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MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. – Deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office are rallying behind a young girl who was severely injured in a tragic incident last week.
Aubrey Scaletta, just six years old, lost both of her feet in a vehicle crash on May 17, sending the area into shock. The little girl had to undergo a six-hour surgery and is now in the pediatric intensive care unit.
Now, an entire community is stepping up to show their support for Aubrey and her family during this difficult time, including Montgomery County deputies, who wore pink in her honor.
If you would like to help the family as well, you can do so by donating to their GoFundMe page or the Virginia State Police Association, Emergency Relief Fund at 804-320-6272.
All funds that VSPA receives will go directly toward the Scalettas. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/25/montgomery-county-deputies-show-support-for-girl-severely-injured-in-tragic-incident/ | 2023-05-25T11:37:41 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/25/montgomery-county-deputies-show-support-for-girl-severely-injured-in-tragic-incident/ |
ROANOKE, Va. – Two people have been forced from their home after a fire broke out in Southeast Roanoke Wednesday afternoon, according to Roanoke-Fire EMS.
At about 1:17 p.m., crews were called to the 1600 block of Wise Ave for the fire and arrived to find flames coming from the back of the house.
We’re told the fire was quickly extinguished and no one was hurt.
At this time, the Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/25/two-displaced-after-fire-in-southeast-roanoke/ | 2023-05-25T11:37:41 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/25/two-displaced-after-fire-in-southeast-roanoke/ |
ROANOKE, Va. – A big award for the WSLS 10 team!
Anchor/Reporter Jenna Zibton and Photojournalist Jeff Perzan won a 2023 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association.
The award is for their Solutionaries series, our continuing commitment to solutions journalism, highlighting the creative people in communities working to make the world a better place, one solution at a time.
The award submission includes several different stories from 2022, including how Danville was able to drastically cut crime and murder after having the most homicides per capita in Virginia.
In addition to this, we also discussed how local communities are fighting inflation. We talked to a cattle farmer in Bedford County about how he’s cutting costs so you don’t pay more for meat and how urban gardening is taking off.
We also highlighted how a local nonprofit delivers milk to keep their neighbors fed during trying times. The “Moo Crew” raises the money and then picks up and delivers milk in Franklin County.
Find out what you can do to help your community and subscribe to our Solutionaries channel on youtube.
Click here to see all the winners from Region 12, which WSLS is part of. Click here to see winners from other regions. Regional winners automatically move on to the national round of the competition. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/25/wsls-anchor-photojournalist-win-regional-murrow-award-for-solutionaries-series/ | 2023-05-25T11:37:49 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/05/25/wsls-anchor-photojournalist-win-regional-murrow-award-for-solutionaries-series/ |
Memorial Day weekend observances are planned in the metro area.
“We need to honor all veterans, past and present. We have a long history and Memorial Day was set aside to honor our war dead,” said Dave Grimm, adjutant treasurer of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 11, noting that the day should have a deeper meaning than a three-day weekend, day off from work, or a day to spend fishing or grilling.
On Saturday, Rolling Thunder Iowa Chapter 1 will host a POW/MIA awareness ceremony at 3:30 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Hall and Soldiers and Sailors Park, 1915 Courbat Court, in downtown Waterloo. A car show and fundraiser will precede the ceremony.
Presented by Midwest Grease Kings Car Club, the car show takes place from noon to 4 p.m. between Fourth and Fifth streets. The public can select the best car for $1 for each vote; donations will benefit Rolling Thunder Iowa Chapter 1 for POW/MIA awareness and local veteran’s needs. The winner will be announced at the 3:30 p.m. program.
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Volunteers spent Thursday placing flags on veterans’ graves at Garden of Memories Cemetery, where 4,798 veterans are interned. Two shifts were required to place the flags. On Wednesday, volunteers are needed at the cemetery again to remove flags from the graves. To participate, email lentgerjames@gmail.com or yloveless@blackhawkcounty.iowa.gov, or call (319) 287-9463.
On Saturday, a Memorial Day service will take place at 10 a.m. at the German Burial Ground of Bennington Township, hosted by the Cedar Falls Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3896. A number of veterans are buried here, including the final resting place of Johann (John) Adams, a Civil War veteran with Company K 112th Illinois Infantry who died in 1903. There will be a color guard, a speech by retired Iowa National Guard Major Jerome Palas of Cedar Falls, a U.S. Army veteran, and the playing of taps.
On Monday, the annual Memorial Day Parade in downtown Waterloo will begin at 10 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. ceremony at Veterans Memorial Hall.
Nearly 35 parade units, including marching bands from Waterloo’s East High School and Gilbertville’s Don Bosco High School, are expected to participate. The parade route begins at Wells Fargo Bank, Fifth and Commercial streets. The route will travel down Commercial Street to Fourth Street, across the bridge and down to Mulberry Street, then back across the river on Fifth Street to Commercial Street.
The grand marshal will be retired District Court Judge George Stigler of Waterloo. He was a member of the Iowa National Guard for more than 38 years and reached the rank of colonel, served as the senior judge advocate general (JAG) officer for Iowa and was part of a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo from 2003 to 2004. Stigler also served six years on the Black Hawk County Veteran Affairs Commission.
Stigler became an associate judge in March 1978 and a district court judge in 1985. He retired in 2020 after 47 years, four months and four days on the bench.
Also featured at the parade will be retired U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Evan “Curly” Hultman and Kevin Dill, former Black Hawk County Veterans Affair director, as well as the “Ironman” battalion of the 133rd Infantry Regiment, ROTC and Junior ROTC, and veterans and representatives of AMVETS, Veterans of Foreign War, Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion and Black Hawk Veterans Affairs, as well as local churches and community groups.
The American Legion Becker Chapman Post 138 is in charge of organizing this year’s parade.
“We are honoring those individuals who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us with their lives throughout history, all conflicts, all branches of service, peacetime or wartime. We need to honor what they’ve done for us and what they’ve given us in this country,” explained Grimm, who is also operations chair for Veterans Memorial Hall and serves on the executive board for Honor Flights.
At 11 a.m., a ceremony will takes place at Veterans Memorial Hall in downtown Waterloo. Iowa Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Ron “Curly” Albrecht, a Waterloo native, will be the keynote speaker. Pastor Jason Stickles of Celebration First Assembly of God Church will lead prayers.
There will be a rifle salute, speeches and a reading of the list of “Honored Deaths,” those veterans in the area who died in the last year, by Craig White. Steven Snider will play “Taps” on a Civil War-era bugle.
Beginning at 12:30 p.m., a Memorial Day ceremony will take place at the Evansdale AMVETS Post 31, 706 Colleen Ave.
Approximately 262 flags will be flying in Flag Park, representing veterans who have died, and 25 more flags along the street at Cedar Falls AMVETS Post 49, 1934 Irving St. A Memorial Day observance begins at 11 a.m., which will include music by members of the Cedar Falls Municipal Band. Members of the AMVETS Riders will present a motorcycle salute, and there will be a rifle salute and playing of “Taps.”
In addition, the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with hands-on activities and the opportunity to take photos with World War I-era “doughboys,” “soldiers” and other costumed staff. Free lunch, provided by Friendship Village, will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Veterans get free admission. Admission is $6 for children ages 4-13 and $12 for those 14 and older. As a Blue Star Museum, active duty service members and up to five of their family will also receive free admission through Labor Day. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/cedar-valley-to-honor-veterans-with-parades-salutes-speeches-for-memorial-day/article_a919f48e-fa34-11ed-bc62-638bd1ce11ec.html | 2023-05-25T11:41:46 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/cedar-valley-to-honor-veterans-with-parades-salutes-speeches-for-memorial-day/article_a919f48e-fa34-11ed-bc62-638bd1ce11ec.html |
CEDAR FALLS — John Zolondek is not the most senior member of the city’s fire squad, but he’s a finalist for the fire chief job.
Zolondek told seven people gathered for a public meet-and-greet Tuesday at the Public Safety Center that he brings to the table a host of fresh ideas and ambitious goals.
If chosen over the other finalist Chris Ledeker from Kansas, who met with the community Monday, he’d be the successor to retired chief John Bostwick.
He’s been serving as interim chief since October and already has brought one of his ideas to fruition, CPR/AED training the first Sunday of every month.
Another of his priorities is securing funding and constructing a city training facility with the help of a grant.
“Not too long ago, I would have never applied for the job, but some of the senior leadership encouraged me,” he said. “While serving in the interim, I learned that there are a lot ways the department could benefit from a fresh look, new programs or different things.”
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He dislikes having to pay other cities to use their training facilities.
“It’d be nice to have our own training center where we can do a lot of our own stuff,” said Zolondek.
Other ideas include working with the University of Northern Iowa and Hawkeye Community College to spark interest in firefighting as a career, as well as creating a “kids fire academy” in K-12 schools.
“After COVID happened, that kind of died off,” he said about engaging with children. “But one thing I want to get back into doing is getting into the schools multiple times per year. The kids love it. They love interacting. I feel like learning about fire safety is pretty fun for kids. It’s something different, and they love seeing the fire truck.”
Zolondek stood by the city’s public safety officer program, still in its “infancy,” and is interested in improving it. He also backed other components of city operation like carrying compressed air foam in the back of squad cars and the current baseline testing for fire officers.
The city hired Zolondek as a police officer in 2007. He almost immediately became a part-time, on-call firefighter as well, but wasn’t solely assigned to fire and rescue as a public safety officer until 2018. He moved up the ranks to lieutenant, captain and eventually acting chief.
Originally from Winona, Minnesota, he, his wife and children have grown to love Cedar Falls. He’s had a passion for firefighting since his first job with the Winona Fire Department back in 2006 but never followed through on an inclination to move to a bigger department like St. Paul or Minneapolis.
“I did the POC (paid on call) thing to begin with and loved it, worked with some great guys ... loved the fire aspect even back then,” he said. “There was an opportunity for a lateral transfer and was told the ‘I am too valuable on patrol’ story. And then the whole public safety officer model came up (in 2015), and it ended up working out perfect for me, because I ended up getting specialized in both.”
“My heart was always in the fire service from my time at Winona,” he added.
Four members of the department are “longtime career firefighters,” and each has a couple decades of experience. Zolondek believes it’s his drive that separates him from the rest, crediting his time as a military police officer in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 2002 to 2008.
“I’m not saying other people aren’t driven, but maybe I’m more stubborn or relentless, even in the drills,” Zolondek said. “We have a bunch of young studs who go to CrossFit … and they’re like, ‘Oh, you can’t do (various exercises), you’re old.’ And I go do it and beat their times. Maybe it’s a pride thing and I honestly think it’s the Marine Corp – the whole improvise, adapt and overcome.
“I feel I’m used to getting a wrench thrown into everything all the time, being able to change on the fly and embrace it.”
Attendees asked questions about fire prevention and recruitment as well as his idea for a training facility and community outreach. He also answered questions about the department’s strengths and future opportunities for improvement along with preparing for worst case scenarios.
Prior to meeting the public, he met with the city’s top officials and others outside the city in the public safety and emergency management realms. Additionally, he met with community leaders and retirees along with union members and public safety supervisors.
Public Safety Director Craig Berte will make a recommendation to City Administrator Ron Gaines and Mayor Rob Green. They will interview Berte’s recommendation with Mayor Pro Tem Simon Harding and Public Safety Committee chairperson Dustin Ganfield before a final recommendation for the City Council is put up for approval as soon as June 5.
Ganfield and Councilmember Gil Schultz, as well as mayoral candidate Danny Laudick, have been among the small crowds present at one or both sessions with the finalists. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/government-and-politics/zolondek-shares-fresh-ideas-with-community-if-chosen-for-cedar-falls-fire-chief-job/article_b38d64aa-f971-11ed-81f5-978f8248adee.html | 2023-05-25T11:41:52 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/government-and-politics/zolondek-shares-fresh-ideas-with-community-if-chosen-for-cedar-falls-fire-chief-job/article_b38d64aa-f971-11ed-81f5-978f8248adee.html |
Having left New York with her family during the pandemic to return to Vermont where she grew up (and would give birth to her second child), singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell has been reconnecting with her roots.
She took violin lessons again, just as she did as a child, taught by the same teacher as three decades ago. She also went back to school, auditing a class of a professor she studied with in college. The final class of the semester wrapped up just a few minutes before I reached her by phone.
The class? Playwriting.
Which is an interesting course selection for someone who conceived and created “Hadestown,” a Tony-winning musical on Broadway.
“I know, I know,” she said. “It seems silly, but it’s a whole different thing … to write a play that doesn’t have music.”
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She certainly did fine with a play that did have music, writing the music, lyrics and book for “Hadestown,” which won eight Tony Awards, including best musical, in 2019, and then won the Grammy for best musical theater album.
Still on Broadway where it opened in 2019, “Hadestown” is touring across America, as well, and comes to Richmond from May 31 to June 4 at the Altria Theater for eight performances. For details, see broadwayinrichmond.com.
“Hadestown” weaves together the ancient Greek myths of Orpheus and Eurydice, and Hades and Persephone, troubled couples whose tragic stories are cast in a more modern-day industrial setting and retold in song, backed by a variety of American roots music with musicians playing roles on stage. The show addresses contemporary themes, such as climate change, labor strife and wall-building – though that particular song was written years before it became a rowdy refrain of a former president – but it primarily demonstrates the potency of love, hope and music, as Orpheus, endowed with exceptional musical talents, takes extraordinary measures to rescue Eurydice from her plight.
Mitchell conceived of the idea that became “Hadestown” when she was in her mid-20s, not too far along in her career. She had always seen herself as a writer – her dad is Don Mitchell, a novelist, essayist and college writing instructor – and it became apparent to her fairly early on that music would be her favored medium. She learned to play guitar in high school, admiring the work of singer-songwriters such as Ani DiFranco, Dar Williams and Tori Amos, and set off on her course.
“I really identified with them,” Mitchell said. “I thought, ‘I could do this; I want to do this.’ I picked up the guitar and was able to learn their songs, and then it was not too much of a stretch to start to write my own.”
So, it “wasn’t a crazy leap,” as she put it, to tell a longer story through music. But using Greek mythology as inspiration?
“It’s a story that has been told before,” said. “Many times, in fact, and a lot of times musically because it has this great musical hero (Orpheus), but there’s something about the ancient stories that resonate in different ways in different times.
“When I first got the idea, it was partly just like lightning striking … you know, the muse, whatever that thing is. It just drops a thing (in) your lap, and you’re like, ‘Wow, this (is) compelling enough that I’m going to follow this into the labyrinth.”
That labyrinth proved to be quite the maze. In other words, “Hadestown” was no overnight sensation; instead, it was a meandering journey that took years.
She does say, though, “It felt like there was some kind of magic with this story from the beginning.”
“Hadestown” began as a community theater project in Vermont in 2006 and then became a concept album and concert tour often with friends filling some of the roles. However, Mitchell never abandoned the vision of turning her music into a stage musical. She was enthralled by a production of the musical “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” and sought out the director, Rachel Chavkin, who eventually would help shepherd “Hadestown” into a stage production that ultimately found its way to Broadway.
Mitchell still marvels at the way things worked out – “I never set out to take a show to Broadway; that was never on my radar,” she said – but once other good people joined the effort and the process began gaining momentum, “It was like, how can I not fight to try to make it happen?”
Happen, it did, and the feeling is, well, pretty good.
“A lot of us worked on it for years and years and then to see it walk on its own feet in the world …” she said. “I remember this moment right around when we opened on Broadway. I was frantically trying to finish some lyrics or something, and I was up at all hours. Early in the morning, I left for a job in midtown Manhattan, and I ran past the theater, and there were these kids that were camping out in front of the theater to get some kind of rush tickets, and some of them were dressed up as our characters, and I thought … ‘Wow, this is so much bigger than me,’ and that was a beautiful and humbling feeling.”
Now it’s years later, and she’s moved on to writing new music and performing and touring, I wondered if Mitchell had grown weary of talking about her long road to “Hadestown.” For a while, she felt as if she did need a break after the big Broadway push and the promotion and the awards. It was nice and all, but also sort of exhausting.
But now, after the pandemic break and some distance from New York and those days, she described it as “a delightful change of pace to get to talk about it again.”
Though the success of “Hadestown” has afforded her the kind of creative freedom that comes with financial stability, Mitchell said with a laugh, “Any artist will tell you that creatively you’re always at square one.”
Meaning, she said, she doesn’t stare at an empty page and think haughtily, “Oh, I won a Tony Award,” and then the ideas flow. Doesn’t work that way.
“Every single time … (it’s) who am I now? What do I say now? What moves me now? So, in a lot of ways, that hasn’t changed,” she said.
Something else that hasn’t changed is what she hopes audiences find at “Hadestown.”
