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Here's what is open or closed for Juneteenth in Metro Detroit
Reconsider your plans for Monday because some federal and state offices will be closed in observation of Juneteenth this year.
Here is what to know.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is recognized across the country annually as the day all Black people were freed from slavery, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Enslaved people in Galveston Bay, Texas, were unaware of the Emancipation Proclamation giving them freedom until June 19, 1865, when they were freed by Union troops.
The holiday became recognized nationally in June 2021 when President Joe Biden signed legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.
This year, the holiday falls on a Sunday and will be recognized on Monday, June 20.
Events:Commemorate Juneteenth with these events around Metro Detroit
Delivery services
United States Post Office: There will be no regular mail delivery Monday but carriers will continue to deliver Priority Mail Express items. Post Offices will open and mail delivery will resume Tuesday.
UPS: There will be no UPS pickup or delivery service on June 19. Some locations will have modified business hours. Delivery resumes Monday.
FedEx:
Trash and recycling services
Trash, recycling and yard waste collections will continue in Michigan as scheduled.
Courts
The Michigan Supreme Court added Juneteenth to the list of court holidays earlier this month. All courts in the state will be closed Monday.
State unemployment office
The Unemployment Insurance Agency will be closed Monday. Unemployed workers can still certify for benefits online using the Michigan Web Account Manager, however phone services and in person will be unavailable until Tuesday.
There will also be a slight delay in benefit deposits due to the holiday.
City offices
The following will be closed in observance of the holiday:
- Macomb Township municipal offices
- Oakland County offices
- Wayne County Clerk's Office
Libraries
All Detroit Public Library locations will be closed on Monday and will reopen on Tuesday.
Banks
The Federal Reserve acknowledges Juneteenth as a federal holiday so all banks will be closed Monday.
Stock markets
The New York Stock Exchange, U.S Stock Market and other bond markets will be closed Monday in observation of Juneteenth. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/06/17/juneteenth-what-is-closed-detroit-oakland-macomb-wayne-counties/7647940001/ | 2022-06-17T04:36:42 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/06/17/juneteenth-what-is-closed-detroit-oakland-macomb-wayne-counties/7647940001/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Three people have been displaced after a house was severely damaged by a fire in Clark County Thursday afternoon.
Just after 3 p.m. Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue (CCFR) and Clark County Fire District 3 crews were dispatched to the reported fire at 6817 NE 255th Street.
According to CCFR, a caller reported that the front door was open and the living room was filled with black smoke. Another caller reported seeing flames.
Initially, three fire engines, two ladder trucks, two water tenders and a battalion chief responded to the call. A CCFR engine from the Dollar’s Corner fire station arrived at 3:13 p.m.
Crews reported a small, single-story residential fire with smoke coming from a bedroom towards the back of the house.
Additional units were dispatched to help with water supply due to a lack of hydrants at the scene, CCFR said. Crews knocked down the fire soon after.
“The structure was severely damaged by the fire and smoke,” CCFR said.
Officials said no injuries were reported, however one child and two adults were displaced by the fire. At the time of CCFR’s press release, multiple cats and dogs were unaccounted for.
The fire is under investigation by the Clark County Marshal’s Office, with help from the Clark-Cowlitz Fire Marshal’s Office. Officials have not determined what caused the fire. | https://www.koin.com/local/clark-county/clark-county-house-severely-damaged-after-fire-no-injuries-reported/ | 2022-06-17T04:40:01 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/local/clark-county/clark-county-house-severely-damaged-after-fire-no-injuries-reported/ |
ODESSA, Texas — While the water is back on for Odessa and Ector County, a boil water notice remains in place.
There was a possibility that Odessa and the Ector County Utility District could have tested water samples by now, but that can only be done once all leaks are fixed.
"My understanding is that before a city or a municipal utility district, like we are at ECUD, that you have to have all the leaks fixed, your system completely pressured up, and then you can start taking your samples," Tommy Ervin, president of the ECUD board of directors said.
Water should be back on. However, for some areas in Ector County, it took a little longer to get their water back because of where they were located and the different elevation planes that make up the county.
"You have to let the pressure build up in the city of Odessa first, and let them recharge their system to a certain point, and then, whenever the city can actually front us with 40 pounds of pressure or more, then we can start taking on water," Ervin said.
While neither the city of Odessa nor ECUD have taken samples of the water and sent it off to be tested yet, ECUD has run some preliminary tests on its water and received some positive results.
"We’re still waiting," Ervin said. "We’ve done some preliminary tests. It’s called chlorine residual tests. All of those look pretty good. It’s not where we want them, but they do look okay."
However, ECUD is still waiting on the city of Odessa to fix the leak and get their samples tested before they can take samples as well.
"ECUD will be right behind the city," Ervin said. "When the city starts, within about 15 to 20 minutes, ECUD will start doing the same sampling. We have 16 sample ports out here at ECUD. We’re not required to take samples from all 16 test ports, but we are."
There is currently no timetable as to when the city and ECUD will be able to take water samples, but once they collect the samples and send them to be tested, it will take 24 hours to get the results back.
For now, the boil water notice will remain in place until that is completed. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/odessa-test-water-samples-boil-water-notice/513-ca96456d-f5b3-4cb5-8279-89ebac0f2eb0 | 2022-06-17T04:45:55 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/odessa-test-water-samples-boil-water-notice/513-ca96456d-f5b3-4cb5-8279-89ebac0f2eb0 |
The Dallas area was selected Thursday as one of the 17 North American cities to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
DFW joins Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, New York and Atlanta in the U.S. metropolitan areas that will host matches. FIFA also announced games will be played in Canada in Vancouver and Toronto and in Mexico in Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City.
Area leaders hosted a watch party at the AT&T Discovery District in Dallas, with appearances from Dallas and Fort Worth city officials, as well as representatives from the Dallas Cowboys and FC Dallas.
ANNOUNCEMENT MADE THURSDAY
Now that it’s official, preparations already starting, and excitement is setting in.
For some fans, like Gilbert Aguilar, it was a chance to reminisce. He shared the moment with his grandson who will experience a North Texas World Cup for the first time.
“We’ve been waiting for a long, long time,” he said. “We were here in 1994 with his dad, and now I’ve got my grandson. And we’re looking forward to 2026.”
Those who love the game understand what this decision means for the community.
“My favorite thing about soccer is how it brings the world together. And I think the world cup is the ultimate showing of that,” said soccer fan Bailey Brown.
NORTH TEXAS PLAYS HOST TO THE WORLD
It is expected that six World Cup matches will be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington while other related events will be held in other locations around the Metroplex. There could be more matches in North Texas and it's not yet decided what round the matches will be in.
FC Dallas President and Host City Bid chairman Dan Hunt said the goal in getting into the bidding was to have North Texas host the finals.
It's estimated that FIFA World Cup 2026 games in DFW would create as many as 3,000 new jobs and have an economic impact of nearly $400 million.
North Texas has hosted the World Cup before. But Hunt said the interest in soccer is different now.
"You'll have a market in a country that is, even so, more receptive to the World Cup and soccer than it was back in 1994,” Hunt said. “So, I'm thrilled for what this is going to do for the game."
Hunt said the ripple effect though could be even more significant.
"You're talking about something that could be in the billions of dollars for our community,” Hunt said. “This is great for the citizens. Also, this could be a tremendous commercial for our community for people around the world."
Additionally, Fair Park could also be turned into an international media and broadcast venue. Click here to learn more about Dallas' pitch to host the games, put together by the Dallas Sports Commission.
WORLD CUP EXCITEMENT GROWS IN NORTH TEXAS
In parks all around DFW, you can see kids practicing and playing soccer.
"My daughter Alex is out here working getting some extra touches in over the summer for soccer," soccer mom Denise Barley said.
As fans of soccer she, her daughter, and her daughter’s coach are all excited to hear Dallas could be named a host city for FIFA World Cup 2026 games.
“There's so many girls and boys that play soccer here,” Barley said. “Getting to experience that right here like I said in our backyard is going to be fantastic for them."
2026 WORLD CUP
"That would be pretty cool to go watch," youth soccer player Alex Barley said.
"This is a great spot to do that because soccer is so big here,” soccer coach Alex Molano said. “It's only growing and that's only going to grow it more than it already is here so that would be awesome."
Until the cities are selected, everyone is hoping their dreams become reality.
"Even for myself it's a dream to see a World Cup, Molano said. “I've never seen a World Cup. So, it would make my dreams come true to see that."
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/2026-world-cup-coming-to-north-texas-and-houston/2993341/ | 2022-06-17T05:01:52 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/2026-world-cup-coming-to-north-texas-and-houston/2993341/ |
KOKOMO, Ind. — If life is like a basketball game, then 25-year-old Myles Copeland just delivered the biggest assist of his career.
“It’s what they train you for, run towards the emergency, don’t run away from it,” Copeland explained of his job.
Video captured at a basketball game last weekend in Upstate New York, captured Copeland doing exactly what he’s been trained to do as a firefighter with the Toledo, Ohio Fire Department.
Except in the video, Copeland wasn’t in a fireman’s uniform when an emergency struck unexpectedly. He was in the uniform he wears as a forward with the Toledo Glass City Basketball Team.
Copeland and his team were in a playoff game against the Jamestown Jackals when a referee collapsed with a heart attack with near the end of the first quarter.
“I saw him fall and I think the whole gym heard him hit the floor, so everyone was just kind of in shock,” said Copeland
But not Copeland. He raced across the court.
“In my mind, I just go into firefighter mode,” he said.
“I was sitting right there when it happened,” said David Magley, president of the basketball league. He called 911.
“I’m going, ‘He’s dying,’” Magley said of the referee on the floor. “In my mind, he’s gone. No breath, no blood pressure. I don’t know CPR. I’m hoping somebody does."
That somebody turned out to be one of the players in Magley’s league.
“I’m like, ‘Who’s this guy?’ and I look closer, and he’s got his warmups on. He’s a player!” said Magley, still shaking his head in disbelief. “I’m like, ‘Wait a minute! One of our players is doing CPR!” Magley remembered thinking.
“I worked on him for about 10 minutes before paramedics were able to get there,” Copeland said of his lifesaving actions.
By the time paramedics got there, the ref was awake and talking, Copeland said.
“He was talking about how he wanted to get back in and ref the game,” said Copeland.
Copeland who went on to help his team win that game and another the next day.
Ironically, Copeland doesn’t usually play with the traveling team, but Magley said Copeland had worked a 24-hour shift so he could play in the game against Jamestown.
“But God,” said Magley.
On Thursday, Magley was in Kokomo as the Glass City team faced the Kokomo BobKats in the opener of the league’s Midwestern Conference finals. First though, a ceremony to honor Copeland, a firefighter, a basketball player and now, another man’s hero.
“I hear all these things about our young men, our young African American men, what they’re not, and what they aren’t, but he represents everything that’s good about our young people today,” said Magley. “There’s so many great young men that we see that never get to be seen like Myles, and I’m just honored that he plays in our league."
“Someone is here today because of you,” 13News reporter Emily Longnecker told Copeland.
“It’s an amazing feeling, something you’ll never get over, something I’ll probably remember for the rest of my life,” he said, adding that the referee is scheduled for triple bypass surgery on Friday.
Is there anything Copeland can’t do?
“I don’t know," he said. "I’m still trying to figure that out.
“Where’s your cape?” Longnecker then asked.
“I don’t need a cape," Copeland said, smiling.
This is what heroes look like. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/firefighter-who-saved-referees-life-honored-at-basketball-game-in-kokomo-cpr-rescue-heart/531-0832dd6e-5698-400a-84ad-c4ba779c6da2 | 2022-06-17T05:08:54 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/firefighter-who-saved-referees-life-honored-at-basketball-game-in-kokomo-cpr-rescue-heart/531-0832dd6e-5698-400a-84ad-c4ba779c6da2 |
INDIANAPOLIS — News of the Federal Reserve's hike to interest rates by three-quarters of a percent didn't come as much of a surprise for real estate agents closely watching the market.
"It's definitely having an impact on people's pocket books," said Lynn Wheeler, president-elect of the Indiana Association of Realtors and senior VP at President Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Indiana Realty.
Wheeler said interest rates have been unusually low for a long time, and this will set them back at a more normal level.
“The big problem that it puts on people - or the big strain - is affordability," Wheeler said. "So the average home in central Indiana is about $260,000, and this raise added about $400 a month to the monthly payment for the average individual putting 20 percent down, just by taking the rates from low three percent to near six percent where they’ve traveled this year.”
Kyle Anderson, an economist with IU Kelley School of Business, said the Fed's rate hike will have many families feeling the squeeze, but added it's a necessary pain after the economy bounced back quickly from COVID-19 lockdowns.
"So what happened was demand rebounded very much. People were ready to get out and spend and buy things and jobs were plentiful, but the supply chain disruptions meant we couldn't bounce back on the supply side, so prices had nowhere to go but up," Anderson said.
So how will the rate hikes help?
Take the housing market.
With interest rates now higher, Anderson said fewer people will be interested in buying homes, and that will mean fewer homes being built over the next few years. In turn, Anderson said, that will cool the housing market and allow the supply chain to catch up to demand, allowing prices to stabilize and inflation to slow.
"It's certainly going to slow down the economy. And we've had a nicely-growing economy. We've got low unemployment. So we're running a risk that some of those things are going to turn around, and maybe we'll head into a recession. That's not a good thing, but it's probably worth the risk because we need to get this inflation under control," Anderson said.
Wheeler said until that happens, it'll be a challenging market for people looking to buy.
"We definitely have a lack of inventory and still high demand, so you'll still see multiple offers. You'll still see people rushing to the market, it's just going to be a little bit more unpredictable than it's been over the past year or two," said Wheeler. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/hoosier-housing-market-is-hot-feds-interest-rate-hike-will-make-an-impact-economy-money-homes/531-f8403efb-e8ac-4972-bbd2-c60a142069f1 | 2022-06-17T05:09:01 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/hoosier-housing-market-is-hot-feds-interest-rate-hike-will-make-an-impact-economy-money-homes/531-f8403efb-e8ac-4972-bbd2-c60a142069f1 |
AUSTIN, Texas — About 5,500 Austin Energy customers are without power tonight, according to the power company's outage map.
The outage was reported around 9:45 p.m. in southeast Austin. Power is estimated to be restored around 11:15 p.m., per the website.
The cause of the outage is unknown at this time as details remain limited.
KVUE has reached out to Austin Energy for details on the outage.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/austin-energy-reporting-5500-customers-without-power/269-972cd745-e37e-4eda-bd6c-48ee0d2a7646 | 2022-06-17T05:16:03 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/austin-energy-reporting-5500-customers-without-power/269-972cd745-e37e-4eda-bd6c-48ee0d2a7646 |
OLYMPIA, Wash — A bi-partisan group of Senate leaders are calling for Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler to resign after they say he fired a whistle-blower who came forward with allegations of mistreatment.
A statement from the Senate leaders said the allegations included "abusive and inappropriate workplace behaviors."
In a statement to KING 5 on Thursday, a spokesperson for the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) said the whistle-blower was an at-will, exempt employee.
"The agency made the decision to exercise its discretion to end [the employee's] exempt appointment as the OIC’s legislative liaison. This position is an at-will, exempt appointment that the agency can end at any time. The decision to end his appointment was made following ongoing discussions with [the employee] about his role in the office as the agency moves forward. [The employee] has been a valued member of our legislative and policy team and everyone wishes him well in his future endeavors."
The agency gave no reason for the employee's termination.
Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig on Thursday said in a statement that he had serious concerns regarding Kreidler following the “initial troubling reports of his behavior” toward employees.
“Now that he’s decided to fire the employee who had the courage to come forward in the first place, it’s become clear that the Insurance Commissioner did not learn from these past incidents and I believe it is time for him to step down,” Billig said.
Senate Republican Leader John Braun and other senators also called for Kreider's resignation on Thursday.
The Associated Press reports that previous media interviews, Kreider said he didn’t recall all of the alleged incidents, but acknowledged that he had used inappropriate language “every once in a while.”
Kreidler has said in response to the complaint that he has apologized to staff and “will be open to their feedback as I move forward,” the Associated Press reported.
Kreidler was first elected as insurance commissioner in 2000. He was re-elected to a sixth term in 2020. | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/olympia/state-insurance-office-aide-fired/281-886455b0-1953-4288-80d9-ed6c6603dbca | 2022-06-17T05:17:10 | 1 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/olympia/state-insurance-office-aide-fired/281-886455b0-1953-4288-80d9-ed6c6603dbca |
Raynham man crashes car with anti-Trump sticker into Easton Trump store, police say
EASTON — Police are investigating after a car with a bumper sticker critical of former President Donald Trump crashed through the front glass of a pro-Trump store, located in a prominent location beside Route 138.
A video posted by the Easton Police Department on Facebook shows the black Volkswagen Jetta slamming through the glass and plowing through several racks of clothing inside the New England for Trump store in Easton. Police said they were dispatched to the incident at approximately 5:10 p.m.
One employee was inside the store at the time of the crash. Police said he was not injured.
The store is located at 620 Washington St., alongside several restaurants and other businesses. A large sign in the style of Trump's campaign signs advertises "T-shirts, hats, flags and more" and Trump flags fill most of the windows.
Police said the Jetta was driven by a 46-year-old man from Raynham, who was transported to Good Samaritan Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Here's what $1M buys in Brockton area:Almost 20 properties sold for $1M-plus: May 2-6 real estate report
The driver's name was not immediately released.
Images from The Enterprise photographer Marc Vasconcellos show several bumper stickers on the rear of the Jetta, including one with a photo of Trump. The sticker includes a Voltaire quote — "those who make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities" — and a barcode on Trump's upper lip, which appears to be a reference to Adolph Hitler. | https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/easton-new-england-trump-raynham-man-crashes-car-into-store/7655116001/ | 2022-06-17T05:19:15 | 1 | https://www.enterprisenews.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/easton-new-england-trump-raynham-man-crashes-car-into-store/7655116001/ |
Federal offices: Closed Monday
State offices: Open Monday
Greensboro city offices: Closed Monday
High Point city offices: Closed Monday
County offices: Closed Monday
Schools: Closed Monday
Greensboro Transit: GTA and Access GSO operate on a normal schedule on Monday.
High Point Transit: HPTS Access and Hi Tran closed on Monday.
GARBAGE COLLECTION
(Week of June 20)
Greensboro: No collection on Monday. Monday’s collection is Tuesday. Tuesday’s collection is Wednesday. All other collections remain the same.
People are also reading…
High Point: Garbage collection is Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/juneteenth-closings/article_80de4b3e-eda9-11ec-940d-b3688f4959ac.html | 2022-06-17T05:20:23 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/juneteenth-closings/article_80de4b3e-eda9-11ec-940d-b3688f4959ac.html |
Allen County’s fire communication system could suffer a “catastrophic failure” if the County Council doesn’t quickly approve a $1.7 million update request, a council member said.
Huntertown Fire Chief Robert Boren presented the request Thursday to County Council. The Allen County Fire Chiefs Association asked for $1,684,225 to update the county fire’s paging system and corresponding technology on fire trucks.
Boren said the severe storms the county saw Monday are an example of why the request is time sensitive. The chiefs have been told by Mike Reichert of the public safety radio shop that the archaic system they are using is delicate.
“He’s told us numerous times that we are just one lightning strike away from a catastrophic failure of our paging system,” Boren said. “Our page system is what alerts us, gets us to calls, wakes up volunteers in the middle of the night, bothers us during our holidays, gets our attention when we are busy to make sure we are alerted and ready to go when we receive calls from the public.”
The technology would also give firefighters more resources, including up-to-date information from dispatch while crews are responding to an emergency.
The association asked the Allen County commissioners May 6 for funding from the county’s American Rescue Plan Act Fund, which has $73 million from the federal government for COVID-19 relief. Scott Schroeder, Marion Township trustee and Poe Township Fire Department chief, followed up last week with the commissioners, who said they are still working on a plan for the federal money.
During Monday’s storms, Boren said, some of the county fire departments were receiving about 40 calls an hour. But losing the communication system at any time could have major consequences.
Boren said he wanted to present the request to County Council so that the fire and county officials are all on the same page. Councilman Ken Fries said the county fire chiefs have waited long enough for an answer from the commissioners because the request was made more than a month ago.
“I don’t think we can continue to wait months and months for this,” he said.
Fries asked Auditor Nick Jordan if the commissioners have the money on hand to accommodate the request. Jordan said he would defer to the commissioners.
Commissioner Therese Brown, who was sitting in the audience, approached the podium to explain that the commissioners are waiting for a preliminary plan from Baker Tilly, the firm helping county officials with the pandemic relief funding.
“We’re open,” Brown said. “It’s just a question of where does it fit into the process.”
Fries asked if the federal dollars could be used to reimburse the county for the $1.7 million if the money comes out of another fund before the commissioners’ spending plan is finalized. Brown said that could create a touchy scenario because the county would lose that money if officials find out it can’t be reimbursed.
“I believe it still needs to be done,” Fries said. “We don’t know what storm comes next week.”
Fries said he would like to see a plan to help out the association by next month’s meeting at the latest. The next council meeting is July 14.
Council President Kyle Kerley pointed out that it wasn’t possible to do anything at Thursday’s meeting because proposed actions have to be advertised on the agenda that comes out 48 hours before.
The chiefs were on the agenda for a presentation without action.
The upgrades would benefit the 11 county fire departments, 23 stations outside of the city and 525 firefighters. Boren was joined by Schroeder, Chris Forbing of the Arcola Fire Department, and Brian Gillett of the Washington Township Fire Department.
“Collectively, we are all working together,” Boren said. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/councilman-asks-for-urgency-on-county-fire-request/article_944d3334-edb2-11ec-adb6-ff0ef6d9498c.html | 2022-06-17T05:27:03 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/councilman-asks-for-urgency-on-county-fire-request/article_944d3334-edb2-11ec-adb6-ff0ef6d9498c.html |
Allen County’s lack of a long-term plan for alleviating crowding and other problems at the county jail didn’t sit well with U.S. District Judge Damon Leichty.
Although the county has made progress on short-term goals, including overcrowding, there isn’t a specific plan to alleviate unconstitutional conditions at the jail over the long haul.
County officials also won’t meet a timeline they submitted to the court. They won’t have land for a potential new jail by August, Leichty learned from the county’s attorneys at Thursday’s hearing.
“So in a mere month’s time, the report to me is already outdated,” Leichty said. “We’re not starting out on the right foot.”
On March 31, Leichty ordered Allen County officials to make improvements based on a suit filed in January 2020 by Vincent Morris. The suit states that the jail is continually overcrowded and understaffed, has inmates sleeping on temporary beds and next to toilets and has maintenance issues, including clogged pipes.
County officials are looking for 60 to 70 acres of land to build on, said Ted Storer, attorney for the county. The delay will push the submitted plans back by about 45 days, Storer told Leichty.
The county is planning to build a jail large enough to accommodate 1,500 beds, based on projected needs, Storer said. The options are a new jail building large enough to hold all inmates – or a smaller building just for inmates with mental health and addiction issues and continued use of the existing downtown jail.
That decision depends on what architects will say about the condition of the current jail, he said. The county hasn’t hired an architecture firm yet but has received proposals in response to its advertisement.
The project would cost about $300 million, and construction would last three to four to years. “That’s going to be the largest construction project in Allen County history,” Storer said.
Attorney Laura Maser, also representing the county, said Allen officials are trying to ensure the jail is right for the county’s needs. She also said county officials thought that because the county reduced the jail population, they’d have more time for the long-term solution.
Leichty said it wasn’t up to the county to reinterpret what he said and he felt his order was clear.
The jail, with a capacity for 732 inmates, held more than 800 people Dec. 15. It’s now down to 680, although still using temporary beds. “These numbers are encouraging and moving in the right direction,” Leichty said.
He also approved of the jail’s efforts to give inmates more exercise time but wasn’t satisfied with low staff numbers, even though staff numbers have increased.
“I’d like to see continuing progress,” he said. Leichty set the next jail improvements hearing for 10:30 a.m. Aug. 25.
He told the county legal teams they should have a long-term plan with a specific timeline to him by July 15. The plaintiff’s legal team should respond with its opinion of that long-term plan by July 25.
“I am very interested in the long-term plan, and I don’t want to wait until August,” Leichty said.
Kenneth Falk, attorney for Morris, a previous inmate, said he’s pleased with the progress on overcrowding but remains concerned about the lack of guards. Some jail blocks regularly get left unattended, he said without specifying how long.
Falk also wants a plan with specific dates. If Allen County officials don’t believe they can make deadlines, they can inform the court, he said.
He accused the county of again dragging its feet on the jail’s condition.
“The county has long known the deficiencies of the jail,” Falk said. “They’ve chosen to ignore them.”
Leichty also delayed his decision on a friend of the court brief filed by local activist group Help Not Handcuffs until Aug. 25. The attorney who filed it June 15 was at a funeral.
John Feighner, the attorney representing the Allen County Sheriff’s Department and the jail, said the brief was ambiguously phrased.
If Leichty accepts the brief, the group would be able to participate in the jail discussions, said Help Not Handcuffs member Tony Borton.
“I’m disappointed we have to wait a few months to find out, but I’m optimistic,” Borton said. The group will continue to work on getting its voice heard, he added. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/courts/judge-unhappy-with-countys-lack-of-progress-on-jail/article_629c7eb0-edb9-11ec-88fe-43b07c273d87.html | 2022-06-17T05:27:09 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/courts/judge-unhappy-with-countys-lack-of-progress-on-jail/article_629c7eb0-edb9-11ec-88fe-43b07c273d87.html |
After several months without an executive director, the Fort Wayne Urban League has found its new leader in a city native.
Aisha Arrington will be taking over the position, the local Urban League announced Tuesday. She has been in the nonprofit sector for about 20 years, working for organizations including Aging and In-Home Services, Healthier Moms & Babies and the LTC Ombudsman Program.
The league hosted a meet and greet at its South Hanna Street headquarters Thursday, where residents could chat with Arrington and Urban League board members about her new position and what the future for the organization looks like.
“I’m very excited to get started – it’s really an honor to accept this position,” Arrington said. “The Urban League has a history of over a century advocating for our community, providing services and standing up for what’s right.”
Arrington said the Fort Wayne Urban League aligns with her passions well, and she’s excited to build relationships in the community.
Terra Brantley previously led the organization before moving to work as president and general manager of Northeast Indiana Public Radio in January. Brantley had led the group for six months before her departure.
The league conducted a nationwide search when looking for its next executive director, and Arrington said she felt supported throughout the process.
“It was just a breath of fresh air,” she said, “to really feel like I was sitting there with peers who were proud of how far I’ve come and willing to support me on my journey.”
George Guy, Urban League board chair, said at Thursday’s event that the group is excited for Arrington to begin work in her new position on July 5.
“We’re just happy that she’s going to be here to further the mission,” he said. “The Urban League is 100 years old and so to be able to further our mission is going to be a great thing.”
According to the nonprofit’s website, the local Urban League’s mission is “to advance social equity and economic self-reliance for African Americans and others in underserved communities.”
After looking at candidates, Guy said, it’s great that the organization found its next leader in the community. He believes Arrington will be able to make lasting connections and be a good partner to other institutions.
Leaders in other organizations are excited to see what Arrington will do. They include Joe Jordan, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne, who attended the meet and greet Thursday. He has seen Arrington’s work but had never worked with her directly.
“She has a passion for the mission,” Jordan said. “She’s demonstrated that she can lead anywhere with her experiences prior to coming to the Urban League.”
Jordan said he is most excited to see how Arrington will bring the community together.
The Urban League works with many agencies across the city, including local banks and Habitat for Humanity, Guy said. Now that the league has a leader in place, he believes those relationships are going to grow stronger.
“It’s going to give us a bigger presence,” Guy said. “We just have been attending meetings, but now we’re going to be able to have more of a physical presence.”
Guy said the board has “done a good job” keeping the league alive without an executive director, but the organization needs someone to provide a vision and leadership.
“It’s been tough, but the board is full of good people that believe in the mission,” he said. “We’re so thankful to have her on board now. She will be able to pick it up and put us to where we need to be.” | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/fort-wayne-urban-league-welcomes-new-leader/article_b77763d4-edd5-11ec-b1f3-3f7247a6f97c.html | 2022-06-17T05:27:16 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/fort-wayne-urban-league-welcomes-new-leader/article_b77763d4-edd5-11ec-b1f3-3f7247a6f97c.html |
Fort Wayne/ Allen County
GM hosts recycling event Tuesday
General Motors Fort Wayne Assembly plant, 12200 Lafayette Center Road, is hosting a drive-thru electronic recycling day for the general public from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Gary Duff, executive plant director, said the plant will make every effort to recycle anything possible, including food waste and cardboard. Worldwide, GM recycles 90% of its manufacturing waste, officials said. The following items will be accepted for recycling at no charge:
• Electronics including computers, laptops, monitors, printers, keyboards, mice, cable/satellite boxes, modems, stereo components, DVD players, speakers and small household appliances.
• Lights bulbs – CFLs, LEDs, 4-foot and 8-foot fluorescent bulbs
• Small batteries – AAA, AA, C, D, 9-volt
• Small scrap metal items (but no scrap items with refrigerant)
There is an additional cost for TVs and monitors:
• $2 – All sizes of flat-screen computer monitors
• $20 – 29 inches and smaller TVs/CRT monitors
• $30 – 30 inches and larger TVs/CRT monitors.
New Haven reopens part of Landin
The southbound lane of Landin Road in New Haven has reopened to traffic from North River Road to Powers Street, city officials said.
Only southbound traffic is permitted so that construction can be completed for the second phase of the project. Rose Avenue will remain closed and is scheduled to reopen July 1.
Some restrictions are still in effect. No left or right turns from the southbound lane will be allowed between North River Road and Powers Street.
The speed limit in this construction zone will remain at 35 mph.
The city asks that drivers make a full stop at the stop sign on Powers Street when accessing Landin Road and Broadway Street. Landin Road southbound traffic has the right of way and does not stop.
Area
Black Pine aligns with Big Cat group
Black Pine Animal Sanctuary in Albion on Thursday announced its updated involvement with the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance.
Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance works to eliminate the private ownership and commercial exploitation of big cats and supports members in providing quality lifetime care for wild cats in captivity. The organization supports professional development through an annual conference and facilitates collaboration and information sharing among its members.
Black Pine said the benefits of its new involvement include:
• Bringing awareness of big cat issues and their importance
• Strengthening the relationship between member sanctuaries
• Being able to speak with a unified voice
• Advancing standards of animal care
Trish Nichols, Black Pine’s executive director, recently joined the alliance’s finance committee and steering committee. The steering committee provides general governance for the organization, including setting policies and objectives. It is made up of volunteers from member organizations.
– Journal Gazette | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/metro-briefs/article_3a092aa4-ed8a-11ec-868d-ffd4a23691ae.html | 2022-06-17T05:27:22 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/metro-briefs/article_3a092aa4-ed8a-11ec-868d-ffd4a23691ae.html |
A local man is accused of running over a woman with an SUV, leaving her in a puddle of blood and with life-threatening injuries.
Drew R. Dent, 25, of the 5900 block of Bellechase Boulevard, was charged Tuesday with felony leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death or catastrophic injury. The charge carries a sentence of 2 to 12 years in prison.
The case is filed under miscellaneous criminal in online court records. That could mean more charges will be coming.
After police arrested Dent, he posted $10,000 bail on Tuesday but was scheduled to be held for 72 hours.
Emergency workers were called to Spy Run and Baltes Avenue about 10:20 p.m. May 7. Members of the Fort Wayne/Allen County Crash Team found the unnamed victim face down in a pool of blood in the far right lane of Spy Run. The woman had extensive damage to her face and “possibly all of her teeth missing,” according to the probable cause affidavit.
At a hospital, medical personnel intubated her because of a collapsed airway, and the doctor designated her condition as critical and life-threatening. Hospital personnel diagnosed her as having facial fractures, a broken jaw and bruised lungs with blood in her lungs, court records said. During the week of May 16, the woman underwent surgeries for reconstruction of her face and to have a feeding tube removed.
A witness told police that a black Dodge Durango with red lining on the rims and tinted windows struck the woman and fled on Spy Run. There were tire marks in a parking area and through a puddle on the south side of Baltes, court documents said. They show the vehicle continued west and turned north on Spy Run, where the woman was found.
A pair of crushed prescription glasses were in the tire tracks on Baltes and a pair of white Crocs were found north of where police found the woman, the affidavit said. The woman later identified them as hers.
