved by all ayes for the addition of Carey B. Garner and Sheila Moon to the signature card for all accounts for county government at People's Bank and Trust Company. Motion by Brad Richardson and seconded by Joe Harden to approve signature letters for Debra Cummings and Brenda Cross as signers in the absence of County Executive Carey B. Garner as presented. All ayes. Approval of the contract for new county attorney Amanda Howard was made with all ayes. Motion by Carter Martin and seconded by Terri Worley to approve Tompkins Cemetery Circle to be designated as a county road for Pickett County and to be added to the list of county roads and be maintained by the county road department was made with all ayes. Commissioner Darrell Garrett addressed the court regarding his concerns for the budget and the finding revenue with hotel/motel tax. It was suggested that a committee be formed to research the issue. Newly appointed EMS Director Garry Garrett reported that the department has done away with the Assistant Director position. Instead, there will be two supervisors who will be working with the crews. Also, Paramedic Tim Ford has come back working full-time in Transfer Station Lead Operator Marty Beaty reported that the employees are doing all they can to help save money and bring revenue for the county by pulling out items to recycle. A 40 lb. load of cardboard was going to be ready for recycling soon. He thanked Commissioner Jim Richardson for donating a lot of cardboard and Carter Martin for assisting in some truck work at the transfer station. Before the motion to adjourn was made, Commissioner Andrew Conner asked Chairman Garner about the picking up on the jail project. He asked to have it placed on the agenda for the next meeting. A motion was made by Andrew Conner and seconded by Mitchell Cross to continue the jail discussion at the next regular county court meeting scheduled for October 15th. All ayes. A friendship that has lasted over 50 years Pictured at left are Dale Varnell and Lowell Winningham. PHOTO: Donna Cope It was 1965 when two soldiers began a friendship that would be remembered throughout their lives. Lowell Winningham served in the Army 25th Infantry Division when he met Dale Varnell. They served and fought together in Vietnam from 1965-1966. Winningham went back to Vietnam but without his friend Dale. They lost touch after that. Family and friends from both Lowell and Dale have stated that over the years they would speak of each other often. It was many years ago when Dale decided to try and find his long lost friend. Even that took several years, but he was able to obtain a phone number for Lowell. They reconnected, but it would be many years later until they were able to see each other again. Dale and his wife decided to travel from Manford, Oklahoma to Byrdstown. On September 13th, after over 50 years, two long-lost friends were reunited. They were able to spend several days together at the lake, reminiscing and enjoying each other's company. Referendum removed from August ballot Last week, there were questions posed by this newspaper regarding the legality of the referendum that was to be on the August ballot. The referendum was to allow Pickett County to become its own emergency communications district. Pickett County Administrator of Elections Tim Clark reported to the PRESS that after he reviewed the article and the questions posed, he contacted the attorney with the state election office and Tennessee Emergency Communications Board Executive Director Curtis Sutton for validation of the referendum. Resolution 2017-2018-23 requested that the election commission submit the question to the voters by referendum for the August 2018 general election in accordance with the provision of law. That resolution was approved by the Pickett County Commission February 19th. According to Clark, he was advised that Pickett County was part of an existing district and the county didn't have the authority to place the referendum on the ballot as indicated on the submitted resolution. That authority is given by the Tennessee Emergency Communications board as provided in T.C.A. 7-86-310. Therefore, the referendum was immediately removed. On Thursday, county attorney Andrea Ayers responded to the request asking if the county has submitted an official proposal to the TECB for the attempts to become a separate emergency communications district. She provided what had been done on behalf of the county which was only a meeting request. That request was submitted by Pickett County Executive Richard Daniel on May 17th asking to be placed on the agenda of the next board meeting. "Pickett County would appreciate the opportunity to present facts and information that will support our request to become an independent 911 District," the request stated. There has been a special board meeting scheduled for June 15th at the request of Pickett County. As reported last week, the county had committed to submit a formal petition/proposal to the board by the end of the month. According to TECB Executive Director Curtis Sutton, as of Tuesday, May 29th they have not received one. "Without a proposal, the board can't deliberate and consider the request," said Sutton. Should the board determine that the creation of a new district is in the best interest of the public, the board would hold a public hearing within the existing district. Following the hearing, the board could then order a referendum be held. The earliest the board could take action to order the referendum, following a public hearing, would be during the August meeting. If everything was completed and approved by the August 1st meeting, the referendum could possibly be placed on the November ballot. Rare waterspout on Dale Hollow Lake PHOTO: Jessica Scott Wilson This has been confirmed by the National Weather Service of Nashville as being a water spout. According to NWS Meteorologist Krissy Hurley, these are very rare for our area and are comparable to a gustnado. These waterspouts typically don't cause any damage and are not the same as a tornado. As the storm was approaching Saturday evening, the outflowing and surface winds along with the geographic layout of the valley created the perfect condition for this phenomenon to occur. There have been around two recorded water spouts for middle Tennessee in the past 10 years. A storm spotter has reported seeing a total of three waterspouts. This was truly a unique occurrence for Dale Hollow Lake. Calves rescued on the lake PHOTO: Garry Garrett The Pickett County Rescue Squad recently helped retrieve six Holstein calves that were stranded on the lake. The calves were found by some fishermen in the Eagles’ Cove area. According to Rescue Squad Captain Garry Garrett, it was believed the cows had made it down the ravine after a storm and couldn't get back out. They had been down there for several days and were weak and hungry. Each 300 lb. calf was roped and carried onto a pontoon where they were provided some hay to eat. They were eventually returned to the owner. The PCRS would like to thank Cody Smith for the assistance in roping the animals. Pickett School Board votes to establish a fishing team The Pickett County Board of Education met Thursday, May 17, 2018 at 7 p.m. at the office of the director of schools with the following members present: Dorman Beaty, Jr., John Reagan, chairman, Nathan Anderson and Jerry Mitchell. Motion by Dorman Beaty seconded by Jerry Mitchell to adopt the agenda and approve the minutes from the April 26, 2018 meeting. All ayes. Motion carried. Motion by Nathan Anderson seconded by John Reagan to give the director of schools and principal the authority to establish a Pickett County Fishing Team. All ayes. Motion carried. Motion by Jerry Mitchell seconded by Nathan Anderson to approve that the TnReady test results will not be counted in students final grade or in any way harm a teachers evaluation for FY 2017-2018. All ayes. Motion by Dorman Beaty seconded by Nathan Anderson for Pickett County Schools to recognize National School Rodeo activities as a school program. All ayes. Motion carried. Motion by Jerry Mitchell seconded by Nathan Anderson to adjourn. All ayes. Motion carried. Lightning causes fire A storm on Tuesday, May 15th caused a fire and power outages across According to a witness traveling on Fairview Road, lightning struck a hay barn owned by Norman Amonett, containing hundreds of bales of hay a little before 7 p.m. Everything was completely engulfed when volunteer fire department members arrived. The high winds and rain caused multiple trees to be down and also broke powerlines leaving around 500 people without power for many hours. Powerlines were across the road on Eagle's Cove Road below the Oak Hill split enabling traffic to go through until early the next morning. County road crews worked throughout the night to get trees and debris cleared off the roadways. Questions concerning upcoming referendum to create an emergency communication district A referendum on the creation of the emergency communications district for Pickett County will be on the August ballot. This newspaper has questioned the legality of the referendum being placed on the ballot at any time before receiving approval from the state as specified by state statute. In April 2017, the Pickett County Commissioners approved with all ayes to request the creation of an Emergency Communication District for Pickett County by referendum during the May 2018 primary election. According to Administrator of Elections Tim Clark, a request was made by Pickett County Executive Richard Daniel to place the referendum on the May ballot. However, in February, the Pickett County Board of Commissioners approved to rescind that motion and passed a new one that places the referendum during the August 2018 general election. The referendum was removed before the official May ballot was created. In May 2017, Pickett County Executive Richard Daniel went before the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board in Nashville. At that time, Mr. Daniel presented the board with the intentions for wanting Pickett County to become its own emergency communications district. "We have no intentions of doing anything detrimental to Overton County, we don't want to harm them. But there comes a time when we want to take back that responsibility again. It was never meant to be a permanent situation," said Daniel. A board member questioned what was not working for the county. Mr. Daniel expressed the need to have local control having dispatchers familiar with the roads and area, issues of losing runs to other counties through 911 dispatch, and that our EMS has made great "We know that we are going to have to put quite a bit into it, we understand and we are prepared to do that," said Daniel. At no time during that discussion did Mr. Daniel indicate a reason for Pickett County to want to separate was due to questions regarding the Overton-Pickett Emergency Communication district's spending. Daniel also stated that he was part of the initiation to join the two counties in 1998 when he served as Chairman on the 911 board. One of those reasons for the joining of the two districts was that Pickett County didn't have the means to secure the equipment with a hardened room but that would be available when the new jail facility is built. During that meeting, a board member questioned if things were out of order and asked the board attorney to explain the proper process. It was explained that there needed to be a resolution passed by the county legislative board, which had been done, so next would be filing a formal petition with the board. After the petition was received it would be placed on the agenda to discuss if the creation is in the best interest of the public. If it was determined that the petition and separation satisfied all the requirements, then a public hearing would be held within the boundaries of the district. After all of that, the board then may order a referendum. An email was sent to Pickett County Executive Richard Daniel and County Attorney Andrea Ayers to see if an official proposal had been made to the board and if it hadn't, when would it be. There has not yet been a response to that request. The same question was asked in February when the referendum was supposed to have been on the May ballot. Attorney Ayers reported that nothing had been presented at that time. This newspaper also asked why it hadn’t been presented since it is to be on the ballot and never received an answer. According to the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board Executive Director Curtis Sutton, there has not been a petition presented to the board. "We have received a request for a hearing but have not received a proposal. We are working to schedule a special meeting in June or July. The county has committed that it will submit a proposal by the end of the month," said Sutton. "In the event that the board at the special hearing determines that the creation of the new district is in the best interest of the public, the board must still hold a public hearing within the service area of Overton-Pickett Emergency Communications District pursuant to T.C.A. 7-86- 310." The statute states that "After May 20, 1998, no referendum to allow the creation of a new emergency communications district within the boundaries on an existing emergency communications district shall take place without prior approval by the board. The board may order that a referendum be held provided that such action shall not threaten the financial integrity or stability or the level or quality of 911 service of the existing emergency communications district." The question was then asked to Executive Director Sutton, what happens if all of those requirements are not completed by the general election since the referendum is already to be on the ballot? Does it matter that the process wasn't adhered to in the proper order? Sutton replied, "The statute specifically says no referendum to allow creation shall take place without prior approval by the board." The statute that is on the resolution to create the new district refers to T.C.A. 7-86-101 "Emergency Communications District Law" which authorizes counties to create an emergency communications Since Pickett County is part of an existing district, wouldn't the county be legally obligated to follow the statute that says that board approval is required? Why has the county gone ahead and proceeded to place the referendum on the ballot without having petitioned nor received approval from the board in accordance to state statute? Is that referendum even valid? 911 Director's answers to comptroller questions During the Overton-Pickett 911 Emergency Communications District board meeting Monday, May 7th, Director Chris Masiongale was given an opportunity to respond to the questions and concerns brought out in the comptroller's report. There were many items discussed, and this newspaper has chosen to select the issues that were determined as the most important to our readers. The questions posed by the report will be listed, followed by the explanation summary from Director Masiongale. Fuel Purchases for director on multiple out-of-state trips in the amount of $678.05 -In September the contract for the director's use of the vehicle that included and defined that both personal and professional use was approved by the board during their regular board meeting. That included that any costs for the vehicle were to be considered part of the contract. A policy was developed. The Director also explained that he took his emergency vehicle anytime his family went out of town to be able to leave and get back as soon as possible. The Director also submitted mileage for his personal use on his yearly taxes. The vehicle has since been sold, per the Director's request. The district made purchases for items not exclusively used in district operations -The stainless steel tabletop was used for the American Legion who was working to remodel a kitchen. The tabletop was bought for them to use and in exchange, they provided the district with the facility at no cost. In the past, money was paid to rent the facility for large -Family members did get paid $100 in 2015 for working after disaster assistance was available to citizens that were affected by the ice storm. Employees and their children were offered to work on the job of going through 800 applications for disaster aid and worked to input the information in a database, map and verify residency, and that no more than one applicant was applying from a household. The time spent on the job was a week and the issue was brought before the board and they approved to pay $100 to the family members of the -The board approved the use of emergency response items in the amount of $3,400 for the director's vehicle. The Director received permission by the Overton County Sheriff to use blue lights. -The Wrangler pants were beige work pants, not jeans that used to be mandatory as part of the employee uniform. That has not been a requirement nor has the district paid for them in several years. Transactions that could appear to be conflicts of interest -The board minutes reflect that they were to speak with legal and financial to ensure that the board was not doing anything illegal by purchasing a John Deere lawn mower from the Director. The board was advised to create a committee to evaluate and form an appropriate cost. The mower was sold for $4,000 and a question of fair market value was raised by the comptroller. The Director reported that the cheapest mower of the same model with even more hours that he could find now was priced at $4,000 at Hix Brothers. -The 1988 gooseneck trailer was donated to the district by the Director. Previous to the donation, it had been used to travel all over the U.S. for equipment and was being used by the district as well as other local agencies. The liability was on the Director for the use of the trailer until it was licensed through the district. There was repair work of $3,200 that was paid by district funds. A few months ago the board accepted the donation of the trailer. -The Director's brother offered to sell the district a 120 ft tower. The estimated cost was around $5,000 in getting the tower removed and transported. To purchase a new tower like the one discussed would have been $10-$15,000. The Director's brother asked that the district ship a front-end loader that he had purchased in Pickett County in exchange for him dismantling the tower, loading it on a trailer to bring it to Overton County from Indiana. Overton County Executive Ben Danner was asked by the Director if that was possible to do. The reply was as long as the value is greater than the cost, yes it could be done. There was an arrangement of shipping the loader through U- Ship, but the shipper never responded so there was a refund of only 90 percent. There was $267.00 that was supposed to be refunded and after multiple attempts, it still hasn't been refunded. The Director's brother hired a crane, took the tower down, disassembled, took it to the manufacturer to ensure the soundness, re-galvanized it and put a new base on and delivered it to Tennessee. The total charge and amount paid was $3,200 for that tower and the services. The tower was later sold to Clay County for $9,999.00, which netted a profit. That tower was deemed surplus after another bigger tower, that would have a value of $50,000 if it was purchased new, was donated to the district. The cost to take that tower down was $5,000. Purchases of food totaling $18,700.12 -This was a two year period with the board meeting 6-7 times a year and there are approximately 55-60 employee meetings per year. In the past, food was always provided for those meetings, but that ceased in July 2017. The only food purchases that have been made are for the dispatchers and board meetings. However, nothing was provided for the May 7th board meeting. The chairman of the board proposed that no food be purchased by the district. That issue will be discussed in the next board meeting. -Alcohol was on the receipt of the September 2016 board meeting at Pier 42 at Sunset. The Director was not aware that anyone purchased alcohol and that this was believed to have been the first instance where alcohol was shown on a receipt. The Director thought that it was by mistake but it wasn't caught at the time and that it would never happen again. -Sam's Club purchases were used for the district as part of the food that was provided for meetings and the center, not for personal benefit. -The medications that were questioned were brought up by the Director to the comptroller investigator to show that they provide medications for the employees. The Director reported that a flu outbreak in the call center would be devastating. The medications included Advil, Aleve, Mucinex, Airborne, Omega 3, Vit C, Cinnamon, DayQuil. Purchases of -A Patriot enclosed trailer was purchased for $3,885. The trailer is used for promotional events, to pick up equipment, transport tools and used as an aide to haul items to a disaster site. The usage of the trailer is available to other local agencies as well. It was indicated in the report that the investigator's requested to see the trailer but it wasn't on the property and they were unable to verify that it was being used by the fire department as explained. The Director reported that the trailer was there the first time investigators visited and said that Rocky Dial could have verified it's useage if he had been asked. -The ice machine was purchased in 2015 and has had disbursements of $4,163 for the cost and maintenance and repair. It is used for cookouts, Fall-o-ween, and other public relations events. -A massage chair was purchased in 2015 for $3,599.95. The Director reported that the district wasn't the only one who had a massage chair and that the report failed to question the other equipment in the room: a treadmill and stationary bicycle. The explanation as to why that chair was purchased was that the dispatcher employees have three major issues that come as a result of their jobs. 1.-PTSD, 2.- Carpel Tunnel, 3. Poor Circulation in the lower extremities. The board also approved the disbursement of $75,000 for dispatcher's consoles to be converted to stands if needed to help aid in reducing the issues of carpel tunnel and circulation problems. The massage chair is designed to work on hands, feet and legs and also is to give the employee an area for quiet space, especially after dealing with a call that resulted in a tragedy. -There were questions regarding a Sandblaster, Drillpress and Air Compressor, all of which were reported by the Director as being used for equipment of the towers for the district. There was no room to store the equipment so it is located and secured in the EMA building but is only being used by the district. -A golf cart that was questioned in the report is used for public relations. The money used to purchase the golf cart was from the sale of a four-wheeler that was used to map out local trials. The report recommendation was that the property of the district is stored on the property. The golf cart is located in the rescue squad building in the space that is being rented by the district. The Director felt that because they are paying for rent at the rescue squad, it is considered the district's property. -The $411.56 portrait that is located in the director's office was purchased within the guidelines of the budget the Director was given for his office. All the other items had been donated or were yard sale items, the Director told the board that if they wanted him to reimburse them for the picture, he would do so. -Many years ago, the board approved Sam's Club and Air Evac membership's as part of the employee and board member benefits. The Director asked that the board verifies the legality of those benefits. training classes, -The report questions the expenditures for employee training and noted that there was no policy to use district funds to pay for EMT or IT classes, books, and supplies. The Director reported that in 2002, the OPECD board adopted employee policies and procedures which makes it a requirement that all dispatchers attend EMT school. The state of Tennessee ECD board established funding for education in the amount of $20,000 per year for the OPCED. Up until the investigation began, there was free training provided for various local agencies every month but that has ceased. There is still in-house training for employees and the equipment is being used by the district. -It was recommended that the board should have a policy for employee training, training classes, training equipment and supplies and the funding related to the training. The Director reported that there was one written and approved by the board in December 2017. -The Director reported that from 2010 up to last year, every graduating class in Overton and Pickett County has been supported by the district. The day of graduation, students were surprised with goody bags and the purchases are within the budget that is for public relations. There was also goody bags provided to local law enforcement for National Night Out. The Director told the board that he has not purchased anything for the 2018 graduates. -Questions on the purchases totaling $3,995.62 for positive promotion and 4imprint, Myron Corporation purchases were part of public relations and there were OPECD logo's on the items. Those purchases were made from July 2015 to August 2017. Deficiencies in payments for tower climbs for family -The report specifically identified that there were three individuals (out of 10) who were paid to climb towers that were family. 1. Employee and son of 911 winter workshop board member. That employee worked part-time as a dispatcher before becoming a climber. The Director said that relationship had nothing to do with his ability to provide laboring work. 2. Engaged to district director's daughter. The Director said that was incorrect, they were not engaged at the time of his employment. He also was working to build fences around tower sites and other jobs along with climbing. Since the engagement, he has not been employed. 3. Engaged to district employee's daughter. The Director said that is also incorrect that they have not been nor are engaged. The person in question also is trained in rope rescue and is part of the rescue squad. The report states that there is no written policy or contract for the climbers. The Director reported that the board has an approved policy for the climbers, that they get $250 per 24-hour period. He also reported that many of the climbers were doing it for no pay until the board approved compensation. Start off Memorial weekend by donating blood to save a life No one ever wants to hear that there is something wrong with their child. When my husband and I had our third child, we overcame a lot but we weren't prepared for what awaited us. Our family was forever changed the day after our son was born. We learned that he had a congenital heart defect that left his heart functioning as half of one. We had never known how critical blood products were until then. At that time, he had a 50 percent chance of even surviving the first surgery. He was only nine days old for that surgery and that was just one of three open-heart surgeries he had by age two. He had to have blood products throughout that time. Even if they were pulling out an arterial line after surgery, they had to have blood products in the room ready to be used in case of a bleed. Our family also got to donate blood as a direct donation for Chance to be used if needed for his last open-heart surgery. The surgeries are not a fix, they are only palliative surgeries that help give him the best quality of life. Chance is now seven years old and lives life to the fullest. You could never tell anything was wrong with that kid, he doesn't let his heart defect slow him down. Although, he has been known to try to use it as an excuse to get out of responsibilities. We are very hopeful for his future and we want to help make sure that other people know about congenital heart defects. CHD affects approximately 1 in 100 births, and there are several people who have been affected that are living in our own community. You can find more information about CHD at conqueringchd.org. We also have a Tennessee Chapter to help provide support for families. Because someone cared enough to donate blood, our family is impacted to remember to give back. In a time when we often feel powerless, we can help be the difference between life and death for someone. The Chances for Scarred Little Hearts blood drive is the only American Red Cross community blood drive scheduled for Pickett County for 2018. We do this blood drive in awareness of CHD and in honor of Chance. Let's kick off the holiday by helping save a life!!! The drive will be on Friday, May 25th at the Byrdstown Community Center from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood. An adult has approximately 10-12 pints of blood in their body. A baby, depending on weight, may have less than 10 ounces which is just over a cup. One pint of blood donated means potentially up to three lives For eligibility information and to schedule a convenient time to donate, go to www.redcross.org (enter Byrdstown 19) or call me at Board maintains confidence in 911 Director The Overton-Pickett 911 Emergency Communications District Board Of Directors met on Monday night, May 7th. Amid the comptroller's questionable expenditure's report, the board heard justifications from the director for the issues that were brought up in the report. Those members in attendance were: Chairman Stanley Carter, Jr., Vice- Chairman James Clouse, Treasurer Kevin Collins, Secretary Garry Garrett, Keith Ledford, Ralph Robbins, Randall Boswell, Rocky Dial, Dr. Mark Pressley, Buster Harmon, Larry Ledford. Absent was Tim Ford and Darrell Hoover. "Before passing any judgment, I wanted to hear what you (Chris) had to say about this and I told you I would give you the opportunity at this meeting to address anything you wanted to," said Chairman Stanely Carter, Jr. Director Chris Masiongale began with discussing information about the district and that he had started working in 1998. The Overton-Pickett 911 District is the only merged district and the only stand-alone district in the state. There are 10 full-time dispatchers and they answer around 350,000 calls a year. The district requires that each dispatcher be trained as an EMT and also have some law enforcement Director Masiongale went over everything brought out in the report and provided his explanation for each of the items. Masiongale told the board, "I am not aware of any instance where 911 funds were used for personal benefit. I have made mistakes but I have brought everything to the board. I have not been deceitful, dishonest with intent to do anything wrong." He also told the board that not all of the employees were contacted by comptroller investigators and that he was not aware that anyone declined to meet with agents. Some of the questionable actions brought out in the report had also been ran through legal and state auditors before they had been approved by the board. He also presented further documentation for several of the questions providing explanations that were not included in the report. It was noted that the vehicle that was used by Masiongale has been sold, and food purchases for employees has been very limited since July 1, 2017. Masiongale indicated the comptroller's office began asking questions and requesting records in March 2015. Since then, many of the recommendations of the Comptroller have already been implemented and the board and director have been working with financial advisor Scott Leduc to help the district be in compliance with the law. When Leduc presented information to the board, he included that he thought the investigative report was a little one-sided because it was missing a few details. "We're looked at and have been looked at like somehow we've just been running this place blindly. We take advice from legal, audit findings, and the CPA and we sit down and try to make the best decisions with the information we have," said Chairman Carter. At the request of Chairman Carter, there was a meeting Friday, May 4th with the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board Director and state finance director. In attendance at that meeting was legal counsel Mike Mahn and Scott Leduc and Stanley Carter Jr. Chairman Carter expressed the willingness of the board to continue cooperating and discussed his suggestions that were to be presented to the board at Monday's meeting. Recommendations were presented to the board by Chairman Carter that were to be considered for the next board meeting. -Lower purchasing limit to $500 and approve all expenditures in advance (had been $5,000) -Hold monthly meetings until further notice (had been meeting 4-5 times a year) -Itemized financial information to be sent to board members before the meetings (have been getting broad financial information) -No food or drinks to be purchased by 911 -Adopt nepotism policy prohibiting relatives in the chain of command -Annual performance review of Director that is tied to the annual Attorney to the board, Mike Mahan, provided the board with a packet of policies that have already been adopted or needed to be to make them readily available to board members. He also announced at the meeting that he was retiring and would continue helping the board transition with new counsel. The chairman asked that everyone provide a vote of confidence in Director Masiongale to decide what path the board would be taking moving forward. The confidence vote was that the director is capable of doing the job and that the board should keep him. All voted yes except Larry Ledford who voted no. "This is all I've ever known, thank you. I'll do whatever it takes," said Masiongale to the board. After the comptroller's report was released, Pickett County Executive Richard Daniel posted on his Re-Elect Richard Daniel Facebook page, that he "intended on requesting that all current Overton-Pickett E911 board members resign, request that the Director be suspended or fired immediately and all employees who refused to cooperate with the comptroller's investigation as indicated in the audit report be fired immediately." He did not attend Monday's meeting. A more detailed report of each issue that was presented to the board by Director Masiongale will be published in next week's PRESS. Civil War grave marker stolen A Facebook post involving the theft of a Civil War grave marker prompted questions by this newspaper. The individual who posted on Facebook was offering a $1,000 reward for the recovery or information leading to the recovery of the grave marker belonging to James M. Saufley. Pickett County Sheriff Dana Dowdy told the PRESS that the marker was reported missing on May 26th, 2017. It was believed that it had been missing for up to a year prior to being reported. Unfortunately, there were no leads for the investigation. Saufley was the first recorded death in Tennessee during the Civil War and the grave was at Travisville Cemetery. If you have any information regarding the missing marker, please contact the Pickett County Sheriff's Office 931-864-3210. Communication memorabilia destroyed in fire A 911 call was received on Wednesday at 4:36 p.m. regarding a fire on Osco Williams Road in the Chanute community in Pall Mall. Upon arrival, a wooden multi-level building was engulfed in flames. According to owner Robert Huddleston, while he was working on a lawnmower, it arced and caught the gas on fire. He reported that he tried to extinguish the fire but couldn't get to the fire extinguishers. As firefighters were battling the blaze, it started burning close to the side of the owner's mobile home. It was learned that there was still someone inside of the residence who was wheelchair bound and that person was moved to a safe location outside. Other fire department agencies were called to assist due to the manpower needed to help contain the fire from spreading the home and the lack of water available at the area of the fire. Two Byrdstown-Pickett County volunteer firefighters were treated at the scene because of the fire's intense heat and smoke. The building along with several vehicles was lost in the fire. Both the building and vehicles were filled with communication memorabilia and technology equipment, some dating back to the 1940s. Huddleston said that he had called Cordell Hull Museum earlier in the day to see if they would be interested in creating a post office with telegraph equipment but unfortunately, all of that was destroyed. The mobile home suffered some heat damage but nothing significant. Firefighters worked to contain the fire until after 8 p.m. Fire Chief Robert Bond extended a thank you to the Jamestown and Monroe Volunteer Fire Department for providing assistance on the fire. VECustomers Share Awards Volunteer Energy Cooperative’s (VEC) VECustomers Share program awarded $2,500 in grants to Pickett County organizations in April. Local groups receiving grants include Byrdstown Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Science Club ($500.00), Pickett County Soil Conservation Club ($750.00), and Byrdstown Senior Center ($1,250.00). The program, founded in October 2001, has donated more than $6.3 million to various community-service organizations across VEC’s 17- county service area. VECustomers Share is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization covering VEC’s 17-county service area. The foundation’s funds come from VEC members who have opted to allow VEC to round their electric bills up to the next whole dollar. VECustomers Share contributions average 50 cents per month per customer. The extra change is pooled with that of other members and distributed by the foundation’s board of directors, who all serve as volunteers. Grant applications are available at any Volunteer Energy Cooperative Customer Service center, by calling (423) 334-7051, or at www.vec.org. Town of Byrdstown meeting held session on Monday, April 9, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at Town Hall. Those Bilbrey, Alderman Rex Tompkins, Barb Mitchell, Alderwoman, Town Engineer Nathaniel Green, Eric Pierce, Gracie Pierce, Michelle Mitchell, Missy Harding, Chamber of Commerce Director Bill Robbins, and Anthony Milsted. An agenda was presented and a motion was made by Johnny Sells to adopt the proposed agenda. A second was voiced by Barb Mitchell and March 12, 2018 regular meeting as written. A second was voiced by Rex Tompkins and with all members voting aye the motion carried. Town Engineer Nathaniel Green reported to the board that the pre construction meeting for the new CDBG water system rehab project that was held Monday, April 16th, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Town Hall. Mayor Sam Gibson reported to the council that Johnny Lee was up for his 6 months review and recommended approval. A motion was made by Johnny Sells to approve the mayor’s recommendation and award employee Johnny Lee a $.50 per hour increase that is in compliance with the Town’s salary schedule and to be retro back to March 11, 2018. A second was voiced by Johnny Bilbrey and will all members voting aye Under General Discussion the mayor gave an update on the Town Park bathroom project, as well as trash pickup. The mayor gave a report on the 3rd quarter budget for the FY 17-18 of funds spent and remaining balances. With no further business to discuss a motion was made by Rex Tompkins to adjourn until the next regular meeting on May 14, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at Town Hall. A second was voiced by Barb Mitchell and with all members voting aye the meeting adjourned at 5:36 p.m. Pickett County Schools in need of resource officers During Monday's county commission meeting, Director of Schools Diane Elder addressed the commission for the need of funding for school resource officers. "I am asking you tonight to help protect our most valued resources. We need funding for one SRO for each school," said Elder. According to Elder, Pickett County is one of only two schools in the State of Tennessee that doesn’t have school resource officers in the schools. The other county without resource officers is Polk. Elder reported that various counties seem to be split on who provides the funding, whether it be school, county, or percentage of both. When the school system conducted a recent safety drill, there were several issues found at the high school. When there is a lockdown, there are five buildings at the high school that have to be included. It was also said that the school system has been notified of safety grant funds, but the amount is not known yet. That money will be used to upgrade safety concerns at the high school. A motion was made and seconded to hire two SRO, meaning they would be employed by the sheriff’s office for the school. County Attorney Andrea Ayers then suggested to Elder that there needed to be a written proposal to be brought before the commission for the request. Chairman Richard Daniel asked if the school could also offer assistance on the funding and proceeded to put up county financials for further discussion. It was stated that the county had extra money to fund the SRO's but they needed help from the school. "I don't see any reason why not to do it, and I think the resource has been there all along to do it. I don't know why it's not been," said Daniel. Director Elder confirmed that the schools would be willing to pay a portion and would work all that out in a Memorandum of Understanding for the proposal. Educator of 33 years Louann Maxwell asked to speak to the commission to encourage them to move forward to protect the kids. In an emotional statement, Maxwell told the commission, "We teachers are stepping up to do this now. I tell my students, if anything happens, I've got their backs. These are my kids, our kids, and the county's kids." It was then suggested by the commission that the original motion be amended to having the county fund one SRO and the school fund the other. At that time commissioner, Larry Ledford spoke out in regards to bullying in our schools. "You need to do something about the bullying in your school because that's where the problem starts," as he spoke to the educators in the crowd. Pickett County High School Principal Jane Winningham responded to the allegations of nothing being done regarding bullying in the school system. Winningham told Ledford, "We do take care of bullies and conflicts and try to resolve each of those situations. We do address it." After that, there was a question of whether a motion was needed at that point. Director Elder asked the commission to make a motion to proceed with the plan to have it on record. Several commissioners commented that there didn't need to be a motion for the sheriff and school to proceed with a plan. Sheriff Dana Dowdy told the commission that he and his deputies are in and out of the schools frequently. "We will keep the kids as safe as we know how at this point, I want everybody to understand that," said Dowdy. He assured everyone that until they get the resource officers, they will have as much presence as possible to help provide security and peace of mind for not only students, but school employees and parents. According to Dowdy, the biggest issue is going to be finding someone qualified to fill the positions. The state recommends five years of law enforcement experience going into an SRO position. The SRO has to be certified and also will require additional training yearly. Once the SRO's are approved and hired, during school hours they will not be used for anything other than working to protect our schools. The motion for the county and school to provide funding was withdrawn. The plan now is to have Director Elder and Sheriff Dowdy create a plan to present it to the commission at the next meeting for approval. A tick-ing time bomb If there was ever a horror movie that deserved to be made, it would be a video live-feed on the back of a tick crawling along it’s victim. These little parasites have within their gut great potential for great harm. Tick-borne diseases are very dangerous for our dogs, cats, horses, and people too. And the occurrence is rising. There are several different ticks that are associated with many different diseases. But it’s not the tick that causes the disease, it’s the bacteria in their gut that does. They have to attach and begin drawing blood before they transmit the bacteria to the victim. Knowing the type of tick can help identify the disease. Most common clinical signs among all conditions often include fever, lethargy, decreased white cells and platelets, arthritic disease, and neurologic dysfunction. Lyme Disease, most prevalent worldwide, is known for joint pain and endocarditis. Commonly transmitted by the Eastern/Western Black-legged tick, Brown Dog tick, or the Deer Tick, Lyme (as well as Anaplasmosis) can be a debilitating infection for many animals, including us humans. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is transmitted by the American Dog Tick, Rocky Mountain Wood Tick, and Lone-Star Tick. These are also associated with Tularemia, which is known for whole body pain and pain on palpation, in addition to similar spotted-fever signs. Ehrlichia is always part of the discussion when anorexia, swollen joints, and stiffness are present. Unfortunately, variations of Ehrlichia infections are also spread by a slew of different ticks. The Lone-Star, Eastern and Western Black-legged and Brown Dog Ticks are Ehrlichia carriers. Oh! And don’t think that cats get a free- ride. Bobcats are natural reservoirs for a tick-borne disease referred to as ‘Bobcat Fever’. Fever, dehydration, jaundice, enlarged liver, spleen and lymph nodes are consistent signs. These are just a handful of ticks out there carrying diseases. Click on the Tick link on our Facebook page for more information. Well, since we’re getting you energized for your next outdoor adventure, let’s add a bit more gloom. Here in the Upper Cumberland area, there is NEVER a time during the year that is tick-free. Spring and fall/winter seasons are bloom times, these nasty varmints can ruin your lifestyle any season of year. Keep a prevention on-board every month. Now, before you lose all hope, we do have good news. There are very good and cost-effective preventatives available to ease your troubled soul. But some are certainly more effective than others. Our advice is to call us at Upchurch Animal Clinic and explore your best options to protect you pets, and, in some way, you too. Upcoming events at Cordell Hull April 21st- Beginning Tatting: Joye Gowan will be teaching the art of shuttle tatting at 1:00 p.m. We will make lace using rings and chains connected together. We learn the basic stitches and progress into more difficult stitches. We will make lace by creating rings and chains and connecting them together. We will learn the basic stitches and the hand techniques needed to make lace. Joye is a retired professor, but continues to teach part-time. The class cost is $15 per person, which includes all supplies needed to begin tatting. There is a limit of 10 people for this workshop. April 21st- Camp O.U.T: Never been camping before? Been camping but would like some extra practice? Then this trip is for you! This spring you can join Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park in an introductory camping course designed to increase your confidence in overnight front country camping. With the expertise of State Park Rangers you will be guided in the proper way to choose a campsite, pitch your tent, build your campfire, and relax on an adventure. We understand learning to camp, especially when camping alone, can become a daunting task to even think about. That is why Tennessee State Parks hosts Introduction to Camping events, so that you and your friends and family may enjoy the outdoors and experience an adventure under the guidance of Rangers and experienced outdoor enthusiasts. Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park is traditionally a day use only park, so this camping trip will offer you an exclusive opportunity to stay at this park overnight! Included in the registration fee is everything you need to enjoy the evening including dinner on Saturday, breakfast and lunch on Sunday, snacks throughout, campsite reservation and gear rental. Camping gear is available to participants on a first come, first served basis and you are welcome to bring your own gear. If you need camping gear please email Monique Johnson (monique.johnson@tn.gov) as soon as possible. We thank you for choosing Tennessee State Parks as your camping destination and look forward to getting to introduce you to the outdoors through this event. This trip is designed for families and beginner campers, but everyone is welcome to join. Minors must be accompanied by an adult, please, no pets. Registration will close Sunday, April 15th and is $35 per person. April 28th- Irish Céili Dance: A “céili” (kay-lee) is a social gathering of any sort, but often includes traditional music and dance. On Saturday, April 28th from 1-3 p.m. Katelyn Dunn will be teaching céili dances at the park, with live music provided by regional Irish band Sigean. Unlike the stage shows like Riverdance or competitive Irish dance, which require feats of incredible endurance and athleticism, céili dances are just right for more average participants. If you can walk, you can enjoy this dance form. Admission is only $5 and registration is available by phone or online. For more information, call the park office at 864-3247. Child passenger safety checkpoint held The Tennessee Highway Safety Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol conducted a child passenger safety checkpoint last Friday. If you didn't get to participate, there is still an opportunity to have your child's seat checked. Pickett County Sheriff's Office employee Katy Smith is a certified child passenger safety technician and can help those who are in need of her services. "I am willing to work with parents around their schedules to make sure that their children are properly restrained," said Smith. There is also assistance available for those who need a child passenger seat. If you would like to make sure that your child is protected correctly and would like to set-up an appointment, call Katy at 931-864-3210. UCHRA awarded energy assistance funds MARLA HALE Community Services Director UCHRA would like to remind clients of the Upper Cumberland area that for a limited time, funds are still available for Regular and Crisis LIHEAP. These funds are used to assist clients with a one-time payment to their home energy supplier. LIHEAP is a federally funded program administered by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, designed to assist low income households in meeting home energy needs and is intended to supplement energy costs for those eligible households. Priority for service is not “first come, first served”, rather it is based upon a point system. Documentation of all household income will be required for the application process. This includes check stubs for 8 weeks, or 4 paystubs if bi-weekly or bi-monthly, Social Security or Pension Award letters, or unemployment benefit letters. If self-employed an applicant should provide a tax return. Applicants must also provide a copy for 12 months of the household’s electric and/or gas bills (if residing at current address is less than 12 months, a printout of all energy usage at this address is required). Proof of Social Security numbers are required for all household members. A valid driver’s license or birth certificate is required for the applicant. Some additional documentation may also be required to process applications. Assistance provided to households ranges from $300 - $600 depending upon its total points. Once an application has been submitted by a household it will be notified by mail within 90 days of the status of the application. Households awarded assistance are required to continue paying their energy bills until the awarded payment has been received by its designated utility provider, and when benefit is exhausted the household will return to paying for the energy costs. The UCHRA Pickett County office is located at 105 S. Main Street (Pickett Co. Community Center, Room #6), Byrdstown, TN and can be reached by calling 931-864-6540. Maxwell wins season opener Justin Maxwell came away with a big win at the season opener on March 25th at the historic Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. With qualifying having to be cancelled because of the weather on Saturday, the quarter mile drivers had to draw for positions for the feature race on Sunday. From that drawing, Justin started in 10th position in a field of 12 cars that include two NASCAR licensed drivers. With just a few laps in, the #20 was caught up in an accident, having to come in to the pits for two new bumpers. Restarting at the tail end of the field, Justin passed two cars on the first lap and started his drive to the front. Within a few laps, Justin found himself in 5th place and with five laps to go he was in 3rd place. As the first and second place cars tangled, Justin was able to move into 1st with three laps to go and held the lead to the checkered flag for the victory. The #20 car will be back at Highland Rim Speedway on April 14th and at the fairgrounds on April 21st. Justin Maxwell Racing would like to thank Ken and Julie Joyce for all their support. We would also like to thank our sponsors Sunset Marina, Mid-State Construction, Fitzgerald Glider Kits, Keisling Insurance, and Uncle Larry. Justin is the son of Billy and Louann Maxwell. Pickett K-8 raises over $2,800 for Addie Mae Underhill Submitted by: PCK8 Just recently the Pickett County K-8 held a bake sale to help a little girl named Addie Mae Underhill who is battling cancer. The response from the students, teachers, staff, parents, the community, and businesses was phenomenal! We want to take this time to reach out to each and everyone who helped and say, "Thank You! Your support means so much to us in being able to help a family in a time of need." Addie was a former student here at Pickett K-8 and we wanted to do something to help. The support team raised over $2,800 and without your help this could not have been possible! If you would like to follow Addie and keep up to date with her progression, go to Team Addie Mae on Facebook. There are a couple of sites if you would like to help individually: https://www.youcaring.com/ addiemae-973177 and https://www.paypal.me/KileyU Thank you for all you do for our children as well as others! Stay bendy at The Studio Yoga anyone? Byrdstown's new business The Studio is located on the square at 101 Mainstreet and is owned by Registered Yoga Teacher Norma Mitchell. Beginning Yoga is offered Monday-4:30, Wednesday-4:00, Saturday-9:30. Mixed Flow Yoga (more advanced) is on Wednesday-5:30. Whether you are a beginner or are advanced, The Studio can help you find your inner and outer strength. You will learn how to focus on breathing, to help you relax and let stress go, all while working at your own pace to strengthen and stretch your body. The atmosphere is tranquil and inspring. Mats and blankets are available free or for purchase. Prices for classes are drop-in-$10, or package of 5 classes for $45 and 10 classes for $80. Call 931-445-4170 or check out Facebook Page "Stay Bendy at The Studio" to see what class will accommodate you best. Discrimination suit against county executive dismissed A ruling has been made in the discrimination suit against Richard D. Daniel individually and in his official capacity as county executive. The case was heard in Chancery Court by Judge Ron Thurman last Friday, February 8th. The hearing was for a Judgement Summary filed by Robyn Williams with Farrar and Bates LLP on behalf of the county. That motion was to determine if there was enough evidence to proceed with the litigation. The lawsuit was filed by David O. Dowdy and Kristy M. Hicks in November 2016. Both were employees of the Pickett County Landfill before the county commissioners approved to convert the landfill to a transfer station. The legal documents allege that Mr. Dowdy who held the position of Director and Ms. Hicks who was the secretary believed they were laid off due to age discrimination. Gender discrimination was also alleged by Ms. Hicks as she had been the only female employee. In November 2015, the employees of the landfill were provided with notice that they were permanently being laid off. Three new positions were available which were baler technician, lead operator, and operator. Mr. Brooks told the judge that Mr. Daniel was concerned about Mr. Dowdy's age, and none of the other employees were questioned about age or retirement like he was. He also said that Mr. Daniel created qualifications to fix it to where neither Dowdy nor Hicks could come back. It was age discrimination also because the county hired someone younger for the position of lead operator. The documents on behalf of the defense site that the county conducted the layoffs due to the transfer station requiring fewer employees than the landfill. The argument was that based on the fact every employee was laid off and the plaintiffs never re-applied for the new positions, there was not a case of discrimination. Judge Thurman ruled in favor of the defense and dismissed the cases. He indicated that his ruling was based on the standard presented by the defense with their cited case of Lawrence vs. Chattanooga. It was also mentioned by the judge several times that had the plaintiffs re-applied for the new positions, the argument would be stronger. Mr. Brooks argued in court that the new positions and requirements were created so that neither would meet qualifications. The documents state that Ms. Hicks did not apply for the new positions due to them not being clerical and Mr. Dowdy was unable to meet the physical requirements of the job descriptions due to sustaining an injury while on the job the day before the layoffs. Mr. Books, who is a civil rights attorney, disagreed with the Judge's decision and felt that his clients should have the opportunity to have their day in court. He told the PRESS that they have 30 days after the order is signed and stamped to file with the court of appeals if they choose to proceed. Mr. Daniel provided no response to the PRESS on any comments regarding the outcome. Petitions and announcements for upcoming election The following have either filed a petition or announced their intentions to be a candidate in the upcoming general election. Nominating petitions for the May primary must have 25 verified signatures and submitted by noon on February 15. The deadline for Town of Byrdstown and the school board is by noon on April 5. Carey Garner-R (verified) Johnie Neal-R County Court Clerk Charlie Lee-D Tony Beaty-R (verified) Craig R. Cope-R David Harer-R (verified) Tony Milsted-R (verified) Douglas Scroggins-R Elvis Beaty-R Mitchell Cross-R Brad Richardson-R Jim Richardson-R Lloyd "Pudge" Shaver-R (verified) James E.Yates-R Ginny Mills-I (verified) Joe Harden-R (verified) Eric S. Thoman-R Carter Martin-I Tony Breece-R (verified) Andrew Conner-R Darrell L Garrett-R Edward (Eddie) Holt-R Larry K. Ledford-R B. Craig Rone-R Terri (Pierce) Worley-D County Trustee Jennifer Anderson-R Brenda Cross-R Dana E. Dowdy-R Circuit Court Clerk Larry Brown-R (verified) Danny H. Huddleston-R (verified) Sarah Storie-D Letha Mullins McCurdy-R (verified) Randy Pryor-D Road Superintendent Jimmy Cope-R (verified) Jeff Neal-D Chris Beaty-D School Board District 3 Junior (Jr.) Beaty-I Travis Parrott-I Sam Gibson-I City Alderman John L. Bilbrey-I Barbara Mitchell-I Rex Tompkins-I Johnny Sells-I (verified) TN House Kelly T. Keisling-R Generous donation given to Pickett County High School Photo courtesy of PCHS JANE WINNINGHAM PICKETT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL All of us at Pickett County High School would like to extend a special “Thank You” to the Fitzgerald Glider Kits Family for the generous donation of 208 Chromebook computers to our school, and for their continued commitment and support to our students. We are so grateful for your selflessness. We are watching the world around us become more and more dependent on technology. To be successful in nearly any career field after high school, a person now needs more technological skill and understanding than ever before. Before this contribution, Pickett County High School was severely limited in our ability to prepare students in the area of technological understanding. With the exception of a few Chromebooks and only one universally available computer lab, we were unable to incorporate technology into the majority of our classes. The Fitzgerald Glider Kits Family has expanded the opportunities for all students attending Pickett County High School by providing chromebooks to all classrooms that are required to participate in state testing. This encompasses every student attending Pickett County High School. Our yearly state testing has now transitioned to online formats, and we were so worried about how our students were going to manage these tests without having had any practice testing on computers. Now we can not only prepare them for these tests, but we can also present them with so many new ways to learn the required content. We attend training every summer that teaches us about a multitude of online and technological resources to improve learning and how to engage students in new ways. Until now we didn’t have the capacity to utilize any of it. As for our seniors, they may not be tested by the Department of Education, but they have reached a point where they are preparing for college and technical programs, and those programs all require extensive use of technology. Our seniors that are taking dual- enrollment courses to earn college credit are now learning how to manage classes just like they will have to do after high school. They are also learning how to complete their online work more easily with new computer access. The Fitzgerald Glider Kits Family has enhanced the future for all students attending Pickett County High School. Candidates pick up qualifying petitions The following have either filed a petition or announced their intentions to be a candidate in the upcoming general election. signatures and submitted by noon on February 18th. The deadline for Town of Byrdstown and the school board is by noon on April 5th. Carey Garner-R (verified) Tony Beaty-R Lloyd "Pudge" Shaver-R Joe Harden-R Brenda Cross-R (verified) Johnny Sells-I Water supply violations for the Town of Byrdstown Plant Supervisor Malcolm "Buster" Harmon explaning the new Chorine Dioxide generator. A Nashville news station recently reported on multiple utility districts in Tennessee regarding drinking water violations. The Town of Byrdstown Water Department was included. The violation specifically referred to haloacetic acid (HAA5). HAA5 is not a naturally occurring substance but is a group of disinfection by-products which are formed from a reaction with chlorine and organic compounds in water. Organics are lake litter, bacterias, and algae. Byrdstown Mayor Sam Gibson told the PRESS, “we are working close with the state to get this issue corrected.” He said they have implemented a new system in the past few months to hopefully improve the HAA5 numbers. That system is a Chlorine Dioxide generator that treats the water as it comes in from the lake. That is to try and reduce the organics before they go through the puification process. "The longer the organics remain in the system, the more potential for a higher HAA5 level," said Byrdstown Water Plant Supervisor Malcolm "Buster" Harmon. So how do we get our water? Mayor Gibson invited the PRESS to tour the treatment facility, to see first-hand how everything works and to answer questions. The current water treatment facility was completed in 2005 on Waterplant Road. When the raw water comes in from the lake, it goes into a large metal basin. At that point, the water ph is measured and adjusted before it goes into the containment for the purification process. There are two skids of units to purify our water. Each skid has 37 modules which have membrane filters to remove containments like blood and viruses. Every 10,000 gallons, air, and clean water will create a backwash to make sure each filter is optimized for usage. Once the water is filtered, it goes into a 100,000 gallon storage tank that is located under the facility. At that time, the water is treated with chlorine for disinfectant purposes, fluoride, and phosphate to help coat the inside of the waterlines so the metals don't break down and go into our water. "If you think of the Flint, MI water situation, they didn't add the phosphate," said Harmon. One room in the water department is set-up like a chemistry and scientist lab with all the continuous monitoring and testing that is done on the water. But the testing for HAA5 is sent off to a special lab. It should also be noted that the annual Town of Byrdstown Water Quality report that was published last year, showed a violation of HAA5 being at 67 ppb (parts per billion) with the maximum containment level of 60 ppb. The MCL is set by the Environmental Protection Agency. There was a public notice in the report that stated the actual health risks has been identified as 1 out of 10,000 people have an increased risk of cancer if they drink 2 liters of water exceeding the MCL each day for 70 years. Harmon said, "There are two areas designated by the state to test for the HAA5 for our water system. The one in Cedar Grove had an average of .072 and the one for Turkey Ridge was .080 for 2017." Those numbers are above the MCL will be averaged for the 2017 report. The Town of Byrdstown submitted a Corrective Action Plan/Engineering report to TDEC in January 2016 which included the implementation of the new Chlorine Dioxide generate and also initiate more flushings throughout the system to help control the byproduct levels. There was a $2,000 fine issued by TDEC Division of Water Resources in July 2016 and according to Buster Harmon, the state waived a penalty that would have been $10,050. That was due to the town showing progress on the implementation from the POCA to address and correct the issue. The news report also indicated that Chanute-Pall Mall Water District was in violation. They are a customer of the Town of Byrdstown and are a water distribution center. The water quality report for 2017 will be published in March or April of the Pickett County Press. If anyone needs additional information, contact the Byrdstown Water Department at 931-864-3859 Commissioner voices concern at meeting The Pickett County Commissioners approved a new pay scale for Emergency Medical Services employees during the meeting last Monday County Executive Richard Daniel says that the new pay scale was to help make Pickett County EMS more competitive in attracting trained personnel for available positions. Commissioner Eddie Holt voiced his concern during the discussion of the motion that he had been presented with some questionable information. "Based on the information that I have in this folder, the pay scale may not be an issue, it is the administration," said Holt. Chairman Richard Daniel reportedly asked to see the contents of the folder and indicated he had never seen any of the information. The information contained inside the folder was completed by a spouse of a former EMS employee and was supposed to be provided to all of the commissioners for their review. Commissioner Holt also reached out to this newspaper regarding the matter and said he did not support the new pay scale because he felt there should be a further investigation by commissioners on the validity of the complaints against the administration. There have been three hometown paramedics that have recently left Pickett County EMS to seek employment in other counties, and he said he wants to gain more insight as to why. "I am not against creating better pay for employees, I just wanted to address the concerns that have been brought to my attention first," said Holt. He wasn't the only commissioner who voted no for the new pay scale, Carter Martin did as well. Commissioner Martin told the PRESS that based on information that was brought out at the meeting by Mr. Holt, he wanted the board to address any issues within the administration before proceeding to approve a new pay scale. The new tiered pay scale with longevity pay was made effective January 15th and employees will see changes on their next paycheck. Based on the information provided by the Pickett County Executive's Office, there are 29 EMS employees, with 12 full-time positions. It has not been clarified if the new pay scale is all employees or full New pay scale passes for EMS employees January 15th, 2018. The following commissioners were present: Mitchell Cross, Carey Garner, Darrell Garrett, David Harer, Eddie Holt, Colan Huddleston, Larry Ledford, Carter Martin, Brad Richardson, Jim Richardson, and Matthew Storie. The agenda was approved with all ayes along with the December 18th, 2017 minutes. Month end and cash flow analysis reports from various county, school and highway department funds were approved. The next item on the agenda was to approve budget amendments. This was for the Courtroom security grant in the amount of $26,042 that needed to be added to the budget for revenue and expenditure. Motion by Mitchell Cross, seconded by Larry Ledford with all ayes. Notary approval for Laura Brown was made by Darrell Garrett and seconded by David Harer with all ayes. Passed motion by David Harer and seconded by Brad Richardson to approve the sale of surplus equipment for a 2009 Ambulance Box. Motion by Colan Huddleston, seconded by Larry Ledford to approve Resolution FY 2017-2018-19 to apply for and accept grant funds for a Special Litter Grant through the Tennessee Department of Transportation passed with all ayes. This grant is for a maximum of $200,000 with no local match requirements to be used to clean up illegal roadside dumps, work on enforcement of tarp laws, promote recycling in the county and provide litter education. There was a discussion of sewer lines, ingress, and egress for new jail site. Motion to approve a new EMS payscale was made by Larry Ledford and seconded by Mitchell Cross. The motion passed with all ayes except Eddie Holt and Carter Martin who voted no. This pay scale is divided into tiers according to experience in the areas of Basic EMT, Advanced EMT, Paramedic, and Critical Care Paramedic. There was also a longevity pay of $85 per year of employment with those who work with Pickett County. There was no action for the EMS Report, Transfer Station Report and County Building Report. Next meeting will be Monday, February 19th, 6 p.m. in the community room of the Pickett County Library. Pickett County audit results in eight findings The annual financial report for Pickett County Government was released Monday, Jan. 22nd. The audit was performed by the auditors with the Tennesee Comptroller of the Treasury. The audit resulted in eight findings as follows: OFFICE OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE Finding 2017-001 (repeat finding) The solid waste disposal fund had a deficit in unrestricted net position. The fund had a deficit of $1,917,856 in unrestricted net position at June 30, 2017. This deficit resulted from the recognition of a liability of $2,450,591 in the financial statements and costs associated with closing the county's landfill and monitoring the landfill for 30 years after its closure. Recommendation-County officials should develop and implement a plan that would fund the deficit in unrestricted net position. Management's response with corrective action plan-Pickett County Government is in the process of closing the existing Class 1 Landfill. Once closure is completed in 2018, the deficit in the Solid Waste Disposal Fund will not be an issue. Funds will be allocated for the 30 year post-closure monitoring period. OFFICES OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND ROAD SUPERINTENDENT Finding 2017-002 Expenditures exceeded appropriations approved by the County Commission in two of 45 major appropriation categories (the legal level of control) in the General Fund and in two of ten major appropriation categories of the Highway/Public Works Fund as follows: General-Ambulance/ Emergency Medical Services-$38,201 and Agricultural Extension Services- $6,802. Highway/Public Works-Highway and Bridge Recommendation- These deficiencies exist because management failed to hold spending limits authorized by the county commission, which resulted in unauthorized expenditures. As per T.C.A. 5-9-401, expenditures should be held within appropriations approved by the county commission. Management's response with corrective action plan (ROAD SUPERINTENDENT)-Budget amendments were due by June 5th and at the time that was our best estimate to finish the year. We did underestimate but will do our best effort to not overspend in any line items. (COUNTY EXECUTIVE)-The $38,201 is an encumbrance for the purchase of two ambulances. Pickett County Government issued a Purchase Order that exceeded the amount appropriated. We failed to correct the difference in the appropriation and encumbrance with an amendment. It was an oversight by the Pickett County Executive's Office and will not be repeated. For years the UT Extension Service invoiced Pickett County Government in July for services ending June 30 of the previous fiscal year. Due to this billing practice, payment for services in the previous fiscal year were paid and credited to the current fiscal year. Five quarterly payments were reflected in the 2016-17 budget year to correct and resolve the issue. OFFICE OF ROAD SUPERINTENDENT The Highway Department did not reconcile fuel usage logs with amounts purchased and on hand. Recommendation-Management should reconcile fuel usage with fuel purchased on hand. Management's response with corrective action plan-The Pickett County Highway Department did install meters to fuel tanks to measure the gallons pumped and maintained usuage logs, which included the date, vehicle, employee and the number of gallons dispensed. Bookkeeper Emily King will use the fuel log to balance with the purchase tickets and the fuel on hand. OFFICE OF CIRCUIT AND GENERAL SESSIONS COURT CLERK Some collections were not deposited within three days as required by T.C.A. 5-8-207. The clerk did not deposit receipts to the bank account within three days of collection in 185 of the 426 receipts tested. Recommendation-All funds should be deposited within three days of collection as required by state statute. Management's response and corrective action plan-We do not have enough people and will try to do better. Execution docket trial balances for circuit and general sessions courts did not reconcile with general ledger accounts. The trial balances failed to reconcile with general ledger accounts by $1,543 and $20,637. Recommendation-The circuit and general sessions courts clerk should reconcile the trial balance of execution docket cause balances with general ledger accounts. To comply with state statutes, the clerk should report and pay to the state Treasurer's Office any unclaimed funds held for more than one year. Management's response and corrective action plan-This is the same money as prior years and am planning to turn excess funds over to unclaimed property. Multiple employees operated from the same cash drawer. Good internal controls dictate that each employee have their own cash drawer, start the day with a standard fixed amount of cash and remove all employee's receipts at the end of each day. Failure to adhere increases the risk that a cash shortage may not be detected in a timely manner. assign each employee their own cash drawer. Management's Response and corrective action plan-There was only one employee who did most of the receipting. We already have two in place. OFFICES OF CIRCUIT AND GENERAL SESSIONS COURTS CLERK AND CLERK AND The circuit and general sessions courts clerk and clerk and master had not formally documented internal controls. Recommendation-The circuit and general sessions courts clerk and the clerk and master should formally document and maintain internal controls for their office operations as required by T.C.A. 9-18-102(a). Management's Response and corrective action plan-(CIRCUIT AND GENERAL SESSIONS COURTS CLERK)-I didn't realize I needed to customize the sample, I'll fill out the sample for our office. (CLERK AND MASTER)-I am the only person in the office and have no one else to help complete the duties of the office. I cannot plan any action to correct this as I have no help in the office. OFFICES OF TRUSTEE, CIRCUIT AND GENERAL SESSIONS COURTS CLERK, AND CLERK AND MASTER Duties were not segregated adequately among officials and employees. Officials and employees responsible for maintaining accounting records were also involved in receipting, depositing, and/or disbursing funds. Recommendation-Officials should segregate duties to the extent possible using available resources. Management's response with corrective action plan-(TRUSTEE)-The Trustee had a Procedures, Computers, Purchasing, Payroll, and Security Policy fixed up since the Segregation of Duty meeting. When I was audited last year, I gave a copy of it to the auditor. I was not notified that it was not sufficient. I have only part-time help from October through March of each year. This makes it really difficult to segregate these duties. The Trustee is working on updating the Segregated Duties of the Trustee's Office. (CIRCUIT AND GENERAL SESSIONS COURTS CLERK)-There is only one employee in the office. I will have to check and make sure everything is done, and sign my name to them. (CLERK AND MASTER)-This could not be corrected because I am the only person working in the office and I can't do anything about it. The report also indicates several findings from 2016 have been corrected. Finding 2016-002-The Road Superintendent directed county gravel and rock to be delivered to private property. Finding 2016-003-The Office had deficiencies in purchasing procedures. Finding 2016-012-The Road Superintendent had not formally documented internal controls. Finding 2016-013-Duties were not segregated adequately. OFFICE OF ASSESSOR OF PROPERTY Finding 2016-005-The Assessor did not manage an adequate program of sales verifications. OFFICE OF CIRCUIT AND GENERAL SESSIONS COURTS CLERK Finding 2016-006-A cash overdraft of $568 existed in Circuit Court at June 30,2016. Finding 2016-008-Unclaimed funds were not reported and paid to the Finding 2016-10-The office had deficiencies in computer system backup OFFICES OF TRUSTEE Finding 2016-011-Multiple employees operated from the same cash drawer. Finding 2016-013 Duties were not segregated adequately. The Division of Local Government Audit strongly believes that the adoption of a central system of accounting, budgeting, and purchasing is the best practice that would significantly improve accountability and the quality of services provided to the citizens of Pickett County. Former DAV Commander pleads guilty to stealing funds It has been two years since the former Commander of the Hull York Chapter 5 DAV was indicted for theft. On Wednesday, January 3rd, Glen Williams entered a plea of guilty before Judge McKenzie for stealing money from the local veterans organization. Williams had been the acting Commander since 2007 before resigning in August 2015 after an internal investigation indicated missing funds. That information was submitted to the Office of District Attorney Bryant Dunaway who began a full investigation. On January 4th, 2016, Pickett County Grand Jury returned an indictment of theft over $60,000. The charge Williams pled to was amended to theft over $10,000. As members of the Hull York Chapter sat in the courtroom, Assistant District Attorney Owen Burnett read the confession provided by Mr. Williams. During that confession, he admitted that he had stolen money for personal use from the Honor Guard account and took cash over a period of several years. "There must be punishment and also pentance for what you have done. This is your opportunity to make good on what you did," said Judge McKenzie to Williams. Williams was immediately taken into custody and was sentenced to five years with the Tennessee Department of Corrections and 15 years probation. He must pay $250 a month for the total years of probation providing $45,000 in restitution for the Honor Guard. Overton/Pickett Emergency Communications District No findings in audit The annual audit of the Overton/Pickett County Emergency Communications District has shown no findings for the 2017 fiscal year. The audit was performed by Accountant Dennis E. Jeffers of Oneida. The audit includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies being used by the district along with the overall presentation of financial statements. The audit reports on the effectiveness of the entity's internal control or compliance in accordance with Government Auditing Standards. Revenue for the district primarily comes from local telephone companies who charge $1.16 per month for 911 access. There is also wireless communication income from a share of state-collected revenue. The revenues increased 12.36% as a result of one-time payments, reimbursements and excess payments from the Tennessee Emergency Communication Board. At the end of the 2017 fiscal year, the district had $683,119 invested in capital assets, automobiles, office equipment, communications and mapping equipment. A great deal of funding has went into establishing tower sites throughout Overton and Pickett Counties and computer systems, monitors and digital consoles. The Overton/Pickett County Emergency Communications District was established in 2002 as a result of a merger between the two districts. The purpose of the merger was to improve the response of emergency services and to provide enhanced 911 services for the two counties. Prior schedule of findings not implemented by June 30, 2017: 2015-002-Budget Expenditures exceeded the amount appropriated in the budget. Prior findings that have been implemented as of June 30, 2017. 2012-001-Segregation of Duties District doesn't have sufficient number of employees to segregate the custodial and accounting functions. 2016-001-Cash Disbursements Some purchase orders and invoices were not attached to disbursements. Commodity Distribution rescheduled due to weather The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) will hold a commodities distribution for Pickett County, Wednesday, January 24, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Byrdstown Community Center from the UCHRA Office, 105 South Main Street, Byrdstown. Everyone must present a valid UCHRA commodity card in order to receive commodities. To sign up or reprint lost commodities cards contact your local UCHRA office. The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, color, national origin, religion, or disability in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services or activities. Petitions for county election The following petitions have been picked up for the upcoming county general election. This includes city and school board. Pickett County Executive Carey Garner-Verified Johnie Neal Tony Beaty Craig Cope David Harer-Verified Tony Milsted Douglas Scroggins Mitchell Cross Lloyd "Pudge" Shaver Ginny Mills-Verified Eric S. Thoman Carter Martin Tony Breece Darrell L. Garrett Larry Ledford Jennifer Anderson-Verified Brenda Cross Dana E. Dowdy-Verified Danny H. Huddleston Letha Mullins McCurdy-Verified Jimmy Cope-Verified School Board 3rd District Junior (Jr.) Beaty John L. Bilbrey Rex Tompkins Johnny Sells Randy Pryor Chris Beaty Sarah Storie The Democratic Caucus will be held February 8th. Matthew Russell earns Tennessee Highway Patrol badge Matthew Russell of Byrdstown was one of fifty cadets who are now officially the newest members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP). Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally served as the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony at Hermitage Hills Baptist Church. THP Russell has been assigned to Clay County. Russell is a graduate of Pickett County High School. He started his law enforcement career in June 2013 working at the Pickett County Sheriff’s Office. The 50 new state troopers, also known as Cadet Class 118, took their oaths of office after completing 19 weeks of intense, physical and classroom training. This graduating class will be an asset to the department. The cadets bring with them various backgrounds including previous law enforcement, experience, military and college experience. “Congratulations to the trooper cadets graduating,” Colonel Tracy Trott said. “In 2016, the Tennessee Highway Patrol was named the top state police agency in the nation by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). This honor exemplifies the dedication and daily work performed by the men and women of the THP. As I have done with previous classes, I challenge this class to continue the outstanding service the citizens of Tennessee deserve.” “Each graduate has earned this incredible honor of being chosen to serve as a Tennessee State Trooper,” Commissioner David W. Purkey said. “As a former trooper, I know the commitment that is expected of our new troopers who are serving our citizens. I congratulate Cadet Class 118 on this great accomplishment.” Trooper Daniel Howard was named the top cadet and presented the “Calvin Jenks Memorial Award for Excellence” for his leadership, work ethic and academics. The award was named in honor of the late Trooper Calvin Jenks who was killed in the line of duty in January 2007. Trooper Lael Justice received a $5,000 scholarship from Bethel As part of their community service project, Cadet Class 118 participated in a blood drive with the American Red Cross, a can food drive for Second Harvest Foodbank and a toy drive for Toys for Tots. Cadet Class 118’s motto is “Endure, Persevere and Overcome.” The new graduates begin a field training period lasting 10 weeks. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to serve, secure, and protect the people of Tennessee. Pickett County unemployment at 3.6% for November Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) Commissioner Burns Phillips has announced unemployment rates in November remained low across the state and the vast majority of Tennessee counties continue to experience rates below 5 percent. Davidson and William-son counties tied for having the lowest unem- ployment in the state with rates of 2.5 percent, a slight increase of 0.3 percentage points compared to October. Eight of the ten lowest county unemployment rates in November were in Middle Tennessee, with Knox and Sevier counties in East Tennessee rounding out the list of the top ten lowest rates in the state. All counties in the top ten had a rate below 3 percent and unemployment rates in 87 Tennessee counties remained under 5 percent in November. “The economy remains strong in Tennessee, but we are not going to let up on our Drive to 55 to ensure our workforce is ready for the demands of employers in the years to come,” Haslam said. “And we’re keeping our focus on creating a business-friendly environment that will continue to attract jobs and make Tennessee the No. 1 state in the Southeast for high quality jobs.” Lauderdale County had the highest unemployment rate in November, at 5.5 percent, a 0.3 percentage point increase from the previous month. Rhea and Bledsoe Counties both had rates of 5.4 percent, which represents a 0.1 percentage point increase for Rhea County and a 0.5 percentage point increase for Bledsoe County. “While unemployment rates remain near historically low levels in many counties, there are still areas that need our assistance,” Phillips said. “We are working with other state agencies, like the Department of Economic and Community Development, to create jobs and qualified workforces in those distressed counties.” Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate in November was 3.1 percent – two percentage points lower than it was in November 2016 and one percentage point lower than the national rate. The statewide unemployment rate is seasonally adjusted, while the county rates are not. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that eliminates the influences of weather, holidays, the opening and closing of schools and other recurring seasonal events from an economic times series. Pickett County recorded a 3.6% unemployment rate for November, up slightly from October’s rate of 3.4%. Surrounding counties reported the following jobless rates for November: Clay County 4.8% (up from 4.1%); Fentress County 4.1% (up from 3.7%); Overton County 3.7% (up from 3.6%); Putnam County 3.3% (up from 2.9%); Scott County 4.3% (up from 3.9%). Cold temperatures creating power outages Many throughout the county experienced power outages that began early Tuesday morning. According to Volunteer Energy, the TVA initiated the emergency local curtailment plan due to the energy demand during the cold temperatures late Monday night. VEC has been asking for voluntary reductions of energy from customers to help the system meet the demand for electricity. That could be as simple as setting thermostats back a few degrees, making sure lights are turned off. New Year's Eve and New Year's Day ranked in the top five coldest in the last 60 years in our area and the cold weather isn't moving out as quickly as we would like. Investigation of possible murder in Chanute A joint investigation between the Pickett County Sheriff's Office and Tennessee Bureau of Investigators is underway for a possible homicide of a local man. On Dec. 30th, William “Wimp” Rich, 63, was found deceased at his residence at 3165 Chanute Road. The circumstances of the manner of death and what was found at the scene initiated an investigation. An autopsy has been performed to determine the specific cause of death. It is still early in the investigation to speculate or provide details involving this case. A missing headlight leads to drug charges for a local man Earlier this month Pickett County Deputy Nathon Rigney initiated a stop for a missing headlight and was later assisted by Chris Beaty. According to the report, the driver of the vehicle traveling south on Highway 111 began acting suspiciously during the traffic stop. Upon searching, deputies found marijuana wrapped in cellophane, a silver straw with a white residue, and methamphetamine. The driver, Gregory Brown, 35, was charged with Possession of Schedule II, Possession of Schedule VI, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Tampering with Evidence. Progression on Pickett County Jail/Justice Center During the December 18th meeting, Pickett County Commissioners were presented with the deed for property that is the site of the Jail/ Justice Center. The property is Parcel 014.00 containing 4.09 acres and is granted to the Pickett County Industrial Development Board. The purchase price was _. It has been previously reported by this newspaper that the Winningham property consisted of two parcels. The question was posed for this newspaper to answer where in the motion to approve the purchase of the "Winningham" property does it include the .48 acres because it isn't there. The answer is, where does it include the 4.09 acres or any other details of what the property is supposed to be? Other than the jail site assessment that indicated the two parcels of property to be considered as the Winningham property, this newspaper could find nothing in the official commission minutes or documents to identify the property that includes or removes parcels known as the "Winningham" property. Verbal discussions of the property were not a factor in the reporting as they are not official motions nor records that the commission approved or were presented with. However, the warranty deed that was presented to the commission clearly indicates that the .48 acres known as the Richardson property is excluded. So with having the proper documentation, we are happy to clarify this matter. The Pickett County Commission approved the mailing of a jail report flyer to the citizens of Pickett County. The flyer addresses ten questions and concerns surrounding the jail. There was also a letter from the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance that was presented to the commission for their information regarding the state's position on the jail. The letter that was sent on November 30th to Pickett County Executive (Mayor) Richard Daniel. According to Kevin Walters, Communications Director for TDCI, it was issued after a request was made for the state fire marshalls office to clarify for county officials regarding the Plan of Corrective Action and Fire Watch. It was to address any confusion on the matter. The letter signed by Director of Codes Enforcement Christopher Bainbridge is as follows: On March 19, 2015, an inspection of the Pickett County Jail was conducted by the Department of Commerce and Insurance, Division of Fire Prevention, Codes Enforcement Section. Pickett County was notified of the deficiencies found during the inspection. A plan of Corrective Action (PCOA) was submitted by county officials and approved by the department on January 6th, 2016. One of the items of the county's POCA was the implementation of a fire watch. The department approved the fire watch as a temporary means to increase safety at the jail while allowing the jail to continue being occupied. The department never allows a fire watch to be a permanent solution for code deficiencies. When allowed, a fire watch is always a temporary solution until the deficiencies are properly corrected. Furthermore, compliance with the approved POCA shall not be considered equivalent to a building which is compliant with state adopted fire codes. Temporary measures are by their nature intended to be for a limited amount of time only, and therefore, shall not be accepted as a permanent solution for the deficiencies. Failure to comply with the approved POCA, and failure to continue making progress towards the construction of a new jail may result in an Order of Removal or Remedy which will likely require that the current jail be vacated until the deficiencies in the current jail are corrected and remedied. The department wishes to continue cooperating with county officials to resolve these issues and anticipates that progress toward the resolution of the deficiencies at the current jail will continue. We look forward to receiving updates on the county's progress. The letter indicates the order of removal could require the current jail to be vacated. The PRESS has previously reported that the state's position on removal and closure is only with the jail and the upper level. As it has been presented to the public by county officials that the whole courthouse would be padlocked, this letter specifically addresses the jail. It was stated in the August commission meeting that the fire marshall's office would not only close jail it would be the entire courthouse. This newspaper reached out to Mr. Walters to again, clarify regarding the state's position. "The SFMO has never told Pickett County that we wanted to close the courthouse. Currently, Pickett County is in compliance with the Plan of Corrective Action for the jail and there is no need to require that the county perform additional requirements," said Walters. The next phase should include bidding on the construction of the proposed jail and justice center. The commission approved a 20-year lease to purchase agreement with Municipal Capital Market and a resolution not to exceed eight million on all costs for the jail and justice center construction. Memorial marker for Adam Conner It has been 12 years since David and Elaina Conner lost their son Adam after an accidental drowning. Adam was 11 years old. Recently, the family was honored by having a sign placed on Highway 111 to memorialize Adam. "Since Adam was involved in politics in both Overton and Pickett Counties, the county line seemed like the perfect location," said Elaina. The dedication ceremony was on December 3rd, which would have been Adam's 24th birthday. "It is somewhat bittersweet," said Elaina. "I am so honored to see a mile stretch of highway named in my son's honor, but at the same time, I still grieve for him." Representative Kelly Keisling approached the family about a memorial highway marker in Adam's memory. There were certain steps that would have had to be taken to get it finalized but he made it happen. In part of that process, they also submitted the official certificate naming Adam Tennessee's Youngest Republican that was given to him posthumously in 2006. It took around eight months to get the sign approved and up. There was a cost of $300.00 which was taken care of by someone outside of the family that was close to Adam. Shown here, friends and family release 24 balloons at the dedication ceremony to signify what would have been Adam's 24th birthday. Serving the community for 55 years Jim Hill and Bill Bowden. I got to capture a special moment a while back and thought it would be good to use it in recognition of the Pickett County Press's 55th Anniversary. The picture is of my father James Hill and Bill Bowden who is the editor and publisher of the Fentress Courier. It was taken one Wednesday morning at the Herald-Citizen where the Pickett County Press is printed. Now, they had no idea that I was taking their picture, but as I stood there watching them interact, the moment just seemed so precious to me. Before dad had his stroke in April 2016, he had been going to pick up the newspapers on Wednesday and had done so since 1974, even when my sister Jamie Garrett owned the PRESS. Though he retired in 1999, it was just something he loved to do and we let him because we knew it was significant for him to still be a part of the paper in some small It was difficult for him to not have that role anymore since the stroke impaired him from driving that distance, so I started asking him to come with me every week to get the papers. It not only gives us some time together, but he gets an opportunity to hang out with old newspaper friends like Bill Bowden and the press guys at the Herald-Citizen. During our trips, I hear him tell stories of important events that occurred in the county, things he has covered-both good and bad, and working hard to get the newspaper out no matter what. In the 55 years of publication, not once has an issue of the PRESS been missed. Despite fires, equipment malfunctions, severe weather, or illness, the news must get printed regardless! At 30 years old, dad wanted to get out of retail and move back home to raise his family. He had been living in Dayton, Ohio and was working as a buyer for the big retail store Cain-Slone. When he purchased the Pickett County Press in 1974 from Ernie Lawson, he had done so with the idea that he and his father, Norman Hill would work together. The Pickett County Press was first published in 1962 and while Norman never owned it, he worked as the editor up until dad bought the paper. My grandfather had a long history of newspaper experience. He actually started the first Pickett County newspaper in 1939 called the Pickett County News before having to close it because of WWII when he enlisted in the Air Force. After his service, he worked in Oak Ridge at Y12 during the Manhattan Project. He later worked in newspaper circulation until his retirement from Newspaper Printing Corporation, which published the Nashville Banner and the Tennessean. Sadly, seven months after my dad purchased the PRESS and was just beginning to learn about the newspaper business, my grandfather had a massive heart attack and died. I know if anyone in the newspaper business was self-taught, that would be my father. He will be the first to tell you that I don't always listen to his advice, but still, I know that his position on a matter is as one coming from hard knock experience. Dad has taught me that the success of a newspaper is largely about knowing your community and understanding what they expect of you. I am grateful for the hard work and dedication of my grandfather, father, and sister of what they put into the PRESS before my time as publisher. It has created a firm foundation of integrity and knowledge that no degree could ever teach. The blood, sweat, tears, and ink run deep into the purpose of what this newspaper represents to this community, and I am proud to be representing three generations of business that is now 55 years old. Qualifications for upcoming election If you are interested in running office, you may pick up petitions at the Pickett County Election Office now. All nominating petitions are due at 12:00 noon on the qualifying deadline date. The first day to pick up a nominating petition for the May 2018 County Primary was Nov. 17, 2017. Each petition must have at least 25 verified signatures. Some important things to remember are: 1. Only registered voters who are eligible to vote for that candidate can be counted. 