“I hope people enjoy themselves,” she said. “It’s a heavy story – obviously, it’s a tragedy, and it has a lot of deep and tough kinds of themes about our world – but I think there is an air of celebration about it, and I hope that is at the forefront of people’s experiences, like it feels like a joyful, togetherness time.
“I hope … that it provokes questions. I think that’s all you can really ask of art. I don’t think art ever really has any of the answers, but it might ask the questions.” | https://richmond.com/life-entertainment/local/art-theater/the-long-and-winding-road-to-hadestown-the-tony-winning-musical-coming-to-richmond/article_c5bc4f66-f32b-11ed-b856-fb3c79b7262e.html | 2023-05-25T11:50:32 | 1 | https://richmond.com/life-entertainment/local/art-theater/the-long-and-winding-road-to-hadestown-the-tony-winning-musical-coming-to-richmond/article_c5bc4f66-f32b-11ed-b856-fb3c79b7262e.html |
VALPARAISO — Looking at Valparaiso's City Hall, passersby would never know that 100 solar panels are hard at work, converting sunlight into electrical energy to power the facility.
Neat rows of black solar panels have been installed on the city hall's flat roof, strategically tucked out of view.
"It's ironic to think that our historic city hall, built in 1919, is sporting some of the most technologically-advanced renewable energy," Mayor Matt Murphy said during a Wednesday afternoon ribbon cutting.
The 100 panels atop city hall are part of a larger solar initiative. A total of 772 panels have been mounted on five city buildings; in addition to city hall, panels were installed on the City Services building on Joliet Road and on Valparaiso's three wastewater treatment plants.
Murphy said the panels will save the city money in the long-run.
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Steve Poulos, executive director of city services and public works, said Valparaiso has been eying solar panels for over a decade. However, until recently the payback rate wasn't good enough. As solar technology continues to advance, panels have become far more efficient, producing more energy while taking up less space. Solar panels have also become far more affordable in recent years.
Valparaiso spent about $800,000 on the project, however the panels will save the city an estimated $145,000 in annual electricity costs. At that rate, Poulos said the panels will pay for themselves in about six years. The payback period could end up being even shorter as the city has applied for some solar tax rebates.
The city's savings over the life of the panels, which is 35 years, will be about $5.2 million.
"Just like in our own homes, energy costs for city facilities continue to rise, adding up to some of the city's largest expenses so we're pleased to find renewable energy options that save tax payers money and reduce our dependence on non-renewable energy," Murphy told the crowd.
The city worked with Solar Energy Solutions for the panel installation. All of the panels' energy production will be tracked and displayed in real-time on screens inside city hall. Poulos said more information about the project will be also be available on the city website, www.ci.valparaiso.in.us.
Valparaiso has been working to improve energy efficiency at city facilities for years; replacing old streetlights with LEDs, converting to high-efficiency equipment and recycling methane gas at the wastewater treatment facility.
Valparaiso's lighting budget is about $400,000, according to past Times reports. Poulos has said Valparaiso already saves about $80,000 a year by intentionally reducing energy consumption.
"Our goal has always been to hold our electrical use steady while adding significant services for a growing customer base," Poulos explained. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valparaiso/a-bright-day-for-valpo-city-unveils-solar-installation/article_18245038-fa6a-11ed-a939-af202b0cf250.html | 2023-05-25T11:52:16 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valparaiso/a-bright-day-for-valpo-city-unveils-solar-installation/article_18245038-fa6a-11ed-a939-af202b0cf250.html |
It's pranksters - not police - shutting down an Old City street on weekends
Whether orchestrated or impromptu and aided by liquid courage, a downtown Knoxville bar district has been a temporary pedestrian paradise for the past couple of weekends thanks to an unauthorized closure of South Central Street.
The closures have caused some confusion for drivers, as it appears someone − or some group − has taken it upon themselves to place "road closed" signs like bookends at the intersections of Willow and Jackson avenues in the heart of the Old City.
It's a joke the Knoxville Police Department doesn't find so funny, spokesperson Scott Erland told Knox News.
"There's a false sense of security for pedestrians who cross the roads," he said.
An official road closure, like for a street festival, is typically staffed, with police and other security experts or volunteers monitoring the area.
Don't expect KPD to pour resources into an investigation.
The best the department can tell, Erland said, these signs are being hauled at night from the baseball stadium construction site just east of the Old City.
The prank has come to a head, and police are working with construction crews to find a way to keep the signs secured.
'Everywhere you look, UH'?:Randy Boyd's tower in Old City was mysteriously vandalized
This block of Central Street is populated with bars and a handful of clubs popular with a younger drinking crowd.
Under the leadership of Chief Paul Noel, the police department recently reestablished its central district that includes downtown. In addition to officers patrolling this district, an off-duty officer typically is hired by a downtown organization to provide Old City security on weekends, Erland said.
Ryan Wilusz is a downtown growth and development reporter. Phone 865-317-5138. Email ryan.wilusz@knoxnews.com. Instagram @knoxscruff.
Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe. | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2023/05/25/downtown-knoxville-bar-district-street-closed-by-old-city-pranksters/70251416007/ | 2023-05-25T11:56:46 | 0 | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2023/05/25/downtown-knoxville-bar-district-street-closed-by-old-city-pranksters/70251416007/ |
Ben Gravy, 34, of Ventnor, is one of the coolest locals you'll meet down the shore. You might have seen him on YouTube, where his "novelty surfing" has attracted hundreds of thousands of followers. Ben's surfed all 50 states, the wake of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, every Jersey Shore town in one day, and three coasts (New Jersey, California and Hawaii) in one very long day. Sponsored by Red Bull, he likes to think of himself as "semipro."
He's also got an amazing sobriety story, detailed in a documentary, "For the Dream." When he got thrown out of Maynard's in Margate after an argument with the bartender, he asked himself while walking out, "Am I that really that dude?"
Here's an excerpt of a recent conversation with the exuberant Gravy, just back from Alaska, where he'd surfed waves formed from a calving glacier, no big deal. He's planning for some more global adventures and the Red Bull Foam Wreckers anti-surf surf contest in Margate on June 24.
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So you really live in Ventnor.
My mom's family is from Longport. I was born in Pennsylvania. We moved down here when I was still in middle school. I was homeschooled. I was on the United States Surf Team. I originally tried to become a professional surfer via the traditional way. I fell out of it.
YouTube was the reason I got back into surfing. I quit competitive surfing when I was 19. I ended up going to film school.
”If everybody had an ocean, across the USA, then everybody’d be surfin’ like Californi-a ...…
It was after you got sober, on Christmas Day 2015, that your surfing career exploded.
I had a spiritual awakening. I started making the YouTube videos to help me stay sober. Surfing was reintroduced to my life. I had a lot of time on my hands. I wasn't partying. I was just living my life. I surfed every day.
I became the novelty guy. I think I popularized it.
I was surfing the bay, when the waves got big enough to wrap around the island. My big breakthrough performance was when I surfed the Cape May ferry. It puts out a little wake behind it, so I did that. Emotionally, it was something that I felt like was impossible but I did it.
You described the day you surfed every New Jersey beach town as the "gnarliest" day of your life. You've surfed all over world; what can you say about Jersey surfing?
I really love New Jersey. My grandparents are still in Longport. My dad's back and forth in Pennsylvania. My brothers live here. All my friends. This whole surfing career, it was such a late bloom in my life. I wasn't a "professional surfer" until I was 30 years old. I look at myself as a very normal person who still happens to do this.
I was in Alaska last week. I have content for probably a week or two. I'm in Margate right now preparing a summer rental, doing a dryer installation.
I would say that Jersey is a lot more of a beautiful place than people give it credit for. There's a lot of unique beaches. Going from Cape May to Asbury is definitely a different vibe. You're able to ride a wave here more often than you think.
How do you steer clear of the drinking culture at the shore? It seems so ingrained.
I'm completely not involved at all. I don't go out at all, I go to sleep early, I surf almost every day. I'm focusing on being physically fit. There's so much going on with me. Most of my friends drink. They go out, they live their lives. It's just not for me.
How did you get the idea to surf three coasts in one day?
My initial thought was, we're going to Hawaii, we're stopping in L.A. anyway, what if I just caught a wave there? Then I realized, with a couple extra hours of light, I could pull it off. I told a couple people about it, they said, "That's impossible. That's not even an idea." When I finally realized that technically I could do it, we figured it out.
WILDWOOD CREST — The borough will open all of its beaches for Memorial Day weekend, official…
What advice or insight do you have into the Jersey Shore that people need to hear?
Obviously it's home for me. When I come back from a long trip, I feel so relieved. Especially this time of year, it's beautiful out, pretty empty still. The water has been crystal clear blue.
I think if you get it, you get it. If you understand it, you understand it. If I could just hang out in New Jersey all the time with my wife and my dog [Dennis], I'd be the happiest guy ever. There's no better feeling for me than surfing in September or October in New Jersey during hurricane season when it's still warm out.
Your following has transcended surfing.
My message goes beyond surfing. What I'm saying is, if you want to do something, you can do it. In the documentary, I'm surfing the 50 states: river surfing, Great Lakes. It reached a lot of people outside of traditional surfing. No one had ever known you could surf in Iowa.
For me, my sobriety was the catalyst that allowed me to think outside the box. When I was drinking all the time, I was not thinking about how I was going to change the world. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/ben-gravy-got-sober-and-surfed-the-world-heres-why-he-loves-new-jersey-best/article_ce942dec-fa48-11ed-bbbd-a3a641984ec5.html | 2023-05-25T12:03:36 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/ben-gravy-got-sober-and-surfed-the-world-heres-why-he-loves-new-jersey-best/article_ce942dec-fa48-11ed-bbbd-a3a641984ec5.html |
Memorial Day closings, changes, and activity
Monday is Memorial Day, in observance of the holiday, the following closings and changes have been announced:
Greensboro city offices will be closed.
Guilford County offices will be closed.
North Carolina state government offices will be closed.
Federal government offices will be closed.
Guilford County Schools will be closed.
Garbage collections will be postponed one day.
Other collections will be on a regular schedule.
Memorial Day activity
The Memorial Day ceremony at the Carolina Field of Honor will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Triad Park, 9652 W. Market St., Kernersville.
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The speaker will be Al Stewart, a retired assistant Greensboro police chief.
Stewart is also a decorated Vietnam veteran. He was an Airborne-Ranger sergeant and a Night Hawk gunship gunner.
Stewart has served serval tours as an adviser to soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon since his retirement.
Lawn chairs are recommended. The ceremony will be held rain or shine.
For more information, go to https://www.carolinafieldofhonor.org/ and click on the events menu. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/memorial-day-closings-changes-and-activity/article_1c50cc5c-fa3a-11ed-ae6d-b70deb09035a.html | 2023-05-25T12:28:34 | 0 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/memorial-day-closings-changes-and-activity/article_1c50cc5c-fa3a-11ed-ae6d-b70deb09035a.html |
DOUGLASS, Kan. (KSNW) — It’s an all too common occurrence in small Kansas towns; grocery stores and restaurants closing, leaving residents with few or no options other than driving to a bigger town to purchase fresh produce or to buy a meal.
Douglass is one of those towns, but a new burger joint is up and running and thriving.
There was a time when Douglass had lots of places to eat. But like so many rural Kansas towns, most of those establishments have disappeared. Just as restaurants were closing, a new place opened. Now, Betty’s is the place to be.
Dining options in Douglass have dried up in recent years.
“There was a little cafe called The Triangle. It had been here for many, many years, and they shut down a little bit after we opened up,” said Betty’s co-owner Terry Gulick. “And there was a Pizza Hut, and they went out after we opened this up.”
“The Triangle was great, and Craig’s was great, but when they closed down, they really did need somewhere to go,” said Betty’s co-owner Kathy Gibson.
So, the Douglass natives, along with Kathy’s husband, Kirby, stepped up. They purchased the old, non-descript, red-bricked Craig’s building and went to work.
“We wanted to bring something to town and get something the town could be proud of. Kind of have a destination place for people to come and enjoy themselves,” said Gulick, who did most of the demolition of Craig’s and the new construction on Betty’s.
“We’ve lived in Douglass all our lives. And we know we’re probably going to be in Douglass, and we just wanted to bring something to this town that everyone could be proud of and bring the community together and have something that they could enjoy,” explained Kathy.
After three years of planning and work, they did it almost entirely on their own. The Gibsons and Gulick opened Betty’s (named after Kathy’s mother) last September. The citizens of Douglass couldn’t wait for it to open.
“Yes, the community has been great. They support us. They come. We have our regulars here that come in. And then we have the people in the surrounding towns come around, and they are great, too,” said Kathy.
A quick look at Betty’s guest book shows guests from Winfield to Augusta, Rose Hill to Pittsburg, and as far away as Great Bend, Abilene and out of state.
“I’m from Wichita, and I’ve seen Betty’s on Facebook and followed her for a while. And one of my children lives in Augusta. So, I know they’ve come down here several times,” said Susie Kilgrow of Wichita.
Laura Sullivan from Pennsylvania traveled with a group of friends from Pittsburg, Kansas and drove two and a half hours to eat lunch at Betty’s.
“Made by hand. Made to order. What’s not to love about that? Fresh ingredients, and I mean, the line’s out the door. It’s been out the door the whole time we’ve been here. So, you can tell everyone’s coming from all around to eat at this place,” said Sullivan.
Nikki Armstrong and her husband came down from Rose Hill. They make it a point to support local small businesses.
“The Black Knight Burger is very delicious. I had that for the first time. My husband always goes for the BLT. The curly fries are great. You really can’t go wrong with ordering anything,” said Armstrong.
The Black Knight Burger gets its name from the antique bicycle hanging on the stone wall when you enter Betty’s. There’s also an ice shack out front that does quite a bit of business all on its own. And when Kathy rings a bell, everybody who hears it gets free homemade ice cream.
“We’re just trying to build our community back up. Kind of give people a reason to come to Douglass,” said Kathy.
Another guest drove his wife and grandchildren in from Augusta to buy ice cream.
“Kathy and Kirby are wonderful people. They did an outstanding job on the building. It’s super clean. Good food. Good personalities. If you haven’t been here, please come to Douglass, Kansas and try it,” said Kelly Modlin.
In addition to its tasty cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches, Betty’s also offers homemade ice cream, shakes and pies. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday and is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Betty’s was the only restaurant in town for a while after the Pizza Hut closed, that is until a food truck called Sweet Thangz decided to open up a restaurant in the old nursing home in late April. You can find a variety of desserts and savory foods at Sweet Thangz located at 619 S. U.S. Highway 77 on the west side of the building. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/bettys-is-the-place-to-be-in-douglass/ | 2023-05-25T12:31:41 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/bettys-is-the-place-to-be-in-douglass/ |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – People across the country are caught up in passport delays taking a toll on summer travel plans. The State Department says passport processing times is between 10-13 weeks, not including mailing time.
Alabama Congressman Robert Aderholt’s office says they’ve been receiving an influx of calls for emergency passports from people whose passports have not come in as their trip departure date comes down to the wire.
“The United States Passport Office is really overwhelmed right now,” says Carson Clark, Aderholt’s communications director.
Aderholt has four offices in Alabama that people can call for help in emergency passport situations. Aderholt’s office says that pre-pandemic, it could expect three to four emergency cases at a time but currently, it has 30 open emergency passport cases.
“During the pandemic, people stopped getting their passports renewed. They couldn’t go on trips, so they weren’t really worried about it,” says Clark. “Now, people are wanting to go on trips and there’s kind of just, the passport office is overwhelmed right now with the number of people who are requesting passports.”
Travel agencies say they’ve also had more people postponing or canceling trips because at least one person’s passport hasn’t come in in time.
“My advice to anybody is if you are even considering traveling and your passport is expiring in less than 18 months, go ahead and put in your passport renewal now because most destinations require a minimum of six months validity be left on your passport,” says John Martin, owner of Travel Designers Birmingham.
Aderholt’s office says if you’ve got an international trip coming up between now and Labor Day, get your passport figured out as soon as possible and avoid booking an international trip going forward until the passport is up to date and in your hand. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/passport-delays-cause-travel-headaches-for-alabamians/ | 2023-05-25T12:31:46 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/passport-delays-cause-travel-headaches-for-alabamians/ |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Coughing and sneezing, echoing just about everywhere. Allergies are tougher to manage this year, and doctors say there are several factors.
“It’s just horrible,” said William Brittendall, Wichitan.
Many are reaching for the tissues or allergy meds right now.
“Lot of stuffy nose, lot of runny nose, my eyes feel like they have sand in it just really bad,” said Brittendall.
Assistant Professor and Dr. Tessa Rohrberg with the University of Kansas (KU) Family & Community Medicine said each year, allergies get worse.
“I don’t know if I’ve seen it quite like this before,” said Dr. Rhorberg.
The swing in temperatures between day and night, rain, and humidity are all contributing factors.