A detective found the 2016 Durango in an apartment parking lot half a mile from the scene, off Tennessee Avenue. It was registered to Dent, records said.
The SUV’s engine was hot, indicating recent use, and there was mud splattered on the vehicle that was consistent with the Baltes puddle, court documents said. Police also found smeared fingerprints and handprints near the driver’s door and on the rear, driver’s-side window.
According to the affidavit, the woman and Dent had been at two breweries that night and had gotten into a fight that turned physical. Police found a Snapchat video from Dent showing one of the breweries.
Dent’s glasses were knocked off during the fight. He told two people over the phone that the woman grabbed and hung on to the vehicle as he drove away, court records said.
A witness who saw the woman lying in the street told police a gray vehicle with a paper license plate was parked in the street. It left when police flashed their lights, according to the witness.
Dent’s car had a paper plate when police found it.
Dent has a hearing scheduled for 10:30 a.m. today in Allen Superior Court. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/fort-wayne-man-arrested-charged-with-may-hit-and-run/article_bd620428-edbe-11ec-a060-c7f8ddc79a9a.html | 2022-06-17T05:27:28 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/fort-wayne-man-arrested-charged-with-may-hit-and-run/article_bd620428-edbe-11ec-a060-c7f8ddc79a9a.html |
An 89-year-old Waynedale woman died from injuries suffered during Monday night’s storm, the Allen County coroner’s office said Thursday.
Janet M. Howell was at her home in the 5400 block of Mason Drive, near Sand Point Road, during the derecho that weather officials said produced straight-line winds as high as 98 mph.
She received a severe cut from glass shattered by the storm, said Michael Burris, chief investigator for the coroner’s office.
Howell was transported in an ambulance to a hospital where she was taken to an operating room. She died from severe blood loss due to “sharp forced” injuries because of shattered glass. Her death was ruled an accident.
Howell’s death is the only reported storm-related death in Allen County from this week’s thunderstorms, Burris said.
The Waynedale area where Howell lived was among the city’s hardest-hit areas, officials said.
As of 9 p.m. Thursday, about 3,600 Indiana Michigan Power customers in Fort Wayne – most of them in Waynedale and an area west of the city – were still without power. Power was expected to be restored by late Thursday, but some customers, especially in Waynedale, might not get their power back until today, I&M said.
About 230 I&M customers in the Avilla area were still without power at 4 p.m. Thursday but were expected to get their power back Thursday evening.
In total, about 41,000 I&M customers lost power because of the storm that swept through northeast Indiana and southwest Michigan.
I&M crews found more than 340 broken or heavily damaged utility poles, more than 60 damaged transformers and 700 spans of downed wires, officials said.
Six Fort Wayne traffic signals were still out at 4:15 p.m. Thursday because of the storm, officials said. Most were in Waynedale and southwest Fort Wayne. More than 20 were out immediately after the storm.
The city announced Thursday it will assist with a residential cleanup of tree debris from the hardest hit areas.
Beginning June 27, city crews and contracted crews will focus efforts in the Waynedale and Aboite areas. It could take a few weeks for the work to be completed, officials said.
Crews will make one pass through the affected areas, so residents are asked to have tree debris set out at the curb.
Residents also are encouraged to continue using the drop-off sites that have been established:
• The City’s Biosolids Facility at 6202 Lake Ave. is accepting tree branches and tree limbs from residential areas.
• Republic Services is also accepting tree debris at their compost site at the landfill, 6231 MacBeth Road. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/woman-dies-from-storm-related-injuries/article_1fe7eada-edbb-11ec-b8f4-db91560beb4a.html | 2022-06-17T05:27:34 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/woman-dies-from-storm-related-injuries/article_1fe7eada-edbb-11ec-b8f4-db91560beb4a.html |
Smith-Green Community Schools announced Thursday it is searching for a new superintendent now that its current leader has plans to direct a district just north of Indianapolis.
Daniel Hile led the 1,200-student Churubusco district for five years and was the region’s 2022 Superintendent of the Year. He previously worked in Smith-Green as a teacher, assistant principal and principal.
He will lead Noblesville Schools, which has about 10,600 students, effective July 1. Its board approved his contract Wednesday.
Jeremy Hart, Smith-Green school board president, congratulated Hile for his new role.
“His commitment to and success at Smith-Green Community Schools as a teacher, building administrator and superintendent is beyond measure, and he will be difficult to replace,” Hart said in a statement. “We wish him and his family all the very best. We are confident that he will experience the same level of success in Noblesville as he enjoyed here in Churubusco.”
Smith-Green will accept Hile’s resignation at its board meeting Monday, a news release said, adding Randy Zimmerly will be hired as interim superintendent. Zimmerly previously retired after serving as Westview Schools’ longtime superintendent. He most recently served for about eight months as interim superintendent at Fairfield Community Schools in Goshen.
Zimmerly and others will help the board develop the superintendent application process and establish an interview and hiring schedule, the release said.
Smith-Green is at least the fourth northeast Indiana district to undergo a leadership change in the last two years. Fort Wayne Community Schools, Southwest Allen County Schools and Northwest Allen County Schools have each hired a new superintendent since 2020.
A Noblesville news release indicated that Hile, his wife and their two children plan to move to Noblesville. His son will attend Noblesville High School, and his daughter will be a college student.
Noting relationships are central to everything educators do, Hile said he looks forward to building strong connections in Noblesville.
“I’m humbled and excited to have this opportunity to be part of such an outstanding school culture and community,” he said in a statement. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/schools/smith-green-superintendent-accepts-noblesville-job/article_a61e52a4-edbd-11ec-9f1a-97a78b6112f9.html | 2022-06-17T05:27:40 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/schools/smith-green-superintendent-accepts-noblesville-job/article_a61e52a4-edbd-11ec-9f1a-97a78b6112f9.html |
Two large projects were pulled from Thursday’s public hearing agenda of the Allen County Plan Commission because of unforeseen problems.
Ashton Acres, described as a 64-unit “affordable, independent, multifamily senior housing development” was withdrawn by Keller Development, Fort Wayne.
Keller representative Dawn Galloway said “engineering concerns that developed after we applied” led to the request to pull plans for the Perry Township project at 16000 Tonkel Road in northern Allen County.
A large mixed-use development at the northeast corner of Lower Huntington Road and Airport Expressway in Lafayette Township was granted a 30-day delay requested by the applicant, WK Indiana Equity LLC, Roanoke.
Mark Bains, a Fort Wayne attorney with Barrett-McNagny, said there was a last-minute conflict – but also that the applicant “wanted more time to respond to concerns” raised by the Department of Planning Services staff.
The project’s staff report says the development’s application did not include details about the proposed commercial and multiple-family residential areas.
The plan commission typically discourages such applications for speculative rezoning.
Also, the report notes the county’s current land-use policies encourage industrial and commercial development for the site in southwest Allen County – and discourages commercial uses such as what the applicant suggests.
The site is also part of an area whose uses are being reviewed for a revised comprehensive plan expected shortly.
Near the proposed IU Health campus, the 18-acre site would support 150 multiple-family units, 200 hotel rooms and a gas station and a convenience store, the applicant said in proposing the project.
Bains said letters had been sent notifying neighbors of the delay until the plan commission’s public hearing at 1 p.m. July 14 in Room 30 of Citizens Square.
In other business, the plan commission heard presentations on Providence Flats, an apartment complex, and Whisper Creek, a single-family home development.
Providence Flats is one phase of a multiphase Perry Township project anchored by a winery. The project, at 12328 Diebold Road, consists of 13 three-story apartment buildings plus four garage structures, a clubhouse and a pool.
Developer Jeff Thomas, representing Vasari Development, Fort Wayne, told plan commissioners the project at the southeast corner of Diebold and Union Chapel roads is designed to eventually include duplexes and single-family homes.
Thomas said he did not know the range of rents for the apartments but that they would be market rate. He added the units are closely spaced to create a “campus like” environment he described as “unique to Allen County.”
The project was opposed by one neighbor who said the apartments are on a high spot and some would look down directly on her backyard.
Another neighbor said when the winery was proposed, neighbors were promised “low-profile” apartments, but the proposal now seeks to exceed maximum height standards by 20 feet, from 30 to 50 feet.
The Whisper Creek proposal, on the east side of the 16000 block of Tonkel Road south of Schlatter Road in northern Allen County’s Cedar Creek Township, proposes 20 lots, with some having natural features, including a pond, wetlands and storm basins.
The applicant’s representative, Kevin McDermit of Lougheed & Associates, Fort Wayne, said all the lots except one are at least 40,000 square feet.
Planning staff said they would like to see a reconfigured layout of the properties to place some features in common areas instead of on individual properties.
Two nearby residents said they were opposed to the development because it was too close to their homes.
They also expressed concern about traffic on Tonkel and Schlatter roads and said the 20 individual private wells proposed by the developer would negatively impact the water table.
The plan commission is expected to vote on the two housing projects during a business meeting at 1 p.m. Thursday in Room 30 of Citizens Square. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/two-projects-pulled-from-county-plan-commission-agenda/article_71ef6b2c-eda8-11ec-8b78-1724b3be26af.html | 2022-06-17T05:27:46 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/two-projects-pulled-from-county-plan-commission-agenda/article_71ef6b2c-eda8-11ec-8b78-1724b3be26af.html |
WASHINGTON — If you’re feeling a surge of optimism over the Phillies’ chances of finally returning to the playoffs, it’s probably because they’ve reeled off 11 wins in 13 games since firing the manager. Or maybe it’s because they’re averaging 6.4 runs per game in June.
But here’s one more reason to buy Phillies stock: Nearly 20% of their remaining games are against the Washington Nationals.
A revised schedule after the owners’ lockout forced the Phillies to wait 64 games to get a look at what has become of their division rival, and well, they feasted. They scored seven — yes, seven — unearned runs in the third inning Thursday night, and backed by two homers from Kyle Schwarber and seven easy-breezy innings from Zack Wheeler, they laughed to a 10-1 victory.
Was it really only three seasons ago that the Nationals won the World Series? They will honor Ryan Zimmerman this weekend, and while it figures to be a fitting tribute to a franchise icon, it also will be the latest reminder of how far the mighty have fallen.
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The Nationals are 23-43, the worst record in the National League, and on pace for 105 losses. They’re 5-21 against NL East teams. The New York Mets are 8-2 against them; the Atlanta Braves are 4-2; the Miami Marlins are 8-1.
Eighteen of the Phillies’ final 98 games will be against Washington. Try not to drool.
Credit the Phillies for taking advantage of the Nationals’ mistakes, but man, do the Nationals make a lot of them. César Hernández, a fixture during the Phillies’ rebuilding years and now a face of the Nationals’, made the biggest one in the first matchup between the teams, booting No. 9-hitting Yairo Muñoz’s two-out grounder in the third inning.
Instead of being out of the inning, Nationals starter Patrick Corbin had to face the top of the Phillies’ order. He gave up a two-run homer to Schwarber, a double to Rhys Hoskins, a walk to Bryce Harper, RBI singles to Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto, and a two-run double to Didi Gregorius.
And with that, the rout was on.
The Phillies sent 12 batters to the plate, scored seven runs, and made Corbin throw 46 pitches in the fateful third inning. There wasn’t any coming back from that, especially against Wheeler.
With four games in the next three days, including a day-night doubleheader Friday, the Nationals turned to infielder Ehire Adrianza to throw 60 mph sliders in the ninth inning. The Phillies, meanwhile, emptied the bench like it was spring training, giving Hoskins, Castellanos, and Gregorius a couple of innings off.
Mr. Schwarber goes to Washington
It isn’t a stretch to say that Schwarber was positioned to land a four-year, $79 million contract in free agency because of what he did last June for the Nationals.
Schwarber was plodding along, batting .218 with nine homers and a .716 on-base plus slugging last June 11 when manager Davey Martinez elevated him to the leadoff spot for a doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants. Schwarber homered in the first game, the start of a 24-for-73, 16-homer tear in 19 games over the rest of the month.
With the Phillies, Schwarber is having a similarly impressive June.
When the month began, he was hitting .185 with a .721 OPS. He went 2 for 4 with a walk and two homers in the opener against the Nationals, his second trip back to Washington since getting traded last July. Over the last 14 games, he’s 16 for 53 (.302) with seven homers and a .422 on-base percentage.
Wheels keeps rolling
Staked to the big lead, Wheeler barely broke a sweat. He gave up four hits, struck out three batters and got 10 groundouts in seven walk-free innings. The lone blemish against him: a solo homer by Josh Bell in the fourth inning.
Over his last nine starts, Wheeler has given up eight earned runs in 57 2/3 innings for a 1.25 ERA.
Kelly, Muñoz contribute
The blowout also provided a soft landing for reliever Michael Kelly to make his major league debut. He tossed a scoreless eighth inning, allowing one walk.
Muñoz notched his first Phillies hit, a homer in the eighth inning. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/phillies-cruise-to-10-1-victory-vs-nationals/article_63fc20f4-eda9-11ec-b753-5bfefd1e4531.html | 2022-06-17T05:38:22 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/phillies-cruise-to-10-1-victory-vs-nationals/article_63fc20f4-eda9-11ec-b753-5bfefd1e4531.html |
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Searching for solutions to Philadelphia's gun violence crisis | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/seeking-peace-in-philly/pa-state-police-and-philly-police-increase-presence-in-high-crime-areas/3273764/ | 2022-06-17T05:41:27 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/seeking-peace-in-philly/pa-state-police-and-philly-police-increase-presence-in-high-crime-areas/3273764/ |
The death of a Chesterfield County fire recruit who collapsed during a 2-mile run with his academy class has all the characteristics of “exertional sickling,” a life-threatening condition resulting from the sickling of red blood cells during intense exercise, said an expert in the field who tracks such deaths nationally and has studied the condition for 35 years.
“This is a classical exertional sickling,” Dr. Randy Eichner, professor emeritus of medicine of the Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, said after reviewing a 150-page report released Thursday by Chesterfield Fire & EMS into the July 2021 death of fire recruit TyVaughn Eldridge, 26.
A multidisciplinary and multijurisdictional “fatality review team,” which included fire officials from Richmond, Henrico and Hanover, spent months examining Eldridge’s death and the events leading up to it. He died on his 26th birthday.
Eldridge was the fifth line-of-duty death in the department’s history and first that occurred during training activities.
During his academy’s first physical training exercise at 8 a.m. on July 1, 2021, Eldridge was with fellow recruits running a 2.15-mile course with a pace of 9 minutes, 44 seconds. The temperature was 79 degrees. He began to falter at the 1.4-mile mark and fell to the ground shortly thereafter, according to the report.
Although he said he wanted to continue, Eldridge was unable to walk or stand on his own. His level on consciousness soon decreased and he was taken to CJW Medical Center, where he was admitted into intensive care. He died two days later, on July 3, 2021.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed an autopsy and determined Eldridge’s cause of death to be “complications related to hyperthermia,” or an abnormally high body temperature.
Following the incident, Eldridge’s fellow recruits were interviewed and asked to rate the intensity of the physical training on the day Eldridge collapsed. The class rated the run an average of five or six on a scale of 1 to 10.
“They rated the pace of the run as either average or moderate,” the report said.
‘Long family history’ in the fire service
Eichner and colleagues in his field of study track nontraumatic exertional deaths, mainly in athletes, but also in the military and in police and firefighter academies.
They are aware of the deaths of at least eight fire recruits and one firefighter who had sickle cell traits and died of exertional sickling during training exercises dating to 1988. Eichner said his group is working to confirm three or four others, including Eldridge’s death and that of another firefighter recruit who died Wednesday during a pre-employment fitness exercise in Greensboro, N.C.
Eldridge’s collapse and death that followed a timed, paced run is indicative of exertional sickling, Eichner said.
“It was a conscious collapse, classical for exertional sickling,” Eichner said. “He complained of leg pain and was unable to stand on his own even after a few minutes rest, with the [fire instructor] saying he was responsive and denied chest pain or shortness of breath upon collapse.”
Eldridge told the instructor that he just needed a minute to collect himself and that he wanted to finish the run. But he “failed to improve” after a few minutes of rest, so fire officials called an ambulance.
Eichner said what’s missing from Chesterfield’s report are Eldridge’s medical and hospital records, which with some help from detailed EMS records could provide more answers as to the underlying causes of the recruit’s death.
The fatality review team noted high in the report that their investigation had limitations and lacked access to Eldridge’s completed medical records and history beyond the pre-employment medical records that were in Chesterfield’s possession.
“Moreover, neither the investigative team nor Chesterfield Fire & EMS had the authority or resources to require additional post-mortem testing for which to draw definitive conclusions of pre-existing medical conditions or causal factors that may have precipitated or contributed to the medical emergency Firefigher Recruit Eldridge suffered and his ultimate death,” the report states.
A Richmond City Council committee on Thursday endorsed the adoption of a strategic economic development plan that includes a goal of inducing …
Eldridge was 25 when hired by Chesterfield with a “long family history” in the fire service. He expressed from an early age his desire to continue in that tradition as a career firefighter, according to the report.
He was active in many sports but preferred baseball and was involved in the Henrico Police Athletic League as a participant and later as a counselor/mentor for other youth in the league. On his pre-employment questionnaire, Eldridge indicated he engaged in regular physical activity and worked out at the gym five times a week, the report said.
On Nov. 5, 2020, Eldridge successfully completed the Chesterfield Fire & EMS physical ability test, which consists of eight skill stations that represent the common physical tasks required of firefighter-EMTs, according to the report. After being offered employment in April 2021, Eldridge was sent an email the following month with an orientation letter that noted recruit school “will be very physically demanding.”
“For most of you, this will be the most difficult thing you have ever done,” the letter stated. “If you have not already done so, I would suggest you start to train on your own and be prepared to run at least 2 miles, two days a week at a pace of 9 minutes per mile. You will be performing many anaerobic and strength training exercises.”
Medical evaluation for employment
As a condition for employment, Eldridge was required to complete a medical evaluation performed by a physician that is based on recommendations from the National Fire Protection Association. Chesterfield Fire & EMS’s operational medical director reviewed Eldridge’s medical evaluation and concurred he met the established requirements. There was no exclusionary findings in his evaluation.
Eldridge’s family could not immediately be reached for comment on the report. A Chesterfield fire spokesperson reached out to the family at the request of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and provided a reporter’s number to call if they desired to speak.
"We are still trying to put this one together," police said. "We do not have any (definitive) suspect or lead information at this point."
Supporting documents attached to the report shows that Chesterfield fire officials notified Virginia Occupational Safety and Health authorities about Eldridge’s hospitalization and death within the required time frame, and after an investigation and inspection of the department’s workplace, VOSH did not find any violations.
In a September letter to Chesterfield that included a “health narrative,” the agency wrote that Chesterfield Fire & EMS has policies and procedures to reduce strenuous physical activity during emergency incidents and training. And the policy specifically requires determining the weather for the day, the need for hydration and the physical and mental rest of employees that are training.
Based on interviews VOSH conducted, the agency determined that fire instructors followed the policy as required. They checked the heat index that day and provided recruits with water and the ability to rest and stop
“The employer had in place and utilized procedures to address heat stress and physical strain,” the agency said. “No violations of standards were observed.”
Localities with the highest unemployment rate in Virginia
Localities with the highest unemployment rate in Virginia | https://richmond.com/news/local/medical-expert-says-chesterfield-fire-recruit-who-collapsed-during-run-died-of-exertional-sickling/article_14cf8a78-5f90-5960-b65f-1f2561742490.html | 2022-06-17T05:44:36 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/medical-expert-says-chesterfield-fire-recruit-who-collapsed-during-run-died-of-exertional-sickling/article_14cf8a78-5f90-5960-b65f-1f2561742490.html |
CALIFORNIA, USA — Two years after the COVID-19 pandemic began and a year after Disneyland reopened its doors, many Californians are probably thinking about visiting the park.
Below is a list of five things you should know, or are probably curious about, before you plan your trip to the "happiest place on earth."
When is the best time to go?
According to its website, "it's always a great time to visit Disney theme parks! However, when planning a trip to the Disneyland Resort, expect lower crowds from mid-September through mid-November (before the Thanksgiving break). Mid-January through mid-March is another time when potentially lower crowds are expected."
When is it open?
Disneyland Park is open generally from 8 a.m. to midnight, Disney California Adventures Park is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Downtown Disney District is open from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m.
For exact hours, click here.
How much are tickets?
A standard theme park ticket varies by how many days you will be visiting the park and if you want to visit one or both parks — Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.
Here is a quick example to gauge ticket prices, according to the Disneyland website for one person.
One day (June 27): $146 + $60 (Park Hopper ticket)
Two days (June 27-28): $255 + $60 (Park Hopper ticket)
To get the exact price of your adventure, you will have to purchase your ticket through the website, and depending on the day and month, your price will vary.
Do California residents still get a discount?
The short answer is yes.
According to Disneyland's website, California residents can visit the Disneyland Resort theme parks for as little as $83 per day with the purchase of a 3-day, 1-park per day ticket for admission on Mondays through Thursdays.
More information can be found here.
Top things to do and see?
This is a topic that can be controversial depending on who you ask. Most people will say the rides are the main thing to do at Disneyland, while others will say the food or meeting the characters are the highlights.
Travel site Tripsavvy made an easy-to-follow "The Top 10 Things to Do at Disneyland" guide to help you get an idea of what you may want to do. Here are five items from the list.
- Enjoy the rides
- Meet Disney Characters
- See a Show
- Watch a Parade
- Watch the Fireworks
As for what rides you should definitely try out? Here are the top five to note:
- Space Mountian
- Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!
- Incredicoaster
- Jungle Cruise
- Haunted Mansion
For a full list of Attractions and Entertainment, click here. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/disneyland-travel-attractions/103-c4a62939-6b6e-49a7-9448-4577d4a68b04 | 2022-06-17T05:52:13 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/disneyland-travel-attractions/103-c4a62939-6b6e-49a7-9448-4577d4a68b04 |
LONOKE, Arkansas — The Arkansas heat came a lot sooner than any of us expected and the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office was a little unprepared when people started calling them to ask for fans.
This weather has been nothing to joke about and it hasn't looked like it will be cooling down anytime soon.
In years past, the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office has usually helped the community stay safe by providing free fans and air conditioning units to those who need them. But this year they've struggled with meeting the demand.
"We try to get donations early and uh build up a stockpile if you will," said Lieutenant James Hall with Lonoke County Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff's office has provided the donations for last 8 years.
"This is something we started doing just to do because we were getting so many calls about people getting heat stroke," said Lt. Hall.
Being able to provide fans and air conditioning units for the public, all relies on donations.
Before they decided to put out a call for help, they weren't getting any donations at all. Right now, they have 8 fans and a couple air conditioning units. So they're still in need of more donations.
They have typically given out between 100-200 fans and about 50 A/C units each year. They would also deliver them to the homes and set them up to make sure they work.
Officers like Lieutenant Hall have said that they know this program works, and Hall hopes that it could one day be done by all Arkansas law enforcement agencies.
"If we can get donations brought in and get all 75 counties then we can really show not only what the state of Arkansas can do, but we can show the whole country that when you come together you can take care of a very very big problem," said Lt. Hall.
If you are in need of a fan or air conditioner, or if you would like to donate, please call the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office at (501) 676-3001. | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/lonoke-county-sheriffs-office-donations-help-save-lives/91-fdf09080-d15c-43d0-be4d-cb946db2276a | 2022-06-17T05:55:11 | 1 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/lonoke-county-sheriffs-office-donations-help-save-lives/91-fdf09080-d15c-43d0-be4d-cb946db2276a |
OLYMPIA, Wash — A bi-partisan group of Senate leaders are calling for Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler to resign after they say he fired a whistle-blower who came forward with allegations of mistreatment.
A statement from the Senate leaders said the allegations included "abusive and inappropriate workplace behaviors."
In a statement to KING 5 on Thursday, a spokesperson for the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) said the whistle-blower was an at-will, exempt employee.
"The agency made the decision to exercise its discretion to end [the employee's] exempt appointment as the OIC’s legislative liaison. This position is an at-will, exempt appointment that the agency can end at any time. The decision to end his appointment was made following ongoing discussions with [the employee] about his role in the office as the agency moves forward. [The employee] has been a valued member of our legislative and policy team and everyone wishes him well in his future endeavors."
The agency gave no reason for the employee's termination.
Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig on Thursday said in a statement that he had serious concerns regarding Kreidler following the “initial troubling reports of his behavior” toward employees.
“Now that he’s decided to fire the employee who had the courage to come forward in the first place, it’s become clear that the Insurance Commissioner did not learn from these past incidents and I believe it is time for him to step down,” Billig said.
Senate Republican Leader John Braun and other senators also called for Kreider's resignation on Thursday.
The Associated Press reports that previous media interviews, Kreider said he didn’t recall all of the alleged incidents, but acknowledged that he had used inappropriate language “every once in a while.”
Kreidler has said in response to the complaint that he has apologized to staff and “will be open to their feedback as I move forward,” the Associated Press reported.
Kreidler was first elected as insurance commissioner in 2000. He was re-elected to a sixth term in 2020. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/state-insurance-office-aide-fired/281-886455b0-1953-4288-80d9-ed6c6603dbca | 2022-06-17T06:04:08 | 0 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/state-insurance-office-aide-fired/281-886455b0-1953-4288-80d9-ed6c6603dbca |
Police are searching for a group of five burglars who have stolen ATMs from 42 businesses across Brooklyn and Queens over a six-month span — taking not just the cash, but the entire machines as part of the heists.
Each of the thefts, which started back in Dec. 2021, have occurred in the evening or overnight, while the businesses — ranging from donut shops to laundromats — have been closed.
Video provided by the NYPD from a previous burglary on Fulton Street shows one of the thieves pulling the ATM from the wall, then rolling it to an aisle with a broken window. The man and an accomplice on the outside can be seen on video seemingly trying to figure out how to get the cash machine out of the store.
Video from the East New York Deli on Elton Street from early June showed two burglars use a tool to break the lock on a metal gate, while a third person stood watch. When they were done, they raised the gate and smashed open a window to climb inside the shop.
One store clerk believes that the suspects must have scoped out his store beforehand.
"The crazy thing, they definitely been here cause they only broke the particular spot where the ATM was. They didn’t break nowhere else, just that," he said. "Unfortunately they seem to know what they’re doing, because 42? That’s not luck anymore."
Police said they are investigating, but have not yet drawn a connection to ATM thefts previously spotlighted by NBC New York in April. Those crooks also hit businesses in Brooklyn and Queens, wheeling entire machines from stores.
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The sheer number of ATMs taken in the latest theft pattern — as well as the $60,000 stolen — has local businesses urging police to catch the group quickly.
No arrests have yet been made. An investigation is ongoing. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/group-of-thieves-has-stolen-atms-from-42-nyc-businesses-in-6-month-span-police/3738365/ | 2022-06-17T06:04:10 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/group-of-thieves-has-stolen-atms-from-42-nyc-businesses-in-6-month-span-police/3738365/ |
April 28, 1941 - June 14, 2022
PORTAGE - Farish "Al" Albert Boggs, age 81 of Portage, IN passed away on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 in Valparaiso, IN. He was born on April 28, 1941 in Mount Sterling , OH to John and Helen (Dials) Boggs.
Al is survived by Ella Mae Karris-Boggs; sons: Kevin (Debby) Boggs, Bob (Ann) Boggs; daughters: Penny (Jacqueline) Reeves, Sue (Jim) Davis; brother, Leonard (Lucy) Boggs; step-sons: Nick Karris, Bill (Denise) Karris, John (Keri) Karris, and Dorothy; eight grandchildren; many great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents: John Robert Boggs and Helen Boggs; son, Farish Boggs, Jr.; brother, Everett Boggs; sister, Mary Stalter; granddaughter, Anna Reeves; wife, Sandra Rae Boggs.
Al was a very loving, compassionate, giving person who will be missed deeply. He was a lifetime member of Local 150 Operating Engineers. Al was very active in the republican party. He spent his retirement as a ranger at Robinhurst Golf Course golfing, traveling with Sue and Bob, and playing cards with Terry and Denise. Al coached Portage Junior Miss Softball and Portage Little League. He coached Porter County Basketball Special Olympics.
Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until the time of funeral service at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 17, 2022 at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home Portage Chapel, 6941 Central Avenue, Portage, IN 46368.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the organization of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.ee-fh.com. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/obituaries/farish-al-albert-boggs/article_617ae588-7ab1-5423-b911-4a5fe8144456.html | 2022-06-17T06:29:09 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/obituaries/farish-al-albert-boggs/article_617ae588-7ab1-5423-b911-4a5fe8144456.html |
June 26, 1942 - June 12, 2022
BURNS HARBOR - Jerry L. Wolford, 79, Burns Harbor, Indiana passed away on Sunday, June 12, 2022 at 2:54 P.M. at Regency Hospital, Portage, IN. Private family services will be conducted at the Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, Michigan City, IN who is handling arrangements.
A life worth living gives proof to the words "No Regrets". Jerry lived by these words.
He was born on June 26, 1942 in Galien, MI to the late Victor and Venessa (Murdock) Wolford. On May 4, 1974, he married the love of his life, MaryBeth Griswold, who survives in Burns Harbor, IN. Also surviving are his son, Derrick (Vanessa) Wolford of Chesterton, IN; his granddaughter, Aerianna Wolford; sister, Rhonda (Mark) Alison of Niles, MI; five brothers: Jim (Jenny) Wolford of Niles, MI, Don (Claire) Wolford of Dowagiac, MI, Dale (Ruth) Wolford of Edwardsburg, MI and Del Wolford and Charles Wolford, both of Texas. He was also preceded in death by two sisters: Jackie Clark and Joan Wolford.
After serving his country in the U.S. Navy, he worked as a foreman at Bethlehem Steel where he retired after 32 years. Jerry was the ultimate outdoorsman, and fishing was his favorite sport. He regularly organized fly-out trips to Canada for family and friends where many memories were made. Together, he and Mary lived life to the fullest and enjoyed camping, motorcycling, snowmobiling and skiing. More boating adventures followed at their Cape Coral, FL home where they wintered for many years. Jerry was also known for his fine culinary skills - he truly loved to cook and grill for others! The force of his personality, and the presence of this strong man who truly was a gentle giant, will be very much missed by all.
"No Regrets"
The family wishes to thank the many nurses and doctors who cared for Jerry in his last years, along with everyone who visited to brighten his days.
Contributions in Jerry's memory may be made to The World Wildlife Fund,
1250 24th St., N.W., Washington, DC 20037. To sign a guest book and leave condolences online visit our web site at www.otthaverstock.com. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/obituaries/jerry-l-wolford/article_7e9f79e4-99e0-5764-bfd7-c246e27901a9.html | 2022-06-17T06:29:15 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/obituaries/jerry-l-wolford/article_7e9f79e4-99e0-5764-bfd7-c246e27901a9.html |
John Joseph Magon
July 16, 1932 - June 10, 2022
SOUTH HOLLAND, IL - John Joseph Magon, 89, of Long Beach, Indiana, formerly of South Holland, IL, passed away unexpectedly Friday, June 10, 2022.
He was born July 16, 1932, in Chicago, Illinois, to Sebastian and Katherine (Inglot) Magon. He was the youngest of nine.
John practiced dentistry in South Holland, Illinois, where he resided in his home.
On February 19, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, he married Patricia (Chase) Magon, who preceded him in death on October 31, 2001. Also preceding in death were his parents; eight siblings; and daughter-in-law, Dr. Carol Brown.
Surviving are his four children: Michael, Katherine, Christopher, and Garrett (Bonnie) Magon; and two grandsons: Kyle and Zachary Magon.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 25, 2022 at Christ Our Savior Catholic Church, 880 E. 154th St., South Holland, IL 60473 with Fr. Gosbert and Deacon Renwick officiating. Lakeview Funeral Home & Crematory, La Porte, IN (219) 362-3100 is caring for the arrangements.
Please send condolences to the family at www.LakeviewFHC.com. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/obituaries/john-joseph-magon/article_6cd06450-ccdb-56ff-94d5-060ff3d175c8.html | 2022-06-17T06:29:21 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/obituaries/john-joseph-magon/article_6cd06450-ccdb-56ff-94d5-060ff3d175c8.html |
April 2, 1987 - June 5, 2022
MONTICELLO - It is with tremendous heartache and sorrow, that the family of Joseph Dominic Vicari, 35, of Monticello, Indiana announces his unexpected passing on June 5, 2022.
Joey was born on April 2, 1987, in Crown Point, Indiana and was so loved by his family. His smile and sense of humor lit up their lives. He was self-styled, ever so talented and handsome to boot!