2. Signatures with a post office box number as an address cannot be 3. Signatures that do not match the signature on our files cannot be counted (e.g. a person cannot sign their spouse's name). 4. The address must match the address we have on file (exception: the person has moved, but within the same precinct). For these reasons it is recommended that a candidate get at least 40 signatures on their petition. Nominating petitions for the May County Primary must be turned in no later than 12:00 noon on February 15, 2018. State law requires the election office to refuse any petitions brought in after the noon deadline. The dates above also apply to Independent candidates seeking election to county offices. If a political party nominates candidates by a method other than a primary, a petition is not required. However, that party must submit the names of its candidates by the same deadline above. The first day to pick up petitions for the Town of Byrdstown offices and the office of School Board Member is January 5, 2018. The deadline to turn in these petitions is 12:00 noon on April 5, 2018. These races are nonpartisan. For a qualifications requirements for each position, go to www.pickettelection.info. The following have picked up petitions: Letha McCurdy-Register of Deeds Carey Garner-County Executive Johnie Neal-County Executive Jimmy Cope-Road Superintendent Larry Ledford-County Commission, 4th Dist. Jennifer Anderson-County Trustee David Harer-County Commission, 1st Dist. Ginny Mills-County Commission, 2nd Dist. Douglas Scroggins-County Commission, 1st Dist. Tony Beaty-County Commission, 1st Dist. Darrell L. Garrett-County Commission, 4th Dist. Danny Huddleston-Circuit Court Clerk Larry Brown-Circuit Court Clerk Dana E. Dowdy-Sheriff Lisa Lee Cross-County Trustee Parade and Christmas Marketplace this weekend The Christmas Marketplace will be taking place in the Pickett County Library Friday, December 1st from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday, December 2nd from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The Christmas Marketplace will begin at 3:00 p.m. with 38 local vendors and merchants that will be selling crafts, jewelry, sweet treats, quilts, wood crafts and much more. There will be free hot dogs, hot chocolate and snacks provided by the City of Byrdstown. The tree lighting ceremony will start at 6:00 p.m. Friday and there will be a live nativity scene, music, carriage rides and Santa. The Marketplace will open on Saturday at 9 a.m. with the a magic show beginning at 10 a.m., story time and pictures with Santa at 11:30 and the Christmas Parade is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. Parade winners will be announced in the library at the end of the parade. For more information please call the Pickett County Library at 864-6281. Fatality on Highway 127 A 911 call came in at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday reporting and accident with injuries and possible entrapment on 5196 N. York Highway (127). According to the report, a Mazda Miata was traveling south, and a concrete pumper was traveling north. The Miata crossed the center lane and the two vehicles collided. The female passenger of the Miata was flown from the scene. The male driver was pronounced dead. The driver of the concrete pumper semi worked for Reynolds Concrete Pumping in Kentucky. Identities of the individuals involved have not been released. Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Neil Matthews with assistance from Trooper Darren Butler, Trooper Marty Brown and the Trooper Kyle Herren with the C.E.R.T. division are investigating the accident. Traffic was rerouted due to a portion of 127 being shutdown for approximately four hours until the scene was cleared. UPDATE: The individuals in the Miata have been identified and Mr. Gary Rains and Mrs. Becky Rains of Pall Mall. The truck driver was Mr. Micheal Pogue of Russellville, KY. Traffic was diverted until 8:30 p.m., making it around six hours until the scene was cleared. New business on the square The Rustic Roots Boutique is now open and features a variety of items. It is owned by Travis Shelton and located at 102 East Main Rustic Roots Boutique features silverware jewelry, clothing, bath bombs and salts with hidden prizes. They are also offering monogram services for the clothing in the store. The business hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Check out their facebook page! Judge sentences several to serve jail and prison time Pickett County Criminal Court was held on Wednesday, November 15th resulting in prison and jail time for several individuals who received drug charges and probation violations. Judge Gary Mckenzie issued the following dispositions: -Jeremy Braswell, 31: Charge with Possession of Methamphetamine- received 6 years to serve in prison probation violation. Charge of Theft more than $2500-received four 4 suspended and consecutive (to begin upon release from 6-year sentence). -Joseph Scott Cope, 33: Charge of Casual Exchange of Schedule III Controlled Substance (misdemeanor probation violation)-9 months in jail to serve. -Marcus Howard Crabtree (34 years old): Charge of Delivery of Schedule III (probation violation-hold without bond in jail until January 9th. Charge of Delivery of Schedule II and III-reset to January 9th. -Jeremy Huddleston, 30: Charge of Burglary (probation violation)-hold without bond in jail until January 9th. Charge of sale of Schedule III Controlled Substance-reset to January 9th. -Jesse Kean, 32: Charge of Delivery of Schedule III-reset to January 9th. Charge of Delivery of Schedule III (2 counts)–hold in jail until -Billy Dean Kennedy, 29: Charge of Delivery of Schedule II (2 counts)–Concurrent 4 year sentences, 4 years probation, and 148 days in jail. -Perry Neal, 55: Charge of Delivery of Schedule III-Reset to January 9th, hold in jail. -Shelley Lynn Patterson, 46: Charge of Delivery of Schedule III (2 Counts) – Capias issued for failure to appear. -Leonard Paul Perdue, 28: Charge of Simple Possession of Methamphetamine (probation violation)-Hold without bond in jail until January 9th. Charge of Delivery of Methamphetamine and Delivery of Counterfeit Methamphetamine–Reset to January 9th. -Michael Perdue, 44: Charge of Initiating a Process to Manufacture Methamphetamine (probation violation)–Revoked to 10-year sentence in prison. -Tamantha Ramirez, 40: Pled to Simple Possession of Schedule II–11 months and 29 days supervised probation. -Jeremy Williams, 31: Charge of Delivery of Schedule III-hold in jail until January 9th. Kentucky men arrested on drug charges Two Kentucky men were arrested after Pickett County Deputies responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle at Gunnels Camp Ground. The report states that on Monday evening, November 6th, Deputy James Hammock located the vehicle in question near the boat ramp and observed three male occupants. Deputy Hammock noted an odor emitting from the vehicle and a consent to search the vehicle was given by the driver, who was not charged in the incident. Chief Deputy Steve Wilber arrived on the scene to assist Deputy Hammock in the search. Upon the search of the vehicle, a small bag containing a green leafy substance was found between the front seat. Two small bags of a crystal substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine was also found in the possession of Rodney K. Jones, 46, Albany, Kentucky. Pills believed to be Clonazepam were found in a black bag that allegedly belonged to Terry B. Ferguson, 37, Albany, KY. Ferguson was charged with Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance and Possession of Schedule VI Controlled Substance. Rodney Jones was charged with Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine). Boutique in downtown Byrdstown New business Carobella is conveniently located on the Byrdstown Square at 101 West Main Street. Owner Tavia Dowdy is offering a variety of boutique clothing, accessories, and jewelry. She also specializes in Nex Gen nails, nail art, pedicures, and manicures. For those who are needing some relaxation or massage therapy, Carobella also has a massage therapist available. Hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 931-510-4029 for an appointment for nail services or massage. Fire destroys local auto body business The Byrdstown-Pickett County Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to Ron's Body Shop, located at 988 East Main Street Sunday, November 20th at 11:10 p.m. The call came after someone drove by the business and saw smoke and noticed flames. Upon arriving to the scene, fire was coming out of the front and back of the building and firefighters worked on and off throughout the night and until the next day to get the fire extinguished. The cause of the fire is unknown and according to the report, is being investigated. Local Lions Club helping community When members of the Byrdstown Lions Club learned that someone in the community needed a wheelchair ramp, they wanted to help. Not only does the Lions Club provide glasses, but also other community service projects and needs for individuals. This ramp was constructed in one day by the members for Ms. Judy Sells. The funds for services like this have been donated by individuals, raffles, VEC Customer Share Grant and money approved by the Pickett County Commission. 100% of the money raised goes back into the community. If you are interested in becoming a member, the group meets the first Thursday of the month, 6:00 p.m. at the Pickett County Library. Pictured above are Lions Club Members Jerry Flowers, Carter Martin, and Micheal Asberry. PHOTO: Courtesy of Tammy Asberry Fire destroys barn on North Main PHOTO: Bob Saunders to what was reported as a grass fire Sunday at 525 North Main Street. Because of a limited view of the location, the caller presumed it to be a grass fire. When firefighters arrived, a barn located behind a residence, owned by Malcolm and Deborah Brannum was engulfed in flames. The cause of the fire is unknown. Pickett County unemployed at 3.0% for September Development Commissioner Burns Phillips announced that in Sept. 2017, for the first time ever, below 5 percent in every county across the state. This is the second consecutive month rates have declined in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties. September also marked the fourth consecutive month Tennessee experienced a historic low statewide unemployment rate. At 3 percent, Tennessee has the lowest unemployment in the southeast and the eighth lowest rate in the nation. “With every county seeing unemployment rates below five percent and with a record statewide unemployment rate, Tennessee’s fiscal strength is clear and the investment in our workforce is paying off,” Haslam said. “Employers know that Tennessee is a place where they can find skilled workers, so they continue to expand and relocate here.” Williamson County reported Tennessee’s lowest unemployment rate in September at 2.1 percent, down from 2.7 percent in August. Davidson County recorded the second lowest rate at 2.2 percent, falling from 2.7 percent the previous month. Rutherford, Cheatham, Wilson and Sumner Counties all have a September rate of 2.3 percent, down more than 0.5 percent from August. Pickett County recorded a 3.0% jobless rate for September, down .6 percentage points from August’s rate of 3.6%. Surrounding counties reported the following jobless rates for September: Clay County 3.6%, down from 4.2%; Fentress County 3.6%, down from 4.4%; Overton County 3.2%, down from 3.8%; Putnam County 2.8%, down from 3.6%; and Scott County 3.8% (down from 4.8%. “Many of the most notable decreases in September took place in counties with the highest unemployment rates, pointing out the economic growth and opportunity in some of Tennessee’s most distressed counties,” Phillips said. This is the fourth time in 2017 unemployment rates have decreased in all 95 counties. Rates also dropped in every county during February, April and August. The improved county statistics for September follow the fourth consecutive month Tennessee experienced a record low statewide unemployment rate, which was 3 percent, down 0.3 percent from August. The national unemployment rate also dropped in September to 4.2 percent. The statewide and national unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted, but the county rates are not. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that eliminates the influences of weather, holidays, opening and closing of schools and other recurring seasonal events from an economic time series. Additional information about Tennessee’s labor statistics, as well as job search resources and postings, can be found at Jobs4TN.gov. Family loses everything in fire A local family lost everything in a fire Monday night. A call was sent out from 911 to the Byrdstown-Pickett Volunteer Fire Department and the Pickett County Sheriff's Office for a house fire at 110 Lakeview Spur at 8:29 p.m. The home was located in the Sherwood Shores community and the property was being rented by Jack Drouin. According to Mr. Drouin, the fire started by accident on a mattress, and he tried to remove it from the residence but wasn't able to get the fire contained. There were also two small children in the home, and everyone was able to get out of the home before the fire spread. Firefighters quickly arrived to try to get the fire under control the best they could while dealing with wind and also the lack of having a fire hydrant close to the scene of the fire. They worked in synchronization to link up the trucks to keep a constant water supply for many hours. During the attempt to remove the mattress in an effort to try to keep the fire from spreading, Drouin was seriously burned. He was taken by Pickett County EMS from the scene and was eventually flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he is being treated for third-degree burns and possible smoke inhalation damage. Family members are caring for the young children and the community has already been pulling together to help provide clothing and other items needed for the family. VECustomers Share awards $2,500 in local grants awarded $2,500 in a grants to Pickett County organizations in October. Local groups receiving grants include Pickett County Historical & Genealogy Society ($1,250) and Friends of Pickett County Library Christmas Market ($1,250). bills up to the next whole dollar. VECustomers Share contributions average 50 cents per month per customer. The extra change is pooled with that of other members and distributed by the foundation’s board of directors, who all serve as volunteers. Overall Halloween parade winner Starlynn White was the 1st Grade Winner and the Overall Winner at the Pickett K-8 Halloween Parade Tuesday morning. Local teacher encouraging students to read The ability to read plays critical roles in how we navigate through A local teacher has taken a different approach as a way to encourage his 6th grade students to read more. Pickett County K-8 English, Language Arts teacher Mitch Buckman, is rewarding his top readers with Walmart gift cards. Every nine weeks, students are in competition to read the most books. They also have to present a book report on each book that was read. The students who read the most for this nine weeks were Eli Huddleston with seven books, Chloe King with six books, and Lyndon Huddleston with five books. Pickett County native wins bluegrass music award A former Pickett County musician was awarded Mandolin Player of the year at the International Bluegrass Music Association on September 28th. Sierra Hull received that honor at the 2017 awards show that was held in Raleigh, NC. According to the IBMA website, professional members of the IBMA have bestowed honors and awards on individuals and organizations making extraordinary contributions to the music Commissioners approve change in hours at Pickett Transfer Station Pickett County Commissioners met in regular session on October 16, 2017. Present and presiding was the honorable Richard Daniel, Chairman and Robert Lee Clerk of the Court. Court was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Clerk Lee who turned the meeting over to Chairman Daniel. The invocation was given by Jimmy Richardson and the Pledge of Allegiance was given by all. The following commissioners were present: Mitchell Cross, Cary Garner, Darrell Garrett, David Harer, Eddie Holt, Colan Huddleston, Larry Ledford, Carter Martin, Brad Richardson, Jim Richardson and Matthew Storie. Tim Ford was absent. The following is action taken at the meeting: Approved a motion by Brad Richardson and seconded by David Harer to approve the agenda as amended. All ayes. Motion carried. Carried a motion by Colan Huddleston and seconded by Mitchell Cross to approve the minutes from Monday, September 18, 2017 county court meeting and minutes from the Special Called Meeting on October 5, 2017 as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Passed a motion by Jim Richardson and seconded by Larry Ledford to approve the following reports as presented: Month End Report- County General Fund, Transfer Station/Solid Waste, Debt Service Fund and Solid Waste -cash flow analysis: 101 general fund, 116 transfer station/solid waste, 151 debt service, 207 solid waste fund -cash flow analysis from other departments: 131 highway department, 142 school federal projects -cash flow analysis; Actual vs Projected from other departments; 142 school federal projects -budget to actual report revenues: 101 general fund, 116 transfer station/solid waste, 151 debt service, 207 solid waste fund -budget to actual report expenditures: 101 general fund, 116 transfer station/solid waste, 151 debt service, 207 solid waste fund -Clerk & Master report of taxes collected for the month of September 2017. All ayes. Motion carried. Approved a motion by Larry Ledford and seconded by Matthew Storie to approve budget amendments as presented. All ayes except Carey Garner, Eddie Holt and Carter Martin voted nay. Motion carried. Carried a motion by Eddie Holt and seconded by Darrell Garrett to approve notary renewal - Jamie Lynette Guffey. All ayes. Motion carried. Passed a motion by Colan Huddleston and seconded by Brad Richardson to approve Kerry Crockett as the new member of the Regional Library Board. All ayes. Motion carried. Pickett County Attorney Andreas Ayers addressed the Board of Approved a motion by Darrell Garrett and seconded by Matthew Storie to approve the change of hours at the Pickett County Transfer Station: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with delivery cutoff at 4:30 p.m. each day; Saturdays 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with delivery cut off at 11:30 a.m.; closed on Wednesday. All ayes. Motion carried. Carried a motion by Darrell Garrett and seconded David Harer to approve the contract between Pickett County, Tennessee and Government Services Agency as presented to the commission. This being a twelve month contract. All ayes. Motion carried. Passed a motion by Darrell Garrett and seconded by Matthew Storie to adjourn until the next regular county court meeting scheduled for Monday, November 20, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. in the community room of the Pickett County Library. All ayes. Motion carried. Serving the public means.... Maintaining respect and integrity As I reflect on what the role for the PRESS is for this community, many things come to mind. A newspaper has a huge responsibility to the people it serves. It must provide truthful facts about the issues that arise during the daily operations of this community. There have been, and always will be, controversial issues that present themselves during the course of these operations. The main objective and responsibility of this newspaper, or any media source, is to provide detailed, truthful facts about these situations to the citizens it serves. In this case, the citizens of Pickett County because folks have a right to these facts. The PRESS has no intention, nor reason, to attempt to bias this information. Unlike social media, where people posting can sometimes remain “anonymous or seem untouchable”, the PRESS must maintain its integrity by being truthful and transparent. It has done so, for the past 54 years. Actually, we are coming up on our anniversary in November. That being said, if an article is written, especially on a heated topic, it has been investigated thoroughly. Items researched are legal opinions and laws, consults with Tennessee Press Service legal team, reference to manuals (CTAS-county, MTAS-city, TSBA-school), along with information from various other cited sources. It is important to look at any issue from every perspective, gather all the facts, present those facts, and then allow the people of this county to make an educated decision of their own. The citizens of this county elect officials to represent them and their concerns with regards to operation of the county and city government. That is the way the forefathers intended it to be. However, there are certain expectations upon these elected officials. That is to conduct themselves in a professional manner, with the common goal of what is best for the entire community. As any public official knows, there are times when he/she is going to be subjected to detailed questioning in order to provide a better understanding on the matters at hand. All people should be addressed with respect, regardless of their position on the issue. For any public official to present information in a meeting, while speaking in a condescending tone, or as if the people are illiterate, is absolutely unacceptable and an insult to the people of this county. Dale Hollow Bass Classic Winners Photo:James Purkey The 32nd Annual Dale Hollow Bass Classic hosted by Star Point Resort was held Oct. 14 and 15. The event is sponsored by the Byrdstown- Pickett County Chamber of Commerce and Star Point Resort. VIP Sponsor was Don Franklin of Burkesville. 1st place Jacob Cross of Byrdstown and J.P. Sims of Cookeville, won $1852.50 and had a total of 33.55 lbs. 2nd place Jerry Delk of Allardt and Tim Jolley of Monroe, $1462.50, 29.95 lbs. 3rd place Gary Sroufe of South Whitley, IN, and Bob Roy of Columbia City, IN., $1170.00, 24.70 lbs. 4th place David Harris of Cookeville and Chris Thomas of Baxter, $975.00, 24.35 lbs. 5th place JR Stalcup of Albany and Patrick Crawley of Burkesville, 6th place Mark Neal and Jeff Neal both of Livingston, $780.00, 22.70 7th place Bobby Smith and Mike Stowers both of Jamestown, TN., 8th place Tim Reagan of Livingston and Lucas Reagan of Byrdstown, 9th place Pat Smith of Burkesville and Adam Huff of Tompkinsville, KY., $487.50, 20.90 lbs. 10th place Billy Joe Johnson and Robby Johnson both of Byrdstown, 11th place Thomas Coomer of Florence, KY. and Bob Coomer of Albany, 12th place Gary Farley and Randy Hunter both of Albany, $195.00, 100% Big Bass Winners Saturday: Jacob Cross of Byrdstown and J.P. Sims of Cookeville, $500, 6.60 lbs., Blake Smith and Daniel Abbott of Byrdstown, $300, 5.90 lbs., Mark Neal and Jeff Neal both of Livingston, $200, 5.60 lbs. Sunday Big Bass Winners: Gary Sroufe of South Whitley, IN, and Bob Roy of Columbia City, IN., $500, 4.75 lbs., Jerry Delk of Allardt and Tim Jolley of Monroe, $300, 4.30 lbs., Jason Smith of Union, KY. and Jeremy Smith of Toler, KY., $200, 4.25 lbs. Memories of Keisling’s Clothing As things are getting prepared for some downtown business revitalization as part of the TDEC Enhancement Grant, what has appeared underneath the old awning after it was removed has sparked a lot of conversation. According to Mrs. Johnnie A. Keisling, Ralph Keisling and Eugene Keisling purchased lots after a fire in 1945. Both Ralph and Eugene had come home after serving in WWII and helped build the clothing store. The store opened in 1947, with three generations owning it: Eugene Keisling, Kelly and Janet Keisling and Ralph and Johnnie Alline before it closed in 1992. Keisling recalls, "I remember back when Eugene would give credit to families during the fall until their tobacco sold in the winter and they could pay. It was a place that provided a lot of different needs for the community over the years." Wouldn't it be nice to keep that name on the building, to serve as a reminder of how Keisling’s Clothing served this community for 45 years? Smith graduates TBI State Academy Twelve local law enforcement officers from across the state are new graduates of the TBI State Academy. Among the graduates was Sergeant/ Detective-Narcotics Joshua Smith – Pickett County Sheriff’s Office. The Academy was created as a professional and specialized training ground for Tennessee law enforcement officers who desire the opportunity to expand their education and training in the criminal justice field. Through the six-week course, attendees learn advanced investigative techniques, science and strategy; skills they can take back with them and put into practice at their home agencies. The TBI State Academy was developed with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s origin, tradition and mission in mind. Coursework included leadership, constitutional law, communications intelligence and undercover investigations. Candidates were nominated by their department heads and selected to attend. They were required to have five years of experience as a full- time commissioned officer of a Tennessee law enforcement agency, show excellent character and a professional reputation. They exhibit an interest in public service and are committed to remain in law enforcement for a minimum of three years after the TBI State Academy graduation. A graduate of the TBI State Academy has the opportunity to earn credits with partner schools Cumberland University and Tennessee State University. The Academy runs four days a week for six weeks and is held at Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy in Bell Buckle, at no cost to attendees. TBI will begin accepting applications for the 2018 TBI State Academy in the spring. For more information about the State Academy, go to our website: http://www.tn.gov/tbi/article/tbi-state-academy. County Commissioners approve resolution to purchase property for justice/jail center site The Pickett County Commissioners met in special session to vote for the jail site after the motion to purchase failed at the September 18th meeting. Motion by Dave Harer seconded by Colan Huddleston to approve Resolution FY 2017-2018-13, a resolution providing the purchase of the Winningham property for the jail site through the Industrial Board of Pickett County with the county providing the funds to the Industrial Board. All ayes except Eddie Holt, Carter Martin, Darrell Garrett and Carey Garner who voted no, so the motion passed. Before the vote, Chairman Richard Daniel provided the commissioners with a survey of the property that indicates the property to be purchased is 4.09, not the 4.5 acres that he had stated in the previous meeting. "You've got two options as county commissioners, one of them is to vote to allow the industrial board to purchase the property, or vote it down and let's just do nothing," said Chairman Daniel. Mr. Daniel also addressed the board regarding a reason to vote yes, was because the land contract made with the Winningham family ran out on October 17th. There was no discussion on the details of the land contract, and what the proposed cost of the said property is to be. Using talents to help kids at Shriners Hospital When a member of the Upper Cumberland Shrine Club noticed on Facebook how creative a local 10-year-old was getting at creating bracelets, he asked him if he could make some for the patients at the Shriner's Hospital in Lexington, KY. Spencer Wilson has been creating figures and bracelets since he was about six years old, according to his mom, Jessica Scott Wilson. When Spencer was asked to help make the bracelets for the kids at the hospital, he replied, "well sure." He has already completed about 50 bracelets out of the 100 he has as a goal. Some of them are customized to have "Shriners" on them. "These bracelets will be taken to the new facility for the hospital in Lexington, where they service orthopedic patients," said UC Shriner Barry Poore. The Shriners Hospitals for Children Medical Center participate with many insurance plans, however, all care and services are provided for patients up to age 18 regardless of the families' ability to pay. For more information on the Shriner's Hospitals, visit www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org. Thank you, Spencer, even at a young age you have shown us all a valuable lesson on using our passions or talents to help those in need. Pickett Sheriff’s Office to receive $5,000 grant The Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security (TDOSHS) joins the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) to announce the law enforcement agencies and partners across Tennessee who will be awarded federal grant funds to support local highway safety initiatives. Approximately 400 grants exceeding $18 million will be distributed statewide from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through the THSO for the 2017-2018 Federal Fiscal Year (FFY). The Pickett County Sheriff’s Office will receive a $5,000 grant to be used for high visibility enforcement. “Highway safety enforcement and education initiatives are critical components to preventing highway fatalities,” said Commissioner David W. Purkey of the TDOSHS. “We cannot lower statewide fatality numbers without strong partnerships within our local communities. That is why these funds are so important.” Every year, traffic safety advocates, non-profit organizations, emergency response personnel, law enforcement, District Attorneys’ offices, and other state agencies across Tennessee seek funding through grant applications offered by the THSO. Applicants who meet the required data-driven criteria and highway safety standards are awarded grant funds to support the THSO’s mission to reduce traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities. “Our highway safety partners are dedicated men and women who work tirelessly to protect Tennessee roadways every day,” said THSO Director Vic Donoho. “The THSO grant funding provides essential highway safety training and equipment for law enforcement agencies, sophisticated crash data collection analysis technology, specialized DUI prosecutors, resources for emergency response personnel, and educational tools to help improve driver behavior.” There’s always time for a selfie... During the Cordell Hull Day, Bob Tarter with the Natural History Educational Company presented several different animals for the crowd to learn about. In this picture, he was wanting to get a selfie with Lisa Beaty and her daughter featuring the megabat or fruit bat. Daughter Eloise didn't seem to be impressed with that situation. More pictures from the festival can be found on page 9. Veterans monument to be placed at Welcome Center The Disabled American Veterans Hull-York Chapter 5 group is accepting bids for the Upper Cumberland Veteran's Monument. The idea to get a monument in Pickett County began several years ago and is in phase two of the project. The Pickett County Commission voted to approve the location of the monument to be at the Byrdstown Welcome Center. The design for the monument was created by a drawing from Jesse Linder, who is the son of member Leanne Asberry. During a recent D.A.V. meeting, the monument committee approved Linder's design concept and proceeded to get an architect to finalize the plans for The Upper Cumberland Veteran's Monument will consist of any veteran's name from the Upper Cumberland area for a minimum $20 donation. If you would like to have a name added to the monument, you can go to Byrdstown City Hall to leave the information and a donation. Any contractors interested in bidding on the project, please pick up a packet from the Welcome Center/ Chamber office during normal hours. The bids will be reviewed at the October 14th D.A.V. meeting at 9 a.m. Pictured are the architectural plans for what the monument will look like when finished. Walk to benefit St. Jude Children's Research hospital Register for Town of Byrdstown Run/Walk to be held October 14th The 6th Annual Town of Byrdstown 5K Certified/3K (Non-Certified) Run Walk benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is just around the corner. It will be held on Saturday, October 14th in downtown Registration the day of the event begins at 8:00 a.m. at Town Hall. That is also the location where those who have pre-registered will pick up their runner packets. Early/Pre-registration is $25.00 and includes a t-shirt featuring the event logo and sponsors for the year. Late registration is $30.00 and will not include the t-shirt. Entry forms may be picked up at Town Hall or the Welcome Center in Byrdstown or can be downloaded online from this link: www.facebook.com/Byrdstown5K/ or email dalehollow@twlakes.net and we can send a copy by reply. Byrdstown/Pickett County Chamber of Commerce: www.dalehollow.com or $525,000 CDBG grant for Byrdstown State Senator Ken Yager (R-Kingston) and Representative Kelly Keisling (R-Byrdstown) have announced that Byrdstown will receive $525,000 for water system rehabilitation through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Yager and Keisling made the announcement after receiving the information from the Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD). “I am pleased to announce that Byrdstown will receive this major grant and want to thank our local officials who were instrumental in helping secure these funds," said Senator Yager, who strongly supported the grant application. "These funds will assist in vital water system rehabilitation efforts which will improve the public health and quality of life for our citizens.” The funds were allocated under a procedure authorized by the Tennessee General Assembly. ECD administers the grant program based on priorities set at the local level where community needs are best “Overhauling the water system in Byrdstown is an important step in order to ensure that we are able to keep up with and meet the demands of our growing population,” said Representative Keisling. “I appreciate Commissioner Rolfe for his investment in our community and for supporting our residents.” Pickett County hires law firm to sue distributors of opioids The Pickett County Commissioners met in regular session on September 18, 2017. Members Mitchell Cross, Cary Garner, Darrell Garrett, David Harer, Eddie Holt, Colan Huddleston, Larry Ledford, Carter Martin, Brad Richardson and Jim Richardson were present. Tim Ford and Matthew Storie were absent. Agenda was amended and approved. Approval of Richard Daniel to serve as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for FY 2017-2018 was made by Larry Ledford and seconded by David Harer. With no other nominations, the motion carried with all ayes. The minutes from the previous month (Monday, August 21, 2017) was carried with all ayes. Motion by Mitchell Cross and seconded by Eddie Holt to approve the monthly reports, all ayes. Eddie Holt made the motion to approve the budget amendments as presented, Darrell Garrett seconded the motion with all ayes. Amendments as follows: 101FY 2017-2018 #2 County General-$8,700 to decrease appropriation balance because UT lowered the county share of agriculture extension service for FY 2017/2018. 101FY 2017-2018 #3 County General-$1,691 for the county clerk to purchase a new copier with the restricted account fund to be used for data processing equipment. Notary approvals for Chris Smith and Teresa May Buckner and Notary renewals Kathy A. Mitchell and Cheryl Lynn Abbott, motion carried with all ayes. Motion by Eddie Holt and seconded by Larry Ledford to approve Resolution FY 2017-2018-12, a resolution in support of the reallocation of the oil and gas severance tax in Tennessee where instead of getting the current ratio, a county would receive the entire amount. The motion was approved with all ayes. Approval of Resolution FY 2017-2018-13 to approve the purchase of industrial board. All ayes except Carey Garner, Darrell Garrett, Eddie Holt and Carter Martin who voted nay. The motion failed and there is a special called meeting to address the situation. Motion by Eddie Holt and seconded by Mitchell Cross to approve Resolution FY 2017-2018-14, a resolution to apply for grant funds through TDEC for a landfill closure grant passed with all ayes. This is a 50/50 matching grant where Pickett County will pay the required amount for services relating to the closing of the landfill and then be reimbursed 50% of that cost. Adoption of the TDEC LEP program to provide interpreters, translators and other aides and the policy and procedures to ensure persons with limited English proficiency have meaningful access and equal opportunity in TDEC services, programs, and activities carried with Motion by Colan Huddleston and seconded by Eddie Holt to approve to request to bid repairs for the Chanute Fire Hall brush truck with all ayes. This was the vehicle that was involved in an accident while being parked at a residence without authorization. Motion to table the contract negotiation discussion on contract negotiations between Pickett County Government and Government Service Agency to October's meeting. All ayes. The county commissioners voted to hire the law firm of Jessee and Jessee to pursue all civil remedies against manufacturers and all entities in the chain of distribution and responsible for the opioid epidemic pursuant to the representation agreement presented to the county commission. The motion passed with all ayes. This lawsuit is alleging a public nuisance and that the damage of the county consists of the increased cost of healthcare, law enforcement, and education. There is not to be an upfront charge for the county's representation. Approved motion by Carter Martin and seconded by Carey Garner to approve Resolution FY 2017-2018-15 making a donation to Byrdstown Lion's Club in the amount of $1,000 contingent on the organization meeting the criteria of a non-profit organization as stated in the resolution. All ayes except for Darrell Garrett who passed. The Lions Club is the world's largest service organization. The money given to the local organization will help provide services to the community and stay in the county. Tom Storie reported that Pickett County EMS runs are up, no action Marty Beaty reported recycling was increasing at the Pickett County Transfer Station, no action was taken. Chairman Daniel shared a letter from TDEC stating that Pickett County has achieved the 25% waste reduction and diversion goal and also from the Tennessee Comptroller acknowledging the budget is approved. Concerns regarding county's purchase of jail site The motion to purchase property selected for the site of the Pickett County Jail/Justice center failed in last night's county commission Resolution FY 2017-2018-13 to approve the purchase of the Winningham property for a jail site through the Industrial Board of Pickett County, with the county providing the funds to the Industrial board did not pass. The voting was six ayes, except for Carey Garner, Darrell Garrett, Eddie Holt and Carter Martin, who voted nay. Tim Ford and Matthew Storie were absent. Chairman Richard Daniel said that the "Winningham" property was 4.5 acres, and would be purchased with the Pickett County Jail funds. There was no other discussion on the failed motion. After the meeting, the question of what the property actually consists of needed to once again be investigated. There are concerns involving conflicts of interest, and code of ethics by county commissioners Jimmy L Richardson and his son Brad Richardson for their vote of yes on that resolution and any matters pertaining to the property. In April, the PRESS reported that the "Winningham" property consisted of two property parcels- one was .48 acres owned by James L. Richardson and Johnny Richardson, the other was 3.9 acres owned by Mrs. Ward Winningham and Elese Winningham. The published information was also verified through the jail site assessment study done by James C Hailey Engineers in March 2016. That study was presented and approved by the Pickett County Commission that showed the property acreage is a total of 4.38, including parcels 014.00 and 013.00. This newspaper reported verbatim that information. After that article was published, Pickett County Executive Richard Daniel asked the "PRESS" to print a retraction, stating the information was false about purchasing any Richardson property. "Pickett County is not buying the .48 acres that belongs to Jimmy Richardson, the Winningham property was the only property under consideration. It doesn't matter how many parcels there are," said Mr. Daniel also wrote an article in that same newspaper issue regarding the property possibly being a conflict of interest due to ownership of the property. He said UTCTAS attorneys indicated that the purchase of the "Winningham" property by the county, did not constitute a conflict of interest. CTAS has been contacted by this newspaper for the details of what information was provided to determine if the opinion was based on Conflict of Interest T.C.A. 12-4-101. That statute prohibits anyone who has a direct financial interest and requires disclosure of indirect financial interests by public acknowledgment. There is also Conflict of Interest statute T.C.A. 5-5-102 that pertains to govern disclosures and abstentions from voting due to conflicts of interest of members of county legislative bodies. In the CTAS Jail needs assessment study in 2016, under the "Winningham Property", it states, "this property consists of approximately five acres and is currently owned by a county commissioner. The purchase of this property from a county commissioner would be a significant conflict of interest". This assessment was made by Jim Hart, who is the CTAS Jail Management Consultant. Mr. Hart told the PRESS that the information was created from his notes involving a conversation with the County Mayor as they were at the site. The details of each parcel is as follows: WARRANTY DEED Parcel 013.00 .48 acres Ownership mailing address 1140 Richardson Road, Byrdstown GRANTOR-James Lynn Richardson as owner of one-half undivided interest GRANTOR-Johnny Ray Richardson as owner of one-half undivided interest Assessor of Property appraised land value of $15,200 PROPERTY RECORD Parcel 014.00 3.9 acres Mrs. Ward Winningham (deceased) c/o Elese Richardson Assessor of Property appraised land and improvement value $105,500. If the property belongs to family members of a county commissioner, that should create an ethical duty to disclose that fact to the people of Pickett County before providing or abstaining from a vote on the matter. If a county commissioner has a direct financial interest in the purchase of property for the jail site, that would be a violation of the law. The PRESS is always willing to print a retraction or correction if something is inaccurate, after all facts are important. Based on the information that has been gathered, this newspaper still stands by what was originally reported to the people regarding the Winningham property. If anyone would like to see the jail site assessment, jail needs assessment and architectural design of jail/justice center, they can be found on our website: pickettcountypress.com. Commission approved architectural design of jail/justice center which shows the property in question has not been excluded for what will be used as the site location. Tennessee property data shows the two individual parcels that were identified in the jail site assessment study that make up a total of 4.38 acres. Pickett County beer revenue down drastically The Tennessee Malt Beverage Association released the figures of revenue for June 2017 received by each county and city that permits legal sale of beer. Beer tax collections are received from the 17% Wholesale Beer Tax as reported by the wholesale distribution, not individual outlets. The revenue for Pickett County For June 2017 is down at $15,107.91 from 2016 at $26,632.88. 2017 year-to date for Pickett Co. is also down at $73,823.28 from 2016 y-t-d at $109,552.00. Recent grand jury drug indictments The Pickett County Grand Jury met on August 15th, 2017 and returned 81 true bills. Out of the 81, 37 indictments have been served by the Pickett County Sheriff's Office. The drug-related indictments are as follows: Bobby Dale Anderson (35) Pall Mall: Delivery of Morphine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance Burt Allen Brown (38) Jamestown: Delivery of Buprenorphine, a Schedule III Controlled Substance Robin Craig (56) Byrdstown: Delivery of Oxycodone a Schedule II Controlled Substance (2 Counts) Marcus Howard Crabtree (33) Pall Mall- Delivery of Buprenorphine a Schedule III Controlled Substance, Delivery of Methadone a Schedule Sharon Cope (57) Byrdstown: Delivery of Oxycodone, a Schedule II Jessica D Daley (27) Byrdstown- Delivery of Methamphetamine a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Delivery of Buprenorphine a Travis Lee Hall (36) Alpine: Delivery of Over 2 Ounces of Marijuana, a Schedule IV Controlled Substance (2 Counts) Jeremy Huddleston (29) Byrdstown: Delivery of Buprenorphine a Jesse Kean (31) Byrdstown: Sale of Buprenorphine a Schedule III Billy Dean Kennedy (29) Albany, KY- Delivery of Less than .5 grams of Methamphetamine a schedule II Controlled Substance (2 Counts) Perry Albert Neal (55) Byrdstown- Delivery of Buprenorphine a Angela Megan Pryor (30) Byrdstown: Delivery of Buprenorphine a Schedule III Controlled Substance (2 Counts) Leonard Perdue III (28) Pall Mall: Delivery of Methamphetamine a Schedule II Controlled Substance & Delivery of Counterfeit Melissa Ann Perdue (40) Pall Mall: Delivery of Buprenorphine a Tamantha Ramirez (39) Albany, KY-Delivery of Hydrocodone a Schedule Charles Schmidt-Eldridge (31) Monroe- Delivery of more than .5 grams of Methamphetamine a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Delivery of a Counterfeit Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) Jeremy A Williams (31) Byrdstown: Delivery of Buprenorphine a Commodity Distribution set for September 19th commodities distribution for Pickett County, Tuesday, September 19, TN Tourism Commissioner and Senator Yager first visit to Sunset Marina after grant announcement Tom Allen, Sen. Ken Yager and Commissioner Kevin Triplett Tennessee Department of Tourism Commissioner Kevin Triplett and Senator Ken Yager made a special visit to Sunset Marina after the announcement of the Waterways Accessibility for Tennessee Recreation (WATR) grants last week. Sunset Marina was one of several local marinas to receive the grant. The Tennessee General Assembly authorized the Waterways Accessibility for Tennessee Recreation (WATR) Grant Program in Fiscal Year 2016-2017 to improve and maintain access to Tennessee’s waterways. A total of 41 applications were received and they were all able to be awarded with some of the $500,000 grant money," said the Commissioner Triplett. The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development administers the WATR program with the end result being improved services, improved facilities, and improved experiences for tourists and recreational boaters using Tennessee’s Waterways. "We are proud that the Tennessee General Assembly recognizes the economic impact that Tennessee’s Marinas make to the overall tourism economy in our state," said Sunset Marina VP and General Manager Tom Allen. According to Allen, the grant money will be used to make repairs and improvements to the Marina's infrastructure and floating docks. Pickett County’s marinas contribute over $150,000.00 per year to Pickett County in Army Corps' Rental Fees which is over and above the state and local sales taxes and property taxes paid by marinas. Allen estimates that Sunset Marina’s economic contribution in State and Local Sales Taxes, property taxes, and fees paid to the U.S. Army Corps to be over eight (8) million dollars since beginning operation He also told the PRESS that Sunset Marina is one of only three marinas designated as a Cumberland River Basin “Clean Marina” on Dale Hollow Lake. This designation recognizes that high standards have been achieved in areas such as water safety; fuel supply; solid waste disposal; recycling; hazardous material storage and stormwater As if the weather wasn't nice enough to help signify the beauty of what our lake has to offer, as Commissioner Triplett arrived, two bald eagles flew over the marina. Oddly enough, as Senator Yager arrived, a Goodyear Blimp was flying over the lake. While I still haven't figured out what that blimp was about, I think both of them have a unique story to tell about their first visits to Sunset Marina on beautiful Dale Hollow Lake. Relay For Life raises $33,750 The Relay For Life of Pickett County Committee would like to thank all the sponsors, participants of our 2017 RFL and everyone who made purchases or supported the many fund raising events throughout the year. A special thanks to the Town of Byrdstown and employees for the use of Town Plaza and setting up the tent. The Relay this year raised $33,750.00 surpassing our goal of $33,000.00. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society for research, cancer patient program support, education, advocacy, Hope Lodge support, etc. For more information about the ACS please visit cancer.org and relayforlife.org. Without the support of this community the Relay For Life of Pickett County would not exist. Thank you to the RFL teams: Byrdstown First Baptist Church, Williams Chapel Church, People’s Bank, Moodyville Missionary Baptist Church, and Conner Family. Byrdstown First Baptist Church team raised the Most Team Money and Best Camp Site. Williams Chapel Church was awarded the Most Team Spirit. Pickett Relay For Life Sept. 9th Event Schedule 2:00 p.m. Team Registration Purchase Balloons for release of Survivors ($1.00) or LED Balloons ($15.00) Ma & Pa’s Florist 2:30 p.m. Opening Ceremony Cancer Survivor Celebration Ceremony Team Recognition Welcome - Judy Storie Opening Prayer – Bro. Andy Cope Presentation of Colors – Hull-York DAV National Anthem – Kellen Buck Celebration Ceremony Survivor Speaker – Mary Rhule Recognition of Survivors – Janet Huddleston Special Performance – Kendra West Survivors Lap (Survivors walk 1st lap) Balloon Release by Survivors Caregiver’s Lap (past and present join in 2nd lap) RFL Teams (join in 3rd lap) Survivor’s refreshments & registration table provided and hosted by the Byrdstown Women’s Club along with a quilt given to a survivor. 3:30 p.m. Elvis 4:00– 5:00 p.m. Car / Motorcycle Show Registration 4:30– 6:00 p.m. Car Show Jail & Bail ($.25 to jail $1.00 to bail / $5 exemption) 4:30 p.m. Games 6:00 p.m. Auction – Johnny Sells Car / Motorcycle Show Winners Announced 6:00– 8:00 p.m. Jail & Bail ($.25 to jail $1.00 to bail / $5.00 exemption) 7:00 p.m. PJ Party 8:00 p.m. Remember / Luminary Ceremony Release of LED Balloons 8:30 p.m. Lip Sync 9:00 p.m. Music 9:45 p.m. Closing Remarks Recap of Funds Raised Most Team Spirit Best Decorated Campsite “every candle has a name….” Memory or Honor Luminaria $10.00 each and LED Balloons $15.00 each, can be purchased until 7:30 p.m. Conner Family Byrdstown First Baptist Church Moodyville Missionary Baptist Church People’s Bank Williams Chapel Church PCHS football program on two-year probation More information has been learned regarding the incident at a football game against Zion Christian on 25th. Pickett County Director of Schools Diane Elder made contact with the PRESS on Wednesday, August 30th and confirmed there was an incident but would not release details. "We are working with the TSSAA and have been conducting an investigation into this unfortunate situation," said Elder. The TSSAA issued a letter to Pickett County High School Principal Jane Winningham on August 31st. This newspaper has made the decision not to publish the names of the players identified in the letter and will refer to them as Player 1, Player 2, and Player 3. The Pickett County High School administration was asked to thoroughly investigate the unsportsmanlike incident and report their findings and any disciplinary action taken to the TSSAA state office. The following report was submitted: An unsportsmanlike penalty was called on Player 1 after which an altercation occurred between the coach and the stated player. After the altercation began, two players, Player 2 and Player 3, left the field of play to assist the coach. One of the managers, pulled the Player 1 away from the coach and walked towards the field exit. Parent of Player 1 made her way down the stands, out the gate and into the infield where she was able to make her way to the sideline and began an altercation with the coach. A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper, who had just finished work and was in the stands, came over the fence and across the field. Pickett County Coach O.B. Caudle motioned and yelled for his assistance. Player 1 returned to the sideline, where Player 2 approached him. Player 1 pulled Player 2 to the ground while Player 3 attempted to assist in a break up. The THP trooper was able to remove parent of Player 1 and Player 1 from the field and the play of the game resumed. The TSSAA also conducted an investigation into the incident and after considering the facts, accepted the action to be taken by the Pickett County Administration. The self-imposed disciplinary actions are as 1. Player 1 has been suspended from all participation in TSSAA sponsored events for the 2017-2018 school year. 2. Player 2 has been suspended for two games for leaving the field of play and participating in an altercation with another player. 3. Player 3 has been suspended for one game for leaving the field. 4. Coach O.B. Caudle has been suspended for one game for failure to maintain control of the team. 5. Parent of Player 1 has been banned from attending all TSSAA In addition to the actions, the TSSAA also placed the Pickett County Football program on probation for two calendar years beginning August 31, 2017-August 31, 2019. There will also be a fine of $500 annually during the probation period. The football program may continue to participate in regular and postseason contests during the period of probation. If there are other incidents during this time, TSSAA will be forced to take further action. Editors Note: The printed edition of this story had a mistake in the headline, it has been corrected in this story. We apologize for the confusion. Fire at Coopers Shredding Facility Members of the Byrdstown-Pickett County Volunteer Department were dispatched to a facility fire at Coopers Recycling Shredding facility in Monroe last Thursday, August 30th. The fire had began a little earlier and crews from Overton County were on the scene but for whatever reason, the fire hydrant at the property had no water pressure, which made conditions more difficult to contain the fire. A request for assistance came in for Pickett County at around 1:19 p.m. According to an employee with Coopers, a vehicle that was in a pile behind the shredder machine shorted and caught fire. It isn't uncommon for fires to break out at the facility with the vehicles, parts and machines, but staff are able to get contained without the need for fire department. Firefighters and employees worked together to get the fire controlled. Various departments from Upper Cumberland respond to fire A community joined together and did what they could after a fire began destroying Winningham's True Value Hardware store in Livingston last Friday. There were approximately 25 fire departments, including Pickett County, and other various agencies from all over the Upper Cumberland that responded to the horrendous fire that raged through the building. Sources tell the PRESS that a little after 12:00 p.m., employees from a nearby business noticed the fire in the back of the warehouse and one of them quickly went over to let everyone in the store know they needed to vacate the building immediately. Shortly after firefighters began surrounding the fire, there was a mandatory evacuation for the Livingston Square area and traffic was backed up and detoured Approximately 131 firefighters worked non-stop through drizzling rain and high winds on into the night to contain the fire and keep it from reaching nearby buildings. Two firefighters were treated and released for medical conditions related to fatigue. Investigators with the state fire marshall's office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation along with other agencies were at the scene Tuesday morning to investigate the cause of the fire which is unknown The Winningham family has served Overton and surrounding areas for over forty years. Share with us on our Facebook page <strong>Share with us on our Facebook page</strong> Sobriety Checkpoints Sept. 1st The Pickett County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting sobriety checkpoints throughout the county on Sept. 1, 2017 to kick off the long Labor Day holiday weekend. The checkpoints will take place from 6:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. and may be located on Hwy. 111, Hwy. 127 and Hwy. 325. Officers will concentrate their enforcement efforts on removing impaired drivers from the roadways of Pickett County. There were 6,648 known alcohol-related crashes in Tennessee in 2014. Individuals that make the irresponsible and dangerous choice to drink and drive are risking their license, their freedom, their life and the lives of others. The Pickett County Sheriff’s Office is committed to keeping the community as well as traveler’s safe and helping them arrive safely at their destinations. Officer overtime for these checkpoints is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Governor's Highway Safety Office. Commissioners approve resolution for lease agreement for jail The Pickett County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, August 21st. The following commissioners were present: Mitchell Cross, Tim Ford, Carey Garner, Darrell Garrett, David Harer, Eddie Holt, Colan Huddleston, Larry Ledford, Carter Martin, Brad Richardson and Jim Richardson. Matthew Storie was absent. Motion for agenda and minutes from Monday, July 17th were made with Approval of the monthly and quarterly reports were made by Brad Richardson and seconded by Mitchell Cross with all ayes. Notary approval and renewals for Coy Padgett (new), M. Douglas Garrett (renewal), Paula Jean Hensley (renewal), and Rhonda Elder (renewal) were carried with all ayes. Motion by Mitchell Cross and seconded by Larry Ledford to approve Resolutions FY 2017-2018-7, FY 2017-2018-8, FY 2017-2018-9, FY 2017-2018-10 to apply for grants from TDEC passed with all ayes. -The FY2017-2018-7 is to apply for Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Grant funds. This grant is for $100,000 with a $10,000 match by Pickett County for updates of the convenience -The FY2017-2018-8 is to apply for TDEC grant of $50,000, with a $5,000 match from the county to help increase recycling. -The FY2017-2018-9 is to apply for TDEC grant of $25,000 with a $2,500 match to purchase scales and other equipment and improve material quality. -The 2017-2018-10 is to apply for TDEC grant of $50,000 with a $5,000 match to purchase recycling equipment. The motion to approve Resolution FY 2017-2018-11 was made by Jim Richardson and seconded by Brad Richardson with all ayes except Carey Garner, Darrell Garrett, Eddie Holt and Carter Martin who voted nay. This resolution authorizes a lease agreement with the Industrial Development Board of Pickett County for a jail and justice center and to authorize lease payments thereunder in an amount sufficient to pay the principal and interest of lease revenue bonds to be issued by the Industrial Development Board in an aggregate amount not to exceed $8,000,000.00. Motion to approve recommendation from the Pickett County Corrective Partnership committee were made by David Harer and seconded by Colan Huddleston passed with all ayes except Carey Garner, Darrell Garrett, Eddie Holt and Carter Martin who voted nay. This was to approve the jail plans as presented for the construction of a 54 bed jail, Justice Center and Sheriff Department that meets or exceeds all state A motion by Larry Ledford and seconded by David Harer to purchase the "Winningham Property" was tabled until the next meeting. Commissioner Darrell Garrett addressed the board on behalf of the Lions Club asking for a donation from the county. Chairman Richard Daniel asked for the request to be submitted in writing and to allow the adequate time for the board to receive it to be able to vote on the appropriation for the donation. There was a quick discussion on the Transfer Station report and county building and community center updates with no action taken. Jail design, CTAS Jail Needs Assessment and Jail Site Assessment are available for viewing on under Top Stories. Appalachian Renovation Loan Program available for homeowners Homeowners in Pickett County may be eligible for funds through the Appalachian Renovation Loan Program (ARLP) for repairs or improvements to their homes. ARLP is a program provided through the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) to improve homeownership for residents of Appalachian counties. Homeowners of single-family (one-to-four unit) homes in Pickett County that require repairs or modifications are eligible to Eligible property types include single family 1-4 unit residences or manufactured homes (single or double-wide). Commercial properties, multifamily properties and properties listed on a state or national historic register are ineligible. The terms of the loan include: Maximum Loan Amount of $25,000 No monthly payment 5-Year Loan Term No Prepayment Penalty Post Purchase Homebuyer Education will be required for all ARLP loans and must be completed prior to closing. Interested applicants may contact the Upper Cumberland Development District, the region’s designated ARLP Program Participant. The Program Participant will determine if the applicant meets the basic loan qualifications and if the repairs or improvements fall within THDA’s approved activities. With questions or to apply, contact Tammy O’Dell at (931) 476-4102 or by email at todell@ucdd.org. For more information about Appalachian Renovation Loan Program, visit https://thda.org/homeowners/arlp. About UCDD: The Upper Cumberland Development District provides regional planning and assistance to the 14-county Upper Cumberland region to promote economic growth and community enhancement. Find UCDD on the web at www.ucdd.org and at facebook.com/UCDDconnect. Fire Department responds to vehicle fire A vehicle fire occurred Friday, August 18th at 210 North Main Street. Members of the Byrdstown/Pickett County Volunteer Fire Department were able to quickly arrive to the scene. Reports indicate that the Dodge truck, which was on a trailer, was being emptied of gas in preparation to be taken to Cooper's for recycling when the fire began. Firefighters were able to get the fire out before it spread to the truck that was hauling the vehicle and trailer. The quick response was due to fire department members being in the area when the call came in. Visitors spend $7.39 million in Pickett County in 2016 Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Kevin Triplett announced today Tennessee tourism’s direct domestic and international travel expenditures reached an all- time record high of $19.3 billion in 2016, up 4.7 percent over the previous year, as reported by the U.S. Travel Association. For the 11th consecutive year, tourism topped $1 billion in state and local sales tax revenue, reaching $1.7 billion. That marks a 6.7 percent increase over 2015, higher than the national growth of travel related state tax revenues. Tourism generated 176,500 jobs for Tennesseans, a 3.3 percent growth year over year. “More people from around the world continue to visit Tennessee each year,” Haslam said. “The $1.7 billion in sales tax revenue and job growth are good news for everyone in Tennessee. The hard work of the tourism industry, led by the Department of Tourist Development and Tennessee Tourism Committee, continues to produce record results and dedication to boost Tennessee’s economy.” Five counties exceeded one billion in travel expenditures including Davidson ($5.996 billion), Shelby ($3.335 billion), Sevier ($2.217 billion), Hamilton ($1.060 billion), and Knox ($1.056 billion). All 95 counties saw more than $1 million in direct travel expenditures in the economic impact of tourism and 19 counties saw more than $100 million. Guests spent a total of $7.39 million in Pickett County in 2016, an increase of 3.5% compared to 2015, generating a total of $0.42 million in state and $1.07 million in local tax revenues, increases of 5.4% and 4.1%, respectively. A total of 55 Pickett Countians are employed in tourism-related fields. “The economic impact growth of the tourism industry is a result of guests from around the world discovering everything that makes Tennessee ‘The Soundtrack of America,’” Commissioner Triplett said. “It starts with what we have; the music, history, culture and experiences. It is enhanced by how those things are managed. The authenticity and Southern hospitality from our communities and partners create an environment for our guests in a way not only that helps them enjoy their stay but motivates them to return. These numbers are a reflection of Tennessee becoming a destination of choice. But a critical component of this is they do not include the staggering capital investments being made by tourism partners across the state to enhance the experience.” In another record previously announced during National Travel and Tourism Week, 110 million people visited the state in 2016, up 4.4 percent from 2015, as reported by D.K Shifflet & Associates. An increase in leisure travelers also led to a jump in overnight stays. Tennessee places among the Top 10 travel destinations in the U.S. for the third consecutive year and is considered a top retirement The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development doesn’t achieve these numbers alone. In 2011 Gov. Haslam appointed the Tennessee Tourism Committee, made up of tourism leaders in both the public and private sectors. The Committee is chaired by Colin Reed, Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. The department also works with local convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce and city and county leaders in all 95 counties to draw people to the state. For more information, contact Jill Kilgore, public relations media manager for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, at 615-927-1320 or by email at Jill.Kilgore@tn.gov. Donation for local fire department Tony Milsted, pictured at left, presented a check for $610.00 to Byrdstown Mayor Sam Gibson for the Byrdstown Pickett County Volunteer Fire Department. The money was collected from donations given at the dunk tank and roasted sweet corn venue sponsored by The Rental Station at Dale Hollow during the 4th of July Town celebration. Pickett Sheriff uses patrol vehicle to stop pursuit On Wednesday, August 23, Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Eddie Gibson tried to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle that radar indicated that was running approximately 103 mph across the Obey River Bridge. Trooper Gibson pursued the vehicle southbound on Highway 111 until the vehicle made an unexpected u-turn and began fleeing northbound on Highway 111. Trooper Gibson then requested assistance from the Pickett County Sheriff's Office to aid in attempting to stop the vehicle. Sheriff Dowdy and Detective Sgt. Smith began aiding Trooper Gibson in attempting to stop the vehicle. The vehicle continued northbound on Highway 111 exceeding speeds of 117 mph. Sheriff Dowdy radioed Clinton County Sheriff's Office to advise them of the pursuit entering their county and requesting permission to pursue into their jurisdiction. Sheriff Jim Guffey, officers with the City of Albany Police Department, and Kentucky State Police responded to attempt to stop the vehicle. The vehicle evaded officers numerous times, almost striking officers in the process, and eventually ended up on Fairgrounds Road in Clinton County, Ky. It was at this time that the suspect turned around and began coming back into the direction of Sheriff Dowdy. Sheriff Dowdy then used his patrol vehicle to attempt to stop the pursuit from continuing to ensure that no innocent bystanders would be injured. Dowdy then allowed the vehicle to strike him head-on in an attempt to disable the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect’s vehicle was struck in the right side causing it to veer into the ditch and become incapacitated. The suspect then exited the vehicle and fled the scene. A female that was in the vehicle was detained and later The suspect, Andrew Maxfield, 26, of Allons, TN, was later apprehended and is currently facing charges of driving under the influence while license suspended-1st offense, speeding 26 mph or greater, fleeing or evading police 1st degree, reckless driving, assault 3rd degree on a police officer, wanton endangerment 1st degree, and failure of non-owner operator to provide insurance. Charges in Pickett County are pending. Photos:Courtesy of Clinton County News Paving bids accepted for additional parking at PCK8 The Pickett County Board of Education met Monday, August 14, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the office of the director of schools with the following members present: Dorman Beaty, Jr., John Reagan, Chairman and Nathan Anderson. Jerry Mitchell was absent. Chairman John Reagan asked if anyone wanted to be added to the agenda and Jake and Renee Johnson asked to be placed on the agenda about bus transportation for their children. The Johnsons addressed the board about the concern for the lack of a bus driving up to the dead end on Grandview Drive to pick up their children. They are having to pay to have their children to be dropped off, a cost of approximately $1,800 a year at a location because the bus will not travel to their house. After a discussion, Director Diane Elder said she would will fill out request for a bus turnaround and contact Pickett County Highway Superintendent Jimmy Cope. Motion by Nathan Anderson seconded by John Reagan with all ayes to accept executive decision to give RC Services/ Coleman the bid to seal and stripe parking lots at the high school. Motion by John Reagan, seconded by Dorman Beaty, Jr. to approve the following policies and delete policy** 4.402 Selection of Instructional Materials as recommended by TSBA - first reading. All 1.407 School District Records 2.703 Audits 3.202 Emergency Preparedness Plan 3.400 Students Transportation Management 4.210 Credit Recovery 4.301 Interscholastic Athletes 4.402 Selection of Instructional Materials (changed from Instructional Supplies) 4.600 Grading System 5.200 Separation Practices for Tenured Teachers 5.201 Separation Practices for Non-tenured Teachers 5.203 Recommendations and File Transfers-NEW 5.701 Substitute Teachers 6.505 Students in Foster Care Motion by Dorman Beaty, Jr. seconded by Nathan Anderson to approve School Nutrition Civil Rights procedure and Offer Verses Serve Policy. This policy addresses compliance with USDA with having poster displays up in the school and making sure staff is trained on the subject. All ayes. Motion by Dorman Beaty Jr. seconded by John Reagan with all ayes to give the director of schools the authority to open and accept bids for paving the parking lot at the Agricultural Learning Center and new parking area at the Pickett County K8 School. The new parking for the K-8 will be at the top of the road creating approximately 30-40 parking spaces, along with a walkway that goes from the top of the hill down to the flagpole. Chairman Reagan asked if the school was ok with funding this project. Director Elder explained there would not be an issue, that these projects are being funded by the additional $100,000 the school had after closing books. Motion by Nathan Anderson seconded by John Reagan to approve handbooks for the Pickett County High School and the Pickett County K8 School for FY 2017-2018. All ayes. Motion by John Reagan seconded by Nathan Anderson with all ayes to approve the Pickett County High School football schedule for FY 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. Director Elder then stated that the board needed to go to item one which was to adopt the agenda and to approve the June 12th meeting, there was no July meeting. Motion was made by Nathan Anderson seconded by Dorman Beat, Jr. to adopt the agenda ad approve the minutes from the June 12, 2017 meeting. Discussion with no action on Principal and Supervisor reports. Due to a schedule conflict, the September Board of Education meeting is moved from the 11th, to Thursday, September 14th. Resurfacing on Highway 111 The Tennessee Department of Transportation schedules resurfacing for state highways every 12 years. Portions of Highway 111 in Overton and Pickett County are in the process of getting milled and prepared for complete resurfacing. The section of road work begins north of Big Springs in Overton and ends north of Jim Beaty Road in Pickett. The total miles that are affected are 6.2 miles. TDOT Community Relations Officer Jennifer Flynn reported to the PRESS, that the project is contracted with Rogers Group Inc. of Nashville and is estimated to cost $1,470,00. The completion of the road work is estimated to be at the end of September. If you are traveling on that section of Highway 111, plan for delays. Due to the anticipation of heavier traffic throughout Tennessee because of the eclipse, road work will also be restricted beginning at noon August 18th through noon Tuesday, August 22nd. This is for the safety of the workers and to help minimize traffic issues due to road construction. DUI charges involving two county vehicles Recently, here have been a few incidents resulting in DUI charges involving vehicles owned by Pickett County government. The first accident was on Monday, July 31st at around 6 p.m. causing a power outage within an area of Pickett County. After the power went out, a call came into the Pickett County Sheriff’s Office as a possible motor vehicle accident at 1526 Livingston Highway. Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Neil Matthews also quickly responded to the call. As Trooper Matthews was arriving to the area of the possible accident, a tractor trailer truck traveling south on Highway 111, hit sagging powerlines and ripped a 55 ft. utility pole out of the ground. Trooper Toby Beaty also arrived to investigate that part of the incident. The truck driver was not injured but the road was shut down to allow the lines to be safely removed. Upon further investigation by Trooper Matthews, the powerlines were low because of the utility pole being previously struck and the guidewire was clipped causing the pole to lean. While there was no vehicle around at that time, it was later determined that a parked 2007 Dodge Brush Fire truck, belonging to the Byrdstown-Pickett County Volunteer Fire Department, had rolled down a hill and struck the utility pole. The Dodge truck had been parked at the residence of Steve Flowers, who was a volunteer with the fire department. According to Fire Chief Robert Bond, Mr. Flowers had not been authorized to keep the vehicle in his possession at his residence. The accident report states that Mr. Flowers left the scene and was located sometime later. Mr. Flowers was charged with DUI first offense, leaving the scene of a crash with no injuries, and immediate notice of a crash. He has also been released of his position with the volunteer fire department. The other incident occurred in Overton County involving a truck used for the county Litter Grant program. The report indicates that a call came into the Overton County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, August 2nd at around 10:56 a.m. at 4323 Heard Ridge Road in reference to a possible two vehicle accident. The responding deputy reported that a Nissan car was traveling north on Heard Ridge and came up on a 2005 Chevy truck that was parked on the wrong side of the road. When the driver of the Nissan attempted to go around the vehicle, the driver of the truck began to go forward hitting head on. There was only minor damages to both vehicles with no injuries to either driver. The report states that the deputy noticed the driver of the truck was unsteady on his feet, had slurred speech and smelled of alcohol. After being unable to perform tasks during the standard field sobriety test, Jeremy Huddleston of Byrdstown was charged with DUI. Drugs found after one vehicle accident Courtesy of Pickett County Sheriff Office Pickett County deputies recently responded to an accident on Cordell Hull Memorial Drive that led to the discovery of cocaine and marijuana. The driver of a Suzuki SUV appeared to have left the roadway and drove into the yard of a residence on Cordell Hull before hitting an embankment close to Pryor Road. Robert Banzin, 66, of Washington, Pennsylvania was transported to Livingston Regional Hospital. The vehicle was impounded and while deputies conducted an inventory report, they found approximately nine grams of cocaine, several ounces of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia. Banzin was later transported to Cookeville Regional Medical Center for other medical issues. The accident is still being investigated by the Pickett County Sheriff’s Office and charges are currently pending against Banzin. Juvenile takes school vehicle to break in local liquor store A juvenile petition has been filed with the Pickett County General Sessions Court on a 17-year-old male from Byrdstown. An investigation by the Pickett County Sheriff's Office revealed that the individual who was identified by video footage, was seen taking a vehicle at the Pickett County Director of Schools office and using it to break into Highway 111 Wine and Spirits. The suspect took the truck after finding that the keys had been left in the white Chevy S-10 that is used by the school. Inside video footage of the liquor store captured the individual taking down outside cameras and ripping out the cords in an attempt to hide the crime. He then used the truck and a rope to attempt to open the front door. After that was unsuccessful, the suspect is shown getting a chain and was able to pull the doors open. Once inside, he took two half gallon bottles of Jack Daniels, then fled the building. At some point after breaking into the liquor store, he took the stolen truck back to school. The deputy noticed there were what appeared to be drag marks from the truck to the wooded area by the Director of School office where the removed camera and chain were found. It is unknown as to what the judge will determine in regards to the charges involving the juvenile in this case. 127 Yard Sale This year marks the 30th anniversary of the sale, stretching from 5 miles north of Addison, Michigan all the way down to Gadsden, Alabama! To celebrate this milestone, the chamber of commerce; the official headquarters of the sale, will be having a kick-off celebration on Thursday, August 3rd from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Make plans to stop in! The US 127 Corridor Sale started in 1987. It now runs from 5 miles north of Addison, MI, south to Chattanooga, then switches to the Lookout Mountain Parkway, continuing to Gadsden, AL for a total of 690 miles! The four day sale always starts on the first Thursday in August making dates for the 30th annual sale to be August 3-6. The sale is very popular, and visitors from several foreign countries have attended. As written by Dennis Keim, an Editorial Photographer from Huntsville, AL, "It is aptly titled, “The World’s Longest Yard Sale!” Every year individuals clean out their closets and stake out their front yards along the Hwy 127 corridor stretching over 690 miles from Addison, Michigan to Gadsden, Alabama. The original intent of the sale was to prove the back roads have something to offer, and that the interstate system was not the only mode for travel. County officials put together a list of attractions along the route in Kentucky and Tennessee. There are over three hundred attractions along the route to provide enjoyment for the family. Whether it is majestic hills, beautiful scenery, river boats, railroads, toe tapping music, arts, crafts, horses, fishing, hiking, bits of Civil War or Indian History, there are many opportunities to enjoy the beauty and culture of the land along the 127 Sale Route. The Lookout Mountain Parkway Association asked to be included in the sale route a few years after the sale began. The Lookout Mountain Parkway leaves Chattanooga as Highway 58 and becomes several different highway numbers before reaching Gadsden. It is no longer US 127, but is the same great sale. This routing crosses the Northwest corner of Georgia, going into Cloudland. This added another 100 miles to the already existing 350 miles, thus making it 450 miles at that time-- "The World's Longest Yard Sale". The Fentress County Chamber of Commerce in Jamestown, Tennessee has served as headquarters for the 127 Corridor Sale since 1995. We are centrally located along the route. Fentress County can also claim the origin of the sale. Mike Walker, the County Executive in 1987, came up with the idea of the sale, worked hard to make it happen, and planned for it to be an annual event. Thousands of people participate in the sale each year as vendors. A front lawn may be turned into a showcase as items are displayed. Off road parking is essential, and many of the homes have this space. Visitors should honor requests of "No Parking" or "No Trespassing" posted by families not participating in the sale--cars can leave deep tire ruts on a soft lawn. Traffic congestion is part of the annual phenomenon to be endured, but the chance of finding a treasure lures them on. Many visitors plan their vacations around the sale event, with some traveling the entire 690 miles. Others may opt to spend their time in a selected area, and venture off the beaten path to discover the history and charm of the land. Whatever the mode of travel you may choose, please do expect plenty of traffic. The pace may slow to that of snarled rush hour traffic. It may be bumper to bumper with everyone stretching their neck to see what is on a seller's table or in the front lawn. Do expect sudden stops to occur without warning, and drive carefully and defensively. Enjoy the spot wherever you are, because down the road a few miles may be a space where no vendors are set up and the traffic will move along as usual. You are here to enjoy the sale and most of the other vehicles are too. Some book hotel rooms a year in advance. A few weeks prior to the sale date, most of the hotel rooms are taken. Bed and Breakfast type lodgings do a brisk business during this sale, with most any type of overnight lodging being filled each night. Southern hospitality has led to couples being taken into private homes because nothing else was available. Some visitors to the sale try to find lodging when and where needed. Some find cancellations, some go up to fifty miles, to the right or left of the sale route, to spend the night. Some even sleep in their car. However, these are considered small inconveniences in light of the excitement of finding the deal of the day and anticipation of a big shopping spree. A few dislike the snarled traffic associated with the sale, but all must admit, the sale is good for the economy along the corridor route. Locals sell their crafts, accommodations are filled, restaurants are crowded, and those renting vendor spaces also add to the local economy. Those who want to break away from the sale are encouraged to visit the local attractions. For more information regarding the annual Hwy 127 Corridor Sale visit our website at www.127sale.com . Brochures can be obtained by calling 1-800-327-3945. For more information contact: Fentress County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 1294, Jamestown, TN 38556 Tel: 800-327-3945 Fax: 931-879-6767 Regions Bank to close in October Customers are receiving notice regarding the closing of the Byrdstown Branch of Region's Bank located on West Main Street. According to the letter given to customers, there was a decision to combine the Byrdstown Branch and Cookeville Branch as an effort to invest resources where customers use them the most. If you are a customer and have not yet received a letter, the final closing will be on Friday, October 27th at 2 p.m. If you rent a safe deposit box, please remove your contents by October 20th. For more information, call 1-800-592-1958. The bank has had some name changes over the years, but originally began as Pickett Bank and Trust in 1904. In 1988, it changed to Union Planters Bank until the merger of Regions in 2004. "There have been so many memories made serving this community, it is a bittersweet moment to see it close,"said Vice President and Branch Manager Linda Crouch who has been an employee for the past 45 years. The employees have been given the opportu UCHRA awarded energy assistance “Good news for citizens of the Upper Cumberland area who are struggling to pay their utility bills,” according to Luke Collins, UCHRA Executive Director. The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency is now taking applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for the new program year. “With these funds in the coming year, UCHRA will be able to provide utility assistance to low income households,” he continued. “first come, first served;” rather, it is based upon a point system. application process. This includes paystubs for 8 current weeks if paid weekly, four paystubs if paid bi-weekly or bi-monthly, current Social Security or Pension Award Letters, or an unemployment benefit letter. If self-employed, an applicant will need to provide a tax return for the previous year. Applicants must also provide a copy of 12 months of the household’s electric and/or gas bills. Proof of all Social Security numbers is required for all household members. A valid driver’s license or photo ID is required from the applicant only. Some additional documentation may also be required to process upon the applicant’s total points. Once an application has been submitted, the applicant will be notified by mail within 90 day of the status of their application. designated utility provider. No tractor trailer traffic on Caney Creek July 17th at the Pickett County Community Room. All commissioners were present at the beginning of the meeting except Matthew Storie. Motion with all ayes to approve the agenda was made by Colan Huddleston and seconded by David Harer. Matthew Storie entered the meeting. Larry Ledford made a motion to approve minutes from the Monday, June 19th county court meeting as presented. There were all ayes except Darrell Garrett who passed. Motion with all ayes by David Harer and seconded by Jim Richardson to Month End Report-County General Fund, Transfer Station/Solid Waste, Debt Service Fund, and Solid Waste Fund Cash Flow Analysis-101 General Fund, 116 Transfer Station/Solid Cash Flow Analysis from other departments-131 Highway Department, Cash Flow Analysis-Actual vs Projected from other Departments: 142 Budget to Actual Report Revenues-101 General Fund, 116 Transfer Budget to Actual Report Expenditures-101 General Fund, 116 Transfers Station/Solid Waste Fund, 151 Debt Service Fund, 207 Solid Waste Fund *Clerk and Master Quarterly Report of taxes collected for the months of April, May, and June 2017. Carried motion by Mitchell Cross and seconded by Brad Richardson to approve the budget amendments as presented were all ayes except Carey Garner, Eddie Holt and Carter Martin. There were three amendments: move unassigned funds to clear out year end, pay for tax collection of $30,000, additional cost for CDBG Ambulance Service grant match. Approved motion for Resolution 2017-2018-5 concerning the CDBG Emergency Services Project increasing the local match to cover all additional cost for the project was made by Jim Richardson and seconded by Mitchell Cross. There were all ayes except Darrell Garrett who voted nay. Resolution 2017-2018-6 to close thru tractor trailer truck traffic on Caney Creek Road due to safety risk was approved with all ayes except Carey Garner, Darrell Garrett, Eddie Holt and Carter Martin who voted nay. This closure is for approximately 3.86 miles and includes other counties in Tennessee and in Kentucky. The Resolution is only for the area of the road that is in Pickett County. Motion by Mitchell Cross and seconded by Larry Ledford for roll off bed charges were approved with all ayes. The charge will be $50 for delivery and $50 for pick-up with a daily charge of $5 while on site. A charge of $36.50 per ton on the waste will also be put in place. Chairman Richard Daniel gave an update on the enhancement grant. This is a $50,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic Development. A proposed architect design of the downtown area was shown. People's Bank and Trust has also agreed to offer special loans for the business owners along with this grant. Mr. Daniel reported that once the plan is 100 percent complete, there will be a meeting with the downtown business owners to decide how the grant will be distributed. There was a discussion regarding E-911 with a presentation by Chairman Daniel. He stated that in order to get 911 back to our county, it can't financially hurt Overton County 911, and it has to pass by referendum. EMS Director Tom Storie reported that they are in 94% of collection rate compared to last year. The new ambulances should be ready by October and they will be 2018 models. Recyclables and tipping fees are up at the Transfer station according to Transfer Station Lead Operator Marty Beaty. There was discussion with no action of the progress of the county buildings and community center along with the S&P Global ratings letter. Before the meeting was adjourned, Carey Garner asked to address the board about the 911 (county) road signs. He stated that Jimmy Cope would be willing to see that the signs were put up and maintained if the county would purchase the signs and pay for his employees time to do the job. Garner asked the court if they would be willing to do that. Chairman Daniel asked for that to be in writing and they would see what could be done. The meeting adjourned until the next regular meeting on Monday, Pickett County receives $15,000 ThreeStar grant Last week, Senator Ken Yager announced that Pickett County has been awarded the ThreeStar Competitive Grant in the amount of $15,000 from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. Participation in the ThreeStar program is based on an annual evaluation and activity plan to demonstrate individual readiness. Local community leaders and Joint Economic and Community Development Boards are encouraged to implement activities that will impact the community's competitiveness in a global economy. Pickett County Chamber of Commerce Director Billy Robbins has reported that the proposed projects submitted on the application were as follows: •Equipment for Byrdstown/Pickett County Volunteer Fire Department •100 radon detector kits, $3,200. •DAV Veteran Memorial $5,500. There were a total of 63 grants awarded out of 75 applications for a total of $975,00 in funding. "Congratulations to the local officials and Chamber of Commerce who secured these grants. I am excited to see the many ways these counties utilize these funds," said Yager. Progress at the community center The much needed renovation for the Byrdstown Community Center is now underway. The county received an energy grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation in the amount of $129,000 in 2015. That grant is being used to help cover costs for new insulation, windows, lighting and roof for the building. According to Pickett County Executive Richard Daniel, the work on the building should be finished in the fall. TWRA reports no boating -related fatalities over long July 4 holiday weekend The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency reported there were no boating-related fatalities over the 2017 Independence Day holiday period from June 30 through July 4. This year’s holiday period was extended with July 4 falling on a Tuesday. More than 10,700 boats were inspected during the five days. TWRA boating officers made 20 boating under the influence (BUI) arrests. Officers issued 353 citations, and 303 warnings. They also assisted 483 boaters. There were five accidents that were investigated with four injuries, two of which were Ocoee River whitewater incidents. This year, Operation Dry Water (ODW) was held for three days during the holiday period. ODW is a national weekend BUI awareness and enforcement campaign directed toward reducing alcohol and drug- related accidents and fatalities. Thirteen of the BUI arrests came during the three days. The TWRA Boating and Law Enforcement Division compiled this year’s holiday statistics after receiving reports from the agency’s four regions. The July 4 holiday is considered the peak of boating season. Local family representing Byrdstown on the Today Show Check out this picture of a local family who was seen on NBC's Today Show during their visit to New York City. They were even pictured in a selfie by host Hoda Kotb. She handed one of the boys the microphone to capture the selfie and also gave them scripts to take home. Pictured is Les and Barb Reeder, Kayla Reeder, Anthony and Rena Scott, Landon and Brayden Scott. Summer Series Open Barrel Horse Show The Byrdstown Summer Series open barrel horse show that was scheduled Saturday, was delayed to Sunday due to the rain. Pictured above is nine year old Jalla Rudd on her horse Thunder, who won first in the nine and under barrels. She is the daughter of Jared and Jessica Rudd from Overton County. Horse Show here this weekend The Byrdstown Summer Series open barrel horse show make-up date for the cancelled May 13th date, will be July 8th. The event is presented by B&W Productions LLC and will be held at the Pickett County Horseman's Association. Start times are scheduled but subject to change as follows: 4:30-6:00 P.M. (CST)-Exhibition barrels, $5/run 6:00-6:45 P.M.