“In addition to the normal spring plants and grasses growing, there are perhaps more molds, different mushrooms, and things like that are coming up all over,” said Dr. Rohrberg.
At the same time, summer colds are also popping up.
“I have seen some cases of strep throat that are a little bit perhaps atypical for this time of year,” said Dr. Rohrberg.
To fight allergies and other illnesses, Dr. Rohrberg said to wash your hands, stay hydrated, and get some rest.
If symptoms persist, she recommends you call your doctor.
She said she has not seen an increase in the flu or COVID-19.
Dr. Rohrberg expects allergy symptoms to start to go away as temperatures get hotter. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/swing-in-temps-rain-humidity-all-contributing-to-stronger-allergy-season/ | 2023-05-25T12:31:47 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/swing-in-temps-rain-humidity-all-contributing-to-stronger-allergy-season/ |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Wichita Public Schools USD 259 Superintendent Dr. Alicia Thompson and Gardiner Elementary School Principal Larry Perlman gave their last speeches Wednesday at the GES graduation. Both worked in the district for over 30 years.
“It just slapped me in the nose that this is my last official speaking engagement as superintendent of the Wichita Public Schools,” Dr. Thompson said. “So my emotions are high.”
Dr. Thompson has been a part of the district for 50 years, attending the district kindergarten through 12th grade.
“Wichita Public Schools really made me,” Dr. Thompson said. “As a student, they trained me, they taught me how to read and to do mathematics, and they sent me on my way to college. And then I came back, and I really owe a lot to the Wichita community as well as the Wichita Public Schools.”
She is passing the torch in confidence.
“This district is in great hands,” Dr. Thompson said. “Mr. Kelly Bielefeld will do a fantastic job as a superintendent of the Wichita Public Schools. He has an amazing team around him. There’s great teachers, custodians, clerical folks, and those people are what makes the school district anyway, so he’s just joining a great team of people to continue the great work that the Wichita Public Schools does for students.”
Perlman says he has loved working alongside Dr. Thompson.
“She’s been a great leader but a great partner in terms of helping me grow in my role as a building principal,” Perlman said. “She’s been so supportive, and she’s just a kind of humble person. Being the leader of a huge school district is such a responsibility.”
He says his last days are bittersweet.
“It’s been amazing to just be part of the hearts and minds of so many kids and families and the impact of that over the years,” Perlman said. “It’s so amazing, and looking back on that over the years having parents who are former students, it’s such a great thing for me to be part of that, and there’s been a great opportunity for me, and I feel blessed to have been able to do this for so long.” | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/two-usd-259-leaders-retire-after-30-years/ | 2023-05-25T12:31:53 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/two-usd-259-leaders-retire-after-30-years/ |
Scituate Reservoir came at a cost. Film looks at how it continues today
Six years ago, Evan Villari set out to tell the full story of how the Scituate Reservoir was created a century ago.
He wanted to lay it all out: the engineering, the workforce, and the sacrifices of hundreds of people who were forced out of their villages when their property was condemned, including some who took their own lives because of it.
Along the way, Villari began to question the effect of using lead pipes to deliver water to a third of the Providence Water Supply Board’s 75,000 retail customers. Was there an impact on the product arriving in people’s taps even today?
The result: a 75-minute documentary titled “Blood and Watershed,” which debuted this month on Rhode Island PBS. It’s a story that many people who rely on Providence Water every day have never heard.
Villari, a Rhode Island native who is an independent filmmaker and professor at Johnson & Wales University, said the title has a double meaning.
More:The displaced included 5 villages, 1,500 graves
Time Lapse:Scituate Reservoir construction began 100 years ago
“For many residents in the state of Rhode Island, it’s Providence Water or no water at all,” Villari said in an interview with The Hummel Report shortly after the film’s debut. “The original story was: let me see if there’s any truth to the urban legend that people killed themselves as the result of the condemnation.”
Villari’s curiosity began as a child when his grandfather took him blueberry-picking near the reservoir. He also has an uncle who lived across the street from some of the property that was taken in the early 1900s to create what is now a 37-billion-gallon body of sustenance. Providence Water supplies drinking water to two-thirds of Rhode Island residents.
“As a ratepayer, there’s a lot I don’t know about our water that we kind of take for granted,” Villari said. In the documentary he says: “What remains clear is that everything – including the privilege to use the water – comes at a price.”
“They were labor camps. The pay was abysmal. The people were desperate, unskilled individuals,” Villari said, adding that those brought up from South Carolina were charged for transportation and lodging when they arrived.
People lost villages, livelihoods, and some, their lives
The project to create the reservoir broke ground in 1917. In the film, Villari recounts that many of the workers were Italian, and Blacks who came up from the South. They were housed in barracks surrounded by barbed wire, apart from the other workers.
The unskilled labor force, which dug ditches and poured concrete, eventually transitioned into skilled labor employing Teamsters as the project evolved.
Villari profiles Ray Wolf, who has written extensively about Scituate and what he calls the five “lost villages.” Hundreds of landowners had their properties condemned and were paid what the Water Supply Board determined they should be paid – not necessarily the value of the property. Wolf said the initial land grab was 18,000 acres.
More:Exhibit chronicles the lost villages of Scituate
Wolf’s mother, Helen Larson, was devastated when, as a child, she had to move to make way for the reservoir, leaving friends she would never see again. “(Wolf) is the first, first-person account I could get. It still hurts that people lost their homes, their community, their livelihood, and some, their lives,” Villari said.
“He is the essence of the film. We’re not related, but we have similar curiosity. We want to make sure the story doesn’t pass by with time, that we’re continuing to honor the sacrifice that took place 100 years ago.”
Villari offers a detailed account of those who were not politically connected and had to give up houses, farms, schools and friends to make way for the project. He includes the village of Rockland, where entire burial grounds had to be relocated out of the watershed.
In the documentary, Villari notes: "Although the workers did not receive any compensation for their moving expenses, the dead were transported to a new resting place free of charge.”
More than 100 burial grounds contained thousands of bodies. Villari had heard that seven people committed suicide; he was able to confirm two. To do it, he had to comb through Rhode Island State Archives and death records in Scituate from 1913 to 1926. “It was important to me to try and humanize it as much as possible if I can’t find their [photo], so that at least I can find their property and their death certificate so I can tell their story.”
One of the two confirmed suicides was Fred Sayles Hill, born in 1865. Hill owned a considerable amount of land in Scituate that included a farmhouse and barns. Villari recounts that just as the reservoir was inching to capacity, and his former farm was taken in the process, Fred Hill passed away on Feb. 10, 1926. He was laid to rest next to his parents, who had been relocated from the old Rockland cemetery to a new one.
At the bottom of the death certificate, filed two days after Hill’s death, the cause is listed as “suicide by cutting throat.”
Miles of lead pipes carry drinking water from Scituate
Villari said it took nearly six years to finish the film because of delays in trying to secure video access and information from the Providence Water Supply Board – plus interruptions because of the pandemic.
He said his original focus in 2017 was going to be the history of the project a century ago. But then he began to run into roadblocks and started taking a closer look at the distribution system that feeds water from Scituate to its customers. It’s a system that includes miles of lead pipes.
“I think it’s important to question things, and be curious and hold public figures accountable,” Villari said. “When you have uncertainty there should be individuals – some have been elected, many of which have been appointed – who should be the experts who can answer those difficult questions.”
No lead water lines in RI in 10 years?Bill would require cataloguing, replacement.
In the film, Devra Levy, with the Childhood Lead Action Project in Providence, said Providence Water has known about lead in the water for more than a decade. She noted that the agency had begun replacing lead pipes, but only to the owner’s property line. Providence Water describes them as public-side replacements. Private-side replacements reach from the curb to the owner’s house.
“The pipe that goes to the house, overnight, or while someone is out at work, that water is sitting in the pipe leaching up any lead that might be there,” Levy tells Villari in the film, adding that while the public-side replacement was a good start, it didn’t solve the lead problem.
'It's your plumbing, it's your property'
Ricky Caruolo, general manager of Providence Water, pushed back on the documentary’s narrative that the agency should have been doing complete replacements all the way into houses from the start.
“We’re regulated by the Public Utilities Commission,” Caruolo said in a recent wide-ranging interview with the Hummel Report at his office last week. “We’re not allowed to use ratepayer money for a private-side replacement. The issue that people tend to forget is that from the curb stop to the home is the private side service – it’s your plumbing, it’s your property.”
Caruolo added: “Our message has been consistent to [Childhood Lead Action Project]. They don’t like the message: I’m not allowed to use ratepayer money to subsidize private-side replacements, nor am I in favor of it. The real dilemma here is: should 50,000 people [who don’t have lead pipes] subsidize 25,000 people to replace their property?”
Caruolo said when Providence Water fell out of compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency on lead levels more than a decade ago, it was required to start replacing public-side service lines incrementally.
Over the last 15 years, Providence Water says it has spent about $78 million replacing public lead service lines. The agency still has about 24,000 private lead service lines and 9,200 public lead service lines remaining in its distribution system.
The challenge has been financing and getting buy-in from customers. The agency has cobbled together grants and federal money, and built in costs for public-side lead line replacement into its annual budget. Caruolo also said he is expecting some of the bipartisan federal infrastructure funding also to be available over the next five years.
But not everyone is willing to have their pipes replaced. Six years ago the agency set up a 0% interest loan program to help customers with the $4,500 cost of replacing lead pipes on their property. It initially had a three-year payback period, but in 2020 that was extended to 10 years. It means the average customer with a loan will see an extra $35 to $40 in their monthly bill to pay it down.
While the price tag has been a deterrent for some, more than 1,200 customers have taken advantage of the offer. In addition, the agency, using $6.4 million in EPA funding, has offered to replace lead lines on private property to homeowners in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods such as the Washington Park and Charles Street neighborhoods.
After Flint, North Providence's mayor acts to replace pipes
After high lead levels in the public water supply of Flint, Michigan, made national news in 2014, North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi began looking for ways to replace pipes in his town. He secured $200,000 of Community Development Block Grant money to begin private-side pipe replacements.
Lombardi recalls a conversation he had with the official running the block grant program. “You sure you want to do that? I’m a little concerned you could scare people,” Lombardi said the official told him.
Lombardi said he held a series of community meetings, telling those who attended: “You may not have a problem today, but in 14 or 15 years you could have a problem, so take advantage of this free money now.”
He is coordinating with Providence Water to have the utility replace the public side when the town replaces lead lines on the private side. North Providence has spent nearly half a million dollars to switch out the pipes at 102 homes.
Lombardi says the town still has 800 to go. “It’ll be a while, but we’re going to keep seeking the funds to take care of this,” he said. This decision was easy for me – safety, the children. Give me a break.”
Providence Water refuses access, citing Homeland Security regs
Villari said he was frustrated by Providence Water’s refusal to let him go to non-public areas for the documentary. “Give me access so I can record some [video] of the reservoir, from the watershed, and access to the water delivery system. Either your water filtration plant or the surrounding aqueduct, so I can discover what this story can be,” he said. “So I can share how the sacrifice of 100 years ago is now still happening and the water is still coming to 66% of the state’s taps.”
He wanted to visit and film properties that he had photos of from a century ago to see what they look like now. The answer was no.
Villari noted that in 1978, then-Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. wrote to the chief engineer of Providence Water, clearing the way for scuba divers to explore the villages that had been flooded when the reservoir was built. Villari, in his research, found nails – presumably from structures on the bottom of the reservoir, in some places at a depth of 90 feet.
Caruolo takes responsibility for limiting Villari’s access, saying protocols changed after Sept. 11, 2001, and that the federal Department of Homeland Security has regulations concerning water supplies. “I feel bad that he feels as though we didn’t accommodate him, because I try to accommodate within reason,” Caruolo said. “I have to protect the system.”
Villari said he hopes his film will get others to ask questions as well.
“I was told my entire life we have the best water in the country,” he said. “We’re indoctrinated with this idea that our water supply is so great. I think it’s healthy for ratepayers to be curious about chemical makeup, what’s in our water and how that water is getting from the supply to our tap. Not to mention the historical sacrifice that certainly factors in.”
“Blood and Watershed” is available online at https://watch.ripbs.org/show/blood-and-watershed/
The Hummel Report is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies, in part, on donations. For more information, go to HummelReport.org. Reach Jim at Jim@HummelReport.org. | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/05/25/blood-and-watershed-film-explores-cost-of-scituate-reservoir-ri-villages-livelihoods-and-even-lives/70249902007/ | 2023-05-25T12:34:49 | 0 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/05/25/blood-and-watershed-film-explores-cost-of-scituate-reservoir-ri-villages-livelihoods-and-even-lives/70249902007/ |
ITALY, Texas — The Italy, Texas mother accused of stabbing three of her children to death and attempting to kill two others has been indicted by a grand jury after first being arrested in early March.
Shamaiya Hall, the 25-year-old suspect, was served five indictments Wednesday, three of them charging her with capital murder and two more charging her with attempted capital murder. If found guilty of capital murder, Hall could potentially be sentenced to life in prison without parole or death.
Following the indictments, County and District Attorney Ann Montgomery filed the State's Notice of Intent to seek the Death Penalty for Hall in the capital murder cases.
The incident unfolded on March 3 at a home near Stafford Elementary School in Italy, a town of around 2,000 people located off Interstate 35E in Ellis County, south of Dallas.
A search warrant for Hall states she allegedly stabbed her children when a CPS worker, who suspected Hall of having unsupervised visitations with her children, arrived at the scene to check on her unannounced.
The children had been previously placed by CPS under the guardianship of another relative.
The Ellis County Sheriff's Office confirmed that CPS had been at a home on the street where the crime took place, and then quickly called 911 for help.
A search warrant return detailed multiple pieces of evidence taken from Hall's home, including a knife blade with blood on it, a large stainless-steel knife with blood on it, a black knife handle and a stainless-steel knife from the back bedroom.
Hall had been previously arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly stabbing her sister's boyfriend in 2017.
The children had been previously placed by CPS under the guardianship of another relative.
Hall's twin sister, Troyshaye Mone Hall, was arrested for allegedly stabbing and killing her 7-year-old daughter in June of 2021, according to an arrest affidavit. In October of 2021, Troyshaye Mone Hall was ordered to go to North Texas State Hospital in Vernon. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/italy-texas-mom-accused-fatally-stabbing-three-children-indicted-three-counts-capital-murder/287-7d7b9c3c-17c2-4b08-ab3d-1b08c2ebb2ef | 2023-05-25T12:37:01 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/italy-texas-mom-accused-fatally-stabbing-three-children-indicted-three-counts-capital-murder/287-7d7b9c3c-17c2-4b08-ab3d-1b08c2ebb2ef |
PUTNAM COUNTY, Ga. — Cutting-edge technology is helping law enforcement crack cases that went unsolved for decades.
Just last week, we explained how a Texas lab helped identify a Macon Jane Doe. 20-year-old Yvonne Pless was murdered in 1977. Serial killer Samuel Little confessed to her murder in 2018.
That lab recently matched her remains to family members' DNA to confirm her identity.
Now, investigators hope the same lab can warm up another Central Georgia cold case.
It's been nine years since someone brutally murdered Russell and Shirley Dermond in their Putnam County home.
Sheriff Howard Sills confirmed to 13WMAZ Wednesday that Othram Inc. is looking at evidence in the Dermonds' murders.
Sills told 13WMAZ he learned about Othram last year and flew out to Texas last fall to deliver evidence in the Dermonds case. He delivered more in March.
Now, he and investigators have even more of reason to be optimistic.
"They have developed an amount of DNA," Sills said.
Sheriff Howard Sills says they got a "DNA hit" off the evidence.
"Now, this could be this could very well be the Dermonds' DNA or some officer possibly even left his DNA," Sills said.
He says to ultimately determined that, Othram Inc. will have to do more testing.
We spoke to the Othram's Chief Development Officer, Kristen Mittleman, about their technique.
She says scientists use what's called forensic genetic genealogy. It's a combination of DNA sequencing and genealogy.
"We singularly focus on how do we get that retractable evidence to give us the best looking DNA profile that we can so we can upload them to these genealogical databases," Mittleman said.
Mittleman says they don't have to have DNA from the suspect in the DNA database to identify them.
They can trace it back through family trees as distant as the suspect's fourth or fifth cousin.
"I'm optimistic about it. The company has a tremendous reputation," Sills said.
Sills says this could be the lead investigators need. Until now, investigators had hit a dead end--no suspects or persons of interest.
For years, many speculated Russell and Shirley Dermond's murders were a professional hit. Russell's body was found decapitated in the couple's garage. His wife's body surfaced 10 days later in Lake Oconee five miles from their home.
"Professional killers-- they shoot someone in the head with the .22 Magnum and leave. They don't take body five miles to a lake and do an imperfect effort to conceal the body. They just don't do that," Sills said.