Joey is survived by his mother, Lisa Ann (Michael) Hurd; and his maternal half-siblings: Rachel (Charles) Karge and Michael Hurd; maternal grandparents: James and Lana Will; aunt, Mary Schoon; uncles: Robert Will (Tena) and Robert Corbin; as well as four maternal nieces; nephews; and six cousins.
Joey is also survived by his father, Jonathan (Christine) Vicari; his paternal grandmother, Nancy Vicari; aunts and uncles: David (Patti) Vicari, Michael Vicari, Susan (Tony) Zdanowicz, Anne (Walter) Diambri, Lisa (Michael) Zdanowicz, Patricia (Jack) Lewis, Paul (Anne) Vicari and Daniel (Sarah) Vicari; twenty-four paternal cousins; and thirteen second cousins.
Joey was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Dominic Vicari Jr, IBEW Hammond Local 697. His greatest pride was following in his grandpa's footsteps; Joey was a member of IBEW Indianapolis Local 1393, proudly working as a foreman on the Dunns Bridge Solar Farm project out of IBEW LaPorte Local 531 before his death.
Joey's family will hold a private service and celebration of his life. Selflessly, Joey's prior direction upon his death was that he donate his organs and he has helped many recipients with that precious gift of life.
His beloved dog, Rocky, was at Joey's side when he passed away. As such, please consider a donation in Joey's name to the White County Animal Wellness Center. Donations can be made through White County Community Foundation at www.cfwhitecounty.org. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/obituaries/joseph-dominic-joey-vicari/article_b6129f3b-8377-5107-9acc-dc752c422a6c.html | 2022-06-17T06:29:27 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/obituaries/joseph-dominic-joey-vicari/article_b6129f3b-8377-5107-9acc-dc752c422a6c.html |
Aug. 25, 1944 - June 14, 2022
VALPARAISO - Nancy Ann (Uzelac) Silver, 77 of Valparaiso, passed away on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. She was born on August 25, 1944 in Chicago, IL, to Nicholas and Rose (Lulich) Uzelac.
Nancy will be remembered for her many years behind the chair at Images Hair Designs where she was also the proud owner. Later in life, she moved on to a career in real estate. She will be remembered as a successful business woman, a hard worker, and for her generosity to her family and friends.
Nancy is survived by her husband, James Silver; daughters: Laura (Steven) Remijan and Lisa (Scott) Reed; and grandchildren: Nicholas Remijan, Kate Remijan, Samuel Reed, and Sophie Reed.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Nicholas and Rose; and sister, Judith Pavich.
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude for the condolences. There will not be a service at this time. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/obituaries/nancy-ann-uzelac-silver/article_9d9a6c19-0d85-5e1f-bd93-b9bfff01afca.html | 2022-06-17T06:29:34 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/obituaries/nancy-ann-uzelac-silver/article_9d9a6c19-0d85-5e1f-bd93-b9bfff01afca.html |
WHITING - Timothy M. Burfield, age 64, of Whiting, IN passed away Tuesday, June 14, 2022. He is survived by his wife, Darlene Burfield (nee Yager); step-daughter, Cara (William) Christacakos; step-grandchildren: Hayden and Ben Christacakos; mother, Phyllis J. Burfield; brother, James (Nancy) Burfield; nephew, James W. (Chelsa) Burfield; niece, Erin (Costa) Marcotsis; one grand niece; and three grand nephews; many aunts; uncles; and cousins.
Preceded in death by his father, James E. Burfield.
A Memorial Gathering of Family and Friends will be held at the FIFE FUNERAL HOME, 4201 Indianapolis Blvd., East Chicago, IN will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 17, 2022.
Tim was an employee of the School City of Hammond. He was an avid sports fan, especially the Chicago teams and he enjoyed woodworking and gardening. Please NO Flowers. To share an online condolence, logon to www.fifefuneralhome.com | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/obituaries/timothy-m-burfield/article_c4c3aee1-29f6-5bae-9d36-4b8f728d84b8.html | 2022-06-17T06:29:40 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/obituaries/timothy-m-burfield/article_c4c3aee1-29f6-5bae-9d36-4b8f728d84b8.html |
INDIANAPOLIS — The probe into a woman's death earlier this week is now a homicide investigation.
Indianapolis Metro Police officers answered a report of deceased person in the 4700 block of East 10th Street on Tuesday evening, March 15. An IMPD spokesperson said officers found the body of an adult female who had sustained apparent trauma.
On Thursday, the Marion County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy and ruled the case a homicide.
IMPD is seeking help from the public. If you have information that could aid the investigation, contact Det. Jose Torres at 317-327-3475 or Jose.Torres@indy.gov.
Tips can also be sent to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 (TIPS). | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/coroner-calls-east-10th-street-death-a-homicide-impd-investigation-police/531-c768bb3e-791f-4bd4-80b4-6d9a5a2b8ce5 | 2022-06-17T06:40:14 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/coroner-calls-east-10th-street-death-a-homicide-impd-investigation-police/531-c768bb3e-791f-4bd4-80b4-6d9a5a2b8ce5 |
MONROE COUNTY, Ind. — The search for a Springville man who went missing Thursday at Monroe Lake was suspended because of darkness.
A Department of Natural Resources spokesperson said first responders were called around 5:24 p.m. on a report of two people in the water who needed assistance.
Rescuers learned that one of the people had been helped from the water by a passing boater. The second person, identified as 64-year-old Dwight Fry, was missing.
A search began immediately, using sonar devices, boats and divers from several agencies.
The spokesperson said DNR's investigation revealed that Fry had entered the water in an attempt to help his wife, who was struggling in the water.
RELATED: Coroner identifies 5-year-old child in possible drowning at northwest Indy apartment complex pool
Search operations will resume Friday morning. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/search-for-man-missing-at-monroe-lake-will-resume-friday-missing-dnr-water/531-55300840-7fe5-4345-b3f7-ac5f9c6fdf32 | 2022-06-17T06:40:20 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/search-for-man-missing-at-monroe-lake-will-resume-friday-missing-dnr-water/531-55300840-7fe5-4345-b3f7-ac5f9c6fdf32 |
FLORENCE, Texas — Thursday night, more than 100 people gathered in the Florence High School cafeteria to talk about a proposed chemical manufacturing facility that would be built near a waterway. Most of the neighbors brought their concerns and questions about chemical leaks with them.
Exfluor Research Corporation started the process to build a new facility in the Florence-Andice area two years ago. Now, the company just needs an Air Quality permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in order to construct the building.
While the room was filled with neighbors, most of them against the facility, only a relative handful made their opinions known. However, some of those opinions came with roaring applause.
"I just have to wonder why, why would you go through all that trouble? Why would you not build in an industrial park?" Henry Mulvihill asked during the Q&A portion of the meeting referencing the permitting process and vocal opposition of the last few months.
The crowd applauded loudly before Exfluor executives could answer.
"It felt like the responsible thing to do, because of the business that we're in, is to locate ourselves in an area where there's a buffer between us and population centers," Kevin Bierschenk, the Head of Production for Exfluor, said.
Most of the crowd laughed or booed in response.
More than 3,000 people have signed a Change.org petition calling for TCEQ to deny the Air Quality permit. Thursday's meeting was an opportunity hosted by the agency to ask questions and voice concerns regarding the permit itself. Many people spoke about the permit, but others made their concerns known about the company itself.
Exfluor had a chemical leak in 2014 that forced the evacuation of their Round Rock facility and neighboring buildings. Nobody was injured, but the TCEQ fined the company and insisted Exfluor have more hazmat training for staff in case of any other leaks in the future.
Because of that leak, residents in the Florence area are concerned it could happen again. According to TCEQ, four people have already filed "contested cases" calling on TCEQ to deny the permit. The agency will have to investigate each case to determine legitimacy and "standing."
At the same time, public comment on the permit is closing Monday, June 20. Once public comment closes, the agency has 60 days to respond to all comments, including the ones voiced during public comment at Thursday's meeting, in writing.
If TCEQ does not find standing in any of the contested cases, the commission can make a decision as soon as that 60-day public comment response timeframe ends in August. However, just by nature of having four contested cases, TCEQ spokespeople believe it may be longer than 60 days before the commission takes up the Air Quality permit for a decision.
Earlier this year, the executive director for the TCEQ already granted preliminary approval for the permit, signaling the agency's support. However, that final decision is left to the commission itself.
Exfluor had already hosted its own public comment, inviting nearby residents to Liberty Hill in April to talk about their concerns and ask questions.
Thursday's meeting with TCEQ helped answer questions about the permitting process and the limits of the approval process with the agency. Sen. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown) and Rep. Terry Wilson (R-Burnet) called on TCEQ to host the meeting but did not send any representatives from their office to Thursday's meeting.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/williamson-county/exfluor-public-comment-florence-williamson-county-chemical-facility-manufacturer/269-7cc00a86-69e0-403a-a474-5daaffa4bdcd | 2022-06-17T06:50:34 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/williamson-county/exfluor-public-comment-florence-williamson-county-chemical-facility-manufacturer/269-7cc00a86-69e0-403a-a474-5daaffa4bdcd |
A classroom controversy in a Westchester town has some saying that the sex education lesson went over the line — but the school district is standing by it.
A list of sexually explicit words, acts and phrases isn’t what most would expect to see in a high school classroom. The discussion that generated the whiteboard's contents — with a variety of R-rated and very NSFW terms and phrases relating to sex, including one that somehow referenced a Pokémon character — has led to talks about whether the lesson on sex education was appropriate.
The sex ed lesson at Croton-Harmon High School involved tenth graders, the school district told NBC New York. The district said that some parts of their curriculum were developed after an incident several years ago involving a reported off-campus sexual assault.
In consultation with health professionals, the Croton-Harmon School District said it developed “a discussion about consent, (where) students are asked to anonymously generate words or phrases they have heard…some of which depict potentially unhealthy dynamics about sex.”
The district added that “there is a discussion about the overall connotation of these terms, and the importance of using respectful language around this sensitive topic."
Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino said "several" parents of students at the school contacted him saying it is not acceptable for such things to be shared in a classroom.
"No media outlet, nor will the school district, list all those words or show those words or allow them to be said," Asotrino said. "These kids themselves can’t go to a movie that’s R-rated or NC-17, and yet they’re having these discussions in class, which makes a lot of kids very uncomfortable and parents angry that they weren’t told about it, at the very least."
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However, some parents seemed to agree with the school, and believe it's important for students of a certain age to have those sort of discussions.
"I do understand their concern and it ultimately makes sense, but that’s something you take to the school," said Joan Corsetti. "Most of the community is saying that what happened in that classroom was absolutely appropriate for the students that were in there."
While sex education isn’t required in New York State, it’s taught in many schools. There are no set standards about what should and shouldn’t be included, except for awareness about HIV and AIDS.
"I think a lot of parents probably are very busy and throw up their hands and say schools have to do it, but if they don’t do it to their requirements and their feelings about it, then they get angry," said Croton-on-Hudson resident Frances Harkness. "It’s a tough place for school boards to be in."
But Astorino isn't convinced that such language and lessons have a place in schools.
"Sex education — dealing with biology and reproduction, that’s important. They should know that," he said. "But when you go well beyond that to something that’s completely inappropriate, that makes kids very uncomfortable, that might plant a seed to do some of these violent acts. That again, is where I put the brakes on and parents need to be part of the process."
The district said the learning experience appears on a curriculum “map” on its website, and the superintendent says he stands behind the lesson and his teachers. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/westchester-county-school-defends-controversial-sex-ed-lesson/3738422/ | 2022-06-17T07:35:40 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/westchester-county-school-defends-controversial-sex-ed-lesson/3738422/ |
INDIANAPOLIS — Call it an estate sale - if you want.
But for people lined up outside the outlandish, three-story ranch mansion once dubbed a 'Midwestern Vegas Versailles', this was the tour they had been waiting for.
The Dolphin Mansion, an audacious or resplendent piece of real estate depending on who you talk to, has long fascinated people stunned to find this kitschy wonder pop-up alongside the otherwise stately homes on Kessler Boulevard.
Once the home of Indy construction tycoon and self-proclaimed 'pimp' Jerry A. Hostetler, the 11-bedroom, seven bathroom oddity once hosted the likes of the Baha Men and operated as an Airbnb for several years, according to the New York Post.
Up for grabs are dolphin statues, benches that once sat in Union Station and tables with lions emblazoned on the front.
One poolside statue several dolphins had a sticker marked 'Sold' a few hours into the sale. The price tag? $12,500.
Few of the folks looking inside the home were motivated buyers. After years of peering into the home from the street, they just wanted to see the inside.
Longtime Indy resident Maureen Meyer said she remembered driving by the house with her grandparents.
"I've loved it ever since I was a little girl and I saw there was an estate sale. I thought okay, I need to go in and see what it looks like on the inside," she said. "And just conceptualize why someone would create this and what it looks like. So I guess, the design aspect is why I want to go in."
You can get a look inside again on Friday, June 17 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/dolphin-mansion-estate-sale-gives-indy-residents-a-peek-inside-the-wackiest-home-on-the-block/531-73035798-896d-4211-bfb4-099a05e78a3c | 2022-06-17T08:11:38 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/dolphin-mansion-estate-sale-gives-indy-residents-a-peek-inside-the-wackiest-home-on-the-block/531-73035798-896d-4211-bfb4-099a05e78a3c |
GREENWOOD, Ind. — Andrew M. Benkert, 23, was killed in a crash Wednesday night on State Road 135 around 11:45 p.m. Greenwood Police officers spent Thursday going through evidence and looking at surveillance videos trying to find out who did it.
"It's a tragedy absolutely. We don't know where he was going or why he was walking up and down the road. But it's a tragedy — a life cut short," said Greenwood Police Officer Jason Grable.
Grable said investigating these cases can be challenging.
"One, we have no suspect information; also the age of the victim; and you want to help that family and bring closure to that family, and at this point there is nothing. The driver left prior to our arrival," Grable said.
Traffic on State Road 135 during the daytime can be busy. Officers say it's not safe to walk on the road at any time, but especially at nighttime. They said if you are driving on the road to be extra cautious.
"The city of Greenwood has miles of trails and sidewalks. I would suggest people use them," Grable said.
But if you have to walk on state highways, Grable offered some safety tips.
"Walk against traffic and wear as brightly lit clothing as you possibly can."
Police identified the suspect vehicle as an older black Chevy Trailblazer that would have extensive front-end damage.
Anyone with information on Benkert's death is asked to contact the Greenwood Police Department Tip Line at 317-865-0300 or they can anonymously make a report on the department's website. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/man-killed-greenwood-hit-and-run-wednesday-june-15-suspect-vehicle-search/531-1ab55098-bc0f-41be-a935-6ebb7fae1203 | 2022-06-17T08:11:44 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/man-killed-greenwood-hit-and-run-wednesday-june-15-suspect-vehicle-search/531-1ab55098-bc0f-41be-a935-6ebb7fae1203 |
INDIANAPOLIS — An investigation is underway after a deadly shooting on Indianapolis' near northeast side early Friday morning.
IMPD officers were called to investigate reports of gunfire in the 2300 block of Stuart Street just before 2 a.m. The neighborhood is just east of 23rd Street and Keystone Avenue.
An IMPD spokesperson said they located an adult male with injuries consistent with a gunshot wound. The man, who has not been identified, was taken to Methodist Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
There's no word on any suspect(s) or a motive.
Anyone with information on the incident can contact Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
This is a developing story. It will be updated as additional information becomes available. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/metro-police-investigate-stuart-street-shooting/531-3a0cf651-2d22-4503-b0ee-5e88ea4a7cb8 | 2022-06-17T08:11:51 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/metro-police-investigate-stuart-street-shooting/531-3a0cf651-2d22-4503-b0ee-5e88ea4a7cb8 |
'Outpouring of love and support': Taunton's 1st Pride festival 'absolutely a success'
TAUNTON — Organizers says they are thrilled with the success of Taunton’s first-ever LGBTQ+ Pride Festival.
At least a thousand people attended the event throughout the day, according to Mija Almeida, a member of the SouthCoast LGBTQ+ Network in charge of organizing and expanding programs and events into Taunton.
“It was absolutely a success with that many people turned out. It was very clear it wasn’t just people gawking. It was people within the LGBTQ+ community and allies,” said Almeida of the Pride Festival, which happened Saturday afternoon, June 11 at Hopewell Park.
The day was filled with a wide range of food and craft vendors, as well as wellness and non-profit organizations in attendance at booths. Entertainment consisted of musical performers, drag performers and a belly dance troupe. A children’s area was set up that provided face painting, arts and crafts, and games.
Almeida and the rest of the planning committee for this event had been working on the Pride Festival since January.
“You had dozens upon dozens of people walking around with various different pride shirts and paraphernalia, ranging from the elderly to little kids,” said Almeida, adding many of the vendors “couldn’t keep up” with the amount of attendees at the event.
Head-turning Taunton-area home sales:Berkley home that dates back to 1750 sells for more than $700,000
Mija’s child, Kazumi, found the event “incredibly impactful as a queer person” and was moved by “that strong outpouring of love and support” from the LGBTQ+ and Taunton communities.
Kazumi cited a moment where three teenagers wearing different pride flags walked by, leading to tears of joy.
“I started crying because it's something I thought I'd never see, where kids can openly be themselves without fear. Ten years ago that was something I couldn’t imagine," Kazumi said.
The highlight of the day for Mija Almeida was the raising of the Pride flag on a flagpole.
“It was symbolic and moving,” she said.
She said the Taunton Pride Festival will return next year, adding Hopewell Park was a great place for the event and “the venue is big enough for growth” of the festival. | https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/taunton-first-ever-pride-festival-june-11-2022-hopewell-park-lgbtq/7626898001/ | 2022-06-17T08:18:24 | 1 | https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/taunton-first-ever-pride-festival-june-11-2022-hopewell-park-lgbtq/7626898001/ |
Manatee County animal shelters are reaching capacity as pet surrenders rise
A crisis has hit animal shelters and pet owners across the country, including those in Manatee County.
The number of pets being voluntarily surrendered by their owners is on the rise, and shelters, particularly those that are county-run, are overwhelmed.
According to Hans Wohlgfahrt, Manatee County Animal Service’s outreach and events specialist, MCAS currently houses 272 pets across its three locations – Palmetto Adoption Center, Cat Town Adoption Center and Bishop Animal Shelter. The shelter has taken in over 200 owner surrenders so far this year, a similar number to the first six months of 2021, but one marked by a sudden rise in recent months.
As a result, MCAS is “close to reaching critical capacity."
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“We're a government agency, so we're mandated to take in strays,” Wohlgefahrt said. “And the strays that we've been getting every day are averaging right now about 20 pets per day…so it’s a huge increase.”
The source of the problem, however, is difficult to reduce to a single issue. According to Alana Ruszczyk, Shelter Manager at the Humane Society of Manatee County, a combination of the generally declining state of the economy – specifically rampant inflation – and a lack of attention to the responsibilities of pet ownership are contributing factors.
Inflation impacts all sectors, including pet ownership
In May, inflation reached 8.6%, the highest rate since December of 1981. Resulting increases in basic necessities such as gas, food and rent have priced many out of being able to care for a pet, whether it is food, vaccinations or a pet fee if they live in a rental property.
The Sarasota-Manatee area has also seen some of the largest increases in rent in the country.
Wohlgefahrt, although having only anecdotal evidence, agreed that housing concerns are a major factor. When the national moratorium on evictions was lifted last year, those who were evicted tended to simply leave their pets behind, according to Wohlgefahrt. Even those who keep their pets sometimes “show up at the shelter with their pets in the car, and they have said that they don't have a place to stay that night.”
Since pets cannot advocate for themselves, Ruszczyk said that “animals are not being put to the forefront” when it comes to making tough financial decisions.
In response, MCAS has adopted a $15 adoption fee through June 30. Previously, the adoption fees for dogs, puppies and kittens were $50, while the fee for cats was $25.
Adoptions include spay/neuter, microchip and rabies certificate, which comes to a value of over $300.
Wohlgefahrt acknowledged that other pet expenses, such as flea prevention and veterinarian visits, are still obstacles. He emphasized, though, that pet owners are encouraged to come by to utilize MCAS’s resources, including their food pantry and connections to animal welfare nonprofits.
“We try to just act as a network and help these people in their sort of individual circumstances try to overcome it and keep their pet in their home for as long as they can,” he said.
Additionally, the Humane Society is also trying to plug some of the holes.
According to Ruszczyk, the shelter has a food pantry, which includes dog and cat food available to community members. This is so “[pet owners] don’t have to feel like they have to surrender their animal because they can't afford food.”
In addition to food, the shelter has beds, crates, litter and treats, which Ruszczyk emphasized are better used by pet owners instead of the shelter itself. All of the supplies are donation-based.
‘You are adopting it for the rest of its life’
When dealing with owner surrenders, Ruszyczyk said that oftentimes, the reason given is that owners simply do not have time to care for their pet anymore. That, in her eyes, needs to change if current trends are to be reversed.
“There's a fine line between needing to surrender your pet due to a change in living and lifestyle, and needing to surrender or return because you've just changed your mind, and you don't want to deal with that animal anymore,” she said.
As for MCAS, Wohlgefahrt noted that the shelter’s current goal is to “give people resources about rehoming their own pet.”
“We’ve emphasized that you're making a commitment to this pet. So, we try to really tell people how important it is to take this seriously, these animals depend on you, to consider all these factors before you decide to adopt a pet,” Wohlgefahrt added. | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2022/06/17/pet-surrenders-rise-manatee-animal-shelters-reach-capacity/7581089001/ | 2022-06-17T09:34:28 | 0 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2022/06/17/pet-surrenders-rise-manatee-animal-shelters-reach-capacity/7581089001/ |
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana State Police are investigating after a fatal crash along Interstate 465 on Indianapolis' southeast side early Friday.
The crash occurred shortly before 4 a.m. along I-465 southbound, near the ramp from Interstate 74 to I-465.
All lanes of I-465 southbound are closed as of 5 a.m. Friday morning.
This is a breaking story and will be updated. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/fatal-crash-shuts-down-i-465-indys-southeast-side/531-fa7e2bbc-18bd-4e87-ad0b-926b59b88c1b | 2022-06-17T09:42:52 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/fatal-crash-shuts-down-i-465-indys-southeast-side/531-fa7e2bbc-18bd-4e87-ad0b-926b59b88c1b |
Rhonda Enneking and her daughter Krista are living the phrase, “Like mother, like daughter.” The two both work as nurses at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center McKinney.
Rhonda is a gastrointestinal technician and her daughter is a registered nurse on the orthopedic and neurology floor.
Krista said she followed in her mom’s footsteps after hearing such great stories about the patients and the gratifying work her mom did daily.
The hospital said both ladies take care of their patients with a servant’s heart and their love and compassion shine through. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/something-good/local-mother-daughter-nursing-duo-making-a-difference/2994768/ | 2022-06-17T10:19:19 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/something-good/local-mother-daughter-nursing-duo-making-a-difference/2994768/ |
Active shooter training: Charlevoix County law enforcement prepares for the worst
Local police train to take down active shooters in public buildings
EAST JORDAN —Charlevoix County law enforcement officials participated in active shooter training this week at the East Jordan Civic Center.
With three instructors from the Charlevoix County Sheriff's office certified through the State of the Michigan to teach the eight-hour mandated course, officers participated from the cities of Charlevoix, East Jordan, Boyne City and the Department of Natural Resources.
The training, which spanned across several days during the week of June 15, saw around 40 county law enforcement officers trained in the program, according to East Jordan Police Chief George Lasater.
More:Northern Michigan police departments place focus on protecting schools
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Contact reporter Annie Doyle at adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/charlevoix/2022/06/17/local-police-officers-train-active-shooter-scenarios/7637178001/ | 2022-06-17T10:28:18 | 0 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/charlevoix/2022/06/17/local-police-officers-train-active-shooter-scenarios/7637178001/ |
Gaylord school board to interview candidates for superintendent
GAYLORD — The board of education for the Gaylord Community Schools will begin interviews with candidates for the superintendent position next week.
All of the candidates are currently superintendents with other school districts in the state.
The board is scheduled to discuss the position with Steve Patchin, superintendent of the Hancock Public Schools, at 6:30 p.m. on June 20. At 7:45 p.m., Paul Flynn, superintendent of the Sandusky Community Schools, will meet with the board.
At 6:30 p.m. on June 21, the board will meet with Jim Cracraft, superintendent of the Clinton Community Schools.
More:Pearson will wrap up a 32-year career with Gaylord schools in June
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All of the interviews will take place at the board of education office, 615 S. Elm St. in Gaylord. District staff, parents and community members are encouraged to attend the interviews. There will be an opportunity to provide feedback to the board after each of the interviews.
Brian Pearson, the current superintendent, will retire after 32 years with the district.
Patchin was named Hancock superintendent in 2019. Prior to that, he served as director of career services at Michigan Technological University and was a teacher in the Dollar Bay Tamarack City Schools.
Flynn was named Sandusky school chief in 2017. Before that Flynn was with the Yale Public Schools for 24 years as an English teacher, assistant principal and principal.
Cracraft has been superintendent of the Clinton schools since 2016 and before that spent 21 years with the Northville school system. | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2022/06/17/gaylord-school-board-interview-candidates-superintendent/7633677001/ | 2022-06-17T10:28:19 | 1 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2022/06/17/gaylord-school-board-interview-candidates-superintendent/7633677001/ |
JA of Tupelo will once again host their WAVE summer camp for upcoming seventh grade boys next week. The camp is intended to provide young men with the skills to navigate middle school and their upcoming teenage years.
TUPELO • Junior Auxiliary of Tupelo will once again host their WAVE summer camp for upcoming seventh grade boys, next week.
WAVE stands for Wisdom, Attitude, Virtue, and Enthusiasm and was created to provide upcoming middle school boys with the tools necessary to maintain high self-esteem, positive attitudes and healthier bodies and minds prior to entering their teenage years.
The camp will begin on Monday, June 21, and conclude Thursday, June 24, at Tupelo Middle School.
JA of Tupelo's WAVE chair, Beth Shelton, said that each day is dedicated to one of the four principles of the program.
"This year's theme is 'Words are Powerful,'" Shelton said. "We have two speakers each night and two games and activities as well."
A few of next week's keynote speakers include Sheriff Jim Johnson, Tupelo Police Chief John Quaka, Dr. Ronald Young and local meteorologist Matt Laubhan.
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Shelton mentioned the vital importance of teaching upcoming middle schoolers the valuable skills needed to navigate seventh grade, as well as the need to familiarize themselves with the Tupelo Middle School campus.
She said one of Tupelo Middle School's assistant principals, Landon Morse, is scheduled to meet with the camp attendees and show them around the school as part of the camp.
In addition to guest speakers and games, the young men will also be fed dinner every night courtesy of JA of Tupelo.
Junior Auxiliary of Tupelo aims to provide assistance to the children of Lee County through 10 different programs, including School Aid, Silent Servings, Clothes Closet and more. New this year is their SMART (Scholarship, Mentoring, And Resource Training) program for 11th and 12th grade girls at Tupelo High School.
The women's community service organization hosts their Charity Ball fundraiser every year to financially support their kid-centric programs.
BROOKE BULLOCK BURLESON is a digital producer for the Daily Journal. Contact her at brooke.burleson@djournal.com. | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/junior-auxiliary-of-tupelo-to-host-wave-camp-for-seventh-graders-next-week/article_f6c336ab-2ba5-5c6c-890b-0f231f9ff890.html | 2022-06-17T10:29:27 | 1 | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/junior-auxiliary-of-tupelo-to-host-wave-camp-for-seventh-graders-next-week/article_f6c336ab-2ba5-5c6c-890b-0f231f9ff890.html |
She adored Koala bears and loved the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and dancing to TikTok videos. She wanted her grandparents to pick her up as often as possible from school because they would treat her to tacos, her family said.
A funeral was being held Thursday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde, Texas, for Layla Marie Salazar, a swift-footed and quick-witted 11-year-old. She was among the last of the 21 victims of the May 24 mass school shooting in the southern Texas town to be laid to rest.
Layla's family described her as rambunctious in an obituary published on a funeral home's website, and her father told The Associated Press that she was a lot of fun and "super-energetic."
She took pride in winning races at Robb Elementary School 's annual field days -- six of them.
"I knew right away that she was fast when she was beating older kids," Vincent Salazar said. "When she realized how fast she was, she just -- you know, she gravitated to that."
Layla's father said she was looking forward to a trip to the zoo and seeing the new Marvel superhero movie, "Thor: Love and Thunder." The movie's trailer used a rock song they both loved, "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses.
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"Me and Layla would jam to this on the way to school and it's the only thing that's bringing me peace right now," he said in a Facebook post the day after her death.
Later, he posted that Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash had offered his condolences. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/uvalde-11-year-old-avid-runner-remembered-for-energy/2994810/ | 2022-06-17T10:45:25 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/uvalde-11-year-old-avid-runner-remembered-for-energy/2994810/ |
BLOOMINGTON — A retired Chenoa pilot proudly flew on Thursday an old “gas-breathing dragon” above the Twin Cities and past its electric vehicle manufacturing plant.
Bill Thacker still hasn’t hung up his wings after about 30,000 flight hours and a 35-year career. After all, he’s been passionate about flying historical planes his whole life.
“It’s all I ever wanted to do,” he told The Pantagraph.
The Experimental Aircraft Association is partnering with the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton, Ohio, to showcase the Ford Trimotor 5-AT-B and offer brief flights to the public. The EAA said it was the first aircraft to be mass produced on an assembly line.
Thacker is one of 10 pilots who flies old planes with the EAA, which has Chapter 129 based in Bloomington-Normal. Flights are available through Sunday on a walk-in basis at a hanger next to the Prairie Aviation Museum in Bloomington.
In total, 199 Ford Trimotor planes were produced before Henry Ford ordered production to be halted “at the drop of a hammer” to focus on the Model A, Thacker said. Around six still fly on the regular, he said, and another six could be air-ready after a lot of work.
He said the Ford Trimotor was first designed in 1926, and model 5-AT-B, serial No. 8, tail number NC9645, was built in 1928. It took off on Thursday afternoon from the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington and made a 15-minute loop to the west side of the city with 12 people on board, including Thacker.
Ford Trimotors have worn several livery names over the years, notably nicknamed as “The Tin Goose.” NC9645 was first titled "City of Wichita" and has since been bestowed with Port Clinton’s name following the Liberty Aviation Museum acquisition.
Thacker said the Ford Trimotor is probably one the most important planes in history, because it was the first to be specifically designed for hauling passengers. Transcontinental Air Transport purchased the plane in 1929, ferrying passengers across the country in just 48 hours.
He said the Trimotor only flew during the day on transcontinental journeys, and passengers were transferred to railcars by night. Tickets were priced around $300, which adjusted to $6,000 today after inflation.
That was at a time, he noted, when there were no airports or mechanics located across the country. Additionally, pilots navigated by land markers, such as large concrete “Lindbergh arrows” or light beacon towers. One of the latter can be found near the former Green Gables restaurant, a Lake Bloomington icon that burned down last month.
“This airplane was flown over that tower many times,” Thacker said.
To Thacker, the plane being able to hit the skies just over two decades after Orville and Wilbur Wright first took flight was an incredible feat.
He also appreciates the basic simplicities of the Trimotor and its three reliable Pratt and Whitney engines, each boasting 450 horsepower. It has ailerons but no flaps that enable lower flight speeds. He also noted the interior looks very similar to a Pullman railcar.
About to take off in a 1928 Ford Tri-Motor Airplane pic.twitter.com/GFA0F0hUDH
— Brendan Denison (@BrendanDenison) June 16, 2022
Thursday’s warm and sunny conditions offered ideal flying conditions. No turbulence was noticeable on the trek, which was eerily similar to a modern flight, sans air conditioning and in-flight concessions.
Rick and Jeanne Tarro, of rural Crescent City, boarded the Trimotor for the Thursday flight. Rick Tarro said it was a smooth ride for a 94-year-old airplane.
“A lot smoother than what you’d think,” he added.
Jeanne Tarro said she’d go for another flight.
Thacker said he taught his two kids how to fly at his airfield at home. His daughter Jessica was recently hired to fly for United Airlines; his son Jacob works as a aircraft technician.
Thursday’s flight lifted the Chenoa flyer into good spirits. “I’m on top of the world right now,” Thacker said post-flight.
Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/watch-now-historic-ford-trimotor-flights-taking-off-this-weekend-at-cira/article_02fa29aa-edc6-11ec-b151-83a0c04371b6.html | 2022-06-17T10:46:55 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/watch-now-historic-ford-trimotor-flights-taking-off-this-weekend-at-cira/article_02fa29aa-edc6-11ec-b151-83a0c04371b6.html |
First steamboats, then trains: How they changed life in rural Sussex County
“The house the school was kept in,” William Morgan (no relation to the author of this article), “was pine slabs, notched up, and covered with boards and slabs, a hole cut at the top of the roof at one end to let out the smoke.”
His second school was, “built in the woods and was some(what) warmer in winter and plenty of lizards, scorpions and snakes about in the summer time.”
Born in Northwest Fork Hundred in 1780, Morgan was 6-years-old when he first went to school. In spite of his reptilian classmates, Morgan received a rudimentary education that enabled him to pursue a variety of occupations.
As an adult, he worked as a carpenter, studied medicine under a local doctor, and became a Methodist preacher. He lived much of his life near Seaford; and he kept a journal of the important happenings in his life.
Toward the end of his life, he wrote a short autobiography that dramatically illustrated how southern Delaware changed during the first half of the 19th century.
In the years after the American Revolution, western Sussex County was isolated from the rest of the world. Roads were notoriously bad, and a modest trip to Lewes was a day-long trek, and a journey to Dover was a major expedition.
The Nanticoke River did offer access to the Chesapeake Bay, but its serpentine route south of Seaford made it difficult to navigate by sailing vessels.
After the War of 1812, however, steamboats were able to ply the river’s twists and turns with ease. By the middle of the 19th century, steamboats were running regularly from Seaford to Baltimore and other Chesapeake ports.
On March 26, 1854, William Morgan noted in his journal, “This evening at 7 o’clock Sunday, the steamboat Osiris arrived at Seaford for the first time. She is owned at Seaford … cost $8,000, is to run from Seaford to Baltimore twice a week fare $2.00, pay for eating and drinking besides. She has 20 passengers first trip from Seaford. Good luck to her owners and passengers.”
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Two months later, Morgan went on an excursion on the Osiris from Seaford to Deal Island near the mouth of the Nanticoke River; and he noted, “Very pleasant day. Had on board 300. It was jovial time you may be sure. They had a brass band of music. Some say a cotillion band, anyhow some danced, some kicked and capered on the hurricane deck, all looked on that wished to.”
Morgan, a devout Methodist, also reported, “I was nearer a dance, perhaps than I have been for a half century.”
The biggest change to western Sussex County arrived when the railroad reached southern Delaware.
The New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad across the northern neck of the peninsula between Delaware and Chesapeake bays began operation in 1832. It would, however, take another quarter of a century before the tracks would reach Sussex County.
When a railroad line was opened from Seaford to Philadelphia in1856, the ever-observant Morgan wrote in his journal, “The railroad cars passenger train came down for the first time to Seaford. The long looked for railroad has reached its terminus on this day, Sunday 30th … Success to the enterprise. Amen.”
Three months later, Morgan decided to ride the train. The route carried him up the Delmarva Peninsula, around the head of the Chesapeake Bay and southward again to Baltimore.
“Set off in the railroad cars 7 o’clk a.m. for Baltimore, the first time I ever rode in railroad cars, was (shocked) at a rate (of speed), arrived at Baltimore 5 o’clk p.m. tired.”
Commenting on the impact of the train, Morgan wrote, “Who would have thought fifty years ago that such a thing as a railroad would have been constructed from this place. Strange things happen in these days!!!”
Principal sources:
Harold B. Hancock, ed., “William Morgan’s Autobiography and Diary: Life in Sussex County, 1780-1857,” Delaware History, Vol. 19, No. 1, Spring-Summer, 1980, pp. 42-43; 122-126.
John C. Hayman, Rails Along the Chesapeake, A History of Railroading on the Delmarva Peninsula, 1827-1978, Marvadel Publishers, 1979, p. 8. | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/delaware/2022/06/17/how-steamboats-and-trains-changed-life-rural-sussex-county/7611471001/ | 2022-06-17T10:50:34 | 1 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/delaware/2022/06/17/how-steamboats-and-trains-changed-life-rural-sussex-county/7611471001/ |
Delaware beach towns are ready for summer. Are you? What to expect this weekend
That summertime weather is certainly here with afternoon thunderstorms and hot sunny days drawing people to the beach. But no matter the weather, any day at the beach is a good day, right?
If you're heading to the Delaware beaches for a weekend trip, or maybe longer, you might be wondering what you should know.
We've got you covered.
For anyone looking to visit the beaches during the weekend of June 17, this guide will help answer questions ranging from dining to parking to the latest weather reports.
THIS SEASON:From the Biden effect to COVID 'revenge travel,' why Delaware beaches are getting busier
Are any beach entrances still closed?
After a nor’easter in May, many of the Delaware beaches saw steep cliffs in the dunes and damage to the dune crossings.
While the beach towns, alongside the state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, have been working hard to repair any damage, beachgoers may still notice some effects of the storm.
Many of the beaches may still be narrower at points, especially during high tide. However, the beaches continue to widen as the ocean naturally returns some of the sand to the shore.
WHAT'S NEW:What to expect for summer 2022 at the Delaware beaches
Good news, though! Nearly every beach entrance has reopened.
In Rehoboth Beach, the Surf Avenue entrance was closed the longest, but it has reopened this week, according to city spokesperson Lynne Coan.
In South Bethany, all beach walkways have reopened except for the one at South Third Street, according to Town Manager Maureen Hartman. This entrance included an accessible ramp compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and that ramp was wiped out in the storm.
DNREC is responsible for repairing or replacing the ramp, Hartman said. In the meantime, anyone needing assistance to access the beach can contact the South Bethany Beach Patrol to schedule a day and time in advance to use a beach wheelchair.
All entrances have also reopened at the Delaware State Parks, including the Key Box Road entrance, which just reopened on Thursday.
BEACH RESTORATION:Delaware begins restoring beach access following bad storms, South Bethany 'worst hit'
BEACH SAFETY:Put down the beach shovel – digging big holes can get you in trouble. What you should know
Weather for this weekend, Juneteenth
First, a disclaimer: The weather is known to quickly change, even within the hour, at the Delaware beaches. So it's wise to always check your weather channels or apps before settling in on the sand.
It should be hot on Friday with a slight chance of thunderstorms or rain persisting throughout the day, according to the National Weather Service's forecast for the Rehoboth Beach area.
The weather service is predicting a high near 86 on Friday and a low near 67.
However, those threatening clouds are expected to disappear for the rest of the weekend.
On Saturday, make sure to anchor in your umbrellas on the beach because the weather service is forecasting a breezy day with winds up to 20 mph. The high should be around 75, and temperatures may dip to 59 with clear skies in the evening.
MURAL UNVEILING MONDAY:How the West Rehoboth community is telling their stories through art
JUNETEENTH:Now a federal holiday, here's how to celebrate Juneteenth throughout Delaware this month
If celebrating Juneteenth outdoors this Sunday, the weather should be holding up, as well. The forecast is mostly sunny with a high near 76 and a low around 62 at night.
Got the day off on Monday and planning to spend it at the beaches? The beautiful weather continues with a high near 78 and sunny skies.
What to expect at restaurants, beach businesses
Delaware’s beach towns are preparing for a summer that’s as busy – if not busier – than last year.
That means it’s once again time for this reminder: Have patience, folks.
Many restaurants, bars, and others in the service industry are still facing staffing shortages. While some businesses are getting more help from international students than in the past two years when COVID-19 restrictions limited that workforce, several other factors are impacting the seasonal labor shortage this year – especially a lack of affordable housing.
Remember last year when some businesses were limiting hours or services? Visitors could see that again this summer, according to Carol Everhart, president of the Rehoboth-Dewey Chamber of Commerce.
Hiring signs hung in several stores in Bethany Beach this week, for example, including some announcing early closures or limited hours.
Still, some improvements are evident. In Rehoboth Beach, Thrasher's recently announced that it will at least partially reopen locations on Rehoboth Avenue and the boardwalk that were previously closed due to a lack of staffing.
HOUSING:Work near the beach but can't afford to live here? How the county, others plan to fix that
It may be wise to make early reservations, follow your favorite spots on social media or call ahead to stay updated on any changes.
As far as outdoor dining, many beach towns found ways to continue that in the 2022 season. However, Rehoboth Beach no longer allowed parking spaces to be blocked off for dining on public sidewalks.
OUTDOOR DINING:Rehoboth Beach passes new outdoor dining rules for public sidewalks ahead of 2022 summer
Public health guidelines, COVID cases
An unfortunate reality: COVID-19 is still present for summer vacations at the Delaware beaches.
The Delaware Division of Public Health reported that an average of 14% of tests were coming back positive as of June 15. Cases were on the rise throughout May, compared with March and April, but it seems that the reported cases may be on the downward trend again.
(Just before Memorial Day weekend, DPH was reporting an average of 20% of tests that were positive).
COVID'S TOLL:What Delaware can learn about grief and hope amid another tragic milestone for COVID-19
While hospitalizations are not nearly as high as they were during the first omicron surge, the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 has also increased since the spring. The state was reporting 102 people hospitalized and 13 in critical condition this week.
So, what should you do? This is the latest advice from DPH:
- Stay home if sick and get tested if you have symptoms or were exposed to someone with COVID-19.
- There are no mask mandates, but DPH advises masking up in indoor places or if you are at higher risk for illness.
- Get vaccinated and boosted when you’re eligible.
- Stay informed and turn to reliable sources for data, information, and treatment options like de.gov/coronavirus.
Want to know where to receive booster shots? Visit coronavirus.delaware.gov/vaccine/where-can-i-get-my-vaccine/#publichealth.
Parking and transportation
All resort towns from Lewes to Fenwick Island have their seasonal parking rules in place.
A change to note in Rehoboth: Because of the pandemic, Rehoboth offered free parking after 4 p.m. on Mondays for the past two years. That Meterless Monday program will not continue this summer.
PARKING 2022:How much will it cost to park at the Delaware beaches? Parking changes coming this summer
Both Rehoboth and Lewes increased some parking rates this year. It is now a universal $3 per hour rate in Rehoboth, and Lewes is charging $1.50 downtown and $2.50 at the beaches.
Lewes has several free non-metered parking lots listed on its website, as well as metered lots and spaces on side streets.
When visiting Delaware State Parks like Cape Henlopen, parking is included in the entrance fee.
In Dewey Beach, parking is free in all permit-only and metered spaces Monday through Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. only. All other days and times, you must pay to park on public streets.
Fenwick Island and South Bethany mostly require permits to park, but Fenwick offers free parking on its side streets after 4 p.m.
In Bethany Beach, all spaces are either metered or require a permit through Sept. 15.
Many of these towns and cities offer payment through the ParkMobile app.
For more about parking (or State Park fees), visit each beach town's website:
If planning to visit one of the State Parks, it's wise to check the parks' Facebook pages where staff will post whether the park is closed due to full parking.
Multiple lots were closed intermittently starting as early as 11 a.m. over Memorial Day weekend.
Consider taking the Beach Bus
Want to forget about parking or paying for gas? Take a bus to the beach. Parking is free at the park and rides in Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.
The Beach Bus has already started its routes and will continue seven days a week until Sept. 11. The stops include Rehoboth Beach and the Boardwalk, Lewes, Long Neck, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, South Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island, Ocean City in Maryland, Millsboro and Georgetown.
The cost to ride the bus is $2 per trip, $4 for a daily pass, $16 for a seven-day pass or $60 for a 30-day pass.
Traveling from northern Delaware or Kent County? The 305 Beach Connection from Wilmington to Rehoboth Beach started last weekend. It runs Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through Sept. 5.
MORE TO KNOW:As you drive to the beach, these 3 major construction projects may affect travel plans
Riders taking this bus will pay $6 for one-way trips from Wilmington, Christiana Mall and Odessa and $4 from Dover and South Frederica. A daily pass is $10 from New Castle County and $8 from Kent County.
If traveling around Bethany Beach, the town also offers a trolley with a single route that runs from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and costs 25 cents per trip.
In Lewes, the new seasonal transit option Lewes Line cost $1 per ride. Stops include the two municipal beaches, downtown locations, the library and more. To learn more, visit: https://www.ci.lewes.de.us/363/Lewes-Line.
Emily Lytle covers Sussex County from the inland towns to the beaches. Got a story she should tell? Contact her at elytle@delmarvanow.com or 302-332-0370. Follow her on Twitter at @emily3lytle. | https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/delaware-beaches-june-weekend-parking-weather-covid-restaurants-lifeguards-summer/7617692001/ | 2022-06-17T11:00:09 | 1 | https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/delaware-beaches-june-weekend-parking-weather-covid-restaurants-lifeguards-summer/7617692001/ |
Ball Bros. Foundation awards $2.4M for canoe launches, cybercrime policing, other projects
MUNCIE, Ind. — Ball Brothers Foundation has awarded funding totaling more than $2.4 million to 33 projects in its first round of grants for 2022.
The grants include approximately $220,000 in funding for projects related to the foundation’s Project Blueways initiative, which supports efforts related to local soil and water quality, watershed planning and water recreation, according to a release.
The largest of the Project Blueways grants is a $90,000 grant to Muncie Sanitary District for the construction of up to four canoe/kayak launches along the White River from the Prairie Creek Reservoir area through downtown Muncie. The launch sites will be strategically placed with the intention of improving public access to the river.
“Our community has spent decades improving the White River’s water quality and building trails and parks alongside the river. The removal of dams over the past several years has not only improved safety but now allows people to canoe, kayak and tube from the eastside of Muncie through downtown and points west,” Jud Fisher, president and CEO of Ball Brothers Foundation, said in a release. “This grant from BBF for new canoe and kayak launches marks an exciting turning point as we seek to help Muncie and Delaware County further build a reputation as a destination for water recreation and river access.”
Saving freshwater mussels
The Sanitary District’s Bureau of Water Quality (BWQ) received another Project Blueways grant from Ball Brothers Foundation, supporting a new project designed to breed and populate freshwater mussels in the White River. Freshwater mussels are one of the most endangered groups of organisms in North America.
From the archives:Thousands of mussels stuck near former dam site at McCulloch Park saved
Mussels play a critical role in cycling essential nutrients through the river as each individual mussel can filter up to 15 gallons of water per day. They stabilize and oxygenate the water, provide food and habitats for aquatic organisms and are important indicators of water quality. Last year, the BWQ conducted a pilot program to breed freshwater mussels, one of the only programs of its kind across the state.
The BWQ has plans to greatly expand this effort moving forward, and a $25,000 grant from Ball Brothers Foundation will help build a new conservation and education facility adjacent to the White River and across from the BWQ office. This conservation and education center — adjacent to a new mussel propagation facility — will allow biologists to provide tours for visiting school groups to teach students and other visitors about both water quality and freshwater mussels.
More funding related to waterways
Additional Project Blueways grants this round include:
- Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District: $30,000 to assist in the development of a watershed management plan for the Upper White River Watershed. A portion of the grant will also allow regional representatives to engage in the White River Report Card project, spearheaded by the White River Alliance.
- The Nature Conservancy in Indiana: $50,000 to produce a video that highlights the impact of agriculture on the White River’s water quality and the importance of native species to the river, to host two on-river raft excursions that will showcase the river’s unique species and characteristics to area leaders and landowners, and to host an Upper White River community water monitoring day.
- Red-tail Land Conservancy: $25,000 to develop and begin implementing a master site plan for restoration, public use and historical preservation of Hidden Canal Nature Preserve, the organization’s newest land acquisition, located along the White River in Madison County.
This grant round also supported a number of other focus areas and funding initiatives, including Future of Work, a collaborative effort that strategically connects schools with employers and workforce development programs to prepare students for 21st century workforce needs, and Project Sybertooth, a funding effort and community network designed to support local cybercrime investigations and enhance training initiatives.
Arts, culture and humanities
- Ball State University: $75,000 for the production of Thriving ECI, a series of short-form video and audio stories that establish a sense of identity for East Central Indiana and promote revitalization efforts in the area, with a focus on projects that demonstrate regional partnerships.
- Cornerstone Center for the Arts: $100,000 for general operating support and strategic and building planning efforts.
- Muncie Arts and Culture Council: $100,000 for the local match of Phase 1 of the Muncie Arts and Culture Trail designed to span from the Village to downtown Muncie.
- Muncie Civic Theatre: $30,000 for operating support.
- Music for All: $30,000 to support the Music for All Summer Symposium, which is returning this year to Ball State University after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.
- YMCA of Muncie: $250,000 for renovations and upgrades to the hilltop cabins at Camp Crosley.
Education
- Ball State University: Three-year funding totaling $150,000 to maintain the College of Architecture and Planning's footprint at MadJax, which allows for student and faculty collaboration with community initiatives, people and ideas; the expansion of design and “maker” educational programs for both adults and youth; and an enhanced “maker” culture in Muncie.
- Motivate Our Minds: $40,000 for out-of-school programming.
- Precious Hearts Development Center: $25,000 for upgrades to kitchen and laundry facilities.
- Shafer Leadership Academy: Two-year funding totaling $70,000 for operating support.
- United Day Care Center of Delaware County: $25,000 for building repairs, the purchase of computers to be used with a newly adopted curriculum, and a new phone system.
Environment
- Red-tail Land Conservancy: three-year funding totaling $200,000 for operating support.
Health
- James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association: $100,000 for the purchase of an ExoView R200 Automated Imager from Nanoview Biosciences, which will accelerate the discovery of novel disease-related biomarkers and disease signatures in children with diabetes.
- Muncie Sports Commission: $75,000 of general operating support and funding for the upcoming ICE League season.
Human services
- Heart of Indiana United Way: $100,000 matching grant to incentivize giving to the annual United Way campaign and to improve communication and engagement with donors and volunteers.
- Indiana Department of Natural Resources: $60,000 for the purchase of a Marine Sonic Sea Scan Arc Explorer Mark II Side Scan Sonar and nine thermal imaging monocular units to allow the team to continue carrying out underwater detection of missing persons, vehicles, sunken vessels and evidentiary items.
- Indiana Youth Institute: $45,000 for Organizational Capacity Grants that provide consulting services to youth-serving organizations in East Central Indiana.
- Muncie Delaware County Senior Citizen Center: $16,000 for kitchen renovations.
- Muncie Mission Ministries: $50,000 for Project Greathouse, a campaign to expand the organization’s growing recovery village that promotes both successful recovery and neighborhood revitalization.
From 2021:Muncie Mission builds new homes to lift future for clients and southside neighborhood
- Youth Opportunity Center: $30,000 to fund the first year of a new Child and Family Psychological Fellowship position.
- YWCA Central Indiana: $40,000 of operating support for the organization’s emergency shelter and C.O.T.S (complimentary, overnight, temporary shelter) program.
For subscribers:New manufacturers are coming to Muncie, but the labor shortage continues
Public society benefit
- Ball State University Police Department: $25,000 to support the purchase of a dedicated forensic computer, video enhancement software and storage for cybercrime investigations.
- Community Enhancement Projects, Inc: $30,000 for the creation of a “Rainbow Garden” light installation at Canan Commons.
- Community Enhancements Projects, Inc: $15,000 for the completion of the Muncie Memory Spiral project at Heekin Park.
- Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office: $50,000 to support a new “High Tech Crime Unit” that will serve a 10-county regional area and will engage college student interns.
- Delaware County Sheriff’s Office: $25,000 for hardware and software to create a mobile forensics lab for cybercrime investigations.
- Muncie Downtown Development Partnership: $60,000 of operating support for staffing, expanded marketing for business and residential recruitment, and event development.
- Muncie Police Department: $25,000 to upgrade software and allow for cloud analysis for cybercrime investigations.
- Sustainable Muncie/MadJax: two-year funding totaling $375,000 for the expansion of the Future of Work initiative, development of Maker Labs, increased marketing and media coverage, and additional operating support.
Preliminary applications for the foundation’s next round of grants are due July 15. The foundation also regularly accepts applications for Rapid Grants of up to $5,000 from February through November of each year. For more information on Ball Brothers Foundation grants, visit ballfdn.org/grants. | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/ball-brothers-foundation-awards-2-4-million-grants/7650153001/ | 2022-06-17T11:02:09 | 1 | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/ball-brothers-foundation-awards-2-4-million-grants/7650153001/ |
A North Bend man charged with the murder of a Coos Bay woman last week is being held on a $2 million bond on a charge of second-degree murder.
47-year-old Johnny Ray Bohannon was arrested last Thursday after Rebecca Elaine Reeves was found dead in her home on Idaho Drive.
District Attorney Paul Frasier said an autopsy was scheduled on Reeves Tuesday.
"I expect what we'll see based on what I saw at the scene is death by blunt force trauma," Frasier said.
Frasier said he was hoping to present the case to a grand jury Wednesday and to have an indictment before Bohannon's next court hearing June 17.
Frasier said the court will enter a not guilty plea on Bohannon's behalf, as is customary in all Oregon criminal cases.
Frasier said Bohannon came to the Coos Bay Police Department voluntarily the day after the murder, and he was arrested after being talked to by police. The second-degree murder charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
Frasier said despite what some are saying on social media, a woman known on social media as Bohannon's girlfriend is not a suspect in the case at this time.
"Amber Gallagher is a witness in this case," Frasier said. "I don't have any evidence that would back up me charging to try her with a crime."
Frasier said he has seen some of the comments on social media about the case, but he must rely on evidence.
"If the people out there on social media disagree with me, and they have evidence otherwise, we'd ask that they call the Coos Bay Police Department and tell us what they have," Frasier said.
Frasier and Coos Bay Police Detective Ken Labrousse said the last murder inside the Coos Bay city limits was about four of five years ago. Frasier added that to his knowledge there are only two unsolved murder cases in Coos County.
Those include a killing at Bastendorff Beach three years ago and the murder of a doctor in North Bend last year. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/accused-killer-held-on-2-million-bond/article_4ad845be-ee15-11ec-9b5a-675f0cbe12db.html | 2022-06-17T11:27:27 | 1 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/accused-killer-held-on-2-million-bond/article_4ad845be-ee15-11ec-9b5a-675f0cbe12db.html |
One man died and at least one other was hurt in a drive-by shooting in North Philadelphia Thursday night.
At least 32 shots were fired into a small crowd of people gathered outside at West Allegheny and West Glenwood Avenues who appeared to be watching the NBA Finals, Philadelphia Police Inspector D F Pace said.
A gray Honda Accord pulled up around 11:15 p.m. and at least two windows went down as the shooting began, police said.
"This was a drive-by shooting from Glenwood onto Allegheny," Pace said.
A man in his 40s was rushed to the hospital where he died a short time later, Pace said. A man in his 20s was shot at least three times and rushed to the hospital where he was listed in stable condition.
Pace said that at least and possibly two gunmen opened fire. They may have fired even more shots as bullet casings may have remained in the car.
Bullets also struck a hot dog cart parked at the corner and at least one parked vehicle.
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Entering Friday, at least 229 people had been killed in Philadelphia, according to police. That's down 9% from last year, which wound up the deadliest on record.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/deadly-north-philly-drive-by-shooting/3273946/ | 2022-06-17T11:34:04 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/deadly-north-philly-drive-by-shooting/3273946/ |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/man-dies-in-north-philly-drive-by-shooting/3273972/ | 2022-06-17T11:34:10 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/man-dies-in-north-philly-drive-by-shooting/3273972/ |
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Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/off-duty-philadelphia-police-officer-opens-fire-as-he-is-carjacked/3274009/ | 2022-06-17T11:34:16 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/off-duty-philadelphia-police-officer-opens-fire-as-he-is-carjacked/3274009/ |
Residents of the West Texas city of Odessa improvised emergency water supplies after a water system outage left them high and dry for days amid scorching heat, even as utility crews scrambled Wednesday to restore normal service.
The city said taps in 165,000 homes and businesses lost pressure or went completely dry after a 24-inch main broke Monday afternoon. Odessa's water treatment plant was back online by about 8 a.m. Wednesday, but utility officials said it could take 12 to 14 hours to complete the "recharging" process, during which workers slowly add water back into the system to ensure there are no more leaks.
"I want to assure you that we're utilizing every resource at our disposal to ensure that we get this community back to the way it was before this massive line break," City Manager Michael Marrero said in a Facebook video posted Wednesday afternoon.
Public Works Director Thomas Kerr said a small leak had been detected Wednesday afternoon, which he described as manageable. He said he hoped the system would be fully recharged by Thursday but added that residents should continue to boil their tap water to kill any bacteria before consuming it. The boil-water notice was likely to continue until Friday, he said.
Temperatures approached 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Odessa Wednesday as Texas and much of the United States faced extremely hot and humid conditions. And while the city typically sees hot weather in June, the timing of the break made dealing with this week's heat more difficult.
Resident Nikki Friday told The Associated Press that the city was providing bottled drinking water and that people with wells were offering neighbors water from hoses. She also said tanker trucks had been parked around town to fill buckets with water.
"Drinking water has not been an issue," Friday said. "We just need water to return to our daily lives and within the community."
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News from around the state of Texas.
Lifelong Odessa resident Lynda Wright said water service had not been lost across the city in the more than five decades that she has lived there. She said she picked up water and ice from Midland, a 15-minute drive from her home.
Wright said she had drinkable water stored in jugs for washing hands and brushing teeth, and that her family hooked her house up to a well on her property to provide water to flush toilets.
"We just dropped a hose in the (water) line," she said.
Wright said she noticed water began running again around noon but that the pressure did not immediately return to regular strength.
The city, which is located about 330 miles west of Dallas, planned to distribute water to residents at Ector County Coliseum as well as deliver water to nursing homes. Water tankers were placed strategically around the city to respond to any fires, said Deputy City Manager Phillip Urrutia.
"It's an aging infrastructure that we're seeing. It's a cast-iron pipe, and so those are typically more susceptible to breaks than other new technologies like PVC pipe that's going in the ground," he said.
Wright said the city must act to prevent another water emergency.
"I just hope that they kind of learned we need to get in there, we need to check these lines and repair those that show signs of age and wear and tear," she said.
Associated Press writer Ashley Duong in Chicago and Todd Richmond in Madison, Wisconsin, contributed to this story. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/odessa-residents-improvised-during-water-system-outage/2994816/ | 2022-06-17T11:37:37 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/odessa-residents-improvised-during-water-system-outage/2994816/ |
The union representing firefighters who responded to what would become a deadly kitchen blaze at a home in Orange County's city of Newburgh says efforts to rescue a number of trapped people were hampered by a 2.5-gallon water extinguisher.
Tuesday night's fire in a Lander Street home kitchen home claimed the life of a woman who had been trapped on the third floor and critically hurt a man who leaped from a third-floor window as flames engulfed the home. Three firefighters also suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.
Newburgh firefighters were dispatched to the blaze at 10:48 p.m. Tuesday. At the time, there were reports of people trapped. Within a minute, Truck Company 1, a three-person crew, and a fourth car with an assistant chief, had arrived, the International Association of Firefighters Local 589 said.
According to the union, that truck company is assigned strictly a rescue role and is equipped only with a 2.5-gallon extinguisher. Lacking a sufficient immediate water source, the union says firefighters tried to get in through the first floor to get to the trapped victims but heavy fire made them pull back.
It was during that time the man jumped from the third-floor window, sustaining critical injuries in the fall as well as injuries from the blaze, IAF Local 589 said. Witnesses reported seeing a woman at the same third-floor window and tried to reach her with a ground ladder, but again, the intensity of the blaze forced a retreat.
Another engine arrived at the scene at 10:53 p.m., five minutes after the initial dispatch. Intense fire suppression efforts were then able to begin, but the union says the blaze had grown "exponentially" by that point -- to the degree where that first responding company had to halt rescue efforts to assist in stabilizing the fire.
Mutual aid from Stewart Air Base arrived at 11:04 p.m., 16 minutes into the fire response, the union said. The fire was knocked down on the first and second floors but by the time rescuers were ready to try to reach the third floor they saw the stairs had burned away, the union said. The woman was dead by the time they found her.
Local
The building was part of a row and the blaze ultimately spread to four other buildings. A third alarm was transmitted around 11:39 p.m., the union said, which would theoretically require triple the response. No additional injuries were reported.
According to IAF Local 589, the delayed arrival of a third engine gave the fire the chance to grow anywhere between six and eight times. Truck Company 1 had been affiliated with Engine Company 1, which often requires overtime to staff primarily because of 2020 layoffs and injuries. Newburgh's city manager closed it in January.
It's not clear if the woman would have been saved had that not been the case, but the union says fire suppression efforts would have begun immediately had the now-shuttered engine company responded along with the rescue truck.
"It is our opinion that applying water immediately would have made an enormous difference in the outcome of this fire," the union said in a statement.
It ultimately took five Newburgh and eight mutual aid companies to control the fire, it added. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/rescue-in-deadly-ny-kitchen-blaze-hampered-by-mere-2-5-gallon-extinguisher-union/3738579/ | 2022-06-17T11:52:47 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/rescue-in-deadly-ny-kitchen-blaze-hampered-by-mere-2-5-gallon-extinguisher-union/3738579/ |
Motorcyclist dies after crash on city's east side
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police are investigating a motorcyclist's death after a collision with a sedan.
Police arrived around 7 p.m. Thursday to discover the motorcyclist with severe trauma at the intersection of East 30th Street and Arlington Avenue in the Arlington Woods neighborhood on the city's east side.
The man was transported to the hospital. He was pronounced dead. The driver of the sedan is cooperating with police.
Officials believe the motorcycle was traveling east on East 30th Street as the sedan was traveling west and turned south on to Arlington Avenue in front of the motorcycle, according to preliminary information from Indianapolis police.
The investigation is ongoing.
Contact Hannah Brock at hannah.brock@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter @hannah_m_brock. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/police-investigating-motorcycle-death-east-side-crash-sedan-30th-arlington/7656801001/ | 2022-06-17T12:07:08 | 1 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/police-investigating-motorcycle-death-east-side-crash-sedan-30th-arlington/7656801001/ |
HamCo parks has big plans for Potter's Bridge Park if gravel pit gets OK. But it's a big 'if'
Hamilton County Parks and Recreation plans 3 miles of trails, two canoe launches, wetland restoration and a picnic area at Potter’s Bridge Park if the Noblesville City Council approves a gravel pit that would become a lake in five years.
“Opportunities like this don’t land at our doorstep” often, parks director Chris Stice said at a public hearing Tuesday, during which a roughly 8-year plan to expand the park was presented. “It’s important. We need more parkland,”
The controversial proposal by the parks department and Beaver Materials would allow the company to excavate gravel for five years at a 50-acre site it owns next to Potter's Bridge Park, then donate the land to park system. The pit would be filled with water and serve as a lake and the centerpiece of park restorations at 194st Street and Allisonville Road alongside the White River.
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The plan is opposed by residents in a nearby subdivision who have formed a group, “Don’t Leave it to Beaver.” They fear noise, pollution, dust, traffic and water contamination from the digging operation and a drop in real estate values. The city would need to approve a zoning change to permit an industrial operation on agricultural land for the project to move forward.
“Why do we need a lake when the White River is nearby,” asked David Pagel, part of the opposition group. “Do I get to do anything I want in this town as long as I confer a benefit to someone in the future? The promise of a park is nothing more than an enticement to get the city to violate its own rules.”
The Noblesville Plan Commission last month recommended against approval of the plan, with some concern about industry in a residential area. The council heard from dozens of proponents and foes of the plan and was scheduled to vote on it June 28.
Those in favor include the Hamilton County Commission and the Hamilton County Council. Opponents include the Indiana Covered Bridge Society.
Stice said the park would be developed in five stages at an estimated cost of up to $1.5 million. The first phase would start immediately upon approval of the gravel pit project and take up to two years to finish. The section would include a mile of trail, a canoe launch in the White River and a short “art trail” featuring works made out of the natural environment.
Eventually, the trail would connect to the White River Trail in Potters Bridge Park and complete a loop and would feature a boardwalk over a wetlands. The launches are much needed, Stice said, because canoe and kayak trips from the existing site at the park have doubled to about 15,000 in the last couple of years as attendance ballooned at the park.
“This is a density issue at Potter’s Bridge Park,” Stice said.
The plan also calls for a parking lot, three picnic shelters and a natural playground. Park planners said the lake would have several piers for fishing, but no swimming, and a canoe launch.
It’s the second time that Beaver Materials has submitted the plan to the city. In 2020, the Plan Commission sent the project to the council with no recommendation but before the council could vote, Beaver withdrew its application.
This time, Beaver submitted more documents and studies from experts showing that the potential harms could be lessened by taking safety measures, or that the dangers — from noise, truck traffic, flying dust and contaminants in ground water — were not as severe as perceived.