-Exhibition Poles, $5/run 7:00 P.M.-Class #1-2-D Youth Poles, $15; #2-2-D Open Poles (3-D with 20 or more horses), $20; #3-Pee Wee Poles, $5; #4-3-D Youth Barrels, $20; #5-Pee Wee Barrels, $10; #6-4-D Open Barrels, $30, $250 added, $500 added with 100 horses. Equal payout to each of the divisions in each class, 70% jackpot. Youth classes are for ages 18 and under as of January, 1, 2017. There is $1,500 added to the open barrel race at the finals show in September. You must run at three of the five shows in the Open to qualify to run at the finals. How many horses are run in the open barrel race at three shows is however many horses you have qualified for. Negative coggins is required! There are still three shows left before the finals. After the show on July 8th, the next one will be July 29th, followed by August 19th. Gate fee is $4 per person, kids 10 and under are free with a $12 maximum per vehicle. Cash will only be accepted at the show. For more information, contact Shawn Wilson 1-606-305-4779 or Will Bingham at 1-606-875-9050 and visit website www.bandwproductions.com Good Neighbors Theatre awards its first scholarships As part of their continuing focus on educating youth about the appreciation of the arts, Good Neighbors Theatre has awarded their first annual scholarships to two recent area high school graduates. A part of the requirements to receive the scholarship was to submit an essay on how the arts has influenced the life of the applicant. The Pickett County winner is Autumn Denney, daughter of Kevin and Jenny Denney. Her award was presented at her high school commencement on May 19. Debbie Elder, GNT Board Member, made the presentation as the GNT representative. Autumn is planning to go to Tennessee Tech, having received several other scholarships in addition to this one. She has had a lot of formal training in art and has participated in plays at Pickett County High School. Her essay described all the ways she felt her painting and drawings had been important to her mental Keisha Garrett, from Clinton County High School in Albany, Ky., was awarded one of the two Good Neighbors Theatre scholarships at the school’s awards night on May 18. Angela Sloan, also a GNT Board Member, presented the award. Her essay described her experience teaching an arts and crafts class to elementary age children at her church as part of a course requirement in a dual credit (high school/ college) English class. Keisha was a member of several clubs and organizations, a member of the CCHS volleyball team, and worked with younger students at Albany Elementary through the 21st Century Program. Keisha plans to attend Somerset Community College where she has already earned several college hours while in high school. Her goal is to become an elementary teacher. She is the daughter of Keith and Debra Garrett. Autumn Denney Keisha Garrett Town celebration continued despite rain Photos for the celebration were by James Purkey and Brian Raef. The festivities from the Town of Byrdstown’s 4th of July and Centennial celebration began with sunshine and lots of events scheduled. Just as the games were beginning, the weather brought the first of two storms. However, the clouds parted and the night ended with a spectacular fireworks show. Pictured are scenes from Saturday’s Byrdstown Independence Celebration including a watermelon eating contest and bullfrog jumping contest. Pickett County jobless at 4.2% for May Tennessee’s county unemployment rates for May 2017 have decreased in 94 counties and remained the same in one, according to data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Preliminary unemployment rates have fallen for both Tennessee and the United States. Decreasing by seven-tenths of a percentage point, the state rate is 4.0 percent for May. Pickett County reported a 4.2% jobless rate for May, down .3 from April’s rate of 4.5%. Surrounding counties reported the following unemployment rates: Clay County 4.0% (down from 4.8%); Fentress County 3.7% (down from 4.5%); Scott County 4.2% (down from 5.5%); Overton County 3.3% (down from 4.0%) and Putnam County 3.0% (down Operation Dry Water Weekend The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will be participating in Operation Dry Water, June 30-July 2. Operation Dry Water is a national weekend of Boating Under the Influence (BUI) awareness and related accidents and fatalities. Operation Dry Water is held the weekend prior to the Independence Day (July 4) holiday to give BUI enforcement high visibility during the peak boating season. The TWRA is teaming with the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). Operation Dry Water was started by the NASBLA in 2009. TWRA boating officers will saturate high traffic areas on reservoirs across the state. Along with the use of life jackets and other safety practices, officers want boaters to be aware of the effects and ramifications of alcohol use. The TWRA will be intensifying efforts to detect and apprehend boat operators who are operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In 2016 during Operation Dry Water, there were 10 boating under the influence (BUI) arrests across the state. TWRA boating officers checked more than 4,000 vessels, issued 175 citations, 113 warnings, and assisted 94 boaters. There were four injury accidents and three property damage accidents reported. Operating a boat with a Blood Alcohol Content of .08 percent or higher is illegal in Tennessee, the same as operating a motor vehicle. Penalties may include fines, jail, boat impoundment and the loss of boat driving privileges. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boater deaths. Sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion intensify the effects of alcohol, drugs and some medications. For more information on Operation Dry Water, visit www.operationdrywater.org. No tax increase for Pickett County Charlie Curtiss, Executive Director with the County Commissioner's Association, addressed the court. Monday, June 19th at 6 p.m. All commissioners were present at the beginning of the meeting except Tim Ford, Darrell Garrett, and Matthew Storie. First item on the agenda was to approve the agenda and minutes from Monday, May 15th county court meeting, all ayes. Prior to the next motion, Matthew Storie entered the meeting. Passed motion by Jimmy Richardson and seconded by Brad Richardson with all ayes to approve the following reports as presented: Month End Report-County General Fund, Transfer Station/Solid Waste, Debt Service Fund and Solid Waste Fund. Cash Flow Analysis-101 General Fund, 116 Transfer Station/Solid Cash Flow Analysis from other departments-131 Highway Department, 142 Cash Flow Analysis-Actual vs. Projected from other Departments: 142 Budget to Actual Report Revenues-101 General Fund, 116 Transfer Budget to Actual Report Expenditures-101 General Fund, 116 Transfer Station/Solid Waste, 151 Debt Service Fund, 207 Solid Waste Fund Prior to the next motion, Tim Ford entered the meeting. Motion by Larry Ledford and seconded by Dave Harer to approve budget amendments as presented with all ayes. Notary approvals for renewals for Lisa Lee Cross, Angela S. Allen and James Reed Brown were approved with all ayes. Charlie Curtiss, Executive Director with the County Commissioner's Association, addressed the court. The County Commissioners Association promotes and advocates for more efficient county government by providing information and educational resources, facilitates networking and sharing among county officials. Carried motion by Mitchell Cross and seconded by Colan Huddleston to approve the bid for providing master logging services for the removal of trees from the property located at Old Static Road. The county awarded the contract to J.B. Stinson in the amount of $3,000. The dirt at that property is being used to cover the landfill property. Motion to approve the Open Records Policy for Pickett County was made by Larry Ledford and seconded by Mitchell Cross with all ayes. Approval of Resolution 2017-2018-1-A making appropriations for the various funds, departments, institutions, offices and agencies of Pickett County for the year beginning July 1st, 2017 and ending June 30th, 2018 was made by Jimmy Richardson and seconded by Dave Harer. Motion passed with ayes except Carey Garner, Eddie Holt and Carter Martin who voted no. Passed motion by Dave Harer and seconded by Larry Ledford to approve Resolution FY 2017-2018-2-A to fix the tax levy at $1.87 for Pickett County for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2017 and ending June 30th, 2018. This tax rate is the same as last year. Motion by Brad Richardson and seconded by Tim Ford to approve and accept the Resolution 2017-2018-3-A making appropriations to Non- Profit Charitable Organizations of Pickett County, TN for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30th, 2018. Carried motion by Dave Harer and seconded by Colan Huddleston with all ayes to approve Resolution 2016-17-22 to authorize Pickett County to establish an industrial site and adopt a name for the business park. The site shall be known as Riverside Business Park. Approved motion by Brad Richardson and seconded by Tim Ford to approve Resolution 2017-2018-4 to adopt the Pickett County Debt Policy for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, EMS report and Transfer station report were presented with no action Meeting adjourned until the next regular county court meeting scheduled for Monday, July 17th at 6 p.m. in the community room of Public concerns over missing road signs throughout county After multiple letters to the editor were submitted concerning the county road name signs, this newspaper has tried to find some answers to the issue. The concern is mainly because emergency assistance could be or has been delayed due to not having a sign that provides the road name and no one is addressing the problem. What official is responsible and would a county be liable for failure to put up new road name signs if a person suffers injury because an ambulance could not find the person's residence due to the lack of road name sign? Attorney General Opinion 95-032 answers that question with an opinion that a county could be found liable if the installations of such signs is required by law or policy adopted by the county. This newspaper could not find any local adopted policy addressing this responsibility. The court would have to look to whether the county had a duty to erect the missing sign on a particular road. While the Tennessee County Uniform Highway Law makes the county road superintendent responsible for signage on county roads, the general supervision of the roads remains on the county legislative body. The opinion states that county road commissioners, though authorized to supervise the roads in their districts, are merely the agents of the county to construct and repair. It also indicates that while local governmental agencies are encouraged to erect street name signs, it does not appear to impose a specific mandatory duty on the county. When asked about who's responsibility it was for the road name signs to be maintained, Pickett County Road Superintendent Jimmy Cope stated, "I have had my lawyer look into this situation specifically, and have been advised that the highway department is not responsible for installing those name signs. If the county wanted to negotiate a plan for the highway department to maintain the street name signs, we would be willing to do so." There was also contact made with the Tennessee Highway Department Association regarding legal responsibility to replace and maintain street name signs by a local highway department. Executive Director Rodney Carmichael stated, "it is the responsibility of the county highway department to install and maintain traffic control signage (stop signs, etc.) but not street name signs. The AG Opinion 95-032 also states there is no way to generalize whether a county road superintendent should erect a road sign." The PRESS reached out to Pickett County Executive Richard Daniel asking if the county had plans for replacing the road name signs. In an email by Mr. Daniel, he replied, "the county executive's office is not responsible for road signs or for E-911 signs, nor can we define the term "E-911" road sign. We would welcome anyone showing or providing to us a copy of any state statute that gives road sign responsibility to the county executive's office.” After that response, all other questions were directed to and answered by County Attorney Andrea Ayers. The reference to “E-911 road signs” was used in last week’s published letter to the editor. So, how did the street name signs get replaced in the past here in Pickett County? Pickett County voted for a 911 district in 1990 but later merged with Overton County. One of the first priorities was making sure each county road was named and properly marked. Donnie Matheny was hired and paid by Pickett County Government for that responsibility which included submitting the list of signs needed and installing the signs himself until he passed away in 2005. After that, his wife Becky performed the duties until she resigned in 2015. According to the information presented Attorney Andrea Ayers, there was never an "official" contract with any individual for submitting the list of new or missing road name signs. When speaking to Mrs. Matheny about her responsibilities, she said that she would spend approximately 13 hours every two months, driving around all of the county roads. If there was a sign missing, she would contact the highway department to see if road crews had located it, and if not, would submit a list of the missing signs to the county executive's office. The county would compensate Mrs. Matheny and also paid for the signs, posts and brackets. Attorney Ayers stated that as far as Mr. Daniel is aware, Mrs. Matheny never physically installed road signs and that she used a highway department vehicle and highway department fuel to drive around and inspect signs. According to Mrs. Matheny, several years before she resigned, she had received the help of Pickett County Road Superintendent Jimmy Cope to aid in the installation of the signs. "The motor in my truck went out and I didn't have anything to use to get the signs up. I had been putting a ladder in the back of the truck to install the signs and didn't have another vehicle that could accommodate that," said Matheny. Both Mrs. Matheny and Mr. Cope indicated the highway department began helping install the street name signs only after the situation with the truck and was not compensated nor obligated. Up until 2015, Pickett County was paying for the replacement signs ($25-30 each), posts and brackets, with a cost of $250 every other month for someone to drive around and submit a list, and the highway department was helping install. With no one maintaining the road name signs since then, there are now numerous signs throughout the county that are missing and have been for years. What do other counties do? Overton County Highway Department does not install the road name signs, according to a representative with the department, the local county recycling center maintains and installs the signs through a grant program. The Fentress County Highway Department website states that the highway department installs both regulatory and warning signs on county roads and solid waste installs street name signs. The county executive is responsible for managing the solid waste department. We can see, there could be grant opportunities available and that other highway departments are not responsible for the road name signs within their respective districts. Could Pickett County address the concerns of the citizens and try to find a solution? Flag design contest to commemorate town's centennial Friends of Byrdstown Chairman During a recent Friends of Byrdstown meeting, the group discussed unique ways to celebrate the Town of Byrdstown's Centennial. In attendance at that meeting were committee members Sam Gibson, Amanda Bond, James Brown, Bill Robbins and Bruce Elder. It was suggested to have a contest for a flag design that would be used and formally adopted as a city flag. Individuals can submit up to three entries and there is no entry fee to enter. Submit entries to the Town of Byrdstown and the deadline will be Friday, July 28th by 4 p.m. Design must be created on a 3x5 note card. No digital art, must be hand drawn Entries must include name, address, phone number, email and a description explaining the symbolism of the flag. It is recommended that the design be based upon the North American Vexillogical Association's 5 principles of good design, which are: 1. Keep it simple: The Flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory. 2. Use meaningful symbolism: The flag's images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes. 3. Use 2-3 basic colors: Limit the number of colors on the flag to three, which contrast well and come from the standard color set. 4. No lettering or seals: Never use writing of any kind or an organization's seal. 5. Be distinctive or be related: Avoid duplicating other flags, but use similarities to show connection Judges will pick three to five finalists and the public will then judge to determine the winning design via social media. There will also be a monetary prize for the winner. Good luck! Local Farmer's Market Courtesy of Byrdstown-Pickett County Chamber of Commerce Farmers Market open here Thursday, Friday and Saturday The Pickett County Farmers Market will be open beside the Welcome Center located on Hwy. 111 with fresh vegetables Thursday-Saturday. Trash and propane bids approved at Board of Education meeting The Pickett County Board of Education met Monday, June 12th, 2017 at 7 p.m. at the office of the director of schools with the following members present: Dorman Beaty Jr., Chairman John Reagan and Nathan A motion by Dorman Beaty, Jr. seconded by Nathan Anderson to adopt the agenda and approve the minutes from the May 8th, 2017 meeting Approval with all ayes, to open and accept bid for trash pickup for FY 2017-2018 by Dorman Beaty Jr. and seconded by Nathan Anderson to the only bid submitted: Larry Brown in the amount of $750.00. Carried a motion by John Reagan seconded by Dorman Beaty Jr. to open and accept bid for propane for FY 2017-2018 from Tri-County Propane for .988 per gallon with all ayes. Motion to adjourn by Nathan Anderson and seconded by John Reagan with July 3 deadline for Big South Fork Photo Contest Courtesy of National Park Service The National Park Service would like to remind everyone that the deadline for submitting entries for the 2017 Big South Fork photography contest is July 3. Images may show wildlife, plant life, natural landscapes, historic areas, weather, or people interacting with nature within the boundaries of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. All photographs, except those submitted in the artistic category, should accurately reflect the subject matter and the scene as it appeared. Photographs may be submitted into one of seven categories: •Action/Adventure -- Photographs of people participating in •Artistic -- Artistic compositions in nature, both natural and manipulated in post processing •Cultural -- Photographs that illustrate historic or culturally significant structures •Flora & Fauna -- Animals in their natural habitat, including close- ups of invertebrates, or plants in their natural habitat, including close-ups of flowers, fungi, lichen, and algae •Youth -- Entries in any category by photographers under 18 years of age •Kentucky Landscapes -- Expansive and dramatic views of the land and its features within the Kentucky park boundaries •Tennessee Landscapes -- Expansive and dramatic views of the land and its features within the Tennessee park boundaries. Entries will be judged on technical excellence, originality, creativity, visual impact, and artistic merit. Judges’ decisions are final. Selected images will be printed for an exhibition at Bandy Creek Visitor Center that will open on Saturday, September 2, 2017. Selected images may also be displayed on the internet and other venues. The contest is open to all photographers, except NPS employees and their immediate families and household members. Each person may only submit two photos into the competition. All photos must be in a digital format. Entries must be received no later than the close of business Monday, July 3, 2017. Each entry must be accompanied by a completed entry form with all information clearly filled out. Entry forms may be downloaded from https://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/ biso-photo-contest.htm. Entries may be emailed to biso_information@nps.gov or hand-delivered or mailed to the park headquarters at Big South Fork NRRA, 4564 Leatherwood Road, Oneida, Tennessee 37841, Attn: Photo Contest. For more information on the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, please call (423) That Big White House Susan R Ray I’ve driven by the big white house a thousand times. And one day, I stopped. The owner, Gib Taylor, had issued an invitation. “So you finally got here to see your great-grandparents homeplace,” he said and smiled and offered his hand to shake mine. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a good family history student when I could have asked my mother questions. Almost twenty years after Mom’s death I questioned her sister, Aunt Doris, about the white house close to my grandparents’ home. Aunt Doris said, “You mean Grandpa and Grandma Bertram’s house?” I frowned and her husband, Uncle Hugh, chuckled. “That big white house? It’s the Sam Bertram house?” I asked. I’d heard stories about my great-grandparents’ house. “I thought the Sam Bertram house was gone. How could I not know that was the house?” Uncle Hugh shook his head, laughed, and said, “You didn’t listen.” The truth hurt. The house sits on Livingston Highway in Byrdstown, Tennessee, and was built in the early 1900s by my great-grandfather, Samuel Bertram and two of his sons, one my Papa. The road in front of it was dirt. Aunt Doris remembered the house as an enchanted place. There was a grape arbor on one side yard and rose bushes on the other. Behind the house was an old spring where moss grew. Sam and Sarah Bertram’s home was a gathering place for their children and grandchildren. Family celebrations were held around the long table right beside the kitchen. After meals, the men swapped stories on the front porch, and the women washed dishes and then visited in the front parlor. And family pictures were made in front of the grape arbor. According to Aunt Doris, the family gathered for special events, like watching the circus travel on the muddy road. Elephants walking in a line. Lions and tigers in big cages pulled by horses. After my grandparents married, the newlyweds lived in this house. Upstairs in the biggest bedroom. So on my visit, I was eager to see the house, and Gib, who’d lived there since 2001, had planned my visit. He had mowed paths to the barn and water well. “Here’s the barn. Probably been here since your great-grandpa kept horses in it,” Gib said. No picture could capture the smell of this century old barn. The feel of the animals that once slept in the stalls. The well where my great-grandparents lowered a bucket and brought it back up filled with water. The concrete box that held water in the 1930s. Inside the house, Gib led me through each room. “You may not want to go upstairs. The steps are tricky.” I tiptoed on the narrow steps. The wide hallway is where my great-grandmother shelved books for a neighborhood lending library. I found the biggest bedroom. “This is the room I wanted to see,” I said. “My grandparents’ room. My mother was born here in 1918.” So now I drive by and am thankful for this house. Its stories. Its owner, who welcomed me. Upcoming events at Cordell Hull State Park 11:00 a.m.- Join Ranger Monique to learn about games that children would have played during the 1700 and 1800s. We also get to play each game. We will meet at the log cabin. 2:00 p.m.- Let's Make Butter Join Ranger Monique to learn about churning butter. We also make and sample butter made that day! We will meet at the log cabin. 10:00 a.m.- Cave Hike Join Interpretative Ranger, Josh, for a hike to Bunkum Cave. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water. We will meet at the trailhead. 1:00 p.m.- Animal Pelts Join Interpretative Ranger Josh to see some cool animal pelts, skulls, and scat! We will talk about each animal and how people used them in the past. We will meet at the picnic tables behind the museum. Vintage Baseball Join us for an afternoon of old timey baseball. If you would like to learn about how we used to play America's pastime, you just need to meet us in the field behind the museum. We will talk about the rules and play a quick game. 3:00 p.m.- Log Cabin and Period Garden Tour Join Interpretative Ranger Josh to tour of log cabin and see the gardens. We talk about the history of cabins in the area and what life was like in the 1870s. Beginning Knitting for Children Cordell Hull will be offering a 4-part series of classes on June 13, 15, 20, and 22nd at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. The children will learn the basics steps of knitting and we will learn how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off. Each day, they will work on their knitting project with a instructor. This class is for children ages 8 and older. All supplies will be provided for each student. The fee is $10 per child and we will meet at the park office. You can register online at http://tnstateparks.com/parks/ about/cordell-hull-birthplace Watercolor Painting: Summer Landscape Join us Wednesday, June 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to learn and practice watercolor techniques and styles with Sue Duncan. Children need to 12 years and older to participate. Supplies are included. The fee is $20 per person. You can register online at http:// tnstateparks.com/parks/about/cordell-hull-birthplace Beginning Tatting Join us Saturday, June 17 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. to learn the art of shuttle tatting. Christina Wilkins will teach us how to make lace using rings and chains connected together. We will learn the basic stitches and progress into more difficult stitches. All supplies will be provided. The fee is $10 per person. You can register online at http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/ cordell-hull-birthplace Nobody Trashes Tennessee” litter campaign launched The Tennessee Department of Transportation has launched a new litter prevention campaign to help keep trash off Tennessee roadways. The “Nobody Trashes Tennessee” campaign will soon be seen on billboards and commercials, as well as educational programs and anti-litter promotional items. “From the Great Smoky Mountain region, to the Mississippi River, and every stretch of roadway in between, litter on our highways takes away from Tennessee’s natural beauty,” TDOT Commissioner John Schroer said. “It’s not only an eyesore, but it costs TDOT more than $15 million a year to clean up.” A 2016 field study of litter along TDOT rights-of-way found that, though roadside trash is down 53 percent since 2006, there are still an estimated 100 million pieces of trash on Tennessee roadways (“Visible Litter Study,” nFront Consulting, October 2016). Littering, whether deliberate or unintentional, is punishable under Tennessee law, and it can cost offenders $50 to $3,000 in fines. The “Nobody Trashes Tennessee” campaign is based on rigorous research conducted in 2016, including the Visible Litter Study, which found that though littering is down, it’s still a big problem. Research indicates 30 percent of the state’s litter is “deliberate” – meaning trash is tossed right out of vehicle windows. Another statewide study, “Litter Attitudes and Behaviors” (Baselice & Associates, April 2016), found out who is littering in Tennessee. Somewhat surprisingly, the market research indicated a slight skew toward females ages 16 to 34. Subsequent focus groups confirmed females indeed litter, but that males also contribute to the problem. “The good news is the research showed that nine out of 10 Tennesseans are more likely to properly dispose of their trash after learning about the statewide litter problem,” Commissioner Schroer added. “We believe this new campaign can make a difference and potentially save highway maintenance funds for other needed road projects.” For more information about the “Nobody Trashes Tennessee” campaign and to view the first Public Service Announcement, visit: www.nobodytrashestennessee.com Enjoy what Dale Hollow Lake has to offer If you are looking for a beautiful place to boat, fish, swim, or camp, Dale Hollow Lake has what you looking for. According to the US Army Corps of Engineers, there are fifteen commercial marinas, situated at various locations on the lake. There are also multiple US Corps of Engineer boating access areas in this area that are free to use: Gunnels Camp, Plank Yard, Wolf River Bridge, and Jones Chapel. It is important that all who are enjoying our beautiful lake, wear life jackets, refrain from drinking and boating, and are familiar with boating regulations. Dale Hollow Lake resides in both the states of Tennessee and Kentucky, so be aware of your location and what the state boating regulations for each state are. Since construction, there have been 136 drownings on Dale Hollow Lake with zero wearing life jackets. The local Obey River Day use contains the largest sand beach on Dale Hollow. There are no lifeguards present and swimming is at one's own risk. There is a Life Jacket Loaner Program for those who don't have a life jacket. You can sign for a loaner infant, child, youth or adult jacket for the day or the weekend. For more information, contact the Obey River Campground and Day Use Area at (931) 864-6388. There are two developed Corps camping grounds in Pickett County. Cove Creek has 10 campsites with tent pad, picnic table and fire ring or grill; vault toilet, parking and launch ramp. The Obey River Campground has 131 campsites. The camping area contains level sites with water and electric hookup and tent sites without hookups; showers, dump station, launch ramp, parking and playground. Why travel away for vacation when we have paradise right here in our own little town. Firewood Alert: Dale Hollow Lake is included as a firewood quarantine area. When camping or picnicking at this recreation area, purchase your firewood from a vendor who sells certified heat-treated firewood. Don't bring firewood from home. To help prevent the spread of the Emerald ash borer and other forest pests, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is prohibiting firewood that is non certified heat- treated firewood. Visit Firewoodscout.org or Dontmovefirewood.org for further information. Fiber optic availability coming to city customers Areas in the City of Byrdstown will soon have the opportunity to receive service through fiber-optic cables. Twin Lakes Telephone Cooperative has been upgrading its delivery method from copper to a fiber-optic network for the past several years. Twin Lakes Telephone Cooperative Fiber to the Home Broadband Project won the $16.1 million loan and $16.1 million grant in 2010 to help provide advanced broadband services to Byrdstown. There has already been work to change customers to fiber-optics within the county. "We project by the end of August, we can start cutting the lines over for the city customers. This process will take some time, we can only cut over approximately two to three customers a day," said Twin Lakes Telephone Service Foreman Al McLerran. Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park upcoming events Saturday, June 3rd,10:00 a.m.-National Trails Day Hike Join Interpretative Ranger, Josh, for a hike to Bunkum Cave. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water. We will meet at the trailhead. 11:00 a.m.- Log Cabin and Period Garden Tour Join Ranger Monique for an early morning tour of log cabin and garden. We talk about the history of cabins in the area and what life was like in the 1870s. 1:00 p.m.- Speaker Series Dr. Michael Birdwell will talk about Tennessee's role in World War I and it's importance. Dr. Birdwell has written several articles and books about Tennessee's history and is a professor of History at Tennessee Tech. 2:30 p.m.-Energy Efficiency Tips Join Interpretative Ranger, Josh, to learn about some simple ways to conserve energy around the house including energy efficient and environmentally conscious practices. We will meet at the Park office. 3:30 p.m.-Children’s Games Join Ranger Monique to learn about games that children would have played during the 1700 and 1800s. We also get to play each game. We will meet at the log cabin. Sunday, June 4th 1:00 p.m.-Vintage Baseball learn about how we used to play America's pastime, you just need to meet us in the field behind the museum. We will talk about the rules and play a quick game. Cordell Hull will be offering a four-part series of classes on June 13, 15, 20, and 22nd at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m on Tuesday and Thursday. The children will learn the basic steps of knitting and we will work on their knitting project with an instructor. This class is for children ages 8 and older. All supplies will be provided for each student. The fee is $10 per child and we will meet at the park office. You can register online at http://tnstateparks.com/parks/ about/cordell-hull-birthplace Watercolor Painting Summer Landscape Join us Wednesday, June 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to learn and practice watercolor techniques and styles with Sue Duncan. Children need to be 12 years and older to participate. Supplies are included. tnstateparks. com/parks/about/cordell-hull-birthplace supplies will be provided. The fee is $10 per person. You can register online at http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/cordell-hull-birthplace. Local damage from Saturday’s storm Pictured is a tree that was uprooted at the home of Angie Beaty Davis in Pall Mall. The Upper Cumberland area got hit hard with damaging straight line winds after Saturday’s storms. The damage in Putnam County was significant as officials with the National Weather Service verified up to 95 mph straight line winds broke utility poles, uprooted trees and caused structural damage. Some residents in Putnam were without power for days, and the difficulty was due to the damage being so wide spread and affecting both local and TVA powerlines. Luckily in Pickett County, Volunteer Energy Cooperative reported that only 94 customers were without power and there wasn't much structural damage reported. Pickett County Highway Department crews worked for two days to clear trees from roadways that were throughout the county. Pictured above is a tree that was uprooted at the home of Angie Beaty Davis in Pall Mall. Looking for something sweet to eat? Tisha Brewington offering a yummy treat. Lakeside Sno is serving a variety of flavors in shaved ice and hand- dipped ice cream. Drive thru service is available or you can park and walk up to get your treat. Lakeside Sno is owned by Joe and Tisha Brewington. Hours are Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and 1 p.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday. They are located off of Highway 111 on Frisco Lane north of Sunset Marina. Pickett County to benefit from the recent IMPROVE act Greg Drinnen with Transportation Coalition of Tennessee discussing what impact Pickett County could have with the IMPROVE Act. The Transportation Coalition of Tennessee recently provided details for the IMPROVE Act Projects and how they could affect each of the 95 counties in Tennessee. The passage of Governor Bill Haslam's IMPROVE act in April, creates needed funding for roads and bridges in the state. The increase to gas and diesel user fees is supposed to help ease the burden of Tennessee tax payers by also getting funds from the out-of-state truckers and tourists. According to the press release, the IMPROVE Act cuts more than $500 million in taxes annually at its full implementation and nearly $300 million in taxes in 2018. The tax cuts include a $113 million reduction in business taxes on manufacturers and a 20 percent decrease in the sales tax on groceries, which equals $125 million for all Tennesseans. Transportation Coalition of Tennessee Advisory Council Gary Drinnen reported that the specific revenue totals for Pickett County Highway Department could be an additional $6,691,752 over the next 15 years. County and city governments will receive the money from the additional gas and diesel revenue as well. The estimates for the city of Byrdstown for the 15 year time frame is $113,593. Every county will share some of the 962 TDOT funded projects. While Pickett County does not have any current projects, there is a $10,000,000 multi-county project. The safety and spot improvement project is for US 127 (SR-28) (S. York Hwy) from north of Jamestown to SR-111 for 19.21 miles. The Transportation Coalition of Tennessee was created to educate the public and state legislators as it seeks to increase of and reform in Tennessee's transportation fees. Participants in the coalition include businesses, citizens, community leaders, public officials and organizations that are interested in continuing Tennessee's transportation infrastructure for the long haul. For more information on the projects across Tennessee's 95 counties, visit www.TCofTN.org/resourcesIMPROVEact. THP to conduct sobriety and license checkpoints this weekend roadside checkpoints on May 26, 2017 at 5:00 on Hwy. 111 in Pickett operated by drivers who would violate the driver license laws of Tennessee. The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting Sobriety Checkpoints on May 27, at 10:30 p.m. on Hwy. 111 in Pickett County. Recognizing the danger presented to the public by intoxicated drivers, troopers concentrate their efforts on vehicles being operated by intoxicated drivers who would violate the driving under the influence laws of Tennessee. The Tennessee Highway Patrol has found these checkpoints to be an effective means of enforcing the driving driving under the influence laws of Tennessee while ensuring the protection of all motorists. Blood drive on May 26th There will be a Chances for Scarred Little Hearts community blood drive in honor of my son Chance in awareness of Congenital Heart Defects on Friday, May 26th from 3 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Pickett County Agriculture building at the high school. This is the only American Red Cross community blood drive for the year scheduled at this time. Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood. Included in that number are numerous cancer patients and the tiniest of recipients, newborn babies. An adult has approximately 10-12 pints of blood in their body. A baby, depending on weight, may have less than 10 ounces which is just over a cup. It is sobering to see the tiny vials of blood transfused into a baby or child. I have seen my son Chance, who was born with a congenital heart defect and has half a heart, receive many of those small vials. If Chance hadn't had the blood available beforehand for his open-heart surgeries, he could not have survived. I know that there are so many of us who have received blood or know someone who has during their lives. It is a reminder of the importance of blood being donated, processed and in the hospital before it is needed. One pint of blood donated means up to three lives saved. If you have any specific questions regarding eligibility, contact the American Red Cross Donor and Client Support Center at Please contact me at 931-864-3675 or email abond@conqueringchd.org to schedule a time that is most convenient for you to donate. Murderer will spend rest of life in prison Joshua Pyles appeared before Criminal Court Judge David Patterson in Putnam County last Friday, May 12th and pled guilty to two counts of premeditated first degree murder and one count of especially aggravated robbery. This plea had been agreeable by both the District Attorney and the defense which meant the family would not have to endure a trial. It has been almost three years since a Pickett County family was forever left devastated with the murder of a father and son. The effects of this shocking act not only left questions of why for the family, but to our whole community. It started in the early morning hours of July 30th, 2014 after a call was made by a citizen to the Pickett County Sheriff's Office who was concerned. The concern was that the lights were on at the business known as the Sugar Shack and that was an unusual observation for that time of day. When the sheriff's deputy responded to the call, the bodies of Danny Dowdy, 58, and Cody Dowdy, 22, were discovered. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was notified and quickly arrived on the scene to process and investigate what appeared to be a double homicide. At 8 p.m. that night at the scene where family and friends of the victims had gathered, Pickett County Sheriff Dana Dowdy along with former DA Randy York identified Joshua Pyles as the person who was being charged for the murders. According to the signed confession made by Pyles during an interview by the TBI taken on July 30th, he was looking to rob a place that would help solve his money problems between him and his girlfriend. He chose the Sugar Shack in Static and went in as a customer where he remained for about seven hours. Once the customers had left, Pyles went to his vehicle, changed his shirt and went back in and ordered a beer just before closing. That is when he pulled a gun and shot Danny first, then shot Cody. Pyles stated he didn't want them to suffer, so he shot them a second time before taking the money from the register and leaving. It is still unknown as to the motive of why Pyles chose to end two lives for $400. The horrific murders were also caught on video, and the video along with crime scene photos, were used in court on Friday with testimony from TBI Special Agents Steve Huntley and Billy Miller. During the hearing, widow and mother to the victims Pauletta Dowdy read an emotional statement asking why he chose the Sugar Shack and why didn't he just ask for the money. She also thanked everyone who was involved in prosecuting the case and also family and friends for their support. Pyles has received a life sentence in prison for the murders and also an 18 year sentence for the especially aggravated robbery and will not be eligible for parole for 70 years, which would make him over 100 years old. District Attorney Bryant Dunaway and Assistant District Attorney Owen Burnett prosecuted Pyles with the primary investigation being conducted by the Pickett County Sheriff's Office and the TBI. The senseless murders of two people of our community will forever be felt. While nothing can completely ease the pain of grief, our hearts and prayers are always with the Dowdy family as they continue to get through each day without their loved ones. Black bears sighted in city As black bear sightings have been more frequent among residential areas and even on the local school grounds, it is important to know some bear basics. Bears are more frequently crossing into our backyards and creating dangerous situations for both people and the bears. When bears have easy access to non-natural foods like garbage, pet food, bird seed etc., they become habituated to people. They lose their fear of humans and ignore their traditional diet, a fed bear is a dead bear! Bears can sprint up to 35 miles per hour and climb 100 feet up a tree within 30 seconds. A typical male can weigh between 130-500 pounds, a female can weigh between 90-350 pounds. NEVER feed or approach a bear! Always secure any type of foods or garbage in bear resistant containers. Feed pets portion size that can easily be consumed during each meal. Don't feed birds between April and January when bears are more active. Keep grills and smokers clean and stored indoors when not in use. If you see a bear make sure it is aware of your presence by yelling or making noises, this should frighten the bear and encourage it to leave. To learn more, go to www.bearwise.info or if there is a situation that requires immediate attention, call local authorities. Leaving the scene of the accident charges for truck driver An accident on Highway 111 at the Overton/Pickett line left two people injured after a tractor trailer driver had fallen asleep due to driving in excess of what federal regulation allows. At around 8:43 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2nd, a Kenworth tractor trailer driven by Ronnie K. Bell, 65, of Monticello, Ky. was traveling north on Highway 111. The Kenworth exited the roadway to the right and hit several state signs before re-entering the roadway and striking the Toyota on the passenger side. The two occupants in the car were transported to Livingston Regional Hospital. Pickett County deputies were able to get a description of the semi truck by witnesses of the accident and Bell was pulled over at a local gas station. After performing a commercial inspection, Ronnie Bell was cited for leaving the scene of an injury crash, immediate notice of crash, failure to maintain lane of travel, failure to exercise due care and driving beyond 14 hours in a commercial vehicle. Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Toby Beaty was the primary investigator of the accident and was assisted by Trooper Darren Butler. County Commission approves lease to purchase option to fund Pickett County Justice Center Pickett County Commissioners met in regular session on April 17, 2017. Present and presiding was the honorable Richard Daniel, Chairman and Robert Lee Clerk of the Court. Court was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Clerk Lee who turned the meeting over to Chairman Daniel. The invocation was given by Jim Richardson and the Pledge of Allegiance was given by all. The following commissioners were present: Mitchell Cross, Carey Garner, Darrell Garrett, David Harer, Eddie Holt, Colan Huddleston, Larry Ledford, Brad Richardson, Jim Richardson. The following commissioners were absent: Tim Ford, Carter Martin and Matthew Storie. Approved a motion by Brad Richardson and seconded by Mitchell Cross to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Carried a motion by Jim Richardson and seconded by Colan Huddleston to approve the minutes from Monday, March 20, 2017 county court meeting as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Passed a motion by Colan Huddleston and seconded by Larry Ledford to approve monthly reports as presented: Cash flow analysis: 101 general fund, 116 transfer station/solid Cash flow analysis from other departments: 131 highway department, 142 school federal projects Cash flow analysis; Actual vs Projected from other departments; 142 school federal projects Budget to actual report revenues: 101 general fund, 116 transfer Budget to actual report expenditures: 101 general fund, 116 transfer station/ solid waste, 151 debt service, 207 solid waste fund, Jennifer Anderson, Trustee's Tax Report and Release of Taxes Byrdstown-Pickett County Volunteer Fire Department quarterly activity and membership roster, Clerk & Masters Quarterly report of taxes collected for the month of January, February and March 2017 All ayes. Motion carried. Approved a motion by Larry Ledford and seconded by David Harer to approve budget amendments as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Carried a motion by Darrell Garrett and seconded by Mitchell Cross to approve notaries: William Leroy Sapp (new) and Annamarie Masiongale (renewal) and Nikki T. Groce (renewal). All ayes. Motion carried. Passed a motion by Larry Ledford and seconded by Jim Richardson to approve the discussion on Caney Creek Road that was tabled at the previous months meeting. All ayes. Motion carried. This is a resolution to approve the closing Caney Creek Road to through truck traffic and the road posted as such. No action taken. Approved a motion by Eddie Holt and seconded by Colan Huddleston to approve Resolution 2016-2017-14 a resolution requesting to apply for the Litter Grant Funds from TDOT for the fiscal year 2017-2018. All ayes. Motion carried. Carried a motion by Larry Ledford and seconded by Mitchell Cross to approve resolution 2016-2017-15 a resolution requesting the creation of an Emergency Communications District for Pickett County and to request a referendum on he question of the creation of an Emergency Communications District for Pickett County to be added to the May 2018 General Election Ballot. All ayes. Motion carried. Carried a motion by Mitchell Cross and seconded by David Harer to approve and accept the Recycling Equipment Grant Bid for recycling equipment to be used at the Transfer Station. This bid from Plum Waste Container consisting of EZ 20 Trailer and 6-18 cu yd roll off containers costing $47,252.00. All ayes. Motion carried. Passed a motion by Larry Ledford and seconded by Jim Richardson to approve and accept the construction bid for the Clean Tennessee Energy Grant renovations at the Byrdstown Community Center. The county hereby approves Turner Roofing Company as the low bidder for construction work at the Byrdstown Community Center at the bid price of $98,800.00 for the new roof. All ayes. Motion carried. Approved a motion by Mitchell Cross and seconded by Brad Richardson to approve and accept the Equipment Bid for the lease of equipment needed for the closure of the Pickett County Landfill located at 3065 Gibb Moles Road. The county hereby approves Thompson Machinery as the low bidder or the equipment lease for the landfill closure project at the bid price of $8100.00 per month for dozer, $6900.00 per month for excavator and $5600.00 per month for compactor. All ayes. Motion carried. Carried a motion by Carey Garner and seconded by Mitchell Cross to approve that Pickett County goes with Municipal Capital Markets for the funds for the Pickett County Justice Center. This being a lease to purchase over a 20 year term. All ayes except Darrell Garrett and Eddie Holt voted nay. Motion carried. EMS Report County Building Report & Community Center update Sales Tax Revenue handout Prisoner Housing update Passed a motion by Darrell Garrett and seconded by Brad Richardson to adjourn until the next regular county court meeting scheduled for Monday, May 15, 2017 at 6 p.m. in the Pickett County Library Community Room. All ayes. Motion carried. Another lawsuit for the county has been filed A lawsuit against Pickett County and Caleb Sells has been filed in Pickett County Circuit Court. The documents show that it was received by Pickett County Circuit Court Clerk Larry Brown on April 13, 2017. The complaint is that plaintiff Lloyd Shaver was bumped by Mr. Sells on or about May 19th, 2016 causing him to fall and suffer physical injuries. It also states that Pickett County knowingly maintained an unsafe condition at its facility which was the proximate cause of Mr. Shaver's fall and consequential injuries. The plaintiff is asking the court to find that the defendants were negligent and find that Mr. Caleb Sells intentionally pushed him and to award $300,000 in compensatory damages. Mr. Shaver is being resented by Melanie Lane of Romer Lane and Howard. Editors Note: The printed edition of the PRESS's article failed to mention that the incident occurred at the Pickett County Transfer Station and that Caleb Sells is the former lead operator of that facility. Pickens indicted in arson case According to a TBI press release a joint investigation has resulted in an indictment for an Overton County man in connection to an ongoing arson case in Pickett County. On December 19th, at the request of 13th District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, TBI Special Agents joined investigators from Tennessee Fire Investigative Services and the Pickett County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation into a suspicious residential fire on Dec. 14th at a home at 637 North Main Street in Byrdstown. During the course of the investigation, authorities developed information that led to Chad Pickens (DOB 3-24-77) as the individual responsible for the crime. On Monday, April 24, the Pickett County Grand Jury returned an indictment, charging the Allons man with one count of Arson. Authorities served Pickens with the arson capias at the Fentress County Jail, where, at the time of this release, he remained incarcerated on an unrelated charge. Local bowfisher gets state and world record fish TWRA Fishery Biologist Will Collier with Andrew Conner with the record fish. When Andrew Conner went bowfishing last week, he never imagined that he was going to be a record holder. On Tuesday, April 18th, he and some friends were bowfishing on Obey River when they noticed something monstrous in the water. "I was wading in the water, shot the fish and really didn't think much else about it as I continued fishing," said Andrew. It was then while he was gathering up the fish that he recognized it wasn't a typical size for the type of fish it was believed to have been. After weighing it, by curiosity, he looked up the state record for the River Red Horse sucker fish and was shocked to see that what he had was bigger than not only the state record but the Bowfishing Association of America's World record. He contacted local Tennessee Wildlife Resource Association Officer Craig Norris who recommended getting official confirmation of species and weight. On Thursday, April 20th, TWRA Fishery Biologist Will Collier was able to validate that Conner had in fact caught himself a record holder. Conner's fish was recorded by the TWRA as weighing 13 lbs. and 9 oz., The previous world record was reported as being 12 lbs. and 29 oz. He has plans of mounting the fish and possibly creating a replica that could be placed somewhere local. Mayor reports zone flow water meters should be online at meeting The Town of Byrdstown Board of Mayor and Aldermen met in regular session on Monday, April 10, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. at Town Hall. Those present were Mayor Sam Gibson, Recorder Johnny Sells, Alderwoman Barb Mitchell, Alderman Johnny Bilbrey, Alderman Rex Tompkins, Eric Pierce, Michelle Mitchell, Chamber of Commerce Director Bill Robbins, Robert Young, Anthony Milsted, Water Plant Supervisor Malcolm Harmon, Town Engineer Nathaniel Green, and County Executive Richard Daniel. An agenda was presented and a motion was made by Johnny Bilbrey to adopt the proposed agenda. A second was voiced by Johnny Sells and with all members voting aye the motion carried. A motion was made by Barb Mitchell to approve the minutes of the March 13, 2017 regular as written. A second was voiced by Rex Tompkins and with all members voting aye the motion carried. Town Engineer Nathaniel Green informed the board that the bathroom project for the park across from Town Hall is okay to bid and bids will be open on May 8, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Town Hall. The mayor reported that all zone flow water meters should be online this week that will be a great help in finding water leaks within the system. Water Plant Supervisor Malcolm Harmon addressed the board about ways to improve the final water quality leaving the water plant to comply with upcoming and ongoing environmental standards. Pickett County Executive Richard Daniel discussed recycling and the impact this has on the landfills. He also discussed at looking into getting a natural gas line to the new jail, and the county is looking at a grant to help revitalize the downtown area. Under General Discussion the mayor informed the board that the bed and racks are being installed on the new trash truck and will be ready to start picking up trash on May 2, 2017. The mayor presents the 3rd quarter budget and gave a breakdown of the money spent and the remaining balance in each department. Counterfeit money found at local business Counterfeit $20 A counterfeit $20 was discovered at a local business over the weekend. According to Pickett County Sheriff Dana Dowdy, the money was reported as suspicious and it was confirmed that the bill was in fact a counterfeit. It is unknown who paid with the money or if they were knowledgeable of the situation. Unfortunately, the business owner cannot receive a replacement bill and lost money with the change that was given for the transaction. There haven't been any other reports, but Sheriff Dowdy encourages local business owners to always be aware and to check for the UV sensitive strip on bills printed later than 1996, and use counterfeit detection pens. The detection pens will turn black on the money if it is not genuine currency. The Secret Service has been notified to investigate the incident. If anyone has any information regarding counterfeit money, contact the Pickett County Sheriff's Office at 931-864-3210. Location for jail site changed during special called meeting The Pickett County Commissioners met in a special called meeting on April 6th regarding the jail. Since it was a special called meeting, the only item that could be discussed was the jail. The motion that was needed came after a motion to change jail site location failed during the March 20th regular meeting. The motion to amend the previous motion from the August 15th, 2016 meeting, changing the proposed site location for the new Justice Center/Jail project from the Byrdstown Community Center to Winningham Property on West Main Street. This newspaper had a concern regarding that motion on August 15th because the official motion did not include establishing the jail site and reported the commission did not approve jail site and it will be brought back for vote. While there was discussion by the corrective partnership to recommend using the community center as a location for the jail prior to the vote, the actual verbiage of the motion was to approve “recommendations from the county corrective partnership committee to approve Tom Anderson Architecture and Design for the Architectural Design of the jail construction project." County Attorney Andrea Ayers reviewed the motion and determined it was sufficient to establish the jail location and the process continued to use the community center as the site. The argument this newspaper expressed, was that while the commissioners had knowledge of the community center being recommended as the jail site along with architectural firm, the actual motion that was read for the vote, didn't reflect any official record of the community center being established as the site. However, the motion during the special called meeting on Monday, was clear to the public and specific to amend previous motion for Justice Center/Jail project from the Byrdstown Community Center to the Winningham Property on West Main Street in Byrdstown. All commissioners voted aye except Darrell Garrett, Eddie Holt and Carter Martin who voted nay. Now that the county has approved a new location for the proposed Justice Center/Jail, the next step will be for the board to approve the purchase of the site. During the meeting Commissioner Carey Garner asked if there was a cost analysis for the new location. Chairman Richard Daniel stated there would be no way to know until it was bid and designed for the location. There was a concern for conflict of interest involving the property and a county commissioner. County Executive Richard Daniel says that a CTAS legal opinion on the matter and that the purchase of the Winningham property by Pickett County did not constitute a conflict of interest. According to Tennessee Property Data, the property that was offered as Winningham property has two property parcels. One is listed as being 3.9 acres owned by Mrs. Ward Winningham and Elese Winningham and another is .48 is owned by James L. Richardson and Johnny Richardson. Does Pickett County have to build a jail? The topic of discussion has been heating up as to why Pickett County needs to build a jail. With all of the information that has been given, the PRESS wanted to find out what the state's position was in regards to the jail situation. In 2015, the state Fire Marshal's office conducted an inspection of the jail, that was built in 1935, and found it did not have the required fire alarm system, lack of exits, improper gas appliances, obstructed egress. A Plan of Corrective Action by the county that was to be approved by the Fire Marshal’s Office by January 5th, 2016 or there would be the possibility of the state taking action. The POCA was as follows: 1. The jail would not house more than six inmates, any additional inmate would be housed in other counties. 2. A feasibility study for a new jail would be completed and a plan to build a new jail in place within 190 days. 3. Current jail would be on "fire watch" with sheriff office personnel conducting checks every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day and keep a log of all fire watch activities. That POCA was submitted in January 2016 and was approved by the state. In that letter, it indicated that the Pickett County Government realizes that a failure to follow this plan will result in the Fire Marshal's Office closing the jail. The Pickett County Corrective Partnership was created to address all aspects for a new jail. During the first meeting in January, Bob Bass from the Tennessee Correction Institute explained the situation for needing a jail and offered guidance and options for what routes could be followed. He stated during that meeting, that he felt like if the county did what the Fire Marshal was requiring and complied, they would not shut anything down at that time. A feasibility study was completed by CTAS at no cost to the county. That study suggested housing consideration for the new jail plan for 36 male bed, and 18 female beds, a total of 54. There were site feasibility studies done for several potential areas that were recommended by the Pickett County Corrective Partnership for a jail/justice center location. The plan was to use the community center as the site which was going to be saving the county money by using an existing structure. However, the cost of relocating the current offices and area for the community center were going to be substantial. The Pickett County Corrective Partnership committee suggested a new site be recommended for the jail and presented it to the county commission on March 20. That motion failed. There was a special called meeting April 6th on the facts concerning the jail and why Pickett County has to build a jail. Before that meeting date, a letter dated April 3rd, 2017 was sent to Pickett County Executive Richard Daniel stating if the approved POCA was not implemented or adhered to, the department may take action. This action may result in the department seeing an order of remedy or removal. That included an order to evacuate the building until the deficiencies are remedied at the existing facility or a new jail is constructed. These actions are the same as what could have occurred when the mandates were placed on the jail and it was required that Pickett County submit a POCA. A motion was approved to change the location of the proposed jail site from the Byrdstown Community Center to property on West Main Street. The current building of the courthouse is not ADA compliant and the state has serious concerns for the safety of the inmates and jail employees. So what exactly would that mean if the state issued an order to evacuate the building as indicated in the letter? Pickett County Executive Richard Daniel, and county commission chairman, stated in the special called meeting that the evacuation would include the "whole building or courthouse.” That would mean the county offices that are within the building would be included in that evacuation. This newspaper has requested a clarification of what exactly was meant by the wording in the letter of "evacuation of the building" from Tennessee Department of Commerce's Communication Director Kevin Walters. "The jail is the only structure at issue. The second floor will need to be vacated while the building's deficiencies affecting the health and safety of the building's occupants are addressed. The first floor should be unaffected," said Walters. It was also revealed in the special called meeting, that the Pickett County Sheriff's Office had over 200 warrants that hadn't been served, and there are currently no beds in the state for females and it would be close to Memphis to send a male prisoner. According to County Executive Richard Daniel, a jail could be built and maintained without increasing taxes, and there are several loan and lease options available. There are still a lot of questions that are unknown regarding the cost of a jail/justice center for Pickett County. But the state has shown the willingness to cooperate with county officials throughout the process and would be available if requested at meetings but haven't been at this time. A copy of the full CTAS Feasibility study along with each site feasibility study can be found on pickettcountypress.com. --$140,000 yearly cost for fire watch --$129,153 PCSO Housing Budget 2016-17 --$120,452.30 paid for housing YTD --$35,000 PCSO Medical Budget 2016-17 --$81,658.14 paid for medical YTD --$35-$50 cost per day for outside inmate housing CTAS reported that the cost estimate to do the fire watch is $140,000 a year. The budget for the sheriff's office housing was originally $100,000.00 and amended to $129,153, so far for the fiscal year to date of April 7th, the amount spent is $120,452.30 with several more months left. The medical budget was $35,000 for fiscal year 2016/17, as of April 7th, a total of $81,658.14 has been spent. The estimated cost to house inmate per day is $35-$50, but doesn't include any medical expenses, or other expenses associated with housing prisoners in other counties. Pickett County reports decrease in beer tax revenue for October 2016 received by each county and city that permits legal sale of beer. Beer tax collections are received from the 17% Wholesale Beer Tax as reported by the wholesale distribution, not individual outlets. The revenue for Pickett County in October 2016 was $14,968.22, down from Oct. 2015 at $16,853.83. Year-to-date 2016 was $1,181,087.82, which is slightly down in 2015 $194,462.54. Overton County’s revenue for Oct. 2016 was up $9,569.68 from 2015 at $9,216.35. Y-T-D 2016 was at $106,1914.01 and 2015 at $104,851.30. October 2016 revenue for Putnam County dropped to $16,160.95 from 2015 at $19,016.50. Year-to-date 2016 was also down at $193,344.40 and 2015 y-t-d was $200,252.65. Clay County Oct. 2016 revenue was at $11,879.67 which was down from 2015 at $15,881.72, y-t-d 2016 $181,023.74 and y-t-d 2015 for Clay at $190,975.79. The revenue for Oct. 2016 in Fentress County was $18,807.21, 2015 $19,275.93. Year-to-date 2016 at $193,974.07 y-t-d 2015 at $195,266.65. Amendment motion fails that changes jail site from community center Pickett County Commissioners met in regular session on March 20, 2017. Present and presiding was the honorable Richard Daniel, Chairman and Robert Lee Clerk of the Court. Court was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Clerk Lee who turned the meeting over to Chairman Daniel. The invocation was given by Jimmy Richardson and the Pledge of Allegiance was given by all. All commissioners were present except Mitchell Cross, Brad Richardson and Matthew Storie were absent. The following is from the submitted county commission meeting minutes: Approved a motion by David Harer and seconded by Jimmy Richardson to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Carried a motion by Colan Huddleston and seconded by Tim Ford to approve the minutes from Monday, February 20, 2017 county court meeting as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. Passed a motion by Eddie Holt and seconded by Carey Garner to approve monthly reports as presented: month end report: county general fund, transfer station/solid waste, debt service fund and solid waste fund cash flow analysis; Actual vs Projected from other departments; 142 school federal project budget to actual report revenues: 101 general fund, 116 transfer station/solid waste, 151 debt service, 207 solid waste fund budget to actual report expenditures: 101 general fund, 116 transfer station/solid waste, 151 debt service, 207 solid waste fund. All ayes. Motion carried. Budget Calendar for FY2017-2018 presented to the Pickett County Board of Commissioners. Approved a motion by Darrell Garrett and seconded by Carter Martin to approve notaries - Russell S. Smith-new and William Glee Gibson-renewal. All ayes. Motion carried. Approve Resolution FY2016-2017-11 NO ACTION TAKEN Carried a motion by Carter Martin and seconded by Carey Garner to approve to table any action on Caney Creek Road closure for heavy trucks until the next meeting. Passed a motion by Colan Huddleston and seconded by Larry Ledford to approve Resolution FY 2016-2017-12 a resolution to approve the application of the TNECD Asset Enhancement Grant at a 95-5% match. All ayes. Motion carried. Passed a motion by David Harer and seconded by Jimmy Richardson to approve Resolution 2016-2017-13 a resolution accepting the CDBF Emergency Service Program Bids for equipment. The county hereby approves Stryker EMS as low bidder for two(2) power cots and Stryker EMS as the low bidder for two (2) cot loading systems. All ayes. Motion carried. Approved a motion Carter Martin and seconded by David Harer to approve the bid $25,500.00 submitted by Ben Crabtree on 3/17/2017 for the purchases of the property located at 300 South Main St., Byrdstown. All ayes. Motion carried. Pickett County Corrective Partnership Committee Meeting update was provided. Motion by Larry Ledford and seconded by David Harer to amend the previous motion by Larry Ledford from August 15, 2016 meeting, changing the proposed site location for the new justice center/jail project from the Byrdstown Community Center to the Winningham property on West Main St., Byrdstown. All ayes, except Darrell Garrett, Carey Garner, Eddie Holt and Carter Martin who voted nay. Motion failed. Transfer Station Report FYI - Sales Tax Revenue-handout, Prisoner housing update Carried a motion by Colan Huddleston and seconded by Darrell Garrett to adjourn until the next regular count court meeting scheduled for Monday, April 17, 2017 at 6 p.m. in the Pickett County Library Community Room. All ayes. Motion carried. Local deputies graduate from law enforcement academy Two Pickett County deputies have graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Academy and are now certified law enforcement officers. Deputies Nathon Rigney and Taylor Storie began their journey to the academy with the reported tradition of getting their heads shaved by Sheriff Dana E. Dowdy the night before the 12 week academy. The course the deputies completed was the basic police school course that provides technical and tactical expertise in addition to the ethical and professional standards of law enforcement necessary for success. Each graduate received a degree of both technical and tactical proficiency to function on the streets as well as in the criminal and civil courts of our state. The recent class had over 80 graduates who represented various police department, sheriff offices and state agencies. The TLETA has trained over 19,000 cadets during the Basic Police School classes and over 53,000 students during its more than 1,700 specialized schools. According to Sheriff Dowdy, both Deputy Rigney and Storie were hired with the Pickett County Sheriff's Office in spring of 2016. Pickett County currently has 10 full time officers. PHOTO: Nikki Smith Increase in illegal removal of wildlife in spring Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) officials notice an increase in illegal removal of wildlife each spring. Not only is taking wildlife from nature unlawful, it can have harmful effects on humans, pets and overall wildlife populations. Animals most often taken include squirrels, fawns, turtles and even baby raccoons. Sometimes the intent is to care for a seemingly abandoned animal. Other times, it is simply out of the selfish intent of making the animal a pet. Removing any wild animal without proper permitting is illegal and it is most often to the detriment of wildlife. Negative effects on humans and pets include the transmittal of parasites, bacteria such as salmonella, fungi and other wildlife diseases. Additionally, pets can pass these things to wildlife making it impossible for an animal to be returned to the wild. “We’ve seen an increase in these cases and it makes us angry. Our mission is to protect wildlife and laws are in place not only for the protection of humans, but also animals. Someone from the general public doesn’t know about wildlife disease or behavior and they’re causing dangerous situations,” stated Joe McSpadden, Hamilton County Wildlife Officer. Moving wildlife or taking it into a home can even affect overall wildlife populations. One animal significantly affected is the Eastern box turtle. “Turtles are long-lived, slow to reproduce animals. Removing just one can impact the population of an area. Distressed turtle populations take much longer to recover than other faster breeding animals,” stated Chris Simpson, Region III Wildlife Diversity Biologist. Additionally, some wildlife also have breeding site fidelity, meaning they will not reproduce unless they are in the area where they were born or typically reproduce. If someone finds an obviously sick or injured wild animal they should contact a wildlife rehabilitator or call TWRA. TWRA maintains a list by county of rehabilitators that can be found at tnwildlife.org. Individuals that find what they believe to be an orphaned animal should leave the animal alone. The vast majority of the time, mothers collect their young. Even animals that have apparently fallen from a nest or tree are most often cared for by their mothers. In addition, laws forbid the movement of wildlife. A property owner that traps a nuisance animal cannot move the wild animal to another location. This law is in place to keep wildlife disease from spreading to unaffected populations. Should someone know of an individual removing wildlife or harboring wildlife illegally, they should call their regional TWRA office. “There is absolutely no reason for anyone to have a wild animal in their home,” stated wildlife officer McSpadden. “Please help us with our mission and leave wildlife where it belongs.” For more information regarding wildlife rehabilitators visit: http:// www.tn.gov/twra/article/wildlife-rehabilitators-educators. The mission of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is to preserve, conserve, manage, protect, and enhance the fish and wildlife of the state and their habitats for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the citizens of Tennessee and its visitors. The Agency will foster the safe use of the state’s waters through a program of law enforcement, education, and access. Loss of eaglet from eagle cam The third eaglet from the Dale Hollow Eagle Cam died last Thursday causing a lot of upset as to why human intervention wasn't possible. The older eaglet (DH1) was seen multiple times attacking the smaller one (DH3), which wasn't growing and thriving as the others. People were outraged that no one was going into the nest to save the baby eagle, but federal law prevents that from occurring and it is physically impossible due to the location of the nest. The camera is located in a tree trunk that is not close to the nest and any human intervention attempts would likely result in the damage of the nest or endanger the four eagles remaining. The chat on the youtube coverage of the eagle cam had to be suspended due to the nature of the conversations that began before the eaglet died. It was reported that in 2014, these same adults raised three eaglets and successfully fledgling the nest, so it leaves only speculation as to why the older eaglet kept attacking it. While no one wanted to see the loss of the eaglet, however we must remember that this camera is to observe nature in its natural environment, and not intervene. Local youth attend annual Tennessee 4-H Congress BILLY G GARRETT Pickett County Agent/Director For the 70th year, 4-H members from across Tennessee gathered to participate in Tennessee 4-H Congress. The annual event, which took place March 19-22, gave 4-H'ers the opportunity to learn about the day-to-day functioning of state government by assuming the roles of state representatives and senators. Approximately 375 high-school-age 4-H’ers from all over the state met to become legislators and form a “junior” state Congress. The event helps youth better understand government and the legislative process and how they can be a part of this citizenship experience in order to make a difference. They were given an opportunity to debate and vote on youth-oriented bills in the House and Senate Chambers. In addition to learning about government and their state capitol, delegates competed in public speaking, poster and essay contests. In addition to project competition and learning about state government, a number of other activities included the Tennessee 4-H Congress Pageant, a luncheon on the General Jackson Showboat, the election of the 2018 Tennessee 4-H Congress officers, the inaugural ball and a service-learning project. Delegates also met with Senator Ken Yager and Representative Kelly Keisling. The 2017 Tennessee 4-H Congress service project challenged delegates to collect items to benefit military service men and women who are currently deployed. Representing Pickett County at the 2017 Tennessee 4-H Congress were Luis Bautista, Andrea Beaty, Madison Beaty, Jason Garrett, Will Garrett, Jacob Hinds, and Garrett Thompson. The group and the UT Extension Pickett County office would like to say thank you to all sponsors and donors that made the trip possible. Pickett County Sheriff's Office receives re-certification Dana Dowdy and his department received notification this week that they have been re certified for data submission for the Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System Program. This is a statewide program through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation where agencies submit data that is used to compile the Crime in Tennessee publication and the FBI's Crime in the US report. Last year, the TBI reported that Pickett County was one of three departments in the state that were not certified and in compliance with submitting mandatory online crime data. It was learned that Pickett County actually had been de certified since 2013. It was required that Pickett County go back beginning of May 2015 to the current year at that time, and submit corrected data by December 2016. A re-audit was performed and Pickett County is now TIBRS certified and has successfully submitted three consecutive months of data with an accepted error rate. Dale Hollow Spring Bass Classic Winners The 3rd Annual Byrdstown-Pickett County Dale Hollow Spring Bass Classic hosted by Sunset Marina was held March 18 and 19. 1st Tim Reagan & Rod Huff, 34.55 lbs., $1800.00 2nd Matt Chiodi & Tommy Glass, 33.20 lbs., $1600.00 3rd Joe Haunert & Bill Haunert, 31.75 lbs., $1400.00 4th Robert Reagan & Lucas Reagan, 31.00 lbs., $1200.00 5th Chris Halfacre & James Harris, 30.85 lbs., $1000.00 6th Patrick Crawley & J.R. Stalcup, 30.50 lbs., $800.00 7th Perry Neatherly & Levi Neatherly, 30.40 lbs., $700.00 8th Kyle Jolley & Gilbert Jolley, 29.80 lbs., $600.00 9th Andrew Haunert & Alex Straubing, 28.85 lbs., $500.00 10th James Wade & Payton Wade, 27.95 lbs., $400.00 11th David Harris & Chris Thomas, 27.40 lbs., $300.00 12th Billy Joe Johnson & Robby Johnson, 27.25 lbs., $200 Big Fish Saturday 1st Perry Neatherly & Levi Neatherly, 6.35 lbs., $500.00 2nd Patrick Crawley & J.R. Stalcup, 5.65 lbs., $400.00 3rd David Harris & Chris Thomas, 5.30 lbs., $300.00 Big Fish Sunday 1st J.B. King & Kevin King, 5.50 lbs., $500.00 2nd David Harris & Chris Thomas, 5.35 lbs., $400.00 3rd Joe Haunert & Bill Haunert, 4.75 lbs., $300.00 72 boats were entered into the tournament, a total of 1027.90 lbs. of bass were weighed in over the weekend. Free trash pickup coming soon for city residents The City of Byrdstown will be providing free trash pick-up for city residents beginning May 2nd. So how is this being paid for? The cost to provide this service was estimated by Mayor Sam Gibson to be around $40,000 initially and then around $12,000 a year to maintain. The biggest cost was $35,000 to purchase a 2017 IsuzuNPR truck chassis, plus an additional $4,000 to add a dump bed and rails. That $40,000 was covered by the additional revenue that brought in for the 2016-17 year. The money to help cover the cost to maintain will be coming from the 8% liquor inspection fee. This fee is actually more like a tax that is paid each time the local liquor store purchases inventory from a vendor. Since January, the city has collected around $7,000 from the inspection fee. According to Mayor Gibson, the trash pick-up service will not require additional employees. There are 180-190 homes located within the city limits that will be eligible for the trash pick-up. City residents can stop by Town Hall to sign up School board discusses band program with music teacher at work session Publisher/Editor The Pickett County School Board met on Monday, March 13th, with all board members present. The work session began at 6:39 p.m., and discussions were made about what is on the agenda for the regular meeting scheduled immediately after. The first item was involving policy 6.411 for Student Wellness and the second was textbook adoptions for Agriculture. Since it was the second reading for policy 6.411, there wasn't much discussion. Instruction and Curriculum Supervisor Randy Garrett presented the board in detail the specifics for the textbook adoptions for Agriculture, what was recommended for the board to approve. It was also during the work session when Director Diane Elder asked Pickett County Music Teacher and Band Director Ryan Aldridge if he wanted to go ahead and speak to the board for questions the board would like to ask. At that time, the PRESS requested that the discussion also be done during the meeting so it could be official, since this was just a work session. While work sessions are subject to open records laws, if there is no vote taken, there isn't a requirement by law for the board to record discussions. However, according to the Pickett County School Board Policy 1.406 regarding minutes, it should be recorded in the minutes of the names of those addressing the board and the purpose of their remarks and include a brief account of those items discussed, and whether or not any motions were made regarding those items. Board member Jr. Beaty asked Mr. Aldridge what the board could do to help improve the band program or encourage more participation. Mr. Aldridge said that one problem was trying to keep the turnover each year and keeping students involved past 8th grade. There are currently 17 students in band, with one senior Neil Storie who is auditioning soon for a music scholarship at Tennessee Tech. It was suggested by Director Elder and board member Jr. Beaty that Mr. Aldridge present some more information to the board at the next meeting. There was discussion regarding the timing of the next meeting with the budget needing to be submitted 45 days prior to being passed by the county commission, the date was changed by the Director to Monday, April 24th. The regularly scheduled meeting began at 7:00, and Chairman John Reagan asked if anyone in attendance who isn't on the present agenda and would like to be placed on it. The addition of the band discussion and decision to have it brought back to the board was not included on the agenda. Motion by Nathan Anderson and seconded by Jr. Beaty to adopt the agenda and minutes from the February 13th, 2017, meeting was carried with all ayes. The second reading of the Student Wellness policy 6.411 was approved with all ayes. Motion to approve textbook adoptions for Agriculture was made by Nathan Anderson and John Reagan, with all ayes. PCHS Principal Jane Winningham reported that the senior trip will be kicking is off next week and there are around 36-38 students who will be attending. Due to one of the teachers not being able to help chaperone the trip, Principal Winningham asked a parent of one of the students to fill in. The TN Promise meeting was rescheduled due to school being out, parents don't have to attend. The information is on the website. There will be prom dresses and accessories set up for those students who would need help with cost of dresses at the Ag building on April 8th. There are around 35 dresses that have been provided by a few members of the community. Report cards will be coming out Monday, April 20th. PCK8 Principal Kenny Tompkins reported that report cards will now be distributed on Wednesday, March 22nd and Parent/Teacher Conference is Thursday, March 23rd. Teachers are getting the students ready for testing in April. Technology Supervisor Debbie Elder said that, both schools are getting a virtual headset and computer, through a program. There will be a permanent set-up for this equipment at each school. School Nutrition Supervisor Lisa Cummings informed the board of a meeting they could attend that will discuss a new Smart Snacks program that will be implemented next school year. The meeting was adjourned at 7:11 with the next meeting rescheduled to Monday, April 24th, work session at 6:30 p.m., meeting at 7:00 p.m. Pickett County Schools close due to illness Once again, Pickett County Schools are having to close because of sickness. There was an announcement Monday, March 13th that school would be closed for the remainder of the week, with a high amount of students and staff being absent. The flu seems to have made a comeback since the last time school was out for sickness in February. The symptoms most are reporting fatigue, nausea, and high fevers. To help keep the spread of the flu and other germs, stay at home if you are feeling sick or have a fever. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Vitamin C is the biggest immune booster, so daily intake is vital because our bodies don't make it. Other vitamins to help with immune system are Vitamin B6 and Vitamin E. If you are sick, get plenty of rest and drink as much water or non- caffeinated drinks to keep hydrated. Caffeine is a diuretic so you might want to stay way from it. There's also nothing like some hot chicken noodle soup to help get you on the path to recovery. Robert Reagan takes first place in BLF bass tournament Robert Reagan has his third career win on DHL. PHOTO: STAR POINT MARINA Local angler Robert Reagan of Byrdstown weighed a five-bass limit totaling 20 pounds, 7 ounces, last Saturday to win the first T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Mountain Division event of 2017 on Dale Hollow Lake presented by Navionics. Forhis win, Reagan was awarded $7,298. “I started off the day throwing a green-pumpkin-colored custom jig,” said Reagan, who earned his third career-win on Dale Hollow Lake in BFL competition. “I focused on mid-lake transition banks that had chunk rock. I caught a smallmouth and two largemouth bass before the wind really picked up.” Reagan said that around 9:30 a.m. he switched to a ½-ounce Strike King spinnerbait. He said he continued running chunk rock banks and was up able to catch three more largemouth. “I was sitting in 25 to 30 feet of water, but the bass were up shallower,” said Reagan. “They were stationed where the bluff walls turned into flats. I worked the lures to about 4 to 8 feet, which seemed to be the magic depth.” Reagan said his heaviest catches came toward the end of the day. “I finished off my day with the jig in more stained water,” said Reagan. “I put my two biggest bass in the boat by 1 p.m., which was a great way to wrap things up.” One of Reagan’s bass – a 5-pound, 14-ouncer – was the heaviest weighed in at the event. The catch earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $680. Jo Lesak wins 17th Annual Pig Tournament at Forbus Mr. Eddie Anderson, owner of Forbus General Store, presented Jo Lesak of Byrdstown with the 17th Annual Championship Pig Tournament plaque after her win on Feb. 25th. Jo and Pat Sells were tied after five hours of competition between some 60+ players. In the final playoff, Jo came out victorious. Lessons for teenagers are planned for later this year with a teen tournament to follow. For rules of the game, stop by the store or go to the Fentress County Chamber of Commerce website. Funeral services held for Neal Chancellor Vernon Neal died Friday evening March 3, 2017 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Funeral services were held for retired Chancellor Vernon Neal, 85, of Cookeville at First Baptist Church March 7 at 11 a.m. In 1962, Judge Neal ran his first political race as Direct Representative of Putnam County, now known as state House of Representatives. During two terms as representative, he sponsored legislation permitting counties to elect school board members and road supervisor, strengthened laws that made it more difficult for public figures to mishandle public funds and supported area training for the mentally and physically disabled. In 1966, Representative Neal became State Senator, representing the 14th State Senate District. During his final term, Senator Neal was appointed by the Lieutenant Governor to the State Calendar Committee, which mandates resolutions allowed to move forward to the senate floor, he served as secretary of the state education committee, member of the judiciary committee and general welfare and environment committee. Senator Neal sponsored legislation requiring all newborns to be screened for PKU for prevention of mental disability and with his colleague Representative Tommy Burks, acquired state funding for Burgess Falls State Park and expansion of Tennessee Technological University including Tucker Stadium, Hooper Eblen Center and Bryant Fine Arts. At the conclusion of this state service, Senator Neal was honored by the “Friends of Education” and during the dinner, TTU President Roaden stated “Senator Neal’s leadership can be described as being a committed states man with faith in our future.” Dr. Roaden further stated, “One of the mountains in the Upper Cumberland should be named Mt. Vernon.” In 1980, retired State Senator Neal was elected as Chancellor of the 13th Judicial District and served in this capacity for 25 years. He quoted, “I’d like to think I made a difference in people’s lives.” During Chancellor Neal’s tenure, he was estimated to have heard over 35,000 cases. In an interview at the time of his retirement, Chancellor Neal stated, “We are blessed with outstanding lawyers in the 13th Judicial District, and I believe they compare with lawyers anywhere in the state; good lawyers make a judge’s job so much easier.” Fatality on Billy Zachary Road After several years of no fatalities in Pickett County, a Pall Mall man died in an accident last Saturday night. At around 9:40 p.m., authorities were notified of an accident on Billy Zachary Road off of Highway 325 (Moodyville Road). The accident report indicates that a 2007 Chevy car driven by Phillip Upchurch, 55, of Pall Mall, was traveling north when it left the roadway and struck a tree. Upchurch was not wearing his seatbelt and died at the scene from the injuries he sustained. The accident is being investigated by Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Neil Matthews. Read our Top Stories Do you have a story that Pickett County needs to read? Let us know! About Pickett County Press The Pickett County Press has been Pickett County and Byrdstown's hometown paper since 1962. Since then, the Press has been the keeper and reporter of many community events, such as weddings, deaths, births, political events, tragic destruction from tornadoes, new roads, new schools, new businesses, and many other happenings too numerous to mention. It continues to be the community reporter, reporting on issues important to the citizens of the community. It continues to handle all news material with honesty and accuracy. The Press does not wish to become engaged in any controversy regarding religion or politics, however, it will take a stand against any wrongdoing and support what is right, regardless of whom it many reflect upon. Three generations of the Hill family have been at the helm of the Pickett County Press since its inception. From the Press's beginning, Norman Hill led the way, then his son James E. Hill, and now to present, James' daughters, Jamie and Amanda. The Press is printed each Wednesday with its date of publication being every Thursday. Tennessee Public Notice 23 Courthouse Square Byrdstown, TN 38549 Map \| Hours \| Payments Accepted We accept Visa/Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Cash Pickett County Press • Pickett County Press Byrdstown TN • Pickett County Press Community Newspaper Byrdstown TN • Byrdstown TN Community News • Newspaper Picket County Copyright ©2019 Pickett County Press. All Rights Reserved. Designed by Pickett County Press	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2344