Sills says he believes the couple knew their killers.
"There was no sign of forced entry. No sign of resistance," Sills said.
Sills wouldn't say what evidence they got this DNA hit on. He says releasing that information could risk potential prosecution.
He tells 13WMAZ they are determined to solve this case. Sills says this is his only unsolved murder in 29 years as Putnam County Sheriff. He says he thinks about this case every day.
Othram wouldn't talk about the Dermonds' case specifically.
Generally, the lab say it costs law enforcement an average of $7,500 to have evidence processed at their lab. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/sheriff-private-lab-finds-dna-in-dermond-murders-9-year-old-cold-case-3/93-007e80f5-99d4-4e50-adb0-5fabeaa17380 | 2023-05-25T12:37:07 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/sheriff-private-lab-finds-dna-in-dermond-murders-9-year-old-cold-case-3/93-007e80f5-99d4-4e50-adb0-5fabeaa17380 |
ATLANTA — Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start to summer, and the Verify team is looking into some common claims when it comes to protecting your skin from the summer sun.
THE SOURCES
- The American Academy of Dermatology
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Heather Mackey, Senior Director of Cancer Prevention and Early Detection for the Prevent Cancer Foundation
- Dr. Vanessa Richardson, dermatologist with Kaiser Permanente Georgia
THE QUESTION
Do you still need sunscreen when it's cloudy?
It's indeed true that individuals should apply sunscreen when it's cloudy or cool, but according to the American Academy of Dermatology, many Americans don't realize it. According to the academy's website, only around 20% of Americans use sunscreen on cloudy days, when in reality the sun emits harmful UV rays all year long.
As a result, experts emphasize protection all the time is important, especially at peak hours.
"You want to avoid the sun between the hours of 10 am and 4pm, and that's because the UV rays are at their highest during that time," Heather Mackey with the Prevent Cancer Foundation, explained. "Making sure that you're wearing sun protective clothing to help reduce the exposure of those UV rays on your skin are important."
THE QUESTION
Does sunscreen expire?
This one is also true, so individuals are advised to double check the sunblock's expiration date before venturing out for the day. Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than three years, and that window can be even shorter if it's been exposed to high temperatures.
"In the future, if you buy a sunscreen that lacks an expiration date, write the purchase date directly on the bottle so that you know when to toss it out," the AAD advised on its website.
THE QUESTION
Is is true that people with with darker skin tones don't need to wear sunscreen true?
Dr. Vanessa Richardson said such claims are absolutely false.
"It's important to wear sunscreen regardless of your skin type or skin color," Richardson continued. "Melanin does have some protective effect against the sun, but it's not 100% and people of color do get skin cancer. It's not very common, but it does happen."
"There is no one that is immune to the potential of developing of skin cancer," Mackey agreed. "It does happen more often in those...that are fair skinned, but it can absolutely happen in people of color."
The Prevent Cancer Foundation also recommends monthly skin checks to promote early detection of possible signs of melanoma. Use the ABCDEs of skin cancer to check your skin, and if you see a mole that concerns you, see your health care provider right away.
Use this ABCDE rule when looking at moles:
- Asymmetry
- Border irregularity
- Color that is not uniform
- Diameter greater than 6mm
- Evolving size, shape or color | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/sunscreen-questions-fact-checking-memorial-day-weekend/85-19a88d40-7b80-4ce2-9796-dac25137e6b7 | 2023-05-25T12:37:11 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/sunscreen-questions-fact-checking-memorial-day-weekend/85-19a88d40-7b80-4ce2-9796-dac25137e6b7 |
ATHENS, Ga. — Another University of Georgia football player is facing charges after authorities said he was traveling twice the speed limit before his arrest.
UGA wide receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint was arrested Tuesday on misdemeanor speeding and reckless driving charges, according to 11Alive's UGA insider Anthony Dasher.
This comes months after UGA football player Devin Willock and a team staffer Chandler LeCroy were killed in a single-vehicle wreck - where Athens-Clarke County Police say speeding and alcohol played a role.
Rosemy-Jacksaint marks at least the fourth UGA football player arrested on driving-related charges since the beginning of the year. Athens Clarke-County Police records show Rosemy-Jacksaint was arrested after police spotted him going double the speed limit along Atlanta Highway when he was pulled over.
"They know they represent the university, they know they represent us as students," UGA student Hayden Hollingsworth said.
She called this latest arrest disappointing.
"I want to trust them with our university and with our reputation," Hollingsworth said.
According to an incident report, an Athens-Clarke County Police officer was patrolling a stretch of Atlanta Highway and spotted a black Dodge Charger around 3:20 Tuesday afternoon “going 90 miles per hour in a marked 45 miles per hour zone."
In the report, the officer described the Dodge Charger as weaving through traffic while speeding.
"Once I was able to catch up with the vehicle, I initiated a traffic stop and identified the driver as Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint," the incident report read.
The college student-athlete was taken into custody. He was booked into the county jail at 4:33 p.m. and was released at 5:28 on a $2,000 bond, records show.
Rosemy-Jacksaint's arrest comes shortly after De'Nylon Morissette's. He was arrested earlier this month, accused of driving under the influence and driving too fast for conditions.
UGA's Jamon Dumas-Johnson was also arrested in February. He is accused of reckless driving and street racing.
In early March, authorities arrested Jalen Carter for reckless driving and drag racing in connection with the January crash that killed teammate Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy.
After Carter's arrest in mid-March, UGA head coach Kirby Smart was asked about the culture of his football program and whether it was under control.
"Young student-athletes make mistakes, they do. It happens all across the country - it happens here, there’s no lack of control for our program," Smart said.
11Alive reached out to the Georgia athletic department for a response and have yet to hear back. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/uga-marcus-rosemy-jacksaint-driving-double-speed-limit-when-arrested/85-f389ccc5-836d-45f5-91ce-94dcf75984ad | 2023-05-25T12:37:11 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/uga-marcus-rosemy-jacksaint-driving-double-speed-limit-when-arrested/85-f389ccc5-836d-45f5-91ce-94dcf75984ad |
DALLAS — A Dallas police officer was hospitalized with minor injuries overnight after being struck by a suspected drunk driver in Deep Ellum, the department said Thursday.
According to the Dallas Police Department, the officer was driving in the 100 block of North Hall Street, approaching Main Street, when they were involved in a crash with another vehicle at the intersection.
The officer was taken to the hospital for treatment.
According to police, further investigation found the driver of the other vehicle was intoxicated. Officers identified the suspect as 39-year-old Francisco Fernandez and said he was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.
Fernandez was not injured in the crash, Dallas police said.
More Texas headlines: | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/dallas-police-officer-hit-driver-dui-main-street-hall-street/287-1b606161-21d2-43b0-a39c-de884766bd2a | 2023-05-25T12:43:14 | 1 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/dallas-police-officer-hit-driver-dui-main-street-hall-street/287-1b606161-21d2-43b0-a39c-de884766bd2a |
SAN ANTONIO — A fast-moving fire destroyed a home on the southwest side of San Antonio early Thursday morning, official say.
Firefighters were called to the 200 block of Elmo Avenue near S Zarzamora Street just after 4:30 a.m. for reports of a fire.
When first responders arrived, the found flames coming from the home, which officials say had no power, water or gas connected, and bars on all the windows.
The battalion chief on the scene said the homes on either side of the house also suffered some minor damage to their exteriors.
The home where the fire first broke out was a total loss, with estimated damages around $90,000.
“A couple was living in the travel trailer right next to it that also caught fire," said the Battalion Chief. "Don’t know what exactly started it, we have fire investigators investigating the fire.”
Firefighters thought the home was vacant at first, but later heard a woman was living there.
Thi is a developing story.
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Want to get in touch with someone at KENS 5? You can send a message using our Contacts page or email one of our team members. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/fast-moving-fire-destroys-trailer-on-southwest-side-of-town-safd-firefighters-san-antonio-texas/273-c08628b3-a4f9-4f62-8321-9b4e8c5f151a | 2023-05-25T12:43:16 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/fast-moving-fire-destroys-trailer-on-southwest-side-of-town-safd-firefighters-san-antonio-texas/273-c08628b3-a4f9-4f62-8321-9b4e8c5f151a |
'Many people would go into a shell': This Georgia teen was shot by the man who killed his mom, now he is set to graduate
"I'm proud of myself for not letting my situation cut me off from being my true self," Russell Graham said.
West Laurens grad battles through tough times 'Don't get so caught up in your situation'
High School can be filled with ups and downs. But some students are faced with more hardship than others.
Four years ago, Russell Graham walked through the doors at West Laurens High School with a smile. Four years later, he's walking out with that same smile.
"I'm proud of myself for not letting my situation cut me off from being my true self," Graham said.
His true self is happy and outgoing. Jenny Green got to know Russell well when she served as his homebound instructor after his own stepfather shot him.
"Always a little ray of sunshine. His friends think that his teachers think that the administration thinks that," Green said.
That man also killed Russell's mother and set their house on fire before killing himself. It's more than most people have to deal with their whole lives.
"It was a situation I went into thinking that I would go in feeling sorry for him," she said.
Less than six months after the tragedy came another loss - Russell lost his biological father.
"For him to be at peace with himself and with his situation as much as he is. I think it speaks volumes and didn't take what happened to him as necessarily all bad," Green said.
Even though Russell's parents aren't with him anymore, he still remembers the values they taught him.
"They always preached to me how education is the most important thing, especially with me being a black male," he said.
Graham now lives with his older brother DeAnthony Rhodes.
"It's been a lot. It's been a lot this past year and a half, but we still get up every day and keep pushing," Rhodes said.
"Adjusting to staying with my brother, not being able to come home and talk to my parents about my day is a lot to really wrap my head around still," Graham said.
But Russell found support not only from his brothers but also through his sports teams. He played football and ran track.
"Many people would go into a shell. But I was trying to step away from that and continue to be me," Graham said.
"You don't encounter Russell and walk away feeling anything but better," Green said.
Now Graham's planning on going to college.
"They always told me to look for the good in the bad situation. Somebody always has it worse than you, so don't get so caught up in your situation," said Graham.
This resilient young man looks forward to a future that will make his parents proud.
Graham plans to go to Middle Georgia State University in the Fall and major in psychology to become a trauma therapist to help others who have lived through difficult situations. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/georgia-grad-was-shot-by-stepdad-and-lost-both-his-parents-but-kept-his-smile/93-0ab810cd-43c0-428d-9271-f7838836b4ba | 2023-05-25T12:43:18 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/georgia-grad-was-shot-by-stepdad-and-lost-both-his-parents-but-kept-his-smile/93-0ab810cd-43c0-428d-9271-f7838836b4ba |
FEMA can finally place mobile homes on single-family lots in North Port
Retroactive housing emergency gives families at least 10 months in FEMA mobile homes, with options for renewals in six-month increments
NORTH PORT – North Port city commissioners approved an ordinance Tuesday that allows FEMA to temporarily place larger mobile homes on single-family lots to help families impacted by Hurricane Ian, despite worries that they'll face problems later removing the structures after the allowance expires.
The ordinance, passed on a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Pete Emrich dissenting, declared a housing emergency, back-dated to last Sept. 23 to coincide with the state of emergency declared by Gov. Ron DeSantis in anticipation of Hurricane Ian’s landfall Sept. 28 on Cayo Costa in Lee County.
That housing emergency allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide direct temporary housing assistance for up to 18 months from Sept. 29, 2022 – the date of the federal disaster declaration – to March 28, 2024.
Related For Subscribers:North Port ignores pleas from FEMA to allow temporary mobile home
People living in the temporary housing can petition for extensions in six-month increments, which, in theory, could allow displaced people to reside in FEMA-provided homes for a total of 36 months.
After the storm, city officials extended a limit on how long a travel-trailer could be parked at a single-family home but balked at declaring the housing emergency because of concerns about allowing FEMA and private entities to place larger mobile homes on the typical 80-foot-by-120-foot lots that General Development Corp. created when designing the city in the 1950s.
Before Tuesday, the chief reason stated by commissioners opposing larger mobile homes on single-family lots had been that, while the federal government would remove them, private entities would not and the city would have to resort to code enforcement efforts to have them removed.
Emrich, who held steadfast in his opposition, cited other concerns, such as the possibility that the homes would block emergency service response to neighbors and possibly encroach on adjacent property.
He reiterated that larger mobile homes could work in subdivisions with large lots but stressed that in “some of these communities around here it doesn’t work.”
“It’s not a universal fix in this city,” he added.
City staff explored several options, including suggesting that Holiday Park – a 55-and-older manufactured home community severely damaged by Ian – could provide an all-ages solution for temporary housing, but that, too, proved impractical.
“I know staff looked at every option possible and never really stopped,” Commissioner Phil Stokes said. “It seems like we need to do this and deal with the unintended consequences down the road, but we need to take care of these people.”
What’s now allowed
Under the emergency declaration FEMA can place two- or three-bedroom units on lots where the owner’s home has been substantially damaged.
The placement must still meet all city codes.
Neighborhood Development Services Director Alaina Ray said that the mobile homes would not be hooked to septic fields that may be located in the front yard, but “if there’s room on the sides this resolution would allow them to encroach into side setbacks.”
“Most lots you would have to take out some trees to make an accommodation,” Ray added.
City Attorney Amber Slayton stressed that the potential locations are already outlined in the city code.
FEMA had requested allowance
At the April 25 commission meeting, FEMA officials asked commissioners to allow it to place larger mobile homes in the city to accommodate at least three households.
The next day, after the commission made no move to do so, the head of one of those households, attorney Jeffrey Rapkin, filed a petition in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court asking Judge Danielle Brewer to compel the city to allow FEMA to do its job.
Brewer issued a show cause order on May 8, directing the city to do that or show cause why it could not.
Rapkin, his wife Virginia and their 27-year-old autistic daughter, had since been provided a rental apartment by FEMA after his petition to the court, but they still wanted to live in a mobile home next to their house on Libby Road. The Rapkins have a double lot, so encroachment was never an issue.
Commissioner Debbie McDowell, who had several email exchanges with Virginia Rapkin, reminded her fellow board members that Senate Bill 250 – a hurricane response bill awaiting the signature of Gov. DeSantis – would allow for the placement of larger mobile homes anyway.
The bill allows one temporary shelter to be placed on a single-family lot for up to 36 months or until a certificate of occupancy is issued for the permanent home. | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/venice/2023/05/25/fema-can-place-mobile-homes-in-north-port-after-city-passes-ordinance/70250335007/ | 2023-05-25T12:45:27 | 0 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/venice/2023/05/25/fema-can-place-mobile-homes-in-north-port-after-city-passes-ordinance/70250335007/ |
Married Sarasota couple hit back-to-back aces on same hole
Married for 11 years, Joe and Joan Moran regularly play golf together. But earlier this month, at a course in North Carolina, the two did the extraordinary
SARASOTA — James Moran was playing a round of golf with his wife, Joan, and only Joan, when the incredible/astounding/phenomenal/miraculous/astonishing happened.
Even if the six-month Sarasota residents, as well as husband and wife of 11 years, had had a couple of playing partners, chances are they wouldn’t have believed what they witnessed.
Earlier this month, James and Joan were at Duke University to have doctors there examine James’ problematic back. A golfer since 12, James first met Joan at the Orlando International Airport, and once the couple got married, Joan fell in love with the sport.
Double the funWhat's better than a hole-in-one? A hole-in one, by two
High school boys golf:Meet the Herald-Tribune All-Area Boys Golf team from Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties
High school girls golf:Meet the Herald-Tribune All-Area Girls golf team for Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties
“She became a fanatic about it,” said the 74-year-old James Moran, a former attorney. “She’s pretty good. She’s got a lot of natural talent.”
The two play golf every day “that’s nice,” James said. In Sarasota, they’re members of Laurel Oak Country Club. At the couples’ home in Asheville, N.C., it’s the Country Club of Asheville.
But after leaving Duke, James and Joan stopped off at the Country Club at Wakefield Plantation in Raleigh, N.C., for a quick round. Their scores were tight when they stepped to the 130-yard, par-3 11th hole. Grabbing his 8-iron, James went first, hitting a beautiful shot straight at the pin.
“As soon as I hit it,” he said. “I knew I had hit a really good shot.” James was able to follow the shot as it progressed from really good to outstanding to it-doesn’t-get-any-better. The hole-in-one was the third of his career.
“I got to tell you,” James said, “I don’t react. But she was screaming and jumping up and down and everything else.”
Since the two started playing golf together, they each had recorded two holes-in-one. This one put James up 3-2.
“That lead lasted for about 30 seconds,” he said. Because that’s how long it took Joan to grab her 7 hybrid, strike a shot similar in look to her husband’s, and with the exact same result.