The opponents also presented testimony and some experts.
Resident Olivia DeSalvo said five years of excavation would drive away park patrons and wildlife that might never come back.
“We won't just lose the park’s serenity,” DeSalvo said. “We will lose the park’s visitors and their commerce with the city.”
“Beaver Materials is not an advocate of the community,” she said. “If they wanted to give, then give. Don’t disguise an industrial operation in an historic residential community as generosity.”
Beaver Materials owner Chris Beaver, a Noblesville native, insisted the land donation, worth about $12 million, was indeed a gift. He said the amount of gravel he plans to dig is barely enough to cover the cost of the operation.
“I personally would not do anything that would hurt anyone in this town,” Beaver said. “I want this to be the best park in the state.”
Call IndyStar reporter John Tuohy at 317-444-6418. Email at john.tuohy@indystar.com and follow on Twitter and Facebook. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/2022/06/17/hamilton-county-parks-potters-bridge-park-if-gravel-pit-okd/7647996001/ | 2022-06-17T12:07:14 | 0 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/2022/06/17/hamilton-county-parks-potters-bridge-park-if-gravel-pit-okd/7647996001/ |
Celebrate Father's Day and Juneteenth: A glimpse into lives of Black Indianapolis dads
This year, the celebrations of Father’s Day and Juneteenth fall on the same day.
The first Black fathers on American soil in 1619 did not have the legal right to parent their children.
They would not be granted this right until over 200 years later when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, ending slavery.
Juneteenth festivities:Celebrate in Indy with brunch, a parade and more this weekend
However, it wasn’t until two years after, in 1865, that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, would receive news of their freedom, a moment which is now commemorated by the celebration of Juneteenth.
Even after emancipation, continued racism created challenges for Black fathers, prevalent today: incarceration at disproportionate rates, removing them from homes; race-based denial of home loans and business loans, eliminating generational wealth; health inequities, cutting lives short.
To honor Black history and Juneteenth, IndyStar is celebrating Black fatherhood by sharing a glimpse into the lives of four dads who – despite the legacy of racism and its impact – showcase selflessness, love, compassion and commitment.
Defining his role as a father by his partnership with his wife
James Melton was on the eve of becoming an empty nester.
He and his wife had two daughters in college working toward medical school, while their youngest son, an honor-roll student, was a junior in high school, soon off to college himself.
But in January 2021 things took an unexpected turn.
A heart attack sent his wife’s sister to the hospital. She ended up on a ventilator for nearly a month. Then, the difficult decision to remove it was made. She died, leaving behind four sons ages 22, 13, 11 and seven.
The biological father of the boys said he wasn’t ready to parent full-time. He asked the Meltons if they would take the younger three, a move Melton said he anticipated.
When his wife looked to him for approval, Melton, who defines his role as a father as “being a partner to my wife,” agreed without hesitation.
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“I did not want her to feel,” Melton said, “as if she were making this decision alone.”
He then drove over 700 miles from Pensacola, Florida, where the funeral was held, to Indianapolis with his expanded nuclear family: wife, son and three nephews.
His remodeling plans to make the house suitable for “just the two of us” were halted and reversed.
Where Melton, 53, was once hanging white curtains above white carpet in the soon-to-be all-white living room, he was now moving in bunk beds and buying backpacks for back-to-school.
His old parenting methods were dusted off and reapplied.
“The things that worked well for our kids,” Melton said, “we want to do the same for them.”
For his nephews, this meant establishing an unfamiliar set of expectations like folding laundry and cutting the grass; going to school on days they didn’t want to; waking up for church on Sunday mornings; exchanging video-game time for extracurriculars like football, basketball and bowling instead.
For Melton, this meant regularly waking up at 5:00 a.m. to ensure his nephews were up for school and breakfast was ready before the bus arrived.
The transition was difficult for all. But it was particularly challenging for the oldest nephew, who Melton said is on the autism spectrum and had frequent disciplinary issues.
However, after 1.5 years of “consistency, genuineness and love,” Melton said there’s been a drastic difference in each child’s behavior.
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He's kept their dad in the loop during the process, buying the oldest nephew a cell phone to maintain contact with his dad. Melton sends photos of report cards, sporting events and birthday parties to their father too.
“I have a good relationship with my dad. My son has a good relationship with me,” Melton said. “I want the same thing for them, and I don’t want them to feel any pressure between loving me and loving their dad.”
Restoring peace among his family and the community
Like many fathers, Daniel Mallory wears a variety of hats.
With his fiancé’s 18-year-old son, he holds deep conversations, helps with Spanish homework and hands out gas money.
With his own 26-year-old daughter – whose life he witnessed mostly through photographs, having spent over 15 years in prison for battery, armed robbery and other charges – he sometimes has hard conversations and works to repair their relationship.
With his five-year-old grandson, he tries to relive the experiences he lost with his daughter, teaching him the alphabet, celebrating birthdays and sharing laughs.
“I’m a father, man, so I love my family. But I’m not just the father of my biological family,” Mallory said. “I feel like I’m big uncle, big brother, you know, to a lot of these youngsters out here who don’t have that.”
Mallory’s presence as a father figure extends beyond his immediate family and into the streets of Indianapolis where he once roamed. Streets where he said he’s experienced homelessness and drug addiction. Streets where he’s lost loved ones to gun violence and narrowly escaped death himself, having been shot five times, he said.
Those encounters motivate him to maneuver as many people away from that trajectory as possible.
“My mission,” Mallory said, “personally, I just want to help who I can help, when I can help them. And if that means that I’ve helped somebody keep their life, that’s a goal.”
Mallory, 43, who grew up seeing his own father incarcerated, believes his history could have been avoided if he had better role models like he aims to be for others.
Although Mallory said he’s always been a mentor to young men on the streets, in 2020 that role was formalized. Two years after his last release from prison, he began teaching classes at the Edna Martin Christian Center, helping others learn how to do things like create a resume and open a bank account.
Outside of classes, he found himself helping in other ways.
“A lot of these guys were coming home from prison, probation, things of that nature,” Mallory said. “I know the language. They looked up to me. So, it was basically me just showing them like, ‘yeah, I know what you’re going through.’ And I kind of became the go-to guy for guidance.”
His advice: “I don’t want to see you in prison. I want you out here with your kids, successful, safe and alive.”
That message has become increasingly important in Indianapolis amid record-breaking homicide years. And in January 2022, Mallory was hired by the Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety as a life coach to help curb city violence.
He counts his “blessings” by the impact he’s able to have, like seeing a former felon go from wearing prison-issued khakis to a suit and tie, or, talking someone through a desperate situation who called him at 3:00 a.m. contemplating robbery.
“God designed this, you know, this path for me,” Mallory said, “and I'm just walking.”
'The family I made is one I'm proud of'
Brandon Woodson was barely of legal age to watch R-rated movies when he found out his high school sweetheart was pregnant.
He was a senior at Lawrence Central High School, a star defensive back on the varsity football team with multiple scholarship offers.
She was a junior at Lawrence Early College High School, his most fervent fan who never missed a game.
In the words of Woodson, “one thing led to another,” and in 2008 he had to answer a very adult question: “Do I want to repeat the same cycle I had growing up,” Woodson said, “living in a fatherless household?”
Woodson, 32, never knew his own father, who he said was lost to gun violence when Woodson was just two months old.
When Woodson walked across the stage with his high school diploma in May 2009, his one-month-old son watched.
“For me,” Woodson said, “what was most important was being there every day of my son’s life. It wouldn’t have been fair for her to take care of something we did together.”
He rejected his football scholarship offers, delayed college and remained in Indianapolis to support his new family.
She continued living with her parents, who Woodson said didn’t approve of them having the baby nor their relationship afterward.
“They were telling her a lot of things like, ‘he’s not a good dad. He’s not going to be there,’” Woodson said. “We were on our own. It was just us against the world.”
Still living with his mom, Woodson scrambled into survival mode: he worked nights at an Amazon warehouse; spent his days in an electronic technician program; occasionally picked up his girlfriend from school; attended doctor's appointments with their son. And, he bought diapers.
“I was just so determined to provide,” Woodson said.
She graduated in 2010. Together with their son they drove to Terre Haute and moved into a tiny one-bedroom apartment offered by Indiana State University, where day care services were provided.
But before he could finish his sophomore year, she gave birth to their second child, and Woodson dropped out to work full-time while she continued her studies.
“I just feel like it was something I knew I had to do,” Woodson said. “I wasn’t going to let her drop out, work and take care of me while I was in school.”
When she graduated in 2015, they moved back to Indianapolis, got married and rented a house.
In January, their third child was born. This time it was intentional, a distinction Woodson emphasized.
He looks back on his journey filled with gratitude.
“I was working for something,” Woodson said. “I was working for a happy home.”
He loves his oldest son’s charisma, his daughter’s determination and his baby boy’s innocence.
“The family that I made is one that I’m proud of.”
This dad works hard to 'be there more'
When his son was three years old, Quinton Collins bought him a pair of LeBron basketball shoes, drove him to the gym and walked him through his first-ever basketball training lesson.
A photo of his son from that day – Collins’ favorite picture – hangs from a gold necklace around his neck, forever memorializing the moment.
Moments like these are not only ones Collins, 32, cherishes, they’re also ones he didn’t have as a child; raised alone with four other siblings by their mother, while his father’s presence was in-and-out.
“Even if you didn’t have a dad, you still learn how to be one,” Collins said. “You know what you missed. You know what you didn’t have. So, you give that to your kids.”
Collins gives his son everything: He gave him those late-night hours when he was an infant, making bottles and feeding him.
He gave him his PlayStation controller when his hands were big enough to hold it, even though he was too young to play.
He gives him honesty, advice and open communication.
“I enjoy when I sit him down,” Collins said, “and say, ‘What do you think I can do better as a parent?’”
He gives him his heart, which was broken once four years ago when Collins asked that same question and his son responded, “be there more.” It was shortly after Collins had separated from his son’s mom and moved out of the house while his son stayed behind.
“After that,” Collins said, “I did everything I could to be in his life more.”
Where others occasionally lose hope, Collins leaned in closer.
He amped up efforts to increase one-on-one time. He offered to pick his son up from school on the days he wasn’t scheduled to see him. He took him to watch Pacers games, shoot hoops at the park and eat ice cream.
And when his son, now 11 years old, moved to Atlanta, Georgia, last year where his mom now works, Collins remained committed to being there more, adding thousands of miles to his car on trips to watch him play basketball, more than once.
Why?
“To let him know,” Collins said, “that I still love him.”
Contact IndyStar reporter Brandon Drenon at 317-517-3340 or BDrenon@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BrandonDrenon.
Brandon is also a Report for America corps member with the GroundTruth Project, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization dedicated to supporting the next generation of journalists in the U.S. and around the world.
Report for America, funded by both private and public donors, covers up to 50% of a reporter's salary. It’s up to IndyStar to find the other half, through local community donors, benefactors, grants or other fundraising activities.
If you would like to make a personal, tax-deductible contribution to his position, you can make a one-time donation online or a recurring monthly donation via IndyStar.com/RFA.
You can also donate by check, payable to “The GroundTruth Project.” Send it to Report for America, IndyStar, c/o The GroundTruth Project, 10 Guest Street, Boston, MA 02135. Please put IndyStar/Report for America in the check memo line. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2022/06/17/fathers-day-juneteenth-mean-twice-much-these-4-black-dads/7522235001/ | 2022-06-17T12:07:26 | 1 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2022/06/17/fathers-day-juneteenth-mean-twice-much-these-4-black-dads/7522235001/ |
SAN ANTONIO — First responders are working to contain a massive brush fire on the south side Friday morning.
Firefighters were called out to the 10500 block of Roosevelt near Villa Coronado Park around 7 p.m. Thursday night for reports of a large fire. Crews worked through the night to get the blaze under control, which covered about 200 acres of land.
At least 25 units responded to the blaze that continued to grow. Heavy winds acted as fuel to the dry vegetation as fire crews worked to contain the flames.
The SAFD battalion chief went up in SAPD Eagle to evaluate just how large the fire was from above the scene and decide how to attack it. Officials say the fire was difficult to get under control.
One concern for the crews working to contain the fire was the fact that Nu-Star Energy was just to the south of the location. That facility holds several thousands of gallons of fuels, including both diesel and jet fuel.
SAFD didn’t want to take any chances, so hazmat crews and other units showed up to the site to provide an additional layer of protection. Folks living nearby even stepped in, using things like skid steers and bobcats to help make fire breaks.
Then at around 11 p.m. Thursday night, the city had also contracted heavy equipment to assist with creating fire breaks.
Crews seemed to have better control of the fire as of around 6 a.m. Friday. Officials said that the fire is now under control. They have now decreased the number of units fighting the fire.
There's currently no word as to how the fire began. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/massive-brush-fire-southside-san-antonio-texas-park-firefighters-safd-sapd/273-e5de3e0d-45de-461a-8a66-729e265fd76f | 2022-06-17T12:13:28 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/massive-brush-fire-southside-san-antonio-texas-park-firefighters-safd-sapd/273-e5de3e0d-45de-461a-8a66-729e265fd76f |
SAN ANTONIO — As temperatures soar, the temperature inside your car can get even hotter. Even on a mild day, the inside of a vehicle can increase by 20 degrees within minutes, and that can quickly become deadly. So, health professionals in the San Antonio area are encouraging people to stay vigilant.
Helicopters and emergency vehicles set the scene outside the San Antonio headquarters for the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC).
“We’re calling on our community members to make sure that they ACT,” said Jennifer Northway, Director of Injury Prevention at University Health.
Northway was actually using an acronym there: A.C.T. stands for:
- AVOID HEATSTROKE by never leaving a child alone in a car, and keeping the car locked when not inside so no kids get in.
- CREATE REMINDERS by leaving a memento like a purse or phone in or near a car seat.
- TAKE ACTION BY calling 911 if you see a child alone in a car.
“Vehicles can heat up dramatically, quickly, and children just cannot handle intense exposure to heat,” Northway said.
Emergency service personnel from throughout the 22 counties that STRAC represents came out to see the car temperature displays that Safe Kids South Texas will send to their communities.
“Even on a cloudy day like this, we can see that these temperatures are not tenable for life,” said San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood.
Hood narrated as SAFD put on a demonstration showing how they respond when they receive a call for a child left in a hot car.
“We provided the demonstration today to show just how important it is to call 911,” Northway said. “Because we really only have minutes to respond when a child is left inside of a hot car."
Northway says that in the seven years this messaging program has been in effect, South Texas has been able to turn the tide in preventing hot car deaths among children.
“It’s that constant messaging from May through the end of September, because in Texas, we have a heat problem most of the year. That has really helped us turn the tide.” | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/summer-hot-car-messaging-campaign-southwest-texas-regional-advisory-council/273-a7c8a2c5-3307-4f5d-8e91-358c4f09c22e | 2022-06-17T12:13:31 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/summer-hot-car-messaging-campaign-southwest-texas-regional-advisory-council/273-a7c8a2c5-3307-4f5d-8e91-358c4f09c22e |
It’s bad enough that we have to go to work inside an office on such a beautiful day, but it’s also Eat Your Vegetables Day! Luckily, a lot of fresh produce is available at this time of year, so do eat veggies every day, whether in a salad packed with colorful vegetables or roasted. We like to follow our raw carrots with an ice cream cone chaser.
Start your morning outside with the Kenosha Library System at the Southwest Library, 7979 38th Ave. An outdoor Preschool Storytime is 10 a.m. in the Southwest Library Park. The half-hour program, with rhymes and songs, takes place in the park on the north side of the library parking lot. Admission is free. The program is aimed at 3- to 5-year-old children; bring a blanket or towel to sit on.
The Kenosha Public Library also hosts another outdoor program on the lawn of Fire Station No. 6, 2615 14th Place (across 27th Avenue from the Northside Library parking lot). Stamp It Up! (for ages 5-9) is 11 a.m. to noon. Children will design their own stamps and experiment printing with a variety of household objects. Admission is free. Note: Do NOT park at the fire station. Park at the library, across the street.
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An outdoor German-style Biergarten — featuring Hofbräuhaus Bier from Munich — is “popping up” on Downtown Kenosha’s lakefront, in Celebration Place. The biergarten will be open 3 to 9 p.m. today (and noon to 7 p.m. Saturday). Live music today is by Duo Sonic. Visitors can enjoy German and U.S. beers, along with hard cider, sausage and pretzels, food trucks and live music. There will also be children’s activities and stein-hoisting contests. The new event, hosted by Milwaukee-based BrewFest Partners, has free admission and is designed to be family friendly.
“Groundhog Day: The Musical” is about a nasty weatherman who is trapped in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over again. The Bradford High School production of “Groundhog Day” was on stage last fall, but now, if you missed it, you have a chance to relive this show at UW-Parkside. Before heading to the International Thespian Festival in Bloomington, Ind., the musical will be performed 7:30 tonight (and 7:30 p.m. Saturday) in the university’s Main Stage Theater. As a bonus, cast members will not be wearing masks (as they did last fall), so we can see all their facial expressions. We can’t wait to see the groundhog smile. Tickets are $6-$13 at kusd.edu/finearts.
The Pike River Benefit Concert Series at Hawthorn Hollow tonight features the Empty Bottle Boys and One Shot Jane. 6 to 9 p.m. at Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary, 880 Green Bay Road in Somers. Admission is $10 at the door; cash only. No carry-ins. Food and beverages are available for purchase. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/todays-events-for-friday-june-17/article_a148c9a6-ed79-11ec-8d0d-6bc8b1fce83d.html | 2022-06-17T12:15:37 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/todays-events-for-friday-june-17/article_a148c9a6-ed79-11ec-8d0d-6bc8b1fce83d.html |
The best part about ax throwing is anyone can do it.
To do it well? That takes practice.
Ax throwing — the latest addition to the Boundless Adventures Aerial Adventure Park at Bristol Woods County Park — allows participants to indulge their inner lumberjack, without actually having to do any heavy lifting.
“Ax throwing is very popular, and we offer it outdoors seven days a week,” said Chris Saimond, the general manager at Boundless Adventures.
Throwing an ax at a target, he said, “appeals to our rugged mentality here in Wisconsin.” Plus, he added, “People like to compete against each other.”
At Boundless Adventures, participants toss the axes — lightweight, specially designed axes, not just something you pick up to split logs — at targets.
Saimond rattled off several different games ax tossers can play: standard throwing, corn hole, First to 21, Humans vs. Zombies and something called Timber!!!!!!
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“We have a unique property here and can switch out the targets to create all those different games,” he said.
When we visited Wednesday afternoon for a preview, Saimond, who joined Boundless Adventures in February, said ax throwing is new to him, too.
Ax throwing 101
The in-house ax throwing expert is Drew Frees, who ran a Boy Scout program in Iowa for five years that included ax throwing and other activities.
“Ax throwing requires patience and finesse,” he said. “You can’t force your way through this by just throwing the ax as hard as you can.”
His tips: Be relaxed and focus on where you want to hit the target.
“You want to ‘read’ your throw,” he explained. “How it hits the target tells you whether you are too close or too far away.”
Before each ax throw, Frees said to follow this sequence: Step forward, lean, release the ax.
In theory, that should result in an ax imbedded in the target.
Full confession: My ax throws technically did hit the target — but they immediately bounced off. After five throws, it was clear the only thing connecting with the target was the butt-end of my ax handle, not the blade. (A double-bladed ax would fix this but cause other problems.)
“You are having trouble with your ax rotation,” Frees said, letting me down gently.
Holly Gilvary — who is working as a reporter this summer at the Kenosha News — also gave ax throwing a try Wednesday. She was more successful in that her ax blade did hit the target but failed to stick in place.
“It’s simple to do,” Gilvary said. “And people of all skill levels can compete against each other, which is nice.”
Our experience is common, Frees and Saimond said.
“The more people do this, the better they get at it,” Saimond said, gallantly trying to soothe my ego, which I appreciate.
Frees added: “Anyone can miss at any time. Even people who are really good at this.” (Thanks, Drew. Now I feel better.)
Obviously, I’m not ready to tackle Humans vs. Zombies, but with enough practice, I may yet get that ax to stay on target.
Have a comment? Email Liz at esnyder@kenoshanews.com, or call her at 262-656-6271. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/watch-now-want-to-toss-an-ax-boundless-adventures-adds-ax-throwing-in-brighton-woods/article_78700694-ed87-11ec-bc19-d3ea1a13fb48.html | 2022-06-17T12:15:44 | 1 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/watch-now-want-to-toss-an-ax-boundless-adventures-adds-ax-throwing-in-brighton-woods/article_78700694-ed87-11ec-bc19-d3ea1a13fb48.html |
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Texas News
News from around the state of Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/small-texas-parks-and-wildlife-plane-crashes-into-lady-bird-lake/2994864/ | 2022-06-17T12:16:46 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/small-texas-parks-and-wildlife-plane-crashes-into-lady-bird-lake/2994864/ |
A small plane crashed into Lady Bird Lake Thursday and the pilot was rescued by nearby paddleboarders, according to the Austin Police Department. That pilot is at the hospital being evaluated, officials said in a Thursday afternoon news conference.
The incident happened just west of Interstate 35. Texas Parks and Wildlife confirmed it was a game warden pilot that crashed.
A TPWD spokesperson said the plane "had just come out of routine maintenance and the pilot was on a test flight when they reported mechanical issues which forced them to land the plane in Lady Bird Lake."
Read more from our media partners at Nexstar station KXAN | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/texas-parks-and-wildlife-plane-crashes-into-lady-bird-lake/2994850/ | 2022-06-17T12:16:52 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/texas-parks-and-wildlife-plane-crashes-into-lady-bird-lake/2994850/ |
Milwaukee and Milwaukee County have received hundreds of millions from historic ARPA relief. Here's where the money is going
With the second tranche of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal pandemic aid expected to soon land in Milwaukee city and county coffers, officials are facing new decisions on how to spend the historic sums.
The city will directly receive a total of $394.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, about 75% of which elected leaders have already decided how to spend.
Milwaukee County, which has taken a slower approach to spending decisions, will ultimately receive a total of $183.7 million in direct ARPA aid from the federal government. Only about 41% of its money has been allocated.
While elected leaders have already directed significant portions of their funds to various initiatives, just a fraction of the money has actually been spent by the city and county.
And these sums do not include any additional ARPA dollars that Gov. Tony Evers has directed to violence prevention, security in downtown Milwaukee, the Milwaukee County Zoo, Port Milwaukee to expand maritime infrastructure and more.
What is the American Rescue Plan?
In March 2021, President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act into law with the goal of helping the country recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ARPA funds that have arrived in city and county coffers come through the federal government’s State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. They are meant to help state, local and tribal governments respond to the effects of the pandemic and recover from them.
The money can be used to replace lost revenue, respond to public health and economic impacts of the pandemic, provide premium pay for essential workers and invest in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.
Funds have to be allocated by Dec. 31, 2024, and spent by Dec. 31, 2026.
How have Milwaukee and Milwaukee County made decisions so far?
City leaders have chosen to make spending decisions faster than the county, which has used a task force to vet ideas before making recommendations to the County Board's Finance Committee and, ultimately, the 18-member County Board.
Over the course of a couple of meetings last fall, city leaders allocated $179 million of the first tranche to initiatives that included affordable housing and lead paint abatement. That followed allocations of about $17.45 million earlier in the year to address issues deemed more urgent, such as reckless driving response.
Last month, the council and Mayor Cavalier Johnson set aside $96.9 million of the $197.1 million second tranche with a focus on maintaining city services amid serious financial pressures.
City leaders also plan to create an American Rescue Plan Act task force to provide spending recommendations for the remaining sum.
Milwaukee County, on the other hand, has taken longer to make spending decisions. So far, the county's dashboard shows it has allocated $76.1 million of the $183.7 million — or about 41%.
The county's process is being driven by a task force charged with ensuring diverse input as it develops recommendations that will ultimately go to the County Board and County Executive David Crowley for approval.
"We created a process that we’re really proud of," said Milwaukee County Board Supervisor Shawn Rolland, who co-chairs the county's ARPA Task Force. "We didn’t rush into anything. We took our time initially to build out processes and principles that we felt would endure for the entirety of it and, to me, I think we’ll follow these principles until the last dollar is allocated."
Those principles for allocating funds include being cognizant of the county's challenging fiscal situation, prioritizing nonrecurring expenditures with the one-time funds to provide lasting impact, seeking partnerships to make sure the dollars are spent efficiently and more.
How has the city allocated this money?
Between last year and this year, Milwaukee has allocated about 75% of the $394.2 million it is in line to receive.
Milwaukee's Common Council in October allocated $179 million to a host of initiatives: $43.5 million for affordable housing, $26 million for lead paint abatement, $3 million for lead abatement workforce development, $2 million for energy efficiency upgrades to homes undergoing lead remediation, $15 million for the continued pandemic response and more.
Then-Mayor Tom Barrett signed the legislation, which came on the heels of earlier allocations of about $17.45 million for responding to reckless driving, providing attorneys for people facing eviction, shoring up the city's struggling ambulance system and bolstering its Earn and Learn program.
The bulk — $75 million — of the $96.9 million already allocated from the second tranche would be used to maintain service levels in 2023 with additional ARPA funding for services in 2024 left undetermined.
"Priority one is let's make sure this ARPA money at least delays tough decisions," now-Budget Director Nik Kovac told a council committee.
He added: "Some people refer to that pejoratively as kicking the can down the road, and I would agree that there's a cynical way to view that. But on the other hand, I would much rather delay that than commit to it because if you delay it, you're giving yourself time and something else may happen in the interim."
The legislation sets aside the remainder of the $96.9 million between 2023 and 2024 to street lighting replacement ($10 million), housing programs ($9.4 million) and administrative and compliance staff ($2.5 million).
About $19.3 million had been spent as of May 24, according to the city.
Milwaukee's ARPA allocations and spending are also being publicly tracked on online dashboards.
What decisions are pending at the city?
The city will have to decide how to spend the approximately 25% of the funds that remain unallocated — and a big question is how much will go to maintaining services in 2024.
Council President José Pérez said that possibility makes him want to work harder to gain state support for new revenue sources for the city.
"Your costs keep going up and if your revenue doesn't keep up with everything else, then you've got to cut somewhere," he said. "And we're getting to the point now where there's not much fat. These are tough decisions and we want the community to be engaged and informed."
How has the county allocated its money?
The county's task force broke down its anticipated spending decisions into four categories:
- $115.7 million to revenue loss recovery to provide government services.
- $36.7 million to community supports to respond to the economic impacts of the pandemic on residents, businesses and the public sector.
- $23.9 million to funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
- $7.3 million to coordinate the use of ARPA funds.
The county's allocation dashboard shows $59.5 million has been allocated in the revenue loss category, $9.6 million to community supports, $2.5 million to COVID-19 mitigation and $4.5 million to fund administration.
In all, that comes to $76.1 million that has been allocated of the $183.7 million.
And of that smaller sum, only about $600,000 had been spent as of March 31, with the bulk of the spending — about $528,000 — on a Right To Counsel program for people facing eviction, according to the county. An additional $80,000 had been spent at that point on COVID-19 mitigation costs.
The pace of spending is the result of a number of factors, including significant allocations that were set aside for specific projects that are in development and spending decisions that have just been made in recent months.
About $4.2 million has been set aside to support eviction prevention services, including a flexible housing subsidy and the Right to Counsel funding.
The county's single largest allocation so far has been for the Marcia P. Coggs Human Services Center. The $32.3 million for that project was set aside as options including renovating the current building or constructing a new one are explored. (The costs, however, could also be substantially more than the ARPA funds earmarked for the project.)
Other big-ticket items include $10.5 million for a "digital transformation assessment project" that aims to digitize processes to make them more efficient. The legislation allocates $500,000 for an outside organization to develop a digitalization plan and sets aside $10 million to execute that plan, once the County Board approves it.
That leaves about $107.6 million unallocated. However, of that sum, $50.8 million in proposals have been recommended by the ARPA task force but have not yet received full authorization from the County Board and Crowley, according to the County Executive's Office.
What decisions are pending at the county?
Rolland, the county supervisor, said major decisions revolve around the county's annual structural deficit and addressing hundreds of millions of dollars in deferred maintenance.
"How do we invest in the future financial health of the county so then future County Boards don’t have such a big structural deficit to face in the future?" he said.
For instance, Rolland said, installing an irrigation system would allow staff assigned to watering county property to be reassigned to higher-value work.
About this feature
This is a weekly feature for online and Sunday print readers delving into an issue in the news and explaining the actions of policymakers. Email suggestions for future topics to jsmetro@jrn.com.
Contact Alison Dirr at 414-224-2383 or adirr@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter @AlisonDirr. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/06/17/milwaukee-milwaukee-county-face-new-decisions-more-arpa-funds/9864485002/ | 2022-06-17T12:18:37 | 0 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/06/17/milwaukee-milwaukee-county-face-new-decisions-more-arpa-funds/9864485002/ |
UPPER ST. CLAIR, Pa. — Allegheny County Police is investigating the death of a three-month-old boy.
Officers were called to the 300 block of Fort Couch Road in Upper Saint Clair around 5 p.m. Thursday.
Once they were on scene, officers found an unresponsive infant.
BREAKING: A 3-month-old is dead after Allegheny County Police say the infant was left inside his parent’s car for several hours. The boy was found unresponsive in the 300 block of Fort Couch Road in Upper St. Clair. @WPXI pic.twitter.com/ngvTULXj0o
— Sarafina James (@SarafinaWPXI) June 17, 2022
Paramedics attempted to save the infant but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police believe the little boy was left inside a parent’s vehicle for several hours.
Homicide detectives have been called to assist in the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call the County Police Tip Line at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.
Click here for summer safety tips on how to prevent the death of children in hot cars.
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In all my years as a journalist, I never imagined that my serious, on-the-ground reporting would ever be interrupted by a tiny, pastel-green locomotive called the Jolly Trolly. But here I am, sitting and watching it pleasantly chug past me like a character straight out of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.” I wave at the conductor while he rings a little bell, joining the chorus of singing birds flying overhead.
I’ve only been in Children’s Fairyland for about 15 minutes, but much to my own surprise, I am already starting to short-circuit with glee — I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt such a palpable sense of whimsy and magic.
For Shannon Taylor and Ari Bird, the two artists in charge of restoring the beloved theme park, this is all just a normal day on the job. Together, they use their craftsmanship to sand, paint and restore — or entirely recreate — the 72-year-old park’s surreal props, rides and architecture.
One of the oldest theme parks in America, Oakland’s Fairyland reportedly influenced some of the biggest theme park franchises we know today. Walt Disney visited it shortly after it opened in 1950, allegedly inspiring his “magic kingdom,” which opened five years later.
Taylor and Bird, covered head to toe in splattered red, white and orange paint, met me outside the Old Lady in the Shoe to give me a tour of the park. The duo agreed it’s a rewarding and therapeutic occupation — and they could never succumb to a traditional 9-5 because of it.
“It’s the most fun job,” says Bird as we walk past Oswald, a bubble-blowing elf sitting on top of a larger-than-life red mushroom. Whenever Taylor and Bird talk about their projects, they always refer to them by their character name: There’s Miss Muffet, the lady in red, the Happy Dragon, Pinocchio and, of course, Ozzy. Bird and Taylor don’t just restore the park’s friendly characters, they breathe new life into their personas (this definitely applies to the park’s older and unfortunately “creepier” cast members).
It all seemed … well, too good to be true. Was there anything at all that made this job challenging or difficult? Taylor and Bird seem confused by the question, though they do cite some physical challenges. For example, nearly every structure from the pumpkin-shaped espresso bar to the Storybook Puppet Theater is at a jaunty angle, making them hard to access.
“They say there are no straight lines in Fairyland,” Bird says as we walk past the Jolly Roger Pirate Ship.
“There’s a surprise around every corner, which is especially true if you’re trying to put a ladder anywhere,” adds Taylor. She’s not just referring to the slanted, dreamlike architecture though: She says the park is dominated by “miniatures” — miniature ponies, miniature donkeys, dwarf goats, babydoll sheep, chickens and ducks. And when the park closes, they get to wander around and stretch their legs, making the job all the more whimsical.
“You’ll be painting and then a little horse is just trotting by you. … It’s inherently therapeutic,” Bird says as she applies yellow paint to a big letter D. Right now, she’s restoring the iconic Fairyland sign that overlooks Lake Merritt, which gets tagged up or worn down by the elements (including small children).