__label__wiki	0.963016	0.963016	You are at:Home»News»African swine fever»Contaminated pig feed sparks further fears over ASF spread in China Contaminated pig feed sparks further fears over ASF spread in China By Alistair Driver on November 12, 2018 African swine fever, News Pig feed in China has become contaminated with African swine fever (ASF) virus, sparking further fears about its potential spread across the country. Major Chinese animal feed maker Tangrenshen Group reported on Sunday that feed produced by one of its units had been contaminated with the virus, according to the Reuters news agency. This is the first reported contamination of feed supplies in China. In a statement to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, the company said the disease was found in feed samples provided by its 51%-owned subsidiary, Bili Meiyingwei Nutrition Feedstuff. The infected feed was discovered during inspections after an outbreak of ASF on a farm in Qingyang county located in the eastern Chinese province of Anhui. The company said the origin of the disease remained unclear and the matter was still under investigation. Following confirmation of the first recorded outbreak in early August, the virus has now reached most of China’s pig-farming regions and has been found in the north and south of the country. The authoririties have struggled to control and this latest development might help explain why. Beijing earlier said many of the cases in Anhui were caused by feeding kitchen waste to pigs that was not properly processed to kill the virus. However, many industry experts have long suspected feed supplies could be contaminated with the disease, Reuters reported. The ASF virus is known to survive for weeks in feed ingredients like soymeal. “I think buyers will be quite worried about purchasing feed from similar subsidiaries,” said Pan Chenjun, senior analyst at Rabobank. She added that major pig producers are already worried about how to verify the safety of their feed supplies. “If there’s any contamination, it’s very difficult to control.” Tangrenshen reported 2017 feed sales of 12.6 billion yuan ($1.81 billion). Like many Chinese feed companies, it has recently moved into pig farming and processing. It acquired Bili Meiyingwei, also known as Shenzhen PREMIXINVE Nutrition Co. Ltd, from Belgian feed maker INVE Belgium in 2016, according to the report. The company said the impact on its operations would be ‘relatively small’, with Bili Meiyingwei accounting for only 2.27 percent of the group’s net profit in the first nine months of 2018. But the group’s shares fell as much as 6.6% on Monday to 4.56 yuan ($0.66). ASF has ravaged small pig farms in Anhui. The authorities had recently lifted restrictions in four cities there after no new cases were reported for six weeks until the weekend when a fresh outbreak was discovered on a farm with 8,339 pigs in Qingyang county in the south of Anhui.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2345
__label__cc	0.614725	0.385275	Coastal Gaslink work camp plans in the Peace River Regional District Austin Cozicar / Pipeline News North A map showing proposed camp locations presented to local communities. Former planned camps are shown with an x. Photograph by: TRANS CANADA Should a positive final investment decision go through, the Peace Region will be bustling with activity as construction on the Coastal GasLink pipeline is slated to begin next year. The pipeline, which will go from the Groundbirch area to Kitimat, is split into eight sections — of which, sections one and two fall in the Peace Region. (Surerus Murphy is the contractor for these two sections). Trans Canada has been keeping local communities in the loop about their current construction plans. “Since LNG Canada announced a delay in mid-2016 which is the last time we were looking for a final investment decision, we’ve continued to optimize our execution plan, to optimize our ancillary sites to make this the most effective construction plan we can make,” says Sunny Deol, construction engineer. In the current set of plans, they say there will be two main camps and a drill camp in the Peace River Regional District. The Chetwynd camp about 6.5 km south of Chetwynd from the junction of Highway 97 and 29. It will have a peak of 650 workers, which would occur in mid-2020. The Sukunka River camp, 40 km southwest of Chetwynd, would have a peak of 680 workers in the Fall of 2020. The drill camp will be located 65 km south of Highway 29, and will be used for initial pioneering activities and drilling activities in mountainous regions. This camp will be “smaller, more contained.” If the go ahead happens before the end of the year, minor ancillary work will begin in early 2019, with a large portion of work starting with clearing in August of that year. reporter@dcdn.ca NOTE: To post a comment you must have an account with at least one of the following services: Disqus, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ You may then login using your account credentials for that service. If you do not already have an account you may register a new profile with Disqus by first clicking the "Post as" button and then the link: "Don't have one? Register a new profile". The Pipeline News North welcomes your opinions and comments. We do not allow personal attacks, offensive language or unsubstantiated allegations. We reserve the right to edit comments for length, style, legality and taste and reproduce them in print, electronic or otherwise. For further information, please contact the editor or publisher, or see our Terms and Conditions. Kinder Morgan Canada income falls despite rise in pipeline ... Popular Industry News	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2346
__label__cc	0.578106	0.421894	Riverbed Granite Named InfoWorld Technology of the Year Groundbreaking Technology Enables Global Organizations to Radically Reduce Operational Burden on IT Managers While Increasing Control at a Lower Cost SAN FRANCISCO—February 19, 2013— Riverbed Technology (NASDAQ: RVBD), the application performance company, today announced that it has been awarded IDG's InfoWorld 2013 Technology of the Year Award for the Riverbed® Granite™ appliance. InfoWorld recognized Riverbed for developing the groundbreaking technology that enables complete consolidation of branch servers and storage while ensuring consistent performance for remote users. As a result, Granite appliances radically reduce the operational burden on IT managers while massively increasing their control over the infrastructure - all at a lower total cost of ownership. "The unique capability of Granite to 'vacuum up' servers and storage from branch and remote offices so they can be centrally controlled in the data center is truly transformational and has been validated by a growing number of customers and now this recognition by InfoWorld as Technology of the Year," said John Martin, senior vice president, product management at Riverbed. "Organizations love the ability to consolidate edge servers and data, get rid of remote backup and improving data security by putting data in secure locations to remove risk. Granite helps customers do these things while cutting costs, improving centralized management and reducing operational burden." Selected by InfoWorld Test Center editors and reviewers, the annual awards identify the best and most innovative products on the IT landscape. Winners are drawn from all of the products tested during the past year, with the final selections made by InfoWorld's Test Center staff. All products reviewed by the Test Center are eligible to win. In the review of Granite 1.0, product tester Keith Schultz stated that "with Granite, IT can collapse server resources -- VMs and storage volumes -- back to the data center while still providing server resources at the branch office. Setup and configuration are minimal, and being able to pin and unpin volumes provides excellent flexibility. It's possible no one ever dreamed of running VMs over the WAN, but now there is a solution -- and Granite is its name." Granite appliances extend the virtual edge of the data center to the branch office, enabling complete consolidation of edge servers and data. This new technology represents an architectural disruption that delivers the best of all worlds: 100% consolidated data and applications and local area network (LAN) performance at the edge over the WAN. Granite appliances enable the provisioning of branch services and storage instantly for increased agility, high availability and improved data protection. By eliminating data at the branch, organizations can also increase the security of data at the edge. "Many years ago we called these our Product of the Year Awards. But product just isn't the right word. Our Technology of the Year Awards are not merely the best products in their class. These are the tools at the leading edge of technology innovation -- the ones that are shaping the way we work and do business," said Doug Dineley, Executive Editor/Test Center, InfoWorld. Riverbed Steelhead appliances running RiOS 7.0 also won the InfoWorld Technology of the Year for Best WAN Accelerator. More details can be found here: http://www.riverbed.com/us/company/news/press_releases/2013/press_021913a. More than 22,000 organizations worldwide depend on Riverbed to understand, optimize and consolidate their IT infrastructure, through solutions that overcome performance issues caused by distance, distributed computing, and ever increasing amounts of data. As IT organizations embark on strategic initiatives to virtualize, consolidate and migrate workloads into cloud environments, users are moved farther from their data. Slow applications, slow file transfers and inefficient websites can negatively impact the performance and success of these initiatives. Riverbed transforms IT performance by providing solutions spanning WAN optimization, edge-VSI, application-aware network performance management, application performance management, application delivery controllers, web content optimization (WCO), and cloud data protection. By providing the broadest portfolio of performance solutions that deliver anywhere, any-application optimization, Riverbed enables organizations to increase productivity and efficiency, while enhancing business resilience and controlling costs. About InfoWorld InfoWorld is the leading resource for content and tools on "modernizing enterprise IT." The InfoWorld Expert Contributor Network provides a unique perspective in the market; our editors provide first-hand experience from testing, deploying, and managing implementation of emerging enterprise technologies. InfoWorld's website (InfoWorld.com) and custom solutions provide a deep dive into specific technologies to help IT decision-makers excel in their roles and provide opportunities for IT vendors to reach this audience. InfoWorld is published by IDG Enterprise, a subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading media, events, and research company. Company information is available at www.idgenterprise.com. About IDG Enterprise IDG Enterprise, an International Data Group (IDG) company, brings together the leading editorial brands (Computerworld, InfoWorld, Network World, CIO, CSO, ITworld, CFOworld and CITEworld) to serve the information needs of our technology and security-focused audiences. As the premier high-tech B2B media company, we leverage the strengths of our premium owned and operated brands, while simultaneously harnessing their collective reach and audience affinity. We provide market leadership and converged marketing solutions for our customers to engage IT and security decision-makers across our portfolio of award-winning websites, events, magazines, products, and services. In addition, the CIO Executive Council -- a peer advisory service -- delivers on the business, technology, and leadership needs for the world's elite CIOs and their respective staffs. IDG's DEMO conferences provide a platform for today's most innovative and eye-opening technologies to publically launch their solutions. Company information is available at www.idgenterprise.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the expected demand for Riverbed's products and services. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include our ability to react to trends and challenges in our business and the markets in which we operate; our ability to anticipate market needs or develop new or enhanced products to meet those needs; the adoption rate of our products; our ability to establish and maintain successful relationships with our distribution partners; our ability to compete in our industry; fluctuations in demand, sales cycles and prices for our products and services; shortages or price fluctuations in our supply chain; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; general political, economic and market conditions and events; and other risks and uncertainties described more fully in our documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. More information about these and other risks that may impact Riverbed's business are set forth in our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 15, 2013. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Any future product, feature or related specification that may be referenced in this release are for information purposes only and are not commitments to deliver any technology or enhancement. Riverbed reserves the right to modify future product plans at any time.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2347
__label__cc	0.575921	0.424079	1991 - graduated School of Visual Arts with a BFA in Media Arts. Spring 1991 - Solo show through SVA Galleries, entitled "Works on Paper" Spring 1991 - Group show at the Art Directors Club, entitled "Illustration as Short Story" Spring 1991 - Group show: "Images of Labor," Gallery 1199, NY 1991 - 1998 - Freelance illustrator, clients include: Lenscrafters, Sun Microsystems, Alfred Knopf, Dartmouth Press 1998 - present - personal work and private commissions I am a painter and collage artist looking for the magic in everyday life. Whether it's the tranquil lake at sunset, or the abandoned country store, I want to honor and capture the beauty I see in the world. I earned a BFA from School of Visual Arts (1991) and today, live in Tennessee with my wife, two kids and our backyard chickens. © Robert Felker 2017 - All rights reserved.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2349
__label__wiki	0.834795	0.834795	Sir Edwin Landseer RA, A horse with a nosebag - in profile, ca.1810. Pencil on cream wove paper. 12.6 cm x 15.8 cm. A horse with a nosebag - in profile, ca.1810 Sir Edwin Landseer RA (1802 - 1873) The young Edwin Landseer produced a prodigious number of studies from horses. Most of these early drawings depict the working carthorses or farm horses he would have seen around him, wearing their reins and nosebags. Landseer could have drawn horses like these in London but he also visited the Essex countryside where Mr W.W. Simpson, a friend and patron of the Landseer family, owned a farm. In 1814, Landseer was awarded the silver 'Isis' medal by the Society of Arts for a drawing of a ‘Hunting Horse’. However, despite his early enthusiasm for drawing horses, dogs were to become the main focus of his adult work. There are a few notable exceptions, however, including 'The Arab Tent' (1866) and ‘Taming the Shrew’ (1861). All objects in this group Artist profile Sir Edwin Landseer RA Elected ARA: 6 November 1826 Elected RA: 10 February 1831 Born: 7 March 1802 Died: 1 October 1873 A horse with a nosebag - in profile ca.1810 Pencil on cream wove paper Given by Sir John Aird 1883	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2358
__label__wiki	0.944146	0.944146	Opposition leaders reject posts in Ukraine government Three leaders of the opposition, head of UDAR (Punch) party Vitali Klitschko (L), head of the Svoboda party Oleh Tyagnybok (C) and Arseniy Yatsenyuk (3rd R) (AFP Photo / Genya Savilov) © AFP Ukrainian opposition leaders are not ready to accept the president’s offer of top government positions. The sides have agreed on several concessions, including an amnesty for detained protesters in exchange for freeing government buildings and roads. Batkivshina (Fatherland) opposition party leader Arseny Yatsenyuk has rejected the proposal to head the Ukrainian government, and UDAR party leader Vitaly Klitschko has refused the offer to become deputy prime minister for humanitarian affairs. “Arseny Yatsenyuk didn't give a consent to head the government. Negotiations will be continued,” the presidential press service reported on Tuesday night. President Yanukovich earlier proposed the post of prime minister to Yatsenyuk, promising to dismiss current PM Nikolay Azarov and his cabinet from office. The Verkhovna Rada, Ukrainian parliament, is set to discuss the question of “cabinet responsibility” on Tuesday, Minister of Justice Elena Lukash confirmed. According to Ukrainian law, a vote of no confidence would lead to the dismissal of the government – one of the main demands of the opposition. Meanwhile, Vitaly Klitschko said that he is not considering the possibility of becoming part of “Yanukovich’s government.” “It makes no sense to discuss my work in the government,” Klitschko told his supporters, adding that when the question arose during the negotiations with the government, he “immediately said that the issue was not worth discussing.” Klitschko also warned authorities against imposing a state of emergency, saying this will cause an escalation of tensions. Just hours later, the White House announced that US Vice President Joe Biden called Yanukovich to warn him of exactly the same thing. "[Biden] underscored that the US condemns the use of violence by any side, and warned that declaring a State of Emergency or enacting other harsh security measures would further inflame the situation and close the space for a peaceful resolution," the White House said. The same message was echoed by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who is scheduled to arrive in Kiev on Tuesday night. "I am alarmed by reports that the government is planning to declare a state of emergency," Ashton said. She stated that such a move by Ukrainian authorities would create “a further downward spiral” that would “benefit no one.” Ashton also urged opposition leaders to “dissociate themselves from those who resort to violence.” Ukraine’s government and opposition agreed to cancel anti-riot laws adopted by parliament on January 16, which established tough consequences for violations committed during mass unrest, Lukash said. “The political decision was made to cancel those laws adopted on January 16, which caused numerous debates,” the announcement read. Lukash also noted that laws which did not cause a mass outcry will be further discussed during an emergency meeting of the Ukrainian parliament on Tuesday. She added that the legislature will be in line with the “European level.” The two sides also agreed to a conditional amnesty for prisoners detained by police in the unrest, if protesters hand over control of all premises and roads seized in recent days. "Our side has insisted on the following precondition for that law. The amnesty will take force only after all occupied buildings and roads are freed,” Lukash said. Ukraine unrest timeline Ukrainian protesters set up catapult to fire at police (PHOTO, VIDEO) Molotovs v tear gas: Unrest in Ukraine’s capital enters second day Ukrainian opposition urges snap elections, continues protests despite PM position offer Ukraine Justice Ministry seized by rioters Communists rule out violent ‘Ukrainian’ scenario in Russia US, European diplomats meet with radicals in Kiev, see ‘no threat’ from them	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2359
__label__cc	0.729551	0.270449	Marriage Attorney Sturgeon Bay Comprehensive job search engine. find Lawyer brandon marriage attorney York state child support enforcement Immigration marriage fraud business Emails and other documents obtained by The Associated Press show the relationship had gone on for years – even as the priest heard her confessions, counseled her husband on their marriage and.. Marriage Attorney Ripon Career: Show: The Mark Levin Show LevinTV Life, Liberty & Levin: Station(s) WABC, WMAL, + 300 others: Network: This article is part of a series on: Conservatism in the United StatesFamily Law Attorney Genesee Depot Guardianship Attorney Colgate 2017 Divorce or Guardianship? What About Both?. Colgate University, B.A. Contact Information. Email. Magnolia D. Levy. She proud of her involvement with Judges and lawyers breast cancer Alert and serves on the Board of Directors, the Membership Committee and the Advisory Board Committee..Family Law in Genesee County. Most of the time, Family law in Michigan is handled by private attorneys who specialize in divorces, annulments, child support and other areas of Family law. These Family attorneys in Genesee County use an hourly billing structure for their Family Law cases. This means that you will be required to pay your lawyer a. Attorney Watertown Marriage – Ruskcountylaw – Contents Attorney oakfield marriage attorney shawano county Attorney..oakfield traffic ticket lawyer Profile murder trials Da.top sturgeon bay family lawyers Family. Continue Reading Guardianship Attorney Van Dyne Find Marriage Counseling Therapists, Psychologists and Marriage Counseling in Sturgeon Bay, Door County, Wisconsin, get help for Marriage Counseling in Sturgeon Bay. Need an attorney in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin? FindLaw’s Lawyer Directory is the largest online directory of attorneys. Browse more than one million listings, covering everything from criminal defense to personal injury to estate planning. 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Among other publications he is the author of a widely circulated paper on the regulation of charities in Canada and a second paper on the operation of businesses by charities both published by the C.D. Howe Institute.Adam is also a noted speaker and has presented to, amongst others, the C.D. Howe Institute, York University Continuing Legal Education Program, the Legal Education Society of. Child Support lawyer brandon marriage attorney Green Bay The family law attorneys of Czachor, Polack & Borchardt can handle your divorce, alimony and child support issues.. A prenuptial agreement can provide directives for how property is distributed to children of the first marriage. Often, property is put into a living trust.. Divorce Attorney Sturgeon Bay If being served divorce papers has caught you off guard, you need to get the divorce attorney serving Sturgeon Bay to come to your aid. At Vanden Heuvel & Dineen, S.C., our Door County divorce lawyers specialize in family law matters, and we’ve done so for decades. Child Support Lawyer Eureka NYS DCSS \| New York Child Support – New york state child support enforcement site provides information about how the amount of a child support payment is decided based on parents’ income levels and other factors. Parents can log in to check payments. Information for employers and providers. No marriage shall be contracted between persons who are nearer of kin than second cousins, except that marriage may be contracted between first cousins where the female has attained the age of 55 years or either party has documented proof of sterilization. Commom Law Marriages: No. Common Law marriages are not recognized in Wisconsin. Panama City marriage fraud conspirator pleads guilty – According to a press release from Lawrence Keefe, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, Kolla operated an immigration marriage fraud business in Bay County between February 2017 and. Our Statement Join Naomi Klein, Ilan Pappé, Ronnie Kasrils, Sarah Jaffe, Rebecca Vilkomerson & many more, to say: We are Jews who stand with Representative Ilhan Omar. ← Child Custody Lawyer Oakfield Child Custody Lawyer Randolph →	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2360
__label__cc	0.64137	0.35863	Kelly & Dante- Grand Tradition Fallbrook Wedding We Love Dante & Kelly! If you know them, you'd love them Too! How They Met & Fell In Love October 23rd 2010, Kelly was hosting a birthday party for her roommate at their house by San Diego State and the birthday girl invited Dante since they were coworkers. Kelly was dating someone else at the time, so when she met Dante, they only had the option for friendship but they connected instantly. Dante remembers seeing Kelly for the first time and thinking what a great beer pong player she was... and I guess she was pretty too! After bonding with Kelly's cousin over anime, she knew he was someone worth sticking around for because if he took the time to care for her family when he didn't even know her well, he would be amazing to her family if they were to date each other. Kelly was hesitant to start a new relationship months later, but when her best friend Erin moved home from Germany and met Dante, she said "If you don't scoop him up now, you will lose him forever. He isn't someone you let get away." After finally giving it a try, Kelly and Dante were inseparable and in March 2017 after 6 years of dating, they got engaged surrounded by family and friends in a surprise engagement party planned by Dante at Balboa Park! Dante's three words to describe Kelly:Strong, Caring & Beautiful! Kelly's Three words to describe Dante: Talented, Selfless and Intelligent Dante bought Kelly an engagement ring that has three solitaire stones in it. One for their past, one for their present and one for their future. It was important to signify that their past gave them a strong foundation, their present was meant to be enjoyed, and their future was the best there was to come. Dante & Kelly's favorite activities together-Camping, Cooking, and watching Football. They also Enjoy Playing Sports (Dante played Division 1 football at SDSU!) Dante's joyful reaction as he see's his bride marching in the aisle. A beautiful gesture of the bride's father as he gave away her daughter.... The marriage vow "I Dante, take you Kelly to be my wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow and I promise my love to you for as long as we both shall live." - Dante "I, Kelley, take you Dante to be my husband to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow and I promise my love to you for as long as we both shall live." - Kelly Kelly has quite a TALL Family with 1 family member at 6 Ft 10 and 1 at 7 Feet. Can you tell who we're talking about? We really appreciated the homage and respect they gave to their dearly departed loved ones. "We lost our mom of March 8, 2010. My sister's favorite meal my mom used to make was struffoli. Every March 8, Dante uses my mom's recipe and makes that struffoli for Kelley. He calls it "Mom's Day" and makes it important. Dante, I know she would've adored you." "Dante has a gentle soul and he is so welcomed in our family he is the most powerful man I have ever share brohugs with. Welcome aboard Dante!" You may now kiss the bride The wedding could not have been more beautiful. It was a day in celebration of Kelly and Dante’s love and we are so grateful to be a part of it. Destination Weddings, Love Stories, Photography, Vimeo, Wedding FilmsBrandon Murphy July 10, 2018 Comment Destination Weddings, Vimeo, Wedding Films, VideoBrandon Murphy July 20, 2018 Coronado Island Marriott Kayla & Mike's Darlington House La Jolla Wedding Destination Weddings, Love Stories, Photography, Uncategorized, Vimeo, Wedding FilmsBrandon Murphy July 6, 2018 #destinationweddings, #rjfilms, #rjweddingfilms	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2361
__label__wiki	0.732002	0.732002	Samsung Health 6.0 Press Release_0912.pdf Samsung Announces Latest Updates to Samsung Health for a More Interactive and Personalized Health and Wellness Experience Samsung Health continues to drive health and wellness innovation with enhanced personalization, accessibility and wearable integration SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – September 12, 2018 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd today announced a new version of the Samsung Health app, Samsung Health1 6.0, including updated health and fitness tools, a new UI, and increased personalization to empower users to take greater control of their health and wellness. Now with over 65 million monthly active users worldwide, Samsung Health’s next iteration delivers a more personalized digital health platform. “At Samsung, we are committed to empowering users with the tools to manage their own health and well-being,” said Peter Koo, SVP and Head of the Health Service Team at Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “We’re proud to deliver a service that continues to redefine the health and fitness experience, with new features to help our users to achieve and exceed their health goals.” More interactive and personalized content built around you With an updated user experience, more user-friendly visual design and new features, Samsung Health 6.0 is more intuitive, interactive, personalized and easier to navigate. Taking user feedback and the latest design trends into consideration, the Samsung Health home screen is now simplified, categorized and prioritized according to the user’s personal needs and habits, so that users can quickly view and access preferred features. The improved ‘Together’ tab now allows users to share photos and celebrate fitness milestones and achievements with friends all within the app. Users can also connect with Samsung’s community of users around the world to exchange texts and photos, compare achievements and encourage each other to do more to reach wellness goals together by participating in the monthly ‘Global Challenge’. The updated ‘Discover2’ tab provides a more tailored user experience, allowing users to easily find health-related content – including articles, programs and partner apps – based on their interests and level of fitness. Additionally, users can now purchase wearables, accessories, and health-related goods and services all within the platform3. Samsung Health is also committed to strengthening its collaboration with partners to expand its digital health ecosystem and provide the best experience to users. Samsung Health now supports a complete set of SDKs for app and web service integration. This enables strategic partners to expand their services and enhance user experience. With the latest user interface and updated ‘Discover’ feature, users can find services quickly and easily, giving partners enhanced visibility of their apps, products, and content4. Samsung Health on Samsung smartwatches - the ultimate fitness companion The newly enhanced Samsung Health interface on Samsung wearables and smartwatches features more at-a-glance information, a workout countdown, GPS and heart rate tracking information, all available with the tap of a button. With the latest update, users can now choose from 39 different exercises and track their fitness progress when they pair with a Samsung wearable device or smartwatch. The latest Samsung smartwatch, Galaxy Watch, also allows the application to detect one of the 39 different exercises, and record data even when users switch between activities – such as from running to cycling – tracking the entire workout from start to finish5. Users can get more out of their Samsung smartwatch, even when the workout is over, with Samsung Health’s new wellness and stress management features. With ‘Sleep Stage Detection,’ users can track their sleep cycles to improve sleep habits. Users can also manage stress in real-time through heart rate and heart rate variability monitoring, as well as with a guided breathing exercise program. Samsung Health’s telehealth offerings put you in control Samsung Health strives to provide more intuitive and accessible healthcare options for consumers globally. Samsung Health includes ‘Symptom Checker’ and ‘Ask an Expert6,’ which allow users to access medical information, look up symptoms, manage prescriptions and even chat live with certified doctors, all within a single application. Additionally, Samsung Health has built a partner ecosystem with well-known health brands, like Babylon (UK) and American Well (US), creating many more ways for users to improve their health and wellbeing. Since its launch in 2012, “S Health”, a basic nutrition and fitness tracker available on select Galaxy smartphones, has grown to “Samsung Health,” a comprehensive digital health platform. It now includes interactive health features - such as telemedicine, competitions and personalized tips - across a broad range of Samsung and non-Samsung devices. The latest Samsung Health app can be downloaded via the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Apps2 . To find out more about Samsung Health, please go to: http://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/apps/samsung-health/. About Samsung Health Samsung Health is an all-in-one companion for your healthy lifestyle. With Samsung Health, you can track your everyday activities, get coaching to reach your goals, and even connect with healthcare professionals in real time, straight from your phone or wearable device. Samsung Health opens up a global health community by enabling users to compete in challenges or go head-to-head with friends to achieve milestones. Through new technologies, combined with a wide range of partners in fitness, wellness, and healthcare management, Samsung Health offers secure, easily accessible, highly personalized and continuous health management. This reflects Samsung Electronics’ commitment to empowering users and delivering innovations that help improve people’s lives. Please visit http://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/apps/samsung-health/ to learn more. About Samsung Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com. 1 Samsung Health is intended for fitness and wellness purposes only and is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. Tablets and some mobile devices may not be supported. Samsung Health requires Android OS 5.0 or above, iPhone 5 and above with iOS 9 and above installed. Available functions, features and addable applications may vary by region, service provider, and device specifications. 2 Availability varies by region. 3 Product listings may vary by market. 4 Samsung Health continues to support all third-party applications using Samsung’s SDK. Data integration of some third-party vendors may not be compatible. 5Continuous tracking is currently available for Galaxy Watch. 6 Service currently available in U.S. and U.K. for Symptom Checker and in China, India, U.S. and U.K for Ask an Expert. Stories September 01, 2018 Live Smart with Galaxy Watch	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2365
__label__wiki	0.634102	0.634102	FELT AND FUR // DEATH STAIR // BOYISH CHARM // IIDOLS Doors @ 8pm 21 & Up - $5 FELT & FUR North Texas synth-pop trio Felt & Fur create dark danceable energy with eurythmic emotional charge. Alizsha Pennington's pleading lyrics paired with her dramatic guitar riffs offer a solemn counter to the pulsing keyboard melodies, pounding percussion and warm analogue synths of Randall Minick and Jarrod Estes to collectively form the perfect symbiosis of chaos and ritual. In November 2018, Felt & Fur's sophomore album Held made its debut release on Triptych Records and was quickly heralded as 2018 "Album of the Year" in the local press. The album's single, "Pulling a Thread" made "Song of the Day" in Central Track, Dallas' premier culture guide and "Music Video of the Day" in White Light White Heat. Driven by organic spacious keyboards, reverb-laden static, and hissing drones that grow to literally charge the air, Held features hypnotic, driving rhythms, spatial chord progressions and deep, repetitive, trance-inducing scapes of sound. Layered with rich tones, dynamic volume and enormous emotional range, Pennington's agonizing and dramatic vocals serve as guide through the labyrinth of penetrating, enduring synth pulsations generated by Minick and Estes. https://triptychrecords.com/feltandfur https://feltandfur.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/feltandfur/ DEATH STAIR NOLA Darkwave with pop sensibilities. New Album Stardust Made Flesh out now: https://deathstair.bandcamp.com/album/stardust-made-flesh BOYISH CHARM Sulky sparkly dark rock duo with pop sensibilities from NOLA https://www.facebook.com/boyishcharmlovesyou/ https://boyishcharm.bandcamp.com/releases IIDOLS Dreary synth drone pop // solo project of Wyatt Reverie https://www.facebook.com/IIdols-289698571898293/ https://iidols.bandcamp.com/releases FRANKS AND DEANS	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2366
__label__cc	0.641453	0.358547	National Coaches Rules of Squash Public Courts in Singapore League Information League Resources Junior Ranking Senior Tournaments Overseas Tournaments Mini Squash Schools / Tertiary Institutions Squash Clubs Singapore Squash Rackets Association (SSRA) Started in the 1980s, the National Squash League (NSL) is the LONGEST running Sports league in Singapore. NSL is organized by SSRA. Players are categorized according to their playing proficiency levels and the breakdowns of the different grades are as follows: A Grade (Being the highest proficiency level) B Grade C Grade D Grade E Grade F Grade Men Veterans 1 (Above 40 Years old, A Grade and below) Men Veterans 2 (Above 40 Years old, D Grade and below) Ladies Division 1 (Ladies C and D Grade) Ladies Division 2 (Ladies E and F Grade) SSRA’s existing Individual Player grading system ensures a fair and competitive environment. Most importantly, it engages squash enthusiasts of all age groups and competency levels to participate in competitive tournaments. Coordinators are assigned to each grade and all players’ performance are duly documented for grade promotion review at the end of each season. NSL is held annually and the season runs from March till end August / September. Matches are played on a weekly basis with Teams competing in a TIE with best of 4 matches. Each match to the best of 5 games. The accumulation of points won from each match marks the standings of each team. Eligibility of Players Any member of a club or organization that is affiliated to SSRA can play in the League. An entry fee, as determined by the Sub-Committee, shall be charged for each player and shall be paid to the SSRA at time of entry application. Full names, Identity Card/Passport numbers, email address and contact number of players shall be registered with the SSRA for the league. Registration and Seeding of Players Each team in the Main and Ladies leagues can register a maximum of 15 players. Clubs must register all players in order of merit. The team line-up submitted to the Sub-Committee must be in compliance with the prevailing SSRA grading list NSL grading exercise marks the beginning of the League, this happens typically in the months of November/December annually. Registration of teams would follow in mid January of the following year. Deadline for team entries is around late February. In case of queries, you may contact the Office at 63455675 or drop us an email at info@sgsquash.com / benson@sgsquash.com. WARNING to Players on Heath Conditions If you are feeling unwell or having symptoms including but not confining to dizziness, nausea, increased or irregular heartbeat, chest discomfort with light headedness, sweating, shortness of breath prior to your attendance or taking part in any squash events, you should refrain from participating in the said activity or event. If you are having any of the above-mentioned symptoms during any squash events or competitions, or in the event of experiencing any discomfort or illness, you should immediately stop the activity and seek medical advice / treatment. Strenuous exercises are not suitable for those who are pregnant or who have contracted influenza; or are suffering from chronic illnesses; and after having taken medicine or alcohol. 3 Stadium Drive #01-33 The National Stadium, SportsHub Singapore 397630 Phone: (+65) 63455675 © SGSquash 2018	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2372
__label__wiki	0.978358	0.978358	F1 legend Mika Hakkinen launches campaign to tackle drink-driving F1 legend Mike Hakkinen brought a supercar to Holyrood as he launched a campaign to tackle drink-driving. Picture: PA Wire LUCINDA CAMERON Published: 15:03 Updated: 15:12 Thursday 06 December 2018 Formula One legend Mika Hakkinen brought a supercar to Holyrood as he launched a festive campaign urging people to never drink and drive. The two-time F1 champion, a former teammate of Scots driving ace David Coulthard at McLaren, is calling on people to back the #JOINTHEPACT campaign, a global initiative encouraging motorists never to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol. Hakkinen, who leads the campaign globally for Diageo and Johnnie Walker, brought the Johnnie Walker Caparo T1 supercar to the Scottish Parliament on Thursday for the launch of the campaign in Scotland. He said: “I am delighted to be back in Scotland with the Join The Pact campaign, particularly at this time of year as people prepare for Christmas and New Year, which I know is a major celebration for Scots. “We want everyone to enjoy the festive season safely and responsibly, and that means never drinking and driving. “We want to reach as many drivers as we can in Scotland with the campaign.” READ MORE: SNP signals further tax hikes for middle class Scotland So far in 2018, more than seven million people around the world have signed up to #JOINTHEPACT and more than 14 million people in total have made their commitment since 2008. Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “The anti-drink drive message is a crucial one all year round but it is particularly important at this time of year as people prepare to celebrate the festive season. “That’s why I’m delighted to support the Join The Pact campaign and to welcome Mika Hakkinen and Diageo to the Scottish Parliament to help encourage people in Scotland to never drink and drive. “Formula One is enormously popular and it is a great initiative to use that power to reach as many people as possible throughout Scotland with the never drink and drive message.” As part of the Scottish campaign, Hakkinen will also visit prominent spots around the capital with the car over the next few days, including the Ghillie Dhu in Rutland Place and Edinburgh Airport, where the vehicle will be on display over the weekend. Diageo chairman David Cutter said: “We are very proud of the impact we’ve made around the world with the Join The Pact campaign, with over 14 million people making the pledge to never drink and drive. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe 'transferred to Iranian mental ward' “We’re delighted to bring the campaign to the home of our Scotch whisky distilling business and to support the efforts of the Scottish Government to tackle drink driving here in Scotland. “We would like to thank parliamentarians of all parties for joining us to promote this vital public safety message during the festive season.” These are the 38 worst roads in Scotland for fatal vehicle accidents	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2376
__label__wiki	0.72886	0.72886	Lara Almarcegui, Construction Rubble of Secession's Main Hall, 2010, Installation View, Secession 2010, Photo: Wolfgang Thaler Lara Almarcegui September 10 – November 7, 2010 In her projects, the Spanish-born artist Lara Almarcegui, who lives in Rotterdam, examines processes of urban transformation brought on by political, social, and economic change. Since the mid-1990s, she has studied urban features that are not usually the focus of attention: wastelands, construction materials, invisible elements. In her first solo show in Austria, Lara Almarcegui has created three new works for the Secession that relate closely to the city of Vienna and to the historic exhibition house while also recurring to earlier works the artist developed in various cities all over the world. Lara Almarcegui frequently works outdoors. She has already implemented numerous international projects, from the restoration of a market hall slated for demolition in San Sebastián (Spain) to close studies of derelict lots in Rotterdam, Bilbao, São Paulo, Lisbon, and Amsterdam. She collects historical, geographic, ecological, and sociological data about vacant areas in the urban space that will soon have changed, documenting them and interviewing experts. “One wasteland has very different characteristics from the next. I try to present each site in as much detail as I can, zoom in a lot, try to present the uniqueness of each site.” Lara Almarcegui bundles the information she gathers in Guides, brochures that present the past, present, and future of the vacant lots—some had been put to public, some to private uses—in an objective and matter-of-fact fashion. Like her other Guides, the brochure Brachflächen am Nordbahnhof, Wien / Wastelands at Nordbahnhof, Vienna, steers clear of romanticizing any sort of patina, of a sentimental view of the past. The derelict areas Lara Almarcegui studies are located on the grounds of the Nordbahnhof railway station in Vienna’s 2nd district. Once the Habsburg monarchy’s largest and most important railway station, the Nordbahnhof sustained massive damage in World War II; it was finally demolished in the 1960s. Where a paraffin depot and old coal-yards stood, nature is now slowly reconquering the land. According to the general development concept for the area from 1994, a request for proposals for detailed urban development plans will be issued in 2012. The concept calls for the creation of residential buildings, while part of the area will be retained as recreational green space. In her Guides, Lara Almarcegui documents the current undefined state of an area in transition. “I always think it is good to know what is going on in urban planning in a city. Wastelands are important because they are the only places in the city that remain without definition. Untouched by design, everything that takes place in them happens by chance and not according to a plan. […] I see great value in this lack of a design, and that is why I would like to ‘preserve’ these wastelands in my works, if that is possible and makes sense,” the artist says. For the duration of the exhibition, the brochure Brachflächen am Nordbahnhof, Wien / Wastelands at Nordbahnhof, Vienna will be available in the lobby at the Secession and at the neighbourhood management office in the 2nd district (Max-Winter-Platz 23). Visitors are invited to explore the area around the Nordbahnhof and to form their own picture. But, the artist also says, “even if people never go to the Nordbahnhof, they now know that these wastelands exist and have specific information.” Lara Almarcegui renders visible what we otherwise fail to regard, see, or notice. She deconstructs in order to uncover—including a view of the utopia of the future. In Bauschutt Hauptraum Secession / Construction Rubble of Secession’s Main Hall, Lara Almarcegui takes stock of the construction materials used to build the main hall of the exhibition building by heaping up piles of these materials—all products of recycling processes—a work that also considers a vision of a possible future use. The exhibition hall with its aura is transmuted into shapeless heaps. What would happen with these tons of concrete, wood, terrazzo, brick, mortar, glass, plaster, polystyrene, and steel if they were to return into the circulation of the construction industry? Which new constructions might arise out of the materials that now constitute the Secession’s main hall? Lara Almarcegui’s work for the Secession represents an elaboration of earlier works. In 2003, she analyzed the FRAC building in Dijon, representing it with new materials. In 2006, she calculated the total amount of various construction materials in the entire city of São Paulo, exhibiting the results as a chart during the São Paulo Biennial: a condensed representation of facts, supported by solid research, on a single sheet of paper displaying, in a tangle of numbers, what holds an entire city together; buildings, areas, and construction supplies as the material basis not only of the built structure but also of an organism of social structures that pervades them—and fills them with meaning. A poetic work awaits visitors in the Grafisches Kabinett. Here, too, the artist has uncovered: in a quiet process concealed from the public, she has performed a Removal of the Wooden Floor / Abtragen des Parkettbodens, Grafisches Kabinett Secession and then reconstructed the floor. “The question was not so much: What can I do to improve a certain place?, but rather: What can I learn from this place?,” the artist says. What remains is the documentation of an almost invisible process and the recognition on the part of visitors that they are at—are standing on—the very scene of this process. Their attention is turned to what underlies it—it is no longer accessible—and to a process that has come to a conclusion and nonetheless remains present. With her current show at the Secession, Lara Almarcegui draws a connecting line from outdoors to indoors and from inside to even deeper inside. A dialectic of visibility emerges, and a dynamic that also informs everyday processes in the urban space. What Lara Almarcegui says about her work in the Grafisches Kabinett may serve as a description of her exhibition as a whole: “I work outside in the city and begin to approach the exhibition space with a critical eye. Removing the floor is my way of learning more about the place, of connecting the space to the building, to the materials, the past, and the urban structure.” Lara Almarcegui, born in Zaragoza (Spain) in 1972, lives and works in Rotterdam. About 80 colour illustrations Texts: Lara Almarcegui, Anna Minton Article sold out!	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2377
__label__cc	0.583487	0.416513	Tea Party Rules (Hardcover) By Ame Dyckman, K. G. Campbell (Illustrator) An award-winning book by a New York Times bestselling author! When he follows his nose through the woods, Cub discovers a backyard tea party…with cookies! He is just about to dig in when the hostess of the tea party shows up. And she has several strong opinions on how Tea Party must be played. Cub tries to follow her rules . . . but just how much can one bear take, even for cookies? A laugh-out-loud funny look at the required give-and-take of playtime, Tea Party Rules is an eventual friendship story that will delight grubby cubs, fancy girls, and cookie lovers everywhere. Ame Dyckman writes picture books, hula hoops, and puts coins in people's parking meters. She lives in New Jersey with her family and pets: black cats, hermit crabs, fish, and a demanding-but-adorable squirrel named Willie. She is the author of Boy and Bot, about which The New York Times wrote, "It's simply impossible to imagine . . . not wanting to be friends with this book," as well as Tea Party Rules, winner of the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award. Follow Ame on Twitter @AmeDyckman. * "Strong storytelling, pacing, emotive illustrations that match the deceptive plot and an exuberant sense of fun make this little gem a winner."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review * "Dyckman’s (Boy and Bot) and Campbell’s (Flora and Ulysses) story is like a pretty petit four with an unexpectedly zingy filling."--Publishers Weekly, starred review * "Dyckman (Boy and Bot, 2012) and Campbell (Flora and Ulysses, 2013) are a winning pair, using their comedic chops to pace the story beautifully. . . . This battle of wills between two charmers hits just the right note."--Booklist, starred review, Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers Publication Date: October 3rd, 2013 Maximum Grade Level: K Kobo eBook (October 3rd, 2013): $10.99	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2388
__label__wiki	0.593204	0.593204	Rafael Nadal - Roger Federer Wimbledon • semi-final Tip : Rafael Nadal win Odds : 2.1 at William Hill William Hill welcome bonus offered to bet on Rafael Nadal - Roger Federer! Tip Rafael Nadal - Roger Federer Not since the 2008 final have these two met at Wimbledon. Roger Federer has a 2-1 lead over Rafael Nadal in matches played on grass but is 24-15 down on all surfaces. Their last meeting was in the French Open semi-final this year when Nadal ran out an easy winner on his beloved clay. That ended a run of six wins in a row for Federer and was the first time Nadal had beaten Federer since 2014. Federer has made steady progress in this tournament dropping only two sets, both the first ones. He is bidding to win his ninth Wimbledon title but with Nadal and most likely Djokovic to beat to achieve that, it's a tough ask. Rafael Nadal is the third seed for this tournament after Wimbledon bosses decided to seed Federer higher than him. You sense he'd love to prove them wrong by winning this match. His form at this tournament isn't of his usual standards. He last reached the final in 2011 and had to wait until last year to again reach the last four. He has only dropped one set on his way to this semi-final and has already reached the final of the Australian Open and won the French Open (no change there). This is sure to be a great match and could well be the last time they face each other at Wimbledon. Federer usually has the edge on grass and he can win this to reach his 12th Wimbledon final. William Hill welcome bonus offered to bet on Rafael Nadal - Roger Federer! Currently at William Hill. Key points Rafael Nadal - Roger Federer Roger Federer has won two of his three meetings on grass against Rafael Nadal. Roger Federer has won six of his last seven matches against Rafael Nadal. Rafael Nadal has only beaten Roger Federer once since 2014 and that was on clay. Conclusion Rafael Nadal - Roger Federer Federer v Nadal has been one of the all-time great rivalries in tennis. This is their first meeting at Wimbledon since 2008, more to do wiith Nadal's inconsistent performances here in that time. Federer leads his rival 2-1 on grass and has won six of their last seven meetings. Both have made steady progress in this tournament and the tip is for Federer to get the win in this match. Rafael Nadal Roger Federer Prediction published on July 11, 2019 The best odds for betting Rafael Nadal - Roger Federer If Rafael Nadal wins you will win åbonus% X 2.28 = åtotal% If Roger Federer wins you will win åbonus% X 1.75 = åtotal%	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2390
__label__wiki	0.999561	0.999561	Asylum seeker dies after suffering burns to 90 per cent of his body By Patrick Hatch, David Wroe and Judith Ireland June 1, 2014 — 3.20pm A Tamil asylum seeker on a bridging visa has died with burns to 90 cent of his body after apparently dousing himself in petrol and setting himself on fire in Geelong. A spokesman for the Tamil Refugee Council said 29-year-old Leo Seemanpillai feared being sent back to Sri Lanka. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Seemanpillai arrived in Darwin by boat in January 2013 and was first granted a bridging visa last May. He was taken to the Alfred Hospital on Saturday before dying of his injuries overnight. Tamil asylum seeker Leo Seemanpillai. Credit:Combined Refugee Action Group/Facebook Tamil Refugee Council spokesman Aran Mylvaganam said he had known Mr Seemanpillai for 13 months, and was at his bedside on Saturday night. He said both his parents lived in a refugee camp in India, and were in shock over their son's death. "He feared for his life if he was returned to Sri Lanka," Mr Mylvaganam said. "His housemates have told me he repeatedly talked about being sent back, he was quite worried about it." Trevor Grant, a convenor at the Tamil Refugee Council, said: "He knew that if he was sent back he'd face persecution from the military." Mr Grant said Mr Seemanpillai suffered depression after fleeing Sri Lanka about five years ago and living in a refugee camp in India. Mr Grant said he understood Mr Seemanpillai had a soft drink bottle full of petrol which he poured on himself and set himself alight. Mr Mylvaganam said that Mr Seemanpillai had previously expressed his wish to be an organ donor, and his liver, an eye, both kidneys and a lung were removed for donation. "We were in communication with the family last night and they wanted his organs to be donated, and as a result five people have benefited," he said. Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said paramedics were called to West Fyans Street in the Geelong suburb of Newtown at 11.38am on Saturday. Mr Mullen said the man was doused in petrol, which had been ignited, causing "full thickness" burns to nearly 100 per cent of his body. A Victoria Police spokesman said: "At this stage we believe the injuries were self inflicted." Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said the government was working with the hospital to make funeral arrangements. ''I and the department and the government extend our deepest sympathies to his family and to his friends who are here in Australia,'' he said. In April, another Tamil asylum seeker, identified as Janarthanan, doused himself in petrol and set himself alight in Sydney after a government decision to deport him back to Sri Lanka. The tragedy came as Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said that an 18-year-old asylum-seeker had tried to kill himself on Christmas Island and several dozen detainees on the island remained on a hunger strike. "This is the tragic, human consequence of the government's cruel refugee policy," Senator Hanson-Young said. "A young man came to Australia, asking for our help, and we are failing him.'' Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Mr Seemanpillai's organs were removed prior to death. Most Viewed in Politics	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2399
__label__cc	0.648429	0.351571	Kendra Mullison Kendra is using Smore newsletters to spread the word online. Get email updates from Kendra: Follow Kendra Mullison Contact Kendra Mullison a newsletter of the Montana Library Association [ December 2015 Vol. 33 Issue 6 ] - Message from the President - IT'S A WONDERFUL LIBRARY by Dawn Kingstad, President of the Montana Library Association "It’s Christmas Eve! It’s … it’s the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we…we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be!" – Frank Cross, Scrooged I love the holiday season. I love the blinking lights, the tinsel and glitter, the smell of gingerbread, and the Christmas music. I give Buddy the Elf a run for his money in the holiday cheer department. But the thing I enjoy most about the holiday season is the optimism and hope. This time of year gives us a chance to reflect on the outcomes of the last year and aspire to be better versions of our current selves. Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of the year, we forget a very important aspect of our profession. What kind of environment do we provide? What impression do we leave on our patrons when they leave the building? People will forget what you have said or done, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Are we greeting our patrons or are we staying at our desk? What is our library atmosphere? Are library materials easy for our patrons to find and use? In general, do we give the vibe of being welcoming or do we unconsciously giving the message to stay away? During the holiday season, I love to watch Christmas movies. I have my favorites that I always watch during this time of year. My two favorites also help me reflect on the events of the year. I reflect on my professional and personal progress and ask myself what worked and what could I have done differently. Much like the characters in my favorite shows I examine my social interactions and how I can improve in the future. My absolute favorite holiday movie is “Scrooged” starring Bill Murray. The transformation of the modern day Scrooge is astounding. Frank (Scrooge) goes from a greedy, money hungry television executive, clawing his way to the top, no matter what morals he has to throw away, to a more humble and caring individual who is willing to give up his fame and fortune for a second chance at love. Though I love Scrooged, I feel another of my favorites “It’s a Wonderful Life” starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed has more important message to convey. George Bailey has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls. He has put his hopes and dreams on hold so that he can work tirelessly on making sure that the community does not fall into peril. His Uncle Billy misplaces $8,000 dollars and forces George into a difficult position with the possibility of ending up in jail. George believes that his family and the community would be better off without him and he contemplates suicide. With a help of a guardian angel, George realizes that he has touched many people in a positive way and that his life has truly been a wonderful one. Working at a library we might not realize how our demeanor and actions can affect our patrons and the community. Often the way we justify keeping a service or a program is by the attendance. How many patrons were there? How has the patron increased from last year to this year? What is the cost of continuing to run the program? Many times the deciding factor on continuing a service is dependent on the statistical support we have gathered. While trying to statistically validate what we do we may not see how we have influenced our community in a positive way. Since June, I have been implementing the curriculum for our local Baby Bookworm Story-time. I also have created a local Sensory Story-time that has been meeting for almost two years now. The story-times are my favorite part of my week. I love to interact with the youngest readers. I love to see their passion for learning and to be part of their first milestones is awe inspiring. We have been making edible slime, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom cookies, listening to bird calls, wearing our pjs, making tree decorations, playing in shaving cream, and many other activities. The kids know that when they come to our library they can be kids. It’s okay to be loud. It’s okay to be messy. It’s okay if we don’t always share. Sometimes I wonder if I am making enough of a difference in my community. We are having fun with our patrons at the library, but are we making a difference? Am I positively impacting my community and assisting in creating a better tomorrow? Just this last week, I think I got some of my questions answered. Many of my story-timers have started calling me, “My Teacher”. It is my favorite title, after being called mom. In just this last week I have had four patrons send me a thank you not for various reasons of how the library has enriched their lives. My hand-made turkey thank-you card means more to me than any statistic. Yes, statistics are important but they don’t tell the whole story of what librarians do. We are so much more than a number. We give ourselves freely and unconditionally to our community. Many of us have put our needs aside to go the extra mile for a special patron, and we would gladly do it again. My holiday wish for you is to know that the world would have a hole in it without you. I wish blessing of joy, peace, and love for you and yours. “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” – Clarence, It’s a Wonderful Life From my house to yours have a wonderful season, - We Celebrate 2015 Because - - MPLA Update - by Eileen Wright, Montana State University Billings Library Due to an unprecedented response by the membership, all grant monies for the 2015 calendar year have been allocated and the Professional Development Committee has closed the application process until the 2016 calendar year. Check back at this page for the 2016 grant application deadlines: mpla.us/about/professional-development-grants.html Save the date: MPLA is joining with Colorado Library Association for next year’s joint conference – Oct. 20-22, 2016 in Loveland. - PNLA Update - by Carmen Clark, PNLA Representative, Bozeman Public Library Our Canadian neighbors are working hard planning next year’s conference in beautiful Calgary, Alberta. The dates are August 3rd-5th, 2016. Requests for proposals will be forthcoming. More information about the conference, membership, PNLA LEADS and other interesting information about PNLA can be found at: pnla.memberclicks.net - School Library Division Update - SLD AT MEA-MFT by Niki Keuch, SLD Co-Chair, Chief Joseph Middle School Library Montana’s teacher-librarians had the opportunity to learn from each other at the 2015 Montana Educator’s Conference held in Billings on October 15 and 16. Here’s a quick data view of the conference. 10 presentations were registered under the MLA curricular area. Twice the number from the 2014 MEA-MFT Conference. A total of 275 people attended the 10 presentations. 13 librarians presented. 25 teacher-librarians paid for the MLA membership using the online registration service offered by MEA-MFT. The MLA Board moved to pilot this registration process at last Spring’s MLA Board Meeting. 3 teachers signed a request for information sheet to learn more about MLA. They were sent the MLA brochure. 15 librarians stayed for the School Librarian Division’s Round Table Discussion even though I’d inadvertently scheduled it opposite young adult author Chris Crutcher’s keynote address. Numbers and statistics inform us, but it’s the experiences shared among the librarians at the conference that keep us inspired as educators. Librarians enlightened the audience with presentations on Reading Celebrations, Book Talks, Connecting School Libraries with College Libraries, Project Based Learning Activities, Historical and Current Role of Libraries Confronting Book Challenges, Coding in Libraries, Creative Library Programming, Discovering Online Resources, and Advocacy Using the Annual Library Report. Thanks to all the librarians presenting, attending, and spending time outside of sessions to network, the conference was a success. Looking forward to seeing many teacher-librarians at the MLA Conference this Spring. - News from Whitefish Community Library - GREAT FISH GIVES GENEROUSLY in WHITEFISH by Alison Pomerantz, Secretary of the Whitefish Community Library Board Whitefish, MT—November 20, 2015: This summer, the Whitefish Community Foundation cast a line and reeled in a big one. The Foundation launched the Great Fish Challenge in June and distributed more than $1.1 million to 32 participating nonprofit organizations as part of the first annual Great Fish Challenge. As one of the participating nonprofits, WCL took home a generous cut of the funds raised at the Awards Ceremony at Casey’s Bar on October 9. Thanks to the generosity of donors to the Foundation in the name of the library, and a percentage of matching funds by the Community Foundation itself, the Whitefish Library Association received a check for $10,061.08. "It was exciting and humbling to receive the monetary gift as part of our participation in the Great Fish Challenge,” said Jerry Hanson, President of the Whitefish Library Association. “This funding will enable WLA to extend its ongoing financial support of the Whitefish Community Library's critical needs in a variety of ways." "I am once again awed by the generosity of the Whitefish community and Whitefish Community Foundation,” said Joey Kositzky, Director of the Whitefish Community Library. “And while the Foundation has been a consistent supporter of the library, a special thank you is only appropriate for accepting us for participation in their first-ever Great Fish Campaign. “ Kositzky explained that she plans to earmark a portion of the funds for a new Book Fair planned this year and to purchase new electronic media for the library, including books on CD. The Great Fish Community Challenge replaces the Duck Derby as the Foundation’s primary fundraising event. The annual charitable giving campaign was designed to maximize donations from matching funds that stem from contributions to the Circle of Giving and from individuals donating directly to the Great Fish Match Fund. It was a way for many people to give to several organizations with a single check. As an added bonus, the Whitefish Community Foundation covered all transaction and administrative fees, making participation in the campaign free for all nonprofits. The campaign received 1,391 contributions totaling $917,764. The Whitefish Community Foundation match amounted to 53% on the first $15,000 for a total of just over $209,000. Matching funds stemmed from contributors to the Circle of Giving and from individuals donating directly to the Great Fish Match Fund. More than half the participating nonprofits raised $15,000 or more and received the maximum matching grant of $7,982. Surpassing its first-year goal of $300,000 by 27% demonstrates how much the community backed the campaign. The campaign wrapped up with a fun Color Run and Fair for participants to showcase their programs and explain their stories to the general public. “The campaign did exactly what we wanted it to do,” said Community Foundation Executive Director Linda Engh-Grady. “It helped all sizes and types of nonprofits raise significant program money at no cost. These individuals are passionate about their organizations and the good work that they do to serve the community, she said.” She added that the Whitefish Community Foundation Board of Directors views the campaign as a huge success and plans to run the Great Fish Community Challenge again in 2016. Visit www.whitefishlibrary.org for more information on hours, programs and other news about the Whitefish Community Library or Like WCL on Facebook. Please also remember the Whitefish Community Library when planning your will or trust. Contact Joey Kositzky for details on how to make a financial donation to the library. [ ABOVE: Linda Engh-Grady announces the Challenge's success ] - MLA Updates - WANTED: MLA SUPERHEROES! by Sheila Bonnand, Montana State University It’s election time - but one (happily) without a Trump or a Clinton or a Saunders or a Cruz. This election involves nothing but the positive – it’s MLA election time! We need to find 4 superheroes willing to put themselves on the line as members of the MLA Board of Directors to help make MLA and Montana libraries the best they can be. Are you up for the challenge? If so, read on. The Board has openings for the following 4 positions with terms starting June 1, 2016: President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, ALA Chapter Councilor, and Director at Large-West. If you would like to put your name forward, please contact Past-President Sheila Bonnand at sbonnand@montana.edu or 406-994-4130. See the brief job description for each position below; for complete details, visit the MLA web site. This is a 3-year commitment; the incumbent serves 1 year as president-elect, 1 year as president and 1 year as past-president. The duties of this position include: Preside at meetings in the absence of the President. Assume the office of President after serving a one year term as President-Elect. Perform such duties as assigned by the President and the Executive Board. Attends all meetings of the Board of Directors, the Council, Executive Board and Budget Committee. Serves as a voting member of the Board of Directors, Council, Executive Committee and Budget Committee. Attends the Annual meeting of the membership during the annual conference. Appoints chairpersons for all standing committees. Works with the chairperson to complete committee member appointments. May pick a special project or work with a committee with approval of the President. Promote MLA. Assist the President with evaluation of Executive Assistant. Serve as member of the Conference Planning Committee. For more information, see the MLA Handbook section at http://mtlib.org/Handbook/Duties/vicepres.asp. ALA Chapter Councilor This is a 3-year term. Duties of Montana's ALA Chapter Councilor include: Attending all sessions of ALA Council at every ALA annual and midwinter conference (3 sessions at each conference, each year) to vote on issues raised. The Councilor also attends as many Chapter Relations Committee meetings and events as possible to keep ALA current with library activities in Montana. Attending all MLA Board meetings and the membership meeting at conference to report on ALA issues important to Montana libraries. Submitting a written quarterly reports to the MLA President to be included with the Association’s annual reports and also reporting orally to the Association membership at the annual conference. Communicating regularly with the membership through Wired-MT, Montana Library Focus or other means. The Chapter Councilor should be a member in good standing of MLA as well as a member of ALA. For more information about this position, see the MLA Handbook section at http://mtlib.org/Handbook/Duties/alarep.asp. The Chapter Councilor is also responsible for complying with the guidelines of ALA's Duties of an ALA Chapter Councilor as found on the ALA website: http://www.ala.org/groups/affiliates/chapters/chaptercouncilor/chaptercouncilor. Secretary -Treasurer Works in tandem with the Executive Assistant to record votes and keep minutes of all elections and for all meetings and proceedings of the Board of Directors and the members. In addition, the S-T serves notice of meetings of the Board of Directors and the members; and perform other duties as required by the Board of Directors. The Secretary/Treasurer will provide summaries of Board minutes for the MLA website, and announce this on Wired-MT. Serves as the chair of the Budget. Committee and will be responsible for collaborating with the Executive Assistant in preparing an annual budget, monitoring expenses, and overseeing financial reporting, and administering the Association's financial policies and procedures. An audit will be performed per 501c3 requirements. Transmits to the incoming Secretary/Treasurer material needed by the new officer. Collaborates with the Executive Assistant to forward Association materials of historical value to the Montana State Historical Society. The Secretary/Treasurer, as a voting member of the MLA Board, attends board meetings and all MLA functions as requested by the President. He/she is a member of the Executive Committee of the MLA Board and assists in decision making required to conduct Association business when a meeting of the entire board is not possible. Signs the Executive Director's paychecks. For more information, see the MLA Handbook section at http://mtlib.org/Handbook/Duties/sectreas.asp. Director at Large-West The Directors at Large serve a two-year, rotating term. Their primary responsibilities are to promote active membership in the organization and to function as liaisons between the Board, the general membership and the interest groups. Keep the Montana library community aware of the organization, its goals, opportunities and benefits. Provide interest groups with necessary information and materials to certify / re-certify at the annual spring conference of the Montana Library Association. Encourage membership in the Association. Work with Conference Chairs and Planner to plan a New Member Reception or other event to welcome new members into the Montana Library Association at the annual conference. For more information about this position, see the MLA Handbook at http://mtlib.org/Handbook/Duties/directorsatlarge.asp. SUPPORT MLA WITH AMAZONSMILE DONATIONS by Debbi Kramer, Executive Director of the Montana Library Association As we approach the holidays, I wanted to you know that you have an opportunity to put your Amazon holiday shopping to excellent use; if you shop on Amazon through MLA's AmazonSmile starting page (go here: smile.amazon.com/ch/81-0366433), Amazon will automatically donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice (us, we hope!)--at no additional expense to you. To date MLA has received about $50 in donations from AmazonSmile--which is not bad for doing nothing! AmazonSmile works year-round. If you have any questions, please sign in to org.amazon.com and click on the Help tab. Thank you! DUES ARE DUE Just a quick, friendly reminder that if you haven’t paid your dues for the 2015-16 membership year, you need to get them paid. Go to the MLA website and click on the Directory link and the MLA MEMBERSHIP link. Check to see if your dues have been paid if you don’t know for sure. - More from MLA - IT'S TIME TO NOMINATE AWARD-WINNERS! Do you know someone who is very deserving of a Montana Library Associations Award? It’s time to get your nominations prepared. The Awards Committee invites you to send in your nominations for the 2016 Awards. Each nomination must consist of three letters of support; one from the nominator and two from other supporters of the nomination. No more than three letters of support will be considered by the committee. In addition, those nominating a work for the Media Award must provide the committee with a copy of the nominated work. All nominations will be confidential until the recommendations of the committee have been approved by the Board of Directors and the recipients notified. The deadline date should be set no later than the fourth Monday in January (January 25, 2016) in order for the committee to complete its work. The Montana Library Association honors individuals and groups who have served the Association and/or the Montana library community with distinction. The Montana Library Association confers the following awards and honors: Honorary Life Membership Award Pat Williams Intellectual Freedom Award Interest Group Excellence Award Media Award School Administrator of the Year Award Special Friend to Libraries Award Trustee of the Year Award Legislator of the Year Award Outstanding Support Staff Award School Library Program of the Year Award Librarian of the Year Award Library of the Year Award Nomination Guidelines: The committee chair will screen the nominations to check that they are complete. Copies of the nominations will be sent to committee members for review. Because the letters of support may provide information of historical interest about those nominated, the original letters of support should be sent to the Executive Director for retention in the Association's files/archives upon completion of the awards selection process. The committee should select only one recipient should be selected for the following awards: Library of the Year Award, Sheila Cates Award for Librarian of the Year, Trustee of the Year Award, and School Administrator of the Year Award. With the approval of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, the committee may select more than one recipient for the following awards, if in the judgment of the committee all recipients meet the criteria established for the award: Honorary Life Membership, Special Friend to Libraries Award, Intellectual Freedom Award, Media Award, and Interest Group Excellence Award. If, in the judgment of the committee, no nominees meet the criteria established for an award, no award will be conferred in that category. The committee should complete its review of the nominations and select award recipients by February 15. The committee chair should recommend the award recipients in writing to the President for approval by the Board of Directors no later than March 1. The Intellectual Freedom Committee, while generally making the decision as to the recipients of the Intellectual Freedom Award, works closely with the Awards and Honors Committee. Solicitation for award nominations includes information about the Intellectual Freedom Award. If nominations for this award are received by the Awards and Honors Committee, they should be forwarded to the Intellectual Freedom Committee chair. The Intellectual Freedom Committee chair should inform the Awards and Honors Committee chair of the recipient(s) selected. The Awards and Honors Committee chair includes the recipients in notification correspondence and Awards Luncheon plans. The announcement of the Intellectual Freedom Award recipients may be made with the other recipients or made separately by the Intellectual Freedom Committee. The two committee chairs should work together to make these decisions. No awards may be presented on behalf of the Montana Library Association without the approval of the Board of Directors. Nomination Categories: Honorary Life Membership Honorary life membership may be conferred upon an individual who either has made an outstanding contribution to librarianship or who has rendered outstanding service to library interests. To be eligible for honorary life membership, an individual shall have made a contribution of lasting importance to the field of librarianship. The contribution must be outstanding enough so there can be no question of his/her suitability. Only living persons may be considered for honorary life membership. The award is conferred upon any type of Montana library, library system, or library network for distinguished achievement in service. The staff, library board of administering body, and the community or people served shall all be involved in the work for which recognition is sought. The award shall be based upon, but not limited to, activities or accomplishments such as the following: Development of innovative partnerships through networks, systems, cooperative planning and programming Sound collection development policies Offering opportunities for professional growth and job satisfaction for all employees Improvement of physical facilities resulting in better services Sheila Cates Award for Librarian of the Year The award is conferred upon a librarian in recognition of outstanding leadership and accomplishment in library service. The librarian must be currently employed in any field of librarianship in Montana and must be a current member of the Montana Library Association. The librarian must be in a professional librarian position. The award shall be based upon, but not limited to, activities or accomplishments such as the following: Provision of high quality, community-centered library services Contribution to any area of service benefiting users Distinguished service to the profession, including outstanding participation in activities of professional library associations and/or notable publications Leadership in education and in-service training for librarians Leadership in cooperative activities Outstanding development of library techniques, management, and/or facilities. The award is conferred upon a Montana public library trustee in recognition of outstanding achievement and leadership. Nominations may be made by any library board, individual library, librarian, trustee, MLA member, or the Montana State Library Commission. Equal consideration shall be given to trustees of small and large libraries. The award shall be based upon, but not limited to, activities or accomplishments such as the following: Service to the local library and participation in state and national activities. Constructive accomplishments in promoting library service shall be considered rather than the length of service as a trustee. Interest in and contribution to the development of library services beyond those of the local community. Achievements of nominees are judged according to criteria found in the Montana Public Library Trustee Manual. The award is conferred upon a Montana school administrator in recognition of outstanding achievement and leadership in the development and promotion of school libraries. Nominations for this award should come from the librarian currently employed by the school district of the nominee. The award shall be based upon, but not limited to, activities or accomplishments such as the following: Constructive accomplishment toward the advancement of library service to the students and teachers of the school. Development of sound school library policies. Creative and effective work in interpreting the library to the school board, school administration, teaching staff, students, and community. Fostering cooperative relations with other libraries in the area. Implementation of programs to address special needs or problems. Defense of intellectual freedom. Promoting and supporting the employment of professional librarians in schools. The purpose of the award is to recognize individuals or groups who are not members of the Montana Library Association and who have rendered outstanding service in support of library interests within Montana. The award is conferred simply as a reward for a job well done. Nominations are accepted only from members of the Montana Library Association. The award need not be based solely on service rendered during the previous year, but may be based on cumulative years of service. Intellectual Freedom Award The award is conferred upon an individual or group who has made significant contributions during the past year to the enhancement of First Amendment rights or upon an individual whose body of work over time has made significant contributions to the enhancement of intellectual freedom. The recipient should have demonstrated a clear understanding of the principles, nature and responsibilities and implications of the First Amendment. The recipient should be a Montanan or a non-Montanan whose contribution has a demonstrable effect on Montana. The recipient should have applied that understanding of the principles in one or more of the following ways: In defense of the principles in the face of a serious challenge to it which defense is not necessarily limited to libraries. In support of the principles through an active role in: Formulating programs which develop people's ability to deal with a full range of opinion/controversy and with the issues associated with such controversy, or Developing, or materially assisting in the development of, a legal base for the continued enjoyment of freedom of mind, its strengthening, and its defense, or Expanding the philosophical foundations of the principle or contributing to better understanding of it. The award is conferred upon an individual member of an MLA interest group, or upon an interest group as a whole, for meritorious service on behalf of Montana libraries and/or librarians. The award shall be based upon, but not limited to, activities or accomplishments such as the following: Comprehensive projects which benefit the larger library community. Exemplary programs or outstanding services which are not available through other channels. Extraordinary assistance to other libraries and/or librarians in Montana. The award is conferred to honor a production for broadcast or a work for publication which best underscores the value of libraries to community and society. This includes works prepared for television, radio, cable, film and/or print media. News articles/programs and documentaries also qualify. The broadcast or publication of the nominated work should be within the two year preceding the annual conference at which the award is to be made. A copy of the nominated work must be submitted to the Awards and Honors Committee for review. Outstanding Support Staff of the Year This award is conferred upon a Montana library Support Staff employee in recognition of outstanding service to the library profession and excellence in job performance. The Support Staff worker must be currently employed in a Montana library. The award shall be based upon, but not limited to, activities or accomplishments such as the following: Provision of high quality library services Contribution to any area of service benefitting library users Commitment to promoting library service and free access to information for all Leadership in strengthening the image of library staff Leadership in fostering communication between library workers Active service in library activities at the local, state, regional, or national level This award is conferred upon a distinguished Montana Teacher-Librarian and the school library program in which they serve. This award recognizes the outstanding achievement of the teacher-librarian in fully integrating the school library program with curricular goals. A cash award of $500.00 will be provided by Follett Library Resources to be used for library development. The award shall be based on, but not limited to, activities or accomplishments such as the following: Emphasis of the school library program’s role in the instructional process through professionalism, collaboration, and design of library resources that are in support of curricular goals Leadership in information literacy instruction through a variety of models for students, staff, and other community members Administration of information management systems that support student learning and school and district programs Establishment of a powerful, relevant, and ubiquitous culture of reading in the school community. Presentation of Awards: Awards are presented to the recipients at the Awards Luncheon during the annual conference. The chair of the Awards and Honors Committee serves as coordinator of the awards presentation segment of the luncheon. The chair should make arrangements with nominators to identify who will present awards to the recipients at the luncheon. Recipients should be informed that may make a brief response, if they wish. Recipients should also be informed of the date, place, time, and menu of the Awards Luncheon. This information may be obtained from the chair(s) of the conference Local Arrangements Committee. The Association provides each award recipient with two complimentary tickets for the Awards Luncheon. If printed and available, the tickets may be included in the letter of notification. Otherwise, tickets should be sent later or arrangements made for them to be picked up at the conference site. Nominators/presenters of awards do not receive complimentary luncheon tickets. Award recipients should also be notified that they may purchase additional luncheon tickets, if they wish. The chair should confirm whether recipients will attend the luncheon and who will present each award. The chair should also confirm how many people will be in each recipients group of supporters so that enough places for them may be reserved at the luncheon. Depending on the circumstances and on a very limited basis, the Association may provide a hotel room for a recipient, who is not a member of MLA and who is required to travel a long distance to the conference. Such an expense must be approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. Please send all nominations and letters of support to Chair Debbi Kramer and at debkmla@hotmail.com or mail them to PO Box 1352, Three Forks, MT 59752. The nominating committee is made up of 3 representatives from each library division. - Something New - HOW DO YOU CONNECT WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES? by Lauren McMullen, Montana State Library At its October meeting following the ASLD/PLD retreat, the MLA Board appointed a Special Committee for Communications and Member Engagement to investigate new ways for MLA members to keep in touch, share best practices, solve problems, and collaborate on projects and services. This project is part of the 2015 MSL Leadership Institute. Members of the committee are: Lauren McMullen (Chair), Wired-MT boss Stef Johnson, MLA Marketing & PR queen Lisa Mecklenberg-Jackson, MLA’s fabulous representative to MPLA: Eileen Wright, MLA Executive Director extraordinaire Debbi Kramer, FOCUS newsletter maven Kendra Mullison, ... and your dedicated Directors at Large (East and West): Diane Van Gordon and Matt Beckstrom. During the next couple of months, committee members will take inventory, experiment with new tools and find out what you need, want, and how far you’re willing to go to make communications more effective among the Montana library community. Please stay tuned! And if you have any bright ideas to share in this community-building effort, contact your Directors at Large or any member of the committee. You can contact me at lmcmullen2@mt.gov or by reaching Kendra Mullison at kendram@polson.lib.mt.us, and learn more about your Directors at Large by visiting the MLA Governance website. We appreciate your help! - Tech Central - MAY THE FORCE (AND CODE) BE WITH YOU by Jason Greenwald, Bozeman Public Library As November turns into December, anticipation is building to a near fever pitch: every direction you turn brings yet another reminder of the year’s most anticipated event. Yes, Computer Science Education Week (CSEW) is almost here. What? You thought I was talking about Star Wars? Perhaps the Force is not as strong in you as I thought. While there will be many events to promote CSEW (my apologies to readers suffering from acronym fatigue or AF as it is commonly known), no event will be more engaging or as easy to host than the “Hour of Code” brought to you by code.org. For the past two years, Hour of Code events have introduced millions of children around the world to computer programming. The premise is simple: by working through an engaging one hour tutorial, students are unwittingly introduced to the principles of coding. Last year, students created geometric patterns using characters from the immensely popular Disney film Frozen. Not only did the Frozen tutorial teach coding, it reinforced mathematical concepts too. (That’s an “M” and a “T” from STEAM for those keeping keeping score at home.) I feel a song coming on… If you want to write a program, If you want to write some code… I digress, but in my defense, that song is unbearably catchy. If you thought the Frozen tutorial was popular (and it was - I watched as middle school students eagerly worked through it so engaged they were