Another hole-in-one
“My reaction was,” James said, “that that was probably the first time in history that was done. A husband and wife getting holes-in-one on the same hole. It’s gotta be, if you think about it, it’s gotta be in the billions.”
According to the National Hole-in-One Association, the odds of two players in a foursome hitting consecutive aces are 26 million-to-1. But for a husband and wife to pull it off, the odds would be “astronomical” the Association said.
After having their pictures taken and receiving a bottle of champagne from the Club, James and Joan left, but it wasn’t long before James began calling local and national media, including Golfweek, trying to get his story out.
No one wanted to hear it. And though James believed the odds would have to be in the billions, research told him that four married couples since 2015 had recorded back-to-back aces.
But he knows who should get a majority of the credit.
“It’s not like this should be 50-50 credit,” he said. “(Joan) should get 99 percent of the credit for making this as remarkable as it is. If I had made the hole-in-one and she didn’t, you wouldn’t be talking to me about a hole-in-one.
“So it was the second one that was spectacular." | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/sports/local/2023/05/25/sarasota-couple-hit-back-to-back-holes-in-one-on-same-hole/70217430007/ | 2023-05-25T12:45:39 | 1 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/sports/local/2023/05/25/sarasota-couple-hit-back-to-back-holes-in-one-on-same-hole/70217430007/ |
Here’s a sampling of things we love this week:
Honoring their service
We know Memorial Day Weekend is the traditional kick-off to the summer season in Wisconsin, but please take a few moments between grilling hamburgers and tossing Frisbees to thank the members of our armed forces who have served this country, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. It’s in their honor that this holiday was created. Better yet, go to one of the many Memorial Day events in this area. You’ll find them listed on Pages 4-5.
Celebrating our state food!
Holiday weekends are made for road trips, and here’s any easy one: Madison is hosting its annual World’s Largest Brat Fest, Friday-Sunday, May 26-28. It is exactly what the name says: A festival showcasing brats, brats and more brats. There’s also plenty of live music, carnival rides, kids’ games, ceremonies for soldiers and veterans — and a blast of fireworks Sunday night. Admission is free. Proceeds benefit the charities who help staff the event. For more details, go to bratfest.com.
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What!? May is ending ALREADY?
It’s usually not too exciting when a month starts its run — but this isn’t just any month. It’s June, which starts next Thursday. As in “June is bustin’ out all over!” And what’s it bustin’ out with? Summer events, which can include everything from a county fair to a free concert in a park, to that walk you’re going to take every night after supper, right? Go on. Walking is good for you, and it stays light outside until almost 9 p.m. If you’re real good, maybe you can stop for ice cream before heading home.
... And about that ice cream ...
Not only is June a month of long summer days, it’s also Dairy Month. Since we’re living in the Dairy State, it’s your patriotic duty to consume as many dairy products as possible during Dairy Month. Sure, you could pour skim milk over your breakfast cereal and enjoy some plain Greek yogurt with fruit after lunch. But we prefer to celebrate Dairy Month in the most delicious way — and that means eating ice cream! And we’re pretty sure whipped cream is also a dairy product, so go ahead and build that sundae.
Here come the festivals!
As we stated above — before we got sidetracked by all that ice cream talk — the summer season is starting. That means plenty of outdoor festivals. You can start the celebrating this weekend at the Burlington Jamboree, which starts Friday and goes through Memorial Day. There's plenty of great attractions like live music and carnival rides. But we can't resist any event featuring pig, goat and duck races. Can we get an "awwww"? For more details about the festival, see Page 3. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/hot-takes-what-we-love-this-week-may-25-june-1-2023/article_f9a4b6fe-f8e1-11ed-8170-1780af588bef.html | 2023-05-25T12:48:20 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/hot-takes-what-we-love-this-week-may-25-june-1-2023/article_f9a4b6fe-f8e1-11ed-8170-1780af588bef.html |
Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start to the summer season.
And we all know summer in Wisconsin is fleeting.
That means we need to charge into it full speed ahead.
While Memorial Day is a time for reflection — and there are many area events focusing on remembering our veterans and honoring their sacrifice — it's also a time for listening to live music in an outdoor beer garden, watching water-skiers forming pyramids on area lakes and taking in a baseball game at a historic ballpark.
Beer gardens
- The Biergarten in Petrifying Springs County Park in Somers officially kicks off its summer season on Memorial Day Weekend.
Holiday weekend entertainment includes Nashville, Tenn., recording artist Fallon Schultz, a Kenosha native, at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 27; the Empty Bottle Boys & One Shot Jane, best known for their covers of songs by the likes of Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 28; and The Roundabouts, rounding out the weekend by playing from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday, May 29. The Roundabouts, made up of veteran local musicians, is known for performing covers of popular rock songs.
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Also on Sunday: Food trucks will start serving at noon.
The Biergarten, which opened in May of 2017, is now open seven days a week: 4 to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays. The food and beverage menu can be viewed online at petsbiergarten.com.
Also returning this summer: Mug Club Mondays ($2 off big steins), “Stogies, Steins & Sinatra” on Tuesdays, Wingo Wednesdays with Mr. Wings, Teams Trivia on Thursdays, Movie Night on Fridays and “Poses and Pints” yoga on Sundays.
The Biergarten is located at the southern entrance to the park, 5555 Seventh St. in Somers. All ages are welcome, along with leashed, well behaved dogs. Stay tuned: Coming in July is a new outdoor biergarten at Lake Andrea in Pleasant Prairie.
- The Franksville Craft Beer Garden, which opened in 2018, is located within Franksville Memorial Park, 9416 Northwestern Ave. (Highway K).
Memorial Day Weekend entertainment features Koltrane Acoustic from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 26, and Wait For Morning, performing 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 27. Live music continues every Friday and Saturday night from 6 to 9 p.m. through the summer. Also on Friday: Food trucks will be serving from 5 to 9 p.m.
Other events throughout the summer include tacos on Thursday nights, food trucks, movie nights and yoga classes.
The beer garden is open from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, 1 to 9 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays. For more information, go to franksvillebeergarden.com. Note: Carry-in food is allowed; no carry-in alcohol.
All ages are welcome. There is a playground and sandbox and plenty of green space, along with yard and board games.
Water-ski shows
The Browns Lake Aquaducks present free water-ski shows — featuring music, ski dancing, ski jumping, barefoot skiing and ballet — on Browns Lake at Fischer Park, 30326 Durand Ave. (Highway 11) in Burlington.
This season's first show is at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 27. Shows then run at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, June 1-Aug. 3; 6:15 p.m. Aug. 10-24, and 6 p.m. Aug. 31 and Sept. 2. (Note: There is no show July 20 due to the state tournament.)
Junior shows are at 5 p.m. Thursdays, June 22-Aug. 3; 4:45 p.m. Aug. 10-24; and 4:30 p.m. Aug. 31 and Sept. 2.
Food trucks are scheduled for each show, starting with Kravings — serving ice cream, hot dogs and brats — on May 27.
For more information, go to aquaducks.org.
- The Aquanuts — coming off a 2022 season in which the team won its second consecutive Wisconsin State Show Ski Championship — perform free water-ski shows 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at Lance Park, 55 Lance Drive, in Twin Lakes.
This season’s shows start on Memorial Day Weekend with a Saturday, May 27, show, running through Labor Day Weekend. The July 1 pre-fireworks show starts at 7 p.m. (Note: No shows on July 22 and Aug. 12.)
Shows are free to attend; concessions are sold at the Snack Shop, along with raffle tickets.
For more information, call the Aquanuts hotline at 866-754-7469 or go to aquanutwatershows.com.
Music on the beach
Racine’s Beachside Oasis at North Beach, 100 Kewaunee St., features a concession stand and live music or DJ Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.
The summer season kicks off with a three-day "Kiddie Carnival," with games, food and live music, Friday-Monday, May 27-29.
The music lineup this weekend includes Full Flavor, playing 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 27; country singer Liam Nugent, 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 28; and the Empty Bottle Boys & One Shot Jane, playing 3 to 6 p.m. on Monday, May 29.
Daily hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Food, beverages, frozen drinks, beer and snacks are available. For updated information, go to Racine’s Beachside Oasis Facebook page.
Play ball!
The Kenosha Kingfish will kick off the team's 2023 games — its 10th season in Kenosha — on Memorial Day, taking on the Kalamazoo Growlers.
The Monday, May 29, game starts at 1:35 p.m. at historic Simmons Field, 7817 Sheridan Road.
As fans enter the game, they will receive a Kingfish Magnet Schedule, showing the Northwoods League summer collegiate team’s 72 games for the 2023 season.
Gates open at 12:35 p.m. for the May 29 game. To purchase tickets, call 262-653-0900, log on at kingfishbaseball.com or go to the ticket office at Simmons Field.
Fire up that grill!
Need more proof that Memorial Day Weekend is the starting point for summer? May 28 is Hamburger Day, which is a sign from the grilling gods to throw some red meat on that grill. (Not into eating meat? There are plenty of veggie burger options available, too.)
Remember these words of wisdom from that great philosopher king Matthew McConaughey: “The man who invented the hamburger was smart; the man who invented the cheeseburger was a genius.”
Wise words, my friend. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/jump-into-summer-on-memorial-day-weekend/article_2045e408-f8ca-11ed-873c-8750b4208cf4.html | 2023-05-25T12:48:26 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/jump-into-summer-on-memorial-day-weekend/article_2045e408-f8ca-11ed-873c-8750b4208cf4.html |
May 25 is National Wine Day, a great way to lead into the holiday weekend.
"The Servant of Two Masters" comedy continues tonight in Tremper High School’s Studio Theater (Room 120), 8560 26th Ave. Written in 1746, "The Servant of Two Masters" has been adapted several times over the years, including a 2012 Broadway production — with the title "One Man, Two Guvnors" — starring James Corden. The quirky and comical servant known as Harlequin is the central figure of this play. Shows are 7:30 p.m. May 25-27. Tickets are $13 for adults, $11 for senior citizens (55 and older) and $6 for students and staff and can be purchased online at kusd.edu or by calling 262-359-6388.
Looking for live music tonight? The Rhythm Dogs Blues Jam starts at 8:30 tonight at Union Park Tavern, 4520 Eighth Ave. It’s free, and everyone is welcome.
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This is your last week to see these exhibits at the Anderson Arts Center, 6603 Third Ave.: Works from the Racine Art Guild, plus solo show winners from the Winter Juried Show 2022 and works from the Area Artists Group and Kemper Lakefront Studios. The shows run through Sunday. The Anderson Arts Center is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is free. For more information, go to kempercenter.com.
May is Golf Month, which means you have just a few more days to celebrate at one of our area golf courses. So pull those clubs out and hit the green. May is also National Hamburger Month, as you ponder your post-golf meal options.
The Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 First Ave., is hosting the Transparent Watercolor Society’s annual exhibit, showcasing paintings from the top transparent watercolor artists in the country. Admission is free. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. www.KenoshaPublicMuseum.org.
All aboard! Kenosha’s Downtown electric streetcars are running seven days a week, offering wonderful lakefront views. The streetcars run 11:05 a.m. to 6:35 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:35 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The fare is $1 for ages 13 and older and 50 cents for kids ages 5-12 (free for kids age 4 and younger). An all-day pass is $3.50. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-area-events-for-thursday-may-25/article_6f400748-fa3f-11ed-b74b-a34e8f7d56d7.html | 2023-05-25T12:48:32 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-area-events-for-thursday-may-25/article_6f400748-fa3f-11ed-b74b-a34e8f7d56d7.html |
GRAYSLAKE — The Blue Moon Gallery in Grayslake, Ill., is hosting an exhibit featuring works by ceramic artist June Ambro.
A free opening reception for the exhibit is 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 27, at the gallery, 18620 Belvidere Road in Grayslake.
Ambro "creates beautiful objects through the intensity of wood-fired clay," gallery officials said. "Each piece is aesthetically imbued with meaning and a sense of history."
Ambro grew up in Kenosha and has been a watercolor painter for 25 years.
"I am a maker. From my earliest memories to the present, I have practiced the art of making things: two-dimensional, three-dimensional, functional pieces, and sculptural objects," Ambro said.
"Pottery is the most intimate of all art," she added. "You cradle it in your hands and touch it with your lips."
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Ambro’s Blue Moon exhibit includes bowls, storage jars, cups, mugs and tumblers, planters, and trays.
Also on view in the gallery: linocut prints by Racine printmaker Samira Gdisis and abstract acrylic paintings and sculptures by Waukegan, Ill., artist William R. Weidner.
The gallery is open 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
For more information, visit thebluemoongallery.com. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-artist-june-ambro-at-blue-moon-gallery/article_e5d58f32-f8db-11ed-8ba1-3bd461d14439.html | 2023-05-25T12:48:38 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-artist-june-ambro-at-blue-moon-gallery/article_e5d58f32-f8db-11ed-8ba1-3bd461d14439.html |
KENOSHA — The Pollard Gallery, 518 56th St. in Downtown Kenosha, continues its “Spring Forth” show, featuring the work of the Pollard artists, through Sunday, May 28.
"We invite people to stop in and see their representation of spring," the gallery’s Brian Wolf said.
For the summer season, the gallery is open noon to 4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday.
The gallery is accepting artwork for its June show, “Summer Fun.” Work needs to be submitted by May 28. The opening reception for the show is 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 3.
The gallery is also accepting new members.
Interested individuals can apply by contacting Joann Bates at joannbates.jb@gmail.com to start the process. In your email, include at least two photos of your work and a short bio, Wolf said. All work is juried after completion of a membership application. You can also complete this jury process by bringing in work, a short bio and completing the application during regular gallery hours.
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For information about upcoming events, “like” the Pollard Gallery on Facebook. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenoshas-pollard-gallery-hosting-spring-forth-show-through-may-8/article_ac3ec9ac-f8e3-11ed-8ccd-bba0f6a90c6f.html | 2023-05-25T12:48:45 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenoshas-pollard-gallery-hosting-spring-forth-show-through-may-8/article_ac3ec9ac-f8e3-11ed-8ccd-bba0f6a90c6f.html |
RACINE — Composer Lawrence McDonald wrote "Scenes from Sheridan Road" almost 30 years ago.
When he heard it performed Monday night during a Racine Concert Band rehearsal, "I recalled parts of the writing process I had forgotten earlier," he said. "It was nice to hear again."
"When you create a piece of music, it's like raising a teenager" he explained. "You have to set it loose into the world, and it becomes its own thing. In the hands of a capable conductor like Mark Eichner, it becomes its own person. A good conductor knows how to bring more out of the music. Mark came to me with a few questions, and I thought 'why didn't I think of that?'"
When he composed "Sheridan Road" in 1994, McDonald was teaching music theory and composition at UW-Parkside and living near Lake Michigan. The school commissioned the piece as part of its 25th anniversary celebration.
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"Sheridan Road" has three movements — Sheridan Morning, Sheridan Night and Sheridan Day — that together capture the calm of early morning, the bustling manufacturing industry and the night-time scenes.
"I flipped the order of the day in the piece, putting the night in the middle, because I wanted to end with something fast," McDonald said.
When writing the piece, McDonald was inspired, in part, by Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring."
"We had a snowstorm, a pretty big one, and I was watching the sun come up over Lake Michigan in the ice and cold," he said of "Sheridan Morning." "I visualized that when writing the music."
The "Sheridan Day" section involves "trying to imagine what Downtown Racine and Kenosha were like during the heyday of the auto industry. It pays homage to the blue collar workers."
McDonald is a graduate of UW-Parkside and earned his master and doctor of music degrees from UW-Madison. He is chairman of the Waukesha County Conservatory of Music/Royal Conservatory.
"Sheridan Road" premiered in May of 1994 at UW-Parkside and was recorded by the Waukesha Symphonic Band.
The piece is dedicated to the late August Wagner, who "taught me composition when I was a Parkside student," McDonald said. "Augie Wagner wasn't only a really fine teacher, but a fine guy, too. He continued to support me after I graduated and came to any performance of my pieces. He was the only professor of mine who did that."
Wegner, a UW-Parkside music professor, pianist and composer, died in November 1993 at age 52 when he apparently suffered a heart attack during an afternoon rehearsal. Wegner joined the university in September 1972, teaching music theory, composition, jazz fundamentals and music fundamentals.
McDonald complete "Sheridan Road" in "about a month. It was going pretty fast," he said.
After that piece, he "turned to choral music writing. I was interested in setting the written word to music. That's inspiring to me."
McDonald was awarded the 1994 Choral Music Prize by the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association for his work "I Am Music." His "Magnificat" premiered in Italy at the 1997 Spoleto Festival by the Bel Canto Chorus, and his "Missa brevis" debuted at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, also by the Bel Canto chorus.
The Racine Concert Band is also performing Norman Dello Joio's "Concertante" and Leonard Bernstein's "Slava!"