Her shared art studio with Taylor feels like a theme park in of itself: It’s elegantly cluttered with old props and historic screen prints, hand-painted signs and rows upon rows of magic keys. Taylor says they’re part of an “underground network” among employees, but declined to go into further detail.
Behind its pastel gates, Fairyland feels like a secret world tucked away from reality. But even here, there are somber motifs that poke through its magic veil. “Distance is delightful!” says a hand-painted purple sign with a rainbow on it. “Take turns,” says another. In front of us, masked children walk in single-file, careful to avoid getting too close. Park employees, too, are adapting to modern times.
Bird, who was forced to pack up her belongings and leave her job mid-shift during lockdown, is determined to keep her role at the park. In the early days of the pandemic, it faced an uncertain future: Fairyland closed in March of 2020, furloughing all 56 of its employees and losing more than $1 million during the shutdown. Now, Bird splits her time between Oakland and San Diego, driving her truck up to the bay monthly and crashing with friends so she can take on projects weeks at a time.
Working in the art and restoration department and learning from Taylor, whom she refers to as a “master of materials,” has also informed her own work. “I love weird cartoons and things that are kind of off-kilter,” she says.
And it shows: An artist outside of Fairyland, Bird fabricates anything from 7-foot-tall tube socks to forbidden silica packets for drag performances, music videos and gallery installations. “Baggies,” Bird’s solo show, is currently on view at Oakland’s “lowbrow” Crisis Club Gallery through July. Down the street, Berkeley’s Rolodex Gallery is featuring some of her sculptures as part of its latest group exhibition, “Excursions.”
Similarly, Taylor, who coincidentally marked her 12-year anniversary at Fairyland the day I visited, is the new assistant chair of California College of the Arts’ illustration department. Taylor said she never expected to have a job like this, explaining that it “just kind of happened.” After finishing school, she saw a photo of Fairyland on her friend’s Myspace page. Enamored with the park, she started volunteering and realized that both she and her mother went there as kids.
She’s still a newbie compared to other Fairyland employees, though. Randal Metz, the master puppeteer, has worked at the park since he was kid, which equates to at least 40 or 50 years, she said.
Even as someone who generally loathes amusement parks, I can see why children and adults flock to them — and why they have such a strong hold on American culture. As this country continues to endure tragedy after tragedy, children deserve to have spaces that shelter them from the increasingly mundane evils of guns and illness. It is impossible to be in a place like this and not ruminate on how we are failing to protect our children, and how, every day, we continue to mourn the ones we have lost.
As I gather my belongings and leave the park, chickens wander in their coop, and the painters and horticulturists and train conductors continue to oil the gears of Fairyland. Here, all is well. | https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/Best-job-in-Bay-Area-17241826.php | 2022-06-17T12:23:45 | 1 | https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/Best-job-in-Bay-Area-17241826.php |
Inside the muggy West Gallery at the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco, an endangered plant standing 54 inches tall is just beginning to blush.
Suspended above the specimen is a camera livestreaming the progress of its growth to the conservatory’s followers, who are eagerly watching and waiting. It’s only a matter of hours until Chanel, the titan arum – better known as a corpse flower – will draw hundreds of guests to Golden Gate Park for a stinky spectacle.
Some visitors liken a corpse flower’s natural musk to moldy cheese, sweaty gym socks or rotting vegetables in a compost bin. But Sarah Sawtelle, the manager of engagement at the Conservatory of Flowers, thinks it’s a little more refined than that.
“There’s many different layers to the smell, and it varies a little bit over the course of the bloom, too,” she told me as we stood in front of Chanel on Thursday afternoon; the plant’s moniker is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the designer fragrance. “It’s most stinky at the beginning, but even as it starts to taper off, you can smell different elements of the odor. It’s like a fine wine.”
That said, there’s a reason the corpse flower gets its name.
“It’s like if a rodent finds its way into your attic or crawl space and perishes. I don’t know if you’ve had that experience of being like, ‘Oh, something definitely died in here.’ But I think that’s a pretty good analogy,” Sawtelle said. “It creates a really horrific stench.”
The plant is native to Sumatra, and its population is rapidly declining, with an estimation of fewer than 1,000 left in the wild. That makes it a popular choice for botanical gardens to propagate, despite its trademark aroma, which can travel up to several miles in its natural habitat, Sawtelle said. It’s a way for the plant to send a signal to pollinators like dung beetles and flesh flies.
However, the bloom is fleeting. Lasting no longer than 48 hours, people travel far and wide for the chance to experience it for themselves. The last time one of the Conservatory of Flowers’ five corpse flowers bloomed was in August 2020, and because of the pandemic, they had to set up a plexiglass barrier near the entrance for viewing. But it was still a highly attended event.
“People come in droves,” Sawtelle said. “There’s something about this plant that awakens a curiosity and excitement. It’s a celebratory feeling, even though it’s sort of a morbid plant.”
And last year, when Alameda nursery owner Solomon Leyva brought his own corpse flower to a local gas station for public viewing, the line stretched halfway down the block.
Undoubtedly, the plant exudes a magnetic quality that delights as much as it disgusts. It’s a fascinating juxtaposition – and that’s not lost on the Conservatory of Flowers' chief nursery specialist Kristen Natoli.
“It’s the hook. It’s the plant world hook,” Natoli said, studying Chanel for a moment. “It’s so beautiful, and yet it smells so bad. I think that contradiction is part of what draws people in. But for us, we’re just wanting to connect people with plants. And once we get them in the door, all these stories unravel about them.”
Sawtelle said that before she was hired at the Conservatory in 2019, she waited in line for “up to an hour” to see a corpse flower. It’s possible that even more people will show up now that San Francisco residents receive free admission. However, a $13 fee for adults still stands during the Conservatory’s extended hours, which will be in place until 9 p.m. to accommodate an influx of visitors on the night of the bloom and the following day.
And for now, it’s anyone’s guess as to when Chanel will bloom. Sawtelle said that conservatory staff first started to notice a deep red color – the blush – appearing near the top of the plant on Sunday.
“When we see that, we’re on high alert,” she said, noting the plant usually blooms three to five days after the color appears. “I’d be surprised if it bloomed after Sunday. I hear a lot of people say Friday, but I’m going to put my money on Saturday just so I can be an outlier. But we don’t know! That’s the magic of it. We have to play along with the suspense.” | https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/San-Francisco-corpse-flower-bloom-Golden-Gate-Park-17247627.php | 2022-06-17T12:23:51 | 0 | https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/San-Francisco-corpse-flower-bloom-Golden-Gate-Park-17247627.php |
Bloomington man pulled from crashed car by passersby this week dies at hospital
A Bloomington man died Wednesday night following an afternoon traffic accident where his car left the road, struck a tree and caught fire.
Police said passersby pulled the man from the car after the 4:50 p.m. crash and administered medical aid until first responders arrived.
Ryan Hill, 49, of Bloomington, died six hours later at IU Health-Bloomington Hospital, according to Monroe County Coroner Joani Stalcup. She said an autopsy will be done to determine what caused Hill's death.
The one-vehicle crash happened at the intersection of South Clarizz Boulevard and East Moore's Pike on Bloomington's east side.
"While en route, dispatch advised responding officers that the driver of the vehicle was reportedly unresponsive and that the car had caught on fire. At that point, bystanders pulled the driver from the vehicle and began CPR," a Bloomington Police Department news release said.
Witnesses said the white 2018 Nissan Altima Hill was driving was eastbound on Moores Pike when it started swerving and then drove off the southside of the road. The car hit a pedestrian crossing signal, an apartment complex sign and a tree.
Contact reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com, 812-331-4362 or 812-318-5967. | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/bloomington-man-dies-after-car-crash-clarizz-and-moores-pike/7655263001/ | 2022-06-17T12:24:56 | 1 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/bloomington-man-dies-after-car-crash-clarizz-and-moores-pike/7655263001/ |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – As more cases are identified, Orange County has confirmed its first case of monkeypox.
Florida Department of Health data last updated Thursday shows there is one case in Orange County.
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Monkeypox is a virus that originates in wild animals like rodents and primates, and occasionally jumps to people. It belongs to the same virus family as smallpox. Health leaders said monkeypox is an infection transmitted between animals and humans with most cases reported in Central and West Africa.
Health officials are still investigating, but a top adviser to the World Health Organization said in May the leading theory behind the outbreak is that monkeypox was likely spread after sexual activity at two recent raves in Europe.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are nine total cases in Florida.
Symptoms to look out for include fever, headache, muscle and backaches, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. Health officials, however, stress monkeypox does not spread as easily as COVID-19 and is rarely fatal.
The WHO will convene an emergency committee of experts on June 23 “because the virus has shown ‘unusual’ recent behavior by spreading in countries well beyond parts of Africa where it is endemic,” according to the Associated Press. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/06/17/florida-health-officials-confirm-first-case-of-monkeypox-in-orange-county/ | 2022-06-17T12:28:28 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/06/17/florida-health-officials-confirm-first-case-of-monkeypox-in-orange-county/ |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Jurors will return to court Friday morning to continue their deliberations in the murder trial of a woman accused of killing her husband in their Winter Park home in January 2019.
Danielle Redlick, 48, faces charges of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of 65-year-old Michael Redlick, who worked as director of external affairs and partnership relations at UCF’s DeVos Sport Business Management Graduate Program.
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The trial has lasted more than a week and if she is convicted, Redlick faces a possible life sentence.
During closing arguments Thursday, prosecutors and the defense painted two different pictures of what happened the night Michael Redlick was killed. The state worked to convince the jury Reddlick was guilty in the stabbing death of her husband. Prosecutors showed the knife used to kill Michael Redlick, saying his wife waited 11 hours to call 911 and tried to get rid of evidence.
“She does everything she can, from the moment she realizes she killed that man, to avoid answering for what she’s done,” prosecutors said.
The defense argued Michael Redlick was a violent and controlling husband and that the “only option she had in that kitchen was to take action.” Redlick’s attorney said her goal was to escape as she was being strangled and had no choice but to stab him in self-defense.
The case was handed to the jury Thursday evening and a decision could be reached later Friday.
Jurors are making a decision on two charges: second-degree murder and tampering with evidence. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/06/17/jury-deliberations-to-continue-in-murder-trial-for-woman-accused-in-ucf-executives-death/ | 2022-06-17T12:28:34 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2022/06/17/jury-deliberations-to-continue-in-murder-trial-for-woman-accused-in-ucf-executives-death/ |
The Senate passed a bill Thursday afternoon that would extend care more readily to veterans harmed by exposure to Agent Orange and toxic burn pits.
With the bill one step closer to becoming law, the hope of some Vietnam War-era veterans who served in Thailand is that the federal government will extend to them a presumption that their illnesses were caused by exposure to Agent Orange, a herbicide used to kill vegetation along fencelines on U.S. military installations in Thailand.
“Great news for us veterans,” said Xenia resident Paul Skinner, who served in Thailand while in the Air Force during the Vietnam War.
The Senate approved the bill, the Honoring Our PACT Act, H.R. 3967, 84-14.
As some Thailand veterans see it, the VA system had placed an undue burden of proof on them to demonstrate they were harmed by Agent Orange, in some cases asking for photographs or other evidence of physical proximity to Agent Orange.
It has not been a burden shared by veterans who served in Vietnam or in the Navy.
“If you set foot on a land mass (in Vietnam), you’re entitled to a presumption” that you have been exposed to herbicides, Rhode Island attorney Robert Chisholm told the Dayton Daily News last year.
Veterans in Thailand enjoyed no such presumption — at least, not yet.
“I wish Bob was still living to see this. He put his last dying breath into this fight,” Skinner said, referring to friend and fellow Thailand veteran Robert McHenry.
Centerville resident McHenry died in July 2021 at the age of 74. McHenry worked for years to correct what he argued was an error in an Air Force Historical Research Agency memo, which held there was no evidence of tactical herbicides having been used at American bases in Thailand.
The memo said that although use of commercial herbicides on bases in Thailand had been documented, Air Force archivists had found no mention of the transportation, payment for or use of any tactical herbicide (such as Agent Orange) to control vegetation on Air Force installations in Thailand.
McHenry long contended this was mistaken.
“Bob has been fighting this letter since it came out,” Skinner said last year.
“They used that letter repeatedly to deny (veterans’) claims,” Mary Flodder, McHenry’s widow, said in an interview last year.
Ohio Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman voted to support the bill.
The next step for the bill: A return to the House for a vote there.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/senate-passes-bill-on-veterans-exposure-to-burn-pits-agent-orange/XKQY53WKJJCY3K5QOMVPPY7YMY/ | 2022-06-17T12:39:36 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/senate-passes-bill-on-veterans-exposure-to-burn-pits-agent-orange/XKQY53WKJJCY3K5QOMVPPY7YMY/ |
BROWNSBURG, Ind. — Divers worked to recover a sunken SUV with people inside from a Brownsburg retention pond Friday morning.
The SUV drove into the pond off West 56th Street east of Northfield Drive following a collision with another vehicle. Four people were inside, according to Brownsburg Fire officials, and at least two were able to get out before the SUV sank in the pond.
All occupants were eventually removed. Officials have not released their conditions or identities.
Police have not said what led to the crash or provided any details about occupants of the other vehicle.
Check back for updates to this developing story. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/divers-called-to-brownsburg-crash-with-suv-in-pond-victims/531-f91dd2e6-9f22-4b08-83bd-eea40f66f3a8 | 2022-06-17T12:45:32 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/divers-called-to-brownsburg-crash-with-suv-in-pond-victims/531-f91dd2e6-9f22-4b08-83bd-eea40f66f3a8 |
BESSEMER, Ala. (WHNT) — An inmate that was killed at the William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer has been identified by the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC).
ADOC’s Public Information Officer Kelly Betts confirmed that 41-year-old Mitchell Cosby was involved in an “inmate-on-inmate” assault involving a weapon on Wednesday. An earlier report from ADOC said he had been stabbed around 4:27 p.m.
Betts says Cosby was flown to the University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital due to the severity of his injuries. He died before arriving at the hospital, Betts told News 19.
Cosby was serving a life sentence at Donaldson for a 2002 murder conviction out of Jefferson County.
The ADOC Law Enforcement Services Division is “thoroughly investigating the incident,” Betts said. More information, including the identity of the other inmate involved, is expected to be released at the conclusion of the investigation.
Another inmate, who has not yet been identified, was found unresponsive in the prison infirmary around 4:20 a.m. on Thursday morning. The 68-year-old inmate had been staying in the infirmary and was being treated for a “significant natural disease,” according to the coroner’s office report.
That inmate was pronounced dead at 4:43 a.m., with his death being attributed to natural causes. According to ADOC officials, he had been serving a life sentence for a 1984 murder conviction out of Cullman County.
Two other deaths had been previously reported earlier this month, one reportedly from “natural causes” and another from a “medical illness.” The last homicide to be reported at Donaldson was March 1, when William Eric Jennings, 49, died from “blunt force trauma.” | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/identity-of-donaldson-inmate-killed-released-by-alabama-department-of-corrections/ | 2022-06-17T12:45:38 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/identity-of-donaldson-inmate-killed-released-by-alabama-department-of-corrections/ |
INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man was killed in a motorcycle crash on the city's northeast side Thursday night.
IMPD officers were called to the intersection of 30th Street and Arlington Avenue just after 7:00 p.m. on a report of an accident involving a motorcycle and a sedan.
Police located the man who was on the motorcycle suffering from severe trauma. Medics took him to the hospital in critical condition. Shortly after arriving at the to the hospital, the driver of the motorcycle was pronounced deceased.
Authorities have not shared his name.
Accident investigators believe the motorcycle was traveling east on 30th Street as the sedan was traveling west on 30th and turned left to head south on Arlington, crossing into the path of the motorcycle and leading to the crash.
The sedan driver is cooperating with police on their investigation, and submitted to a blood draw at the hospital as standard procedure for crash investigations that involve fatalities.
Check back for updates. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/indianapolis-indiana-man-dies-in-motorcycle-crash-on-northeast-side/531-e88d4540-db05-486e-8a7a-fc013895d642 | 2022-06-17T12:45:38 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/indianapolis-indiana-man-dies-in-motorcycle-crash-on-northeast-side/531-e88d4540-db05-486e-8a7a-fc013895d642 |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – A local organization is using its muscle to uplift youth and provide them a platform to be seen and heard.
Destination Innovation is making June all about young people and celebrating Black culture. KSN News visited Mulberry Art Gallery to get a first look at a work of art.
“The light in the sun behind these pictures means joy. Our young people need joy, a masterpiece with meaningful messages,” Marquetta Atkins, CEO and founder of Destination Innovation, said. “The mics on fire mean what a time for young people to express their voices.”
She says the organization is a hub of youth leadership and development and says amplifying young voices is its mission.
“We have Progeny, our youth touched by the juvenile justice system that we’re teaching leadership advocacy and how to change policy in a way that impacts them, and Root The Power is a civic engagement group where we teach young people how systems work and let them know if they don’t have the power of their vote, they do have the power of their voice and so they’re learning to inspire,” said Atkins. “All our programs are designed to give young people the network, the resources, and the mindset to be successful leaders.”
Recalling her own journey in choosing a path, Atkins is using that lesson as an inspiration and showing youth there are multiple ways to invoke change.
“We change the narrative by giving young people empowerment, so you know I’m old school,” said Atkins. “When I grew up, children were supposed to be seen and not heard. In our space, children are seen and heard, and it’s so important because when you look at the history of the world, any great thing that happened youth were a catalyst to it.”
Recent events have presented today’s youth with a platform to speak.
“Making sure the voices of young people are heard with the Cedric Lofton case happening and that young man losing his life is so important. We want to be the voice,” said Atkins.
Helping crescendo those voices, Atkins commissioned Wichita artist Kamela Eaton to create the piece called Too Deeply Rooted to be Muted.
“I automatically thought of a tree. A large tree with roots is such a symbol of strength,” said Eaton.
She used colors to catch the eye, spark emotion, and ignite change.
“These young people are our own fire, they are going to keep speaking up and speaking out, and they will be our future policy changers, they will transform this city, they are not going to quiet down, and that’s why this artwork means so much to me,” Atkins said.
The Too Deeply Rooted to be Muted piece is up at Mulberry and Chainlink galleries. There is a list of events happening in honor of Juneteenth this weekend. One is a conversation on June 18 in McAdam’s Park and will be led by the youth and them telling us what changes they need. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/art-used-to-amplify-young-voices-in-wichita/ | 2022-06-17T12:47:19 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/art-used-to-amplify-young-voices-in-wichita/ |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — From coast to coast, One man is walking from California to Florida to raise awareness for mental health.
On Thursday, exactly one year to that day, Sylvester Williams said he got out of prison after serving a 10-year sentence. He said he is not letting a bad decision he made when he was young define him. He’s now taking his message of “mental health matters” everywhere he goes.
Step by step and dancing from coast to coast, Williams has a message to share.
“Once I got out of prison, I decided I have got to do something. I need to do something big because mental health we talk about it, but the actions are not done enough behind it,” said Williams.
Williams said it is his best friend’s death that inspired his journey, which started on May 1.
“She lost her life to depression. She lost that battle last year on February 16th,” said Williams.
Now, thousands of miles in, he said it’s OK to not be OK.
“So many people are afraid to talk about it, or they try to hold it in especially like with men they teach you to be tough just grow up and don’t say nothing about it,” said Williams.
Williams talks to people along the way. He said while he doesn’t know when he will be done walking, each step matters.
“Till I get to Jacksonville Florida. Like I said, Kansas, I think, is like my halfway point, so now I have the other half,” said Williams.
Williams said though Kansas has been really hot, he has been enjoying his time here. He will be spending a few days in the Wichita area before continuing his walk all the way to Florida. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/walking-across-the-country-to-raise-awareness-for-mental-health/ | 2022-06-17T12:47:25 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/walking-across-the-country-to-raise-awareness-for-mental-health/ |
GREENSBORO — Police say they are investigating a shooting overnight that resulted in one person being hospitalized.
At 12:38 a.m., officers responded to a local hospital about a walk-in gunshot victim who arrived by private vehicle from the 200 block of Shaw Street, according to a news release from the Greensboro Police Department.
Police said the person's injury was not life-threatening.
No additional details were released.
Authorities ask anyone with information to contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000; or, download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/police-investigate-shooting-overnight-in-greensboro-1-person-hospitalized/article_af51f0e6-ee31-11ec-a419-87b4ca0c8def.html | 2022-06-17T12:51:34 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/police-investigate-shooting-overnight-in-greensboro-1-person-hospitalized/article_af51f0e6-ee31-11ec-a419-87b4ca0c8def.html |
GARY — As Indiana University President Pamela Whitten stated, “You do something at Indiana University Northwest, and people show up.”
University, city and state officials showed up Thursday on the southeast corner of the Anderson Library Conference Center for the unveiling of the latest state historical marker.
Calling IUN “very fabulous,” Whitten noted that the Gary campus boasts the most diverse student body of the IU regional campuses. It has also been designated a Hispanic-serving campus.
Whitten expressed her hope that the marker “increases an appreciation of the past.”
Opening the afternoon program, IUN Chancellor Ken Iwama said, “We know our present and future are built upon the great legacies of the past. Today, IUN is an incredible institution, providing advantages of being an integral part of the great IU, while offering the personalized attention and support that are the signature qualities of a regional campus.”
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The two-sided marker, the 14th in Lake County, outlines the history of the regional campus, dating back to 1921, when IU established extension centers in the Calumet Region. As manufacturing jobs drew minorities and European immigrants to this area, the marker continues, “IU offered affordable night classes and industrial coursework to meet the educational needs of a diverse student body.”
The marker further states that a Gary Center building opened in 1959 on what became the campus’s current site. Following a merging of educational centers in 1963, the campus held its first commencement ceremony in 1967. In 1968, as part of a statewide reorganization, the campus was renamed Indiana University Northwest. IU School of Medicine added a regional center at the Gary campus in 1972.
According to Justin Clark, digital initiatives director for the Indiana Historical Bureau, this is the first marker in Lake County since the 2020 dedication of the marker outside Gary’s Roosevelt High School. Over the past 75 years, Clark noted, more than 700 of these markers have been posted in 91 of Indiana’s 92 counties.
Clark called these markers “a snapshot and tangible reminder of the past.” He added that these markers serve to “introduce, educate and inform” the public about places “that have shaped the area.”
State roadside markers commemorate significant individuals, organizations, places and events in Hoosier history. Markers are already in place at IU regional campuses in Richmond, South Bend, Kokomo and New Albany.
IUN professor and historian James H. Capshew called the Gary campus “a shining example of institutional resilience.”
Gary Mayor Jerome Prince called the occasion “a good day to remember, to think about what the future holds.”
He praised IUN for enabling “families achieving greatness in Northwest Indiana.”
Gallery: Indiana historical markers in the Region
First Physician
First Physician
Location: 2985 W. 73rd Place, Merrillville
Erected by Woman's Auxiliary, Lake County Medical Society
Henry D. Palmer, M.D. (1809-1877) located at this site in 1836. First physician in Lake County, he was also counselor to the pioneers for 40 years and member of the underground railroad aiding escaped slaves.
Great Sauk (Sac) Trail
Great Sauk (Sac) Trail
Location: Van Buren Street at West 73rd Avenue (Old U.S. 30/Lincoln Highway) on traffic median east of Calumet Cemetery and west of Broadway, Merrillville
Erected by Indiana Sesquicentennial Commission, 1966
Part of a transcontinental trail used by prehistoric peoples of North America, it passed through modern Detroit, Rock Island and Davenport in the Midwest. The trail was important into the 19th century.
St. John's Lutheran Church Tolleston
St. John's Lutheran Church Tolleston
Location: 2235 W. 10th Avenue at Taft Avenue, southeast corner, Gary
St. John's Church, the oldest surviving institution in Gary and north of the Little Calumet River, began with the work of the Rev. Henry Wunder in the early 1860's. He regularly came from Chicago by horse and buggy. Baptism records date from 1863; the first church was built on this site in 1868 or 1869; 1870 is celebrated as date of organization. The church served German immigrants to Tolleston (named for George Tolle who came in 1856). Tolleston was annexed to Gary in 1910.
Dutch in the Calumet Region
Dutch in the Calumet Region
Location: 8941 Kleinman Road, Highland
Erected 1992 Indiana Historical Bureau and Lamprecht Florist & Greenhouse, established 1923
Dutch immigrants after 1850 began moving to this area because of its similarities to their homeland. They helped to locate ditches to drain water from the extensive marshes, leaving rich land to expand successful horticultural activities.
St. John Township School, District #2
St. John Township School, District #2
Location: 1515 Joliet Street (Old U.S. 30/Lincoln Highway), east of St. John Road at the St. John Township Community Center, Schererville
Erected 1995 Indiana Historical Bureau and Committee to Save Township School #2
Built, 1853, approximately one half mile south; closed, 1907; moved to this site and restored for educational and community uses, 1993-1994. One of twelve St. John Township schools; structure typical of early one-room school buildings in Indiana.
The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section
The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section
Location: Southeast corner U.S. 30 (Joliet Street) and Janice Drive, Schererville
Erected 1996 Indiana Historical Bureau, Northwest Indiana Lincoln Highway Association, Dyer and Schererville Historical Societies, Sand Ridge Bank, Welsh, Inc.
United States' first transcontinental highway, constructed 1913-1928, from New York City to San Francisco. Dedicated to the memory of Abraham Lincoln. Conceived by Carl G. Fisher to encourage building "good roads." Sponsored by Lincoln Highway Association and supported by automotive industries.
The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section
"Ideal Section" - 1.5 miles - of Lincoln Highway, completed 1923, designed and built as a model for road construction. Funded by county, state, and U.S. Rubber Co. Features included 100 foot right-of-way, 40 foot paved width, 10 inch steel-reinforced concrete, underground drainage, lighted, landscaped, bridge, and pedestrian pathways.
Froebel School - side 1
Froebel School - side 1
Location: 15th Avenue and Madison Street, Gary
Installed 2014 Indiana Historical Bureau, Froebel Alumni Park Committee, and Northern Indiana Public Service Company
Froebel opened here, 1912, as many European immigrants and southern blacks moved to Gary for jobs in steel mills. An experiment in progressive education, it served students of diverse backgrounds and the local community. Despite early status as integrated school, black students were excluded from many extracurricular activities and facilities into 1940s. Closed 1977.
Continued
Froebel School
Froebel School
Location: 15th Avenue and Madison Street, Gary
Installed 2014 Indiana Historical Bureau, Froebel Alumni Park Committee, and Northern Indiana Public Service Company
After WWII, Froebel made national headlines when hundreds of white students walked out protesting "integration experiment" there. "Hate strikes" lasted several weeks in 1945 and reflected growing racial tension in North. In 1946, Gary school board adopted desegregation policy, but discrimination continued. Indiana state law desegregating public schools passed 1949.
Stewart Settlement House
Stewart Settlement House
Location: 1501 E. Massachusetts St., Gary
Installed 2014 Indiana Historical Bureau, Indiana Landmarks, and Christ United Methodist Church
Stewart House was organized during depression of 1921 to provide social services for Gary’s black community. A vital neighborhood center for unemployed WWI veterans and southern blacks who migrated for jobs in steel mills, it helped thousands adjust to urban life. Services included lodging and meals, as well as legal, medical, and employment advice. Moved here, 1925.
Stewart Settlement House
Stewart Settlement House
Location: 1501 E. Massachusetts St., Gary
Installed 2014 Indiana Historical Bureau, Indiana Landmarks, and Christ United Methodist Church
U.S. Steel, with an interest in regulating its workers, helped fund the settlement house, designed by architect W.W. Cooke. The Methodist Episcopal Church and Gary’s blacks also donated funds. Rev. Frank Delaney guided its development as superintendent, 1920-1939, and made it a source of pride for blacks. During Great Depression, it aided hundreds daily. Closed 1970s.
Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law
Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law
Location: 1927 Madison St., Gary
Installed 2019 Indiana Historical Bureau, KHEF, Inc., Atty. Junifer Hall, Atty. Jacqueline Hall, and Law Office of Deacon-Atty. John Henry Hall
Rep. Katie Hall (1938-2012)
Democratic leader Katie Hall was born in rural Mississippi and moved to Indiana in 1960. She taught in Gary before serving in the Indiana General Assembly, 1974-82. Hall became the first African American U.S. Representative from Indiana, serving 1982-85. During her tenure, she authored and sponsored the bill that made Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a federal holiday.
Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law
Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law
Location: 1927 Madison St., Gary
Installed 2019 Indiana Historical Bureau, KHEF, Inc., Atty. Junifer Hall, Atty. Jacqueline Hall, and Law Office of Deacon-Atty. John Henry Hall
Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law
The struggle to make Dr. King’s birthday a federal holiday began soon after the civil rights leader’s death in 1968. Growing interest, publicity, and advocacy helped Representative Hall secure passage of a bill in 1983. President Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law that November, designating every third Monday in January as the holiday. Celebration began in 1986.
Bailly Homestead
Bailly Homestead
Location: Bailly Cemetery, U.S. 12
Marker no longer standing.
Home of Joseph Bailly, a French Canadian, who established a fur trading post here on the Detroit-Chicago road in 1822. It became a center of trade, culture and religion. The family cemetery is on the land near by.
Iron Brigade
Iron Brigade
Location: Eastbound U.S. 20 at southeast corner of Ind. 49 overpass, Chesterton
Erected 1995 Indiana Historical Bureau, Porter Co. Tour. Com., Indpls. Civil War Rnd. Tbl., Porter Cmp. 116, Dept. of Ind., Sons of Un. Vets. of Civil War
Composed of infantry regiments from Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan, the Iron Brigade fought with Army of the Potomac during the Civil War (1861-1865). Received name for valor at battle of South Mountain, Maryland (1862). Sustained combat fatalities among the highest in the Union armies.
Willow Creek Confrontation
Willow Creek Confrontation
Location: Southeast corner of Woodland Park, 2100 Willow Creek Road, Portage
Erected 1995 Indiana Historical Bureau
As railroad lines expanded through U.S., conflict occurred between competing lines. Michigan Central Railroad, with track in Porter County since 1851, briefly defied state militia and court orders (1874) to allow Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to cross its track. Crossing was built at Willow Creek Station.
Ogden ski jump.jpg
Ogden Dunes Ski Jump
Location: Kratz Field, 82 Hillcrest Road at Boat Club Road, Ogden Dunes
Erected 1997 Indiana Historical Bureau and Historical Society of Ogden Dunes.
Steel and wood ski jump with adjustable height and length was built here for Ogden Dunes Ski Club, incorporated in 1927 to promote winter sports. Five annual events with international competitors were held 1928-1932, with 7, 000 to 20, 000 spectators. Reputed to be the largest artificial ski jump at the time. Dismantled after 1932 event.
Teale 1.jpg
Edwin Way Teale
Location: 285 E. U.S. Highway 20, Chesterton
Installed: 2009 Indiana Historical Bureau and Musette Lewry Trust
Born 1899 in Illinois, Teale became an influential naturalist, author, and photographer[ who won 1966 Pulitzer Prize for his book Wandering Through Winter. Teale wrote that boyhood summers and holidays spent near here at his grandparents’ farm inspired his interest in nature. Teale moved to New York City; employed by Popular Science Monthly 1928-1941.
Teale 2.jpg
Edwin Way Teale
Location: 285 E. U.S. Highway 20, Chesterton
Installed: 2009 Indiana Historical Bureau and Musette Lewry Trust
Teale published his first critically acclaimed book, Grassroot Jungles, in 1937. In 1943, he published Dune Boy, recollections of time spent exploring the dunes and woodlands in this area. During his life, he wrote, edited, and contributed to over 30 books, which educated Americans about nature’s importance and beauty. He died in Connecticut in 1980.
Steel 1.jpg
Legacy of Steel/Burns Harbor Steel Plant
Location: Burns Harbor Town Hall, 1240 N. Boo Rd., Burns Harbor
Installed 2018 Indiana Historical Bureau, ArcelorMittal, and the Town of Burns Harbor
In the early 1900s, steel plants were developed on southern Lake Michigan to improve access to growing Midwest markets. After purchasing 3,300 acres in Porter County, Bethlehem Steel built and began its Burns Harbor operations in 1964. The plant’s development spurred local conservation efforts leading to the creation of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in 1966.
Steel 2.jpg
Legacy of Steel/Burns Harbor Steel Plant
Location: Burns Harbor Town Hall, 1240 N. Boo Rd., Burns Harbor
Installed 2018 Indiana Historical Bureau, ArcelorMittal, and the Town of Burns Harbor
The Burns Harbor plant was key to building the Port of Indiana and incorporation of the Town of Burns Harbor in 1967. Designed as a fully integrated plant, it relies on the port for transporting raw materials. Since 1969, Burns Harbor remains the newest integrated U.S. steel facility. Global steelmaker ArcelorMittal gained ownership of the Burns Harbor plant in 2007.