unable to be self-conscience for upwards of 30-40 minutes) then the latest tutorials are going to cause hysteria. Yes, one of the two new Hour of Code tutorials is from a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. Taking advantage of the frenzy over the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, code.org has created a Star Wars coding tutorial. As if that weren’t exciting enough, there is also a new Minecraft (MINECRAFT!) themed tutorial which is sure to send 8-year-olds shrieking with joy. Why am I telling you all of this? Because I’m a giant nerd? Yes, partially. But also because I desperately want you, yes YOU, to host an Hour of Code event at your library or school and support STEAM engagement and the 10KMT code project. Simply put, there has NEVER been a better time to time to try coding out. You might be thinking, “Jason, this all sounds nice, but I’m not a computer programmer. Or a Minecraft expert. Or a Jedi Knight.” Do not fret. Think of me as the Obi-wan to your Luke and let me show you a larger world. Here is what you need: Computers or mobile devices connected to the Internet. (I recommend laptops or desktop computers, but iPads will also work. Mobile devices will run the tutorials, but may be more difficult to manipulate because of the small screen size.) Headphones. (If possible. Tutorials are accompanied by videos. While they are beneficial, they are not entirely necessary.) A space for patrons/students to work for one hour on said computers. At least one staff member, teenager, or community volunteer to answer questions during the event. While CSEW and the Hour of Code official take place in December, the tutorials are available year-round. If December is booked solid, host it in January or February. Or both! Like Obi-wan, if you strike me down (which the editors of our fine publication are about to do), I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine. Because I have a website. Which you can and should visit. It contains all of the relevant websites mentioned here and a more detailed set of instructions on how to effectively host your own event. I’m also available via Twitter, email, and phone. In the not quite immortal words of Yoda, “Do or do not. There is no try. And call if you need help.” May the Force (and code) be with you! Hour of Code website 10,000 Hours Montana www.mtsee.org/10khrsmt/ More Information (Including helpful videos) www.bigskyteched.org/teachcode jgreenwald@bozeman.net @jaycgreenwald - Marginalia - A WORD FROM YOUR EDITORS Dear FOCUS readers, As we enter the deep reaches of winter and the holiday season, we hope to share with you not only some news but also some memories—memories which celebrate the specific and collective accomplishments of our incredible community of librarians and library-lovers here in the State of Montana. We are honored to serve as your editors for this season, and hope that as we move forward into 2016, we can continue to hone the FOCUS to better reflect your needs and accomplishments! You might have noticed that we’ve altered the form in which we’re delivering this newsletter to your email inbox. This month’s FOCUS is, in a sense, a field test of one possible web-based service we might use—it is faster, more responsive, and more importantly, allows us to integrate various kinds of media we’ve never been able to before. As the months roll by, send us your videos, your audio, and your links! You will also have the option of interlinking the FOCUS with your existing social media accounts. All of these are good things, but they are not the only things worth considering. If you have any questions, comments, feedback, or concerns, please let us know. - Caroline & Kendra Montana Library FOCUS [ISSN 1076-352X] The FOCUS is an official publication of the Montana Library Association (MLA), and is published in collaboration with the members which it serves. You can look for new issues six times a year: in February, April, June, August, October, and December. With an online readership of over 500, the newsletter works to reflect, inspire, and give voice to the vibrant communities that exist in and around Montana’s libraries. The FOCUS welcomes your input! To submit feedback, articles, reviews, inquiries, and ideas—or to place an ad or provide sponsorship—please contact the editorial staff directly: Caroline Campbell (Co-Editor) Missoula Public Library 301 e West Main Street, Missoula, MT 59802, United States caro1ine@missoula.lib.mt.us 4062583817 Kendra Mullison (Co-Editor) North Lake County Public Library District 2 1st Ave E, Polson, MT, United States kendram@polson.lib.mt.us 4068838225 Please send address changes to: Debbi Kramer (Executive Director) Montana Library Association PO Box 1352, Three Forks, MT 59752 debkmla@hotmail.com 4062853090 Connect with Kendra Mullison	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2402
__label__wiki	0.981274	0.981274	Mets waste deGrom's gem in 2-1 loss to Marlins May 23, 2018 \| 10:08PM New York falls to 17-2 when leading after eight By Michael Avallone \| May 23, 2018 \| 10:08PM Cadillac Post Game Extra: 5/23 00:02:03 Gary Cohen and Ron Darling discuss Jeurys Familia's blown save and the Mets wasting another great performance by Jacob deGrom. Jeurys Familia could not protect a 1-0 lead in the ninth as the Mets dropped their second straight to the Marlins, 2-1, on Wednesday night at Citi Field. For a full box score of the game, click here. Things you should know about tonight's game... 1) Familia (2-2) allowed four hits and two runs in the ninth inning to blow his fourth save in 17 opportunities. JT Realmuto tied the game with a single, but Michael Conforto temporarily kept it that way by throwing out Derek Dietrich at the plate for the second out. Following an intentional walk to Justin Bour, Starlin Castro singled to bring in Realmuto with the tie-breaking run. 2) DeGrom allowed four hits, two walks and hit two batters while striking out eight over seven scoreless innings to lower his National League-leading ERA to 1.54. He has surrendered one run while fanning 47 in his last 33 1/3 innings (0.27 ERA) spanning six starts. New York fell to 5-5 in his 10 starts this season, during which the bullpen has posted a 7.55 ERA. 3) Brandon Nimmo hit a solo homer, singled and walked in four plate appearances. Wilmer Flores grounded out with a runner at second in the ninth to end the game. Michael Avallone, SNY.tv \| Twitter \| Inexcusable. If I could get away with writing just a one-word reaction, that would be it. Jeurys Familia clearly didn't have it tonight. There's never a good time to blow a save, but the Mets' closer is making a habit of wasting Jacob deGrom starts, which is a shame and disheartening. That being said, if you're looking for a diatribe against the Mets' closer ... look elsewhere. Yes, he blew the lead, deGrom's win and the game. But the real issue is a pathetic offense that shows no signs whatsoever of kicking it into gear. New York tallied four runs in 27 innings against Miami -- four runs. FOUR. The offense is a disgrace. Without Yoenis Cespedes and Todd Frazier, it's punchless thanks to the ineptitude of almost everyone not named Asdrubal Cabrera. Worse yet, there doesn't appear to be an end in sight and there isn't a fix coming from outside the organization. Unless, of course, the Mets decide to promote Peter Alonso from Double-A Binghamton and he defies the odds to be a difference maker. What New York is left with is an unathletic, one-dimensional, homer-hitting team that isn't even doing that. It's not a recipe for success and it's truly a shame when it costs pitchers like deGrom wins. Sadly, the margin for error is so little for these pitchers, more frustration than necessary is probably on the way. Highlights from tonight's game... Video: Nimmo gets the Mets on the board in the fifth Video: Gonzalez makes nice stop, beats Brinson for the out Video: Conforto's throw nabs the runner at home plate News and notes... The Mets dropped their second straight and finished the homestand, 5-3. The Marlins have won three of their last four series at Citi Field dating back to the start of last season. New York scored four runs in the three games and two over the final 19 innings of the series. DeGrom has allowed one or no runs 53 times in 117 career starts. The right-hander has held opponents to a .108 average with runners in scoring position this year, including an 0-for-22 mark in his last six starts. The blown save extended deGrom's winless streak against the Marlins to six games dating back to July 6, 2016. Three of Familia's four blown saves in 2018 have come during deGrom's starts. Seth Lugo extended his career-best scoreless streak to 15 consecutive innings. Mets pitching has struck out nine or more batters in eight straight games, which ties a club record set from July 24-31, 2016. What's next... The Mets (24-21) head out on an eight games-in-seven days road trip that begins at Miller Park against the N.L. Central-leading Brewers (31-19) on Thursday night at 8 p.m. on SNY. Steven Matz (1-3, 4.42 ERA, 36 Ks, 1.31 WHIP) kicks off the four-game series after another abbreviated start last Saturday. The 26-year-old surrendered a pair of homers and left trailing after allowing four runs in four innings against the Diamondbacks. He has completed six innings once in his first eight starts and has pitched four or fewer innings four times. Matz is 2-1 with a 4.42 ERA in three career starts against the Brewers. He yielded four runs -- three earned -- in 5 1/3 innings to defeat Milwaukee on April 13 at Citi Field. Zach Davies (2-3, 4.24 ERA, 25 Ks, 1.27 WHIP) is scheduled to come off the disabled list to make his first start since April 29. The right-hander carried a 6.84 ERA after three starts, but rebounded to allow four runs across 18 innings (2.00 ERA) in his next three appearances before experiencing shoulder soreness. Davies was charged with five runs over 4 1/3 innings in a matchup with Matz and the Mets earlier this season. He is 2-1 with a 5.26 ERA in five career starts against New York. Tags: Jacob deGrom, Jeurys Familia	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2403
__label__wiki	0.879118	0.879118	NYY Fans Forum How things could play out with Yankees middle relief Mar 13 \| 2:00PM Yankees-Rays rained out on Wednesday Yankees' Gary Sanchez working through slump Dissecting Aaron Judge's new approach at the plate Yankees acquire Royals' speedster Terrance Gore Yankees' Aroldis Chapman denies opt out rumors Here are the Yankees' odds to win the 2019 World Series Gregorius hoping to deliver more for Yankees Yankees Takeaways from Tuesday's 8-3 win Benches clear between Yankees, Rays Latest on Yankees' injured players Boone weighs in on Garcia's 'very good' first Triple-A start Encarnacion, Yankees look to rebound against Rays WATCH: Rivera 'humbled' after JFK's Gate 42 renamed Here's Yankees' alternative to trading for starting pitcher Dellin Betances, Luis Severino taking it slow with hope to impact Yankees soon Yankees Takeaways from Monday's 5-4 loss Deivi Garcia makes Triple-A debut Scout's biggest concern for Yankees top prospect Florial Yankees gear up again for Rays, Monday at 7:05 p.m. Here's what Madison Bumgarner could cost Yankees Top Prospect Watch: Albert Abreu lights out Judge on Urshela: 'We wouldn't be in first place without him' Yankees Takeaways from 4-2 win over Blue Jays Yankees face Blue Jays in rubber game, Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Yankees Takeaways from 2-1 loss to Blue Jays Voit back for Yankees vs. Blue Jays, Saturday at 1 p.m. Yankees Takeaways from Friday's 4-0 win vs. Blue Jays The player who finally brought 'Ball Four' into the Yankees clubhouse Yankees begin their second half schedule vs Blue Jays Gooden was recently arrested for cocaine possession Yankees' Cashman could turn to prospect García Yankees' Luke Voit could return over weekend Garcia on Keith Law's midseason Top 50 list 5 Yankees storylines to watch after the All-Star break Deivi Garcia can help Yankees later this season Former Yankee and 'Ball Four' author Jim Bouton passes away Tanaka admits baseball 'just doesn't feel right' this season What Bauer and Stroman can offer the Yankees How the Yankees fared in All-Star Game Jul 9 \| 11:05PM Stroman explains tweet 'liking' possible Yankees trade Why Yankees' Sabathia has been in Cashman's ear WATCH: Yankees hit the red carpet for 2019 MLB All-Star Game Back in All-Star form, Sonny Gray looks back on his time with Yankees Manfred denies that MLB has purposely altered baseballs How things could play out with Yankees' high-risk, high-reward middle relief Green and Holder could help anchor the bullpen By Chris Carelli \| Mar 13 \| 2:00PM New York Yankees relief pitcher Chad Green throws pitch in the sixth inning during the Toronto Blue Jays season home opener at Rogers Centre. (Nick Turchiaro/USA TODAY Sports) Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Twitter \| About Me \| Archives The Yankees' four high-leverage relievers will get a ton of press and rightfully so, but the group asked to pitch in middle innings will have to do its part in what could turn out to be a very heavily used eight-pack of pitchers in 2019. Right-handers Chad Green and Jonathan Holder plus whoever wins the battle for the final two spots in the bullpen will be expected to be ready to pitch in multiple situations and for varying lengths in their appearances. There is both upside and uncertainty among the last four relievers that will break camp with the Yankees. Green might be more involved in high-leverage innings as he has been the last couple of seasons. The Yankees would likely prefer to utilize Green in lengthier appearances (think four to six outs), bringing in the 27-year-old to polish off a rocky inning from a starter and then cover some or all of the next frame. Green has been a strong performer for the Yankees over the last two seasons, pitching to a 1.83 ERA in 2017 and 2.50 in 2018. However, he has to work on his slider as teams have become very accustomed to his four-seam fastball (thrown 86.6 percent of the time according to Baseball Savant). Batters found ways to get to the righty last season, barreling loads of balls and having a hard hit average that landed in the bottom three percent of the league. Improvement here is especially important since Green is expected to put out fires, not throw gas on them. Holder, 25, is looking to build on his first season in which he remained with the Yankees for a majority of the season. Upon his return from his only trip to Triple-A in early April, Holder manufactured a remarkable stretch of 27.2 innings in which he allowed just three unearned runs. From that point, Holder continued to produce quality innings. Holder will seemingly continue to be utilized in very similar situations as Green, though if both are fresh the latter is more likely to get first crack at holding down the opposition. Holder should also see plenty of outings in which he will have to lock down four or more outs. Holder made 15 such appearances in 2018, including 10 that went at least two innings. Based on experience and a strong spring thus far, it appears right-hander Tommy Kahnle has a good shot at one of the remaining two bullpen spots. After an excellent 2017 season, Kahnle, 29, sputtered in 2018 leaving him in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for about half of the season. Kahnle's fastball is jumping once again, which provides him an advantage over others left in spring camp as the Yankees favor high velocity pitchers. The Yankees do not necessarily need another lefty in the bullpen with southpaws Aroldis Chapman and Zack Britton on board. Additionally, righties Dellin Betances, Adam Ottavino, Green, Holder and Kahnle are generally quite able to get left-handers out. However, if the Yankees desire carrying a situational lefty they have Stephen Tarpley, Rex Brothers and Philip Diehl competing this spring. After a solid finish to the 2018 season with the Yankees, Tarpley is off to a very strong spring start (zero runs allowed in six innings). While Brothers and Diehl have also thrown well, only Tarpley is on the 40-man roster, giving him a leg up on claiming a lefty spot should trends continue. It appeared early in spring training that the Yankees wanted to carry a true long man to round out the bullpen. Unfortunately, the club's first two choices for that role -- Luis Cessa and Domingo German -- are now both being considered for rotation spots with Luis Severino out with rotator cuff inflammation and CC Sabathia recuperating from clean out surgery of his right knee and an angioplasty procedure. There doesn't seem to be many options for a long man at this stage in the spring, meaning Kahnle and Tarpley could be the final two pitchers in the pen when the Yanks open the season on March 28. Once the regular season begins Green and Holder will be provided plenty of rope and the hope is that they will continue to grow. As for the remaining two spots, those might be held by Kahnle and Tarpley early on, but could easily turn into a revolving group of pitchers where rotation needs and performance dictates who occupies them. RELATED: Updated Yankees 25-man roster prediction after early Spring Training developments >> Read More RELATED: Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez each agree to modest raises from Yankees >> Read More MCCARRON: How have home run-happy teams like Yankees fared in World Series success >> Read More Tags: Chad Green, Jonathan Holder, Chris Carelli Yankees-Rays rained out on Wednesday, doubleheader set for Thursday afternoon The Yankees and Rays will play a doubleheader on Thursday, starting at 3:00 p.m. General view of a tarp on the field as the scoreboard at Yankee Stadium informs fans of a rain delay before a game between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals. (Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports) Just about a half hour before first pitch was scheduled between the Yankees and Rays, Wednesday's game was officially postponed due to rain in the forecast. The Yankees and Rays will hold a doubleheader on Thursday, starting at 3:00 p.m. The Yankees were scheduled to pitch Domingo German on Wednesday night, with J.A. Happ set to go on Thursday. Aaron Boone said on Wednesday night that German is scheduled to pitch the first game on Thursday, while the second game starter is still up in the air, and could be an opener. Tags: Domingo German, J.A. Happ After All-Star first half, Yankees' Gary Sanchez working through slump The Kraken is hitting .119 since the All-Star break Before the home run heroics from Aaron Judge and Didi Gregorius in the Yankees' 8-3 win over Tampa, the offense had been struggling in the post-London Series world. But no Yankee has seen their production dip further than Gary Sanchez, who has looked a lot like his 2018 version. Just a few weeks ago on June 23, Sanchez was the owner of a .273/.339/.634 line, numbers that earned him a trip to his second All-Star game. Since then? He has just seven hits in 59 plate appearances -- good for a .119 batting average. Tags: Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius, Gary Sanchez Dissecting Yankees slugger Aaron Judge's new approach at the plate Judge's spray chart looks like one you'd find in a textbook Jul 13, 2019; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) hits an RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports (Wendell Cruz) Aaron Judge had his first big "Aaron Judge" moment this season during Tuesday night's 8-3 victory over the Rays. Batting as the go-ahead run, he cracked a two-run home run that gave the Yankees a lead that they did not relinquish. Due to injuries and time off, it was only Judge's 10th home run of the season, and his first in 11 days. That doesn't mean that big number 99 hasn't been helping the Yankees in other ways, though. Judge has, in some ways, changed his approach in 2019. His power production has dropped a little bit, but his batting average sits at an attractive .304. In the at-bat that preceded his go-ahead bomb, the Rays shifted on Judge, playing him to pull. Instead, Judge laced a base hit right to where the second baseman would have normally been. Tags: Aaron Judge Yankees acquire Royals' speedster Terrance Gore in exchange for cash considerations Gore has swiped 40 bases in 49 attempts during his big league career Apr 10, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder Terrance Gore (0) bats against the Seattle Mariners at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports (Jay Biggerstaff) The Yankees added some speed on Wednesday by acquiring outfielder Terrance Gore from the Royals in exchange for cash considerations. Gore, a 28-year-old outfielder, has spent parts of six seasons in the majors, primarilly with the Royals aside from a one-year stop in Chicago with the Cubs. Yankees' Aroldis Chapman denies rumors he'll opt out after season Chapman would forfeit $34.4 million to exercise his player option By Scott Thompson \| Jul 17 \| 11:43AM Jul 5, 2019; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) enters the game during the eleventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports (Douglas DeFelice) Will the Yankees be without their closer Aroldis Chapman in 2020? It's a scenario that is very plausible after hearing what The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal had to say about the flame-throwing left-hander. Rosenthal wrote in his most recent piece that "a player who is friendly" with Chapman said that the closer will "one million percent" opt out of his contract following the end of the 2019 season. Chapman answered questions about the report before tonight's game, saying it is "completely false" that he wants to opt out, according to multiple reports. However, he will have a discussion with his agent after the season to contemplate his options. For now, though, he is happy with his contract... Tags: Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances, Scott Thompson Here are the Yankees' updated odds to win the 2019 World Series The Yanks have the second-best record in baseball (Gary A. Vasquez) The Yankees have the best record in the American League and the second-best winning percentage in all of baseball (behind only the Dodgers, who are 63-34). And their place in the standings matches their current odds to win the World Series. Per Bovada, the Dodgers are currently +280 to win the Fall Classic, while the Yanks are +333. The rest of the odds shake out like this: After clutch grand slam, Didi Gregorius hoping to deliver more for Yankees 'It felt really good to come through for the team like that' Jun 29, 2019; London, ENG; New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius (18) celebrates his run with his team mates during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at London Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports (Steven Flynn) Aaron Judge had already flipped the script in the bottom of the eighth, when his two-run homer to right field made it 4-3 Yankees over the Rays. But Didi Gregorius completely broke down the door with a grand slam in the same frame to pull away. With the crowd chanting his name, Gregorius sent a moonshot to the right field bleachers, and a big smile crossed his face as he sent the Yankee Stadium crowd into a frenzy. It's a scene Gregorius has orchestrated so many times in the past, but this season following his long IL stint due to Tommy John surgery recovery, it has been a rare sight. Tags: Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius, Scott Thompson Yankees Takeaways from Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Rays, including a six-run eighth inning Aaron Judge and Didi Gregorius each homered as the Yanks came from behind for the victory By Corey Hersch \| Jul 16 \| 10:25PM Yanks explode late for win 00:01:58 Boone, Judge, Sabathia, Gregorius and Hale on Yankees big 6-run 8th inning in their 8-3 win over Tampa The Yankees rallied late and broke the game wide open with a pair of eighth-inning home runs to defeat the Rays, 8-3, Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score Five takeaways from Tuesday's game 1) The eighth inning proved to be the deciding one for the Yanks, who trailed 3-2 with Gleyber Torres set to lead off against Colin Poche. The second baseman walked, but Brett Gardner struck out and D.J. LeMahieu lined out hard to right-center. That brought up Aaron Judge, who sent a ball just outside the right field foul pole on the sixth pitch of the at-bat. He made no mistake on the very next offering, however, powering a ball over the wall in right to give the Yankees a 4-3 lead. Poche remained in the game and allowed a single to Luke Voit and a double to Gary Sanchez before intentionally walking Edwin Encarnacion to load the bases for Didi Gregorius. On a 2-1 pitch, Gregorius ripped a grand slam deep into the right-field bleachers to give the Yankees plenty of breathing room. Tags: Aaron Judge, CC Sabathia, David Hale, Didi Gregorius, DJ LeMahieu, Edwin Encarnacion , Nestor Cortes Jr Benches clear between Yankees, Rays after CC Sabathia chirps at Avisail Garcia Sabathia struck out Garcia to end the sixth inning Jul 16, 2019; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (52) is held back by New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorious (18) as he argues with Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Avisail Garcia (24) during the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner) Things got a little heated between the Yankees and Rays on Tuesday night. CC Sabathia struck out Avisail Garcia to end the sixth inning and strand a runner on second base, but as Sabathia was walking back to the dugout him and Garcia began exchanging words with each other. Garcia appeared to think Sabathia, who has a reputation for being vocal and emotional on the mound, said something to him. Sabathia began chirping back at Garcia and the two began to walk toward one another, which is when the benches emptied. Tags: CC Sabathia Latest on Yankees' injured players: Giancarlo Stanton's progress 'a little bit slow' Updates on the walking wounded New York Yankees right fielder Giancarlo Stanton goes to the dugout after a strike out against the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium. (Noah K. Murray/USA TODAY Sports) The Yankees have been decimated by injuries this year, with roughly a dozen key players going down. Check back here for the latest updates on the walking wounded. 10-day IL: Giancarlo Stanton, Cameron Maybin 60-day IL: Jacoby Ellsbury, Luis Severino, Dellin Betances, Greg Bird, Jordan Montgomery, Miguel Andujar, Jonathan Loaisiga, Troy Tulowitzki Tags: Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge, CC Sabathia, Dellin Betances, Didi Gregorius, Domingo German, Giancarlo Stanton, Greg Bird, James Paxton, Luis Severino, Luke Voit, Miguel Andujar Yankees' Aaron Boone weighs in on Deivi Garcia's 'very good' first Triple-A start The 20-year old pitched five innings and earned the win in his RailRiders' debut Deivi Garcia's Triple-A debut on Sunday caught the attention of many, including Yankees skipper Aaron Boone. Prior to Tuesday's game against Tampa Bay, Boone was asked about Garcia's debut, when the 20-year-old right-hander allowed three earned runs over five innings, striking out six Columbus Clippers along the way. "Good first Triple-A start," said Boone. "[He] had a presence. I actually watched probably a little over an inning of it, just to watch his stuff. Wasn't as dominant as we've seen in some of his outings, but I think a very good first showing in Triple-A. "One of the reports said he had really good presence. He flashed all the pitches that have made him really special so far this year, so a good first outing for him to go get a win and throw strikes and rack up some punch outs too." Edwin Encarnacion, Yankees look to rebound vs. Rays, Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. Yankees gave up three runs in 9th to fall to Tampa Bay Monday Jul 15, 2019; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (30) hits a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports (Noah K. Murray) The Yankees (59-33, 5.0 GA in AL East) are hosting the division foe Tampa Bay Rays (56-40, 5 GB in AL East) on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium. Yankees notes Edwin Encarnacion mashed two homers against the Rays on Tuesday. He's hitting just .158 since joining the Yankees on June 17, but has a pair of two-hit, three-RBI games in his three appearances since the All-Star break... Aaron Hicks has gotten hot in July, posting a slash line of .342/.432/.656... Chad Green has also also settled down this month, allowing just one run in 7.1 innings, including two scoreless innings on Monday... Aaron Judge has made his hits against the Rays count this season. Though he's just 2-for-16 against Tampa Bay, both of his hits have been home runs. Tags: Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge, CC Sabathia, Chad Green, Domingo German, Edwin Encarnacion WATCH: Former Yankee Mariano Rivera 'humbled' after Delta renames Gate 42 at JFK Airport "Not every day you have a gate dedicated to you." Rivera now has own airport gate 00:01:45 Hall of Fame Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera now has an airport gate at JFK named after him. Delta's Gate 42 is now the Mariano Rivera gate. On Sunday, Yankees legend Mariano Rivera will become the first unanimous inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. But at John F. Kennedy airport in New York City on Tuesday, Rivera received his first plaque of the week. Delta officially changed the name to Gate B42 to "The Mariano Rivera Gate" in honor of Rivera before his induction ceremony into the Hall of Fame. With asking prices still high, here's Yankees' alternative to trading for starting pitcher Chad Green to Luis Severino in October Feb 14, 2019; Tampa, FL, USA;New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports (Kim Klement) The Yankees have been engaged for weeks in the starting pitching market, and would still prefer to land a Zack Wheeler, Trevor Bauer, or one of the other available arms who could help with the rotation. This remains the surest way to bolster their championship chances. But given the state of the market, the team has been forced to consider other options. According to multiple general managers in search of pitching, the asking prices for Wheeler, Stroman and the like remain very high, and teams are far apart on value. That's why, according to sources, the Red Sox and A's settled for less exciting acquisitions in Andrew Cashner and Homer Bailey. Those teams essentially looked at the asks for higher-end help and said, "forget it, we'll go with depth." Tags: Chad Green, Dellin Betances, Luis Severino, Andy Martino Both pitchers were seen throwing on Monday after being activated May 15, 2019; New York, NY, USA; New York Yankees injured relief pitcher Dellin Betances (68) warms up prior to game one of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankees Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports (Andy Marlin) Dellin Betances and Luis Severino have been waiting very patiently in the dugout and clubhouse to finally pick up their gloves again. And Monday was finally that time to hit the field for some catch. "I greeted them with 'happy throwing day,'" manager Aaron Boone told The Athletic's Lindsey Adler. Both pitchers, who have been on the IL since the start of the season, were seen in right field throwing a baseball for the first time since being activated over the weekend. It was just to get the blood flowing again, with 25 throws from 60 feet. Tags: Dellin Betances, Luis Severino, Scott Thompson Yankees Takeaways from Monday's 5-4 loss to Rays, including Aroldis Chapman's blown save Travis d'Arnaud blasts three homers vs. Bombers for all Tampa's runs By John Healy \| Jul 15 \| 10:57PM Jul 15, 2019; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) pauses before pitching in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports (Noah K. Murray) For the first time all season, the Yankees lost a game with a lead after eight innings, falling to the Rays, 5-4, Monday night at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score Five takeaways from Monday's game 1) Aroldis Chapman blew the save for the Yankees as the closer allowed back-to-back singles to start the inning, before striking out the next to batters, before bringing up Travis d'Arnaud. The Rays catcher had already homered twice and after falling behind in the count, d'Arnaud lifted a 3-2 slider into right field to give the Rays a 5-4 lead. Tags: Brett Gardner, James Paxton, Tampa Bay Rays Here's how Yankees prospect Deivi Garcia fared in Triple-A debut The right-handed pitching prospect was promoted last week after starting MLB Futures Game With Mets talent evaluator Omar Minaya on hand, Yankees pitching prospect Deivi Garcia made his Triple-A debut Monday against the Columbus Clippers. The right-hander tossed five innings, yielding three runs and six hits while walking one and striking out six, and earned the win, a 6-4 victory. After allowing back-to-back singles and a sac fly to begin the game, Garcia escaped further trouble after striking out Brandon Barnes to begin a "strike 'em out, throw 'em out" double play. What one scout's biggest concern is for Yankees top prospect Estevan Florial It's not his numbers that are raising red flags among scouts Mar 14, 2019; Dunedin, FL, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Estevan Florial (92) at Dunedin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports (Kim Klement) As the July 31 trade deadline approaches, Yankees top prospect Estevan Florial's name is sure to come up. The 21-year-old outfielder is hitting .229/.282/.359 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 34 games this season with High-A Tampa. While the numbers do not quite jump off the stat sheet, it is just the 34 games played this season -- and just 84 last season -- that really seems to stick out to evaluators. Tags: Estevan Florial Gary Sanchez, Yankees gear up again for Rays, Monday at 7:05 p.m. James Paxton gets the start for the Yankees New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez drops his bat after hitting a two run home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning at Yankee Stadium. (Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports) The Yankees (59-32, 6.0 GA in AL East) are hosting division foe Tampa Bay Rays (55-40, 6 GB in AL East) on Monday at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium. Aaron Judge is off to a solid start to the second half. He was 7-for-11 with two walks and a run and RBI against the Blue Jays over the weekend and is hitting .321/.433/.554 since returning from the IL on June 21. ... Gary Sanchez has some pretty good numbers against Rays starter Blake Snell. Sanchez is 5-for-17 with four home runs and seven RBI against the reigning AL Cy Young award winner. ... Brett Gardner has also fared well against Snell, with six hits in 19 at-bats, inlcuding a home run. Gardner enters the game on a seven-game hitting streak. Tags: Aaron Judge, Brett Gardner, Gary Sanchez, James Paxton, Toronto Blue Jays Here's what potential Yankees trade target Madison Bumgarner could cost Bumgarner is set to be a free agent after the season By Phil Akre \| Jul 15 \| 2:29PM San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees in the second inning at Oracle Park. (Cary Edmondson/USA TODAY Sports) Yankees GM Brian Cashman's search for starting pitching is set to heat up over the next two and a half weeks. The Red Sox made the first move ahead of the July 31 deadline, acquiring Orioles starter Andrew Cashner for two low-level prospects. A relatively quiet deal, the trade could be a foreshadowing of what is to come -- an arms race. This years crop of back-end options is shaping up to feature names like Mike Minor and Jason Vargas, while the high profile arm search has focused on Trevor Bauer, Zack Wheeler, Marcus Stroman and Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner, who turns 30 on August 1, has frequently been linked to the Yankees and Twins. According to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic, one scenario the Giants have discussed regarding a potential Bumgarner deal is to acquire "players at roughly the same level as their top prospects at High A - catcher Joey Bart, outfielder Heliot Ramos, etc." Yankees Top Prospect Watch: Albert Abreu lights out, Estevan Florial hot and cold Deivi Garcia still waiting on Triple-A debut Feb 13, 2019; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Albert Abreu (87) throws as pitchers and catchers report for spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports (Kim Klement) Every Monday, we'll be taking a look at how the Yankees' top prospects (their MLB.com Yankees Top-30 rankings are in parenthesis) are faring. Estevan Florial, OF, High-A Tampa (No. 1, MLB No. 47) -- ETA 2021 Florial had a 4-for-4 night on July 10 that included two runs scored and an RBI. But he collected only two more hits the rest of the week, as he went 6-for-26 (.231). Overall, Florial is hitting .29/.282/.359 this season with the Tarpons. Tags: Albert Abreu, Estevan Florial, Scott Thompson Sources: Red Sox out on potential trade for Yankees target Zack Wheeler Yankees' Aaron Judge on Gio Urshela: 'We wouldn't be in first place without him' Urshela drove in two, scores go-ahead run in win over Toronto By Matt Eisenberg \| Jul 14 \| 5:57PM New York Yankees third baseman Gio Urshela hits an infield single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium. (Gregory Fisher/USA TODAY Sports) Sure, DJ LeMahieu may be considered the Yankees' MVP given his clutch hitting and the fact he leads the American League in hitting. But third baseman Gio Urshela has been such a revelation that he, too, has garnered high praise. "We wouldn't be in first place without him," outfielder Aaron Judge said, according to the New York Times' James Wagner, after the 27-year-old drove in two runs and scored the go-ahead run in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. Tags: Aaron Judge, Austin Romine, Didi Gregorius, Miguel Andujar, Toronto Blue Jays, Matt Eisenberg Yankees Takeaways from Sunday's 4-2 win over Blue Jays, including Gio Urshela's big day Urshela responsible for three runs while Tanaka throws six sharp in win Yanks get by Blue Jays 00:01:32 Aaron Boone, Masahiro Tanaka, Gio Urshela and Aaron Judge on Tanaka's win and Urshela's contribution to the Yankees success all season The Yankees won their first series of the second half, beating the Blue Jays 4-2 Sunday at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score Five takeaways from Sunday's game 1) The long ball continues to plague Masahiro Tanaka, but the Yankees right-hander kept the damage to a minimum on Sunday. Tanaka allowed two solo home runs in the fifth inning, but other than that he pitched six strong innings, allowing just four hits and striking out five. Tags: Aroldis Chapman, Gleyber Torres, Masahiro Tanaka, Tommy Kahnle, Toronto Blue Jays Masahiro Tanaka, Yankees face Blue Jays in rubber game, Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Bombers aim to open second half with series win Jul 9, 2019; Cleveland, OH, USA; American League pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) of the New York Yankees throws against the National League during the second inning in the 2019 MLB All Star Game at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports (Ken Blaze) The Yankees (58-32, 6.0 GA in AL East) are back in action for the rubber game against the Blue Jays (35-58, 24.5 GB in AL East) on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium. Brett Gardner enters Sunday on a six-game hitting streak and three-game multi-hit streak. Since June 9, Gardner is hitting .337/.424/.663 with seven home runs and 20 RBI. ... Aaron Judge has five hits in his first eight at-bats since the All-Star break. The Yankees slugger is hitting .302/.413/.547 with four home runs and 10 RBI since returning from the IL on June 21. ... DJ LeMahieu snapped an 11 at-bat hitless streak with a ninth inning single on Saturday. He still leads the AL with a .330 batting average. Tags: Aaron Judge, Brett Gardner, Masahiro Tanaka, Toronto Blue Jays Yankees Takeaways from Saturday's 2-1 loss to Blue Jays, including failed ninth inning rally Bombers avoid being shut out, but rally is too little, too late Jul 13, 2019; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) stares at home plate umpire Andy Fletcher (49) after being called out on strikes against the Toronto Blue Jays in the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports (Wendell Cruz) The Yankees rallied in the ninth to avoid a shutout, but it was not enough as they fell to the Blue Jays, 2-1, on Saturday at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score Five takeaways from Saturday's game 1) The Yankees would certainly like to see more of this J.A. Happ. The left-hander, who entered the game with a 6.29 ERA at home this season, tossed 5.1 innings, allowing just two runs on five hits and striking out five. Happ left the game with two runners on in the sixth inning and the two runs came when Adam Ottavino allowed a two-out bloop single to Randall Grichuk to break a scoreless tie. Tags: Aaron Judge, Brett Gardner, Gary Sanchez, J.A. Happ, Luke Voit, Toronto Blue Jays Luke Voit back in Yankees' lineup vs. Blue Jays, Saturday at 1 p.m. Voit has been out since June 30 with an abdominal strain May 25, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Luke Voit (45) hits a home run against the Kansas City Royals during the sixth inning in the first game of a double header at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports (Jay Biggerstaff) The Yankees (58-31, 6.5 GA in AL East) are back in action against the Blue Jays (34-58, 25.5 GB in AL East) on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium. Luke Voit is back in the Yankees' lineup since being placed on the IL with an abdominal strain retroactive to June 30. He hit .280/.393/.509 with 17 home runs and 50 RBI the first half of the season... Brett Gardner enters Saturday on a five-game hitting streak after going 2-for-4 Friday night. Since June 9, Gardner is hitting .329/.421/.671 with seven home runs and 20 RBI. ... Edwin Encarnación is coming off his best game with the Yankees, going 2-for-4 with three RBI, including a bases loaded double against his former team in a 4-0 win. Tags: Aaron Judge, Brett Gardner, J.A. Happ, Luke Voit, Toronto Blue Jays Yankees Takeaways from Friday's 4-0 win over the Blue Jays, including Domingo German's strong outing Brett Gardner leads the way at the plate for Yanks By Chris Carelli \| Jul 12 \| 10:04PM Gardner, Boone react to 4-0 win 00:01:09 The Yankees started the second half with a 4-0 win over the Blue Jays. Brett Gardner's triple started the offense in the fifth inning. The Yankees beat the Blue Jays, 4-0, at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score Five takeaways from Friday's game Tags: Brett Gardner, Chad Green, Domingo German, Edwin Encarnacion , Gary Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays Decades later, catcher Chris Stewart couldn't believe some of what Jim Bouton revealed Jun 22, 2018; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; A general view of New York Yankees hat and glove laying in the dugout at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports (Kim Klement) It didn't seem like a big deal, a player known for his thoughtfulness sitting at his locker several hours before a game and reading a book. From a distance, the scene could hardly have been more routine. But when you strolled closer to veteran catcher Chris Stewart that afternoon at Yankee Stadium in 2013, you saw that, whether he knew it or not, he was engaged in an act that would once have been unthinkable: He was a Yankee player openly reading "Ball Four" in the clubhouse. Domingo German and the Yankees begin their second half schedule vs Blue Jays, Friday at 7:05 p.m. Yanks look to build on 6.5-game lead in AL East May 5, 2019; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Domingo German (55) pitches during the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports (Vincent Carchietta) The Yankees (57-31, 6.5 GA in AL East) begin a three-game series with the Blue Jays (34-57, 24.5 GB in AL East) on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium. DJ LeMahieu enters the second half of the season with an AL-best .336 batting average. ... LeMahieu also led the potent Yankees' lineup with 113 hits and 63 RBIs. ... Gary Sanchez looks to get his second half off on the right foot after leading the Yankees with 24 home runs in the first half. Tags: Domingo German, Gary Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays Dwight Gooden was recently arrested for cocaine possession July 8, 2000: In a "true" Subway Series doubleheader, the Yankees defeated the Mets at Shea Stadium before sweeping the doubleheader in the Bronx. Dwight Gooden returned to Shea in a Yankees uniform and earned the win. (AP) Former Mets RHP Dwight Gooden was arrested for cocaine possession on June 7 in New Jersey, according to the New York Post. The 54-year-old was charged with third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Post. He was also charged with being under the influence. Gooden has battled substance abuse issues since 1986, when he missed the Mets' World Championship parade due to his drug use. He then missed the start of the 1987 season in order to undergo treatment for cocaine abuse. He was also suspended by MLB in 1994 for violating his drug aftercare program. Yankees GM Brian Cashman leaves door open to using prospect Deivi García this season The 20-year-old pitching prospect is rising through farm system The Yankees may be able to find some pitching help within their organization this season. GM Brian Cashman, who is searching for another starter on the trade market, acknowledged on Jim Duquette's SiriusXM radio show that 20-year-old prospect Deivi García is "pushing himself into the mix" for helping the team this year. Cashman also ruled out using García in a trade package for a mere rental. "Are we going to give up Deivi García for a rental somewhere? Clear not," he said. Yankees' Aaron Boone says Luke Voit could return over weekend Boone also provides updates on Severino, Betances New York Yankees first baseman Luke Voit hits a home run against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. (Richard Mackson/USA TODAY Sports) The Yankees placed first baseman Luke Voit on the 10-day injured list prior to the All-Star break and he won't be there much longer, according to manager Aaron Boone. Voit was injured (abdomen) running out a double against the Boston Red Sox during the team's London series earlier this month. Speaking to WFAN's Mike Francesa on Thursday, Boone said Voit will be returning by Monday at the latest. "Voit will be sometime in the next couple of days. Probably won't be activated tomorrow. Might have him do one rehab game. We'll talk through that," Boone said. "He'll likely be back at some point this weekend or certainly first of next week." Tags: CC Sabathia, Dellin Betances, Luis Severino, Luke Voit Rising Yankees prospect Deivi Garcia on Keith Law's midseason Top 50 list Hitters 'cut through his fastball like he's throwing 105 with spin' Trenton Thunder pitcher Deivi Garcia throws a pitch during a game against the Hartford Yard Goats at Dunkin' Donuts Park. (Matt Eisenberg/SNY) The Yankees have one prospect listed on Keith Law of ESPN's midseason Top 50 prospects list, and it should come as no surprise that it's Deivi Garcia -- the diminutive strikeout machine who is now just one step away from the majors. Law writes that Garcia, who is just 5'9", has been featuring a fastball that sits between 90 and 96 MPH but that hitters "cut through his fastball like he's throwing 105 with spin." While Law is somewhat bearish on the ceiling of Garcia due to his small stature, he still heaps high praise on the 20-year-old. Will the Yanks make a big trade to add a pitcher in the second half? By Anthony McCarron \| Jul 11 \| 10:00AM Jun 26, 2019; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) hits a single against the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports (Noah K. Murray) Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv \| Twitter \| Life is good for a baseball team that is 57-31, the best record in the American League. But while the Yankees might be favorites to go back to the World Series for the first time in a decade, that doesn't mean the second half of the regular season is just about lining up the playoff rotation. Yes, even juggernauts have potential trouble areas and question marks. With that in mind, we offer five things to watch while the Yanks try to hold their sizable 6.5-game lead in the AL East over the season's final two and a half months. Tags: Aaron Judge, Domingo German, Gary Sanchez, Giancarlo Stanton, James Paxton, Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, Anthony McCarron Why Yankees shouldn't hesitate to call up prospect Deivi Garcia for stretch run Garcia carved up Double-A before his recent promotion to Triple-A By Tom Krosnowski \| Jul 11 \| 8:15AM Everyone knows that the Yankees need to acquire a starting pitcher. Guys like Madison Bumgarner, Marcus Stroman, Trevor Bauer and Zack Wheeler have all been linked to the Yanks, who may be another quality starting pitcher away from a championship. If you're a bettor, hammer the "over" on the Yankees acquiring one. However, there's another way they can improve their pitching staff for the stretch run. Risky as it may be, the Yankees could try to catch lightning in a bottle by calling up 20-year-old phenom Deivi Garcia. It sounds ridiculous, right? Throwing a 20-year-old rookie into the pressure of a pennant race in New York City? The kid isn't even old enough to drink the celebratory champagne that would be flowing in the clubhouse! Former Yankee and 'Ball Four' author Jim Bouton passes away at age 80 Bouton wrote one of the most critically acclaimed sports books to ever go to print Former Yankees pitcher and author of the critically acclaimed book "Ball Four" Jim Bouton has passed away at the age of 80 after battling brain disease that had been linked to dementia. Bouton pitched seven of his 10 big league seasons in Yankees pinstripes from 1962-68, winning 21 games and earning an All-Star nod in 1963. He won 55 games overall with the Yankees, posting a 3.36 ERA, and was a part of the 1962 World Series championship group. Despite a lengthy career as pitcher, Bouton is more widely known for being the author of "Ball Four", one of the most acclaimed sports books ever written. Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka admits baseball 'just doesn't feel right' this season Add the Yanks starter to the list of pitchers unhappy with baseballs It has been a question to all pitchers so far this season: Does the baseball feel different? Well, you can add Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka to the group that feels something is off. "Probably the right word to say is, it just doesn't feel right," Tanaka told NJ.com's Brendan Kuty through a translator. Tags: Masahiro Tanaka, Scott Thompson Here's what trade targets Trevor Bauer and Marcus Stroman can offer the Yankees Both starters have been mentioned as trade targets for the Bombers By Phil Akre \| Jul 10 \| 11:09AM Jun 29, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (6) delivers a pitch against Kansas City Royals in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports (Dan Hamilton) With just over two weeks left till the MLB Trade Deadline is upon us, expect the hot stove to catch fire. Brian Cashman and the Yankees will once again be at the forefront of discussions in the days leading up to July 31. The target? Starting pitching. Last season brought J.A. Happ, while Sonny Gray served as 2017's big acquisition. This summer has the chance to be very different, though, as the Yankees aim to acquire an ace -- or close to it. In many ways, it could be the right summer to make the deal for an impact starter that the team has long sought. How the Yankees fared in the 2019 MLB All-Star Game Five Yankees make AL All-Star team American League pitcher Aroldis Chapman of the New York Yankees throws against the National League during the ninth inning in the 2019 MLB All-Star Game at Progressive Field. (Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports) The Yankees know a thing or two about winning. Even in the All-Star Game. Aroldis Chapman, one of five Yankees to make the American League All-Star team, recorded the save as the AL beat the National League 4-3 on Tuesday at Progressive Field. Chapman, making his sixth All-Star Game, joined teammates Gary Sanchez, DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres and Masahiro Tanaka on the AL team, which won its seventh straight Midsummer Classic. Tags: Aroldis Chapman, Gary Sanchez, Gleyber Torres, Masahiro Tanaka Marcus Stroman explains tweet he 'liked' referencing trade to Yankees The right-hander is a target for the Yankees By John Healy \| Jul 9 \| 7:59PM Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman delivers a pitch against Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. (Kevin Sousa/USA TODAY Sports) Marcus Stroman does not really "like" the Yankees, or at least any tweets suggesting he could play for them. The Blue Jays pitcher, who is a potential trade chip before the July 31 deadline, was on the defensive Tuesday before the MLB All-Star Game after he was caught "liking" a tweet from a Yankees blog that read, "Marcus Stroman might be the next #Yankees or #Twins ace." "I think people read into likes a little too much," he told Brendan Kuty of NJ.com. "I just read the article. My likes in my Twitter are articles I can go back to and articles I can reference and I happened to read the article and it was praising me. It was saying a bunch of good things. ... not necessarily because it said I was coming to the Yankees. It said the Twins, too." Why Yankees' CC Sabathia has been in Brian Cashman's ear lately The southpaw wants to be with the team next season, but not as a player CC reflects on special moment 00:02:00 CC Sabathia had a special few days in Cleveland from throwing out the first pitch to a mound visit in the 9th. CC shared what it all means. CC Sabathia may be retiring at the end of the season, but the left-hander does not plan to leave the Yankees any time soon. The 38-year-old, who was in Cleveland to be honored at the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, told reporters that he wants a front office job with the Yankees as soon as possible after his retirement. Sabathia said he is fully committed to retiring, but wants to stick around the stadium and continue to be around the team and has said he has been in GM Brian Cashman's ear about it, suggesting a special assistant role. CC Sabathia and Aroldis Chapman made fashion statement with family Highlights from ASG Red Carpet 00:00:24 New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom, first baseman Pete Alonso and Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia take in the sights from the red carpet. It was a perfect day in Cleveland as the red carpet was rolled out for the 2019 MLB All-Stars to walk and talk with the fans and media waiting for them. Among them was CC Sabathia and Aroldis Chapman, two Yankees hurlers that were accompanied by their family as they made their rounds. Sabathia had on his superhero threads with that went perfect with his Doernbecher Jordan 4s on his feet. Chapman, on the other hand, had a nice white suit on with a glistening Cuban link chain to go with it... Gray is having a bounce-back season with the Reds after an awful 2018 By Phil Akre \| Jul 9 \| 3:47PM Jul 9, 2019; Cleveland, OH, USA; National League pitcher Sonny Gray of the Cincinnati Reds with his family on the red carpet prior to the 2019 MLB All Star Game at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports (Charles LeClaire) Around this time two summers ago, the Yankees landed Sonny Gray. The trade with the A's was supposed to be the deal that landed them an ace. Gray's tenure in New York was ultimately a forgettable one, at points looking like he'd never return to the blossoming arm he was in Oakland. Now with the Cincinnati Reds, Gray is an All-Star. "I wouldn't change the ups and downs that I had experienced on a personal level and on the baseball field level," Gray said to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post. "Because coming back to an All-Star Game, it's just kind of, I can't describe the feeling. It's very special." Tags: Sonny Gray Amidst juiced ball accusations, Rob Manfred vehemently denies MLB has purposely altered baseballs Baseballs are flying out of ballparks at a record rate, while pitchers talk about them being harder to grip By Danny Abriano \| Jul 9 \| 1:15PM Feb 17, 2019; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; MLB commissioner Rob Manfred addresses representatives from the grapefruit league during the annual spring training media day at Hilton in West Palm Beach. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports (Steve Mitchell) As baseballs fly out of ballparks at eye-popping, record-breaking levels and players openly accuse MLB of juicing the balls, commissioner Rob Manfred vehemently denied on Tuesday that the league had purposely altered the baseballs. "Baseball has done nothing, given no direction, for an alteration of the baseball," Manfred said, noting that the league is still trying to figure out why the balls -- made by Rawlings -- are different this season. "The flaw in logic is that baseball wants more home runs," Manfred explained. "If you sat in owners meetings and listen to people on how the game is played, that is not a sentiment of owners for whom I work. There's no desire among ownership to increase homers in the game -- to the contrary they are concerned about how many we have." yankees Archives	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2404
__label__wiki	0.692145	0.692145	Spal Worlwide Spal Group Brushed Axial Fans Brushed Centrifugal Blowers Brushless Axial Fans Brushless Centrifugal Blowers SPAL Worldwide Over 50 years of ongoing innovation and growth "Constantly focused on excellence, through quality, innovation and service. These are the cornerstones on which, over the years, SPAL has built up its credibility, presenting itself as the ideal partner for designing, producing and marketing engine compartment and interior cooling solutions for all types of transport vehicles" A. Spaggiari Alessandro Spaggiari - CEO/AD Spal Automotive Company founded in The Company was founded in Correggio (Italy) in 1959 by two partners, Terzino Spaggiari and Alberto Alberti, in a period of strong growth and expansion of plastic molding, SPAL initially specialized in the production of plastic components as outsourcer. New product development: Axial Fans and Centrifugal Blowers In the 1970s, the founders had the great idea of expanding production towards the manufacture of electric fans, both Axial and Centrifugal ones, for the up-and-coming automotive industry. SPAL expanded its product range and installed its first production lines to cater to the fast-growing market demand. Area: 100,000 sq m Covered Surface:10,000 sq m New Office Buildings: Area 115,000 sq m Covered Surface: 15,000 sq m As a result of ever increasing investment in the research and development sector, during its 20 years of business activity, SPAL has firmly established itself as a key supplier of extremely high quality products for applications that require outstanding levels of performance. Increased Research & Development Area: 135,000 sq m Further company expansion, with new production premises and new product research & development departments. Opening of new subsidiaries SPAL started to expand globally with the opening of a great number of subsidiaries including: Shanghai-China (2001), Des Moines-USA (2004), Sao Paulo-BRAZIL (2005), Noida-INDIA (2006), Worcester-UK (2008), St. Petersburg-RUSSIA (2008), Tokyo-JAPAN (2011) and in Seoul-SOUTH KOREA (2012). SPAL celebrates its 50th anniversary Start of Brushless production SPAL starts manufacturing and marketing new Axial and Centrifugal electric fans with Brushless/Electronic Intelligent Drive technology Increase in Brushless production capacity As a result of a strong global expansion and to satisfy the growing and continuous market demand, SPAL extended its premises by 16,000 sq m to increase it's capacity of assempling Brushless electric fans Area 180,000 sq m - Covered Surface: 80,000 sq m 2020extension SPAL Automotive Centrifugal Blowers Here you can find all the available user documentations and declarations for Spal products. Correggio ITALY Headquarters: R&D and Production SPAL Automotive Srl - VAT Number: 01755790357 © All rights reserved This site uses its own and third-party cookies to ensure the best browsing experience. If you would like more information about cookies and how to control their enablement with your browser settings access our Cookie Policy. If you continue to browse this site , this means you agree to the use of these cookies.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2409
__label__cc	0.606591	0.393409	You are here: Posts > Spencer Ogden Announcements > Spencer Ogden Launches New Calgary Office in Major... Spencer Ogden Launches New Calgary Office in Major Expansion As we continue our growth across America, we are excited to announce the launch of our new Canadian headquarters in Calgary, Alberta. Led by Country Manager for Calgary, Lee Rook, the hub is now officially launched with 22 team members, a Spencer Ogden trademark style office and a projected growth of 100% over the next year. Lee Rook has over 15 years’ international recruitment experience, having worked across the UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa and North American markets. Lee says, “There are some very exciting projects underway in the Canadian energy market so this is a perfect time for us to officially launch in Calgary, and we are looking forward to expanding our presence in the city.” We celebrated the launch with a party where co-founders Sir Peter Ogden (Chairman) and David Spencer-Percival (CEO) hosted Calgary’s energy professionals and guests were given an exclusive preview of the office’s unique design. Spencer Ogden sets the standard in office design and our Calgary office is no exception. Our clubroom is complete with oversized leather furniture and a crackling fireplace, whilst the boardroom showcases Canadian hockey greats as well as vintage artwork from Lake Louise. The sales floor is kitted out with AstroTurf flooring, following the style of our other global hubs but with its own local style influences. Ed Ogden, Director of the Americas comments, “ Following recent office openings in the US, we are delighted to be expanding into the thriving Canadian energy market as well, and this office represents our ambitious growth plans. We are confident that our burgeoning local team can help new and existing clients to develop their operations significantly by attracting top talent.” The Calgary office follows in the footsteps of our recent North American expansion, with new office openings in Orlando, San Diego and Denver. Future plans in Canada also include an office in Toronto. David Spencer-Percival, CEO of Spencer Ogden says, “We’re delighted to bring new jobs to the recruitment sector in Calgary and deliver the best talent for our clients. With an increasingly stimulating energy market, Calgary represents a great challenge and opportunity that we’re excited to be a part of.”	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2411
__label__cc	0.595769	0.404231	Toronto: Soup Can Theatre celebrates its 10th anniversary with “A Night of Music and Mirth” July 18 Soup Can Theatre is turning 10 and Toronto is invited to celebrate with us! We are marking the occasion with a performance-laden bash at the Monarch Tavern featuring in-concert highlights from our smash-hit shows, Love is a Poverty You Can Sell I & II, performed by original cast and orchestra members - as well as dancing, raffle prizes, silent auction, and more! Since 2009, Soup Can Theatre has been producing truly independent theatre, garnering critical acclaim, multiple awards and accolades, and a dedicated following of theatre-goers along the way. Our shows have included ambitious and immersive musical productions (Love is a Poverty You Can Sell I & II), contemporary re-imaginings of iconic works (Marat/Sade, Antigone, A Hand of Bridge, No Exit, Threepenny Opera in Concert), intimate original creations (HERETIC) and unique collaborative concepts (Circle Jerk). Soup Can Theatre has also been proud to support outside works by our core members, including the much-lauded sketch comedy revue, Behold, the Barfly!, and an award-winning original site-specific adaptation of A Christmas Carol which will be returning to the historic Campbell House Museum in December. Where and When: July 18th at The Monarch Tavern – 12 Clinton Street (just south of College), ground floor. Doors open at 7:30pm. Tickets: Entry is pay-what-you-want. Tickets can be purchased in advance at soupcantheatre.com or in person at the door (cash only). Accessibility: The Monarch Tavern performance space is wheelchair accessible, however the washrooms are only accessible by stairs. Website/Social Media: soupcantheatre.com, @soupcantheatre (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), #SoupCan10 Photo: Scene from Love is a Poverty You Can Sell. © Scarlet O’Neill. << Toronto: Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg collaborate to stage Grétry’s “Richard Coeur-de-Lion” at Versailles \| Stage Door News \| Toronto: SummerWorks Performance Festival announces its 2019 programme >>	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2412
__label__wiki	0.869775	0.869775	Jay1 Tickets Lewis Capaldi Tickets Loyle Carner Tickets The Lion King Tickets Rammstein Tickets Elton John Tickets Gerry Cinnamon Tickets Rod Stewart Tickets Pop Will Eat Itself Tickets, Tour Dates & Concerts 2019 ♫ Home ⇢ Tickets & Tour Dates ⇢ Rock ♫ ⇢ Pop Will Eat Itself ♫ Pop Will Eat Itself are an alternative rock band from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, currently consisting of vocalists Graham Crabb and Mary Byker, guitarist Tim Muddiman, bassist Davey Bennett, and drummer Jason Bowld. Formed in 1986, the band released their debut album, ‘Box Frenzy’, in 1987, followed by ‘This Is the Day...This Is the Hour...This Is This!’, in 1989 and ‘Cure for Sanity’ in 1990. ‘The Looks or the Lifestyle?’ was released in 1992 and reached #15 in the chart, while ‘Dos Dedos Mis Amigos’, performed even better, hitting #11 in the chart, before disbanding in 1996. The band reformed in 2010, and released ‘New Noise Designed by a Sadis’, the following year and ‘Anti-Nasty League’ in 2015. After a successful Australian tour this year, Pop Will Eat Itself will join forces with Ned's Atomic Dustbin for the Love From Stourbridge tour in April 2019. Catch them live by checking out the tour dates and concert ticket information below on Stereoboard. Upcoming Pop Will Eat Itself Events Oops, no Pop Will Eat Itself events are currently scheduled in United Kingdom. Get an ALERT when new shows are announced near you! SET A TOUR & TICKET ALERT! International Dates San Antonio Paper Tiger From £8.04 Find Tickets > Providence Fete Music Hall Rhode Island, USA Baltimore Ottobar Denver Oriental Theater Pop Will Eat Itself History and Biography After a successful Australian tour this year, Pop Will Eat Itself will join forces with Ned's Atomic Dustbin for the Love From Stourbridge tour in April 2019. Catch them live by checking out the tour dates and concert ticket information here on Stereoboard. Pop Will Eat Itself Ticketing Comments & Feedback Pop Will Eat Itself Concert & Event Reviews Pop Will Eat Itself Links Pop Will Eat Itself Genres RockIndustrialAlternative RockAlternative Dance Peter Hook And The Light Shaun Ryder Pop Will Eat Itself Confirm November London Date Pop Will Eat Itself have lined up an autumn show in London. Pop Will Eat Itself Announce May Headline Shows Thu 10th Nov 2016 Pop Will Eat Itself have announced a brace of headlining shows for May.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2418
__label__wiki	0.976981	0.976981	Yahoo shares takes a hit after concerns over Alibaba IPO filing Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer said that the firm would maintain its plan to cut its stake by 40 per cent when Alibaba makes its market debut. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP Tech-heavy Nasdaq at three-week low May 8, 2014, 5:01 am SGT http://str.sg/ZoGU NEW YORK (AFP) - Yahoo shares tumbled Wednesday on concerns its stake in Alibaba may be worth less than anticipated following the Chinese online giant's stock market offering. The US Internet giant saw a 6.6 per cent drop in its shares to US$34.07 (S$42.53) at the close of trade as the market digested details in Alibaba's initial public offering documents filed on Tuesday. Colin Gillis at BGC Partners said the IPO showed Yahoo's stake at 22.6 per cent, not the 24 per cent which had been previously estimated. Gillis told AFP that the valuation suggested in the Alibaba filing was US$116 billion and added, "that's less than investors were thinking." "Of course that's a private company mark, and not necessarily reflecting what the public will bring, but that's also something that has weighed a little bit" on Yahoo, said Gillis. Gillis said the sheer size of Alibaba was taking a toll on the rest of the tech sector. "Alibaba's IPO is going to suck a lot of oxygen out of the stock market for stocks like Amazon, Google, eBay and even Facebook and things like that as investors swap out of one stock to another," he said. Some investors were expecting Alibaba's market value to be around US$150 billion or more. One of the more optimistic values came from the private company research firm PrivCo, estimating the "fair valuation" at US$195 billion for the Chinese firm. But another research firm, Trefis, pegged Alibaba's worth at US$95 billion on Wednesday. Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer told a New York tech conference that the US firm would maintain its plan to cut its stake by 40 per cent when the Chinese firm makes its market debut, but declined to comment on valuation. Still, Yahoo could be pressured as a result of the IPO because "there's no need to own Yahoo as a proxy for Alibaba," Gillis said. "You'll be able to buy Alibaba itself." Alibaba - often described as a Chinese version of Amazon or eBay - indicates US$1 billion will be raised in the public offering, but that amount is expected to be greatly boosted with later amendments. The IPO is part of efforts by the world's largest online retailer to expand globally. Analysts say the listing is expected to raise somewhere around US$15 billion, which would make it the technology industry's largest IPO since Facebook's in 2012. Talks between Alibaba and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange broke down last year, in part because the city's listing rules prevented Alibaba founder Jack Ma and senior management retaining some control over the board of directors. Alibaba wanted an alternative class share structure to give selected minority shareholders extra control over the board, but the Hong Kong bourse declined to change its rules. Alibaba operates China's most popular e-shopping platform, Taobao, which has more than 90 per cent of the online market for consumer-to-consumer transactions. Taobao has more than 800 million product listings and over 500 million users.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2421
__label__wiki	0.692199	0.692199	Wilder's frank Mansfield assessment Mansfield reaction The Blades boss pulls no punches after watching a disappointing performance from his site at Mansfield Sign in to SheffieldUnited.TV Chris Wilder was disappointed with his team's performance in the 0-0 draw at Mansfield Town. After three pre-season victories, a draw was all his side could muster against David Flitcroft's Stags. Wilder commented afterwards: "I don't think we were competitive, the opposition were outstanding and deserved to win. It cements my belief, 100 per cent, that you need to compete. "The opposition were far better, with and without the ball. Maybe the players have strolled into Mansfield thinking we were Championship players - maybe they need reminders about what we need to do and what we need to do better. "Mansfield will go well this season, but we were second best all over the park. We have done well in pre-season but I don't like it when we get outbattled and outmuscled in any game." Mansfield Town vs Sheffield United on 21 Jul 18	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2424
__label__cc	0.576447	0.423553	ISME: Government must 'think small first' The Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) issued a pre-budget statement last week, calling on the Government to ‘think small first’ as part of its Budget 2017, placing greater emphasis on SME owners and their employees. ISME wants a complete end to tax discrimination of the self-employed community, along with a reduction in red tape barriers around small business research and development, employee share options and Capital Gains Tax on entrepreneurs. Mark Fielding, chief executive, ISME, said at the launch of the Association’s submission: “Ireland needs to grow its own entrepreneurs. We need to use our tax system more effectively to draw on the increasingly large pool of Irish-born managers, skilled professionals, and entrepreneurs working both at home and overseas. “When compared to other jurisdictions, the tax regime in Ireland is extremely uncompetitive. It is now very difficult to attract entrepreneurs to establish and grow a business in Ireland.” The submission states that current tax schemes are too complex and expensive for SMEs and also cites a competitive disadvantage between entrepreneurs and PLCs when it comes to hiring and rewarding key talent. The ISME believes the tax code was written with large multinationals at the forefront of their mind, with SMEs discriminated against throughout the tax system – either directly through tax allowances or via the in-built issues arising from sections which have been written to suit bigger businesses. “The ISME pre-Budget submission focuses on encouraging SME business to start-up and grow, incentivising enterprise, which will stimulate job creation,” added Fielding. “The advice to government is to nurture small business through the tax system, which will have positive payback through jobs and tax take.” Back to top \| Back to news archive	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2428
__label__wiki	0.567154	0.567154	Best Huawei Products Of 2016: Huawei P9 Plus, Mate 9, Honor 8 And More 31 December 2016, 9:30 pm EST By Maricris Francisco Tech Times In a year when Apple and Samsung failed to meet the expectations of its mobile market, Huawei made a good name for itself even though the company does not have a brand that inspires loyalty and fanaticism the way Apple and Samsung do. Huawei had its humble beginnings by starting out as a phone switch manufacturer. It got started in the smartphone market by selling cheap phones to the low-end market. That does not seem the case these days, as the company finds itself competing with top consumer brands with its top-of-the-line smartphone products. Huawei impressed critics when it came up with its flagship phone - the P9 Plus. Up front, you get a 5.5 inch FHD display, plus the Press Touch, which is Huawei's answer to Apple''s 3D Touch technology. Battery life is also promising as the P9 Plus has a 3,400mAh power pack and a 'rapid charge mode' which allows 6 hours of talk time with 10 minutes of charging. The outstanding feature of Huawei's flagship comes from its dual lens camera, which is done in collaboration with Leica. The main camera takes a traditional shot while the secondary camera takes a monochrome image. This function allows the phone to take in more light than usual, resulting to better quality shots. With its spacious 5.9-inch display, the Mate 9 is a phablet that's built to last. It also comes with a powerful processor, a great camera, and stellar battery life. One of the phone's key selling point is its compatibility with the Daydream VR platform. It also has a Machine Learning Algorithm which can adapt to the way you use your phone by prioritizing the apps you use most often. Huawei's offshoot brand Honor is also making waves. Huawei's Honor 8 is positioned in the upper mid-range market, putting it in direct competition with OnePlus 3 and Asus ZenFone 3. This phone measures 5.2 inches and is a lightweight at 153 grams, making it great for one-handed use. This phone handles both simple and multitasking jobs quite efficiently, and one can play visually demanding games without worrying that the phone will overheat. The dual cameras are also great. The 12-megapixel rear sensors have an aperture of f/2.2 while the 8-megapixel front-facing camera has an f/2.4 aperture. The Honor 5C is a powerful device that comes in an attractive price tag. The phone is powered by two quad-core processors and a 3000mAh battery power. It also comes with a dual SIM-card slot, which is perfect if you frequently travel. The 13-megapixel rear camera has a flash-capable HDR mode, while the 8-megapixel front camera is perfect for taking selfie pictures. With Huawei's current lineup of phones, it is no wonder it has become the world's third largest phone manufacturer. Huawei, Huawei P9, Honor 5X, Huawei Mate 9, Honor 5C What's The Best Smartphone Of 2016? These Critics Have Spoken Nexus 6P Early Shutdown Issue: Google Responds, Simply Tells Users To Contact Google Store Support Nexus 6P Owners Are Reporting Bootloop Issues On Their Phones 5 Best Smartphones Of 2016: iPhone 7, 7 Plus, Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, Google Pixel, Pixel And More Honor 8 Getting Android 7.0 Nougat Update In February, EMUI 5.0 In Tow	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2437
__label__wiki	0.857386	0.857386	Max and Eleven's Friendship Is the Light in the Dark "Stranger Things 3" Season Sophie Hayssen Watch Camila Mendes Make Life-or-Death Choices in the New Trailer for Coyote Lake Amy McGrath Launches Kentucky Senate Campaign to Oust Mitch McConnell Allegra Kirkland The First Episodes of "The Handmaid's Tale” Season Two Just Dropped and Things Still Look Bleak THE HANDMAID'S TALE -- "June" - Episode 201 -- Offred reckons with the consequences of a dangerous decision while haunted by memories from her past and the violent beginnings of Gilead. (Photo by:George Kraychyk/Hulu)Photo: George Kraychyk/Hulu The Handmaid's Tale season two is finally here, which means we're ready to immerse ourselves once again in the downright terrifying world of Gilead, a society where it's unsafe to be queer, poor, or a woman. Hm, sounds familiar. The first two episodes of Hulu's hard-hitting and anxiety-inducing drama, which dropped on the streaming service Wednesday (April 25), paint a picture of the world that is both increasingly violent and increasingly hopeful. Danger lurks around every corner in Gilead, but so do secret allies and small moments where we see these characters take back some of what has been stolen from them. Again, the parallels to the world we actually live in do not go unnoticed. Before we jump in to episode one, let’s catch up with where we ended in the first season. Spoilers ahead. Moira (Samira Wiley) is safe in Canada and reunited with Luke Bankole, June’s husband. June (Elisabeth Moss), meanwhile, is pregnant with Nick’s child — not Fred Waterford’s, a fact that he knows thanks to an angry and frustrated Serena Waterford. Emily (Alexis Bledel) has had a particularly rough go of things: she watched the woman she was in love with be executed, and then was subjected to female genital mutilation; her clitoris was removed to stop her from wanting sexual pleasure. Meanwhile, in the aftermath of Janine's suicidal ideation, the handmaids refused to stone her. And no good deed goes unpunished. That brings us up to season two, episode one, which TBH is one of the most suspenseful, horrifying episodes yet (and that’s hard to do with a show so continuously full of horrors). The truck at the end of season one that is carrying June to her punishment inevitably stops at a spooky warehouse. The truck is one of many, each carrying the handmaids who didn’t stone Janine. They’re herded like cattle down a hallway and into...a very bleak version of Fenway Park. The Bostonian baseball stadium is filled not with hot dogs, popcorn, and rabid Red Sox fans, but with identical rope nooses set up on a stage. This immediately sends the handmaids, whose mouths are covered, into an understandable panic. As they whimper, they are lined up one in front of each rope. It goes around their necks, and for a few unbearable minutes, we wait for them to drop. As Handmaid’s Tale is wont to do, an ethereal soundtrack accompanies the scene: Maxwell’s “This Woman’s Work.” But, of course, it doesn’t happen because without June there is no show. Instead, Aunt Lydia gives a lecture about how they’re saved by the grace of God. (She loads up the speech with a bunch of threats, as per usual.) Then, the girls are sent to do some arm exercises; specifically, they have to hold their stone in the air in the exact position it was in before they dropped them with Janine. Also, it’s raining and cold, so everyone is shivering. Talk about a pointed punishment. Aunt Lydia continues to share her abundant wisdom with the crew, saying, “There is more than one kind of freedom — ‘freedom from’ and ‘freedom to.’” Up until this point, Aunt Lydia has no clue June is pregnant. But someone tips her off, and voila, June is protected from the worst of the punishments. Interestingly, Aunt Lydia calls June out on her acts of defiance, mockingly calling her brave when she has known all along that her pregnancy will keep her safe. June tries to hold on to her courage, but then Lydia shows her what happens to pregnant rebels — and it isn't good. We also get a few important flashbacks in this episode that help set the scene for how bad things were going to get for the future citizens of Gilead. In one scene, we discover that Luke has to sign off on June’s birth control subscription (not great!) and that the schools are hyper aware of child illness — their daughter Hanna gets sent to the hospital for a low-grade fever. Once June arrives at the hospital, she’s given the inquisition by a woman who refuses to call June by her real last name, in favor of her married name. The woman basically implies that June working full-time is harming her child’s health and endangering the lives of other other children. Luckily for the woman, June won’t be working much longer. Back to the present. After a series of moments that go from horrible to worse to even worse, we finally get some relief: a worker at the hospital slips June a key while she, Fred, and Serena are in there getting an ultrasound. The key eventually leads her to yet another truck, which leads her to a temporary safe place where she is reunited with Nick! Nick tells her to change her clothes, and also to commit the ultimate symbolic literary gesture: cut her hair. June burns the clothes and the remains of her ponytail. For good measure, she cuts the tag branded into her ear...by cutting off that chunk of her ear. The whole anxious moment is very Black Swan, but with a Carrie-like amount of blood. Finally, we get to see June watch her handmaid life go up in flames — and hopefully we’ll soon see her watch that world burn. The last words in the episode are a short monologue from June, that end with a cold, blood-soaked statement: “I am free.” She has taken back control of her name and looks more like her old self than ever, so we want to believe that statement is true. Related: Elisabeth Moss Opens Up About Filming The Handmaid's Tale After the 2016 Election Keywordshandmaid's taleAlexis Bledelelisabeth mosssamira wileyhulu Rejoice, The Society Is Returning for Season 2 Sophie Turner Just Revealed Her Wedding Dress and Wow Khloé Kardashian Says It’s “Too Toxic” to Watch KUWTK Episodes About Jordyn and Tristan 10 Things I Wish People Knew About Acne Em Ford	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2438
__label__wiki	0.988738	0.988738	h and low, the world�s tallest man has married a woman two-thirds his height, a Chinese newspaper reported Wednesday. Bao Xishun, a 7-foot-9 herdsman from Inner Mongolia, married 5-foot-6 saleswoman Xia Shujian several days ago, the Beijing News reported. Bao�s 28-year-old bride is half his age and hailed from his hometown of Chifeng even though marriage advertisements were sent around the world, it said. �After a long and careful selection, the effort has been finally paid off,� the newspaper said. Bao was confirmed last year by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world�s tallest person. He was in the news in December after he used his long arms to save two dolphins by pulling plastic out of their stomachs. The dolphins got sick after nibbling on plastic from the edge of their pool at an aquarium in Liaoning province. Attempts to use surgical instruments to remove the plastic failed because the dolphins� stomachs contracted in response to the instruments, Chinese media reported. SANTIAGO, Chile � Pilots of a Chilean commercial jetliner spotted flaming objects falling past their plane as it headed for a landing in New Zealand, airline officials said yesterday. U.S. experts suggested the objects were meteors burning up in the earth�s atmosphere and questioned Australian media reports they were pieces from a Russian spacecraft. LAN Chile airline said in a brief statement that the pilot, who was not identified, �made visual contact with incandescent fragments� several miles away on Monday. The Airbus 340 had just entered New Zealand airspace when the space debris was spotted. The airline said it reported the incident to authorities in Chile and New Zealand. Web sites of several Australian news media quoted officials as saying that pieces of a Russian satellite had narrowly missed the jet. But Nicholas Johnson, orbital debris chief scientist for NASA�s Johnson Space Center, said that was likely not the case. Russian space junk was expected to come back to Earth � but not until about 12 hours after the incident with the jet, Johnson said. PARIS � Sister Marie-Simon-Pierre is the French nun whose testimony of a mystery cure from Parkinson�s disease will likely be accepted as the miracle the Vatican needs to beatify Pope John Paul II, an official at the Paris hospital where she works said yesterday. The identity of the nun has been one of the Catholic Church�s most closely guarded secrets. The nun says that she was cured of Parkinson�s after she and her community of nuns prayed to John Paul. The nun, a member of the �Congregation of Little Sisters of Catholic Motherhood� in Aix-en-Provence in southeast France, works at the Sainte-Felicite hospital in Paris, the official said on condition of anonymity because an official announcement was expected Sunday. From Associated Press reports.