The Case High School bands, directed by Max Feiler, will perform George Gershwin's "An American in Paris" and Michael Giacchino's "Main Theme from The Incredibles."
Eichner will lead the combined bands in a grand finale performance of "As the Stars Forever," by Warner Hutchison.
-------------------
Who: Racine Concert Band and the J.I. Case High School bands
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, May 25
Where: Case High School, 7345 Washington Ave. in Racine
Admission: $5 for adults, $4 for students and $3 for senior citizens
Program: The Racine Concert Band, directed by Mark Eichner, is performing "Concertante" by Norman Dello Joio, "Slava!" by Leonard Bernstein, "Marche Caprice" by Frederick Delius and "Soirées Musicales" by Gioachino Rossini. A highlight of the band's program is "Scenes from Sheridan Road" by UW-Parkside graduate Lawrence McDonald. The Case High School bands, directed by Max Feiler, will perform George Gershwin's "An American in Paris" and Michael Giacchino's "Main Theme from The Incredibles." The two bands will join together for the finale, "As the Stars Forever" by Warner Hutchison. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/racine-concert-band-performing-scenes-from-sheridan-road-on-may-25/article_717e4020-f598-11ed-a6f8-f3e787427c72.html | 2023-05-25T12:48:51 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/racine-concert-band-performing-scenes-from-sheridan-road-on-may-25/article_717e4020-f598-11ed-a6f8-f3e787427c72.html |
KENOSHA — Studio Moonfall, 5031 Seventh Ave., is hosting its Kenosha Book Festival on Sunday, May 28.
More accurately, this is Chapter Two of six Book Festival events planned throughout the year.
The theme? “Books! Books! Books!”
Studio Moonfall is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday “for an unforgettable day of literary celebration.”
The free event includes authors “from a diverse range of genres” and used books on sale for $1.
There are 20 authors taking part Sunday, including M.P. McDonald, Anthony Wedgeworth, Jessie Rose, T.R. Nickel, Debra Oas and more.
There will also be food from The Lumpia Lady and That's A Wrap.
For the latest updates on all this stuff, go to KenoshaBookFestival.com and check Studio Moonfall’s social media for “sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes action.” | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/studio-moonfall-hosting-kenosha-book-festival-chapter-two/article_f9ad1386-f8c2-11ed-a576-5b9c50ec6285.html | 2023-05-25T12:48:58 | 0 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/studio-moonfall-hosting-kenosha-book-festival-chapter-two/article_f9ad1386-f8c2-11ed-a576-5b9c50ec6285.html |
NORMAL — Normal Public Works crews will begin working summer hours from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting on Tuesday, May 30.
Residents should make sure their collection items are placed at the curb no later than 6 a.m. on the day of collection. Only regular garbage and recycling will be collected on Memorial Day.
Self-Service Electronics Recycling hours for McLean County residents will change to 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday starting Tuesday. Those hours will be in place through Friday, Sept. 1.
Electronics recycling is also available the first Saturday of each month, except holidays, from 8 a.m. to noon.
Visit normalil.gov/publicworks or call 309-454-9571 for more information.
Illinois farms: How the 2023 planting season is shaping up 🚜
How is planting season going across Illinois? Here's a look at the annual survey of planting progress conducted by Illinois Farmer Today.
GENESEO, Ill. — Shane McKibbon is a patient man. He saw neighbors planting corn early this year in northwest Illinois, but he waited.
ONEIDA, Ill. — The Rylanders pay careful attention to planting details even on land they know won’t yield as high as the county or state averages.
LEROY, Ill. — The Builta brothers certainly didn’t have to cope with dodging raindrops when they started planting corn in mid-April in McLean County.
VERGENNES, Ill. — Much of Brock Steele’s farm was pounded by rain during the period he normally gets his crops in the ground. He finally got a start on May 1.
DELAFIELD, Ill. — Mark Miller’s corn is all in the ground while his soybeans will have to wait a while.
PAXTON, Ill. — Kirk Miller started planting his corn and soybeans in mid-April in eastern Illinois. His early start led to finishing early in May.
GODLEY, Ill. — The Cerutti family said they stick to tradition when it comes to planting corn before soybeans. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/normal-public-works-announces-summer-hours/article_f5ca869c-f9ab-11ed-9958-afd7dd5de040.html | 2023-05-25T12:50:36 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/normal-public-works-announces-summer-hours/article_f5ca869c-f9ab-11ed-9958-afd7dd5de040.html |
ODESSA, Texas — The Permian Basin is known for being a leader in energy production, but the future could also see it become a region of energy innovation. The University of Texas in Austin, along with the University of Texas Permian Basin, Midland College, Odessa College and many other institutions are working with a $1 million grant to propose a plan that could ultimately lead to a 10-year investment.
The goal is to bring resources to the Permian Basin and have it lead in new energy technology. With hydrogen and carbon capture part of exciting developments in energy innovation, the energy footprint in the Permian Basin has it positioned to benefit.
“So just thinking about the resources in the Permian Basin, how can those be utilized in the future in a way that isn’t happening already, and kind of keep the Permian Basin out in front as an energy…super-hub is a way to think about it," said Brian Korgel, Director of the Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.
With the Permian Basin a center of energy production through oil and gas production, as well as renewable methods, it’s current culture has made it the focus for a future energy innovation hub.
“We hope to be having technologies piloted in the region and companies probably supporting that, but our real goal is actually to bring resources to the region…so to foster that development as much as we can and leverage the unique assets, land assets and workforce capabilities in the Permian [Basin] to draw that investment to the region," said Korgel.
Korgel believes the early adopters of emerging energy technologies could be in the Permian Basin.
Understanding the boom-and-bust cycles of the oil and gas industry gives this innovative outlook upside.
“By diversifying the range of energy technologies that are deployed in the Permian Basin -- maybe level out some of the boom-and-bust cycles that the community has faced from time-to-time -- so that’s one of the things that we’re looking at," said Korgel.
When it comes to the community, impact and buy-in are important aspects for an investment like this that aims to benefit everyone.
“Making sure that the community just understands that there’s this technology boom and revolution coming that involves oil and gas, it involves renewables, it involves new technologies, and kind of embracing that and understanding what the future looks like, which is pretty exciting," said Korgel.
Korgel said that education is another important aspect of this investment that looks at workforce development with training and skills that will be needed for new jobs created. He also mentioned making sure that the Permian Basin is at the forefront and really acting as a global leader for energy security, stability and production. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/permian-basin-focusing-on-future-energy-innovation/513-5e7233ec-21c1-4317-9caf-93d4f9098297 | 2023-05-25T12:55:55 | 1 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/permian-basin-focusing-on-future-energy-innovation/513-5e7233ec-21c1-4317-9caf-93d4f9098297 |
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – Upcoming road construction will impact traffic in Johnson City on University Parkway.
Temporary full and partial lane closures are expected to impact traffic flow on June 5 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on University Parkway near West State of Franklin Road, according to a release from the City of Johnson City.
The release states that emergency vehicles cannot pass during the full lane closures.
The JC Public Works Department will perform paving and milling operations during that time.
Drivers are advised to use caution while in the area during construction. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/june-road-construction-to-impact-traffic-in-johnson-city/ | 2023-05-25T12:56:24 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/june-road-construction-to-impact-traffic-in-johnson-city/ |
Who are missing children in Wisconsin? It's a long list that spans decades.
Thursday marks 40 years since President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25, 1983, as National Missing Children's Day.
And to commemorate the anniversary of National Missing Children's Day, the U.S. Department of Justice hosted a ceremony to honor the efforts of agencies, organizations and others that are protecting children and to continue the efforts of reuniting missing children with their families.
The effort continues in Milwaukee and Wisconsin. Across Wisconsin there remains 25 missing children dating back decades.
The cases range from missing, endangered missing, endangered runaway to family abduction.
Here's a look at one missing child case from each category in Wisconsin. You can find a full list here.
Alexis Patterson
It's the most famous child missing case in Milwaukee's history and it's now been over 20 years since 7-year-old Alexis Patterson vanished without a trace in Milwaukee less than a block from her home as she was on her way to school. Patterson's father was the last person to see her as she was walking to Hi-Mount Community School on May 3, 2002.
Her disappearance launched a massive search with fliers of the first grader that featured her wide smile, braided and beaded hair all over the city. Though there have been some potential breakthroughs, the case remains unsolved and no arrests have been made.
Patterson would be 28 years old now. Anyone with information should contact the Milwaukee Police Department at 1-414-935-7401.
USA TODAY has launched a podcast on Patterson this year that dives deeper into the case.
There are 19 total missing children across Wisconsin. A missing person under the age of 18 is labeled as a missing child.
Listen to the podcast:A missing girl, a search for truth in the Alexis Patterson case
Dontray Hunter
He is one of four endangered missing children in Wisconsin. Hunter was last seen playing outside his home on Aug. 20, 1975, in Milwaukee as a 2-year-old. He would be 49 now. Anyone with information should contact the Milwaukee Police Department at 1-414-933-4444.
Endangered missing indicates when a person is believe to be in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability or the environment or is with potentially a dangerous person.
Madeline Edman
She is classified as an endangered runaway. Edman went missing when she was 15 on July 29, 2005, in La Crosse.
Edman may still be in the La Crosse area. She is now 33. Her right eye is blue and she has a scar on her left leg. Edman also has multiple tattoos. Anyone with information should contact the La Crosse Police Department at 1-608-785-5962.
An endangered runaway is a child under 18 who is known to have gone missing on their own but whose whereabouts are unknown to their guardian. They are labeled as "vulnerable and can experience homelessness when they are missing," the National Center For Missing & Exploited Children's website says.
Stacy Rudolph
She was allegedly abducted by her mother, Lori Ann Krueger, when she was 12 years old in 2000 in Medford, Wisconsin. A felony warrant was issued for her mom on Sept. 16, 2002, who may use the alias last name Rudolph or Verdone. Lori Ann would be 35 years old now. Anyone with information should contact the Medford Police Department at 1-715-748-2200.
A family abduction occurs when a child is taken, wrongfully retained, or concealed by a parent or other family member depriving another individual of their custody or visitation rights, the National Center For Missing & Exploited Children's website says. Abductions can be considered a crime under federal or state law.
What else should I know about missing children?
For a full database of missing children visit the National Center For Missing & Exploited Children's website.
The agency works with law enforcement to find children. If you recognize a child from any missing children's list call 1-800-THE-LOST and local law enforcement.
The organization’s helpline is open 24-7.
Milwaukee missing persons:What information police need if a child or adult is missing, and what to know about Amber alerts, Silver alerts | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2023/05/25/national-missing-childrens-day-40th-anniversary-wisconsin-milwaukee-alexis-patterson/70251747007/ | 2023-05-25T13:10:34 | 0 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2023/05/25/national-missing-childrens-day-40th-anniversary-wisconsin-milwaukee-alexis-patterson/70251747007/ |
Retirement of Milwaukee County Transit System managing director came after call for investigation
The unexpected February retirement of Milwaukee County Transit System managing director Daniel Boehm came months after an employee called for an investigation into employment discrimination and retaliation, according to records provided to the Journal Sentinel.
Questions remain open about the circumstances leading up to Boehm's retirement. Sources in the transit system allege it came after an eight-month leave of absence, but an outside attorney representing Milwaukee Transport Service, Inc., has delayed the release of records to the Journal Sentinel regarding his pay and pension benefits. MTS is the private nonprofit organization that Milwaukee County government created in 1975 to administer the MCTS on its behalf. The attorney, Eric J. Van Schyndle of Quarles & Brady LLP, later Wednesday said records would be produced next month.
Boehm joined the transit system in 1997 and was appointed its managing director in 2014.
MCTS officials declined to comment about Boehm's departure. MCTS directed the Journal Sentinel to Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley's spokesman Brandon Weathersby for comment. Weathersby hasn't responded to a request for comment.
Boehm could not be reached for comment.
Employee called for investigation into pay equity and retaliation
An unnamed employee wrote to Donna Brown-Martin, the director of the Milwaukee County Department of Transportation, requesting an "independent investigation into claims of pay equity discrimination and retaliation" by Boehm on Oct. 11, 2021, records show.
The employee's name was redacted for privacy and to ensure that "other employees who seek to make employment claims are not deterred from doing so," attorney Van Schyndle wrote in a letter to the Journal Sentinel.
The employee's concerns first came about when Boehm told her she would be receiving a 5% pay increase in order to be brought up to the minimum salary set for their position, according to the records.
"In explaining the increase, the first thing Dan mentioned, in terms of my value, was that 'you bring diversity.' The next thing he said, in regards to my pay increase, was that 'you were in the right place at the right time.' This came after repeated comments and jokes, often in front of others, about how I did not deserve a pay raise," she wrote.
The employee ultimately did not request a pay increase until September 2021 after having received a job offer from another employer.
The employee said Boehm had described a decision to deny a pay increase as due to her performance despite reviews indicating she met or exceeded expectations.
The complainant wrote that after she went to Brown-Martin after Boehm denied her requested pay increase, he called the employee “disloyal” and a “traitor”, told her he couldn't work with her anymore, and told her to “go to (word redacted).”
He later removed her as first chair of contract negotiations. The complaint said he explained the change as due to the employee's considering another position and possible departure.
"When I asked what my standing would be if I were not considering another position, he said I couldn't serve as first chair in any event because 'you may look for other positions in the future.' This led directly to my decision to resign from MCTS," the employee wrote.
The employee contended that Boehm's denial of a pay increase was discriminatory and that he stripped the employee of work responsibilities in retaliation for going to the MCTS director with concerns.
Additional notes also attached to the emailed complaint lay out further allegations of hostile working conditions, including an incident in which "his face turned beet red, raised his voice and was so angry" and ensuing "rant" after conflicts over contract discussions.
The employee voiced fears directly to Boehm about losing her job because of the incident.
His email did not address those concerns.
"He was downplaying his verbal abuse in my office by saying he was 'miffed' in the email," the employee wrote.
The employee also shared "other demeaning comments" from Boehm, which included calling the employee a bad manager and by opening the employee's annual review saying that she "sucked."
The complainant also made note of "off-color remarks" that Boehm made about LGBTQ employees and his disapproval of MCTS's Pride bus, as well as Boehm's suggestion that a white, male MCTS employee would be good for an open position on the employee's team despite an offer being made to a "rock solid African American woman."
The employee wondered whether his dislike of managing her was due to his inability to work with women, records show.
"Working with him feels like his motivation is more like a policy of resentment that borders on misogyny that has led me to question my place within the organization, my decisions, and my future as an employee," the employee wrote.
There were no disciplinary records in response to the Journal Sentinel's request.
Then-MCTS deputy director, Denise Wandke served as interim director curing Boehm's leave until her official appointment as managing director on May 19, 2023.
Contact Vanessa Swales at 414-308-5881 or vswales@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Vanessa_Swales. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2023/05/25/mcts-managing-directors-retirement-came-after-call-for-investigation/69888796007/ | 2023-05-25T13:10:40 | 0 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2023/05/25/mcts-managing-directors-retirement-came-after-call-for-investigation/69888796007/ |
Former Lebanon officer charged after resident's security camera wires cut during search
A former Lebanon police officer has been criminally charged after investigators say he cut a resident’s security camera wires during an arrest warrant and tried to manipulate evidence, according to court records.
Nicholas Reynolds has been charged with felony misconduct and obstruction of justice charges, as well as criminal mischief, according to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.
Police in court records said Reynolds’ body camera footage captured him cutting wires with scissors inside an attic while trying to serve an arrest warrant May 3. The footage captured him cussing and saying the scissors kept falling out of his hand.
After the search, police said Reynolds came down from the attic and told other officers he may have knocked some wires down.
Investigators further allege Reynolds days later changed the classification of his body camera footage capturing the wire-cutting by labeling the footage to say he was “training,” versus serving a warrant. Detectives in the affidavit noted body camera footage for warrants are stored for three years. Recordings labeled as “training,” on the other hand, are kept for three days.
Police in the affidavit said they became aware of the wire-cutting when the homeowner told officers about it after turning himself in for his two battery charges on the day of the warrant. From Boone County Jail, the man told police he saw an officer go inside his attic on his security cameras, and then the system lost power.
After talking with the homeowner, police asked Reynolds whether he cut any wires. Reynolds said no.
Detectives on May 18 said they learned Reynolds was no longer with the department. During interviews with investigators, Reynolds said his gun belt had gotten caught on the wires and he cut one wire with his scissors. He said he wasn't aware four other wires had been cut. When asked about his body camera footage, he said he sometimes does not click the correct classification tags.