Civil War camps.jpg
Civil War Camps
Location: Ind. 2 W and Colfax Avenue, La Porte
Erected by the Indiana Civil War Centennial Commission, 1963
Two Civil War training camps: Colfax and Jackson, were located near La Porte. The 9th and 29th Indiana Volunteer Infantry regiments were organized and trained here.
Old lighthouse.jpg
Old Lighthouse
Location: Old Lighthouse Museum in Washington Park, Michigan City
Marker no longer standing. Replaced by local marker.
Built on the water’s edge, 1858, by the United States Government. One of the first lights on the Great Lakes. Harriet E. Colfax was the tender from 1853-1903. Remodelled 1904, electrified 1933, discontinued 1960.
Railroad.jpg
Chicago-New York Electric Air Line Railroad
Location: CR 250 and Ind. 39, south LaPorte
Erected 1995 Indiana Historical Bureau.
Proposed in 1905 as a 742 mile, straight-line, high speed route, without crossings; estimated ten hours travel time at a cost of ten dollars. Just under twenty miles, between LaPorte and Chesterton, were constructed, 1906-1911.
Camp Anderson.jpg
Camp Anderson
Location: 2404 E. Michigan Boulevard at Carroll Street, Michigan City
Erected 1996 Indiana Historical Bureau and McDonald's Restaurant
One of three Civil War training camps in La Porte County. Site is one fourth mile west. Named for Colonel Edward Anderson. Used 1863-1864 to train Indiana Union volunteers of the 127th, 128th, and 129th regiments.
Boundary line 1.jpg
Indiana Territory Boundary Line
Location: 213 Pine Lake Avenue, LaPorte
Erected 1999 Indiana Historical Bureau, the Hinton Family, and L Porte County Historical Society, Inc.
Northwest Territory formed 1787; Indiana Territory formed 1800. Admission of Ohio 1803 and formation of Michigan Territory 1805 established Indiana Territory's northern boundary at southern tip of Lake Michigan. When Indiana became state in 1816, Congress moved boundary ten miles north giving Indiana part of Lake Michigan.
Boundary line 2.jpg
Indiana Territory Boundary Line
Location: 213 Pine Lake Avenue, LaPorte
Erected 1999 Indiana Historical Bureau, the Hinton Family, and L Porte County Historical Society, Inc.
Northern boundary of Indiana Territory established at southern tip of Lake Michigan when Michigan Territory formed in 1805.
LaPorte courthouse 1.jpg
LaPorte County Courthouse
Location: 813 Lincolnway and Michigan Avenue, southeast corner of LaPorte County Courthouse lawn
Installed: 2001 Indiana Historical Bureau, LaPorte County Board of Commissioners, and LaPorte County Historical Society
County formed by Indiana General Assembly and LaPorte selected county seat 1832. Three courthouses built on this site: first 1833, second 1847-1848. Present courthouse constructed 1892-1894 of Lake Superior Red Sandstone; designed by Brentwood S. Tolan of Fort Wayne in Richardsonian Romanesque Style. Incorporates cornerstone from 1848 courthouse.
LaPorte courthouse 2.jpg
LaPorte County Courthouse
Location: 813 Lincolnway & Michigan Avenue, SE corner of La Porte County Courthouse lawn, LaPorte
Installed: 2001 Indiana Historical Bureau, La Porte County Board of Commissioners, and La Porte County Historical Society, Inc.
Features include open-arched central tower, stained glass window transoms, wood paneling, and gilded friezes. Goddess of Justice stained glass graces courtroom. Tower has 272-piece glass skylight; gargoyles decorate exterior. Included in Downtown La Porte Historic District, listed in National Register of Historic Places 1983.
Carnegie 1.jpg
LaPorte's Carnegie Library
Location: LaPorte County Public Library, SW corner of 904 Indiana Avenue/US 35 & Maple Avenue
Installed: 2002 Indiana Historical Bureau and Friends of the LaPorte County Public Library
La Porte's first public library was established 1896. La Porte City School Board was awarded $27, 500 Carnegie grant 1916; by 1919 local support had been secured to meet grant requirements. Architect Wilson B. Parker designed the Neo-Classical style structure. Library opened in 1920 with 30, 000 volumes.
Carnegie 2.jpg
LaPorte's Carnegie Library
Location: LaPorte County Public Library, SW corner of 904 Indiana Avenue/US 35 & Maple Avenue
Installed: 2002 Indiana Historical Bureau and Friends of the LaPorte County Public Library
Renovation and expansion designed by architect William Koster; building dedicated 1991. Original 1920 section retained. Library has played a major role in community's development. One of 1, 679 libraries built in U.S. with funds from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Indiana built more Carnegie libraries than any other state.
Rumely Co 1.jpg
The Rumely Companies
Location: NW corner of Madison Street & Lincolnway, La Porte
Installed: 2003 Indiana Historical Bureau and Rumely Historic Recognition Committee
Meinrad Rumely (1823-1904), a German immigrant, founded a blacksmith shop here 1853, which grew into a dominant company through reorganizations and acquisitions. Rumely companies in La Porte benefited from available rail transportation plus German and later Polish immigrant laborers. Products included a wide variety of agricultural machines.
Rumely Co 2.jpg
The Rumely Companies
Location: NW corner of Madison Street & Lincolnway, La Porte
Installed: 2003 Indiana Historical Bureau and Rumely Historic Recognition Committee
Rumely's prizewinning thresher later became one of the earliest powered by steam. Thousands of OilPull tractors sold worldwide 1910-1930. Rumely companies were at the forefront of mechanization of American and world agriculture and had significant impact on La Porte. Allis-Chalmers acquired the firm 1931 and closed La Porte plant 1983.
Lincoln train 1.jpg
The Lincoln Funeral Train
Location: 100 E. Michigan Blvd. (U.S. 12), Michigan City
Installed 2010 Indiana Historical Bureau and Indiana Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
Assassinated President Abraham Lincoln's funeral was April 19, 1865 at the White House. The funeral train left for Springfield, Illinois April 21 directed by military; stops en route allowed the public to pay homage. From Indianapolis, train passed mourners lighted by bonfires and torches along the way; arrived in Michigan City by 8:35 a.m., May 1.
Lincoln train 2.jpg
The Lincoln Funeral Train
Location: 100 E. Michigan Blvd. (U.S. 12), Michigan City
Installed 2010 Indiana Historical Bureau and Indiana Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
Residents decorated depot north of here with memorial arches adorned with roses, evergreens, flags, and images of Lincoln. Train stopped to switch engines and to allow dignitaries from Illinois and Indiana to board. Sixteen women entered funeral car to place flowers on casket. Train left for Chicago on Michigan Central Railroad; track was lined with mourners.
LaPorte university 1.jpg
LaPorte University/Indiana Medical College
Location: Lincoln Elementary School, SE corner of Clay St. and Harrison St., LaPorte
Installed 2018 Indiana Historical Bureau and the Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte
LaPorte University was established in the early 1840s to include law, literary, and medical departments. The medical department, later Indiana Medical College, began classes by 1842. Its distinguished faculty attracted students from across the U.S. Notable attendees included Dr. William W. Mayo, whose practice evolved into Mayo Clinic, and Dr. William H. Wishard.
Laporte university 2.jpg
LaPorte University/Indiana Medical College
Location: Lincoln Elementary School, southeast corner of Clay Street and Harrison Street, LaPorte
Installed 2018 Indiana Historical Bureau and the Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte
Before the university’s founding, Indiana offered few opportunities for professional medical training. The medical college trained skilled doctors in the Midwest, preparing them for the region’s medical needs in surgery, anatomy, theory, and obstetrics. Classes ceased circa 1850; it consolidated with Indiana Central Medical College (1849-1852) in Indianapolis, 1851.
Source: Indiana Historical Bureau, www.in.gov/history/
Gary Roosevelt 1
Gary Roosevelt High School
730 W. 25th Ave., Gary
Installed 2020 Indiana Historical Bureau, Lady Panthers & Supporters '63, Roosevelt Adult Booster Club, National Gary Theodore Roosevelt Alumni Assoc., Inc., and Indiana Landmarks
As Gary grew in the early 1900s, African American students were segregated within white schools or overcrowded into small, separate schools. To compensate, officials transferred some Black students to Emerson High School in 1927. After over 600 white students walked out in protest, the school board reinforced segregation by building a new school for the Black community.
Gary Roosevelt 2
Gary Roosevelt High School
730 W. 25th Ave., Gary
Installed 2020 Indiana Historical Bureau, Lady Panthers & Supporters '63, Roosevelt Adult Booster Club, National Gary Theodore Roosevelt Alumni Assoc., Inc., and Indiana Landmarks
Theodore Roosevelt High School was dedicated in 1931 as an all-Black K-12 school. While many community members opposed segregation, they took pride in Roosevelt, and strove to make it equal to Gary’s white schools. It employed highly educated Black teachers, pushed students to excel in academics and sports despite discrimination, and produced many distinguished alumni.
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'Where are the people?': Jobs are plentiful in RI this summer, but workers aren't
The first day of summer is days away, and Rhode Island employers are still looking to staff up — both in traditional summer jobs as well as year-round fields.
"They're all struggling to find bodies," said Dave Chenevert, executive director of the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association.
But the same is true in the restaurant and hotel industries.
"Where are the people? Where are they going?" Dale J. Venturini, president and chief executive of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, said of the conundrum facing employers in her field.
Even park rangers and lifeguards at state beaches are not immune from the trend.
More:With inflation at a 41-year high, what will RI tourism look like this year?
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The state has only 71 of its 157 lifeguard positions filled as of Tuesday, said Michael J. Healey, spokesman for the Department of Environmental Management.
The inability to get people for the jobs, which pay $14 to $17 an hour, means the DEM has to shrink the areas open to swimming with a lifeguard and move guards around more often.
"It could diminish our ability to serve the public," he said, noting that the agency has markedly fewer lifeguards than it did even in the summer of 2020, when much of life came to a standstill because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
RI Labor and Training official:Rebound in jobs market expected by end of 2022
Child care shortage is still a barrier to employment
Chenevert places some of the blame for the shortage of factory workers on women leaving the workforce due to a shortage of affordable child care that has reached crisis levels.
"They're putting their families first," he said.
Matthew Weldon, director of the state Department of Labor and Training, also said it's the result of historically low unemployment rates in Rhode Island.
"Full employment" is generally thought to be when the unemployment rate gets as low as 4% to 5%, he said. "We're well below that."
In April, the state's rate was 3.2%, better than the rates in Massachusetts, 4.1%; Connecticut, 4.4%; and nationally, 3.6%. The last time Rhode Island's rate was that low was 1989, he said.
That makes it a job-seeker's market.
RI breweries see huge boom:'People like beer and the pandemic didn't really change that'
"If there are qualified people looking for work," Weldon said, "I'm sure there are Rhode Island employers looking to hire them."
And, while some jobs with a high demand for workers, such as hospital nurses, require advanced training, others, such as some retail and restaurant jobs, are entry level.
"You just basically need the willingness to work," said Donna Murray, the DLT’s chief labor statistician.
And some fields promise to need additional workers for a long time to come, said Weldon, naming construction, which has more people working now than at any time since 2007, before the Great Recession.
More:RI's record-shattering baby shortage could spell trouble for state's economy
"They're looking at projects for the next 10 years," he said.
Youth-employment trends work against many industries
Healey said that the lifeguard corps has been hit by a trend reaching back more than 40 years: fewer young people are taking traditional summer jobs. Employment has fallen from the peak year of 1979, when 60% of American teenagers were in the workforce, Healey said, citing Federal Reserve Bank data. Today, that figure is 35%.
"There might be a tendency ... to suppose that teens today are lazy," said Healey, "but a much better answer is that kids are spending more time in the classroom than ever before."
He noted that schools often are in session later in June than they used to be and start before Labor Day, something unheard of decades ago.
Plus, more students are enrolled in summer classes, either at the high school or college levels. And more students take unpaid internships or volunteer at community-service jobs to make their college applications stand out, Healey said.
That can leave summer-job employers in the lurch later in the season.
Take Fernando Cardeal, owner of Josie's Ice Cream, in Cumberland.
Cardeal said that hiring the crew to start this year was easier than it was last year, with 35 applicants compared with last year's 10. With most of his workers returning this year and last year, Cardeal only had to hire a few new workers each year to fill out his workforce.
But the hiring won't end there. He will need to cover shifts in the late summer and early fall, when his student workers return to the classroom, or athletic-team commitments conflict with working hours.
While Cardeal is also contending with supply-chain issues — he can't always get the cups, spoons and straws that he wants — business has never been better in the four years he has owned the two-decade-old ice cream shop. "We just had our best month since I've been open."
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Business is great, but ...
That's a refrain that the hospitality association's Venturini is becoming all too familiar with.
"Business is great," she said. "Doing business is the hardest it's ever been."
Supply-chain issues can find restaurateurs scrambling when a food order comes in with less than expected, or some items missing altogether.
"You didn't get your product," she said. "You're changing your menu on the fly."
That challenge is compounded by a shortage of workers, she said, citing national statistics that show two job openings for every unemployed person in the industry.
More:Can't get into your favorite restaurant? A worker shortage may be why
And pandemic-weary customers are hoping their favorite restaurants will return to pre-COVID levels of service, and pricing.
"People are weary. They're tired of gas prices. They're tired of inflation and a lot of things," she said, adding that hospitality workers are often at the end of the supply chain, the first workers dealing directly with consumers. She asked people to have patience when favorite menu items may be unavailable or when they can't be seated immediately — even when tables are open — because there aren't enough people in the kitchen to prepare everyone's meal at once.
Venturini said the hospitality industry is looking for workers — especially "back-of-the-house" positions, like cooks.
"We can accommodate anyone's schedule," she said, echoing leaders in other industries, who said flexible hours are the biggest draw for job seekers.
Training for everyone?
The hospitality industry is also doing a lot more training. A popular class offered through the association is for first-time managers, another position facing worker shortages. Bosses find they need to promote trusted employees who haven't had experience managing other workers.
The manufacturers association's Chenevert said his industry is likewise turning to training programs — with a previously untapped population: prisoners at the Adult Correctional Institutions.
"It's a pool of talent we were ignoring," he said.
Breaking the bars:'Reentry Campus' gives prison inmates a path to a more secure future
Historically, job-training programs for inmates preparing for their release have been a "train-and-pray" model, the Department of Labor and Training's Weldon said. Prisoners were taught skills without much consideration of whether employers were looking for workers with those skills.
Now, the state is "aligning programs inside with the jobs outside," he said.
The state's program, run through the Community College of Rhode Island and the Polaris MEP manufacturing industry consulting program, teaches entry-level technical skills, such as blueprint reading and operating computer-controlled machine tools.
It already has its first graduate, from the women's medium-security prison.
"She's got herself a job," said Chenevert. | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/rhode-island-summer-employment-outlook-jobs-plentiful-but-workers-arent/7620712001/ | 2022-06-17T13:01:36 | 1 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/rhode-island-summer-employment-outlook-jobs-plentiful-but-workers-arent/7620712001/ |
A soldier, teacher and Dad: A veteran's relationship with father shaped by service
My dad, Francis A. Lennon, a highly decorated World War II veteran, died on Father’s Day, June 19, 1983.
That memory makes this observance bittersweet.
Compounding the feeling, my relationship with Dad was complicated. Even today, 39 years later, I struggle to balance my tremendous respect for what he accomplished against some major differences we had on personal beliefs and family issues.
Like most members of the Greatest Generation, my father came home, took off his uniform and went back to his prewar job: teaching at Mount Pleasant High School.
In 1959, everything changed when he was plucked from the obscurity of the School Department to become Providence’s public safety commissioner. This was a period of great difficulty for the Police Department. Political patronage ruled hiring and promotions, ticket fixing was rampant and even the chief was under investigation by the FBI for tax evasion.
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Mayor Barney Reynolds needed an outsider — someone who could not be bought.
The Providence Journal reported, “most of the political figures in the city were shocked to hear that Mayor Reynolds had appointed a former architect and school teacher to be Commissioner of Public Safety … [instead of] an active politician, as tradition demanded.”
Laying the groundwork: A teacher, philosopher and soldier
Dad was an interesting combination of teacher, philosopher and soldier. At the same time, he could be a difficult man, and he made mistakes that cost him, even with his family.
But no one could question his honesty, his integrity, his love for his country, or his very strong Catholic faith.
When I was a young lieutenant in Berlin in 1965, he challenged me to become a modern-day Chevalier Bayard, the 15th-century French hero renowned for his knightly character. In other words, do something worthwhile, something memorable before you die.
That was Dad.
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I was born April 20, 1942, while he was stationed with the Army General Staff in Boston.
A year earlier, he had been night duty officer when Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall called, directing him to begin the Lend-Lease shipment of artillery pieces to Britain. By morning railroad lines had been commandeered, and most of the guns in area artillery units were en route to England.
Higher-ups recognized Dad’s logistical ability and transferred him to Sixth Corps, mobilizing for invasion duty. He was named assistant G-4, or supply officer.
His most difficult supply mission, however, was finding an electric train for my first Christmas. Even though I was only eight months old, he wanted to buy one and put it away so we could enjoy it when he came back from the war. If he came back from the war.
He scoured stores, but due to the conversion to war production, no trains were available. He finally found a Lionel set in a Cape Cod hobby shop.
We opened the box at Christmas, 1945.
After Dad graduated from high school in 1921 he went to work supporting his mother and three sisters. He apprenticed with an architect and learned design skills.
Using those graphic skills, he drew a card that he sent from North Africa. Featuring a colored birthday cake, it said “Happy First Birthday, Little Son.”
In court:Rhode Island violated rights of English language learners in Providence, judge finds
While there is a thread of military history in my family, I was the first to pursue the military as a profession.
In addition to my father, my uncle Leo Gaffney went to France in 1917 with Battery A of the 103rd Field Artillery. My grandfather Patrick Lennon was a member of the First Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry during the war against Spain. My great-granduncle Terence McQueeney served with the 4th Rhode Island Infantry during the Civil War.
All of them, however, were citizen soldiers. They took time out to serve their country, then returned to their civilian lives.
Dad’s military service
It was only later that I learned the extent of his military achievements. He enlisted in the National Guard in 1925. When Charles Lindbergh landed at Quonset in 1927, he was part of the communications detail.
During World War II, he participated in the invasions of Sicily, Italy and southern France, earning a battlefield promotion to colonel. From Italy he wrote a letter saying that if he did not return he was counting on me to look after my mother when I grew up.
For much of his time overseas, he headed the Allied liaison to the Free French. He was awarded two Croix de Guerre, and in 1944 General de Gaulle made him a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.
(He actually received two of those French medals at Mount Pleasant High School in 1949, in an auditorium packed with students, faculty members, fellow veterans and friends.)
My relationship with Dad
As a boy, I only knew of my father as a teacher, not as a soldier.
He was away during World War II, and his military service ended when he came home on a hospital ship in 1945, suffering from hepatitis and pellagra — conditions that dogged him for years.
My parents married in 1934, and like many Depression-era couples they were determined that their children would not face the same hardships. To them, the key was education. As a result, our childhoods were dominated by the pressure to excel in school. Sports and other extracurricular activities were always an afterthought.
Growing up in the Lennon household was not easy.
Photos:"Carry the Load" takes a walk across RI for Veterans and First Responders
We lived a block away from La Salle Academy’s athletic fields, and some of my fondest childhood memories relate to La Salle sports events. I was the mascot of the hockey team, and I could not wait to enter high school.
At the end of my sophomore year, however, my father turned my world upside-down. Hope High School had started an advanced college prep program deemed by many to be the best in the state, and Dad took me out of the school I loved and sent me to the crosstown rival.
I was crushed. Removed from an environment that I loved, taken away from all my friends — that decision created a rift that never fully healed.
In retrospect, the transfer had no real educational impact, and years later he apologized for the decision.
West Point was the only college on my list. I knew I wanted to go to the Academy even before "West Point Story," the TV series, debuted in 1956, when I was 13 years old.
All because of the chairs
After 23 years as a mechanical drawing teacher, he was appointed director of physical plant for the School Department in 1954. One of his jobs was to oversee purchasing decisions for equipment such as desks and chairs.
My sister says the chain of subsequent events started with a chair purchase.
Our father rejected the low bid for metal chairs submitted by a supplier with ties to one of the School Committee members. Other members rallied around their colleague and challenged the bid rejection.
“Dad brought one of the chairs to the next School Committee meeting,” recalls my sister. “He bent the chair with his bare hands to prove his point.”
Providence Mayor Barney Reynolds took note.
But so did the School Committee members, embarrassed by the exposure.
Shortly after I left home for West Point in 1959, Mayor Reynolds rang our doorbell. He asked my father to go for a walk. When Dad returned, he looked stunned.
“The mayor wants me to become public safety commissioner,” he told my mother. Buttressed by a promise that he could return to his old job when he completed his term, he accepted.
Transforming a culture
He established a citizens advisory committee to address race and other community issues — a very forward-thinking move for the 1960s. He initiated the concept now known as “community policing”, and he promoted Horace Craig to sergeant, the first Black man to attain that rank.
Perhaps his most significant achievement was depoliticizing the department. He brought fairness and balance to recruiting and promotions, establishing a merit system for both.
His most controversial innovation was the “no-fix” traffic ticket. In that era, the City Council had 26 members — almost double its size today. That was a lot of patronage.
Councilman and ward bosses were upset because their political influence was being thwarted. They no longer had a say in who was hired to the department and who got promoted. Worst of all, they could no longer take care of a constituent who got nailed for speeding.
I was home on leave one summer, unaware of all the political intrigue and infighting. I borrowed the family car to go to the beach. On the way home I was stopped for speeding as I entered Providence. The policeman, recognizing the car and my name, said, “You must be the commissioner’s son. I will let you off with a warning this time.”
I compounded the mistake by not telling my father, naively thinking he wouldn’t find out about it. Needless to say, it was all over police headquarters the next day. Dad was both embarrassed and furious. He really lit into me for not telling him; that may have been the angriest I ever saw him.
Payback
When Mayor Reynolds decided not to run for reelection in 1964, Dad knew his days were numbered. Virtually every mayoral candidate promised to get rid of him, the thorn in the side of patronage.
The School Committee members showed they had long memories. They denied his request to return, and left him without a job after 27 years of service.
The lead editorial in the Journal on Dec. 3, 1964 was titled, “Shabby treatment by the school board.” It said, “The Providence school committee demonstrated nauseating political vindictiveness in declining to reinstate Lennon…”
Over the next two weeks, editorials continued, saying “Mr. Lennon long has been the target of political attack," and “He has stirred profound resentment among many politicians for his determination to rid the police department of politics.”
Fortunately, Barnaby Keeney, president of Brown University, recognized the injustice, and offered Dad a position as his assistant. The academic environment suited him, and he worked at Brown until he retired in 1969.
In retirement Colonel Lennon was always faintly surprised and pleased when a firemen or policemen would greet him with a respectful, "Hello, commissioner. We miss you."
He would turn to me and say, "Perhaps I did some good after all.”
Dad died unexpectedly in 1983. He had been hospitalized for a fairly routine procedure, and we suspect he was a victim of an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease. Before he died, he asked me to make sure a flag flew on his grave every Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
First responders and the military showed up in force at his funeral. His honor guard and escorts included National Guardsmen, motorcycle and mounted police, and a Providence Fire Department contingent.
I will never forget the summer stillness at St. Ann's Cemetery, punctuated only by the clopping of horses' hooves, as the bugler started the mournful notes of Taps. Colonel Lennon often broke into tears when he heard those notes. This time, Taps was for him. | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/vietnam-veterans-relationship-world-war-ii-vetern-father-shaped-service/7621792001/ | 2022-06-17T13:01:42 | 0 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/vietnam-veterans-relationship-world-war-ii-vetern-father-shaped-service/7621792001/ |
Where to celebrate Juneteenth this weekend in Volusia, Flagler counties
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news of the utmost importance – the war was over; all slaves were free.
The date has a few monikers: Freedom Day; America's second Independence Day; and, as it's most widely known, Juneteenth.
It's the oldest nationally celebrated remembrance of the ending of slavery in the United States, according to the nonprofit Society for Public Health Education.
Last year, President Joe Biden signed a Senate bill into law, making Juneteenth a federal holiday.
Here's where to celebrate the holiday this weekend in Volusia and Flagler counties for free, unless stated otherwise:
Daytona Beach
Saturday is the Juneteenth Family Festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Cypress Street Park and the Midtown Cultural and Educational Center, 925 George Engram Blvd. The festival will have food, vendors, live entertainment and a pound cake contest at 2 p.m.
Clothing company Out Tha Mud is hosting Black-owned business pop-up shops from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Masonova Plaza in the 1000 block of Mason Avenue. Tickets to the Trap 'N Paint event, from 6:15 to 7:35 p.m. at Elaine's Blessed Event Center, 1063 Mason Ave., are $35.
Also on Saturday is an evening of discussion and painting with Al Black, one of the Florida Highwaymen, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Hunt House, 250 S. Palmetto Ave. Tickets are $100. Visit bit.ly/3LVtOIV.
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DeLand
Saturday is the Unity in the Community Celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Earl Brown Park, 750 S. Alabama Ave., featuring food, vendors and live entertainment.
From 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday is a Negro League softball match at the Chipper Jones Little League Complex, 403 S. Alabama Ave.
Palm Coast
Saturday is the African American Cultural Society's celebration from noon to 5 p.m. at the society's headquarters, 4422 U.S. Highway 1 N., just north of Whiteview Parkway. There will be vendors, food, entertainment, crafts and games. | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2022/06/17/juneteenth-celebrations-set-weekend-daytona-deland-palm-coast/7645338001/ | 2022-06-17T13:06:29 | 1 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2022/06/17/juneteenth-celebrations-set-weekend-daytona-deland-palm-coast/7645338001/ |
DALLAS (KDAF) — Sports can get a little bit heated. We get it. You want to celebrate a win, and there’s nothing more satisfying than a hard-fought win.
Unfortunately, some of us get carried away, go too far and run our mouths.
In recognition of the art of talking trash, a new survey from VegasInsider looked at which NFL fans talk the most trash. And it looks like Cowboys fans have talked their way to the top.
“… [We] asked how frequently they talk trash as well as which players and coaches run their mouths the most in the league,” officials with VegasInsider said.
Here are all the accolades Cowboys fans earned:
- Ranked 2nd Biggest Trash Talkers in the NFL
- Ranked 5th Funniest Trash Talkers in the NFL
- Ranked 5th Most Intimidating Trash Talkers in the NFL
- Ranked 2nd Most Savage Trash Talkers in the NFL
- Ranked 3rd Fan Base that Will Leave You Speechless With Their Trash Talking
- Ranked 1st Fan Bases that Can’t Back Up Their Trash Talking
You can take this all as high praise or marks of shame. It all depends on the person.
And it’s not just the fans who earned accolades in this survey, coaches and players got shoutouts as well.
Mike McCarthy ranked 5th in NFL coaches who are the biggest trash talkers. Dak Prescott also ranked 5th in NFL quarterbacks who are the biggest trash talkers. And former Cowboys Wide Receiver and Hall of Famer Terrel Owens ranked 3rd as the NFL’s all-time best trash talker.
For the full report, visit VegasInsider. | https://cw33.com/news/local/dallas-cowboys-fans-rank-amongst-the-biggest-trash-talkers-in-the-nfl/ | 2022-06-17T13:08:06 | 1 | https://cw33.com/news/local/dallas-cowboys-fans-rank-amongst-the-biggest-trash-talkers-in-the-nfl/ |
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Arizonans and people across much of the Southwestern United States are bracing for another summer of crippling heat. This extreme weather is compounded by the 27th year of a long-term drought, water shortages, and devastating wildfires, perpetuating an enduring public health crisis borne out of climate change.
As a pediatrician, Master of Public Health, environmental advocate, and board member of the Arizona chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, it is a crisis that has become familiar to me.
Every second that passes without climate action is estimated to cost at least $4,700, based on current trends. In Arizona, the cost of inaction is real and climbing. In 2021, our state experienced 351 severe weather events and $100 million in property damages from extreme weather events that resulted in 87 deaths and injuries. Heat waves are the deadliest type of weather emergency in the nation, and last year, Arizona suffered 29 heat days alone.
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But unlike other crises, the solutions to the climate crisis are readily available, well-known, and one vote away from a long-term solution.
As I write, $555 billion worth of proposed climate, justice, jobs, and clean energy investments are languishing in the U.S. Senate. If passed, they would not only create good-paying jobs and accelerate the transition to clean, safe, renewable energy, but protect Arizonans and all Americans from the worsening health effects of climate change and fossil fuel production and use.
The proposed investments in renewable energy deployment, electric vehicles, and building electrification would be a boon for a state that ranks fifth in solar-powered electricity generation and bears some of the gravest consequences of climate change. In fact, with its last coal mine shuttering in 2019 and the state boasting no significant natural gas extraction yet, a 100% transition to clean, safe renewables is a logical and timely conclusion for Arizona’s energy present and future.
Under President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, bold climate investments would also aid those communities that suffer disproportionately from climate change and fossil fuel usage, including communities of color and low-wealth communities. In Arizona, these communities, which include a sizable indigenous population, face a range of health consequences, including heat-related illness and death, asthma, cardiovascular failure, mental health impacts, and malnutrition, among others.
Summer power outages prompted by heat extremes and wildfires also exacerbate these health ailments. The Arizona chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility has worked for several years to help educate our community on “What to Do if the Power Goes Out,” particularly in the context of extreme heat and the risk of heat illness and deaths. Each and every one of us has to do our part to address the climate crisis. My own Tucson home, for example, is solar-powered, and my two cars are both electric.
Unfortunately, too many people in Arizona and across the nation are unable to access clean energy technologies like solar panels and electric vehicles. The U.S. Senate, Kyrsten Sinema, and Tucson’s own Mark Kelly must get bold climate and clean energy investments over the finish line to make clean energy more accessible to all families while accelerating the broader transition to a healthy 100% renewable energy-powered economy.
This summer will be another test for Arizonans’ resilience to the harmful health consequences of climate change and an energy system dependent on fossil fuels. The $555 billion in climate provisions in the Senate are not a final solution, but rather a necessary step to getting us off fossil fuels and meeting the climate goals laid out by the Biden administration.
I hope that our U.S. senators will show courage and convert these proposed investments into law. We must act now on climate before it’s too late!
Eve Shapiro, MD, MPH, is currently working part-time as a pediatrician and is serving as a board member for the Arizona chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility. She lives in Tucson. | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/local-opinion-we-need-climate-action-as-another-hot-summer-arrives/article_e3e59110-ed90-11ec-8e88-736e25408333.html | 2022-06-17T13:13:28 | 1 | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/local-opinion-we-need-climate-action-as-another-hot-summer-arrives/article_e3e59110-ed90-11ec-8e88-736e25408333.html |
Multifamily housing projects in Bradenton, Ellenton and Lakewood Ranch move forward
Several multifamily housing projects are moving forward in Bradenton, Ellenton and Lakewood Ranch following approval by Manatee County commissioners, and some of them help address a need for affordable housing.
Commissioners also approved a project that will bring more single-family homes to Parrish and another project to build a treatment facility for wastewater from the former Piney Point fertilizer plant.
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Affordable housing headed to Bradenton
Commissioners unanimously approved a preliminary site plan for a 4.8-acre residential development called Hope Village, which will include the construction of 53 multi-family units.
At least 25% of those units will be designated as affordable housing. The project is located in Bradenton about a quarter of a mile west of 14th Street West, on the south side of 30th Avenue West.
More multifamily slated for Lakewood Ranch
Commissioners unanimously approved changes to plans for the Lakewood Centre to allow for the construction of 67 single-family homes and 1,553 multi-family units spread out among different projects that include a senior living and retirement community.
The vote also increased the height of multi-family buildings on two parcels in the project to six stories.
The project encompasses two tracts of land. Both are located east of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, with one tract located north of State Road 70 and the other south of State Road 64.
To create the additional residential density, the developer plans to remove 195,877 square feet of retail space, 150 hotel rooms, and 896,875 square feet of office space from previously approved plans.
Project to create affordable housing in Ellenton
Commissioners approved a second option for plans for the Factory Shops Apartments development project to include multifamily and affordable housing. The project is located in Ellenton on the northwest corner of 60th Avenue East and Factory Shops Boulevard.