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2439
__label__wiki	0.821623	0.821623	Home News World President Rouhani: Iran will not give in to pressure from Donald Trump President Rouhani: Iran will not give in to pressure from Donald Trump Iranian President Hassan Rouhani lambasted on Tuesday President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from a deal with Iran on its nuclear programme, and said Iranians will not give in to U.S. pressure but would defend their independence and Islamic values. Rouhani, in a speech broadcast live on state television, said Trump’s action on the international deal was “appalling and illegal” and had hurt America’s global reputation. Rouhani said Iran maintained the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. He promised Iranians the government would be able to handle the economic pressure of new U.S. sanctions, a day after traders massed outside parliament, protesting against a sharp fall in the value of the national currency. Washington is to start reimposing economic penalties on Tehran in coming months after U.S. President Donald Trump quit an agreement between major world powers and Iran in which sanctions were lifted in return for curbs on its nuclear program. This may cut Iran’s hard currency earnings from oil exports, and the prospect is triggering a panicked flight of Iranians’ savings from the rial into dollars. On Monday, police patrolled Tehran’s Grand Bazaar as security forces struggled to restore normality after clashes with protesters angered by the rial’s collapse, which is disrupting business by driving up the cost of imports. Defending his economic record, Rouhani said the government’s income had not been affected in recent months, and the fall in the rial was the result of “foreign media propaganda”. “Even in the worst case, I promise that the basic needs of Iranians will be provided. We have enough sugar, wheat, and cooking oil. We have enough foreign currency to inject into the market,” Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on state television. Rouhani said the fresh U.S. sanctions were part of a “psychological, economic and political war”, adding that Washington would pay a high price for its actions. “Withdrawal was the worst decision he (Trump) could make. It was appalling. It hurt America’s global reputation,” he said. NAN reports that Trump on May 8, withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, unraveling the signature foreign policy achievement of his predecessor Barack Obama, isolating the U. S. from its Western allies and sowing uncertainty before a risky nuclear negotiation with North Korea. The decision, while long anticipated and widely telegraphed, leaves the 2015 agreement reached by seven countries after more than two years of grueling negotiations in tatters. The U.S. reimposed the stringent sanctions it imposed on Iran before the deal and is considering new penalties. Iran said it will remain in the deal, which tightly restricted its nuclear ambitions for a decade or more in return for ending the sanctions that had crippled its economy. So did France, Germany and Britain, raising the prospect of a trans-Atlantic clash as European companies face the return of American sanctions for doing business with Iran. China and Russia, also signatories to the deal, are likely to join Iran in accusing the U.S. of violating the accord. Trump’s move could embolden hard-line forces in Iran, raising the threat of Iranian retaliation against Israel or the United States, fueling an arms race in the Middle East and fanning sectarian conflicts from Syria to Yemen. The president, however, framed his decision as the fulfillment of a bedrock campaign promise and as the act of a dealmaker dissolving a fatally flawed agreement. He predicted his tough line with Iran would strengthen his hand as he prepared to meet North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, to begin negotiating the surrender of his nuclear arsenal. Trump’s announcement drew a chorus of opposition from European leaders, several of whom lobbied him feverishly not to pull out of the agreement and searched for fixes to it that would satisfy him. It also drew a rare public rebuke by Obama, who said Trump’s withdrawal would leave the world less safe, confronting it with “a losing choice between a nuclear-armed Iran or another war in the Middle East. Previous articleUS suspends prosecution of migrant families Next articleFans scramble for Nigeria, Argentina match tickets Hassan Rouhani Iranian President Nuclear Programme US House rejects bid to launch Donald Trump impeachment proceedings Possible killer heat wave imminent in US – weather agency WHO raises concern over global negligence on measles vaccination China to reduce oversized classes to improve education All suspects linked to Easter terror attacks arrested – Sri Lankan president Child rapists to be castrated in new law North Korea warns US over planned war games	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2444
__label__wiki	0.948524	0.948524	Sydney Light Rail Buses in NSW Ferries in Sydney Light Rail in Sydney Employee Transport in Darwin Buses in Brisbane Ferries in Brisbane Buses in Perth Buses in Melbourne Trains in Auckland Trains in Wellington Business Activity Buses in NSW Ferries in Sydney Light Rail in Sydney Employee Transport in NT Buses in QLD Ferries in Brisbane Buses in Perth Buses in Melbourne Trains in Auckland Trains in Wellington Home Community Work Notifications Transport apps Getting to Events Travel Safe and Feel Secure Network & map Opal & tickets School Opal card Health Safety Environment Quality Anti-Racism Campaign Inner West Light Rail Bandicoot Study Transdev Mobility Cards Our Customer Promise Our Values, Ambition and Job Service status & disruptions / Upcoming trackworks & service changes » If you can see this text, your web browser does not support iframes. This iframe contains the Transport Info trip planner. If you wish to use the Trip Planner, please visit the Transport Info website. Access service & disruptions alerts SYDNEY LIGHT RAIL PPP PREFERRED BIDDER Minister for Transport media release Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian today announced light rail would have 50 per cent more capacity than the 9,000 passengers per hour previously planned, after a preferred bidder was selected to deliver and operate Sydney’s new CBD and South East Light Rail project. Ms Berejiklian said the news was a huge win for customers, with the NSW Government future-proofing the light rail network for decades to come, to cater for Sydney’s future economic and population growth. The preferred bidder has also proposed reducing the expected length of time of construction along George Street, with extra support staff on the ground, importantly helping to minimise disruption to the community. “The NSW Government is getting on with the job of building a new light rail network for Sydney and delivering major improvements to public transport,” Ms Berejiklian said. The Connecting Sydney consortium, consisting of Transdev Sydney, Alstom Transport Australia, Acciona Infrastructure Australia and Capella Capital, has late today been advised that it is the preferred bidder to deliver and operate the project. “The preferred bidder’s proposal offers an innovative, world class solution that will deliver a huge win for public transport customers, with reduced crowding on the light rail service and more capacity to cater for future demand,” Ms Berejiklian said. “The proposal offers services that from day one carry up to 15 per cent more light rail passengers in peak hours, and 33 per cent more seats across the day. “As I have said previously, the biggest challenge for this project is meeting the high demand from customers who are expected to choose light rail over buses, private vehicles and other transport options. “The preferred bidder has responded to this challenge with a proposal that ultimately has the potential to carry over 50 per cent more than the 9,000 passengers per hour in each direction previously announced by the government. “As a result of these wins for customers, this will mean an increase in the overall budget of the project, and the NSW Government will now work with the Connecting Sydney consortium over the coming weeks to finalise this major contract.” The NSW Government has always said that construction of the CBD and South East Light Rail in such a busy environment will be extremely challenging and will result in some impacts along the route. Connecting Sydney has responded to this, entering a bid with an earlier end date than expected for construction along George Street, a reduced impact on the community during construction. The preferred team has also proposed using extra construction support staff on the ground, to better manage impacts in the CBD, meaning less disruption for motorists, businesses and CBD workers. The detailed construction program is now subject to further commercial negotiations and once agreed, the project team will ensure communities are well informed along the route. Ms Berejiklian said the extra capacity has been even more important, since the opening of the Inner West Light Rail extension in March this year. “The Inner West Light Rail extension has proven extremely popular from day one. There have been over 2.3 million trips made on the Inner West Light Rail since the extension opened, a 21 per cent increase compared to last year,” she said. “We have seen how popular the Inner West Light Rail extension has been and have decided to deliver additional capacity on the CBD and South East Light Rail to ensure we future-proof the system.” Ms Berejiklian said the CBD and South East Light Rail is expected to generate over $4 billion in economic benefits to NSW. It will help remove up to 220 buses an hour from CBD streets. “Light rail has been selected as the best value for money solution to the crippling congestion reducing Sydney’s productivity which currently costs the NSW economy around $5.1 billion per year and is expected to rise to $8.8 billion by 2021,” she said. Further detail on the successful tender will be released when the contract is awarded by the end of the year. The NSW Government will set light rail fares and enforce financial penalties if the operator does not meet the customer service standards set out in the contract. These will include running services on time and making sure the vehicles are clean. As with other major projects including the North West Rail Link, the design of the CBD and South East Light Rail has evolved during its planning process and the preferred bidder may require some modifications to the project, which are also expected to be announced before the end of 2014. For more information on the project: http://www.sydneylightrail.transport.nsw.gov.au/ Service & disruptions alerts » Contactless payments » Get your Mobility cards » www.transdev.com.au © Transdev 2015	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2446
__label__wiki	0.8989	0.8989	Home / MIGRATION / Why don’t African governments care about their citizens in Libya? Aftermath of the attack on the migration detention centre on Wednesday. Heart-wrenching pictures from the scene show many bodies strewn among rubble on the ground and African migrants undergoing emergency surgery after the strike / Photo: IOM Libya Why don’t African governments care about their citizens in Libya? Fifty-three migrants, mostly sub-Saharan Africans, were killed on Wednesday when a faction in the Libyan civil war carried out an air strike that hit a migrant detention centre near Tripoli. More than 130 others were injured. The internationally-recognised Government of National Unity (GNA) blamed the attack on forces loyal to renegade General Khalifa Haftar, but his militants have denied it. In the murky situation of a war-ravaged country like Libya, it’s difficult to decide who’s saying the truth. The UN has shockingly revealed that some of the victims were shot by Libyan guards, under the control of the GNA, when they were running for safety after the air strike. Heart-wrenching pictures from the scene show many bodies strewn among rubble on the ground and African migrants undergoing emergency surgery after the strike. The attack took place after weeks of appeal to the Libyan authorities to relocate the centre due to its proximity to the battle zone. All to no avail. The latest incident and regular reports of the inhumanity, to which mainly sub-Saharan migrants are subjected in Libya, show the precarious situation of migrants in the North African country. A migrant detention centre in Zintan during a UN joint mission to monitor and check the situation of detained migrants and their needs in June 2019. The UN has reiterated that the detention of migrants must end / Photo: IOM International refugee organisations estimate that more than 600,000 migrants are stranded in Libya despite the efforts of the EU-funded repatriation programme that seeks to return these migrants to their home countries or to a safe third country. Libya is a key departure point for migrants and refugees from Africa and Arab countries trying to reach Italy by boat, but many get picked up and detained by the Libyan coastguard, which is supported by the European Union. Thousands of irregular migrants and asylum seekers are housed in detention centres like the one that was attacked on Wednesday, with many activists reporting that occupants are forced to endure dangerous and appallingly inhuman conditions, including torture, rape and unlawful killing. After the Wednesday incident, the UN issued a statement condemning the warring factions and the Libyan officials manning these detention centres. Sub-Saharan countries have been like usual silent showing their disregard for the fate of their citizens in Libya. African governments’ attitude seems to be that migrants left their home countries for greener pastures on their free will and should bear the consequences of their action. This is a very wrong attitude as a nation is should care for the safety of their citizens both within and outside its boundaries. It’s time for African governments to make far more efforts to repatriate their citizens stranded in Libya, where they’re exposed to horrendous human rights abuse, as their chances of reaching Europe have become very slim. The war which has become a proxy battle for regional supremacy will most likely become bloodier and protracted exposing migrants to even more danger. The time for African governments to act is now! Sola Jolaoso Previous Why Nigeria’s doctors are leaving the country and what can be done, by university don Next How President Biya’s private visit to Switzerland turns to nightmare Language requirement preventing foreigners from joining spouses in Germany, say critics New book on how colonisation drives today’s African migration to Europe Italian court frees Sea-Watch captain Migrant rescue vessel Sea-Watch 3: What you need to know Explainer: The university application process for refugees in Germany Cameroonian migrants stuck in Cyprus after buying ‘smuggle package’ to Italy Asylum figures in the EU down to pre-2015 levels German bureaucracy keeps refugees stuck in temporary jobs, report finds IOM, EU facilitate return of 14,036 Nigerians from Libya, France, other countries Families of missing migrants stuck in uncertainty Over 70 million people forcibly displaced worldwide – new UN report EU admits 32,700 African refugees, others through resettlement program Germany opens more doors for legal immigration EU restricts visas for countries that don’t take back rejected asylum-seekers Germany issues highest number of Blue Cards in the EU Integration Courses in Germany: What You Need to Know Language tests keep 1 in 3 foreign spouses from joining loved ones in Germany Malta finally allows 49 migrants on rescue ships to disembark, to redistribute to EU countries German NGOs’ migrant rescue boats still stuck at sea, 17 days on New in Switzerland! Renewal of residence permit now conditional on integration performance Israel gives African migrants 90 days to leave or be jailed Spain received highest number of migrants by sea in 2018 Migrants still experiencing “unimaginable horrors” in Libya, says new UN report German foundation worries about irregular migration from Nigeria About 112,000 migrants arrived in Europe via Mediterranean in 2018 European Parliament approves visa proposal for refugees The inspiring story of a French family who took in a young African migrant 7 EU member states, US fail to sign UN Global Pact on Migration Denmark to detain asylum-seekers on isolated island Italy’s new anti-immigration law: What you need to know Italy adopts tough anti-migrant law What the German Constitution says about the Right to Asylum Germany to fast-track deportation of rejected asylum-seekers Germany’s Interior Ministry has proposed new measures to monitor and deport persons whose asylum application …	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2449
__label__wiki	0.965243	0.965243	The Explorers Club Nell Benjamin's 19th century British farce adds her to the ranks of today's outstanding female playwrights. Lorenzo Pisoni as Lucius Fretway, Carson Elrod as Luigi, and Jennifer Westfeldt as Phyllida Spotte-Hume in a scene from The Explorers Club, now running at NY City Center — Stage I. (© Joan Marcus) Nell Benjamin knows a thing or two about making heroines out of tall blondes. Back in 2007 she and her husband, Laurence O'Keefe, cowrote the music and lyrics for Legally Blonde The Musical, an unflaggingly enthusiastic expression of modern-day girl power, embodied by the bubbly young ingénue Laura Bell Bundy. Tony Award nominee and popular independent filmmaker Jennifer Westfeldt (best known for her films Kissing Jessica Stein and Friends with Kids) is Benjamin's newest muse. She portrays the 19th century British version of girl power as the brilliant explorer Phyllida Spotte-Hume in Benjamin's feminist farce, The Explorers Club, a Manhattan Theatre Club production now playing at NY City Center. Though Phyllida boasts about her discovery of a lost city populated by a species of blue men, the greatest discovery made during The Explorers Club is that Legally Blonde's pop musical numbers and schizophrenic dance routines were actually hiding an exceptionally talented comedic playwright. The Explorers Club is set in 1879 London — in the midst of the city's industrial and economic boom — and follows members of the Explorers Club, a high-society group of scientists and explorers who dwell in a 19th century equivalent of a man cave. Tony Award winner Donyale Werle has designed a striking set, complete with beautifully upholstered Victorian furniture and a fully stocked wet bar. It is perfectly suited for its inhabitants who describe brandy and cigars as "the heart and soul of the British Empire." The atmosphere captures the excessive luxury customary of 19th century London's upper crust, while subtly reminding us of the excessive poverty that accompanied this era of economic growth, a fact over which these characters clearly lose little sleep. CHECK FOR DISCOUNTS Lorenzo Pisoni plays the Explorers Club president, a shy botanist appropriately named Lucius Fretway, who, to the shock and horror of his stodgy clubmates, wishes to admit the club's first female member, Phyllida Spotte-Hume (Westfeldt). Phyllida, having just discovered the lost city of Pahatlabong, has returned to London with one of its native blue-skinned members of the NaKong tribe who she has lovingly renamed Luigi (played by an impressive Carson Elrod, employing physical comedy that deserves high praise). Phyllida hopes that Luigi will help her win the approval of the club's (far less qualified) members including Professor Sloane (John McMartin), a Bible-quoting archeo-theologist; Professor Cope (Brian Avers), a herpetologist with an unnatural affinity for a snake named Rosie; Professor Walling (Steven Boyer), a zoologist who designs flawed experiments for guinea pigs; and Harry Percy (David Furr), a womanizing renegade explorer who searches for places that any intelligent human being could assume do not exist. However, Phyllida's campaign for approval among this crowd proves particularly difficult after Luigi physically assaults the Queen of England, causing a web of trouble for them all. Westfeldt, like her character, holds her own as the only woman in this room of strong male actors. Though all of her castmates give outstanding performances (particularly Furr, whose casual smugness is perfectly British), she remains the most captivating individual onstage — a credit to both her performance and Anita Yavich's elegant costumes that highlight the strength of her physical presence. Lucius' feelings of infatuation for Phyllida make perfect sense as you, yourself, wait anxiously for her to return to the stage. O'Keefe, who composed original music for the play, and director Marc Bruni, both of whom worked with Benjamin on Legally Blonde, have reunited for this project, though all three have left their valley girl sensibilities behind. Their feel for the art of camp, however, is still finely tuned. The pace at which Bruni moves the play forward nicely suits this style of comedy. While maintaining a steady rhythm, it sits in a pocket that still allows the humor (and the audience) to breathe. Benjamin's immensely intelligent script, however, can easily stand on its own two feet. Full of both wit and insight into the male-female power struggle of the past as well as the present, the play could be a first cousin of an Oscar Wilde comedy. It has the quintessential ensemble structure, the complex web of conflicts, and the improbably neat yet incredibly satisfying resolution. Manhattan Theatre Club Jennifer Westfeldt Nell Benjamin	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2451
__label__wiki	0.851722	0.851722	City Manager maybe put on administrative leave; potential removal City Manager Philip Rodriguez might be put on administrative leave after a contentious City Council meeting last week about utilities fund Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at 12:32 pm (Updated: July 9, 12:59 pm) Brighton's Battle City Manager Suspended, Parts 1 & 2 of 3 A piece of Brighton’s history is hauled off College independence: Easy for some, not so much for others Watch the bird .. and the bee Freedom means different things to former prep athletes Dangerous intersection to be modified Councilwoman accused of soliciting job from city manager City manager defends himself at study session Photo provided City Manager Philip Rodriguez By Liam Adams On Tuesday night, City Council will vote on whether to put City Manager Philip Rodriguez on administrative leave and they will also vote next week on whether to remove him from office. An agenda for a July 9 special session says that in addition to voting on Rodriguez's leave, Assistant City Manager Marvin Falconburg will be considered for immediate appointment to the post. The news comes a week after a contentious City Council meeting on July 2 where Councilman Matt Johnston accused some councilors of trying to fire Rodriguez. Their reasoning, said Johnston, is over Rodriguez’s investigation into excess cash in utilities funds generated over previous years of rate increases. However, Mayor Ken Kreutzer – who Johnston named as one of the councilmembers seeking Rodriguez’s termination – said to the public, “I want the damned answers, just like you do.” At the July 2 meeting, council unanimously voted for a forensic audit into potential criminal activity within the utilities funds. Before the vote, some councilors wanted more information before hiring a forensic audit firm. In defense of Johnston’s accusation about firing Rodriguez, the mayor said, “I will state that when it comes to discussions concerning the city manager, it is a personnel issue and it shall remain not in the public realm.” In addition to the mayor, Johnston accused Mayor Pro Tem J.W. Edwards, Councilwoman Lynn Baca and Councilman Mark Humbert of also trying to fire Rodriguez. Humbert responded to Johnston’s accusation that he didn’t want to fire the city manager. Humbert said he stood by Johnston to retain Rodriguez in an October executive session concerning Rodriguez’s employment. In response to Johnston's accusations, Baca and Edwards alluded to issues they’ve previously had with the city manager. Edwards said he was shocked to hear from the city manager that council would not receive a year-by-year financial audit into the utilities fund, despite Edwards thinking they would. Baca said she’s had difficulty with Rodriguez because he’s more often communicated with council about the utilities funds over email than in person. The heated debate at the July 2 meeting arose from Elena Townsend, a Brighton resident, asking for the names of councilors who are against a forensic audit and the city manager. Townsend said she wants to know, “so they can be voted out by the constituents.” Townsend’s sentiment was echoed by an audience member who yelled at the mayor when Kreutzer was speaking, “if he’s [Rodriguez] fired, you’re recalled.” The July 9 special meeting will take place at 6 p.m. in the City Council chambers. At the July 16 City Council meeting, council will vote on whether to permanently remove Rodriguez. Correction: The Blade originally reported that Rodriguez will be placed on administrative leave. The article has since been updated to say that City Council will vote on whether to put Rodriguez on leave. Read and share your thoughts on this story	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2452
__label__wiki	0.868798	0.868798	Nielsen continues spending spree as it confirms acquisition of VisualDNA By Ronan Shields-21 December 2016 18:10pm UK-based VisualDNA was founded in 2006 Nielsen has confirmed that it has bought audience data business VisualDNA for an undisclosed sum to further its marketing cloud efforts, The Drum can reveal. The acquisition comes just a day after it was reported that Nielsen had paid $560m for media metadata business Gracenote. VisualDNA is an audience data business that supplies data to brands, agencies and publishers. The data is based off the results of a psychographic personality test that’s been taken by over 40 million people. A spokesperson for Nielsen, said: “I can confirm that Nielsen has completed an acquisition of VisualDNA, a leading audience personality data provider and marketing technology company.” He said the business wouldn’t comment on the price of the deal but that it was made to bolster the Nielsen Marketing Cloud rollout: “For Nielsen, the acquisition brings together the UK’s two leading data players into a powerful new union. Additionally, the VisualDNA analytics solution, consumer survey capabilities and data footprint will enhance Nielsen Marketing Cloud rollout in Europe,” he added. The Drum also attempted to contact VisualDNA for comment on its integration into the Nielsen-fold but it was unable to respond by time of publication. The company is headquartered in London, UK, was founded in 2006 and in that time has raised over $28m in funding, according to its Crunchbase profile. It further reads: "VisualDNA is a consumer insights and analytics company that profiles people using engaging visual personality quizzes. The personality profiling company helps clients to get insight into various areas of their lives, and its patented technology creates detailed and accurate personality profiles." Both of its recent purchases build on the launch of Nielsen Marketing Cloud earlier this year, with the company (renown as the default TV audience measurement company) claiming it can help marketers personalize their ad campaigns through the integration of consumer and media data, as well as the purchase of Exelate. A press release marking the launch quotes Mark Zagorski, executive vice president, Nielsen Marketing Cloud, as saying: “Never before has data played a more important role in driving marketing efficiency, but the complexity of centrally managing and employing this data has grown as well. "The Nielsen Marketing Cloud is the only solution to provide highly accurate and scalable data for marketers to plan and activate campaigns across platforms and devices - and analyze their impact through one integrated easy-to-use system." Additional reporting by Charlotte McEleny, Asia editor. This article is about: World, Data, VisualDNA, Nielsen, Mergers And Acquisitions (M&A), Martech, Digital, Digital Advertising, Media, Media, Technology	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2454
__label__cc	0.558638	0.441362	Law: the expert view Court reporting is a dying art – and lawyers should be worried David Banks Reporters play an important role within the courts, but financial and time restraints mean they are more endangered than ever Tue 19 Oct 2010 09.29 EDT First published on Tue 19 Oct 2010 09.29 EDT Coverage of the Tommy Sheridan perjury trial recently raised questions about court reporting. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images There was a time, not long ago, when a newspaper could rely upon the three Cs of court, crime and council to fill its empty columns each day. Now two threats have emerged that mean the court reporter is more endangered than ever. There are good reasons why lawyers in those courts should worry about this. The first threat – financial pressures on regional and national newspapers as advertising revenues and circulation figures decline – is well known. As economies were made, court reporters were among the first to be cut. Marcel Berlins warned of their decline last year. This was echoed by Patrick Moloney QC, who told a media law conference there was no point in a judge making lofty pronouncements if there was no one from the media to report them. David Holmes, who teaches journalism at the University of Sheffield, told the annual general meeting of the Association of Journalism Educators of the decline in court reporting. He called on academics and journalists to chart this decline and explain its implications. This retreat from the courts by the press may turn into a rout if the Ministry of Justice's plans to close 103 magistrates courts and 54 county courts goes ahead. It is already difficult for reporters to get time away from their desks to attend court. If their local one closes and its cases are moved further away, the task becomes impossible. Court reporting is an art. No matter how good the writer, drop them into the Sturm und Drang of a court in full flow and they will struggle to produce something readable, never mind newsworthy. The experienced court reporter understands proceedings, has a network of contacts in the court and knows the restrictions placed on their reporting if they are to stay on the right side of the law. One only has to look at some of the reporting to come out of the Tommy Sheridan perjury trial to see the dangers posed. For example, the Scotsman referred to "damning" allegations. Whether or not they were damning is for the jury to decide. The art of court reporting is learned by spending time in the magistrates and crown courts watching cases, writing them up day after day and improving by practice. Financial pressures and court closures mean fewer journalists are getting that practice. Every term I send my students at Sunderland University to local courts to see for themselves how they operate. They always come back with tales ranging from the horrific, the comic or completely bizarre that ought to find their way into the pages of a paper. Was there a reporter in court with you? I will ask. The answer is invariably no. Why should the legal profession care about the disappearance of the skilled reporter from their courts? Well, if the reasons of democracy and open justice stated above by Moloney and Berlins are not enough, they ought to think of their own moments of immortality. Case reports on major trials may preserve the judgments and legal precedents set. But in the mundane day-to-day goings-on of the court system, it is the court reporter that turns that base metal into gold. The nationals will continue to turn out for major trials, especially those with a celebrity link, but that is a tiny fraction of the courts' business. For too many regional papers the temptation to keep reporters at their desk engaged in the "churnalism" derided by Nick Davies in his book Flat Earth News has proved too great. Anyone who has sat through trials knows there can be long periods of boredom interspersed with moments of excitement. It is the court reporter who captures that excitement and distils it into a few brief paragraphs of high drama, comedy or pathos. That might mean Richard Henriques QC's closing speech in the trial of Harold Shipman, or a bungling burglar in a magistrates court who stole and then hung up his neighbour's curtains. Lawyers spend many years honing their skills of argument, examination and oratory. It is the court reporter who preserves that for posterity. Lawyers, of all people, should hope they survive. David Banks is a media law consultant and co-author of McNae's Essential Law for Journalists	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2459
__label__wiki	0.975521	0.975521	Watch the trailer to the new Elton John ‘Rocketman’ biopic Taron Egerton transforms into a glittering Sir Elton John in a new trailer for the biopic Rocketman. The Welsh actor portrays the musician in the film charting Sir Elton’s rise from prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music to global superstar. “You can be the best-selling artist in American if you so desire,” says Bodyguard star Richard Madden, who plays his manager John Reid. MORE: 7 reasons why we can’t wait to see Sir Elton John playing in Liverpool In another clip Reid, who for the first five years of Sir Elton’s stardom was also his lover, warns him that “if our sleeping arrangements get out, all of this is gone”. Kingsman star Egerton, 29, sports thick rimmed glasses and fur coats as he evolves from unknown performer Reginald Dwight to global star in the two-minute-long glimpse. The teaser for Paramount Pictures production features some of Sir Elton’s best-loved songs, including Rocket Man and Tiny Dancer. The film has been billed as “based on a true fantasy”, and the trailer ends with a brief shot of Sir Elton’s famous 1975 Dodger Stadium concerts in Los Angeles. Rocketman opens in cinemas in May. For more film news for Liverpool head this way and keep up to date on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Tags: Elton JohnfilmMoviesMusicSir Elton john	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2460
__label__wiki	0.94246	0.94246	Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below. Just click on the icons to get to the download page. PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION LOG IN / REGISTER Race not an issue in Singapore, study finds Leonard Lim Singapore / Fri, July 19, 2013 / 02:59 pm Most Singaporeans say that race is not a factor in determining who gets promoted at work or served at public facilities in the nation, according to a new study. But while the survey found that many believe all races are generally treated fairly by society, it also notes that more than one in two Singaporeans do not have a close friend of another race. Just 45 per cent of the 4,131 Singaporeans interviewed have such friends, an attribute that is essential for racial harmony, said the study released yesterday. It is the first such study carried out to gauge the state of racial and religious harmony in Singapore by asking people for their views on 10 areas. Overall, the results are positive, indicating that people of different races and religions get along. The study's authors attributed it to government policies that foster social harmony. For instance, eight out of 10 Malays and Indians do not feel they are treated worse than other races in the workplace. And nine out of 10 feel there is no discrimination when they use government services, like hospitals. Also, the vast majority of Singaporeans take online racist or offensive postings in their stride, such as when former NTUC staffer Amy Cheong ranted on Facebook about Malay void deck weddings. Fewer than 10 per cent say they are often upset by incidents that insult their religious beliefs or racial customs. These are among the key findings of the study carried out by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and racial harmony advocacy group OnePeople.sg. The study ranked the 10 indicators with scores, from one (worst) to 10 (perfect). The score was above five for all except for interracial friendships, at 4.51. Despite the positive picture, IPS and OnePeople.sg said racial harmony remains a work in progress. OnePeople.sg chairman Zainudin Nordin cited especially inter-racial friendships. Such close-knit relationships form the backbone of racial harmony, the member of parliament of Bishan-Toa Payoh group representation constituency (a type of electoral division in Singapore) said at a press conference. "It could be as simple as going into a lift and not looking down, but making an effort to chat with the neighbour of another race and deepening that relationship," he added. The study found that two in 10 Chinese have a Malay or Indian friend, while nearly two-thirds of Malays and Indians have at least one Chinese friend. Mathew Mathews, the study's principal investigator and an IPS research fellow, attributed the poor score in inter-racial friendships to the population demographics. The Chinese form almost 75 per cent, a vast majority compared to Malays (13 per cent) and Indians (9 per cent). As a result, the Chinese can go about their daily routine without needing to meet someone from a minority race, Mathews said. Sociologist Tan Ern Ser, who was not involved in the study, agreed but said economic status could also be a factor. "We need to promote inter-racial collaborations on projects of common interest and under conditions of equality," he added. But Norman Vasu of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies noted that the other findings show the poor friendship score has not hindered inter-racial relations. Your premium period will expire in 0 day(s) Get 50% off for Premium Subscription Renew your subscription to get unlimited access Four die, seven injured in bloody clash in Mesuji Electric vehicle regulation ready for Jokowi’s approval Producers anticipate lower CPO exports due to price volatility, barriers most engaging Passengers amused by handwritten menu on Garuda flight face defamation charges 'We can be one of strongest countries in world': Jokowi's full speech New law allows Indonesia to jail foreign researchers for breaking rules Brands poke fun at Garuda Indonesia's no-photo policy 6-magnitude earthquake hits Nusa Dua, damaging hotels, schools Indonesia, Australia to open registration for working holiday visas Brown sugar milk tea not as healthy as you think Bali back to normal after earthquake Susi says goodbye, tells fishermen to keep foreign ships away Data points to slowdown in Indonesian economy amid ongoing trade war	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2461
__label__cc	0.64133	0.35867	DIY, Glamorous, Alternative, Castle, Garden, Museum, Summer, Spring Wedding Photos A Glamorous Summer Wedding at Museum of the City of New York, in New York City There was no shortage of chic at Christina Zhang (27 and a health care investment analyst) and Eric Yeung's (31 and a director of business de... A Classic Black-Tie, Same-Sex Wedding at Landmark Center in St. Paul, Minnesota Compact arrangements of classic hydrangeas and pops of gold turned Antonio Henry (left, 27 and a director of customer experience) and Chris Ek... A Luxe Indian Wedding at Oheka Castle in Huntington, New York A stunning castle set the scene for Rekha Mahale (35 and a pediatrician) and Mihir Patel's (33 and a corporate bond trader) storybook spring c... A Sophisticated Spring Wedding at the Castle on Stagecoach in Little Rock, Arkansas For their spring nuptials, Amanda Opitz and Justin Reeves planned a romantic affair that drew inspiration from their home of Paris, France. A Lush Garden Wedding at Nicollet Island Inn in Minneapolis, Minnesota Julia “Connie” Milan (29 and a senior account manager) and Kent Gliadon (30 and owner of a landscape design company) knew of each other throug... A Modern, Outdoor Wedding at Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge, Louisiana The landmarks of downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana, inspired the wedding between Dawn Carrier (26 and a project manager) and Carson Narcomey (30... A Whimsical Backyard Garden Wedding in Pittsboro, North Carolina While planning their fall wedding in Pittsboro, Erin Crawford (29 and a fitness director) and Jessica Fines (33 and a social worker) immediate... A Modern, Classic Wedding at Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois Brooke Duval (26 and a medical supply sales representative) and Steve Kipferl (28 and a physician) strongly believe that less is more, and let... A Glamorous, Old-Hollywood-Inspired Wedding at Ellis Island in New York City After an unforgettable trip through France, where David Carasso (32 and a project manager) asked Lauren Applebaum (32 and a media specialist) ... A Romantic, Traditional Wedding at Searles Castle in Windham, New Hampshire Justina Alicudo (29 and a teacher) and Christopher Gaeta (28 and a city accessor) knew they wanted a distinctive venue to host their early-sum...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2463
__label__wiki	0.995373	0.995373	Three French soldiers wounded in Mali attack Malian police protect the French Embassy in Bamako during a demonstration last week. Photo: AFP Three French soldiers deployed in a counter-terrorism force in Mali's restive northeast were injured, one seriously, in a suicide bomb attack, France's army said Friday. The convoy was attacked while travelling between the Menaka and Indelimane regions on Thursday, the fifth anniversary of the launch of France's military campaign against jihadists in the west African country. "A vehicle approached the convoy and exploded near a VAB (armoured vehicle)," French army spokesman Patrick Steiger told AFP. The seriously injured soldier was evacuated to France, while the two others were treated at the scene, he said. Three Malian soldiers were also injured on Thursday after being ambushed in the northern town of Hombori in an attack using "improvised explosive devices", Mali's army said in a statement. Also on Thursday, a policeman was abducted and a police station looted and set on fire in the northwest town of Lere, the army said in a separate statement. Islamic extremists linked to Al-Qaeda took control of the desert north of Mali in early 2012, but were largely driven out in the French-led military operation launched in January 2013, but large tracts of the country remain lawless. According to an AFP count, 18 French soldiers have been killed in Mali since the launch of Operation Serval, which has since been replaced by Operation Barkhane, a broader offensive deployed in five countries -- Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso. These countries form the so-called G5 Sahel, a French-supported group that last year launched a joint military force to combat jihadism. READ ALSO: Killers of French journalists in Mali 'in Algeria': campaign group Macron announces new 'space force' on eve of Bastille Day Obama family arrives in Avignon for French holiday Son of Frenchwoman killed in Ireland accuses absent suspect of 'lack of courage' Three French Isis members sentenced to death in Iraq Briton dies as yachts collide off Cannes Youths rally across Europe in pre-vote climate protest France and US spar over electronic evidence in investigations France hails progress in fight against jihadists in Sahel French forces kill top Al-Qaeda commander in Sahel 'Terrorists' attack French soldiers in troubled Mali Jihadist group claim Mali attack that killed two French soldiers Killers of French journalists in Mali 'in Algeria': campaign group	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2465
__label__wiki	0.738773	0.738773	Bridal shop closes where nurse with Ebola visited A bridal shop at the center of the Ebola scare has decided to close its doors because of slow business. Amber Vinson, the Dallas nurse who was later diagnosed with Ebola, visited the shop to Bridal shop closes where nurse with Ebola visited A bridal shop at the center of the Ebola scare has decided to close its doors because of slow business. Amber Vinson, the Dallas nurse who was later diagnosed with Ebola, visited the shop to Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/1BEBU0T USA Today NetworkHilary Golston, WKYC-TV Published 1:31 p.m. ET Jan. 8, 2015 \| Updated 3:20 p.m. ET Jan. 8, 2015 An Akron, Ohio bridal shop once visited by Ebola patient Amber Vinson has decided to close its doors because of slow business. VPC Amber Vinson(Photo: Daniel Shirey, Getty Images) AKRON, Ohio — A bridal shop at the center of the Ebola scare has decided to close its doors because of slow business. Amber Vinson, the Dallas nurse who was later diagnosed with Ebola, visited the shop to help her bridesmaids try on dresses last October. Store owner Anna Younker says the stigma was too much for the business. The shop closed briefly after news spread that Vinson had come to the shop. During the closure, the store was cleaned and reopened with a sale. Despite a successful reopening, the store could not regain the success it once had. Coming Attractions Bridal & Formal will no longer have regular hours or accept new orders after Jan. 31. Younker says she will stay open long enough for customers to pick up ordered merchandise. The announcement was made via Facebook. Post by comingattractionsbridal. Younker says Vinson asked for her money back for the bridesmaids dresses she was purchasing at the store, but the owner said no. The cost totaled $400 or $500, Younker told WKYC. Vinson already possesses the wedding dress she bought from Coming Attractions, Younker said. Younker reports the losses for her store after being tied to Ebola add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. An Akron, Ohio bridal shop has closed and its owner has been told to quarantine herself. Amber Vinson, a nurse now diagnosed with Ebola, visited the shop last weekend. (Oct. 17) AP Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1BEBU0T	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2467
__label__wiki	0.976641	0.976641	Two Texas A&M football players accused of assault Two starters on the Texas A&M football team, Floyd Raven and Deshazor Everett, have been accused of assault and suspended from the team. Two Texas A&M football players accused of assault Two starters on the Texas A&M football team, Floyd Raven and Deshazor Everett, have been accused of assault and suspended from the team. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/11UOvfm Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports Published 2:30 p.m. ET July 1, 2013 \| Updated 1:59 a.m. ET July 2, 2013 Deshazor Everett drew national attention when he intercepted a fourth-and-goal pass by Alabama’s A.J. McCarron with less than two minutes left in A,M’s 29-24 upset victory in November.(Photo: Dave Martin) Two starters on the Texas A&M football team have been accused of assault Safetey Floyd Raven and Deshazor Everett are accused for an April 30 incident in which they allegedly hit two men Texas A&M has suspended both players from team activities Two projected starters on the Texas A&M football team have been accused of assault from an incident that occurred in April, The Eagle (College Station, Texas) reports. According to College Station police, 21-year-old Deshazor Everett and 20-year-old Floyd Raven were charged after the April 7 fight. Both surrendered at the Brazos County Jail on Monday. The Associated Press reported that both players were suspended Monday from team activities after being charged with two charges of misdemeanor assault and criminal mischief. The school said Everett and Raven will remain suspended pending further investigation, though they can continue their studies. COLLEGE FOOTBALL COUNTDOWN : Ranking teams 1-125 SATURDAY DOWN SOUTH: Texas A&M players accused The charges are the result of an April 30 incident in which they allegedly hit two men at a College Station apartment complex and allegedly "pounded and kicked" a truck at the scene of the crime. Via The Eagle: Court documents state that the two football players were among a group of 10 to 12 men who "attacked" two people as they climbed out of a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe at an apartment complex off Harvey Mitchell Parkway early April 7. The fight apparently started at Hookah Station, a bar at Northgate, according to the documents that detail how the altercation started when the two football players sprayed champagne into the crowd. Pushing and shoving ensued but before a fight started it was broken up by College Station police and bouncers at the club, according to the arrest report. Everett was a key factor at cornerback throughout the 2012 season, notably intercepting an AJ McCarron goal-line pass on fourth down with less than two minutes left to seal the Aggies' stunning upset win over Alabama. Raven, a senior safety from Kenner, La., had 16 tackles in 13 games last season. It should be noted that A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel was arrested, however he did not miss any time. Manziel almost transferred before his 2012 Heisman season.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2468
__label__wiki	0.925329	0.925329	Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary Tornado Hunters spins up wild weather drama on CMT Canada October 16, 2015 Greg David Hollywood disaster movies never have much in the way of reality in them. Take Twister. Monster tornadoes tear up the American midwest, growling like Godzilla, spinning cows and water towers around while a couple on the verge of divorce alternately chase and outrun them? Outrageous, right? “The only fake part of that movie is Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt’s love life,” says Greg Johnson. “They actually under-did the tornadoes.” He should know. The former Parliament Hill staffer, former hockey referee and former marketing executive left the rat race behind to race after tornadoes and other extreme weather. With veteran storm chaser Chris Chittick and extreme sport enthusiast Ricky Forbes alongside, the trio are the Tornado Hunters. Debuting Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CMT Canada, Tornado Hunters climbs into a truck alongside the boys on a wild ride across the Canadian and American prairies in search of wild weather and, hopefully, some twisters. Unlike other funnel-themed programming on the dial, Tornado Hunters showcases all kinds of extreme weather and captures it with video and still cameras, creating stunning works of photographic art. There’s nothing more awe-inspiring and educational than time-lapse images of bruised purple clouds roiling thousands of feet in the air while enrobed in bristles of lightning. “You’ll watch a tornado once, and then that’s it,” Forbes says. Johnson concurs, explaining tornadoes are extremely rare; if his team captures a half-dozen on-camera in a summer season, it’s been a good year. To fill time in between storms—and to allow viewers to get to know them better—Saloon Media’s cameras follow the boys during various hijinks, from Chittick winning a push-ups bet against his buddies to Forbes’ phobia of snakes revealed in a hilarious way. Technology has come a long way in the past several years, enabling photographers and camera people to capture images of incredible beauty. Chittick says the Tornado Hunters stand apart from other storm chasers because they use the latest tech to great effect. Meanwhile, the three are protected by a souped-up Ford, capable of withstanding a violent beating at the hands of Mother Nature. “People ask about safety, and we’re in an armoured truck that has a roll cage,” Forbes says. “We’re not being cowboys about this; we have radar and we have the training. There are three of us on the team and we have specific responsibilities and watch each other’s back.” “There’s video of a truck like ours that rolls 15 times down a hill and the cab survives,” Johnson says. “Of course, we don’t want to be in that situation.” Tornado Hunters airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CMT Canada. CMT CanadaTornado Hunters Previous PostComments and queries for the week of October 16Next PostLink: Young Drunk Punk: An Interview with Arnold Pinnock	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2470
__label__wiki	0.919913	0.919913	Town at Barnet for Second Pre-Season Friendly Wednesday, 13th Jul 2016 10:58 Town face League Two Barnet at their Hive ground this evening in their second friendly of pre-season (KO 8pm). Blues boss Mick McCarthy plans to field a different XI in each half against the Bees, as he did during Saturday’s 2-1 victory against Dublin side Shelbourne. McCarthy is hoping for a better quality pitch than the one at Tolka Park where he felt the grass was too long and not “conducive to the ball being moved quickly”. “Hopefully we’ll be playing on a flat even surface and we’ll be able to pass the ball a bit better,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m just glad to get back into playing games now.” The Blues are likely to take a squad similar to the one which was involved against Shelbourne. Striker Daryl Murphy returned to pre-season training yesterday having been given an additional two weeks off having been at the Euros with the Republic of Ireland. His Ireland international team-mate David McGoldrick missed Saturday’s game due to a sore hip flexor problem and again may not be risked this evening. Speaking on Saturday, McCarthy said the problem wasn’t anything too significant: “He’s just having to manage it. But nothing to be too concerned about, he’ll be fine.” Left-back Myles Kenlock was unable to make the trip to Ireland after picking up an ankle ligament injury in training at Playford Road and has been pencilled in for a return when Town travel to Cambridge United a week on Saturday. New signing Adam Webster travelled to Ireland but didn’t play against Shelbourne, however, McCarthy is hopeful that the centre-half will make the start of the season after suffering an ankle injury late on during 2015/16 while with Portsmouth. “He’s recovering from his ankle but he’s running now, he’s out on the grass," the Town boss said. "He’s been doing good work while we’ve been at Carton House. He’ll be fine, his fitness is going to be need working on. But he’ll be all right, he might be fit for the start of the season.” Midfielder Giles Coke missed the Ireland training camp as he is continuing his recovery after knee surgery at the end of last season and is a few weeks away from a return to action with the Blues hoping he'll be ready for the start of the season. Barnet manager Martin Allen is promising Town a tough evening and will be looking for his team to win, having beaten Cheshunt 5-1 away on Saturday. “As always with Mick McCarthy’s teams, they’re honest and hard-working,” he told Barnet’s official site. “Everybody knows if you play for Mick you’re a 100 per cent player. “They’ve got some quality, Championship level players. As always with these games everyone says the result’s not important but it is important to me. “I think Mick will be coming here knowing he’s going to get a good game, everyone will be 100 per cent, giving everything they’ve got to get a result.” Town won their only previous visit to Barnet's new home 1-0 in a pre-season friendly in the summer of 2013 when McGoldrick scored the only goal. Tickets to this evening’s game are £10 for adults and £5 for concessions and under-14s. Probable squad: Bialkowski, Gerken, Chambers, Emmanuel, Robinson, Knudsen, Digby, Berra, Smith, Malarczyk, Bishop, Bru, Skuse, Hyam, Dozzell, Douglas, McDonnell, Blanchfield, Stewart, McLoughlin, Patterson, Pitman, Sears, Murphy, Morris. Wickets added 11:16 - Jul 13 Quality players! is my memory right did Martin Allen say a couple of years ago that we had no quality? Moisha added 11:22 - Jul 13 Looking forward to seeing the boys in action tonight Jimmy86 added 11:41 - Jul 13 Wickets, it was whilst he was Gillingham manager, you are correct. Think it's coz we beat them brendenward35 added 11:58 - Jul 13 Do you think the tractor in the background there for a reason? "Come on you tractor boys" Radlett_blue added 12:26 - Jul 13 I hadn't realised Webster was crocked when we signed him. I presume it is likely to be two different XIs. I'm told that Barnet are only opening the main stand. unknown100 added 12:30 - Jul 13 Squads looking rather thin, hope he's going to unvail 4-5 signings because an injury or 2 to bishop/Murphy/mcgoldrick and its the same as last season, learn from your mistakes mick, get some decent wingers in and stop saying how you enjoy the freebies and loan players. Hope we get stuffed and makes him take real action in the transfer window ArnieM added 12:39 - Jul 13 "get some decent wingers in mick".........Blimey I really hope Mick reads your post because I doubt he's even considered that!! Yes, Barnet are only opening the West stand, which has 2400 capacity, but you can buy & print tickets on-line; £10/head. Dwillams57 added 13:54 - Jul 13 Are we actually going to sign any new players. We are getting left way behind other teams now. Doesn't look very hopeful for the new season and it hasn't even started yet. Gogs added 14:03 - Jul 13 A tenner for a friendly between Barnet and Ipswich? Far too much, a fiver and a quid for kids would be more than enough Paddy39 added 14:39 - Jul 13 Anyone got any idea when the season tickets will be sent out? brian_a_mul added 15:29 - Jul 13 Any trialists at the club? runningout added 16:41 - Jul 13 TV spoiling football... rfretwell added 17:21 - Jul 13 Didsy starting the season injured again. Doesn't bode well for a full campaign again this season either jas0999 added 17:37 - Jul 13 Great opportunity to bed our new players in. Seasider added 17:53 - Jul 13 Do I suspect a touch of irony there JAS airliner added 18:01 - Jul 13 We swapped a perfectly good player for one that's got an injury, how does make sense ? gibbo added 18:10 - Jul 13 It wasn't a swap it's cost us the best part of the million we were promised was available last season spanishblue added 18:28 - Jul 13 McGoldrick already injured missed Irish game ? Not april yet so be another 9 months for hes ready to play Seasider - possibly ... !! Kirbmeister added 18:39 - Jul 13 Even if MM had money, which quality players will want to come here if they also have the pick of bigger richer clubs? We're stuck with what we have. Be prepared for a long hard season.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2471
__label__wiki	0.903591	0.903591	The Beach Boys’ Slow-Blooming ‘Sunflower’ ‘Stay With Me’: The Story Behind Sam Smith’s Breakthrough Song Spencer Davis, Swansea’s Rock & Soul Dynamo More Multi-Platinum Janet Jackson Albums Coming To Vinyl The reputation of the 1970 album among the group’s fans and media has only grown in later years. Paul Sexton When the Beach Boys released Sunflower in 1970, their first on their own Brother label via Reprise, their 16th studio album in just eight years highlighted a dichotomy. The reviews for it were generally extremely positive, and the record’s reputation among fans and media has only grown in later years. But at the time, it became their least successful LP to date. True to its title, Sunflower featured a generally upbeat and sunny selections by various writing combinations within the group. As had been the case on the group’s late 1960s albums Friends and 20/20, Dennis Wilson had a fairly prominent songwriting role alongside his brother Brian, contributing ‘Slip On Through’ on his own and co-writing three others tracks. Brian had one solo credit on the album, ‘This Old World,’ elsewhere co-writing with Mike Love, Al Jardine, brother Carl and others. But perhaps the two most memorable selections on Sunflower were Bruce Johnston’s songs ‘Deirdre,’ written with Brian, and the solo offering ‘Tears In The Morning.’ Even if he went on to express reservations about the suitability of the two songs to the group, Bruce later described Sunflower as his favourite Beach Boys album. The record was released at the end of August, by which time Dennis was much involved with filming the Easy Rider-inspired road movie for Universal with James Taylor, Two-Lane Blacktop. The new album made its US chart debut at No. 162 on 26 September 1970 and peaked at No. 151 in a mere four-week run. Neither ‘Add Some Music To Your Day’ nor the double-sided ‘Slip On Through’ and ‘This Whole World,’ released as advance singles, made the charts, and nor did two 45s released after the album. Sunflower met a somewhat better fate in the UK, but only after a delay. The group had had a belated top five single there in June with ‘Cotton Fields,’ which had appeared some 16 months earlier on 20/20. That prompted Capitol, who had their catalogue, to go with a new Greatest Hits collection, which justified their decision with a 20-week chart run and a No. 5 peak. The group’s new home of Reprise/Warner thus delayed the UK release of Sunflower until November. It entered and peaked there at No. 29, sharing space in the top 40 with the continuingly popular Greatest Hits set that would outlast it in commercial terms. But the 1970 LP’s standing grew and grew, to the point that a 1997 critics’ top 100 list of the all-time greatest albums rated Sunflower at No. 66, second only in their inventory to Pet Sounds at No. 6. Sunflower can be bought here. Follow the official Beach Boys Best Of playlist. Related Topics:Al JardineBrian WilsonBrother RecordsBruce JohnstonCapitol RecordsCarl WilsonClassic PopDennis WilsonJames TaylorMike LoveOn This DayReprise RecordsThe Beach Boys This also features, maybe, Mike Love’s finest vocal lead on “All I Wanna Do” Truly a beautiful song. Phil Miglioratti Sunflower was another doesn’t-sound-like-the-Beach-Boys-are-supposed-to-sound album. Living through the misunderstanding and rejection of the buying public in real time was difficult for us hard core Beach Boys fans. Glad they are finally being vindicated and their music appreciated. PrayForSurfBlog.blogspot.com Next in Features Duke Ellington & John Coltrane Create Jazz Chemistry Previous in Features Supertramp Pull Off The Crime Of The Century ‘Born In The Echoes’: The Chemical Brothers’ Classic Still Reverberates The Beach Boys: The Greatest Vocal Group Ever? Stream Some Classic Pop... So You Think You Know Abba? Classic Pop Legends Classic Pop News Jerry Lawson, Leader Of A Cappella Persuasions, Dies Aged 75 ‘Yesterday’ Prompts US Chart Revival For Five Beatles Classics Neil Diamond Musical On The Way To Broadway Madonna Announces The Launch Of Her Own SiriusXM Channel	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2473
__label__wiki	0.857569	0.857569	Galbraith and Vietnam An adviser who told Kennedy the truth. By Richard Parker Ready to fight back? Sign up for Take Action Now and get three actions in your inbox every week. You will receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nation’s journalism. You can read our Privacy Policy here. Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue. Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! Support Progressive Journalism The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. Fight Back! Sign up for Take Action Now and we’ll send you three meaningful actions you can take each week. Travel With The Nation Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits. Sign up for our Wine Club today. Did you know you can support The Nation by drinking wine? In the fall of 1961, unknown to the American public, John F. Kennedy was weighing a crucial decision about Vietnam not unlike that which George W. Bush faced about Iraq in early 2002–whether to go to war. It was the height of the cold war, when Communism was the “terrorist threat,” and Ho Chi Minh the era’s Saddam Hussein to many in Washington. But the new President was a liberal Massachusetts Democrat (and a decorated war veteran), not a conservative Sunbelt Republican who claimed God’s hand guided his foreign policy. JFK’s tough-minded instincts about war were thus very different. Contrary to what many have come to believe about the Vietnam War’s origins, new research shows that Kennedy wanted no war in Asia and had clear criteria for conditions under which he’d send Americans abroad to fight and die for their country–criteria quite relevant today. But thanks also in part to recently declassified records, we now know that Kennedy’s top aides–whatever his own views–were offering him counsel not all that different from what Bush was told forty years later. Early that November, his personal military adviser, Gen. Maxwell Taylor, and his deputy National Security Adviser, Walt Rostow, were on their way back from Saigon with a draft of the “Taylor report,” their bold plan to “save” Vietnam, beginning with the commitment of at least 8,000 US troops–a down payment, they hoped, on thousands more to follow. But they knew JFK had no interest in their idea because six months earlier in a top-secret meeting, he had forcefully vetoed his aides’ proposed dispatch of 60,000 troops to neighboring Laos–and they were worried about how to maneuver his assent. Harvard economist John Kenneth Galbraith, then Ambassador to India, got wind of their plan–and rushed to block their efforts. He was not an expert on Vietnam, but India chaired the International Control Commission, which had been set up following French withdrawal from Indochina to oversee a shaky peace accord meant to stabilize the region, and so from State Department cables he knew about the Taylor mission–and thus had a clear sense of what was at stake. For Galbraith, a trusted adviser with unique back-channel access to the President, a potential US war in Vietnam represented more than a disastrous misadventure in foreign policy–it risked derailing the New Frontier’s domestic plans for Keynesian-led full employment, and for massive new spending on education, the environment and what would become the War on Poverty. Worse, he feared, it might ultimately tear not only the Democratic Party but the nation apart–and usher in a new conservative era in American politics. Early that November, just as Taylor and his team arrived back in Washington, Galbraith arrived from New Delhi for the state visit of Prime Minister Nehru. Hoping to gain a quick upper hand over Taylor and his mission, he arranged a private luncheon for Kennedy and Nehru at the Newport estate of Jacqueline Kennedy’s mother and stepfather. No one from the State Department–to Secretary of State Dean Rusk’s great consternation–was invited, save Galbraith. Ten days earlier, Galbraith, in one of his back-channel messages, had shared with Kennedy his growing concerns about Vietnam. From India, he’d played a role in defusing the Laos situation that spring, but over the summer, the Berlin crisis had sent a sharp chill through relations with the Soviets, with the risks of nuclear confrontation for a time all too real. About this, Galbraith now told the President: Although at times I have been rather troubled by Berlin, I have always had the feeling that it would be worked out. I have continued to worry far, far more about South Viet Nam. This is more complex, far less controllable, far more varied in the factors involved, far more susceptible to misunderstanding. And to make matters worse, I have no real confidence in the sophistication and political judgment of our people there. This was advice Kennedy was hearing from no one else in his Administration, but clearly welcomed. At the Nehru-Kennedy luncheon, Galbraith and JFK began probing the Indian leader about ways to avoid American militarization of Vietnam, a subject on which (for complex reasons) the neutralist Nehru remained maddeningly ambiguous, emphasizing only that the United States must stay out. The next day in Washington, as the three men took part in formal White House discussions with Rusk and other top US officials who were far more eager for intervention, it quickly became clear to Galbraith how isolated the young President was. When the day’s morning meetings concluded, he thus rushed from the Oval Office to Walt Rostow’s nearby office, determined to find out precisely what he and Taylor were likely to advise the President three days later when they presented their report. Galbraith and Rostow had known each other since the late 1940s; but they’d drifted apart politically. (Vietnam, to the owlish Rostow, as he’d told Kennedy earlier that year, represented the chance to “bring to bear our unexploited counter-guerrilla assets…. It is somehow wrong to be developing these capabilities but not applying them…. In Knute Rockne’s old phrase, we are not saving them for the Junior Prom.”) After ushering Galbraith into his crowded office, the security adviser refused to discuss the report’s contents because they were, in Galbraith’s words, so heavily classified as “to limit access to God and the President.” Then the phone rang. When Rostow turned to it, Galbraith, seeing a copy of the top-secret Taylor Report sitting on the desk between them, instantly decided what to do. “I simply picked up the copy and walked out.” Back at his hotel, Galbraith grew appalled as he read it: Here was the rationale for an open-ended US commitment to military engagement in Southeast Asia. Over the next two days he drafted a point-by-point response for Kennedy’s eyes only, warning that “the situation in South Vietnam is perilously close to the point of no return,” then outlining ways to end the fighting, yield a neutral Vietnam and put the UN in place to supervise the peace; he delivered it to Kennedy just hours before JFK received Taylor’s report. Reading both documents that night, the President grew as alarmed as his ambassador, and the next morning quickly put off the NSC meeting his aides had scheduled, at which he knew they would expect him to endorse implementation of Taylor’s recommendations. Unnamed “senior White House officials” now began leaking word that, as one New York Times headline put it, “Kennedy Remains Opposed to Sending Forces After Hearing Report.” Taylor and Rostow, as well as Defense Secretary Robert McNamara and Rusk–keenly aware that Galbraith had the top-secret document and was leaking the President’s reactions–were appalled, and applied fresh pressures to convene the NSC meeting. (That said, they were in fact divided among themselves about what they wanted Kennedy to do: McNamara, for one, opposed sending 10,000 troops; he wanted at least 200,000 dispatched immediately.) The President kept on delaying for more than a week, but during that time no visible support surfaced in Congress, the press or the public; instead there was a deafening, and what must have been a disheartening, silence. After nearly two weeks of delays, finding himself virtually alone and keenly aware of the costs of provoking a major split in his Administration, he finally agreed to convene the NSC. But when they met in the Oval Office, aides found Kennedy still resisting them. Newly discovered notes show that after listening to the arguments for intervention, an impassioned Bobby Kennedy kept insisting, “We are not sending combat troops. Not committing ourselves to combat troops.” They also show that when Rusk suavely proposed making “saving Vietnam” a formal national policy goal, the President–who’d been largely silent until then–briskly refused. Telling the group coolly that “troops are a last resort,” he said that if they were ever to be sent, he would let them go only as part of a multilateral force, under the sanction of the UN Security Council. Yet after two hours of relentless and uniform pressure, sensing just how isolated he still was among his own senior Cabinet members and top military and national security advisers, as the meeting came to a close Kennedy suddenly partially relented. He would agree to just part of the Taylor recommendations–there could be increased intelligence coordination between the United States and South Vietnam, economic aid could be modestly increased, and a few thousand troops could be sent, but only, he insisted, as noncombatants to train the Vietnamese Army to do its own fighting. It wasn’t at all what those around him wanted–but it was the opening through which they would now press their own goals. Two days later Rusk told the British ambassador that the President had just approved an initial troop contingent–and that thousands more combat troops could follow in weeks, depending on the situation the vanguard found in Saigon, even though this was something Kennedy had categorically rejected. Galbraith meanwhile raced to reinforce the President in his struggle to stay out of Vietnam. At his urging, the day after the NSC meeting ambassador at large Averell Harriman gave JFK a quickly drafted proposal for immediate talks with the Russians to forestall the dispatch of any troops; thrilled to find someone of Harriman’s stature finally supporting him, Kennedy told aides he wanted to send Harriman to meet with the Soviets by the end of that week. This, however, set off new alarm bells among his advisers, who–as one warned Rusk–would now “have to move quickly” because clearly “Galbraith has been working on this.” Two days later, National Security Adviser McGeorge Bundy offered his personal counsel to a clearly concerned Kennedy, urging him not to send Harriman to meet the Russians but to dispatch a fully equipped combat division of 20,000 men–not the 10,000 noncombatants Kennedy had so reluctantly just approved–to help shift the tide of battle in Vietnam. Although Bundy was perhaps his most trusted adviser in such matters, Kennedy not only rejected the advice out of hand but (just as Galbraith had advised in his first memo) ordered Bundy instead to draw up a plan for reorganizing the top levels of the State Department–and to put Harriman in charge of Asia policy. Three weeks later, despite Rusk’s strong opposition, most–but not all–of Kennedy’s reorganization took place. By then Galbraith was back in New Delhi, after stopping in Saigon on Kennedy’s orders to survey the situation there firsthand. He had filed not one but three lengthy back-channel cables to JFK, which make for sobering reading today (even though Galbraith interspersed them with his trademark wit: For example, he described one briefing by local US officials as “geared to the mentality of an idiot, or more likely, a backwoods congressman”; taken for a brief inspection tour of the countryside surrounding Saigon, he dryly reported that it was hard to tell “friendly jungle” from “Vietcong jungle” and added, “who is the man in your administration who decides what countries are strategic? I would like to…ask him what is so important about this real estate in the Space Age”). Given word of Kennedy’s reshuffling at State, Galbraith was cheered by Harriman’s promotion but also cautious, knowing full well by now the ambitions of the President’s top advisers. To his diary that night he noted his ambivalence about the shift. “It is all excellent and not a moment too soon; but then Kennedy left in place at his right hand McNamara, Bundy, Rusk, and Taylor.” His worry, needless to say, proved on the mark: Those top officials kept pushing the President for greater and greater US involvement, as they would push Lyndon Johnson when he inherited them following Kennedy’s assassination. But Kennedy–with Galbraith counseling him throughout–kept resisting them in turn, right up to that fateful day in Dallas. The Cuban missile crisis in October 1962, when for a moment the world hung on the brink of nuclear oblivion, seemed to have a particularly powerful effect on Kennedy. Soon after, he began work on the famous American University speech that he delivered in June 1963, in which he spoke more forcefully than any President had ever dared about the risks of nuclear war and the need to negotiate with the Russians (from that speech came the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty). He also asked Galbraith to take over as US Ambassador to Moscow, an offer Galbraith finally declined, convinced of the impossibility of working with and through Rusk. We also now know that Kennedy that same spring ordered the Pentagon to plan to have all US troops out of Vietnam by early 1965, shortly after what he assumed would be his re-election–and further ordered that the troop pullout begin by the late fall of 1963. But he did not, of course, live to see their withdrawal. Richard ParkerRichard Parker,a Nation editorial board member, is an Oxford-trained economist who teaches at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He serves as an adviser to Prime Minister Papandreou. He is the biographer of John Kenneth Galbraith. To submit a correction for our consideration, click here. For Reprints and Permissions, click here. Latest from the nation Racism Is Not a Winning Issue for Trump Who's Afraid of William Barr? Reading Buttigieg Told Me Everything I Need to Know About the 2020 Presidential Race Dan Simon The Republican Party Is Aggressively Repositioning Itself as the Party of Trump’s Racism John NicholsTwitter The Street-by-Street Battle Against Climate Change Audrea LimTwitter VIDEO: People in Denmark Are a Lot Happier Than People in the United States. Here’s Why. The NationTwitter Historical Amnesia About Slavery Is a Tool of White Supremacy Mychal Denzel SmithTwitter	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2477
__label__cc	0.74977	0.25023	Sharif Abdel Kouddous @sharifkouddous Sharif Abdel Kouddous is an independent journalist based in Cairo. He is a Democracy Now! correspondent and a Puffin Fellow at The Nation Institute. ActivismJune 20, 2011 After Mubarak, Fighting For Press Freedom in Egypt The state still controls the media in post-revolution Egypt, but an independent press is emerging. WorldFebruary 2, 2011 Live From Egypt: The True Face of the Mubarak Regime Mubarak's armed thugs violently attacked peaceful protesters in Tahrir Square, injuring hundreds. But many demonstrators vowed to stay in the streets until the dictator leaves. WorldJanuary 31, 2011 Live From Egypt: The Rebellion Grows Stronger As tens of thousands of protesters pack Tahrir Square, the one unifying theme remains Mubarak. It's a question of when—not if—he'll leave. Live From the Egyptian Revolution The Muslim Brotherhood was out in full force Saturday, but their cries of "Allah Akbar" were drowned out by others chanting "Muslim, Christian, we are all Egyptian." Prev 1 … 5 6 7	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2478
__label__cc	0.512287	0.487713	Home Sports Premier League Champions frustrated Premier League Champions frustrated Antonio-Conte Premier League Champions Chelsea were held by a resolute Everton side at Goodison Park as Sam Allardyce’s revived side secured a hard-fought goalless draw. The Premier League champions had the majority of the possession and, indeed, chances but could not find a way through Everton’s defence – with the hosts having Jordan Pickford to thank for a string of fine saves that he made throughout the league clash. The 0-0 draw means Chelsea stay in third place heading into Christmas while Everton – who are unbeaten since Allardyce took charge – remain in ninth. While looking good going forward, the absence of Alvaro Morata because of suspension undoubtedly played a big role in why Chelsea could not breach Everton’s defence on Saturday. The Spaniard picked up a late yellow card – his fifth of the season – following his match-winning goal in the League Cup quarter-final win over Bournemouth on Wednesday, which meant Conte opting to once again field Eden Hazard up front in a 3-4-3 formation. The Belgian looked sharp in the early stages of the game, although Chelsea found Everton’s stubborn defence hard to breach in the opening 45 minutes of the games. In the four matches in all competitions that Allardyce had taken charge of before the visit of Chelsea, the Toffees had not been beaten. Everton’s defence were certainly doing well against the champions and, down the other end of the pitch, the Toffees’ attack could have scored but disappointed on both occasions. Missed Chances Tom Davies first latched onto the ball in midfield but drove his long-range effort wide before Dominic Calvert-Lewin robbed Andreas Christensen of the ball with just a minute left on the clock in the first period but, instead of passing to Gylfi Sigurdsson, went for goal instead. Cesar Azpilicueta made the all-important block for the visitors to keep the scoreline at 0-0 as Calvert-Lewin was left apologising to the home fans. Chelsea should have scored when Bakayoko then intercepted the ball in midfield before passing to Pedro, whose subsequent powerful effort was superbly stopped by Pickford. The Everton goalkeeper proved vital for the hosts in the second half after he again denied Pedro, shortly before Ashley Williams cleared Alonso’s goal-bound effort, before Pickford then dived low to keep out Hazard and Victor Moses’ shots at goal. Conte was looking increasingly frustrated on the touchline at Chelsea’s failure to score, but his side did nearly get a goal when Williams headed Moses’ cross onto his own bar. Fortunately for the Everton defender, the ball crashed off the bar and away to safety. Conte then brought on Michy Batshuayi to salvage Chelsea’s hopes, though he could not find a way through Everton’s stalwart defence, as Michael Keane headed a late corner over the bar to end the game 0-0. Previous article2-Week Christmas Holiday in Imo State declared By Okorocha Next articleOmotola Jalade N300,000 iPhone 7 was stolen at Miss Nigeria Pageant. Lionel Messi Sets New Record - The Page Magazine December 23, 2017 at 5:29 PM […] Read also: Premier League Champions frustrated […] From Grace To Grass - A Heartbreaking Story Of Ex-Arsenal Star, Emmanuel Eboue - The Page Magazine December 25, 2017 at 5:08 AM […] Most Read; Premier League Champions Frustrated […] Leave a Reply to From Grace To Grass - A Heartbreaking Story Of Ex-Arsenal Star, Emmanuel Eboue - The Page Magazine Cancel reply	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2481
__label__wiki	0.874789	0.874789	The Miami News - July 18, 1985 Off the record: Byrd-watching with Tom Petty TAMPA -- It comes screaming right out of the top balcony of the University of South Florida's Sundome concert hall. One of those giant, thick, heavy plastic, bright yellow Frisbees. Only a NASA engineer could compute the intense speed and velocity at which this object is traveling as it zooms straight into the ground-floor seating area and crashes full force into an unsuspecting woman's left eye. The woman is sitting next to her husband, an older man with close-cropped hair, Hawaiian shirt, Bermuda shorts and sandals. Blood begins pouring from her eye as security guards and paramedics move quickly to take her to the backstage area, where Lone Justice and Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers are tuning up. As they reach they backstage zone, they pass right by me. I feel sorry for the woman, but I'm also thinking that this guy desperately needs a new barber and tailor. The Frisbee incident is soon forgotten as boom -- out go the lights, and LA's highly-touted Lone Justice take the stage to offer a blistering set of country-rock that vindicates every word of praise this band has received in recent months. A quick intermission, and TP and The Heartbreakers appear to deafening applause. Augmented by a three-piece horn section and two female singers called The Rebel-ettes, Petty and company -- still one of the greatest bands in the entire musical universe -- brilliantly deliver "Refugee," "Southern Accents," "The Waiting" and "Don't Come Around Here No More." But that's enough, because this isn't really a concert review. It's a story about fate and fickle fame and a musical torch being passed on underneath this space-age-looking roof of the Sundome. To understand it, you must realize there's more at work with Tom Petty than simply the creation of exciting, adventurous music. There's also an intense attempt to resurruct 1965 rock fashion, more specifically, to look as if he just stepped off The Byrds' "Turn, Turn, Turn" album cover. TP still thinks mousse is some kind of wild animal as he frolics on stage in flat, baby-fine, bleached-blond hair. Add to this '80s tonsorial mortal sin: TP now sports 1965 Byrds' granny glasses, a Nudie suit like the one Gram Parsons wore for "The Gilded Palace of Sin" LP and monstrous muttonchop sideburns a la Buffalo Springfield in 1966. In 1985, Tom Petty is ironically duing double duty as an anachronism and a trend-setter. In small Orlando/Tampa nightclubs, garage bands worshop The Byrds, The Burritos, Springfield and Petty. Meanwhile, today's Top 100 charts couldn't care less. It's still Duran Duran, matted-ratted hair and multi-colored scarves tired anywhere there's open flesh. This 1965 fusion of buckskin fringe, country and rock is blowing in the wind, though, and slowly but surely it's approaching gale force. When TP returns for his second Sundome encore, he steps up to the microphone and says: "We had some other songs we were going to do for you, but I just learned there's a gentleman in the auditorium tonight that I owe a lot to. If it wasn't for him, I might not even be here. We haven't rehearsed or anything like that, but I'd still like to bring him out here and sing a few songs with him." Three hours ago, whatever bozo threw that Frisbee and creamed that woman had no idea what kind of musical history he was setting into motion as the paramedics told Tom Petty the name of the man whose wife was injured. Tom quickly asked the guy to hang around. So out strolls the man in the close-cropped hair and Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts and sandals, and TP says: "Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to introduce you to ... Roger McGuinn, formerly of The Byrds." In that one sentence, a feverish white-line highway that winds itself back 20 long years suddenly snaps in your brain, and it all connects right here on this Sundome stage. Once upon a time, Roger McGuinn -- who used to be called Jim until he claimed that space aliens visited his house one night and told him that his real name was Roger -- was in the same 12-string country-rock superstar ballpark as TP. Hanging out with The Beatles. Bob Dylan. Hot records. Hot chicks. Oh, yeah. Roger McGuinn was the deal, all right. The real big deal. But that Route No. 1 highway somehow dead-ended. Now McGuinn has no record company, no fame, no acclaim. Just an "Eight Miles High" past and a wife who got a yellow Frisbee rammed into her left eye. The ironies begin multiplying at warp speed: In his granny glasses, TP looks exactly like McGuinn used to look. McGuinn is using Petty's blond 12-string Rickenbacker guitar, just like the one McGuinn played when he was the top of the pops and TP was just another kid who used to stare at McGuinn's picture all day long and dream of one day owning a guitar just like that. Petty, McGuinn and The 'Breakers launch into The Byrds' "So You Wanna Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star." They hit the final two lines: Don't forget what you are You're a rock 'n' roll star. While singing these words, McGuinn turns to Petty and passes the country-rock torch on by pointing his finger at Petty in acknowledgement of his glorious rock 'n' roll achievements. Petty could have easily let it go at that. Taken the supreme compliment from his hero and come off as Mr. Really Really Cool. Yet, Petty knows there's a debt to be paid and it may as well be paid right here, right now. Petty steps back up to the microphone and sings the final two lines again: This time Petty points his finger at McGuinn, acknowledging the fact that McGuinn will be a rock 'n' roller forever. McGuinn flashes a wide bittersweet smile, knowing that OK, so maybe 99.9 percent of the world's population has forgotten him and his immense contributions to rock 'n' roll, but that Tom Petty, The Heartbreakers -- and some of us -- never will.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2482
__label__wiki	0.517119	0.517119	Home Analysis How Justin Trudeau gaslights women He wants Canadians to believe his accusers have a wrong perception of reality. by Christopher Lindsay According to the American Psychological Association, gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which someone “attempts to cause another individual to doubt his/her own judgments and perceptions.” The term originated with the 1938 stage play Gaslight and its film versions in 1940 and 1944. In Gaslight (1944) Gregory (Charles Boyer) makes Paula (Ingrid Bergman) believe that she is losing her mind. Gaslighting isn’t limited to romantic relationships. Politicians sometimes use it as a communications strategy. It also allows a male politician to disagree with a female accuser without calling her a liar. Case in point: Justin Trudeau has gaslit two women who have accused him of wrongdoing. An August 2000 editorial stated that Trudeau groped a female reporter at a music festival that same year. In 2018, after Rose Knight confirmed that she was the reporter, Trudeau said, “In terms of my recollection there was no untoward or inappropriate action… Who knows where her mind was and I fully respect her ability to experience something differently.” As a supporter of the Me Too movement, Trudeau was in a no-win situation. He had to follow the Me Too mandate of “believe all women,” but he also couldn’t admit to any wrongdoing. His solution was to show “respect” for Knight’s perception of their encounter. However, there is all the difference in the world between having a correct perception of reality and experiencing it differently. If someone took LSD and saw pink elephants, it would be absurd to say you respect their “ability to experience something differently.” Trudeau’s “respect” for Rose Knight is not unlike the respect a doctor has for a mentally-ill patient. When Trudeau says that she experienced the incident differently, he is tacitly saying that she has a wrong (or distorted) perception of what happened. Knight is being gaslit by the Prime Minister. He wants Canadians to believe him, not her. It seems likely that Trudeau did touch Rose Knight inappropriately. She told the publisher who wrote the editorial that Trudeau touched her buttocks. When CBC News contacted the PMO to confirm if that is what happened, his staff did not return their call. If Trudeau didn’t touch Rose Knight’s buttocks, why didn’t he issue a statement that no such incident occurred? The lack of response, in my opinion, points to Trudeau’s guilt. As Marcus Cicero once said, “Though silence is not necessarily an admission, it is not a denial, either.” To avoid lying, politicians often refuse to answer certain questions. Rose Knight isn’t the only woman who has accused Trudeau of wrongdoing. In February 2019, Jody Wilson-Raybould resigned as Minister of Veteran’s affairs. The former Attorney General said “from September to December 2018, I experienced a consistent and sustained effort by many people within the government” to drop criminal charges against SNC-Lavalin. In response to Wilson-Raybould’s allegations, Trudeau used the same communications strategy he did with Knight. He said, “I now understand that she saw it differently.” Trudeau showed respect for Wilson Raybould’s perception of what happened, but he didn’t admit to any wrongdoing. Trudeau wants Canadians to believe that she has a wrong perception of what happened. There is overwhelming evidence the PMO did put pressure on Wilson-Raybould to drop the charges against SNC-Lavalin. In a leaked audio recording, the Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick told Wilson-Raybould in December 2018: “[Trudeau] is quite determined, quite firm but he wants to know why the DPA route which Parliament provided for isn’t being used. And I think he is gonna find a way to get it done one way or another.” Wernick’s prediction (or warning) came true. The following month, Wilson-Raybould was demoted to Veteran’s Affairs. The Attorney General is supposed to be independent of the Prime Minister, but when Wilson-Raybould didn’t do what Trudeau wanted, she lost her position. Justin Trudeau is a self-proclaimed male feminist, but that doesn’t stop him from gaslighting women who accuse him of wrongdoing. His motive is one of self-preservation. To protect his public image and keep his job as Prime Minister, he can’t admit the truth. If he apologizes and admits that his female accusers are right, then Canadians will know that he is not the feminist he claims to be. Christopher Lindsay is the author of Letters from a Madman. Follow him on Twitter. The Post Millennial Newsletter A weekly email of our best stories delivered in the afternoon. Tags: gaslightingJody Wilson-RaybouldJustin TrudeauRose Knight It’s time to disconnect Canada’s economy from communist China by Spencer Fernando Canada does not need more trade with China, especially when the cost of that trade is submitting ourselves to a... Canadians are dead serious about national identity and sports by Jordan Goldstein After years of trying to get star guard Andrew Wiggins to suit up for the national team, this time Basketball... Halifax Pride forced to pull promotional material after “facekini” panic by Terry Newman This month’s Halifax Pride was pressured to apologize for a photo which appeared in both their online promotional material and... An entire PPC riding board resigns, blaming “racist” supporters by Siddak Ahuja The board believes “racists, bigots, anti-semites, and conspiracy theorists,” have taken over the PPC supporter base. Conservatives at 37 percent as most Canadians want change in Ottawa The Liberals are losing everywhere except Quebec, where they beat the Conservatives 37 percent to 24. BREAKING: Torrential rain wreaks havoc on Toronto streets by Roberto Wakerell-Cruz Rainy days aren’t fun when they go this way. Hard torrential rains have caused flooding across the Greater Toronto Area,... Toronto woman hoarded over 300 cats in her apartment RCMP asked to investigate Trudeau's trips to Aga Khan's island Major fire in downtown Victoria, B.C.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2483
__label__cc	0.717596	0.282404	Originals: How Non-Conformists Move The World by Adam Grant Originals: How Non-Coformists Move The World by Adam Grant covers a lot of ground… coming up with original ideas and pitching them, making change within organizations, changing the way we approach challenges, cultivating originality in our kids, and a lot more. The book is full of of great stories and research... some are surprising and gave me a lot to think about. The first couple chapters are very focused on business... if that's not your cup of tea stick it out because the book covers a lot more as it progresses. There's also a great TED Talk on the homepage of Adam Grant's website that you can access by clicking here. Tagged: Originals, Originals: How Non-Conformists Move The World, Adam Grant, inspiration, courage, transformation, lifestyle design, Life vision, Life journey Newer PostHow Do I Respond To Disagreement? Older PostThe Hired Band by Strumbellas	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2484
__label__wiki	0.559409	0.559409	Illinois Could Have Legal Sports Gambling by Next Super Bowl, Says State Rep April 2, 2019 By paulmbanks 2 Comments If everything goes as smoothly as possible, and there are no unexpected hiccups along the way, legal sports gambling will be in the state of Illinois by the next Super Bowl. That’s according to Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Zalewksi, who late last month filed four separate amendments to House Bill 3308 to jumpstart the Land of Lincoln’s movement on sports betting. “Enacted and up and running, I’ve set an ambitious goal for the Super Bowl, but I can’t say for sure that will happen,” Rep. Zalewski told The Sports Bank in an exclusive interview on Monday. “It’s all up to the regulators, it’s up to the Governor when he signs the bill. There are many hurdles left to jump on that, but I’m hopeful and the sooner the better.” Both online, at sites like www.liveesportsbetting.com and at bricks & mortar casinos, gaming is a massively booming industry, with sports and esports wagering the next markets that are set for expansion. Seven states (Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Mississippi, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island) have legal sports gambling industries regulated by state governments, with New Mexico and Arkansas up next. Additionally, the legislative process is already in motion in 30 more states. Zalewski, who represents the 23rd district of Illinois, is working with state Rep. Bob Rita to lead House discussions on traditional gaming expansion. The beginning of discussions coincided with March Madness, one of the biggest and most lucrative sports wagering events on the calendar. Hopes are high that the Illinois state legislature will bring HB 3308 up for a vote next month. “May is the end of the timeline- that’s when we have to get a budget on the governor’s desk,” he said. Illinois will model their legalized sport betting legislation on one of four models, which are conveyed in the bill’s amendments: 1. Classical New Jersey Model, 2. Mississippi Model, 3. Professional Sports League Proposals 4. Lottery Oversight. Right now, the New Jersey plan could be the early front-runner, and that’s certainly understandable, given how their legal sports gambling industry exploded in growth during the month that football season began. “I think New Jersey makes a strong case,” Zalewski said. “They’ve set the tax rate appropriately to derive a good amount of revenue, without driving down the market. They have a healthy mix of bricks and mortar, along with mobile platforms.” Zalewski’s district includes one of the state’s professional sports franchises, Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire, who play their home games in suburban Bridgeview. In a gerrymandering quirk, Seat Geek Stadium (formerly Toyota Park) and the parking lots to the south, west and east lie in district 23, while the north parking lot does not. How might legal sports gambling affect sports in general? “We’re going to try and make sure it doesn’t change sports a lot, I think there’s real integrity questions about (making sure) the productitself is protected,” Zalewski answered. “Sports is an entertainment device, and in terms of people interacting with it, paying attention to it, it’ll be a new day, as more states have sports betting go live, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.” The Las Vegas Golden Knights were the first American sports franchise to officially partner with a sports book- might we see more go this route? “I think that’s a real possibility,” Zalewski answered. Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation. He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his. Please enable JavaScript to view the discussion by Sidelines. Powered by Sidelines Follow paulmbanks Filed Under: Business, News and Current Events, Politics, Social Issues, Tech Tagged With: illinois district 23, illinois legal sport wagering, legal sports betting illinois, legal sports gambling, mike zalewski, sports betting Legal Sports Gambling Could Help State Debts Says Rep Mike Zalewski says: […] and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Zalewksi, State Representative for the 23rd district, is spearheading the initiatives to get sports gambling legalized in the state. If it all works out and goes according to plan, with no unforeseen hurdles along the way, legal […] Legalized Sports Gambling Could Help State Debts Says Rep Mike Zalewski – rkprsmedia says:	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2486
__label__wiki	0.597915	0.597915	Home > Discovery > Explore > Articles and interviews Free Radical - An Interview With Luis Pato Portuguese winegrower Luis Pato is a pioneer, singlehandedly turning around the reputation of Bairrada with his exceptional wines from the indigenous baga grape There are so many interesting things to tell you about this producer from the Bairrada region of north-east Portugal that it is hard to know where to start. Everything that Luis Pato does is well thought through, implemented with precision and presented with panache. He's a bit of a maverick, pushing boundaries with no time for rules. He has the vision to experiment, regularly trying out new things, making improvements little by little in a constant drive to get the best from his grapes. Though he trialled using international varieties (upsetting the Bairrada authorities at the time) he now firmly believes that the future of his region depends on making world-class wines from indigenous varieties and its signature red grape, baga, in particular. He is one of the founding members of Baga Friends, a small quality-led group formed to promote the grape more widely. He now only works with Portuguese grapes, baga, touriga nacional and tinta cão for reds, maria gomes (fernão pires), bical, cerceal and a grape that Pato believes nobody else has, sercialinho. A non-conformist who likes tradition Luis describes himself as a 'free' winemaker. He believes that the fact that he trained as a chemical engineer and not an oenologist has given him a different perspective on making wine. His philosophy marries old-world style and Latin-born influence with an appreciation of a more Anglo-Saxon style vision. Oh, and he is also a pragmatist! Take what Luis has achieved with the baga grape as just one example. Baga has a reputation for making rather brusque reds that can take years to soften and mellow. Rather than take 'the easy route' as Pato says and tame baga's high tannin with more approachable international grapes he has made it his life's work to find out how to produce world-class baga wines. Something he says he is still striving to perfect. The baga grape has been in Bairrada for more than 800 years and traditionally only produced great red wines twice a decade. Pato realised that it was only when the harvest conditions were such that the grapes weren't picked until October, fully ripe, that exceptional wines were made. Baga is a high-yielding grape, good for the production of sparkling wine (also important in the region) or if you are a grower being paid by the tonnage, but too high for quality red-wine production. So how do you restrain this vigour? One way is to green harvest, thinning the crop by cutting off and discarding unripe bunches. The start of 'precision harvesting' This is something that Pato used to do, 'but an engineering background encourages you to optimise,' he tells me and in 2001 he introduced a new system. Instead of a green harvest he decided to try out a double harvest, passing through the vineyards twice. The first harvest takes place around the end of August so the grapes are ripe, not green, and perfect for the production of sparkling wines. Bairrada makes a fair amount of traditional-method sparkling wines. Typically these are made from the white grapes maria gomes and bical, it being believed that red grapes should only be used for red wine. Luis makes several sparkling wines from both white and red grapes. They are exported widely in Asia, Brazil, the US, Russia, Norway (and our Portuguese offer includes his Metodo Antigo, made from maria gomes with a little sercialinho) and are a smart move for producers of reds requiring several years ageing, offering a practical solution to any potential cash-flow issues. The second harvest of baga grapes takes place a month later when they have much better polyphenolic maturity but still lowish alcohol levels, 'it is only now that you can achieve the results that you want with a reduced yield of 10 hl/ha - the norm for wines of quality - compared to the previous 80!' The wines were not only softer but more complex too, and with real elegance, showing the potential of this grape in a way that had not been achieved before. Baga wines at this level can develop something of the haunting aroma of violets and red-fruit flavours reminiscent of great nebbiolo, pinot noir or syrah. Pato believes that baga is related to these varieties. Having fine-tuned the double-harvest process Luis has established that the optimum number of bunches to be left on the vine is three. Now he says that the wines are of a similar great quality every year; he won't rest there I'm sure and his wines can only get better especially as there are now two Patos making great Bairrada. Filipa Pato, the next generation Filipa, Pato's daughter, also a trained chemical engineer, hasn't just followed in her father's footsteps, she's gained a reputation in her own right. An innovator like her father with a similar bent for pushing boundaries, it was her idea to make (with her father) Bairrada's first sweet wine. She came up with the idea after working in Australia and seeing how they used cryoextraction (freezing down the grapes to concentrate the sugars) to make dessert wines. Luis says that Filipa likes to experiment too, but in a different way from him. Filipa's early wines were called 'Ensaios FP' (Filipa's experiments) and were sometimes blends of grapes from two regions, Dão and Bairrada. She also did a lot of work establishing which regions were best for which grapes, often putting the name of the soil on the label (calcario, the clay/limestone soil which produces some of her exceptional wines, for example). 