Contact Sarah Nelson at 317-503-7514 or sarah.nelson@indystar.com | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/boone-county/2023/05/25/former-lebanon-officer-accused-of-cutting-security-cam-wires-during-search/70252333007/ | 2023-05-25T13:11:22 | 1 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/boone-county/2023/05/25/former-lebanon-officer-accused-of-cutting-security-cam-wires-during-search/70252333007/ |
DALLAS — A Dallas police officer was hospitalized with minor injuries overnight after being struck by a suspected drunk driver in Deep Ellum, the department said Thursday.
According to the Dallas Police Department, the officer was driving in the 100 block of North Hall Street, approaching Main Street, when they were involved in a crash with another vehicle at the intersection.
The officer was taken to the hospital for treatment.
According to police, further investigation found the driver of the other vehicle was intoxicated. Officers identified the suspect as 39-year-old Francisco Fernandez and said he was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.
Fernandez was not injured in the crash, Dallas police said.
More Texas headlines: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-police-officer-hit-driver-dui-main-street-hall-street/287-1b606161-21d2-43b0-a39c-de884766bd2a | 2023-05-25T13:13:29 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-police-officer-hit-driver-dui-main-street-hall-street/287-1b606161-21d2-43b0-a39c-de884766bd2a |
News Tribune, May 25, 1983
- Duluth school officials yesterday tentatively approved a plan that restores some of the programs, sports and jobs they cut last year. Board members voted 7-1 to restore $483,000 in activities and jobs they eliminated last June as part of a $6 million budget cutback.
- The Duluth Transit Authority will offer its old bus barn at 2631 W. Superior St. for sale again after a deal fell through in February. The property, which covers nearly an entire square block, includes the bus barn and a two-story office building.
News Tribune, May 25, 1923
- Great Northern Ore Dock No. 2 in Allouez, which has been rebuilt of concrete construction at a cost of over $2 million, was again put into operation yesterday. The dock ranks among the largest steel and concrete ore containers in the world.
- Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Valentino will arrive in Duluth this morning along with the Argentine Orchestra. The Valentinos will appear tonight in the Duluth Armory, performing the famous tango dance from the movie "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/bygones-superior-ore-dock-rebuilt-100-years-ago | 2023-05-25T13:13:33 | 1 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/bygones-superior-ore-dock-rebuilt-100-years-ago |
DULUTH — At large City Councilor Arik Forsman has reversed course, announcing Thursday morning that instead of stepping down at the end of the year, he will instead run for reelection.
Looking back at his previous plans to bow out, Forsman said: “I think I needed a vacation more than I needed a lengthy departure from office.”
Constituents’ response to the prospect of him leaving office also apparently played a role in his change of heart.
“I have been truly humbled that folks have been asking me for the past three months to reconsider. And only after taking some time away, after I came out with my announcement in February, did I really process that and think about whether I had something left to offer or not. And I came to the decision that I did,” Forsman said.
After consulting with his family, Forsman decided to give it another go, joining what’s likely to be a seven-candidate field for two at large seats.
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Forsman earlier had cited his desire to spend time with his family — including his wife, 7-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son — as a primary reason for his decision not to seek a second term.
“As I’ve had a chance to be in office with my kids being young, there’s always guilt that comes from being away from family," he said. "And that’s true when you’re at City Council, just as it’s true at your day job. But I think, quite frankly, I’m still planning on spending just as much time as I was with them, and that might mean that I’m not at everything anymore.
"But I certainly still think I can do the job,” he said, adding that his children, particularly his daughter, have supported his decision to seek another term.
Forsman believes his experience and proven track record also work to his advantage. In all, six seats are up for election on the nine-member City Council, and prior to Forsman’s surprise announcement Monday, four of the incumbents were prepared to leave office at the end of the year.
Forsman noted that if reelected, he will be the most senior member of the Duluth City Council.
“I think I’ve been pretty effective. So, offering another experienced candidate on the ballot when you’ve got that much turnover, I think that gives Duluth a choice to have somebody with more tenure coming back,” he said.
Among his accomplishments, Forsman cited public safety strides, including his successful advocacy for increased police pay and a larger training budget for local firefighters. Forsman also pointed to his role in bringing Costco to town and making sure the city’s Memorial Day parade tradition held strong, despite some friction over costs and funding that had threatened the event’s continuation.
“I think the other thing experience brings is confidence in being able to challenge the city administration in a constructive way,” Forsman said. “No matter who wins the mayoral election, the Council needs to be a check on those policies and whether those decisions are truly in the best interests of the city. I think I’ve found a way to do that in a healthy manner.”
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Despite his initial uncertainty, Forsman said he has no question now about “the fire still burning in my heart” to serve his community.
“I still live the work, and at the end of the day, that’s the reason that I’m jumping back in, because I really just enjoy problem-solving and helping move us all forward in a productive way. And if the people of Duluth want me to do that for four more years, then I would be happy to do it,” he said.
Forsman campaigned for the House District 8B seat last year, unsuccessfully challenging Alicia Kozlowski in the DFL primary election, even though she had won the local party endorsement. Rep. Kozlowski ultimately went on to win the general election, as well.
He referred to that campaign as “pretty grueling.”
“That was a tough race not only on me but on my family, and I signed up for that,” Forsman said.
In retrospect, Forsman said he considers local, nonpartisan politics a better fit. “It’s very unlikely you’ll see my name on a partisan ballot again,” he said.
Forsman was appointed to the at large seat in 2018, when Elissa Hansen left the council to take a new job as president and CEO of Northspan Group Inc. In 2019, he ran for the same post and won election. Forsman went on to be elected council president by his fellow councilors, as well.
Other candidates running for two at large city council seats that will be up for grabs this November include Ashlie Castaldo, Lynn Marie Nephew, Miranda Pacheco, Shawn Savela and Jenna Yeakle.
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Although she has not yet filed, Therese Wisocki also has announced her intentions to run for an at large seat, potentially bringing the total field of candidates to seven, with Forsman joining the fray.
Candidate filings for local elected offices will remain open until Tuesday. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/in-about-face-forsman-to-seek-second-term-on-duluth-city-council | 2023-05-25T13:13:38 | 0 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/in-about-face-forsman-to-seek-second-term-on-duluth-city-council |
NORTHLAKE, Texas — A councilman for the Denton County town of Northlake has submitted his resignation following his arrest on domestic violence allegations, according to officials.
The mayor of Northlake, about 12 miles south of Denton, announced that councilmember Wes Boyer was expected to resign after the accusations.
"The Town of Northlake is saddened to report that Councilmember Wes Boyer was arrested on two felony charges filed against him," Mayor David Rettig said in a statement. "Given the gravity of his role in the community, and in deference to the seriousness of the charges, we are expecting Mr. Boyer to resign from Town Council."
According to police in Northlake, officers responded to Northwest High School on Monday, May 22, in regards to a juvenile who was reporting an assault.
Soon after, police said Boyer went to the Northlake Police Department "on his own free will" and was interviewed by officers. The department determined that the councilman should be arrested and charged, according to police.
Boyer was charged that evening with assaulting a family member that impeded breath and circulation, as well as continuous violence against the family.
He has since been released from the Denton County Jail on a $15,000 bond.
Further details on the case were not released as the investigation continues.
"The Town is following due process throughout the investigation. We hope for a swift and just resolution to the situation. Our thoughts are with the family," Rettig said in his statement.
Rettig also added that Boyer's resignation acceptance is scheduled to happen during a council meeting on June 8. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/northlake-texas-town-councilman-wes-boyer-arrest-domestic-violence-allegations/287-037f40af-e60f-4976-873d-20acea2fe716 | 2023-05-25T13:13:38 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/northlake-texas-town-councilman-wes-boyer-arrest-domestic-violence-allegations/287-037f40af-e60f-4976-873d-20acea2fe716 |
This story started with a lie.
“Yeah, my sister, that’s so not like her to not tell the truth,” Greg Dace joked.
Why was Dace’s sister, Carla McCullough, dishonest?
“Beause I love him so,” McCullough said, with tears in her eyes.
To understand how love could compel someone to lie, you have to understand what compels Dace.
In college, Dace became a DJ and he loved it.
“I would do it for free,” Dace said.
Eventually, though, he got married, had a family and quit being a DJ for a job in sales. Throughout the years, he always said he wanted to be a DJ again, which is why he recently decided to do it before it’s too late.
Last year, Dace was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer, just a few years after losing his mom and sister to cancer.
“I thought it was a good time to go ahead and invest into it,” he said.
Being a DJ was his dream. Unfortunately, medical bills made equipment impossible to afford.
Knowing that, McCullough lied and told her brother that she’d set up a meeting with a cancer support organization. However, when the meeting started, she hit him with the truth.
“Sam Pack Auto Group is granting you a Little Wish,” she told him.
Sam Pack Auto Group gave Dace a $500 gift card to help pay for gas and other necessities during treatment, and another $1,500 to fix his truck and perhaps, most importantly, DJ equipment.
He has a long road ahead, but Dace said this wish helps strengthen the journey.
“It gives me so much encouragement to know someone that doesn’t even know me and invested in me,” Dace said. “It’s given me so much hope.”
Ain’t that the truth.
More Texas headlines: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/outreach/little-wishes/little-wish-cancer-patient-djing/287-f6159569-a1bc-4ae9-981e-1e5f99a911cc | 2023-05-25T13:13:39 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/outreach/little-wishes/little-wish-cancer-patient-djing/287-f6159569-a1bc-4ae9-981e-1e5f99a911cc |
Average daily flows
Snake River at Jackson 270 cfs
Snake River at Palisades 8,695 cfs
Snake River at Heise 11,903 cfs
Snake River at Blackfoot 6,230 cfs
Snake River at American Falls 9,034 cfs
Snake River at Milner 0 cfs
Little Wood River near Carey 911 cfs
Jackson Lake is 50% full.
Palisades Reservoir is 74% full.
American Falls Reservoir is 85% full.
Upper Snake River system is at 75% of capacity.
As of May 24 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/average-daily-streamflows/article_778c314c-fa49-11ed-ad12-ebd2f6af607e.html | 2023-05-25T13:17:39 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/average-daily-streamflows/article_778c314c-fa49-11ed-ad12-ebd2f6af607e.html |
Editor’s note: This feature first ran Dec. 10, 2020, in the Times-News and at magicvalley.com.
Dworshak Elementary School in Burley sits as a reminder of one of the town’s most famous residents, Henry Clarence Dworshak, editor and publisher of the Burley Bulletin from 1924 to 1944.
Never heard of him?
Perhaps you’ve heard of the Dworshak Dam on the North Fork of the Clearwater River near Orofino, also named for the man who served overseas in an anti-aircraft machine gun battalion in World War I.
Still doesn’t ring a bell?
Dworshak, a staunch Republican and friend of U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy, was a member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations during the Army-McCarthy Hearings, which former Times-News columnist Steve Crump once called “the highest drama on Capitol Hill between the League of Nations debate of 1919 and the Bill Clinton impeachment trial of 1999.”
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The 1954 hearings ended the political career of McCarthy, who made reckless and unsubstantiated claims of communists and traitors in the federal government.
Dworshak won a seat in the House in 1938 and was re-elected three times. He was later elected to the Senate and, despite his ties to the disgraced McCarthy, served until his death in 1962.
Dworshak died of a heart attack at the age of 67 in his apartment in Washington.
U.S. Sen. Frank Church had lunch with Dworshak the day he died.
“He seemed well and hearty and in fine spirits,” the Democrat from Idaho told the Spokane Daily Chronicle. “I am appalled at the sad news of his passing. He was ever a gentleman who served his state honorably for many years.”
Dworshak is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Fort Myer, Virginia, along with his wife, Georgia.
Mychel Matthews is the managing editor of the Times-News. The Hidden History feature runs every Thursday in the Times-News and at Magicvalley.com. If you have a question about something that may have historical significance, email Matthews at mmatthews@magicvalley.com. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/long-gone-burley-resident-was-a-friend-of-joseph-mccarthy/article_86582512-8b4d-57f5-b76c-5a6b637e1ab7.html | 2023-05-25T13:17:46 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/long-gone-burley-resident-was-a-friend-of-joseph-mccarthy/article_86582512-8b4d-57f5-b76c-5a6b637e1ab7.html |
Editor’s note: Nina Taylor, the now-retired director of Kenosha County’s Division of Workforce Development, spent 27 years in the Human Services Department where she began her career in 1996 as a social services aide. Taylor held several positions in human services, including collections supervisor and site lead for the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement Parent Employment Demonstration Project with the Department of Children and Families Division of Family and Economic Security. She holds a master’s degree in social work, with concentration on children and families, from Loyola University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in social ecology from the University of California – Irvine. In 2016, then County Executive Jim Kreuser appointed Taylor as director of the Division of Workforce Development, leading it for the next seven years. Her official last day was May 1. A Kenosha County resident, Taylor tells us that she’s relocating to Adams (Wis.) in her retirement. In the meantime, she reflected on her career in county government, what’s coming up in the division and how she’ll be enjoying the next chapter of her life.
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Q: What are some of the challenges that you and those you have led faced in your line of work?
A: The Division of Workforce Development employees are unique and highly knowledgeable individuals who provide Economic Support, Child Support and employment services. Every day they communicate with community members to connect them to resources. In the beginning of my career, services were focused primarily on meeting system requirements and performance goals. These are still in place and important, but the employees have added in serving families holistically.
For example, if a person is applying for health assistance, and the case manager identifies a lack of safe housing, we connect the person to housing supports. The band aid approach to solving social issues had contributed to system failures. We needed to look at the whole person, and work with non-profits and the Human Services Divisions, to provide comprehensive social services.
I am amazed by the employees in Economic Support and Child Support Services as they have become experts in community resources and they are able to navigate customers to other services to ensure the safety and success of the families and individuals we serve.
Q: What are some of the accomplishments in your career with Kenosha County that you’re most proud of?
A: Kenosha County Child Support Services became a leader nationally in the provision of innovative employment and parenting services. We implemented Supporting Parents Supporting Kids with the State Bureau of Child Support and the National Office of Child Support Enforcement in 2012 and we continue to provide these services through our ELEVATE and Children First programs.
There are parents who want to pay child support, but they need resources and employment services to meet their obligations. Providing these parents with employment and training opportunities increased the likelihood of child support payments, and reduced the expensive cost of incarceration for non-payment, not to mention the emotional cost to a child who has lost precious time with a parent incarcerated for 6 months for non-payment.
Kenosha County Child Support Services established an innovative and successful partnership with first Goodwill Industries, secondly the Racine Kenosha Community Action Agency, and lastly, with Sharmain Harris and Associates in the provision of fatherhood services. We were recognized nationally for Mr. Harris’s Nurturing Father’s Program. The parents were engaged in classes and events to strengthen the relationship between the parent and the child, which can be challenging when the parents have separate households. We were one of few counties nationally to provide this to parents.
Parenting services reduces the likelihood of the use of physical punishment, and increases the likelihood of payment of child support. This service also improved the relationship between our customers and the agency. The more we communicated and explained the complex system of Child Support to our customers, the easier it was for customers to understand and have a sense of procedural justice.
Q: What are some things in the works that the community can look forward to?
A: We recently received a five-year grant from the Bureau of Child Support and the Office of Child Support Enforcement to increase safe access to services for domestic violence survivors, nationally known as SAVES (Safe Access for Victim’s Economic Security). The WINS grant, known as Wisconsin’s Network for Safety in Wisconsin, will create safeguards for survivors as they navigate DWD programs and partner agency services.
We intend to reach survivors through outreach with hospitals and Women and Children’s Horizons, and in our daily work with W2, Child Care Assistance, and the Human Services Divisions.
Q: What will you miss about working in social services?
A: I am very thankful for the opportunity I had to work with Kenosha County and the great leaders they employ. I began my career in 1996 as a Social Services Aide, and was fortunate to advance and implement new programming. I am going to miss the employees of Human Services and the diversity we embrace. They have a heart for caring and providing non-judgmental positive regard to our customers. They listen to tough situations our community members are struggling with every day and work hard to stay positive and up to date on system and policy changes with caseloads at times exceeding 1,000 per case manager. I am going to miss the people the most, the customers and the employees.
Q. Now that you’ve retired, how will you spend your time?
A: I plan to volunteer, work part-time outside at a golf course, read for pleasure and kayak, kayak, kayak. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/retired-workforce-development-director-reflects-on-27-year-career-in-social-services-plans-to-kayak/article_d3c7387c-f08e-11ed-b823-0bc308795d8b.html | 2023-05-25T13:27:36 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/retired-workforce-development-director-reflects-on-27-year-career-in-social-services-plans-to-kayak/article_d3c7387c-f08e-11ed-b823-0bc308795d8b.html |
CASSELBERRY, Fla. – The city of Casselberry invites you to honor the fallen this Memorial Day weekend with a car show and rock ‘n’ blues concert on Saturday at Lake Concord Park.