Previously approved plans for the 7.86-acre project already included permits for a 50,000-square-foot movie theatre and a hotel with 330 rooms and associated commercial uses. Thursday's 6 to 1 vote gives the developer the option to instead build 235 multi-family units in a single four-story building, and at least 25% of those units will be designated as affordable.
Single-family homes headed to Parrish
County commissioners unanimously approved preliminary plans for 95 single-family homes at Creekside at Rutland Ranch. The 31.71-acre property is located in Parrish on the north side of County Road 675, just under three miles east of US 301.
Treating waste from Piney Point
Commissioners approved a $17.9 million agreement to design and build a treatment facility for polluted wastewater from the former Piney Point fertilizer plant.
The wastewater will be treated at the facility and then disposed of underground through the use of a deep injection well, which is already under construction. The county is negotiating with the state for funding. | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/affordable-housing-multifamily-housing-projects-move-forward-manatee-county-florida/7623040001/ | 2022-06-17T13:16:16 | 1 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/affordable-housing-multifamily-housing-projects-move-forward-manatee-county-florida/7623040001/ |
SCRANTON, Pa. — The non-profit the Black Scranton Project is observing Juneteenth in a way that will bring people of all cultures together.
Sunday marks the fourth year for the Juneteenth Jubilee in Scranton.
Organizers invite the community to come out for a day of food, live music, vendors, and other local resources.
The day is also a special one for the Black Scranton Project as the non-profit celebrates its third anniversary of empowering the community.
"So we just want to remind our Scranton community of the black history and culture that is here but also the national recognition of that and have a beautiful day celebrating the Black Scranton Project," said Black Scranton Founder Glynis Johns.
The Jubilee kicks off Sunday at noon on North Main Avenue in Scranton. This year the block party is expanded onto Market Street. For more information check out Black Scranton Project's website.
See news happening? Call our newstip hotline. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/black-scranton-project-juneteenth-jubilee-food-music/523-a688f70b-b4cd-4365-bb97-dafe843425a2 | 2022-06-17T13:22:46 | 0 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/black-scranton-project-juneteenth-jubilee-food-music/523-a688f70b-b4cd-4365-bb97-dafe843425a2 |
Upper Mount Bethel this week considered and then rejected a plan to sue six residents — including one of the supervisors — who sued the township over concerns about plans for a massive industrial park by Bethlehem developer Lou Pektor.
Township officials voted 2-3 on a motion made by Supervisor Robert Teel to recover $100,000 Upper Mount Bethel says it spent to defend the board’s decision to change its zoning law to allow the massive River Pointe Commerce Park. The vote took place Monday during supervisors’ regular meeting.
Supervisor David Due seconded and voted for Teel’s motion, but Chair Martin Pinter and Supervisors John Bermingham and David Friedman voted against it.
Friedman, who was one of six residents from a group known as Concerned Citizens of Upper Mount Bethel Township who sued the township in 2020 after supervisors passed a text amendment that changed the township’s industrial zoning, was elected last fall to the Board of Supervisors and removed his name from the lawsuit.
On Wednesday, Friedman sounded satisfied that he and the other five residents would not face legal repercussions.
“I’m glad it’s been put to rest, and perhaps we can get on with getting to work on planned, logical development in the township,” Friedman said.
He said he ended his role the lawsuit after his election, as per the Pennsylvania Ethics Commission. The commission’s recommendation allows him to vote on matters related to the project, he said.
Richard Wilford-Hunt, one of the Concerned Citizens members, did not return a telephone message seeking comment.
Township manager Ed Nelson said Wednesday that some on the board believed the residents’ challenge of the text amendment was in error and that it cost Upper Mount Bethel officials in research and administrative matters to work on the defense.
“The crux is what the supervisors did was legislation, and [residents] were trying to challenge legislation in court, and the court does not have authority to overrule legislation,” Nelson said.
First Call
The text amendment came at the request of Pektor, whose companies plan to turn more than 800 undeveloped acres in the township into a major commercial area called River Pointe Commerce Park. Pektor bought 725 acres in 2019 for $17 million for the project initially known as River Pointe Logistics, along River and Demi Roads, about 1.5 miles from Interstate 80.
Up to 15 buildings totaling 5.5 million square feet are planned at the site, which sits at the northeastern edge of Northampton County, and is within a day’s drive of one-third of the U.S. population, according to River Pointe.
In their lawsuit, the residents alleged that supervisors usurped the authority of the zoning hearing board in approving the changes without zoners’ review. Though they maintain they are not opposed to development, they also said the supervisors’ decision on the amendment failed to heed concerns expressed by the township planning commission, township engineer, environmental groups and the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.
Pektor and River Pointe also filed a lawsuit in February against the six residents and their attorney claiming the lawsuit and appeal were frivolous. The suit was closed last month, according to Northampton County court records. It happened after the citizens dropped their appeal over the text amendment.
Friedman said while Pektor still has not begun construction, he has received final approval for a 420,000-square-foot spec building.
Most of Pektor’s proposal is on undeveloped land next to the Portland Industrial Park, which houses Ultra-Poly Corp., Lamtec Corp. and Air Liquide Advanced Materials Inc., while other plans by Pektor call for redeveloping the former Portland Generating Station electric plant along River Road.
Morning Call journalist Anthony Salamone can be reached at asalamone@mcall.com. | https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-upper-mount-bethel-no-lawsuit-20220617-xfpvamiu5zajrpntvmpoyrnyqe-story.html | 2022-06-17T13:29:32 | 0 | https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-upper-mount-bethel-no-lawsuit-20220617-xfpvamiu5zajrpntvmpoyrnyqe-story.html |
Cops are looking for a man they say lit a Brooklyn house ablaze with at least five people inside earlier this spring, authorities say.
According to the NYPD, the man walked up to a home at 84th Street and 16th Avenue in Bensonhurst in the overnight hours on May 30 and used an open flame to set the building on fire. He then ran off.
No one was hurt in the arson case, a motive for which remains unclear at this time, police said. Property damage was reported.
Police say the suspect may have a tattoo on his right arm. They released a photo of him (above).
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Copyright NBC New York | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nyc-home-lit-ablaze-with-at-least-5-people-inside-cops/3738772/ | 2022-06-17T13:32:28 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nyc-home-lit-ablaze-with-at-least-5-people-inside-cops/3738772/ |
SAN DIEGO — It’s one thing to deal with your 7-year-old daughter battling cancer and now Layla’s father has to deal with someone attempting to use his daughter’s story in order to scam their family.
"I think either this person is a social misfit or they are attempting to try and use my daughter's brain cancer for their advantage," said Shawn Mahoney, the father of Layla who is battling a rare form of brain cancer.
He started a GoFundMe page for his daughter and received a call from someone saying they wanted to help Layla.
"She called me and said she could go to local businesses and donate proceeds and she will collect cash and checks and give it to me and this is hallmark of this type of fraud," said Mahoney.
Mahoney sent text messages asking for the person’s name and social media profiles. The person replied saying they do not have social media.
"I don’t have a Master's degree or PhD, but something is telling me something is off here. Something sinister is going on here. Either of which I don’t need because my daughter is in the fight for her life which could be incurable," said Mahoney.
Mahoney contacted the police who told him to block the number.
"Its just so wrong taking advantage of someone going through hell. It's just wrong, it's just wrong. We start treatment here soon and I don’t have time for this bologna," said Mahoney.
While Mahoney has not had any fraudulent activity happen to him, he wants to warn others to be self aware before it gets that far.
"Be aware of these things. Funnel everything to one source and once source only," he says.
For right now, he wants to focus all his time and energy on Layla and her recovery.
"Having a daughter is the most incredible blessing I could ever have. Staring down the barrel of losing that is terrifying. If you told me take a bullet and she would live; where’s the gun? Where’s the gun?" Mahoney cries.
Layla has an MRI Thursday as she continues her long road in battling this horrible disease. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/people-attempting-to-steal-donations-using-story-7-year-old-girl-battling-brain-cancer/509-3fa7c30e-7a37-4642-ba41-671b4ec0d0dc | 2022-06-17T13:33:44 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/people-attempting-to-steal-donations-using-story-7-year-old-girl-battling-brain-cancer/509-3fa7c30e-7a37-4642-ba41-671b4ec0d0dc |
AUSTIN, Texas — Austin-based electric car maker Tesla is facing yet another lawsuit, this time alleging a "toxic workplace culture grounded in racist and sexist abuse and discrimination against its own employees."
The lawsuit was filed Thursday by Tesla stockholder Solomon Chau of New Jersey. It also comes after the company has been hit with numerous complaints from former employees claiming reports of sexual harassment and racist abuse.
Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas Austin Division, the suit claims California officials conducted a 3-year long investigation into workplace harassment and discrimination at the company, finding evidence that a factory in Fremont was racially segregated and that Black workers were subjected to racial slurs and discrimination.
It also cites a recent uptick in lawsuits and regulatory scrutiny regarding its treatment of employees amid an ongoing investigation.
"Equally troubling is Tesla's apparent refusal to cooperate with regulators by failing to produce complete and accurate employment and personnel records despite being required to do so by law," the suit states.
It also claims that CEO Elon Musk has directly advised Tesla employees to be "thick-skinned" when it comes to workplace harassment.
"Through the same channels he has used to announce Tesla products, relay corporate changes to the public, and comment on the financial status of the Company, defendant E. Musk has also made numerous sexually objectifying statements that multiple complainants have cited as direct influences on the culture of harassment they endured at Tesla," the suit continues. "Critically, it also appears from the Company's production of the Section 220 Documents that, even when presented with widespread claims of sexual harassment and racial discrimination at its manufacturing facilities, the Board itself did little to address the misconduct."
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/tesla-new-lawsuit-alleging-toxic-workplace-culture/269-de109148-66a5-45a8-818a-eb024367bbb1 | 2022-06-17T13:33:45 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/tesla-new-lawsuit-alleging-toxic-workplace-culture/269-de109148-66a5-45a8-818a-eb024367bbb1 |
East Jordan Chamber of Commerce holds dinner, meeting and awards
EAST JORDAN — The Valley View Farms was the site of the East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner, meeting, auction and awards on Saturday, May 21.
Upon their arrival, guests were greeted with the sounds of the Drawbridge Ukulele Band performing a medley of music and the opportunity to support the chamber with a silent auction of many items and services donated by members, according to Mary Faculak, president at the East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce.
Over 130 chamber members attended the event that featured an update on the chamber’s programs and activities held over the past year. Outgoing board member John Hunter of East Jordan was recognized for his board services and the current chamber board of directors and staff were introduced.
Following a buffet dinner, a live auction featuring an array of items and services was conducted.
The evening concluded with the presentation of several awards. Faculak served as emcee for the presentations. The following awards were given:
Ambassador of the Year – Presented to Courtney Moeller for her compassion, promotion and implementation of the Sno-Blast Bikini Radar Run the past four years. The event has raised over $30,000 for breast cancer patients in the East Jordan Area.
Spirit Award – The Jordan Art Walk Committee members – Rich Dietrich, John Hunter, Nancy Carey, Babs Young, Jaleesa O’Neal, Tom Cannon and Mary Faculak – received this award for their vision and execution of a cultural and economic community asset. The Jordan Art Walk debuted in 2021 with seven sculptures in Memorial and Sportsman’s parks. In 2022, the Art Walk will be adding seven additional sculptures to the walk.
Community Angel awards – The Charlevoix County Community Foundation was presented one of the two awards. The foundation was recognized for its support and generosity to help benefit the community during extraordinary times.
The Charlevoix County Community Foundation, throughout 2020 and 2021, provided $240,482 in general support fund grants to 45 nonprofit organizations to help them survive the challenging times. In 2021, through regular grant cycles more than $500,000 was awarded to area nonprofits for programs and projects. Total grants awarded in 2021 were $2.5 million.
The foundation has also been involved with urgent needs grants, school nurse programs in area schools, the child care crisis and the housing crisis.
The second Community Angel Award was presented to Good Samaritan Family Services for providing essential services and support to community members during extraordinary times. The board, its 130 volunteers and staff were recognized for their service to over 2,400 people a month at the Good Samaritan. Over 100,000 families have been served since its opening in 1990.
Besides the food pantry, the organization runs two resale shops, assists those in need with help for emergency services, referral services, Sammy’s Shoes, Mom and Tots and His House. Classes are held for budgeting, cooking, etc. During the height of the pandemic, none of their services were discontinued. The organization and staff pivoted and adapted to continue to provide these necessary services.
The Renaissance Award – This award was given to the East Jordan Downtown Development Authority Board for their work on bringing new vitality and connectivity to the Joining Jordan Project in 2021.
The new $2.5 million dollar pedestrian–friendly bridge/walkway provides a safe path for residents and visitors to stroll over the Jordan River and enjoy shopping and dining throughout the year. DDA board members – Tom Teske, Dan Miller, Jennifer Aenis, Dawn LaVanway, Marty Carey, Jason O’Neal, Mike Bennett and Richard Gotts – were recognized.
2022 Citizen of the Year – This award was presented to Danielle Poindexter. Poindexter is a life-long resident of East Jordan and has been involved in a number of community events and activities over the years growing up and also raising her own family. She is a member of the Pastoral Council at St. Joseph Church in East Jordan. She has served on the Challenge Mountain Board of Directors. She enjoys baking and is very dedicated to her family.
It was through her commitment to helping her own children by assisting with child care of her grandchildren that she was made aware of the child care crisis in our area, state and country. Through her vision and implementation, the Training Wheels Childcare Center was formed and opened in April of 2021. What started with a conversation at the dining room table on the crisis and a possible solution that turned into reality, East Jordan families now have a child care center. The center has already expanded since its 2021 opening.
Subscribe:Check out our offers and read the local news that matters to you | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/charlevoix/2022/06/17/east-jordan-area-chamber-commerce-gives-annual-awards/7637509001/ | 2022-06-17T13:35:27 | 0 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/charlevoix/2022/06/17/east-jordan-area-chamber-commerce-gives-annual-awards/7637509001/ |
Looking Back: A bear plays on the city's green
One hundred years ago, the June 15, 1922 Charlevoix Sentinel reported on how important Loeb Farms, now Castle Farms, south of town had become in the field of animal husbandry.
“SOLD AT TOP FIGURE. Charlevoix Marbury DeKol Goes At High Price. R. F. Sloan returned from Kansas City, Mo., early this week, where he attended the Annual Stock Review in the interest of Loeb Farms. Incidentally he disposed of one year old Charlevoix Marbury DeKol, one of the Loeb Farms herd of Holsteins, at a price higher than was paid for any other animal exhibited and sold from the yearling class.”
Within four years of opening, the Farms had gained for itself a reputation as one for one of the finest cattle breeding operations in the United States.
More:Looking Back: There's always someone famous in Charlevoix
More:Looking Back: Pigeons, buildings and bears — oh my!
Five years after his iconic, and still divisive epic “Birth of a Nation” reached the screen, in 1920 fabled Hollywood director D. W. Griffith released another, even more expensive endeavor titled “Way Down East” starring Lillian Gish and Richard Barthelmess. It took two more years for the film to reach Charlevoix. In the same Sentinel issue appeared a front page article on what to expect, accompanied by the usual hyperbole of the era. “WAY DOWN EAST” Greatest of Screen Plays to Come Here. W. D. (the Sentinel got his initials switched around) Griffith’s ‘Way Down East’ Coming to the Palace Theater. Announced as the most remarkable production with which the name of David W. Griffith has yet been associated is his ‘Way Down East,’ made from the famous stage play of the same name and which will be shown in this city for the first time at the Palace Theatre, for a run of three weeks.”
The play, by Lottie Blair Parker, premiered in 1897, and the Welsh actress Phoebe Davies who originated the lead role of Anna had performed it 4000 times by 1909. Davies continued on for three more years until she suddenly died in 1912. By the time Griffith filmed it, the outrageously overdramatic plot was considered to be outdated.
But by removing much of the action to the real, not staged, great outdoors, Griffith’s patented action scenes opened up the story to such an extent, including a raging blizzard and a climactic rescue scene on ice floes atop a waterfall, that the $700,000 production earned $4.5 million, one of the highest grosses of any movie to that time. The ice floe sequence, filmed in the depths of winter, caused frostbite on Griffith’s face, and a scene in which Gish dips her right hand in the frigid water (her idea) caused an impairment in the limb that lasted for the rest of her life.
Close-ups of the waterfall, only a few feet high, and immediate wooded area found in White River Junction, Vermont were used for the location scenes; the single long shot needed was an interpolated sequence of Niagara Falls. In actuality, the floes going over the falls scene was filmed out of season. The floes were wooden forms painted white. But all the rest was the real deal. Much of the ice above the falls had to be removed by dynamite or saw. Gish and Barthelmess were filmed walking on, and grappling with, real ice. They, and Griffith, suffered for their art, but their travails resulted in a smashing success.
The film was rumored to contain scenes done in color. This is what the Sentinel said: “Digressing from the stage version, he (Griffith) will take his audience from the simplicity of countryside to the lavishness of city mansions and thus display in a new series of color schemes an array of elaborate gowns and surrounding typical of wealth. At the end will come the famed terrifying New England blizzard and the break up of the ice gorge in the Connecticut river, scenes which in other cities have made audiences grip their seats.”
If true, then “Way Down East” contained some of the earliest colorized film footage. The first full length true color films appeared exactly 100 years ago, in 1922.
Fifty years ago, the June 14, 1972 Charlevoix Courier reported a “Bear Plays Through On City Golf Links. A family of black bears has been roaming the area just north of Charlevoix over the last week, as several different spottings of bear have been reported. On Thursday, play at the city golf course was momentarily interrupted to allow a blacky time to get off the fairway. The bear appeared to be about two years old and weigh about 400 pounds. It cut across the second and fourth fairways, and then headed towards the Mount McSauba area. The family probably consists of a mama and two cubs. When contacted, the Department of Natural Resources stated that the bears should simply be left alone. If left to themselves the bears will not become a problem. There have been no reports of damage. And as long as people are willing to leave the bears alone, there probably will be no problems, according to the DNR.” | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/charlevoix/2022/06/17/looking-back-bear-plays-citys-green/7637416001/ | 2022-06-17T13:35:33 | 1 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/charlevoix/2022/06/17/looking-back-bear-plays-citys-green/7637416001/ |
Gaylord city budget gains approval, water and sewer rates increase
GAYLORD — The city will spend nearly $10.8 million in the next fiscal year that begins on July 1 to provide police, fire and other services.
The Gaylord City Council unanimously approved the 2022-23 budget Monday night. The owner of a home with an assessed value of $100,000 will pay approximately $1,136.95 or $94.75 a month in property taxes.
That same homeowner paid about $1,125 or $93.75 a month in taxes to fund the $9.8 million budget for the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30.
City manager Kim Awrey said Gaylord anticipates revenue of about $10.5 million next year. Approximately $300,000 of leftover money in the municipal street fund will be used to cover the $10.8 million.
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Salaries for city employees take up the major portion of the budget, Awrey said. Police and fire expenses are expected to total $2.1 million. A five mill special assessment for police and fire will produce about $850,000 of the $2.1 million.
Council also approved water and sewer rates for next year. The base residential rate for water and sewer service will be $27.55 a month, an increase from the current $25.40 a month.
In other matters:
Former Mayor Bill Wishart addressed the council. He resigned last October because of health issues.
"I am making great strides in my recovery," Wishart said.
He then thanked Awrey, council and city staff along with the police, fire, EMS and the department of public works.
"I thank all of them for a job well done especially in the last couple of weeks with the tornado," he said. "I am proud to be a resident of this city and I pay my taxes on a regular basis. And I expect you guys to give my money's worth."
More:Gaylord entry wins $15K in 'Put Your Town on the Map' competition to bring art to downtown
Wishart said he feels sorry for the families that were affected by the tornado, especially the "folks that lost loved ones" and the businesses that were interrupted.
"But when you look at the big picture two lives were lost and there was a lot of damage. But the rest of it was just stuff. We can build new houses and businesses but we can't replace those folks that died," he said.
He called on everyone to "build Gaylord back better and bigger" and received a round of applause from the audience.
Mayor Todd Sharrard also read a proclamation honoring police chief Frank Claeys who is now entering his 25th year with the department. He was hired as a patrolman in 1997, promoted to sergeant in 2013 and was appointed chief in 2019. | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2022/06/17/gaylord-city-budget-gains-approval-wishart-addresses-council/7618171001/ | 2022-06-17T13:35:39 | 1 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2022/06/17/gaylord-city-budget-gains-approval-wishart-addresses-council/7618171001/ |
Public hearing set to look at proposed Camp Grayling expansion
GAYLORD — A proposal that would more than double the size of Camp Grayling calls for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to lease additional public land to the military training facility.
The DNR is scheduled to conduct a public hearing on the expansion at 6 p.m. on June 22 at Kirtland Community College, 4800 W. 4 Mile Road in Grayling.
Last month, the Michigan National Guard revealed plans to increase the size of Camp Grayling, which occupies parts of Crawford, Kalkaska and Otsego counties. The proposed expansion covers 162,000 acres around the camp and is designed to accommodate new training methods. Currently the camp covers about 148,000 acres.
A map of the proposed area is available on the DNR website.
Col. Scott Meyers, Camp Grayling commander, said the Otsego County acreage in the proposed expansion totals about 18,833 acres. It is "contiguous to our current training areas following (northeast) of our northern range," he said.
Otsego County Commissioner Robert Pallarito, District V, said the Guthrie Lakes Association has been informed about the expansion and the group will have a special meeting next month.
"On the proposed map, a new firing point is tentatively indicated in the new land near Old State Road. This firing point is probably going to impact Johannesburg and the southern end of Michawaye," Pallarito said.
The newly proposed training areas, if approved, would be used for periodic, low impact activities such as drone operation, cyber, electronic warfare, space and communication system installation and operation. Low impact or light maneuver training consists of foot traffic, tents, bivouacking and porta-johns. Vehicle travel will be restricted to current state forest roads and trails.
"My concern (about the expansion) comes from the results of the Joint Land Use Study from a few years ago that revealed Camp Grayling's impact on roads and the lack of communication with the community. An expansion in (the) area will take military vehicles on already poor Otsego County roads. I would like to see a cost sharing for infrastructure repairs between (the) county, township and the military," said Pallarito.
As far as noise produced by the training, Meyers said the lease agreement and the type of training that will occur is "low Impact training. High impact training areas are the loud booms some Otsego County residents currently hear near our bombing range east of Waters. Low impact training is smaller vehicles using existing roads and trails, or soldiers walking through the woods. Low impact may include the use of blank rounds, quieter than a shotgun or a rifle. The noise levels compare to current noise of civilian uses in the same areas."
More:Military personnel arrive at Camp Grayling for 'Winter Strike' training
Pallarito added that "I would hope that as the military expands closer to inhabited areas, with less state land to buffer noise, the military would communicate their plans. Most residents are OK with the training, but want advance notice to prepare themselves and pets."
Assuming the expansion is approved, military exercises involving drone operation, cyber, electronic warfare, space and communication system installation and operation will be conducted on the property. Would any of these activities interfere with the television reception, internet access or cell phone service of nearby residents, hunters, hikers, or others?
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"The (Federal Communications Commission) FCC oversees and manages spectrum use. In addition, all of our devices and locations must go through rigorous approvals so we specifically do not interfere with TV reception, cell phones, emergency systems, internet, etc. I will add however, let's say we are doing drone defeat training with some of our technologies. If a civilian drone is flying in that same area, it will also be brought down by the technology. We intend to mitigate by letting the community know when we have soldiers training in the specific training areas," Meyers said.
The DNR would maintain ownership of the leased land and would continue to manage the resources, including hunting, fishing, forestry, and minerals. The lands would remain open to hunting and no military training will occur during the state gun deer season that runs from Nov. 15-30. Hunting, camping, fishing and ORV trails will remain open and no permanent fencing will be erected. | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2022/06/17/public-hearing-set-look-proposed-camp-grayling-expansion/7622510001/ | 2022-06-17T13:35:45 | 1 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2022/06/17/public-hearing-set-look-proposed-camp-grayling-expansion/7622510001/ |
Detroit rapper Obie Trice held in Oakland Co. Jail again
Obie Trice, the Eminem protege and Detroit rap artist, is in the Oakland County Jail again, according to the sheriff's office.
Trice was admitted into the jail at about 5 p.m. Thursday after he was arraigned in 48th District Court in Bloomfield Hills on a charge of using a telephone to harass or threaten someone, according to the office and court records.
The jail said Trice is being held on a $10,000 bond. The crime is a misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine, six months in jail or both.
According to court records, the alleged crime was committed in West Bloomfield.
It's the second time Trice has been tangled up in legal problems. Two years ago, he was booked for aggressive felony assault against a family member.
He was also held for contempt of court, a complaint issued by the Oakland County Circuit Court for violating a personal protection order, according to records. The case is still pending and was reassigned to another judge last month.
Trice was shot Dec. 31, 2005, while driving on the Lodge Freeway in Detroit.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @CharlesERamirez | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2022/06/17/detroit-rapper-obie-trice-held-oakland-county-jail/7656897001/ | 2022-06-17T13:35:56 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2022/06/17/detroit-rapper-obie-trice-held-oakland-county-jail/7656897001/ |
Murray Baker Bridge in Peoria to change colors for these two consecutive holidays
In a rare two-fer, the Murray Baker Bridge will feature special lighting on consecutive upcoming days.
The span will be lit in orange and blue overnight on Sunday, June 19, to mark Father's Day. It will be lit in red, black and green overnight on Monday, June 20, to celebrate Juneteenth. Both holidays fall on June 19.
Father's Day has been celebrated since the Middle Ages as St. Joseph's Day, the principal feast day of St. Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary and legal father of Jesus Christ. In the United States, Sonora Smart Dodd of rural Spokane, Washington, is credited as the founder of the official national holiday. She was the daughter of a Civil War veteran who became a single parent of six when his wife died in childbirth. The first observation was held June 19, 1910, in Spokane. In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed an act officially making Father’s Day a national holiday.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans and celebrating African-American culture. It has been observed in various parts of the nation since 1865 and marks the anniversary of a June 19, 1865, announcement by Union Army Gen. Gordon Granger proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas, the last Confederate state with institutional slavery. It became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.
New lights were added to the Murray Baker Bridge linking Peoria and East Peoria when its deck was reconstructed in 2020.
Ask Dean:How many homes were demolished to build Interstate 74 through Downtown Peoria?
From the archives: Murray Baker Bridge brought big changes to Peoria, good and bad
How to get special lighting on the bridge
Peoria has scheduled 25 holidays this year featuring special lighting. (Afterward, the bridge's hues revert to the city colors of green, yellow and blue.)
In addition, individuals or organizations can arrange their own special lighting in advance through requests to the Peoria Public Works Department. City policy requires at least 30 days' notice on such a request and forbids "lighting for political events, and/or political campaigns." The fee is $200 per evening, or $150 for nonprofits.
Questions regarding the Murray Baker Bridge Ornamental Lighting Program, Light Up the Bridge, should be directed to the Peoria Public Works Department by emailing publicworks@peoriagov.org or calling 309-494-8800. | https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/i-74-bridge-peoria-change-colors-fathers-day-juneteenth/7560354001/ | 2022-06-17T13:36:12 | 0 | https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/local/2022/06/17/i-74-bridge-peoria-change-colors-fathers-day-juneteenth/7560354001/ |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — One person was injured in a shooting on Friday in Sacramento, according to the Sacramento Police Department.
Officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 5700 block of Stockton Boulevard just before 1 a.m. A person was taken to a hospital, but their condition is not known at this time.
Southbound Stockton Boulevard is closed between Young Street and Jansen Drive. Traffic is being diverted onto Young Street and Jansen Drive. Police are advising people to avoid the area. No other details were immediately available.
ABC10: Watch, Download, Read
Watch more on ABC10 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/sacramento-shooting-stockton-boulevard/103-30f4b7c1-2fb1-43a7-89de-7db5f1ac4166 | 2022-06-17T13:38:55 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/sacramento-shooting-stockton-boulevard/103-30f4b7c1-2fb1-43a7-89de-7db5f1ac4166 |
MINNEAPOLIS — We all know that running the air conditioner in your home can be expensive during the hot months of summer, but you might not think of the AC in your car.
In many vehicles, the air conditioning system uses gasoline to cool you down.
With gas prices the way they are right now your AC may be costing you more money this summer.
"Especially when gas is almost five bucks a gallon,” Dunwoody College of Technology automotive instructor Steve Reinarts says.
"A lot of things can affect the efficiency of your AC, your driving habits, how you drive, the model of the vehicle, the make, the engine."
Reinarts says there are so many factors that can affect how much gas your air conditioner uses.
He says some studies suggest that newer AC systems in newer vehicles will drop your fuel economy by 3% to 12%.
However, the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy says running your AC in high heat can reduce your fuel economy by as much as 25%.
For a car that typically gets 30 miles to the gallon, that's like losing seven and a half miles.
For a 16-gallon tank it's like losing four gallons of gas, which these days could cost you nearly $20.
"If you're trying to save mileage, you're giving up a little bit of comfort,” Reinarts says.
That’s the tradeoff drivers will have to make this summer.
Reinarts says the best way to save gas with your AC is to just not use it, or not use it as much, or at least not use it in low efficiency situations like being stuck in stop and go traffic.
"Stop and go traffic there is a lot of underhood temperature that takes place from sitting behind another car that has exhaust dispelling a lot of heat. Also, you have a black pavement that's giving off a lot of heat,” Reinarts says.
Sitting idle will also put more strain on your AC, because the AC system works by drawing in clean air to help cool your vehicle.
When your vehicle is moving there’s a natural flow of air that takes some of the pressure off the AC system.
“When your vehicle is stopped the AC has to draw that air in on its own and that requires more energy,” Reinarts says.
That clean air also has to pass through a filter, and depending on how clean or dirty your filter is that can also affect the efficiency of your AC.
"Just like your furnace in your house, you have a furnace filter, you're going to have a cabin air filter inside your car,” Reinarts explains.
Changing that filter out twice a year will keep your AC running smoothly and will save you some money.
Reinarts also recommends that classic tip of parking your car in the shade when you can, it really makes a difference, so does a sun shade you can attach to your windshield.
"The sun shades work really well, because that's where your biggest sun load is on your windshield. That sun is bearing down on your windshield and it heats that car up pretty quick,” Reinarts says.
And when you turn on your AC, do it gradually.
Let's say you crank it down to 60 degrees and it gets too cold.
Well, then you have to dial it back up to something like 68 or 70 degrees, but if you do that, Reinarts says your vehicle will turn on the heater to warm things up.
Switching back and forth like that uses a lot of energy.
So, it's better to just cool it down gradually.
Reinarts says his best piece of advice is to fight the urge to turn on your AC the moment you step into your vehicle.
Instead, he recommends opening all the windows and driving your vehicle for a few miles to kick out the hot air that has been lingering in your vehicle all day.
Once that hot air has a minute or two to get out of your vehicle, then you should close the windows and turn on your AC.
If you use this technique, Reinarts says your AC won’t have to work as hard to cool your vehicle and you won’t have to spend as much money on gas. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/the-ac-in-your-car-may-be-using-more-gas-than-you-think/89-b44ada20-bb6f-41ad-b447-af4fe6f7fb46 | 2022-06-17T13:39:02 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/the-ac-in-your-car-may-be-using-more-gas-than-you-think/89-b44ada20-bb6f-41ad-b447-af4fe6f7fb46 |
An off-duty Philadelphia police officer opened fire while becoming a victim of a carjacking overnight.
The incident happened shortly after midnight at South 56th and Pentridge streets in the Kingsessing neighborhood, Philadelphia police said.
The officer told police investigating that he was parking his silver 2020 Toyota Highlander when a person pointed a gun at him and reached into his pockets to steal his keys, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.
"During this robbery, point of gun, there was gunfire from the off-duty officer, however we're not sure if the individual ... was shot," Small said.
The carjacker crashed into two parked cars while driving off from the scene, investigators said.
The officer wasn't injured, Small said.
Minutes after the carjacking, a young person showed up a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound to his hand, police said. It wasn't clear if that shooting victim was involved in the carjacking, Small said.
A few hours later and less than 2 miles away, a burned out silver SUV was found in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood. It wasn't immediately known if that was the officer's vehicle.
Internal affairs would investigate the shooting since it involved an officer.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/off-duty-philadelphia-police-officer-carjacking/3273993/ | 2022-06-17T13:40:11 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/off-duty-philadelphia-police-officer-carjacking/3273993/ |
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