'After travelling for three years I came home with the perspective of an outsider and wanted to find the best sites for different grapes.' The wines from the best sites are now the project of her and her Belgian sommelier husband William Wouters and are bottled under the Nossa label. Like Luis, Filipa is a great champion of the baga grape and it was she who started the Friends of Baga group after returning from her travels and being distressed to see the lamentable state and loss of many of the old vineyards. There are seven winemakers in the group; each has supplied 150 litres of baga wine which will be blended and bottled and sold under the 'Baga Friends' label. It isn't ready yet, Luis tells me, but we're sure the result of this particular experiment will be delicious. Filipa like her father makes several styles of wine, we have listed her FP Baga, Beira Atlantico 2012, which she describes as, 'low in alchohol, high in pleasure,' it certainly has that lovely, fresh red-fruit aroma and flavour so distinctive of the grape and is gentle and easy to drink. Her sparkling rosé demonstrates the versatility of baga and how suited it is to making wonderfully refreshing sparkling wines. Baga didn't use to be thought of as suitable for making sparkling wine in Bairrada, it has taken more than 20 years, Luis tells me, since the granting of the demarcation for sparkilng Bairrada in 1995 for it to be recognised as the grape for the style. Filipa's 3B Rosado, (the three 'Bs' stand for baga, bical and Bairrada) has a lovely fresh strawberry-fruit aroma and delicate but appetising flavour. It's the perfect foil for the regional speciality leitão, suckling pig, and it's easy to see how this match would work well, but equally it is charming enough to enjoy on its own. One thing that father and daughter share too is a desire to make wines as naturally as possible. 'We worked in the chemical industry,' explains Luis, 'we don't want to have to pay for their chemicals!' Filipa says she aims to make 'authentic wines without make-up', hence the charming profile of Filipa ('sans maquillado') on some of her labels. Sercialinho - a point of difference, if one were needed! It may have been Filipa's influence behind one of Luis' latest experiments - a wine made from 100% sercialinho, the indigenous white grape that Luis says nobody else has. Bairrada doesn't just have clay soil (barro means clay), it also has sandy soil, particularly suited to white grapes and the afternoon breezes that sweep in from the Atlantic favour the production of fresh white wines. The reason the Patos have the sercialinho grape, Luis tells me, is that his father was the only one to plant it alone. It is particularly susceptible to a vine disease and needs careful handling, if not treated properly the disease spreads to other vines. It has died off in other vineyards, but Pato's father managed to keep his plot and his son has increased plantings. 'Filipa likes this grape a lot,' says Luis, 'I like its citrus acidity and riesling-like touch.' This year he has made one cask (about 600 bottles) of sercialinho just to see what it's like. Red wine from white grapes When I met Luis Pato last year he was telling me about his project to make a red wine from white grapes. This year, the project is not just a success, the wine is so good we have bought it for members. Fernão Pires, Beiras 2012 is made from 94% white fernão pires grapes blended with 6% baga grape skins, used to 'paint the wine'. Pato made the wine to celebrate the birth of his second grandson (called Fernão: Pires is one of Pato's family names. 'To celebrate you must do something new,' he says and it amused him to make a red wine from white grapes, 'white wines from red grapes are quite common, so why not try the other way round?' Pato seemed somewhat affronted that EU law allows the mention of 'White Wine' on labels for wine made from red grapes but the reverse is not permitted. Far more than a novelty, the wine is a charming, light aromatic red to go with fish, soft cheese or just to enjoy on its own. The label displays Pato's usual panache - a wry take on Michelangelo's Creation of Adam and the three little ducks at the bottom of the label representing Pato's three daughters. The red, black and yellow are in honour of his grandson's Belgian father. The back label states 'Red Wine'! Sparkling 'método antigo' wine It would be unusual for a winemaker who likes to experiment not to have a go at making sparkling wine. With the characteristic twinkle in his eye, Luis tells me that they 'give more opportunity to play with the processes.' There's a long tradition of making sparkling wines in the region and Pato makes several styles, both easy-drinking and more serious wines requiring a couple of years in bottle. The Maria Gomes Método Antigo is the first to be made by the rural or old method though. The old method (méthode ancestrale) pre-dates the classic Champagne method and was believed to have originated in Limoux. The wines undergo just one fermentation rather than two and crucially have a higher sugar content beforehand (around 20g residual sugar). Luis starts off the fermentation in stainless steel then the wines carry on fermenting in bottle. Unlike the Champagne method no other sugar is added to provoke a second fermentation and there's no need for dosage as the wines are less acidic and riper in the first place. 'All the sugar in the wine is therefore perfectly natural and produced in the wine.' Pato is at pains to point out. A little sercialinho is added to the aromatic maria gomes grape to give a nice lick of acidity to the wine. Pato on wine and food & the future for Portuguese wines Luis believes that the strong point for Portuguese wines is their diversity and unique grapes, 'they don't just offer a point of difference, but can marry well with global cuisine,' he says. Portuguese wines, and the sparkling wines in particular, go well with spicy Asian cooking. 'Thai food requires wines that are fruity and lowish in alcohol', he says and the Japanese are very enthusiastic about our wines. Pato believes that Japan is a particularly promising export market for Portuguese wines. 'There are a lot of similarities in our cuisine,' he says. Both nations eat a lot of fish and pork and though both use spices, the cuisine is essentially quite simple. There are other connections with Japan too, tempura, for example was introduced to Japan by Portuguese missionaries and traders in the late 1500s. The etymology of the word is believed to have come from 'temperar' the Portuguese verb 'to cook'. Pato says that the Portuguese are very warmly welcomed in Japan and there are long associations with the country; the Portuguese and Dutch were the only foreigners allowed in Japan when the country was closed. Portugal had a small population; marriage between Portuguese explorers and merchants was encouraged both to increase the population and to create markets to trade with. Luis tells me there are over 400 words in Japanese which have entered into the language from these Portuguese roots. Both nations use the same word 'cha' for tea and share the same word, 'copu' for glass - making it very likely, Luis believes, that the first wines that the Japanese enjoyed were also Portuguese. It's interesting that although our two countries share one of the oldest political alliances and trading agreements, we don't have the same understanding of Portuguese culture or appreciation for its wines (port notwithstanding). Wine Society members, however, do have a history of loving Portuguese wines, indeed it was the acquisition of barrels of Portuguese wines that led to the formation of our Society in 1874. Present-day enthusiasm and a keenness to explore has helped The Society win a succession of awards for our range of Portuguese wines. Those of Luis and his daughter Filipa can only help to increase the following. Joanna Goodman Societynews December 2013 Portugal: Everyday Value, Infinite Variety A Winemaker's Odyssey Weingut Gerhard Aldinger	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2490
__label__wiki	0.856051	0.856051	Google Employees Call for Company to Abandon Its Censored Chinese Search Engine “We object to technologies that aid the powerful in oppressing the vulnerable,” employees say in an open letter Sean Burch \| November 27, 2018 @ 9:19 AM Last Updated: November 27, 2018 @ 3:32 PM Dozens of Google employees on Tuesday are publicly calling for the tech giant to abandon building its censored Chinese search engine. The project, internally dubbed “Project Dragonfly,” has brought Google widespread criticism since The Intercept reported in August that the search engine would blacklist queries around democracy, human rights and peaceful protests. As of 9:00 a.m. PT on Tuesday, 60 employees had signed the open letter on Medium saying that Google must cancel the project. Also Read: Google Fired 48 Workers for Sexual Harassment in Last 2 Years “Our opposition to Dragonfly is not about China: we object to technologies that aid the powerful in oppressing the vulnerable, wherever they may be,” the letter said. “The Chinese government certainly isn’t alone in its readiness to stifle freedom of expression, and to use surveillance to repress dissent. Dragonfly in China would establish a dangerous precedent at a volatile political moment, one that would make it harder for Google to deny other countries similar concessions.” A Google spokesperson told TheWrap the company’s “work on search has been exploratory, and we are not close to launching a search product in China.” Google initially left China in 2010 over censorship and cybersecurity concerns. China’s rigid online censorship — facetiously called the “Great Firewall” — has stifled free speech online for years through a network of moderators, technical restraints and legislative regulations. The Chinese government blocks access to pornography and news stories that are overly critical of its communist regime, as well as major sites like YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. But under the guidance of CEO Sundar Pichai, the world’s dominant search engine has in recent years looked to reenter the market. Google has been skewered by both the U.S. Congress and human rights organizations — including Amnesty International, which the employees referenced in their Tuesday letter — in recent months for showing a willingness to bow to China’s draconian internet rules. “It turns out we’ll be able to serve well over 99 percent of the queries,” Pichai said last month in support of Dragonfly while speaking at the Wired 25 Summit. Also Read: Senators Blast 'Arrogant' Google for Skipping Congressional Hearing This answer didn’t satiate many Google employees who fear a censored search engine would only help the Chinese government crackdown on dissenting voices. “Dragonfly would also enable censorship and government-directed disinformation, and destabilize the ground truth on which popular deliberation and dissent rely,” the open letter continued. “Given the Chinese government’s reported suppression of dissident voices, such controls would likely be used to silence marginalized people, and favor information that promotes government interests.” 10 Most Shocking Russian Troll Posts on Facebook and Instagram, From Hillary Clinton to Police Brutality (Photos) The U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released more than 3,500 advertisements and posts spread by Russian trolls before and after the 2016 U.S. election. Below is a look at 10 of the most shocking examples that stood out from Congress's reveal. Many posts pushed the narrative that Hillary Clinton would confiscate guns if she were elected President. This graphic meme painted cops as KKK members attacking a young black child. Only "sissies" and other undesirables wouldn't support Donald Trump, many of the memes said. President Obama was a "pawn" and "traitor" in the hands of "Arabian Sheikhs," said one 2016 ad. The "Black Matters US" page touched on hot button issues like police shootings. The "Army of Jesus" page shared a bible verse, along with this meme. Russian trolls also used Instagram to spread sponsored political memes. The "Blacktivist" page routinely shared memes on Colin Kaepernick and other football players kneeling during the national anthem. "Heart of Texas" routinely posted on "Killary Rotten Clinton," and threatened to secede from the union if she won the election. The "Being Patriotic" page labeled ex-cons as "Obama voters." Congress just released 3,500 posts touching on a myriad of topics President Trump Blasts ‘Biased Facebook, Google and Twitter’ – on Twitter By Sean Burch \| November 15, 2018 @ 9:47 AM Google Ends Forced Arbitration for Sexual Misconduct Claims After Employee Walkout By Sean Burch \| November 8, 2018 @ 11:07 AM Beto O’Rourke Has Spent More on Google Ads Than Any Other Candidate By Sean Burch \| November 6, 2018 @ 9:32 AM	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2491
__label__wiki	0.538073	0.538073	Stars Bernadette Peters, Andrew Rannells and Others Help Dogs Get Adopted at Broadway Barks by Andrea Huspeni July 8, 2015 The stars of Broadway are getting ready to put on their best performance of the year: helping homeless dogs and cats find their forever home. On July 11 in Shubert Alley, celebrities from the hottest shows on Broadway will be on hand for the 17th annual Broadway Barks pet adoption event. Hosted by co-founder Bernadette Peters and Tony nominee Andrew Rannells (best know for The Book of Mormon and HBO’s Girls), the event looks to help dozens of dogs and cats from New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies — ASPCA, BARC, Mayor’s Alliance of New York, Animal Care and Control of NYC, Bideawee and Humane Society of New York, among others — find their forever homes. Related: 5 Troublesome Dog Statistics And What We Can Do to Change the Story Broadway’s brightest performers will volunteer their time to help raise awareness about the plight of shelter animals while working their magic to get the pets adopted. Some of the actors lending a hand include Michael Cerveris (Fun Home), Christian Borle (Something Rotten), Dee Hoty (Gigi), Alison Luff (Matilda The Musical) and Chilina Kennedy (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), among many, many more. The event is free to the public with festivities beginning at 3 p.m. and celebrity presentations taking place between 5:00 and 6:30 p.m. Funds that are raised from a raffle, autographed memorabilia, silent auction and donations will be dispersed between the participating shelters, along with the Picasso Veterinary Fund, a resource that provides grants to shelters and rescue groups to help cover veterinary costs. “It is a wonderful event. Bernadette and her team put so much into it and it is a pleasure to work with them,” says Steve Gruber, the director of communications for the Mayor’s Alliance. “And I always come away with a positive feeling, as they help raise awareness about the wonderful animals in the shelters that need good homes and make great pets.” Broadway Barks was founded by Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore and is produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, a nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. Related: Animal Lover Bernadette Peters Comes Out to Support BARC Shelter at Art Show Related: Move Over Patti Stanger, New York City Has ‘The Dog Matchmaker’ “This spirit of a collaborative community, manifested so clearly in Broadway Barks, is moving us closer to the day when no New York City dog or cat of reasonable health and temperament will be killed simply because we do not have a home for them, Jane Hoffman, president of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, said in a statement. “We congratulate Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore for 17 brilliant years of saving lives through Broadway Barks.“ This event is going to be crowded, so we suggest getting there early. Shubert Alley is between 44th and 45th Streets and between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. If you are thinking of bringing a pet home, come prepared. While every organization has its own process for adopting out its pets, we recommend bringing proof that you can have an animal at your living situation, personal references and veterinarian’s contact information. Related: A Pet Store Pulls a Switch-a-Roo and Replaces Dogs With Rescues From Shelters Images courtesy of Broadway Barks Restaurant Just Launched Dog Menu With $42 Steak Dinner On It Special Exhibit Show the Bond We Share With Our Dogs An Interactive Pop-Up Experience for Our Dogs Just Opened Cowabunga: Dogs Take to the Waves for the World Dog Surfing Championships San Francisco’s Best Dog-Friendly Parks New York City Dog Owners Are Barking Mad Over Law Banning Private Pet Sitting	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2492
__label__cc	0.551001	0.448999	UU.nl / Events / Descartes Centre History of Science colloquium with Arun Saldanha Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences Academic festivities Congresses, symposia Descartes Centre History of Science colloquium with Arun Saldanha “Phenotypical Globalization: Race, the Anthropocene, and Radical Interdisciplinarity" Encouraged by some references to Marxism in The Human Planet, a short mass-market book published last year by two physical geographers, Simon Lewis and Mark Maslin, this workshop will start by explaining why a critical conversation between geology and critical theory is likely to be defining of the twenty-first century. In claiming that the cumulative and accelerating destruction by consumer capitalism of species, climate stability, and social formations will be legible forever in Earth’s crust, and in finding objective reasons to doubt the viability of the human species in the coming centuries, the Anthropocene might be the most consequential concept ever invented. Of course, anthropos is not a totality over and against “nature” but itself an ecology fissured in essence by vectors we call sex, class, race, religion, and nation. In particular, over the last few decades there has been confusion about the category of race, a category once central to all the social sciences. If race is a social construction, why is there still clearly racism in the way populations are affected by the Anthropocene? Can physical differences between human bodies be conceptualized without boxing them into the old colonial categories? In this workshop I will outline a new way of thinking race at the planetary level. Arun Saldanha Arun Saldanha is Associate Professor of the Department of Geography, Environment, and Society at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. See also: https://cla.umn.edu/about/directory/profile/saldanha Arun is NWO-funded Visiting Scholar at the Institute for Cultural Inquiry at Utrecht University where he is working on a theoretical book blending geohumanities, Marxism, and evolutionary theory to rethink race as planetary process, tentatively titled Phenotypically: A New Old Materialist Theory of Race. On the public-engagement front, while Arts, Design, and Humanities Chair of the Imagine Fund at Minnesota over 2016-18, Arun organized a large symposium called “Prince from Minneapolis” and is preparing an edited collection on how a black superstar could emerge from a relatively white city. End date and time Sweelinckzaal (0.05) at Drift 21, Utrecht	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2493
__label__cc	0.607567	0.392433	Visit Beach Plum Farm by Katie Skrzek © Oliver Perez \| Dreamstime Trends / Unique Itineraries & Tours Beach Plum Farm is a farm, market, kitchen and lodging experience in Cape May, New Jersey. The 62-acre farm produces more than 100 types of fruits and vegetables, herbs, chickens, eggs and hogs. It supplies produce for neighboring restaurants in the Cape May area. The Beach Plum Farm Market offers shoppers two floors of fresh produce harvested on site, plus products from local artisans. The kitchen serves sandwiches, salads, small plates and sides using ingredients right from the farm. The market and kitchen are open on Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. and 8 a.m.–3 p.m., respectively. Beach Plum Farm also hosts special dinners throughout the year. There are spring and summer multicourse, farm-to-table dinners, buffet luncheons for holidays like Easter and Mother’s Day, dinners highlighting an ingredient like tomatoes, open-fire cookouts, a pig roast and other special events. Check the calendar for more information. The farm is now home to The Cottages at Beach Plum Farm. The five historic cottages and barns are located directly on the farm and can serve from two to 12 guests. The cottages and barns are equipped with full kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms, screened porches, washers and dryers, complimentary WiFi and access to the farm’s swimming pool. Check the website for full descriptions and to book. “Beercycling”: Denmark Recycles Urine to Brew Beer Trends / Food & Drink All Reads on This Topic “Live Like a Local” Experiences ‘Carry-Along’ Medicine Pack Refills Cycling Holidays in Southern France #trazeetravel Under $100: Groton, Massachusetts Under $100 / North America Top 5: Things to Pack for a Trip to the Desert Top 5 / Other Seasonal Work Opportunities For Traveling Couples Tips / Travel 4 Unforgettable Hiking Destinations Tips / Other Tips for Keeping Your Shoes Fresh Few things in life are as unappealing as smelly shoes. There’s something about the distinctive odor of stanky feet that’s almost vomit-inducing. When you’re traveling, the stench can really sneak up you. Here are some tips for keeping your shoes fresh and ready to stroll. Work and Play in Italy Once business concludes, a world of wonder awaits in many of Italy’s incredible cities. Products / Travel Travelbob CoolFab Travel Pillow With 10 features in one pillow, this travel accessory looks like it could seriously improve your experience in transit. Under $100 / Europe Under $100: El Poble-Sec, Barcelona, Spain Barcelona’s insane popularity and large influx of visitors as of late may have some travelers steering away from the Mediterranean coastal city, but just outside the overpopulated center of the city, known as Ciutat Vella, are quieter neighborhoods that offer more of a local feel and don’t come with exorbitant tourist prices. El Poble-Sec is one such area that rests between the towering Montjuic park and the Old Town, making it a nice escape but still close enough to access the sights. Take Me to Tahiti Mana is the life force Tahitians believe connects all things. Feel the mana for yourself on a visit to the islands of Tahiti, and sample some of these activities as you connect with the breathtaking nature of the South Pacific. Fly Air France from the United States to Tahiti in the most convenient and comfortable way and let your holiday start on board. Tips / Safety Staying Safe While Taking Selfies Capturing a shot of ourselves in the most impressive, gorgeous places on earth can feel like an uncontrollable compulsion. But taking selfies can be dangerous, and even deadly without the right safety protocols in place. According to a selfies study from researchers associated with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, more than 250 people died while taking selfies over six years. And that number only accounts for people who lost their lives to the selfie craze and doesn't account for injuries.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2503
__label__cc	0.501734	0.498266	Turning Research Into Practice Systematic Reviews 169 +0 Aus & NZ 16 Clinical Q&A 35 Patient information leaflets 23 Gastroenterology 3,424 Oncology 1,548 Cardiology 767 OB-Gyn 451 Hematology 417 Urology 405 Endocrinology 340 Rheumatology 297 Neurology 263 Otolaryngology-ENT 195 Geriatrics 152 Women's Health 137 Orthopedic 133 Dentistry 42 8021. Randomised study of the influence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the treatment of peptic ulcer in patients with rheumatic disease. (PubMed) Randomised study of the influence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the treatment of peptic ulcer in patients with rheumatic disease. Sixty-seven patients with rheumatic disease, treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), entered a controlled trial with a diagnosis of duodenal (n = 51), gastric (n = 14), or gastric and duodenal (n = 2) ulcers. The main objectives of the study were a comparison of ranitidine and sucralfate in ulcer treatment, and to observe (...) the influence of continued NSAID administration during peptic ulcer therapy. Ulcers healed within nine weeks in 52 patients. The mean healing time was similar in 27 patients given ranitidine 150 mg bd (4.9 weeks) and 25 patients given sucralfate 1 g qid (4.6 weeks). In patients with unhealed ulcers after nine weeks of treatment, healing was obtained in seven after further therapy for 3-9 weeks. Of the 30 patients who continued NSAIDs during treatment with either ranitidine or sucralfate, 23 ulcers healed 1987 Gut high or unclear est. of bias 8022. Management of peptic ulcer disease not related to Helicobacter pylori or NSAIDs. (PubMed) Management of peptic ulcer disease not related to Helicobacter pylori or NSAIDs. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is widely accepted as the most important factor in the pathogenesis of duodenal ulcer. However, in parallel with more effective eradication of H. pylori, the prevalence of H. pylori is changing, and H. pylori-negative peptic ulcer disease appears to be increasing. When making a diagnosis of H. pylori-negative peptic ulcer disease, it is essential to avoid misclassification (...) because of inaccurate diagnosis. In addition, secondary causes may need to be excluded with appropriate investigations. In the absence of H. pylori, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug usage is the most common cause of peptic ulcer; surreptitious nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug usage is a cause of unexplained ulcer disease in up to 60% of patients. Hypersecretory syndromes such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, although rare, need to be excluded. Once all known etiological factors are excluded 2002 American Journal of Gastroenterology 8023. Changing rates of Helicobacter pylori testing and treatment in patients with peptic ulcer disease. (PubMed) Changing rates of Helicobacter pylori testing and treatment in patients with peptic ulcer disease. The aim of this study was to identify temporal trends in the rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) testing, prevalence, and treatment among patients with peptic ulcer disease in Olmsted County, MN, from 1984 through 1997.All 3317 Olmsted County residents with a clinical diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease at the Mayo Clinic from 1984 through 1997 were identified. The complete medical records (...) of an age-, sex-, and calendar year-stratified random sample were reviewed (n = 720); 298 patients (41%) had confirmed peptic ulcer disease. Changes in proportions of H. pylori testing, infection, and treatment over time were analyzed by logistic regression.Of the 298 patients with confirmed peptic ulcer disease, 32% were tested for H. pylori; 36% were positive for infection, of whom 66% received antibiotic therapy. The rate of testing for H. pylori increased from 0% in 1984 to 96% in 1997 8024. Hospitalization and mortality rates from peptic ulcer disease and GI bleeding in the 1990s: relationship to sales of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acid suppression medications. (PubMed) Hospitalization and mortality rates from peptic ulcer disease and GI bleeding in the 1990s: relationship to sales of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acid suppression medications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause peptic ulcer disease and upper GI bleeding. Acid suppression medications effectively treat NSAID-induced ulcers. However, it is unknown what effect the availability of proton pump inhibitors and over-the-counter preparations of NSAIDs and histamine type 2 (...) receptor antagonists have had on population rates of hospitalization and mortality from GI toxicity. This study examines trends in hospitalization and mortality rates from GI toxicity during the 1990s.We performed an analysis of secular trends of hospitalization and mortality rates from peptic ulcer disease, upper GI bleeding, and any GI bleeding using data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey, comparing them with sales of NSAIDs, aspirin, and acid suppression medications from 1992 to 1999.From 8025. Dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease, and esophageal reflux disease (PubMed) Dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease, and esophageal reflux disease 11897730 2002 04 30 2018 11 13 0093-0415 176 2 2002 Mar The Western journal of medicine West. J. Med. Dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease, and esophageal reflux disease. 98-103 Schwartz Mark D MD Division of Primary Care, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs, New York Harbor Healthcare System Medical Service (111), 423 E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010, USA. mark.schwartz3@med.va.gov eng (...) Journal Article United States West J Med 0410504 0093-0415 AIM IM Dyspepsia diagnosis drug therapy epidemiology Gastroesophageal Reflux diagnosis drug therapy epidemiology Helicobacter Infections diagnosis drug therapy epidemiology Helicobacter pylori Humans Peptic Ulcer diagnosis drug therapy epidemiology 2002 3 19 10 0 2002 5 1 10 1 2002 3 19 10 0 ppublish 11897730 PMC1071675 CMAJ. 2000 Jun 13;162(12 Suppl):S3-23 10870511 Arch Intern Med. 1995 Sep 11;155(16):1808-12 7654116 Arch Intern Med. 1995 Nov 2002 Western Journal of Medicine 8026. Is peptic ulcer disease an infectious disease? (PubMed) Is peptic ulcer disease an infectious disease? 8279173 1994 02 10 2018 11 13 0093-0415 159 5 1993 Nov The Western journal of medicine West. J. Med. Is peptic ulcer disease an infectious disease? 616-8 Isenberg J I JI eng Comment Editorial United States West J Med 0410504 0093-0415 AIM IM West J Med. 1993 Nov;159(5):555-9 8279151 Gastric Mucosa microbiology Gastritis microbiology Helicobacter Infections drug therapy physiopathology Helicobacter pylori isolation & purification physiology Humans (...) Peptic Ulcer drug therapy microbiology physiopathology Risk Factors Stomach Ulcer microbiology 1993 11 1 1993 11 1 0 1 1993 11 1 0 0 ppublish 8279173 PMC1022369 BMJ. 1991 Nov 16;303(6812):1238-40 1747644 N Engl J Med. 1991 Oct 17;325(16):1127-31 1891020 N Engl J Med. 1993 Feb 4;328(5):308-12 8419816 Drugs. 1992 Dec;44(6):921-7 1282863 Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 1993 Mar;22(1):127-39 8449562 Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 1993 Mar;22(1):153-67 8449564 Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 1993 Mar;22(1):43-57 8027. Serum CagA antibodies in asymptomatic subjects and patients with peptic ulcer: lack of correlation of IgG antibody in patients with peptic ulcer or asymptomatic Helicobacter pylori gastritis. (PubMed) and to a large, well defined patient population.A validated ELISA for serum IgG to CagA was used to investigate the prevalence of CagA seropositivity in 100 patients with peptic ulcer compared with 77 with H pylori infection without ulcer disease in a North American population. The extent of antral and corpus inflammation and H pylori density in relation to CagA seropositivity in 40 subjects with H pylori infection were assessed semiquanitatively. All studies were carried out in a coded and blinded (...) revealed no differences in infiltration with acute inflammatory cells, H pylori density, or gastritis index. There was no relation evident between the degree of polymorphonuclear cell infiltration and the serum IgG antibody titre to CagA. Mononuclear cell infiltration in the antrum, but not the corpus, was greater in those with CagA IgG compared with those without (median score 5 v 3).A right association between the presence or titre of serum IgG to CagA and peptic ulcer disease, greater H pylori 1996 Journal of Clinical Pathology 8028. Efficacy and safety of pirenzepine in peptic ulcer and in non ulcerous gastroduodenal diseases. A multicentre controlled clinical trial. (PubMed) Efficacy and safety of pirenzepine in peptic ulcer and in non ulcerous gastroduodenal diseases. A multicentre controlled clinical trial. 6221398 1983 06 10 2015 11 19 0085-5928 81 1982 Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology. Supplement Scand. J. Gastroenterol. Suppl. Efficacy and safety of pirenzepine in peptic ulcer and in non ulcerous gastroduodenal diseases. A multicentre controlled clinical trial. 1-41 Giorgi-Conciato M M Daniotti S S Ferrari P A PA Gaetani M M Petrin G G Sala P P (...) as Topic Duodenal Ulcer drug therapy Duodenitis drug therapy Female Gastritis drug therapy Humans Male Middle Aged Morpholines therapeutic use Parasympatholytics adverse effects therapeutic use Pirenzepine Proglumide therapeutic use Pyridines therapeutic use Sialoglycoproteins therapeutic use Stomach Ulcer drug therapy 1982 1 1 1982 1 1 0 1 1982 1 1 0 0 ppublish 6221398 1983 Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology. Supplement 8029. Ulcer healing and relapse prevention by ranitidine in peptic ulcer disease. (PubMed) Ulcer healing and relapse prevention by ranitidine in peptic ulcer disease. Ranitidine, 300 mg daily, was given to 92 patients with duodenal ulcer (DU), 38 with prepyloric ulcer (PPU), and 21 with gastric corporeal ulcer (GCU). The healing rates at 4 weeks differed for the different types of ulcers (P less than 0.01), being 91% for DU, 68% for PPU, and 81% for GCU. After established ulcer healing, maintenance treatment with either ranitidine, 100 mg twice daily or 150 mg at night, or placebo (...) was given for 1 year or until ulcer relapse in a total of 108 patients--71 with DU, 24 with PPU, and 13 with GCU. There were no significant differences in relapse rates between the two groups treated with active drug or between the three ulcer groups. However, the overall relapse rate in the active drug groups was 16%, against 72% in the placebo group (P less than 0.001). 1985 Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology 8030. Prostaglandins and peptic ulcer disease: nocturnal administration of rioprostil vs ranitidine in duodenal ulcer healing. (PubMed) Prostaglandins and peptic ulcer disease: nocturnal administration of rioprostil vs ranitidine in duodenal ulcer healing. Hypochlorhydria induced by potent antisecretory drugs is followed by a marked elevation of serum gastrin levels which leads to changes in ECL cell density in rats. "Soft" antiulcer drugs like prostaglandins do not increase gastrin levels. Their use in peptic ulcer disease seems to be mainly limited by a relatively high incidence of diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Rioprostil (...) is a new prostaglandin E1 analogue. We compared the potency and duration of action of rioprosil 600 micrograms nocte with 300 micrograms bid on human gastric secretion in a placebo-controlled double-blind study. We further evaluated the clinical effectiveness of rioprostil 600 micrograms nocte in the acute treatment of duodenal ulcer. Nocturnal gastric acidity (24:00 to 08:00) was inhibited from 54.5 +/- 1.7 mmol H+/L (placebo experiments; n =9) to 26.7 +/- 3.5 mmol H+/L (52%) by rioprostil 300 1986 Klinische Wochenschrift 8031. Ulcer healing after treatment with sucralfate emulsion or ranitidine. Randomized controlled study in peptic ulcer disease. (PubMed) Ulcer healing after treatment with sucralfate emulsion or ranitidine. Randomized controlled study in peptic ulcer disease. A randomized trial with a blind observer compared the efficacy of an emulsion containing micronized sucralfate (1 g four times daily) and ranitidine (150 mg twice daily) in the short-term healing of peptic ulcer. Patients with a minimum ulcer size of 5 mm located in the duodenal bulb, the pyloric canal, or in the prepyloric area within a distance of 2 cm from the pylorus (...) were included. A total of 97 patients were randomized and 85 completed the trial. The endoscopically proven healing rate at 2 weeks of 41% for both sucralfate and ranitidine improved to 76% for sucralfate and 73% for ranitidine at 4 weeks and to 95% and 96%, respectively, at 12 weeks. The difference between the two treatment groups was not statistically significant, and the 95% confidence interval for the difference in ulcer healing efficacy of sucralfate emulsion compared with ranitidine was -0.15 1988 Journal of clinical gastroenterology 8032. Rabeprazole in treatment of acid peptic diseases: results of three placebo-controlled dose-response clinical trials in duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Rabeprazole Study Group. (PubMed) Rabeprazole in treatment of acid peptic diseases: results of three placebo-controlled dose-response clinical trials in duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Rabeprazole Study Group. Rabeprazole, a new proton pump inhibitor, was studied in patients with acid-peptic-related diseases (duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, GERD) in three placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trials. Men and women over the age of 18 were enrolled if the presence (...) the rabeprazole doses in healing active peptic lesions. The incidence of positive [13C]urea breath test for H. pylori was 53% in patients with duodenal or gastric ulcers. H. pylori status was not effected by treatment with rabeprazole. 1998 Digestive diseases and sciences	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2508
__label__wiki	0.745994	0.745994	Ophthalmology 4,091 Dermatology 96 Endocrinology 61 Anesthesiology 56 Infectious Disease 47 Women's Health 33 Orthopedic 11 Pulmonology 6 Allergies and Immunology 4 Urology 4 Critical Care 3 Primary Care/Family Practice 2 101. Laser correction of refractive error following non-refractive ophthalmic surgery (IPG385) Laser correction of refractive error following non-refractive ophthalmic surgery (IPG385) Overview \| Laser correction of refractive error following non-refractive ophthalmic surgery \| Guidance \| NICE Laser correction of refractive error following non-refractive ophthalmic surgery Interventional procedures guidance [IPG385] Published date: March 2011 Share Save Guidance The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales (...) , Scotland and Northern Ireland on Laser correction of refractive error following non-refractive ophthalmic surgery. Description Refractive errors include common conditions such as myopia (short sightedness) and hyperopia (long sightedness) that impede the accuracy of vision without spectacles or contact lenses. Laser surgery aims to establish visual accuracy by changing the shape of the cornea (the clear outer layer at the front of the eye), so that light rays are more precisely directed onto the retina 2011 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence - Interventional Procedures 102. Calculation of axial length using a single group refractive index versus using different refractive indices for each ocular segment: theoretical study and refractive outcomes. (PubMed) Calculation of axial length using a single group refractive index versus using different refractive indices for each ocular segment: theoretical study and refractive outcomes. To investigate the difference between the segmented axial length (AL) and the displayed AL on an optical low-coherence reflectometry (OLCR) biometer and to compare the refractive prediction errors calculated using the segmented and displayed ALs.Retrospective case series.Four thousand nine hundred ninety-two eyes from (...) 4992 patients in the theoretical study and 1758 eyes from 1758 patients in the refractive prediction error comparison.First, we calculated the segmented AL as the sum of geometrical ocular segments converted from the optical path length (OPL) in each medium. To convert the OPL to a geometrical distance in each medium, we used 4 sets of group refractive indices. Then, the mean absolute prediction error (MAE) was calculated with the displayed AL and segmented AL using 6 intraocular lens power 2018 Ophthalmology 103. Comparison between focometer and autorefractor in the measurement of refractive error among students in underserved community of sub-Saharan Africa (PubMed) Comparison between focometer and autorefractor in the measurement of refractive error among students in underserved community of sub-Saharan Africa PurposeTo compare focometer and autorefractor in the measurement of refractive errors among students in an underserved community of sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsThe study was a descriptive comparative cross-sectional study conducted in October/November 2014 among secondary school students of Ijaiye-Orile, Oyo State, Nigeria. Students were selected (...) using systematic random sampling method. Ocular examination and measurement of refractive error was carried out on each student using a focometer and an autorefractor.ResultsA total of 230 students were studied. Mean age of the students was 15.1±1.9 years with a range of 13-21 years. Refractive error was detected in 95 (41.3%) of the students using autorefractor and in 81 (35.2%) with focometer. Among those found to have refractive error using autorefractor, 75 (78.9%) students had a difference 2016 Eye 104. Exploration and detection of potential regulatory variants in refractive error GWAS (PubMed) Exploration and detection of potential regulatory variants in refractive error GWAS Refractive error (RE) is a complex multifactorial disease. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have provided significant insight into the genetic architecture and identified plenty of robust genetic variations or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with complex disease. A major current challenge is to convert those resources into causal variants and target genes. We used RegulomeDB and HaploReg 2016 Scientific reports 105. Prevalence of visual impairment due to uncorrected refractive error: Results from Delhi-Rapid Assessment of Visual Impairment Study (PubMed) Prevalence of visual impairment due to uncorrected refractive error: Results from Delhi-Rapid Assessment of Visual Impairment Study To estimate the prevalence of visual impairment (VI) due to uncorrected refractive error (URE) and to assess the barriers to utilization of services in the adult urban population of Delhi.A population-based rapid assessment of VI was conducted among people aged 40 years and above in 24 randomly selected clusters of East Delhi district. Presenting visual acuity (PVA (...) ) was assessed in each eye using Snellen's "E" chart. Pinhole examination was done if PVA was <20/60 in either eye and ocular examination to ascertain the cause of VI. Barriers to utilization of services for refractive error were recorded with questionnaires.Of 2421 individuals enumerated, 2331 (96%) individuals were examined. Females were 50.7% among them. The mean age of all examined subjects was 51.32 ± 10.5 years (standard deviation). VI in either eye due to URE was present in 275 individuals (11.8%, 95 2016 Indian journal of ophthalmology 106. Childhood gene-environment interactions and age-dependent effects of genetic variants associated with refractive error and myopia: The CREAM Consortium (PubMed) Childhood gene-environment interactions and age-dependent effects of genetic variants associated with refractive error and myopia: The CREAM Consortium Myopia, currently at epidemic levels in East Asia, is a leading cause of untreatable visual impairment. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in adults have identified 39 loci associated with refractive error and myopia. Here, the age-of-onset of association between genetic variants at these 39 loci and refractive error was investigated in 5200 (...) = 6.6E-08) and 2.3% (P = 6.9E-21) of the variance in refractive error at ages 7 and 15, respectively, supporting increased effects from these genetic variants at older ages. Replication in multi-ancestry samples (combined N = 5599) yielded evidence of childhood onset for 6 of 12 variants present in both Asians and Europeans. There was no indication that variant or GRS effects altered depending on time outdoors, however 5 variants showed nominal evidence of interactions with nearwork (top variant 107. Refractive Errors in Koreans: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2012 (PubMed) Refractive Errors in Koreans: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2012 Our study provides epidemiologic data on the prevalence of refractive errors in all age group ≥5 years in Korea.In 2008 to 2012, a total of 33,355 participants aged ≥5 years underwent ophthalmologic examinations. Using the right eye, myopia was defined as a spherical equivalent (SE) less than -0.5 or -1.0 diopters (D) in subjects aged 19 years and older or as an SE less than -0.75 or -1.25 D (...) in subjects aged 5 to 18 years according to non-cycloplegic refraction. Other refractive errors were defined as follows: high myopia as an SE less than -6.0 D; hyperopia as an SE larger than +0.5 D; and astigmatism as a cylindrical error less than -1.0 D. The prevalence and risk factors of myopia were evaluated.Prevalence rates with a 95% confidence interval were determined for myopia (SE <-0.5 D, 51.9% [51.2 to 52.7]; SE <-1.0 D, 39.6% [38.8 to 40.3]), high myopia (5.0% [4.7 to 5.3]), hyperopia (13.4 2016 Korean journal of ophthalmology : KJO 108. The opportunistic screening of refractive errors in school-going children by pediatrician using enhanced BrÃ¼ckner test (PubMed) The opportunistic screening of refractive errors in school-going children by pediatrician using enhanced BrÃ¼ckner test The aim of this study was to compare the results of enhanced Brückner test (EBT) performed by a pediatrician and an experienced pediatric ophthalmologist.In this prospective double-masked cohort study, a pediatrician and a pediatric ophthalmologist performed the EBT in a classroom of a school in semi-dark lighting condition using a direct ophthalmoscope. The results (...) . The prevalence of the test positive was 25.9%. The sensitivity of the pediatrician was 90.2%, specificity was 97.7%, predictive value of the positive test was 93.2%, and predictive value of the negative test was 96.6%. The clinical agreement (kappa) between the pediatric ophthalmologist and the pediatrician was 0.9.The results of the EBT performed by pediatrician were comparable to that of an experienced pediatric ophthalmologist. Opportunistic screening of refractive errors using EBT by a pediatrician can 109. Age-Specific Prevalence of Visual Impairment and Refractive Error in Children Aged 3-10 Years in Shanghai, China. (PubMed) Age-Specific Prevalence of Visual Impairment and Refractive Error in Children Aged 3-10 Years in Shanghai, China. We assessed changes in age-specific prevalence of refractive error at the time of starting school, by comparing preschool and school age cohorts in Shanghai, China.A cross-sectional study was done in Jiading District, Shanghai during November and December 2013. We randomly selected 7 kindergartens and 7 primary schools, with probability proportionate to size. Chinese children (n (...) = 8398) aged 3 to 10 years were enumerated, and 8267 (98.4%) were included. Children underwent distance visual acuity assessment and refraction measurement by cycloplegic autorefraction and subjective refraction.The prevalence of uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), presenting visual acuity, and best-corrected visual acuity in the better eye of ≤20/40 was 19.8%, 15.5%, and 1.7%, respectively. Among those with UCVA ≤ 20/40, 93.2% could achieve visual acuity of ≥20/32 with refraction. Only 28.7% (n = 465 2016 Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 110. Global Patterns in Health Burden of Uncorrected Refractive Error. (PubMed) Global Patterns in Health Burden of Uncorrected Refractive Error. To evaluate the global patterns in health burden of uncorrected refractive error (URE) by year, age and sex, region, and socioeconomic status, using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).Global, regional, or national DALY numbers, crude DALY rates, and age-standardized DALY rates caused by URE, by year, or age and sex, were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. Human development index (HDI) in 2013 as a national (...) Mediterranean, South-East Asia, and Africa were higher than that at a global level. Multiple comparisons indicated higher age-standardized DALY rates in lower HDI countries. Age-standardized DALY rates were inversely related to HDI (standardized β = -0.616, P < 0.001).The global health of URE is improving but crude DALY rates are keeping constant, implying that health progress does not mean fewer demands of refractive services. Worldwide, older age, female sex, and lower socioeconomic status are associated 111. Refractive errors. (PubMed) Refractive errors. All over the world, refractive errors are among the most frequently occuring treatable distur - bances of visual function. Ametropias have a prevalence of nearly 70% among adults in Germany and are thus of great epidemiologic and socio-economic relevance.In the light of their own clinical experience, the authors review pertinent articles retrieved by a selective literature search employing the terms "ametropia, "anisometropia," "refraction," "visual acuity," and epidemiology (...) ."In 2011, only 31% of persons over age 16 in Germany did not use any kind of visual aid; 63.4% wore eyeglasses and 5.3% wore contact lenses. Refractive errors were the most common reason for consulting an ophthalmologist, accounting for 21.1% of all outpatient visits. A pinhole aperture (stenopeic slit) is a suitable instrument for the basic diagnostic evaluation of impaired visual function due to optical factors. Spherical refractive errors (myopia and hyperopia), cylindrical refractive errors 2016 Deutsches Arzteblatt international 112. Anterior Chamber Depth, Lens Thickness, and Related Measures in African American Females With Long Anterior Zonules: A Matched Study With Control for Refractive Error. (PubMed) Anterior Chamber Depth, Lens Thickness, and Related Measures in African American Females With Long Anterior Zonules: A Matched Study With Control for Refractive Error. To investigate anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), vitreous body length (VBL), and axial length (AL) in African American females with long anterior zonules (LAZ) while controlling for refractive error.The eyes of 50 African American females with LAZ were compared with 50 controls matched with age, race, sex (...) , and refractive error. Central ACD, LT, VBL, and AL measurements were obtained in a masked manner using a-scan ultrasonography.LAZ cases had a mean age±SD of 67.1±7.6 years (range, 52 to 85 y) and a mean refractive error of +1.85±1.41 D (-1.75 to +4.75 D). Parameters were similar for controls. Mean ACD for cases was 2.45±0.34 mm and 2.57±0.38 mm for controls. Mean LT for cases was 4.94±0.43 mm and 4.83±0.45 mm for controls. Mean VBL for cases was 15.00±0.72 mm and 15.17±0.76 mm for controls. Mean AL for cases 2016 Journal of Glaucoma 113. Refractive Errors and Concomitant Strabismus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. (PubMed) Refractive Errors and Concomitant Strabismus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. This systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the risk of development of concomitant strabismus due to refractive errors. Eligible studies published from 1946 to April 1, 2016 were identified from MEDLINE and EMBASE that evaluated any kinds of refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and anisometropia) as an independent factor for concomitant exotropia and concomitant esotropia. Totally 5065 114. Refractive error characteristics in patients with congenital blepharoptosis before and after ptosis repair surgery. (PubMed) Refractive error characteristics in patients with congenital blepharoptosis before and after ptosis repair surgery. We examined the effect of surgical repair on the pattern of refractive errors in Korean patients with congenital blepharoptosis.We reviewed the clinical records of 54 patients with congenital blepharoptosis who attended our hospital from 2006 to 2012 and underwent a detailed refractive examination before and after ptosis repair surgery. Among them, 21 of the patients whose (...) refractive data was available for both before and after the surgery were included in order to observe the effect of ptosis repair surgery on refractive error characteristics. The astigmatism groups were divided into three subgroups: with-the-rule (WTR), against-the-rule (ATR), and oblique astigmatism (OA). We also evaluated the severity of astigmatism.Before surgery, the ptotic eyes had more severe astigmatism and a greater percentage of OA than the fellow eyes. The changes in astigmatism magnitude 2016 BMC Ophthalmology 115. Meta-analysis of gene-environment-wide association scans accounting for education level identifies additional loci for refractive error. (PubMed) Meta-analysis of gene-environment-wide association scans accounting for education level identifies additional loci for refractive error. Myopia is the most common human eye disorder and it results from complex genetic and environmental causes. The rapidly increasing prevalence of myopia poses a major public health challenge. Here, the CREAM consortium performs a joint meta-analysis to test single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) main effects and SNP × education interaction effects on refractive (...) error in 40,036 adults from 25 studies of European ancestry and 10,315 adults from 9 studies of Asian ancestry. In European ancestry individuals, we identify six novel loci (FAM150B-ACP1, LINC00340, FBN1, DIS3L-MAP2K1, ARID2-SNAT1 and SLC14A2) associated with refractive error. In Asian populations, three genome-wide significant loci AREG, GABRR1 and PDE10A also exhibit strong interactions with education (P<8.5 × 10(-5)), whereas the interactions are less evident in Europeans. The discovery 2016 Nature communications 116. Longitudinal Development of Refractive Error in Children With Accommodative Esotropia: Onset, Amblyopia, and Anisometropia. (PubMed) Longitudinal Development of Refractive Error in Children With Accommodative Esotropia: Onset, Amblyopia, and Anisometropia. We investigated longitudinal changes of refractive error in children with accommodative esotropia (ET) throughout the first 12 years of life, its dependence on age at onset of ET, and whether amblyopia or anisometropia are associated with defective emmetropization.Longitudinal refractive errors in children with accommodative ET were analyzed retrospectively. Eligibility (...) ± 1.28 and +5.67 ± 1.26 D, respectively), there were different developmental changes in refractive error. Neither group had a significant decrease in hyperopia before age 7 years, but after 7 years, the infantile group experienced a myopic shift of -0.43 D/y. The late-onset group did not experience a myopic shift at 7 to 12 years. Among amblyopic children, a slower myopic shift was observed for the amblyopic eye. Among anisometropic children, the more hyperopic eye experienced more myopic shift than 117. Evaluation of Refractive Errors and Ocular Biometric Outcomes after Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Retinopathy of Prematurity. (PubMed) Evaluation of Refractive Errors and Ocular Biometric Outcomes after Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Retinopathy of Prematurity. To assess ocular biometric outcomes following intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) monotherapy for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and compare these results with those of laser photocoagulated infants and with the ones with spontaneously regressed ROP.Premature infants including those who underwent IVB monotherapy (Group 1) or laser photocoagulation (Group 2) for ROP (...) and infants with spontaneously regressed ROP (Group 3) were recruited for the study. Refractive errors and ocular biometric parameters (Axial length [AL], anterior chamber depth [ACD], and lens thickness [LT]) were measured at adjusted 1 year of age in all subjects.There was no significant difference of spherical equivalent (SE) value between the groups (P = 0.781). The incidence of high myopia was 7.4% in Group 1 and 12.7% in Group 2 (P = 0.081). No infants exhibited high myopia in Group 3. LT 2016 Strabismus 118. Global Vision Impairment and Blindness Due to Uncorrected Refractive Error, 1990-2010. (PubMed) Global Vision Impairment and Blindness Due to Uncorrected Refractive Error, 1990-2010. The purpose of this systematic review was to estimate worldwide the number of people with moderate and severe visual impairment (MSVI; presenting visual acuity <6/18, ≥3/60) or blindness (presenting visual acuity <3/60) due to uncorrected refractive error (URE), to estimate trends in prevalence from 1990 to 2010, and to analyze regional differences. The review focuses on uncorrected refractive error which (...) to all MSVI ranged from 44.2 to 48.1% in all regions except in South Asia which was at 65.4% (95% CI: 62-72%). : We conclude that in 2010, uncorrected refractive error continues as the leading cause of vision impairment and the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, affecting a total of 108 million people or 1 in 90 persons. 2016 Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry 119. "Refractive Errors and Amblyopia in the UCLA Preschool Vision Program; First Year Results". (PubMed) "Refractive Errors and Amblyopia in the UCLA Preschool Vision Program; First Year Results". To report the outcomes of full ophthalmic examination for preschool children in LA County who failed screening with the Retinomax Autorefractor.Retrospective, cross-sectional study.Between August 2012 and May 2013, the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) preschool vision program screened 11 260 preschool children aged 3-5 years in Los Angeles County using the Retinomax Autorefractor only (...) . Of the amblyopic subjects, 77% were unilateral.Screening of preschoolers with the Retinomax led to diagnosis and early treatment of uncorrected refractive errors and amblyopia. By treating children early, amblyopia may be prevented, quality of life improved, and academic achievements enhanced.Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 2016 American Journal of Ophthalmology 120. Mechanism for a Rare, Idiosyncratic Complication Following Hyperopic LASIK: Diurnal Shift in Refractive Error Due to Epithelial Thickness Profile Changes. (PubMed) Mechanism for a Rare, Idiosyncratic Complication Following Hyperopic LASIK: Diurnal Shift in Refractive Error Due to Epithelial Thickness Profile Changes. Case series report of normal-appearing eyes after hyperopic LASIK exhibiting diurnal shift in refractive error found to correlate with diurnal shifts in epithelial thickness profile.Patients complaining of diurnal shift in vision during the course of the day with more hyperopia on waking and decreasing hyperopia in the evening in the absence (...) of abnormal epithelial or slit-lamp findings were examined. Diurnal concomitant measurement of refraction, topography, and Artemis very high-frequency digital ultrasound scanning (VHFDU) (ArcScan Inc., Morrison, CO) epithelial thickness profile mapping was undertaken throughout the day. A full review of the clinical database revealed 8 eyes of 5 patients with such symptoms. The authors report the findings in 6 eyes of 4 patients with such symptoms.Excimer ablation was performed with standard aspheric 2016 Journal of Refractive Surgery	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2509
__label__cc	0.613902	0.386098	Find evidence fast Latest & greatest articles for Cholesteatoma The Trip Database is a leading resource to help health professionals find trustworthy answers to their clinical questions. Users can access the latest research evidence and guidance to answer their clinical questions. We have a large collection of systematic reviews, clinical guidelines, regulatory guidance, clinical trials and many other forms of evidence. If you wanted the latest trusted evidence on Cholesteatoma or other clinical topics then use Trip today. This page lists the very latest high quality evidence on Cholesteatoma and also the most popular articles. Popularity measured by the number of times the articles have been clicked on by fellow users in the last twelve months. What is Trip? Trip is a clinical search engine designed to allow users to quickly and easily find and use high-quality research evidence to support their practice and/or care. Trip has been online since 1997 and in that time has developed into the internet’s premier source of evidence-based content. Our motto is ‘Find evidence fast’ and this is something we aim to deliver for every single search. As well as research evidence we also allow clinicians to search across other content types including images, videos, patient information leaflets, educational courses and news. For further information on Trip click on any of the questions/sections on the left-hand side of this page. But if you still have questions please contact us via jon.brassey@tripdatabase.com Top results for Cholesteatoma 1. Cholesteatoma Cholesteatoma Cholesteatoma - Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment \| BMJ Best Practice You'll need a subscription to access all of BMJ Best Practice Search  Cholesteatoma Last reviewed: February 2019 Last updated: January 2018 Summary Accumulation of squamous epithelium and keratin debris that usually involves the middle ear and mastoid. Although benign, it may enlarge and invade adjacent bone. Often presents with a malodorous ear discharge with associated hearing loss. Diagnosis is clinical (...) based on history and otoscopic findings. CT scan provides lesion definition and extent. Treatment is surgical removal. Adjunctive topical antimicrobial treatment may help reduce acute symptoms preoperatively. Complications include recurrence, meningitis, facial palsy, and a labyrinthine fistula. Definition Cholesteatoma is defined as the presence of keratinising squamous epithelium within the middle ear, or in other pneumatised areas of the temporal bone. Fisch U, May JS, Linder T. Mastoidectomy 2018 BMJ Best Practice 2. Outpatient management of cholesteatoma with canal wall reconstruction tympanomastoidectomy (PubMed) Outpatient management of cholesteatoma with canal wall reconstruction tympanomastoidectomy The postoperative wound infection rate for canal wall reconstruction (CWR) tympanomastoidectomy with mastoid obliteration in the treatment of chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma has been reported to be 3.6%. Postoperative administration of 24-48 hours of intravenous antibiotics has been recommended. We aim to determine the infection rate of CWR with postoperative outpatient oral 2017 Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology 3. Endoscopic transcanal modified canal-wall-down mastoidectomy for cholesteatoma (PubMed) Endoscopic transcanal modified canal-wall-down mastoidectomy for cholesteatoma Attic cholesteatoma with antral extension in tight sclerotic mastoid cavities is a common presentation that creates difficult decision-making intraoperatively. Drilling through a sclerotic and small mastoid cavity, keeping the canal wall intactis often difficult and increases the risk of serious injury. Consequently, a canal-wall-down mastoidectomy is often performed. The endoscopic transcanal modified canal-wall (...) -down mastoidectomy approach allows the benefits of an open cavity for cholesteatoma resection and the benefits of a closed cavity for better long-term care and a more normal ear canal and middle ear reconstruction. 2017 World journal of otorhinolaryngology - head and neck surgery 2017 DynaMed Plus 5. Congenital cholesteatoma: Different clinical presentation in two cases (PubMed) Congenital cholesteatoma: Different clinical presentation in two cases Congenital cholesteatoma (CC) of the middle ear is a rare entity that may be undiagnosed for years. The lesion can grow undetected until it produces symptoms such as reduced hearing or otalgia.Case report.We report two cases of young ladies with CC who presented with different otological symptoms. The first case complained of recurrent unilateral ear pain while the second case presented with unilateral reduced hearing 2016 Malaysian family physician : the official journal of the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia 6. Giant Petrous Bone Cholesteatoma: Combined Microscopic Surgery and an Adjuvant Endoscopic Approach (PubMed) Giant Petrous Bone Cholesteatoma: Combined Microscopic Surgery and an Adjuvant Endoscopic Approach Petrous bone cholesteatomas (PBCs) are epidermoid cysts, which have developed in the petrous portion of the temporal bone and may be congenital or acquired. Cholesteatomas arising in this region have a tendency to invade bone and functional structures and the middle and posterior fossae reaching an extensive size. Traditionally, surgery of a giant PBC contemplates lateral transtemporal or middle (...) fossa microscopic surgery; however, in recent years, endoscopic surgical techniques (primary or complementary endoscopic approach) are starting to receive a greater consensus for middle ear and mastoid surgeries. We report the rare case of an 83-year-old Caucasian male affected by a giant cholesteatoma that eroded the labyrinth and the posterior fossa dura and extended to the infralabyrinthine region, going beyond the theca and reaching the first cervical vertebra. The giant cholesteatoma 2016 Journal of neurological surgery reports Cholesteatoma Cholesteatoma - NICE CKS Clinical Knowledge Summaries Share Cholesteatoma: Summary A cholesteatoma is an abnormal sac of keratinizing squamous epithelium and accumulation of keratin within the middle ear or mastoid air cell spaces that can become infected and also erode neighbouring structures. A general practitioner with a list size of 2500 patients would expect to see, on average, one new case of cholesteatoma every 4–5 years. Cholesteatoma may be asymptomatic in its early (...) stages. Cholesteatoma most commonly presents with a persistent or recurrent discharge from the ear that is often foul smelling. Additionally, a conductive hearing loss may occur (although it is commonly not noticed) as well as ear discomfort (although this is usually mild and not a prominent feature of the condition). Rarely with progression of the disease vertigo, sensorineural hearing loss, facial nerve palsy, meningitis or intracranial abscess may develop. The diagnosis requires clear 2014 NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries 8. Cholesteatoma - diagnosing the unsafe ear Cholesteatoma - diagnosing the unsafe ear clinical practice reprinted from australian Family physician Vol. 37, No. 8, August 2008 631 samuel Kim MBBS, MMed, is Associate Clinical Lecturer, University of Sydney, New South Wales. phillip chang MBBS, is Visiting Medical Officer, St.Vincents Hospital and Sydney Children’s Hospital, and Clincical Director, Shepherd Centre for Hearing Impaired Children, New South Wales. pchang@stvincents.com.au cholesteatoma – diagnosing the unsafe ear cholesteatoma (...) is clinically defined as an abnormal extension of skin into the middle ear and mastoid air cell spaces. t he point of entrance of skin into the middle ear is reliably identifiable on otoscopic examination as a perforation or retraction pocket of the tympanic membrane. Otoscopy therefore represents the most reliable and sensitive means of diagnosing a cholesteatoma. In pathological terms cholesteatoma is simply benign keratinising squamous epithelium that forms a cyst within the middle ear or mastoid 2008 The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2510
__label__wiki	0.925454	0.925454	8 Southeast Asian Destinations You Shouldn't Miss Destinations Asia By Michael Aquino The Best of Southeast Asia Claude-Olivier Marti/Getty Images From Indonesia to Thailand, Southeast Asia is home to countless areas featuring interesting cultures, exceptional scenery, unique foods, and hospitable people. Here are eight locales to visit that should go on your bucket list. CHAPUT Franck / Hemis.fr / Getty Images Indonesia has over 13,000 islands and Bali is the one that everyone wants to visit—and for good reason. Bali offers a potent mix of hospitable people, a visually bewitching culture, and enticing beaches that appeal to surfers, divers, and standard-issue beachcombers alike. There's something for everyone here, and despite the waves of tourists that wash up on the beach, Bali still offers a level of peace that you simply won't find anywhere else. It's no wonder that most international visitors to Indonesia ignore everything else and head straight for Bali's shores. This paradisiacal sweet spot lies just two kilometers (1.2 miles) off the east of Java. Travelers arrive at Denpasar's Ngurah Rai International Airport from other Indonesian cities like Jakarta or Surabaya, or from major cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, and Amsterdam. Angkor Temples, Cambodia Ashit Desai / Getty Images The former heart of a formidable empire, Angkor stretches over more than 200 square miles of forest and ruin. Angkor's magnificent structures are all that are left of the Khmer Empire's old capitals, constructed between the 9th and the 15th century CE. At Angkor, you'll find the Bayon Temple's intricate stories told in stone, Ta Prohm's tree-overrun walls, and the jaw-dropping magnificence that is Angkor Wat—declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. Twenty minutes north of the Cambodian city of Siem Reap, the ruins of Angkor can be reached by car or motorcycle. Visitors can arrive at Siem Reap's Angkor International Airport through flights from cities like Seoul, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phnom Penh. Tubbataha Reef, Philippines Jeff Hunter / Getty Images If the Garden of Eden were underwater, it would look a lot like Tubbataha Reef, a marine formation 98 nautical miles southeast of Puerto Princesa City on the island of Palawan. Seasoned sports divers keep coming back for Tubbataha's coral walls, home to teeming schools of great jacks, manta rays, lionfish, Moorish idols, hawksbill tortoises, clown fish, and moray eels. Above the waterline, Tubbataha serves as a stopover and sanctuary for migratory terns, boobies, and frigate birds. All in all, over a thousand species—many of them on the endangered list—call Tubbataha reef home. The area has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. To get there, you can hire dive operators in Puerto Princesa or other areas to bring you to Tubbataha. Puerto Princesa itself is serviced by flights from Manila through local carriers Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines, SEAIR, and Cebu Pacific. Continue to 5 of 9 below. Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia kennethr / Pixabay If you're feeling up to hiking the third tallest mountain in Southeast Asia, Malaysia's Mount Kinabalu is open to all climbers. No specialized training is necessary to ascend Mount Kinabalu—but that's not to say that it's easy. How well you take to the climb depends on how well you adapt to the thinning air near the peak. The height of the mountain is estimated at 13,400 feet and can be covered in four hours if you're in a hurry. But why rush? Mount Kinabalu has so much to offer: incredible botanical and biological biodiversity with over 600 species of ferns (the entire continent of Africa has "only" 500), 326 species of birds, and 100 mammalian species. The gigantic Rafflesia plant calls the slopes of Kinabalu home, as does the only great ape of Southeast Asia, the orangutan. The park's biodiversity earned it World Heritage Site status from UNESCO. Kinabalu Park is about 50 miles east of the city of Kota Kinabalu, and can be reached in two hours via bus ride from this city. If you're coming from Sandakan, a bus ride to Mount Kinabalu will take six hours. Bangkok's Shopping Scene, Thailand James Cridland / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 Under the chaos and the congestion, Bangkok is actually one of the most tourist-friendly cities in Asia. Among its many surprises, the city's ample shopping could prove to be most rewarding for the average tourist. The Sukhumvit area, in particular, is teeming with shops selling clothes, jewelry, and art at rock-bottom prices while the Chatuchak Weekend Market offers almost anything you can think of, as it is one of the world's largest outdoor markets. Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, has two international airports (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang) which are visited daily by most major airlines. Hawker Centers, Singapore Nate Robert / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 Singapore may be full of gleaming skyscrapers these days, but its executives are still nourished by a culinary tradition that goes back generations. Hawker centers are open-air food courts that serve a wide variety of Asian dishes, and the best, cleanest, and tastiest ones are right here in the Lion City. There is no ambiance and no air conditioning, but boy, do these hawker centers make up for it in taste. Prices are low ($5 buys you a big meal) and choices tend to be rather vast, reflecting the polyglot populace—Indian biryani stands stand next to Western food booths and noodle stalls. Tourists can visit the centrally located Lau Pa Sat Festival Market and Maxwell Food Centre for an authentic taste of Asia. As Singapore is one of Southeast Asia's largest aviation hubs, all airports eventually lead to Changi and by extension the hawker centers that dot the city-state. Petronas Towers, Malaysia joakimbkk/Getty Images You can't miss it when you're in Kuala Lumpur—the Petronas Twin Towers rise from a central point in the metropolis, built on what used to be a racetrack and redeveloped into a modern mall-and-office complex. The world's tallest twin towers (1,482 feet high) are always worth a look, if only to ogle at the sheer scale of the project: The buildings loom 88 stories above Kuala Lumpur, totally dominating the skyline with a steel and glass façade designed to pay homage to Malaysia's Muslim heritage. The structure stands in the world's deepest-known foundations, sinking 400 feet into the ground. Visitors can go only as high as the skyway on the 41st and the 42nd floor. Even so, you get a great view of Kuala Lumpur from that vantage point. After your ascent, go ahead and spend a few hours and ringgit (the Malaysian unit of currency) at the sprawling Suria KLCC shopping mall at the base of the towers. The towers can be reached easily from any point in KL by taxi, bus, or LRT. Vigan, Philippines Michael Runkel / robertharding / Getty Images No site in Southeast Asia encapsulates the European colonial experience as purely as Vigan in the Philippines. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Vigan is a very well-preserved Spanish colonial town, complete with cobblestone streets and a design sensibility that fuses European colonial architecture with Asian designs appropriate to the climate. It's not all old buildings, though—the governor's fortress nearby features a mini-zoo with exotic animals; old calesas (horse-drawn carriages) offer rides through the Vigan streets; the Pagburnayan (burnay jar factory) will let you try your hand at making a huge traditional clay jar. Vigan is a seven-hour bus ride away from Manila, but the long trip is worth it if you're a fan of Old World European architecture. Buses travel the Ilocos Highway north to Vigan from Manila and back. The town can also be reached via flights that land in the nearby city of Laoag. What $100 Can Get You in Southeast Asia Best of Southeast Asia - Luxury Cruise on the Seabourn Sojourn The Best Destinations to Visit While You're in Asia These 6 Places Make Great Side Trips From Thailand 13 Unforgettable Beach Destinations in Southeast Asia Eight Sacred Sites You Should Visit in Southeast Asia Explore Southeast Asia's Central Corridor in this Five Week Itinerary Fly Far, Fly Cheap: Best Budget Airlines in Southeast Asia Go Back in Time at these UNESCO Cultural Sites in Southeast Asia The Weather and Top Festivals for Asia in February Choose From These Top Islands in Southeast Asia for an Exotic Escape What Are the Differences in Drinking Laws Around Southeast Asia? Backpackers in Asia Make Stops Along the Banana Pancake Trail The Weather and Best Festivals for September in Asia 8 Romantic Getaways in Southeast Asia Where to Find the Best Weather and Festivals in Asia this July	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2511
__label__cc	0.748972	0.251028	YOU'RE READING Mom shows off hairy body after husband urges her to stop shaving Your horoscopes W24 / Lifestyle Mom shows off hairy body after husband urges her to stop shaving By Magazine Features Milena Jonas. (Photo: Instagram/@millyswonderlandworld). “There’s hardly any place on my body where I’m not hairy." This mom with an ovarian condition has been sharing her story on social media in the hopes of encouraging other women not to shave their bodies. Stay-at-home mom and housewife Milena Jonas, who lives in Berlin, Germany, was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) – a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age – after giving birth to her daughter in 2014. Milena had for years before she as finally diagnosed suffered from irregular periods, skin problems, hair loss on her head, weight gain, tummy pains, depression, hot flushes and excess hair growth known as hirsutism. It wasn’t until she developed insulin-resistance after her daughter’s birth that doctors finally diagnosed her with PCOS. A post shared by Milena Jonas (@millyswonderlandworld) on Jan 22, 2019 at 3:36am PST For 15 years, the 31-year-old, who’s Swiss-born, spent hours every day shaving hair from her legs, armpits and stomach. It wasn’t until Milena’s husband of seven years, Denny, asked her why she spent so much time removing her body hair that she started to realise she didn’t need to shave to be beautiful or fit in with society. “I think I've tried almost all methods of hair removal. For me, shaving with disposable razors was the best method,” Milena said. “It took me hours until I was completely shaved. I shaved my legs, stomach, shoulders and my face. “There’s hardly any place on my body where I’m not hairy. When everything was shaved it always came back the next day. I even had to shave my face twice a day.” With Denny telling her she could still be a feminine woman with hair and that she shouldn’t conform to society’s pressures to fit in, Milena stopped shaving in July 2017. “My husband knew from the beginning of my hairy problem. I’m fortunate to have a very understanding, empathetic and supportive husband. “He saw how much I suffered and encouraged me to no longer be ashamed of my body and not to bow to social pressure. A post shared by Milena Jonas (@millyswonderlandworld) on Dec 24, 2018 at 11:57am PST “He has often told me how beautiful I am and how proud he is that I am his wife. That helped me a lot. We talked a lot with each other, and he showed me that even with my hair, I’m a fully fledged feminine woman. “He saw how much I was shaving and wondered why I shave when I don’t want to. I thought about it and then left it.” At first, she thought people would think she was unhygienic, dirty and disgusting for not removing her hair but now she shares pictures of her body hair, which she loves, on Instagram and hopes to inspire girls and women to ditch the razors because they are beautiful as they are. “I saw photos from a woman who also suffered from hirsutism and saw that she was open about it,” Milena said. “So I decided to publish my pictures to help other people. At the same time, I began to go out hairy and no longer hide my hair. “It was a process in which I became more and more self-confident. I’ve only received very positive reactions. Many admire my courage. A post shared by Milena Jonas (@millyswonderlandworld) on Dec 3, 2018 at 12:28pm PST “My family and friends have responded very well. Better than I ever would’ve dreamed. There were good discussions about body hair on women, about how advertising always suggests women have to be shaved.” Source: Magazine Features More about instagam\| hair\| body CrocodileSocks I consider myself an honest and friendly man. I have never been married and have no children. I have two kitties and love all animals. For fun I like to go riding on my dirt... Bella303 Ek is n positiewe mens en soek iemand wat n soortgelyke uitkyk op die lewe het. So as jy "suur" is vir die lewe, hou gerus verby. Die lewe is te kort om oor gister of...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2519
__label__cc	0.587199	0.412801	A Class of Their Own, Bethany House, blog tour, Christian, Historical, Jen Turano, Litfuse, review, Romance Lucetta may not be the only one... Playing the Part by Jen Turano (Blog Tour Review) Sunday, April 3, 2016 - Leave a Comment Playing the Part (A Class of Their Own #3) by Jen Turano Christian Historical Romance March 1st 2016 by Bethany House Publishers Can they accept who they are behind the parts they play in time to save the day? Lucetta Plum is an actress on the rise in New York City, but is forced to abandon her starring role when a fan's interest turns threatening. Lucetta's widowed friend, Abigail Hart, is delighted at the opportunity to meddle in Lucetta's life and promptly whisks her away to her grandson's estate to hide out. Bram Haverstein may appear to simply be a somewhat eccentric gentleman of means, but a mysterious career and a secret fascination with a certain actress mean there's much more to him than society knows. Lucetta, who has no interest in Abigail's matchmaking machinations, has the best intentions of remaining cordial but coolly distant to Bram. But when she can't ignore the strange and mysterious things going on in his house, it'll take more than good intentions to keep her from trying to discover who Bram is behind the part he plays. PLAYING THE PART was full of adventure, hilarity, romance, and a touch of inspiration. The characters were so marvelously done in all their quirkiness. The plot was full of surprises and laugh-out-loud moments. The inspirational elements were sweet, believable, and inspiring. A fabulously entertaining and sweet read from beginning to end! These characters were so unique, complex, and hilarious. I loved them all! I loved their depth, inner monologues, dialogue, and so many other things about them, especially in regard to Lucetta and Bram. Lucetta was a different heroine from what you normally find and I thought her delightful. She is full of confidence, wit, and intelligence. Bram was kind of a dashing rogue with a huge heart and some serious intelligence and talent of his own. They were very well matched. Bram's staff and the whole situation was just hilarious! I also loved the way the romantic tension built. There were some serious swoon-worthy moments! I also enjoyed that even though I hadn't read the other stories (I'm sure that I would have liked this one more if I had as the former characters have cameos), I didn't feel lost at all. This worked fine for me as a standalone. This is the first book from this author that I've read, but definitely won't be the last! If you enjoy unique, entertaining, inspiring romances then definitely give this one a try! Content: Some innuendo and mild violence, but clean. Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Litfuse Publicity, which did not affect my review in any way. After a Fashion March 3rd 2015 by Bethany House Publishers Miss Harriet Peabody dreams of the day she can open up a shop selling refashioned gowns to independent working women like herself. Unfortunately, when an errand for her millinery shop job goes sadly awry due to a difficult customer, she finds herself without an income. Mr. Oliver Addleshaw is on the verge of his biggest business deal yet when he learns his potential partner prefers to deal with men who are settled down and wed. When Oliver witnesses his ex not-quite-fiancée causing the hapless Harriet to lose her job, he tries to make it up to her by enlisting her help in making a good impression on his business partner. Harriet quickly finds her love of fashion can't make her fashionable. She'll never truly fit into Oliver's world, with its fancy dinners and elegant balls, but just as she's ready to call off the fake relationship a threat from her past forces both Oliver and Harriet to discover that love can come in the most surprising packages. In Good Company July 7th 2015 by Bethany House Publishers After growing up as an orphan, Millie Longfellow is determined to become the best nanny the East Coast has ever seen. Unfortunately, her playfulness and enthusiasm aren't always well received and she finds herself dismissed from yet another position. Everett Mulberry has quite unexpectedly become guardian to three children that scare off every nanny he hires. About to depart for Newport, Rhode Island, for the summer, he’s desperate for competent childcare. At wit’s end with both Millie and Everett, the employment agency gives them one last chance–with each other. As Millie falls in love with her mischievous charges, Everett focuses on achieving the coveted societal status of the upper echelons. But as he investigates the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the children’s parents, will it take the loss of those he loves to learn whose company he truly wants for the rest of his life? Jen Turano, author of the Ladies of Distinction series and the A Class of Their Own series, is a graduate of the University of Akron. She is a member of ACFW and lives in a suburb of Denver, Colorado. Website│Goodreads│Facebook	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2523
__label__wiki	0.515156	0.515156	Pirates season ends at hands of Wichita State by: Zach Maskavich Posted: Mar 15, 2019 / 08:45 AM UTC / Updated: Mar 15, 2019 / 08:45 AM UTC Markis McDuffie registered 15 points as Wichita State beat East Carolina 73-57 in the American Athletic Conference Tournament first round on Thursday night. McDuffie made 11 of 12 free throws. Jaime Echenique had 14 points and nine rebounds for Wichita State (18-13). Dexter Dennis added 13 points. Asbjorn Midtgaard had 10 points for Wichita State. Jayden Gardner had 16 points for the Pirates (10-21). Shawn Williams added 14 points. Isaac Fleming had 12 points and seven assists. Kinston Post 43 evens Area 1 East Finals by Brian Bailey / Jul 18, 2019 WINTERVILLE (WNCT) - Kinston Post 43 slipped past Pitt County Post 39, 7-5 Wednesday night to even the best-of-five Area 1 East finals at a game apiece. The two teams were scheduled to play game four later Wednesday night, but that game was rained out. Arizona Cardinals player cut after NC arrest warrant by Associated Press / Jul 17, 2019 TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - The Arizona Cardinals released tackle Desmond Harrison on Wednesday after Greensboro, North Carolina Police issued a warrant for his arrest on assault charges. The Greensboro Police Department says the alleged assault was reported on Tuesday. Police spokesman Ron Glenn says the investigation has just begun and no additional details are available, including when the alleged assault occurred. The 25-year-old Harrison, who spent some time at Oak Ridge Military Academy in Oak Ridge, North Carolina, was claimed last month by the Cardinals after he was cut by the Cleveland Browns. Undrafted in 2017 after playing at West Georgia, Harrison also attended Texas, where he was suspended from the team several times. He signed with the Browns and started eight games last season before being benched. Emerald Isle to host fishing tournament in September by Loyd Price / Jul 17, 2019 EMERALD ISLE, NC (WNCT) - The 2019 Emerald Isle Fishing Tournament will take place this September, featuring prizes in three separate fish divisions. The tournament will take place Friday, Sept. 20 through Saturday, Sept. 21, in Emerald Isle.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2524
__label__wiki	0.997039	0.997039	Garin Jenkins Teenage rugby star found dead in River Taff POLICE were last night piecing together the last moments of a teenage rugby star who drowned just yards from the Millennium Stadium. Updated 11:18, 31 MAR 2013 Sean Conneely, 19, was tipped as a future Welsh international. His body was found floating in the River Taff in the shadow of the huge stadium on Thursday. Sean, who played for Aberavon and was on the books of Neath Swansea Ospreys, had been spotted struggling in the water just hours after the end of Wales' World Cup game against Poland on Wednesday night. Today's planned match between Taibach and Aberavon Green Stars has been called off as a mark of respect. The Welsh Premiership game between Carmarthen Quins and Aberavon has also been called off. Neath College student Sean, who was single, was from the Aberavon area of Port Talbot. He formerly played for Taibach whom he joined from Cwmavon RFC. Colin Deere, Taibach's youth coach said yesterday, "This is a terrible tragedy, Sean was a really nice bloke and was extremely popular. "His attitude towards the game was second to none and he had a big future ahead of him in the game." Emergency firecrews used searchlights and thermal imaging cameras to locate Sean after his friends raised the alarm. But he was dead when he was pulled from the water. Police were last night trying to piece together the movements of Sean, who was last seen by friends near the stadium. It is known that earlier in the evening he had watched his Aberavon team playing a Welsh rugby Premier League game at Newport. Aberavon RFC secretary Steve Wharmby, a solicitor with Port Talbot law firm Spender Howe said, "Sean was laughing and joking with us on Wednesday and seemed in fine spirits. "None of us can understand how this could have happened." Hooker Sean was on the books of the regional side The Ospreys. He was not playing at Newport due to injury. He left the match at half-time to have a night out with friends in Cardiff. He was seen to get into difficulties near the Tudor Street Bridge at 1am on Thursday. One of the friends who was with Sean said yesterday, "He didn't go to the international game in Cardiff, but just met up with friends for a night out near the Millennium Stadium. "They split up and when they left Sean seemed to be all right." Sean was recommended to Aberavon from the Ospreys Youth Academy by former Welsh international Garin Jenkins. A club official said, "It is a huge tragedy - we couldn't really believe it when we heard. "Sean was a very promising and enthusiastic young player and certainly had a long career in rugby ahead of him." Police have launched an investigation into how Sean came to be in the river, but do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances. A Cardiff coroner's spokesman said, "We are aware of the death, but it has not been officially reported to us while the police investigate." Aberavon RFC team manager Steve Jones said, "This has come as a real blow to everyone at Aberavon. "Sean had not been with us for long, but he was nice, pleasant young man who worked hard at the game. "He will be sorely missed by the lot of us." Aberavon coach Kevin Hopkins added yesterday, "It is a huge tragedy. "Sean was a promising and enthusiastic young player." Millennium Stadium Port TalbotDog chucked in river in carrier bag weighed down with water bottlesA mum was with her children when she made the shocking discovery Jet2.comJet2 to chase passenger for £85k costs after Turkey-bound flight escorted back to UK by fighter jets'One of the most serious cases of disruptive passenger behaviour that we have experienced' Essential WalesAll the parks in Wales awarded a coveted Green Flag AwardIs your favourite one there? Welsh Rugby UnionA new coaching job for the man who was axed just weeks after saving his club from relegationThere's a Silva lining for former Bridgend boss Matt	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2525
__label__wiki	0.945662	0.945662	Team Kaepernick strikes back at Pence over his support for NFL kneeling ban Kaepernick attorney Mark Geragos: 'Winning!' FILE - In this Monday, Sept. 12, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (35) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara, ... more > By Valerie Richardson - The Washington Times - Thursday, May 24, 2018 Team Kaepernick swung back Thursday after Vice President Mike Pence cheered the NFL’s decision to ban kneeling during the national anthem. Mr. Pence responded to the Wednesday vote at the annual spring meeting by tweeting “#Winning,” prompting free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick to retweet a legal citation posted by his attorney, Mark Geragos, who added, “Winning!” Mr. Geragos posted a section of the federal code from the Legal Information Institute prohibiting federal elected officials, including the president and vice president, from attempting to influence the hiring decisions of private employers on partisan grounds. Winning! https://t.co/qTUh3LJNxR — Mark Geragos (@markgeragos) May 24, 2018 The code states that any “covered government official” may face fines and up to 15 years in prison for acting to “influence, solely on the basis of partisan political affiliation, an employment decision or employment practice of any private entity.” The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback has filed a grievance against the NFL accusing team owners of colluding to keep him out of the league over his high-profile take-a-knee protests during the national anthem in the 2016 regular season. Mr. Pence has long opposed the sideline protests, walking out of an Indianapolis Colts game in October over players who refused to stand for the national anthem. President Trump has fueled fan outrage over the kneelers, suggesting in September that owners fire protesting players. Both are Republicans, although it’s unclear whether their objections to the kneeling are rooted in their “partisan political affiliation,” given that Mr. Kaepernick hasn’t framed his protest as anti-Republican and isn’t known as a member of the Democratic Party or any other political party. Mr. Geragos also tweeted a New York Times op-ed headlined, “The NFL kneels to Trump.” The N.F.L. Kneels to Trump https://t.co/lOEOGmLaDS The owners’ vote to prohibit on-field protests while allowing players to remain in the locker room during the national anthem came with regular-season ratings falling by about 20 percent over the last two years. Under the policy change, the league plans to fine any team whose players or other personnel fail to stand and show respect for the flag and anthem while on the field, and the NFL commissioner may take disciplinary action against individual violators.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2526
__label__wiki	0.832432	0.832432	Bostonomix Stubborn Zoning Boards Tied To Segregation In Boston Area, Report Finds04:22 <iframe width="100%" height="124" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://player.wbur.org/bostonomix/2019/06/26/boston-foundation-home-rule-housing"></iframe> Simón RiosTwitter Newly constructed homes sit near a sign in Natick. (Steven Senne/AP) Segregation. Homelessness. Income inequality. A new Boston Foundation report finds nearly all these things are getting worse in Greater Boston — and, to a large extent, they all trace back to housing. Study author Alicia Sasser Modestino says the state’s practice of giving cities and towns control over how land is developed bears much of the blame. She says this "home rule" tradition allows municipalities to erect barriers to the construction of housing. "I think in New England we have a long tradition of thinking that home rule is a right and not acknowledging that it can sometimes work to the detriment of the greater good," said Sasser Modestino, associate director at Northeastern University's Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy. The report was also done in collaboration with UMass' Donahue Institute and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership. On top of not helping meet a growing demand for housing, Sasser Modestino says some local planning and zoning boards are contributing to segregation by refusing to allow certain kinds of development. "We find very explicitly that communities that built a greater share of multifamily housing per capita saw a decrease in racial segregation," she said. "It’s not just, build more [luxury and single family] housing and we’re gonna address the segregation issue. ... It's really about building different types of housing and affordable housing in those suburban communities. That's going to move the dial." Much of the conversation on affordable housing in Massachusetts revolves around a law known as Chapter 40B. It allows developers to skirt local zoning control in order to build affordable housing — but only until 10% of the community’s housing stock is affordable. The law has had big repercussions in places like Boxborough, northwest of Boston, which has a population of 5,700 and median income of $116,000. Selectman Les Fox says a proposal for a large 40B development in the late 1990s caused residents to worry it would overburden the school system. That drove the town to take a serious look at the need for affordable housing — on its own terms. "The sense was that to do something about affordable housing so that we addressed the housing needs and ... not have this situation happen again, where something is going to happen that we didn't want to happen,” Fox said. The town ended up purchasing the land and the development never happened. What did happen was the formation of the Boxborough Housing Board to oversee the production of affordable housing, as well as other mechanisms aimed at helping low-income residents have a home. Now, according to the Boston Foundation report, Boxborough’s affordable housing output leads the 19 communities that are doing more than their “fair share." (Courtesy of the Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2019) Fox says there’s a general sense in town that residents want to address income inequality by providing a place for people to live — especially the kind that integrates people of different economic strata. "You could be living right next door to somebody whose apartment looks exactly the same as yours but they're paying less rent because that's a deed-restricted unit and [the landlord] runs it for less money," he said. But Boxborough is an outlier. Only 30% of Greater Boston’s cities and towns have reached the 10% threshold for affordable housing that was set in the 40B law, which has been on the books since 1969. Now the Boston Foundation and its partners are calling for a shift away from the home rule order, and for the state to impose less restrictive zoning on local communities. That could include allowing single-family homeowners to build in-law apartments without jumping through hoops, or it could mean requiring municipalities to adopt zoning for multifamily housing. If these changes don’t happen, they argue, it could be impossible to meet the Boston area’s growing demand for housing. Rental Price Burden In Mass. Surpasses New York And D.C., Report Finds Baker Wants To Hike Excise Tax To Fight Climate Change. Others Say It Should Help Housing Crisis Available Affordable Housing Is Down Across The State, Report Finds Simón Rios Twitter Reporter Simón Ríos is an award-winning bilingual reporter in WBUR's newsroom.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2527
__label__wiki	0.707814	0.707814	Kentish Road Respite Centre And Budget Strategy – Southampton City Council Overview & Scrutiny Committee Scrutinises Both By Galyna Mandra on October 25, 2018 News Politics On Thursday 11th October, Southampton City Council Overview & Scrutiny Management Committee (OSMC) held an official meeting to scrutinise an update on Kentish Road respite centre and the Council’s mid-term financial strategy. Credit: Galyna Mandra It was attended by members of the OSMC: Councillors (Cllrs.) Steve Galton (Vice-Chair of OSMC), Daniel Fitzhenry (Leader of the Opposition), David Furnell, Tom Bell, Toqeer Kataria, and Ivan White. Other participants included Cabinet Member for Adult Care Councillor Lorna Fielker and Cabinet Member for Finance and Customer Experience Councillor Mark Chaloner. Kentish Road respite centre campaigners Lisa Stead and Amanda Guest were also present and took an active part early in the meeting. The event was fully open to the public to attend. The meeting programme was outlined in advance in the Public Document Pack. Details of the financial strategy are found in a public Cabinet Report. Update on Kentish Road Respite Centre The meeting opened to review an update of the Kentish Road respite centre, a department of social services offering medical assistance for Southampton citizens with serious health implications and disability-related needs. Kentish Road is situated 15 minutes walk from the southernmost tip of Southampton Common, close to the A3057. The decision made at a Southampton City Council cabinet meeting over a year ago to axe this service had generated controversy. Disagreements primarily arose about exactly whether the facility should be kept open. The most proactive and successful opposition campaigns were run by activists Lisa Stead and Amanda Guest. Their longstanding efforts are to prevent the centre from closing led the Council to reconsider and amend its decision. At an assembly, in April 2018 the Council cabinet officially confirmed the re-opening of Kentish Road with the aim of further provision of a high-standard care for those with special educational needs. However, the centre’s now only available on weekends and in urgent circumstances. The central argument expressed by Lisa Stead and Amanda Guest at the meeting was that Kentish Road, indeed, remains underused, while most of its former users are unable to return (although willing) and feel constraint for the weekend use. Henceforth, campaigners are calling to open the respite centre full time as they believe this will solve the underuse of the facility by reversing these constraints. Firstly, Amanda Guest questioned whether it was a budget deficit-related issue that’s led the Council to be unable to keep the centre open 24/7. However, the response she received was that the actual reason why the centre is now only available on weekends is the demand for its services isn’t that significant. It was then stressed that, if after consulting with centre users the City Council found that demand was sufficiently high, corresponding measures would take place. After Cllr Fitzhenry had asked what was going to happen to Kentish Road in the future, he also asserted that now’s the right time to act on council expertise on what to do or be open to public consultations. He also added: We must recommend that we open this [Kentish Rd Respite Centre] 24/7. Amanda Guest went further, stating that from the beginning it wasn’t the public who made the choice to close down Kentish Road. Reacting to this claim, Cllr Fielker again emphasised that currently, it’s impossible to pre-judge objectively whether the respite centre will be actually needed 7 days a week, before adding: I think it would be great to open it seven days a week. But at this moment in time, we have not committed to that, but it is an option on the table. Cllr Galton (Vice-Chair) suggested that it’s a positive thing that Kentish Road offers multiple services as long as all of them are particularly aimed at learning disabilities. Another subject raised regarding this discussion covered the efficiency of current research methods, with concerns expressed about the latest research data’s credibility. Developing this idea, Amanda Guest proposed the City Council attract external university experts to review statistics. Three recommendations have been made by Mark Pirnie, Scrutiny Manager, for the OSMC as part of scrutiny at the end of this discussion were: Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Councillor Fielker, needs to investigate the actual demand and occupancy rates of the Kentish Road respite service by re-assessing the credibility of the data from previous studies. Besides, alternative research methods need to be explored. An instant re-opening of the Kentish Road respite service 24/7 will be taken into consideration, while the cabinet member will try to find another long-term solution. Allow carers to obtain/purchase services of the Council-run site, such as at Kentish Road, through direct transactions. Medium Term Financial Strategy Update, aka. the Council Budget The meeting then turned to the Medium Term Financial Strategy Update presented by Cabinet Member of Finance and Customer Experience Cllr Chaloner and Mel Creighton. The main objective was to analyse how the budget will be stabilised given that £6.32mn has already been overspent in the 2018/19 financial year cycle. This led to lively cross-party councillor debate with Cllr Challoner asserting that central government isn’t treating local authorities fairly, to which Conservative Cllr Fitzhenry replied: Your budget statement was the Government took all my toys and now I got to make do! When asked about potential savings such as property rationalisation and disposal savings from Cllr Bell, Cllr Chaloner responded that ‘property rationalisation & disposal savings could have reached £2.25m but failed as property structure is not suitable for this’. Later, Chaloner was asked to explain how the previous £6.32m overspend would be balanced, responding that ‘each overspend has its own plan to balance it’. Finally, it was recommended that the Department of Finance and Customer Experience and Cllr Challoner should prepare and submit for the committee’s review a more detailed summary of contract savings of £245,000 from 2019/2020 proposed. It was also recommended that proposals to potentially shut down Glen Lee and Holcroft House Care Homes need to be temporarily postponed, as the committee required further evidence, including relevant figures on the occupancy rates of these homes. Southampton City Council Cabinet Reshuffle Southampton City Council AI Scrutiny Panel: How AI, Robots and Technology Will Transform Southampton’s Employment By 2030 Southampton City Council approves “biggest budget cuts in its history” Your Guide to Southampton City Council New Arts Complex in Southampton City Centre Underway Tags: AusterityBUDGETbudget proposalsCity CouncilKentish Roadlocal governmentMedium Term Financial Strategy UpdateOSMCoverspendingPoliticspublicScrutinysocietySouthamptonUK Galyna Mandra	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2533
__label__cc	0.674134	0.325866	Credit: Mary McGuinness Rape Culture: Why Should We Compromise Our Freedom? By Charlotte Colombo on June 30, 2018 Opinion In society’s eyes, I’m nothing more than a ‘target’. I’m short, I can’t really defend myself and sometimes, I even have the audacity to go out in a low-cut top. I dare to get lost in thought when I go outside rather than being constantly hyper-vigilant in case of potential attackers. Worst of all, I’m a woman. Parents, loved ones, and friends all emphasize that due to these factors, I can’t do everything that I want to do. While my brother was able to go out for a drive at 11 pm without batting an eyelid, I would be told from every angle that going out once the sun sets was akin to a death sentence. Who am I, Cinderella? Don’t get me wrong, basic safety is important – especially if you’re living in a city like Southampton. Southampton is a place that’s infamous for its sexual assault problem, and reported ones barely scratch the surface of the very dark and disturbing rape culture. Assuming that attackers only go for a certain type of person reinforces victim-blaming There’s obviously an extent, and there’s a difference between being free and being reckless. Planning things like how you’re getting home from a night out in advance is useful advice, but this is something that should be emphasised no matter what your gender, age or build may be. However, how is it fair for my life as a woman to be limited based on other people being a potential threat? The looming shadow of danger runs my life by dictating where I can and cannot go, at what times, and who with. How is that in any way fair? It also puts these attackers in a position of power, which is the worst possible approach you can take. If you’re telling these potential attackers that they have all the power, do you think that will put them off? If anything, you’re encouraging them. You should be diminishing their importance and empowering survivors. Credit: Chase Carter [CC BY-ND 2.0], via Flickr Additionally, assuming that attackers only go for a certain type of person reinforces a victim-blaming attitude. It implies that a girl going for a walk alone at dusk should, in a sense, be expected to get attacked. You’d feel sorry for that girl for getting attacked, but it would be suggested that by daring to go out after dark she knowingly put herself in danger. Again, completely unhelpful and counter-productive. This profiling of the potential victim is also unhelpful towards those who don’t meet this criterion. It can make men who experience sexual assault feel somewhat invalidated as if their experiences don’t ‘count’ as assault and, in turn, suggests that they don’t deserve the same level of support and resources as women who experience assault do. Also, assuming that the attacker is going to be some hooded figure who only acts in the dead of night has limited usefulness: many rapists are known to the victims and act in broad daylight. Consequently, acting solely on the assumption that there’s only one type of rapist means that only one type of the issue is addressed. So, what now? How can we solve problems like limited freedom, sexism, victim-blaming and stereotyping in relation to sexual assault? The very simple solution is to educate, but not in the current one-sided way we do. Rather than telling people to avoid living their lives in fear of attack, it’s fairer and more productive to enforce the importance of not attacking. Our focus on victim-blaming and profiling is misplaced: the attention needs to be on teaching people not to rape in the first place. FemSoc Stage Sleep-Out to Raise Money for Southampton Rape Crisis What Women Want: Some Preposterous Republican Statements on Rape Rape Culture Doesn’t Have An Easy Solution Rape Culture: Summed Up by Somebody Who Actually Has a Decent Insight into the Matter The Rise of ‘Rape Culture’ at University Tags: rapeRape CultureSexual Assaultvictim blaming Charlotte Colombo Wessex Scene Editor // meme queen // fan of chocolate digestives // @colombochar on Twitter.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2534
__label__cc	0.511341	0.488659	About Engagement Internship and Docent Programmes M+ Pavilion Other Screendance School Programme The Screendance School Programme connects artists and secondary school students to explore the synergy of dance and cinematography through talks and interactive workshops M+ / Design Trust Research Fellowship The M+ / Design Trust Research Fellowship programme supports original research projects investigating issues relating to design and architecture in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and Asia through a transnational lens Hong Kong Flower Show 2019 – West Kowloon Cultural District 15.03.2019 to 24.03.2019, Victoria Park, Hong Kong West Kowloon is staging a landscaped garden at this year’s Hong Kong Flower Show, taking inspiration from the Chinese hibiscus – the theme flower of this year’s event – and our upcoming venue, Freespace, in the West Kowloon Art Park. Join us at Victoria Park to explore a picture-perfect floral display West Kowloon Young Fellows Scheme (Performing Arts) 2019 The West Kowloon Young Fellows Scheme supports young and aspiring talents to develop arts learning, public participation, community engagement and audience building projects that expand and contribute to the performing arts ecology in Hong Kong Contributing to an Open Society through Digitised Museum Collections TALK SERIES Contributing to an Open Society through Digitised Museum Collections 15.02.2019, Hotel Stage In this talk, the speaker discusses efforts to embrace the digital era’s potential to improve access to museum collections for creative reuse and public engagement Visitors Making Meaning – Constructivist Learning in Museums TALK SERIES Visitors Making Meaning – Constructivist Learning in Museums In this session, the speaker introduces the idea of constructivist pedagogy and how it can be applied in museums to the creation of all kinds of interpretation materials West Kowloon at Hong Kong Trade Development Council Education and Careers Expo 24.01.2019 to 27.01.2019, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Visit our booth to find out more about our latest developments and career opportunities. We will also be conducting on-site interviews during the fair. Register now Creation for Freespace: Dramaturgy and Beyond Through a range of public round-table discussions, small group practicum sessions and workshops, “Dramaturgy and Beyond” will delve into the discourse in and around the practice of dramaturgy and the tools that are useful to the creation of dance and theatre within the contemporary context Chinese Culture – A series of four talks West Kowloon 101 Chinese Culture – A series of four talks What is the relationship between modern society and these time-honoured art forms? In this series of talks, speakers from specialist fields will take you on a journey of discovery that reveals the beauty and history behind specific arts for your appreciation Arts and Cultural Management – A series of five talks West Kowloon 101 Arts and Cultural Management – A series of five talks In this series of talks, local practitioners offer insight into the different areas of work involved in running cultural organisations and explore the qualifications and passion required for a career in the arts and culture field Building Louvre Abu Dhabi 07.12.2018, Asia Society Hong Kong Center In this M+ Matters \| Keynote talk, Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi and a key figure in the development of the project, discusses this twenty-first-century encyclopedic museum as ‘a museum of experimentation, and a museum of meeting points’ Negotiating Access and Preservation in the Contemporary Museum In this talk, the speaker examines the relationship between the notions of access and preservation in museums The Stories Behind the Xiqu Centre West Kowloon 101 The Stories Behind the Xiqu Centre In this talk, West Kowloon’s Executive Director of Performing Arts Louis Yu offers insight into the design and venue positioning of the Xiqu Centre, looking at the venue’s unusual use of space and its relationship with local Cantonese opera communities The Music of Cantonese Opera West Kowloon 101 The Music of Cantonese Opera 20.11.2018, H6 CONET This talk explores the wide range of musical elements used in Cantonese opera, looking at the different vocal styles used for male and female roles, and the use of percussive instruments and rhythmic melodies to enhance mood and narrative Face Painting and Costumes of Cantonese Opera West Kowloon 101 Face Painting and Costumes of Cantonese Opera 13.11.2018, D2 Place ONE This talk looks at the face painting and dressing processes used in contemporary Cantonese opera, and at the ways in which costumes contribute to the portrayal of different characters The Design of the Tea House Theatre West Kowloon 101 The Design of the Tea House Theatre 08.11.2018, CityU SCOPE Admiralty Learning Centre In this talk, West Kowloon’s Head of Xiqu, Naomi Chung, offers insight into the positioning and operation of the Tea House Theatre, looking at how the venue offers visitors an intimate experience with the productions and how programmes are curated with first-time audiences in mind SHOWTIME! Launching West Kowloon’s Artistic Strategy for Performing Arts West Kowloon 101 SHOWTIME! Launching West Kowloon’s Artistic Strategy for Performing Arts In this free talk, Alison M Friedman, West Kowloon’s Artistic Director, Performing Arts shares the vision and plans for the district’s upcoming performing arts venues, the Xiqu Centre, Freespace and the Art Park, and looks at some of the projects lined up for the future The Stage Movements of Cantonese Opera West Kowloon 101 The Stage Movements of Cantonese Opera This talk looks at how acting, martial arts and dance are combined in Cantonese opera stage movement to create patterns of formulaic gesture that help define character and contribute to the unfolding of plot Behind the Design of the Xiqu Centre West Kowloon 101 Behind the Design of the Xiqu Centre 18.10.2018, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Dialogue \| Cantonese Opera West Kowloon 101 Dialogue \| Cantonese Opera 18.09.2018, Campfire – Wong Chuk Hang Cantonese opera plays an important role in the lives of people in Hong Kong. This talk explores its transition from the use of Mandarin to the Cantonese vernacular, demonstrating vocal styles and techniques and offering a deeper understanding of the aesthetic features of the art form Dialogue \| Gender Fluidity in Traditional Indonesian Dance West Kowloon 101 Dialogue \| Gender Fluidity in Traditional Indonesian Dance 06.09.2018, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Looking at gender fluidity in traditional Indonesian dance forms and the recognition of multiple genders in Indonesian cultural practices, dance artist Rianto, shares how his training and cultural background have helped him develop a unique dance vocabulary that embodies gender fluidity “What Is Stage” Public Seminar Two: Jan Pappelbaum’s Aesthetics of Scenography 10.08.2018, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre To wrap up this year’s “What Is Stage: From Text To Space” series on the work of Jan Pappelbaum, Head of Stage Design at the Schaubühne Berlin, we are delighted to welcome Pappelbaum to join us in Hong Kong to share his experience in an in-depth public seminar What Is Stage: From Text to Space Taking the theme “From Text to Space”, this year’s programme looks at the scenographic aesthetics of Jan Pappelbaum, head of Stage Design of Schaubühne Berlin. Register now Envisioning the Museum in the Age of Participation The talk invites the audience to consider the roles a museum plays in society, as well as the forms of participation that can both emerge from and shape a contemporary museum of visual culture Cantonese Opera 101 - Music This talk explores the musical elements of Cantonese opera, including vocal styles used by actors playing male and female roles, “melo-rhythmic” vocal forms and programmatic tunes, and more Life Planning Programme: Arts Industry Exploration Through a series of activities including dialogue with artists, visits to arts education organisations or community arts groups and participation in programmes of the West Kowloon, students will be actively engaged in discussion with artists and cultural workers in different disciplines Post-1949 Visual and Material Culture in China The talk considers critical issues in the first decades of the socialist state in China through a multidisciplinary lens, examining design and visual art M+ Rover 2018 M+ Rover is a major school and community outreach programme first organised by M+ in 2016. The customised trailer is a travelling creative studio and exhibition space that tours to local secondary schools and community spaces 101 Dialogue on Cantonese Opera In this talk, Pui Yan will share anecdotes and challenges in her career. In addition, she will introduce the costumes and make-up styles of sheng (male role) and dan, as well as singing styles and performing techniques used in Cantonese Opera. Participants may have the invaluable opportunities of trying on costumes Arts and Cultural Management 101 - Managing Customers in Cultural Venues This talk invites practitioners to share their experience and to explore the qualities, passions and the skillsets required for a career in the arts and culture field Kunqu 201 12.06.2018, HKU SPACE Po Leung Kuk Stanley Ho Community College This talk introduces the historical development of kunqu through music, videos, images and historical documents, exploring the literature, music and performing methods of the art form and offering a contemporary picture of its development 101 Dialogue on Nanyin 09.06.2018, Campfire - Kennedy Town In this talk, local musical group The Gong Strikes One guides audiences in appreciating the Nanyin recordings of Dou Wun and contemporary artistes, gives demonstrations of the art form and introduces some key musical terms to the participants. We hope that the participants gain holistic understanding of Nanyin, its lyrics and music Public Lecture on the Palace Museum in the Global Cultural Context 27.05.2018, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University With the theme “The Palace Museum in the Global Cultural Context”, Dr Shan Jixiang, Director of the Palace Museum, will share his insight of promoting and developing traditional Chinese culture alongside the global outlook Producers’ Network Meeting & Forum 2018 PNMF brings together performing arts producers for four days of Closed-door Meeting and a public forum on promoting innovation in programme planning, venue operation, audience development and cross-disciplinary collaboration Samson Young: Songs for Disaster Relief World Tour 09.02.2018 to 06.05.2018, M+ Pavilion, West Kowloon Conceived originally for the 57th Venice Biennale, the Hong Kong edition of the Songs for Disaster Relief exhibition by multidisciplinary artist Samson Young re-examines the concept of charity singles and offers a unique audiovisual experience through a series of sculptures, objects, videos, sound installations and site-specific pieces Interpretation – Between Audiences and Meaning In this session, the speaker will start with the definition of interpretation, followed by an introduction to recent research and case studies demonstrating the importance of interpretation in creating an engaging and creative learning experience, underpinned by relevance, connection and communication Theatre 101: Applied Theatre – Connecting the Arts to Life and Society This talk introduces a range of applied theatre projects from Hong Kong and overseas, exploring the nature and purpose of applied theatre, the ways in which practitioners adopt contemporary aesthetic concepts, and how the relationship between performers and audience changes across practices Creation for Freespace: Choreographer & Composer Lab 09.04.2018 to 24.04.2018, Hong Kong Cultural Centre During a 2-week trial-out lab, participating artists work in assigned pairs of one independent composer and one choreographer from Hong Kong Ballet - Mike Yip and Yuh Egami, Olivier Cong and Ricky Hu Song-wei and Tsui Chin-hung and Li Jiabo. On April 24, an informal works-in-process was showcased at the Ballet PLUS+ Salon Series. The new works will be developed and staged in September as part of Hong Kong Ballet’s “Hong Kong Cool” production Cantonese Opera 101 This talk explores how Cantonese opera has transitioned from the use of Mandarin and traditional vocal techniques to the use of the Cantonese vernacular. Demonstrating vocal styles and techniques, the speaker offers a deeper understanding of the aesthetic features of Cantonese opera Visual Thinking Strategies: From Sharing Information to Sharing Ways of Thinking 13.04.2018 to 14.04.2018, Hotel Stage In this session, the speaker will draw on the concepts and methodologies of VTS and look at how the approach has been used with primary and secondary school students and adults across various disciplines, stressing on the importance of thinking, listening, observing and communicating when interpreting exhibits M+ at Art Basel Hong Kong 2018 Learn more about M+ at our specially designed M+ booth at Art Basel Hong Kong. The booth offers information about the museum building and programmes, and visitors will have the chance to meet and engage with M+ curators and conservators. Art Basel entry ticket not required Wikipedia Edit-a-thon on Women in Art Asia Art Archive in collaboration with M+, West Kowloon Cultural District, presents a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon on women in art in Asia on 30 March 2018. Join us on 24 February 2018 for a tutorial to learn about wiki-editing! Free and open to public with registration WKCD at Your Hand’s Reach Taking talented young singers around the city to bring world-class a cappella performances to local neighbourhoods, the project will introduce the West Kowloon and its programmes to the community, adding a cultural flavor to everyone’s daily life Arts and Cultural Management 201 – Performing Arts at West Kowloon: Towards a Model of Learning and Audience Building This talk introduces the new venues of West Kowloon Cultural District, explores questions related audience building, and looks at the goals of the West Kowloon Learning and Participation team and the core public programmes being devised for the opening of these venues Cantonese Opera and Hong Kong Culture 101 This talk takes an in-depth look at the ways in which Cantonese opera and Cantonese operatic song have shaped Hong Kong culture, exploring their influence on the local vernacular, education and performing arts Arts and Cultural Management 101 The talks invite local practitioners to share their experience and explore the qualities required for a career in the arts and culture field Opening up the Museum to All – On Accessibility Awareness By introducing concepts and ideas about equality for people with different abilities, the speaker will illustrate MoMA’s approach to accessibility and also discuss the development and outcomes of their Access Programs in order to demonstrate how such initiatives benefit both the museum and its audience Creation for Freespace: Dance in Alternative Space Independent artist Xavier Le Roy from France and Hong Kong dance artist Scarlet Yu lead two professional workshops and a public talk exploring different aspects of dance work, contemporary performance and live action in public spaces The Foundations of Performance 16.01.2018 to 03.02.2018, Ko Shan Theatre/BRICK LANE Through a series of workshops and conversations, the Foundations of Performance designed to bring together artists from different fields to exchange experience and inspiration Hong Kong Young Architects & Designers Competition 2017 A new competition open to Hong Kong designers and architects in the early stage of their careers, to design an iconic Temporary Pavilion in the Nursery Park. We are delighted to announce the winning design is Growing Up by New Office Works Cantonese Opera Face Painting and Costumes 101 16.01.2018, HKU SPACE - Admiralty Learning Centre The Weight of Lightness: Ink Art at M+ Featuring work by more than forty artists from across Asia and beyond, The Weight of Lightness: Ink Art looks at the diverse explorations that have taken place over the past sixty years Rethinking Pei: A Centenary Symposium 14.12.2017 to 15.12.2017, The University of Hong Kong This symposium seeks to reexamine Pei in the context of the architect’s 100th birthday year. The event aims to resituate the architect from the intersecting vantage points of the two regional poles with which he’s most closely linked—Hong Kong/China and Boston/the United States Studying the Experience of Museum Visitors in Hong Kong In this session, we examine concepts by scholars in the field of museum visitor studies, and introduce different types of museum visitors in Hong Kong, as summarised in the speaker’s field research Miracle of The Benesse Art Site Naoshima 08.12.2017, The University of Hong Kong Soichiro Fukutake and Akiko Miki of the Benesse Art Site Naoshima and celebrated architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA discuss the transformative effect of a project combining contemporary art, architecture and landscape REORIENT: Conversations on South and Southeast Asia 30.11.2017 to 02.12.2017, Asia Society Hong Kong Center REORIENT is a three-day event designed as a platform to explore views across geographies (from Bangalore to Bangladesh, Yogyakarta to Ho Chi Minh City), disciplines (from visual art, design and architecture, and moving image) and initiatives (from bottom-up to institutionally-driven practices) Cultural Hong Kong – an exhibition about West Kowloon Cultural District 20.06.2017 to 30.11.2017, City Gallery, Central Cultural Hong Kong, the first detailed exhibition on the West Kowloon since the public engagement exercise in 2011, presents architectural models of M+, the Xiqu Centre, the Lyric Theatre Complex and the proposed Palace Museum, a Virtual Reality tour of the Xiqu Centre, an interactive guide to the district’s infrastructure, accessibility and connectivity, as well as information on cultural programmes Experiments in Museum Learning Riding on M+’s core beliefs about learning, this session introduces a variety of experimental art projects and exhibitions that focus on educational models and pedagogical practices, thereby exploring how curating and creative approaches can bring forth new ideas and possibilities to a museum’s learning programme Freespace Tech Lab 2017 “Freespace Tech Lab”, a newly launched 3-year collaboration project between Zuni Icosahedron and West Kowloon, explores state-of-the-art stage technologies and looks at some of the many possibilities of black box theatre through showcases, exchange and training Roles of a Museum in the 21st Century This session looks at how the role of museums has evolved from their conventional counterparts, and how they in turn reflect and inform various aspects of contemporary society ‘We Are One?’ Screenings & Conversations 16.10.2017 to 23.10.2017, Hong Kong Arts Centre Cinema To accompany Hong Kong’s collateral event at the Venice Biennale 2017, Samson Young: Songs for Disaster Relief, M+ and the Hong Kong Arts Centre are co-presenting a programme of film screenings and conversations on the theme of charity efforts Arts and Cultural Management 101 (September to October 2017) With the development of arts and culture in Hong Kong there is an increased need for talent in the areas of cultural management and art administration. Arts and Cultural Management 101 invites local practitioners to share their experience and explore the qualities required for a career in the arts and culture field 2017 Cultural Leadership Summit: Building Our Future Audience 26.09.2017 to 27.09.2017, The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts Hong Kong Arts Administrators Association’s 2017 Cultural Leadership Summit, an important annual cultural event, which is into its 8th edition this year with the theme of “Building Our Future Audience”, will be held at Amphitheatre of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts from 26th to 27th September of 2017 Canton Express Canton Express is the new iteration of the Canton Express project that was part of the exhibition Zone of Urgency curated by Hou Hanru for the 2003 Venice Biennale What Is Stage: Dynamics of Seeing The language of the stage is more than just the script and plot. The structure of a theatrical space, the props and set design, the costumes and lighting, all add to the theatrical imagery, transcending the text and creating a rich aesthetic experience for the audience Between Past and Future: Art of the Pearl River Delta This edition of M+ Matters will survey the circumstances and evolution of curatorial strategies and art research in the region from the late 1990s to the present M+ Summer Camp 2017: Nerve M+ Summer Camp is a youth-targeted initiative organised by M+. Over the past two summers, the camps have each attracted one hundred students from different schools and backgrounds but with the same interests and passions Cantonese Opera 101 – Xiaoqu (folk music) 26.07.2017, HKU SPACE International College - United Learning Centre In this talk, the speaker Paris Wong looks at different types of xiaoqu to show the flexibility of Cantonese opera and how the art form incorporates elements of pop songs from different eras and theme songs from Hong Kong movies Seminar on Theatertreffen 2017 21.07.2017 to 22.07.2017, Hong Kong Arts Centre The seminar is a presentation of the productions chosen for the Theatertreffen based on film clips. In July, West Kowloon collaborates with Goethe-Institut Hong Kong to host Seminar on Theatertreffen 2017 Public Forum: Sensory Art 05.07.2017, Spring Workshop Award-winning experimental sound designer and composer Darrin Verhagen shares his understanding of how sound interacts with other senses, and how composers and sound designers play a manipulative role in shaping perceptual and emotional responses to multisensory artworks M+ Rover: Travelling Creative Studio is the first major free school outreach programme organised annually by M+. The 8 metre-long tailor-made trailer is a pop-up creative studio that will tour to secondary schools and community spaces during the academic year from February to June 2017 Hong Kong Production Ecology: “Simon Says” – A Case Study 03.06.2017, Hong Kong Cultural Centre In this talk, Louis Yu and Anna CY Chan (Performing Arts, West Kowloon), Ong Yong Lock (Unlock Dancing Plaza), Emmanuelle Vo-Dinh (Le Phare, National Choreographic Center of Le Havre Normandy), editor and critic Daisy Chu, and professionals from the local performing arts scene share their thoughts on producing high quality new dance work Ambiguously Yours: Gender in Hong Kong Popular Culture Ambiguously Yours: Gender in Hong Kong Popular Culture offers new insights into Hong Kong popular culture through representations of androgyny and gender fluidity in Cantopop, fashion, film, photography, and graphic design The Producers’ Network Meeting and Forum brings together producers, mainly from the Chinese speaking region, to explore the effects on the arts ecosystem, the change and development in the role of producers, and the continued development of artistic content and audiences Shifting Objectives: Design from the M+ Collection M+’s debut design exhibition – Shifting Objectives: Design from the M+ Collection – explores the many concepts and frameworks that have shaped and broadened our understanding of design Special Lectures: The Making of Millennium Park 02.12.2016, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Join us on 2 December as West Kowloon and the Hong Kong Design Centre co-present Special Lectures: The Making of Millennium Park at this year’s Business of Design Week (BODW) M+ Summer Camp 2016 31.07.2016 to 03.08.2016, Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Jockey Club Sai Kung Outdoor Training Camp M+ Summer Camp is one of M+’s youth-targeted initiatives. We invite practitioners of visual art, design, architecture, illustration, film, writing, and performing arts to create programmes to engage young people Copies without Borders: Imitation as Innovation 14.04.2016, Atelier Clerici, Milan, Italy As part of the programme at Atelier Clerici, the leading hub of critical thinking during the annual Salone del Mobile in Milan, Copies without Borders: Imitation as Innovation brings M+ and its M+ Matters format to an international stage, enriching the global discourse about copying as a methodology in contemporary design practice International Workshop Festival of Theatre: Public Lecture on Autoteatro Join Ant for a public lecture on ‘autotheatre workshop’, where he will share how his works embrace and incorporate an untrained public, and his experience of presenting works in cities around the world International Workshop Festival of Theatre: Workshopping Automatic Workshop 09.11.2015 to 13.11.2015, Plato In this workshop, Hampton and Meierhans will collaborate with young theatre makers on the development of an 'Automatic Workshop' – one led entirely by automatic text, recorded audio and visual media International Workshop Festival of Theatre: Public Lecture on Real Time Performance Jan Fabre is well known internationally as one of the most innovative and versatile artists of the day. Over the past 30 years, he has produced works as a theatre maker, author and visual artist International Workshop Festival of Theatre: Workshop on Real Time Performance 02.11.2015 to 06.11.2015, Ko Shan Theatre New Wing In the workshop led by Ivana Jozic and Kasper Vandenberghe, two experienced performers of his teaching group, participants' body becomes an instrument that examines the transition from act to acting International Workshop Festival of Theatre: Public Lecture on Theatre of the Senses Hear from Enrique Vargas, a Colombian dramaturgist and anthropologist and Artistic director of Teatro de los Sentidos as he shares his knowledge on the research and creation of sensorial theatre International Workshop Festival of Theatre: Public Lecture on Writing Movement, Text & Dance International touring company Winter Guests are renowned for telling contemporary stories with words, video, music and movement. Their works are often based on real life experiences and use original text, transcribed recordings and improvisations International Workshop Festival of Theatre: Workshop on Theatre of the Senses For the past 20 years, Barcelona based theatre ensemble, Teatro de los Sentidos (“Theatre of Senses”), have been creating innovative works that open the boundaries between theatre and audience using experimental methods of corporeal and sensorial communication International Workshop Festival of Theatre: Workshop on Writing Movement, Text & Dance Join Alan Lucien Øyen, writer, choreographer, director and founder of Winter Guests from Norway, for a 5-day workshop that explores different ways of working with stories that both originate from the real world, as well as creating fictional stories in direct dialogue with surrounding realities. International Workshop Festival of Theatre: Workshop on Dramaturgy — Masterclass on Contemporary Theatre 25.10.2015, Videotage In this four-hour intensive workshop, participants will engage in discussion and exercises in relation to a theme suggested by dramaturg Professor Christoph Lepschy, and bring along one idea and related materials to work on a proposal within the Hong Kong context International Workshop Festival of Theatre: Public Lecture on Creating a Critical Dialogue with Society 24.10.2015, California Tower How does theatre work reads and unveils social reality? Hear from Indonesian director Yudi Ahmad Tajudin the latest trends in the Indonesian theatre scene and his approach of dealing with social reality in theatre International Workshop Festival of Theatre: Workshop on Creating a Critical Dialogue with Society 19.10.2015 to 23.10.2015, Alice Theatre Laboratory Known for their adventurous spirit and groundbreaking works in stimulating performing arts in South East Asia, Indonesian performance collective Teater Garasi and Garasi Performance Institute have been working for more than a decade with a belief in performing arts as a way to process and produce knowledge and to dialectically involve with the social political environment International Workshop Festival of Theatre: Public Lecture on Dramaturgy — Masterclass on Contemporary Theatre 22.10.2015, On & On Cattle Depot Theatre With examples from contemporary European theatres and theatrical forms familiar to the Hong Kong audience, Professor Christoph Lepschy will share his experience on dramaturgical practices International Workshop Festival of Theatre: Public Lecture on Playwright - Jon Fosse 10.10.2015, Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse is one of the most important contemporary playwrights of our times. Considered as a universe unto himself that stretches from his home, the Norwegian Vestlandet to embrace Asia, South America, Eastern Europe and other corners of the world International Workshop Festival of Theatre: Workshop on Playwright - Jon Fosse 05.10.2015 to 10.10.2015, Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building In this 6-day workshop led by Norwegian dramaturg Hege Randi Torrensen, participants will embark on a journey to the Fosse's world, read behind the text and explore the relationship between reality and illusion Dance Video Lab - Short Film Selections from ‘New Work Forum: Screendance’ and ‘Experimental Film Virginia’ 13.08.2015, Hong Kong Film Archive In order to explore how dance and body movements are transformed from the scene to the screen, City Contemporary Dance Company and West Kowloon Cultural District Authority co-present the ‘New Works Forum: Screendance’ Workshop in July 2015, inviting artists from the Mainland, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong and Singapore to join the two-week Workshop for shooting dance video clips International Workshop Festival of Theatre: Workshop on Documentary Theatre 07.08.2015 to 08.08.2015, Videotage Join Stefan Kaegi, director of Rimini Protokoll for a workshop that explores theatre projects with non-professional actors in the real world. Using research, public auditions and conceptual processes, leading European avant-garde theatre collective Rimini Protokoll has brought its ‘theatre of expert’ to the stage, giving voice to ‘experts’ who are not trained actors but have something to tell International Workshop Festival of Theatre: Public Lecture on Documentary Theatre 06.08.2015, Hong Kong Arts Centre As part of the International Workshop Festival of Theatre, West Kowloon is teaming with leading performing arts groups from Hong Kong and overseas to deliver a series of lectures for the public to learn about contemporary performances and their creative process Introductory Screendance Workshop 02.08.2015, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Project Site Office Designed for artists from various disciplines, participants in this workshop will experience movement for and with the camera, as Healey shares her experience in creating the transformative and illuminating theatrical language that transcends performance space, revealing subtle layers of movement and perception on screen through exercise, discussion, sharing and practice DETAIL APPLY Building M+: The Museum and Architecture Collection 10.01.2014 to 09.02.2014, ArtisTree The first M+ architecture exhibition showcasing the future M+ building winning design & the museum's growing architecture collection Building M+ Talk: Collecting Architecture: Process, Challenges and Effects 25.01.2014, ArtisTree Inviting architects, and specialists from research institutions and universities, this talk and panel discussion aims to look at the challenges and implications of building an architecture collection Building M+ Talk: Jacques Herzog, Herzog & de Meuron, M+ Building Architect 09.01.2014, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Building Jacques Herzog talks about Herzog & de Meuron’s practice, approach and winning proposal for M+ "By ALL Means: The Sign Must Go On" Workshop 15.11.2013, WKCDA Office Co-presented by WKCDA & HKAAA, Mr. Kevin Dyels will conduct an accessibility workshop for administrators & venue operators who are interested in theatrical production and venue operation serving individuals with hearing impairment. 2013 Cultural Leadership Summit 27.05.2013 to 29.05.2013, Multiple Venues Co-presented by WKCDA and HKAAA, the Summit invites international, regional & local cultural leaders to come together & examine how the concept of entrepreneurship can be applied in successful organisations. Capacity Building for Inclusive Arts Programmes 26.03.2013 to 28.03.2013, WKCDA Office A talk and workshop co-presented by WKCDA , British Council and HKAAA, Ms Jo Verrent shares her experience in capacity building for inclusive arts programmes Co-presented by WKCDA and HKAAA, the 2012 Cultural Leadership Summit focuses on various aspects to successful creative organisations.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2535
__label__wiki	0.611907	0.611907	Theatre for under 5s in Suffolk Written by MiriamSpall on Thursday, February 25, 2016 - 19:59 Orion And The Dark STORYMAKER LITTLE STORY The Mighty Prince and Other Fabulous Fables Theatre for under 5s is specifically designed for little ones. It often involves singing, dancing, magic, balloon modelling and much more! We have put together the top upcoming shows for you. If you are looking for more family shows, check our Suffolk Kids calendar here New Wolsey Studio, Ipswich Mar 12 - 11:00, Mar 12 - 14:00 Presented by Open Sky. Two performers, five stories and a host of bugs, birds, animals and magical creatures! Open Sky bring to life two thousand year old stories using a happy mix of rhyme, movement, live music, song and puppetry. Monkey tests Buffalo’s patience. Pigeon saves Ant from disaster. Tortoise’s big mouth leads to a smelly fate! For ages 3+ The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich Feb 06 - 11:00, Feb 20 - 11:00, Mar 26 - 11:00, Apr 09 - 11:00, Apr 23 - 11:00, May 07 - 11:00 If you’re 3 or 4 years old and love silly stories and tremendous tales then you’ve got to come and meet the Storymaker at the New Wolsey Theatre. Mums, dads, grans, grandads, big brothers and big sisters should come too, they can look after you and pick up some tips along the way. Storymaker takes place in the upstairs foyer of the theatre, where the children sit on cushions around the Storymaker chair. NOTE: You only need to book tickets for children. Presented by Peaceful Lion. A brand new production based on the book by Emma Yarlett. Orion is scared of more or less everything. He’s terrified of wasps and monsters, afraid of sheds and storms, panicked by spiders and fearful of heights, but there is one thing that scares him more than anything else. Most of all he’s scared of... The DARK! Join Orion on an adventure as he faces his biggest fear and finds out it’s friendly! For ages 3+ Mr Maker & The Shapes Live The Marina Theatre, Lowestoft Mar 20 - 13:30, Mar 20 - 16:00, Come and join your ultimate arts and craft hero Mister Maker, for his first ever live theatre tour! Packed full of arty adventures there’ll be a big ‘make’ to take part in, super songs to join in with, a fabulous supporting cast and not forgetting, The Shapes! Yes, you’ll be able to share the fun with Mister Maker’s colourful all-dancing friends Circle, Square, Rectangle and Triangle too! This show is tons of arty fun for all the family! Mini Makers, get ready to make some amazing arty creations and book your tickets today! Tortoise & The Hare \| Northern Ballet Dance East, Ipswich Mar 23 - 14:00, Mar 23 - 16:00, Mar 23 - 18:00 Following sell-out tours of Ugly Duckling, Three Little Pigs and Elves & The Shoemaker and TV adaptations for CBeebies, Northern Ballet brings their magic to Tortoise & The Hare. Once upon a time there was a speedy Hare who never stopped talking about how fast he could run. Tired of being teased for his slowness, Tortoise challenged him to a race. No one thought he could win, but life is full of surprises! Bringing this much-loved Aesop’s fable to life, Tortoise & The Hare is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to enjoy live ballet, music and theatre. These child-friendly performances last approximately 40 minutes. Wednesday 23 March \| 2:00PM Wednesday 23 March \| 4:00PM Wednesday 23 March \| 6:00PM Apr 01 - 14:00, Apr 02 - 11:00, Apr 02 - 14:00 They only went out for a stroll… to let the food cool down. But when the three bears got home the house was a mess and Baby Bear's porridge had vanished completely! And that was just the beginning! Broken chairs, unmade beds and a mysterious visitor who takes Baby Bear on a breathtaking adventure that turns his house and his world upside-down! Stuff and Nonsense return with a thrilling adaptation of everyone's favourite beary-tale! A brilliant mix of ingenious puppetry, music and mischievous moments for everyone in the family. For ages 2+ Watch Dorothy and her cute dog Toto enter the wonderful Land of Oz. During their travels down the yellow brick road they meet some lovely friends including a Scarecrow, Tin Man and even a Lion who really wants some courage. Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds Apr 06 - 13:30, Apr 06 - 16:30 Would you trust a talking cat? You never know, he might turn you from a pauper to a prince just like the hero of this story. Brought to life on an incredible sloping stage by Patrick Lynch from CBeebies. Using smoke and mirrors and hidden trapdoors, he’ll show you how this sure-footed feline fools both the King and the Ogre to put his master at the top. A host of puppets, a working windmill and an avalanche of fruit and nuts awaits you in this classic furry tail! It’s the cat’s whiskers! Ages 4+	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2537
__label__wiki	0.858866	0.858866	President Donald Trump now says NFL's new anthem policy is 'worse' than players kneeling on field Yahoo Sports July 6, 2018 President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a rally at the Four Seasons Arena at Montana ExpoPark on Thursday in Great Falls, Montana, in support of Rep. Greg Gianforte, R-Mont., and GOP Senate candidate Matt Rosendale. (AP) President Donald Trump now has a lower opinion of the NFL’s new national anthem policy. Trump, as you know, has gone after the NFL numerous times for players protesting systemic injustice during the national anthem before games. In an attempt to avoid future protests and the kerfuffle that surrounds them, players don’t have to be on the field during the anthem starting in 2018. Those that are on the field have to stand for the anthem. Thursday night, Trump showed that he’s still unhappy with the NFL. Trump previously said new policy was ‘as disrespectful’ The president was in Montana for a political rally and riffed on a number of topics including the NFL, which came up late in his event. “If you don’t respect the flag or you don’t like the country or whatever it is just go into the locker room,” Trump said. “Just go into the locker room. I think in many respects that’s worse. Isn’t that worse than having them not standing?” He then repeated his claim that in many respects the policy was worse than having players kneeling on the field. The “worse” is different from a Trump tweet following the fiasco between the White House and the Philadelphia Eagles in June. He said the new policy was “as disrespectful” as the old one on June 4. There have been no NFL games played in the 31 days since Trump’s tweet and his comments Thursday night. The Philadelphia Eagles Football Team was invited to the White House. Unfortunately, only a small number of players decided to come, and we canceled the event. Staying in the Locker Room for the playing of our National Anthem is as disrespectful to our country as kneeling. Sorry! Trump also went after Roger Goodell, took credit for NFL ratings slide Right after talking about the NFL’s anthem policy, Trump then took a swipe at commissioner Roger Goodell’s salary and tried to say that attention paid to himself on cable news was a big reason for the NFL’s television ratings decline in 2017. “This commissioner, where this guy comes from I have no idea,” Trump said. “They’re paying him $40 million a year and their ratings are down 20 percent. You know why their ratings are down? Yes, the flag, but their ratings are down because people find politics — in other words, hitting Trump incorrectly, but hitting Trump — they find that to be much tougher, meaner and more interesting than watching a football game. They actually do.” Trump’s claim that the NFL lost a fifth of its viewers in 2017 is greatly exaggerated. Regular season ratings were down approximately 10 percent — half of Trump’s claim, and the Super Bowl had an average of 103 million viewers, down from 111 million in February of 2017. Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Follow @NickBromberg on Twitter • LaVar Ball guarantees two LA Lakers championships • Paul George says he wanted to come to Lakers before OKC trade • Joey Chestnut sets world record by eating 74 hot dogs • Leonard Fournette helps LSU senior pay for tuition Kamala Harris Blasts ‘Predator’ Trump to Jimmy Kimmel for Racist Attacks on Ilhan Omar and ‘The Squad’ David: I have no problem with Kimmel’s interview with Harris or with anything that she said. However, if you look at all the talk shows, daytime shows, and news shows on the major networks it is clear that it is very one-sided. Even if you count Fox News - 2 of the 3 major cable news networks have a liberal bias. For example what is the conservative version of “The View”. The Republican version of George Stephanopolous? If you dislike Trump you should demand more balance in the major media outlets. Like it or not Trump and other Republicans gain support because of their attacks on the media. The country is completely divided - the media should reflect that. Kylie Jenner Talks Anxiety and “Losing Friends” in Emotional Instagram Post Gina Torres on Turning 50: ‘I’m in Great Shape—I Work Hard, and I’m Aware of It’ A man tried to smuggle $33,000 of cocaine under his wig. He was detained in Spain	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2539
__label__wiki	0.718506	0.718506	SPORTS \| LIFESTYLE \| ATTITUDE \| AUTHENTIC College Football \| Ghost reminders great, but Illini need new legends by Jack Kerwin \| ydkjack@gmail.com The recognition is good. That’s the thing, if ever the words Fighting Illini football were spoken or written in historical, reverential fashion and not eventually linked with the name Red Grange it would be, well, wrong. Silly even, if not comical. You really can’t get into the former without referencing the latter. Indeed, when it comes to gridiron affairs at the University of Illinois, all relate back to Grange. He is the be-all and end-all, the standard to which every individual who dons the Orange and Blue is measured against. It’s a futile exercise, of course, because no one could possibly stack up to such a legend of mythological proportions. Even – gasp – Dick Butkus, linebacker extraordinaire, falls a bit short there. So, there certainly isn’t anything wrong with the list put out by ESPN this morning that shared its take on the greatest running back in the history of the Big Ten Conference, an honor that it bestowed on – who else – Grange. Just as there isn’t anything wrong with the same outlet previously anointing him the greatest college football player of all time or the reminders the school has in place – statue outside Memorial Stadium, Grange Grove and the well-intentioned, but ill-named “Gray Ghost” uniforms for Homecoming – as a shout out to its proverbial “one and only,” the Galloping Ghost. It’s just they all serve to show what once was … and what hasn’t really ever been since. Oh, sure, some great players have passed through Champaign between then and now. Butkus created a defensive legacy that has lived on through the likes of Kevin Hardy, Simeon Rice and Jeremy Lehman, and guys such as Rashard Mendenhall, Mikel Leshoure, Howard Griffith, Jim Grabowski, Buddy Young and J.C. Caroline were great backs. None were Grange, though … in fact or fiction – and that’s, well, a bit bothersome. Not for nothing, but even while wearing my 2014-issued United in Grange t-shirt with alumni pride pumping through the blood stream during each keystroke here, there is a part of me that would like to, ya know, kinda move on with the Illini creating a new chapter to their tradition. Or at least with attaching an addendum. It’s been almost a full century that has passed since ol’ Red ran roughshod in his 77 jersey for Illinois, earning All-American accolades in 1923, ’24 and ’25 and unbridled praise from literary giants of the day, Damon Runyon and Grantland Rice. That’s 90-plus years ago, people. How about some fresh blood to make the hearts of the younger portion of the Illini faithful skip a few beats faster? Frankly, as much of an old, never-forget-the-past, fuddy-duddy that exists within me, my preference these days would be to see new legends born, the type of talents who take the Illinois program to a level it hasn’t even sniffed in 65 years. No offense to Grange or his worshippers, which, truth be told, includes yours truly anyway, but kinda would prefer celebrating a national title during my lifetime rather than genuflect at the memories of ones before it awarded in 1914, ’19, ’23, ’27 and ’51. Yeah, pretty old here. But not that old. Besides, Red has to be a little tired carrying the recognition torch all by himself for so many decades. Can you find him some help, Lovie Smith? You can’t argue about a legend. But you can argue about his stats. It’s an interesting task trying to nail down some of the things that Red Grange really accomplished while an undergrad at the University of Illinois. Yeah, he was a three-time All-American performer for the Fighting Illini football team, spearheading its third national title in a decade in 1923. He was a national icon, credited with being one of the country’s first sports superstars. Thing is,, his most famous effort, which came against Michigan on October 18, 1924 as Orange and Blue christened their new home, Memorial Stadium, is not exactly nailed down with pinpoint numbers. Depending on where you go, or what you read, he scored either five or six touchdowns in the game, rushed for 409 or 402 yards or ran (rushing and returning kicks) for either of those aforementioned totals. One thing is for certain, though – since all accounts concur: He decimated Michigan with a four-TD first quarter that included him returning the opening kickoff for a TD before racing to three more long TDs on runs from scrimmage. His coach, Bob Zuppke, who authored four of the Illini’s five national titles, said at the time: “I’ll never have another Grange – but neither will anyone else.” So, far, the Illini certainly haven’t. Still, Grange, with 2,071 yards (in 20 games), ranks no better than 15th on the Illini’s all-time rushing leaderboard, and his 5.3 yards per carry during his career would trail the likes of Pierre Thomas (5.6), Mikel Leshoure (6.0) and Rashard Mendenhall (6.5), all guys ahead of him on that list. For the record, Robert Holcombe (4,105 yards) is the school’s career rushing leader with Leshoure holding single-game (330) and season (1,697) marks. Howard Griffith has the single-game and career marks in rushing TDs, 8 and 33, respectively, with Leshoure’s 20 being the Illini best for a season. NCAABB Saint Joe's Penn State Your source for insight ... or insanity GET TO KNOW YDKJ ABOUT \| CONTACT \| BLOG \| PRIVACY POLICY © COPYRIGHT 2018 YDKJ \| Terms & Conditions	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2540
__label__wiki	0.732967	0.732967	Home»Posts tagged with»House Intelligence Committee (Page 3) Report reveals Samantha Power as a near-daily ‘unmasker’ in final weeks of Obama era By World Tribune on September 21, 2017 Americas, Exclusives, Stateside, Top Stories, U.S. Intelligence, World Links, World Tribune by WorldTribune Staff, September 21, 2017 U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power made “unmasking” requests on a daily basis in 2016 and continued making the requests in the days prior to President Donald Trump’s inauguration, a report said. Power “was ‘unmasking’ at such a rapid pace in the final months of the Obama administration […] Susan Rice admits unmasking Trump aides Flynn, Bannon, Kushner by WorldTribune Staff, September 20, 2017 Obama administration national security adviser Susan Rice told a congressional committee last week that she asked intelligence agencies to unmask the names of three Trump advisers, according to news reports. Rice had previously denied any role in politicizing intelligence information she had access to despite reports to the contrary. […] Podesta takes some of the heat on Russian interference, but behind closed doors By World Tribune on June 28, 2017 Americas, BB Americas, Exclusives, Stateside, Top Stories, Top Story, U.S. Intelligence, U.S. Politics, World Links, World Tribune by WorldTribune Staff, June 28, 2017 Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign chairman met with the House Intelligence Committee in a behind-closed-doors meeting on June 27 amid breaking news that Democrats and the Obama administration knew well before the election of Russia’s attempted meddling. John Podesta, whose hacked emails led to much embarrassment for the Clinton campaign, […] Democrats at Comey hearing repeatedly cited ex-British spy’s discredited dossier By World Tribune on March 22, 2017 Africa / Europe, Americas, BB Americas, Exclusives, Russia, Stateside, Top Stories, U.S. Intelligence, World Links, World Tribune by WorldTribune Staff, March 22, 2017 In questioning FBI Director James Comey and NSA chief Mike Rogers, several Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee on March 20 referenced the so-called “Trump dossier” which has been widely dismissed as a subsidized work of fiction. The dossier by former British spy Christopher Steele suggested the Russians had […] Comey sheds light on Russians’ thought process about Hillary Clinton’s chances By World Tribune on March 21, 2017 Africa / Europe, Americas, BB Americas, Exclusives, Russia, Stateside, Top Story, U.S. Intelligence, U.S. Politics, World Links, World Tribune by WorldTribune Staff, March 21, 2017 Like most U.S. pollsters and pundits, the Russians apparently felt Donald Trump had no chance of winning the presidency so set out to undermine Hillary Clinton, FBI Director James Comey said on March 20. “Late in the summer they concluded based on the polling that a lot of people […] Hemingway and Trump: Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean the FBI isn’t on your case By World Tribune on March 21, 2017 Americas, BB Americas, Exclusives, Stateside, Top Stories, U.S. Intelligence, Washington, World Links, World Tribune by WorldTribune Staff, March 21, 2017 Bestselling novelist Jack Engelhard notes that U.S. President Donald Trump “can take heart from Ernest Hemingway…” In the last years of his life, Hemingway “was especially fearful of the FBI and the IRS” and believed “he was being wiretapped,” Engelhard, author of Indecent Proposal, wrote for Israel’s Arutz Sheva […] House intel chair on Trump campaign ties to Russia: ‘There’s nothing there’ By World Tribune on March 1, 2017 Americas, BB Americas, Exclusives, Rest of The Best, Stateside, Washington, World Links, World Tribune by WorldTribune Staff, February 28, 2017 The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said “there’s nothing there” on allegations that President Donald Trump’s campaign advisers had improper contact with Russian agents prior to the election. Rep. Devin Nunes, California Republican, told reporters on Feb. 27 that “as of right now, of the initial inquiries I’ve […]	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2549
__label__cc	0.730907	0.269093	Home»Posts tagged with»@realDonaldTrump After trashing president on SNL, Alec Baldwin fears for life over Trump tweet By World Tribune on February 19, 2019 Americas, Exclusives, Top Stories, U.S., U.S. Culture, World Links, World Tribune by WorldTribune Staff, February 19, 2019 Alec Baldwin seems to cherish the freedom he has under the U.S. Constitution to trash President Donald Trump. But the actor, who also has been known to punch people over parking spaces, is outraged and terrified when Trump uses his own rights under the First Amendment to lambaste Baldwin. […] Smackdown: Romney takes it on the chin from his niece, POTUS By World Tribune on January 2, 2019 Americas, Exclusives, Stateside, Top Stories, U.S., Washington, World Links, World Tribune CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE: Countdown: Top stories of 2018 by WorldTribune Staff, January 2, 2019 President Donald Trump and RNC chair Ronna Romney McDaniel slammed Mitt Romney, saying the senator-elect should be a “team player” and that his Washington Post op-ed criticizing Trump was merely feeding the many Democrat and media trolls constantly besieging […] Trump’s Sunday news feed: ‘Remember’, Cohen only became ‘Rat’ after FBI ‘BROKE INTO’ his office By World Tribune on December 17, 2018 Americas, Exclusives, Rest of The Best, Stateside, Top Stories, Washington, World Links, World Tribune by WorldTribune Staff, December 17, 2018 President Donald Trump bypassed the Sunday talk shows with a tweetstorm on Dec. 16 which covered “collusion,” FBI tactics in the Russia investigation and the case of a U.S. military major charged with murder. The president as usual focused on details omitted by “Mainstream Media” non-stop assaults on him […] Reports that President Trump’s Tweet feed is on life support appear to be exaggerated By World Tribune on May 28, 2017 Americas, BB Americas, Exclusives, Stateside, Top Stories, U.S. Media, Washington, World Links, World Tribune by WorldTribune Staff, May 28, 2017 U.S. President Donald Trump has returned from his widely-hailed first foreign trip, back to the nation’s capital, aka “The Swamp”, which has been boiling with rumors of scandals and his imminent demise. Washington is awash with media reports of firings of malcontents and leakers on the White House staff. […] The Trump report: For eight years Russia ‘ran over’ President Obama By World Tribune on March 13, 2017 Americas, BB Americas, Exclusives, Stateside, Top Stories, Washington, World Links, World Tribune by WorldTribune Staff, March 13, 2017 Recent highlights from President Donald Trump’s Twitter feed (@realDonaldTrump): March 13 ObamaCare is imploding. It is a disaster and 2017 will be the worst year yet, by far! Republicans will come together and save the day. It is amazing how rude much of the media is to my very […] The Trump report: National debt down $12 billion in first month By World Tribune on February 26, 2017 Americas, BB Americas, Exclusives, Rest of The Best, Stateside, U.S. Media, Washington, World Links, World Tribune by WorldTribune Staff, February 19, 2017 Recent highlights from President Donald Trump’s Twitter feed (@realDonaldTrump): Feb. 26 For first time the failing @nytimes will take an ad (a bad one) to help save its failing reputation. Try reporting accurately & fairly! The race for DNC Chairman was, of course, totally “rigged.” Bernie’s guy, like Bernie […]	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2550
__label__wiki	0.627684	0.627684	Dad forces daughter to walk 5 miles to school in cold after she was suspended for bullying Updated: 9:51 AM EST Dec 6, 2018 Chelsea Robinson By CNN/WEWS Hear the father's now-viral message in the video above An Ohio father's message about bullying has gone viral.In a now-viral video titled "Life lessons," Matt Cox, of Swanton, explains his daughter was suspended from riding the school bus on Nov. 30 due to bullying another student.Cox said his daughter told him that he had to drive her to school the following week, but he decided to teach her a lesson instead. "Let me make this extremely clear: Bullying is unacceptable. Especially in my household," he said. "Friday, when my daughter brought home her paperwork for her bus suspension, she said, 'Daddy, you're going to have to take me to school next week.' As you see, this morning she is learning otherwise." In the video, Cox said a lot of children today feel that the things their parents do for them are a right and not a privilege. "So today, my beautiful daughter is going to walk five miles to school in 36-degree weather. I know a lot of you parents aren't going to agree with this. But that is alright, because I'm doing what I feel is right to teach my daughter a lesson and stop her from bullying," he said. Cox told WEWS his daughter was upset when she first started walking on Monday.During the walk, Cox talked to his daughter about how her actions were the reason she was walking. He said by the end of the walk she calmed down and realized that if she hadn't bullied others she would still be on the bus.The video has been shared more than 330,000 times and has been viewed more than 15 million times. Cox said he was shocked when he found out the video went viral."I was in complete shock that so many people responded when I originally posted it. I just thought friends and family would see it, and then a friend asked me to make it public so that they could share it," Cox said. "By the time I woke up the next day I had hundreds of messages in my inbox and saw that there were quite a few views."Cox said he sat down with his children to show them the comments on the video so that they could understand the effects of bullying."She, along with my other two children, seem to show a great deal of empathy towards some of the sad stories that I read with them," Cox said.He believes his daughter learned her lesson about bullying and will now appreciate the bus ride to school.Cox hopes that when others view the video, they will learn just how much words can hurt others."I just hope that through the video being shared kids can take a look and read some of the comments and tutorials on the post and see just how much words can hurt and cut deep and can have lasting effects on those involved sometimes in the most awful cases life-ending effects," Cox said."I also hope that parents see the video and start holding their kids accountable for their actions and stop sweeping their child's actions under the rug with the ideology that kids will be kids. We as parents need to stop the bullying on the home front because bullying only breeds bullying," Cox said. SWANTON, Ohio — Hear the father's now-viral message in the video above An Ohio father's message about bullying has gone viral. In a now-viral video titled "Life lessons," Matt Cox, of Swanton, explains his daughter was suspended from riding the school bus on Nov. 30 due to bullying another student. Cox said his daughter told him that he had to drive her to school the following week, but he decided to teach her a lesson instead. "Let me make this extremely clear: Bullying is unacceptable. Especially in my household," he said. "Friday, when my daughter brought home her paperwork for her bus suspension, she said, 'Daddy, you're going to have to take me to school next week.' As you see, this morning she is learning otherwise." In the video, Cox said a lot of children today feel that the things their parents do for them are a right and not a privilege. "So today, my beautiful daughter is going to walk five miles to school in 36-degree weather. I know a lot of you parents aren't going to agree with this. But that is alright, because I'm doing what I feel is right to teach my daughter a lesson and stop her from bullying," he said. Cox told WEWS his daughter was upset when she first started walking on Monday. During the walk, Cox talked to his daughter about how her actions were the reason she was walking. He said by the end of the walk she calmed down and realized that if she hadn't bullied others she would still be on the bus. The video has been shared more than 330,000 times and has been viewed more than 15 million times. Cox said he was shocked when he found out the video went viral. "I was in complete shock that so many people responded when I originally posted it. I just thought friends and family would see it, and then a friend asked me to make it public so that they could share it," Cox said. "By the time I woke up the next day I had hundreds of messages in my inbox and saw that there were quite a few views." Cox said he sat down with his children to show them the comments on the video so that they could understand the effects of bullying. "She, along with my other two children, seem to show a great deal of empathy towards some of the sad stories that I read with them," Cox said. He believes his daughter learned her lesson about bullying and will now appreciate the bus ride to school. Cox hopes that when others view the video, they will learn just how much words can hurt others. "I just hope that through the video being shared kids can take a look and read some of the comments and tutorials on the post and see just how much words can hurt and cut deep and can have lasting effects on those involved sometimes in the most awful cases life-ending effects," Cox said. "I also hope that parents see the video and start holding their kids accountable for their actions and stop sweeping their child's actions under the rug with the ideology that kids will be kids. We as parents need to stop the bullying on the home front because bullying only breeds bullying," Cox said.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2551
__label__wiki	0.929471	0.929471	Connections: Atheist-Phobia By Evan Dawson • Jul 29, 2016 Atheist-phobia Perhaps the most controversial DNC email released in the recent leak was the one that questioned whether Bernie Sanders is actually an atheist, and whether that could be used against him with voters. Across the country, atheists groaned at yet another slur against the non-religious. Polls show atheists are viewed with great suspicion by religious Americans. We talk about atheist-phobia, and whether atheists feel like they'll have a chance to ever hold higher office in this country. Our guests: Dan Courtney, atheist who delivered a secular invocation at a Greece town meeting Leslie Hannon, Humanists of Rochester Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation Douglas Cullum, vice president and dean of Northeastern Seminary Connections: How Do Atheists Find Meaning? By Evan Dawson • Sep 17, 2015 How do atheists find meaning? Finding meaning without deities: we'll talk to documentary filmmaker Christopher Johnson about his new film, "A Better Life." It's coming to our area, and we'll get a sense for why he wanted to tell the story of how atheists find meaning. We'll also hear from listeners who share how they find meaning. Connections: What is the Sunday Assembly? By Evan Dawson • Oct 2, 2014 What is the new Sunday Assembly in Rochester? Rochester has a new Sunday Assembly, and it's a place for atheists to come together. We'll sit down with Leslie Hannon and Kim Teal , who are helping coordinate the local chapter of a growing national movement. What do atheists say about the concept of coming together in a setting that resembles a church? Who is attending? Connections: Dan Arel, author of Parenting without God By Evan Dawson • Dec 3, 2015 Dan Arel, author of Parenting without God We have a conversation about the impact of raising children to believe in a god, or not. Dan Arel is the author of the new book, Parenting Without God. He'll explain why he thinks raising children in a religious household is a recipe for poor critical thinking, and more. Our guests in studio offer a counterpoint, talking about the possible benefits of raising children to have faith in a deity. Our guests: Reverend Scott Sittig, lead pastor at New Hope Free Methodist Church Rebecca S. Letterman, Ph.D., associate professor of spiritual formation, Northeastern Seminary	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2552
__label__wiki	0.687842	0.687842	Home/Android, Apple, Email, Microsoft, News/Emails are insecure if not encrypted. Emails have been around about as long as the internet. Simple text messages sent back and forth via online platforms helped shape the internet when it was still emerging and continues to serve as the backbone of the worldwide web today. Despite its age, this ubiquitous platform hasn’t changed much over the years. It still relies on email addresses and simple text formats. Senders still sign off on their messages as if they’re letters. In some ways, these messages are even worse than the handcrafted letters of yore. They’re less secure and easily intercepted. Unencrypted emails Emails are unsecured by design. Complex hacking tools have far outpaced the security systems built into mainstream email platforms. Yet billions of emails containing vital information are sent across the lines everyday. Users send tax returns, new login details, job applications, password reset information, and medical records via emails. Almost all these messages are easily intercepted. Even Google admits emails are insecure, saying 40 to 50 percent of all emails are unsecured. Considering there are over 38 trillion emails sent across each year, this is a major security concern. In fact, the security standard that governs online emails, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), has no built in security features at all. This means the default state of all email services is unencrypted and open to attack, putting crucial information at risk. The Journey of an unencrypted email According to some experts, unencrypted emails are vulnerable to attack at every stage from sender to receiver. The journey of an unencrypted email is not as straightforward as most people would expect. Emails tend to bounce around multiple points on their way from point A to point B. When an email is sent, the text may or may not be encrypted at the source, depending on the email service provider. Even if the email is encrypted, mail service providers do not encrypt the data they receive on their servers. This is the first point of vulnerability. Senders have no visibility on what happens to their message after their email service provider sends the message to another service provider. This is the second leg of the journey where the email could be compromised. If the recipient’s email provider is unencrypted, most mainstream email providers will send the message across as plain text, compromising data security. However, the most vulnerable leg of the journey of an unsecured email is at the receiver’s end. The final destination is where most emails are compromised, according to security experts. It’s clear that the journey an email goes through, from the first draft to the final recipient is different based on the level of encryption. While un-encrypted messages are vulnerable at every step of the way, encryption from the client’s side could secure the email. Email providers who assure end-to-end encryption and secured datacenters can protect private communications. 60 per cent of Canadian businesses were hacked last year! November 16, 2017 Ever Wonder How Internet Encryption Works? November 16, 2017 Emails are insecure if not encrypted. November 16, 2017 attorney avocats Corporate Espionage data encryption data loss Dirty e-Laundry in the open e-mail email Email insecure Email Security encrypted Encrypted Email encryption Equifax breached Equifax Hacked facebook fashion Five Eyes Forever 21 G20 google Google's Tracking You. government hack Internet Encryption Internet privacy U.S. Senate Internet Society lawyers non-privacy notary privacy Privacy online proton email retail secret Secure email privacy secure internet secure your email snoop stolen identity Swiss security user privacy US Government Reads Google Mail yahoo email yahoo email hacked	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2555
__label__cc	0.714817	0.285183	zecora The Site of User Experience Designer Boris Iglesias Case Study: TD Canada Trust TD’s excellence and dedication to customer experience became palpable with the Account Recommendation Tool. The objective was to increase conversion by redirecting traffic to the account signup pages without compromising the first-time experience. This is how I made it work. The Account Recommendation tool or aka “Project Mix”, was Developed as a joint effort across multiple departments and teams, testing the resilience of TD’s environment. One word that was popular during those days was “cross-pollination”, capturing the essence within the TD mindset, and a statement right to the heart for the culture aiming for the best UX of the Big Five Banks. At its core, the app was a quite simple concept: TD will ask you a few questions about who you are, your financial needs and spending habits; and at the end of the questionnaire TD will suggest a bank account for you. It will also show a comparison with other similar accounts to help you decide. Since TD has an abundant baggage of knowledge of their users, it was a great starting point for me to tap into it. “With Boris on board, our prototypes came earlier, making more iterations possible and cost effective. He produced a large amount of deliverables, indispensable for the project success” Mark Townsend, Business Analyst, TD Canada Trust Financial Group. Even though TD has amassed a great deal of User Experience guidelines and UI interaction elements on their user-centric mentality, they still were pursuing a fresh approach on this application, one that can drive a high completion rate. Why completion rate? because the business goal was to drive users to the end of the flow, as they were shown the recommended account, signing up for that account was an ulterior process that could be achieved through many different channels -not just online – that was somewhat imposible to measure. A team composition of developers, compliance officers, branding managers, project managers and graphic designers was in great synergy to deliver specifications and requirements. As the UX designer, and being part of the fantastic design team at TD, my agile approach was crucial. Kickstart prototypes were developed in paper format and sketch mockups, in an effort to capture the most amount of questions early on. The main concept for the UX design was: how to create a flow loaded with questions, with no end in sight and still keep the users engaged to reach the recommendation screen? It certainly demanded a few challenges. First, my perspective was to decrease cognitive load on every screen to a minimum; second: present information in a colloquial way – as a conversation, not a form -; third: disregard progress trackers by allowing the user to ‘restart’ easily, bet on the user ‘discovery’ factor rather than a predefined path, and fourth: introduce attractive and engaging interaction controls. Using the progressive disclosure technique, the app would open in a minimalist separate window, showing questions with a “envelope” style containers. The “tell-me-your spending-habits” step was treated with sliders, promoting user engagement right before the last screen. Specs were delivered in illustrator format with annotations for developers. Usability tests were performed using Morae software with 5 participants, involving the Research Manager, and myself as facilitator. After its launch, the Account Recommendation Tool achieved a lift of 87% in completion rates, completely recouping the investment and solidifying TD as the most crafted banking experience in Canada across all customer touch points. See the Tool in Action From the TD website Other projects during this time include the build of landing page for Preauthorized Payments, a product aiming to switch users from other payment methods for utilities and household expenses. Once launched, the landing page produced a jump of 10% of online visits in the first month. Moreover, my freshly designed logoff pages for TD Bank USA, saw an increase of 40.87% monthly lift in conversion rates; this combined with A/B testing UX optimizations plugged into TDbank.com, helped increase ROI, traffic and signup rates on average for their products. Collaboration with other great UX designers was at its highest for the Auto insurance quoter. This project brought me to work with the entire design team of great minds at TD. We developed User Interface Design for the quoter app, simplifying the experience to one-page – ala calculator – and meeting business goals. Wireframes and prototypes were delivered in Balsamiq and Axure RP PRO with high degree of interaction and mapping use cases from specifications. My time at TD could not have been more productive, I Interacted with great teams including product, design, development, QA, operations, marketing, compliance, to develop and manage exceptional UX under TD guidelines and specifications. Meetings and presentations with stakeholders were crucial to hit success criteria; as well as participation in ideation sessions, brain storming and review discussions. We were all cross-pollinating. Good times. View Portfolio for TD Case Study Let's keep talking... 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__label__wiki	0.840285	0.840285	Symmetry Village It has been suggested that the portion of this page concerning Symmetry City should be made into its own page. Should the target page already exist, this content should be merged into it where appropriate. Discuss this on article's talk page. Main Appearance(s) https://zelda.gamepedia.com/File:Symmetry_City_(Present).ogg https://zelda.gamepedia.com/File:Symmetry_Village_(Past).ogg Symmetry Village,[1] also known as Symmetry City in the present,[1] is a village in the northeastern mountains of Labrynna, in Oracle of Ages. The most prominent feature of the village is its symmetric design, creating a perfect mirror image over the y-axis. As its name would suggest, the entire village is symmetrical, and each inhabitant of the village has their own twin. In the village lies the entrance to Skull Dungeon, home to the fourth Essence of Time. Inside the Middle House, which serves as the town hall for the village, lies the Tuni Nut, the village's sacred symbol that holds the village in balance.[2][3] In the present age, the Middle House is replaced by a Gale Tree, where Link can gather his first Gale Seeds. The tree also provides easy warp access to the village, which can otherwise only be reached by a bridge spanning the Nuun Highlands in the present. In the basement of the Middle House resides Thomas, who plays a role in the Trading Sequence. Link can trade him the Dumbbell for his Cheesy Mustache. In search of the fourth Essence of Time, Link travels to the Nuun Highlands where a bridge crosses over to the Talus Peaks where the village is found. However, the bridge will not be built upon Link's arrival. At the request of Mutoh, the head carpenter, Link gathers up all the workers on break,[4] with the help of his animal companion (either Ricky, Moosh, or Dimitri, depending on certain choices Link has made on his adventures). The workers will then build the bridge, allowing Link to enter the village. When Link arrives in Symmetry City for the first time, he finds the village in ruins, infested with Podoboo Towers. Link then travels to the past to find the cause of the problem, at which point he notices the volcano inside the village erupting, wreaking havoc upon the village. He then learns that the Tuni Nut, the village's sacred symbol, has broken. This causes instability in the village, thus erupting the volcano.[5] To restore balance to the village, Link must bring the Tuni Nut to Patch atop Restoration Wall to have it fixed.[6] Once the nut is fixed and placed on its pedestal in the Middle House, peace will return to the village. The volcano becomes inactive, and the present-day Symmetry City will no longer be in ruins. In the present, the raging volcano is replaced by a waterfall, parted in the middle by the entrance to Skull Dungeon.[7] In the present, inhabitants of Symmetry City claim to hear music flowing down from the mountains surrounding the village.[8] In reality, the music comes from Tokkey, who is researching a tune for the Harp of Ages inside a cave on Talus Peaks. Also in the present, there are two people who live on opposite sides of the village who are not identical twins. One claims he is too small, the other, too big.[9][10] Symmetry City Japanese シメトリ村シメトリまち French Village Symétrie Cité Symétrie German Symmetria-Dorf Symmetria-Stadt Italian Paese Simmetria Città Simmetria Spanish Ciudad Simetría Symmetry City in ruins Symmetry Village in the past The Middle House (town hall) in Symmetry Village Regions in Oracle of Ages Regions in Oracle of Ages past age Click on an area Regions in Oracle of Ages present age ↑ 1.0 1.1 Encyclopedia (Dark Horse Books), pg. 111 (OoA) ↑ "The Tuni Nut is the city's symbol." — Symmetry Village Citizen (Oracle of Ages) ↑ "Tuni Nut: The nut that balances all." — Inventory Description (Oracle of Ages) ↑ "Those lazy, worthless fools! Just as we're buildin' this bridge to the Symmetry City Ruins, they go off on break! I wait and I wait, but they don't come back!" — Mutoh (Oracle of Ages) ↑ "When the Tuni Nut broke, the city fell out of balance, and the volcano started erupting." — Symmetry Village Citizen (Oracle of Ages) ↑ "A guru named Patch lives at the top of Restoration Wall. I think he can fix the broken Tuni Nut, but I could never climb that wall." — Symmetry Village Citizen (Oracle of Ages) ↑ "Huh? The cave entrance? It was covered by lava from the volcano long ago! Maybe if the volcano calms down, you may be able to get in." — Symmetry City Citizen (Oracle of Ages) ↑ "Sometimes I hear music flowing down from the mountaintop, but I wonder why." — Symmetry City Citizen (Oracle of Ages) ↑ "What a mess... Do I have to be bigger?" — Symmetry City Citizen (Oracle of Ages) ↑ "What a mess... Do I have to be smaller?" — Symmetry City Citizen (Oracle of Ages) Retrieved from "https://zelda.gamepedia.com/index.php?title=Symmetry_Village&oldid=704619" Places in Oracle of Ages	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0030.json.gz/line2560

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