More than 20 vendors offering food, drinks and other products will be at the event, which is free to enter. Attendees are advised to bring blankets and chairs, directed toward surrounding businesses for general parking and to the front of the Casselberry Police Station for disabled parking.
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The event’s 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. schedule features three bands and a veterans recognition ceremony, with the car show uninterrupted throughout:
4 p.m. - 8 p.m. — Car Show by Cruisin’ Orlando
5 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. — Debbie D and Vintage Now
6 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. — Steeln’ Peaches
7 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. — Veterans Recognition Ceremony
7:30 p.m. — Georgia Thunderbolts
Opening for the Georgia Thunderbolts will be the Steeln’ Peaches, a rising star popular band, and Debbie D and Vintage Now, sponsored by the Orange Blossom Blues Society. Besides the music, there will be more than 150 classic cars, muscle cars, and hot rods for car enthusiasts to enjoy. There will also be a contest for best car. As part of this Memorial Weekend celebration, the City will again honor all veterans for their service with a color guard display and plaque.
Casselberry.org
Learn more at Casselberry.org.
Check out every episode of Riff On This in the media player below: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/25/casselberry-to-hold-car-show-rock-n-blues-concert-for-memorial-day-weekend/ | 2023-05-25T13:29:10 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/25/casselberry-to-hold-car-show-rock-n-blues-concert-for-memorial-day-weekend/ |
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May, honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
This Memorial Day on Monday, events around Brevard will honor the lives that have been lost while fighting for our freedom. From tributes and parades to special ceremonies, here’s what the Space Coast has to offer, as compiled by News 6 partner Florida Today.
Event details are subject to change, so we encourage you to check with presenting organizations about the status of their events.
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Cocoa
Memorial Day weekend art display at the Porcher House
The Porcher House, 434 Delannoy Ave., Cocoa Village, will display 21 original oil paintings by Jeanne Harris Weaver on May 24 through 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weaver is an artist and Gold Star mother of 1LT Todd Weaver, killed in action in 2010 in Afghanistan. The painting series is titled “Losing Todd: A Mother’s Journey.” Call 321-639-3500.
Memorial Day parade and tribute in Cocoa Village
It will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, May 29. The event begins with a parade through Cocoa Village along Delannoy Ave., Harrison Street, Brevard Ave. and Maryland Ave. at 4 p.m. A stage presentation will start at 5 p.m. at Riverfront Park, 401 Riveredge Blvd. This year’s speakers include Mayor Michael C. Blake, US Army veterans Keith Van Buren and Steve Griffin and Civil Air Patrol Group 4 Commander Major AJ Ingle. The event will include a flag folding ceremony, 21-gun salute, the playing of taps and a moment of silence. Admission is free. Call 321-639-3500 or visit cocoafl.org.
Melbourne
Memorial day program at the Liberty Bell Museum
Honor America, Inc., which operates the Liberty Bell Museum, 1601 Oak Street, Melbourne, will hold a Memorial Day program on May 29, from 11 a.m. to noon. It will include a non-partisan, entertaining program with patriotic music. Featured speakers will be Jeanne Weaver, Gold Star Mother and long-time patron of the Veterans Memorial Center on Merritt Island, and Colonel Stephen Bond, a 29-year US Army veteran, who served in combat in Panama and Kuwait and is Senior Vice President of the Military Officers Association of America. Officials from Brevard County and the City of Melbourne will be present. The museum’s extensive collection of historic, technological, and military artifacts will be open for viewing before and after the program. Call 321-373-2311 or email honoramericafl@gmail.com.
Merritt Island
Flame of Honor ceremony at Veterans Memorial Center
Gold Star families are invited to this solemn remembrance event, which will be in the plaza area of the Veterans Memorial Center, 400 South Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island, on Friday, May 26 at 8 p.m. There will be Vietnam and Global War on Terror moving walls from Patriot Guard Riders on display as well as a Gold Star family and MIA/POW remembrance torch march through the plaza. Call 321-453-1776 or visit veteransmemorialcenter.org.
Rolling Thunder Freedom Ride
Beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 28, at the Veterans Memorial Center, 400 South Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island, thousands of motorcyclists from around the globe will ride west on State Road 520, south on U.S. 1 to the Pineda Causeway, east to State Road A1A and then north through Cocoa Beach to disperse at Port Canaveral. According to Dr. Lance Armstrong, president of the Rolling Thunder Florida 1 Chapter, the procession of motorcycles and vehicles will be escorted by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and should reach the port by 11 a.m. Visit rollingthunderflorida1.org.
Memorial Day remembrance at Veterans Memorial Center
The event will be at the Veterans Memorial Center, 400 South Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island, on Monday, May 29 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. The solemn remembrance with the theme “Never Forgotten – Our Fallen and MIA/POW” will include musical tributes, color guards from veteran and cadet units, special recognitions, a “Fallen First Responders” address by Sheriff Wayne Ivey, a rifle salute and more. The Veterans Memorial Center is located behind the Merritt Square Mall. Call 321-453-1776 or visit veteransmemorialcenter.org.
Mims
Memorial Day Flags for Fallen Vets
Volunteers are invited to place flags at the headstones or markers at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 U.S.1, North Mims, on Sunday, May 28 from 9 a.m. to noon. The flags will be provided, but participants should bring water, sunscreen, a ruler, gloves, and a 4-inch screwdriver. The event sponsor is Flags for Fallen Vets. Visit facebook.com/events/235008868907407.
Memorial Day ceremony at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery
A ceremony commemorating Memorial Day will take place at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 U.S.1, North Mims, on Monday, May 29. Call 321-383-2638 or visit cem.va.gov.
Palm Bay
Memorial Day weekend celebration at Space Coast Harley Davidson
Space Coast Harley Davidson, 1440 Sportsman Lane NE, Palm Bay, will host a two-day celebration on Saturday and Sunday, May 27 and 28 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. It will include the Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter 1 bike drawing giveaway, live entertainment, food trucks, vendors and free adult beverages. Wreaths Across America will be on site raising funds for their organization. Call 321-259-1311 or visit spacecoastharley.com.
Suntree
‘March On’ concert at Suntree United Methodist Church
Central Florida Winds will perform a lively concert of favorite marches at Suntree United Methodist Church, 7400 N. Wickham Road, on Sunday, May 28 at 3 p.m. The Memorial Day weekend concert will feature the “Imperial March” from Star Wars, “Rolling Thunder,” “Amparito Roca” and many other favorites. The audience can also expect several numbers by John Philip Sousa, including the national march of the United States, “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Visit cfwinds.com.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/25/heres-where-you-can-honor-the-fallen-in-brevard-county-this-memorial-day-weekend/ | 2023-05-25T13:29:16 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/25/heres-where-you-can-honor-the-fallen-in-brevard-county-this-memorial-day-weekend/ |
SANFORD, Fla. – Rain or shine, this downtown Sanford music festival is keeping the party going.
The annual Hurricane Party Music Festival first took place in 2006 and has been growing since then, according to event organizers.
The festival will have over 30 bands on six stages and feature various vendors and food trucks for all the fun on Saturday.
“The Hurricane Party is our way of paying homage to Mother Nature for a tranquil hurricane season,” the event’s website reads.
Some of the bands performing include the Expendables, the Suicide Machines, Ballyhoo!, and the Supervillains.
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The festival begins at 12 p.m. and runs until 10 p.m., followed by an after party until 2 a.m.
Click here to purchase your tickets online. Tickets includes free drinks, a T-shirt and more.
Check out every episode of Riff On This in the media player below: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/25/hurricane-party-festival-brings-over-30-bands-food-trucks-to-downtown-sanford/ | 2023-05-25T13:29:22 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/25/hurricane-party-festival-brings-over-30-bands-food-trucks-to-downtown-sanford/ |
FOUR CORNERS, Fla. – A shopping alcove nestled in the Kissimmee tourism district has an honorable take on Memorial Day that stretches observances over a four-day weekend.
Starting Friday, “Memorial 4 Day Weekend” kicks off in Promenade at Sunset Walk, a recently-built outlet mall located on Margaritaville Boulevard near West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in the Four Corners area.
Four Corners is the area where Orange, Osceola, Polk and Lake counties meet.
Memorial 4 Day Weekend invites visitors to honor the fallen with one or all four days of live music, street performers, markets and car shows.
Admission to the event is free, as is parking rain or shine, but outside food and drink is not allowed. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP with this link.
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The following schedule of events was shared on the event’s webpage:
Friday, May 26
- SWITCH — Rock ‘n’ roll tributes from the ‘80s and ‘90s.
- Fired-Up Fridays car show.
Saturday, May 27
- Osaka Falls — Pop, top 40, & rock ‘n’ roll.
- Show Car Saturday Night, 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
- Street/Craft Market, starting at 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 28
- Hacksaw Hamlin — Rock ‘n’ roll classics.
Monday, May 29
- SocietY — Top 40, dance, rock, country, R & B, and Latin rock.
Plus
- DJ Scotty B and Central Florida’s best team of disc jockeys will be spinning nothing but the hits all weekend.
- Stilt walkers and street performers every day.
Read more on SunsetWalk.com.
Check out every episode of Riff On This in the media player below: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/25/memorial-4-day-weekend-promises-music-dance-and-cars-in-four-corners/ | 2023-05-25T13:29:29 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/25/memorial-4-day-weekend-promises-music-dance-and-cars-in-four-corners/ |
DALLAS(KDAF)—This morning, temperatures are in the 70s this morning with cloudy skies. Today there’s no sign of severe weather, but rain and thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon and tonight.
NWS Fort Worth said, “Today will feature partly to mostly cloudy skies with afternoon highs rising into the 80s across much of the region. A few isolated showers and thunderstorms will be possible across portions of North and Central Texas this afternoon. More thunderstorms will push out of the Texas Panhandle later tonight, but they should remain largely west of our area. | https://cw33.com/news/local/north-texas-will-get-thunderstorms-and-showers-today-and-tonight-watch-out-for-rain-in-certain-areas/ | 2023-05-25T13:38:24 | 0 | https://cw33.com/news/local/north-texas-will-get-thunderstorms-and-showers-today-and-tonight-watch-out-for-rain-in-certain-areas/ |
INDIANAPOLIS – An Indiana board is set to hear allegations Thursday that an Indianapolis doctor should face disciplinary action after she spoke publicly about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim from neighboring Ohio.
The Medical Licensing Board's hearing comes after Indiana's Republican attorney general accused Dr. Caitlin Bernard of violating state law by not reporting the girl's child abuse to Indiana authorities. She's also accused of breaking federal patient privacy laws by telling a newspaper reporter about the girl's treatment.
Bernard and her attorneys maintain that the doctor followed Indiana's child abuse reporting requirements as the girl's rape was already being investigated by Ohio authorities. Bernard's lawyers also say she didn't release any identifying information about the girl that would break privacy laws.
The Indianapolis Star cited the girl's case in a July 1 article that sparked a national political uproar in the weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June, putting into effect an Ohio law that prohibited abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Some news outlets and Republican politicians falsely suggested Bernard fabricated the story, until a 27-year-old man was charged with the rape in Columbus, Ohio.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita's complaint asked the licensing board to impose "appropriate disciplinary action" but doesn't specify a requested penalty.
The Indiana board – made up of six doctors and one attorney appointed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb – could vote whether to impose any penalties Thursday after hearing what is expected to be several hours of testimony. State law gives the board wide latitude, allowing it to issue reprimand letters or suspend, revoke or place on probation a doctor's license.
Amid the wave of attention to the girl's case last summer, Rokita, who is stridently anti-abortion, told Fox News he would investigate Bernard's actions, calling her an "abortion activist acting as a doctor."
"This case is about two things – and two things only – patient privacy and this doctor's failure to protect this child," he said in a statement this week.
Ohio's law imposing a near-ban on abortion was in effect for about two months before being put on hold as a lawsuit against it plays out.
Bernard unsuccessfully tried to block Rokita's investigation last fall, although an Indianapolis judge wrote that Rokita made "clearly unlawful breaches" of state confidentiality laws with his public comments about investigating the doctor before filing the medical licensing complaint against her.
Bernard lawyer Kathleen DeLaney has called the complaint against the doctor "baseless attacks" done at taxpayer expense.
"Rokita's actions set a dangerous precedent imperiling the provision of lawful patient care," DeLaney has said. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/indiana/indiana-doctor-faces-discipline-hearing-over-ohio-girls-abortion/article_31e66e74-fafc-11ed-8465-3b92fd8d0901.html | 2023-05-25T13:42:51 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/indiana/indiana-doctor-faces-discipline-hearing-over-ohio-girls-abortion/article_31e66e74-fafc-11ed-8465-3b92fd8d0901.html |
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A central Pennsylvania high school was closed on Thursday after a senior prank caused a "substantial clean up," the school district said.
The Susquehanna Township School District announced Thursday morning that the school would be closed, both to ensure the building could be cleaned up and "out of an abundance of caution."
According to reports being circulated on social media, a group of senior students at the high school hid inside the building following Awards Night ceremonies and vandalized the school.
Due to the substantial amount of clean-up required at the high school, the school district said it would close the building for in-person learning and other events.
The school district did not say whether the students responsible for the alleged acts of vandalism were identified, nor was there any word on what punishment, if any, the students would face.
The school district said it would make further updates as information became available. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/dauphin-county/senior-prank-closes-susquehanna-township-high-school/521-f045c078-d74e-4cbc-a9ab-7b469c4ec6e5 | 2023-05-25T13:47:13 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/dauphin-county/senior-prank-closes-susquehanna-township-high-school/521-f045c078-d74e-4cbc-a9ab-7b469c4ec6e5 |
CEDAR FALLS — Across the nation, volunteer fire departments are struggling – but that doesn’t seem to be the case in Northeast Iowa.
The Associated Press reported there are many reasons volunteer departments – which make up more than 80% of all fire departments in the U.S. – are seeing issues: Young people leaving rural areas, which are more likely to rely on volunteer services; extensive training requirements that are time-consuming; and the fact that many of these volunteer departments are expected to respond to medical emergencies, hazmat incidents, active shooter situations and other scenarios that result in increased call volumes are a few examples.
In 1984 there were nearly 900,000 volunteer firefighters, according to the AP. In 2020, that number was 677,000. Over that same time period, however, call numbers tripled.
In Sumner, the fire department has retained an average of 30 to 35 firefighters, even throughout the pandemic.
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Keegan Duhrkopf, the assistant fire chief in Sumner, said most of the crew has been around for more than 25 years. He said the department’s most tenured firefighter will reach 55 years of service this year.
Once those firefighters hit 30 or more years volunteering, they will probably think about retiring, Duhrkopf said.
“Then we’ll have a pretty big (spot) that needs to be filled,” he said. “I can see us maybe struggling in the future, but we’re definitely noticing people willing to volunteer.”
The same goes for Waverly’s volunteer fire department, also sitting at 30 to 35 firefighters. Fire Chief Bryan McKenzie said his department is “older” – most of the crew being over 30 years old.
“We have a lot of good, dedicated people,” McKenzie said. “We have a lot of tenured guys, but when we get someone on they stay on.”
According to the Iowa Fire Department Census, almost 90% of Iowa’s fire departments are volunteer-run.
Duhrkopf said for rural areas like Sumner – which has a little more than 2,000 people, according to the 2020 Census – the call volume is lower “so it doesn’t make sense for a city or township to fund a paid department.”
The Associated Press said time donated by volunteer firefighters saves communities nearly $47 billion each year nationwide. But running a volunteer fire department still costs money.
Duhrkopf said outfitting one firefighter with proper personal protective equipment required to enter a burning home costs $14,100. That includes the helmet, hood, gloves, bunker coat, bunker pants, boots, mask and breathing apparatuses. It does not include the price for hand tools. Pagers to alert the firefighters also cost about $500.
The Sumner Fire Department is funded primarily through donations, he said, and is “blessed” to have citizens that supports it. The department also receives support from applying for grants.
In Waverly, McKenzie said the city sets a budget and treats the department “very well,” but if it wants anything extra there is money that can be used from the volunteer fire association.
Aside from raising money, volunteer firefighters must also meet a certain expectation of training hours.
Every firefighter is required to reach 24 hours a year minimum of training, Duhrkopf said.
But new members to the department need to meet more extensive requirements. To become a nationally certified Firefighter 1 and hazmat operator, there is a 180 hour class that takes several months to complete. Duhrkopf said this can be hard for members with a family due to the large time commitment.
For their volunteerism, the state of Iowa provides a $250 tax credit if the firefighter serves for the entire year. If they don’t serve the entire year, the credit is prorated based on the number of months they served.
“Everybody could always use an extra penny here and there, but a lot of us … we get envelopes at the end of the year. But guys donate it right back to the department,” Duhrkopf said. “It’s not huge, but it’s the right thing to do.”
Cowboy lassos runaway steer on Michigan highway, and more of today's top videos
Dashcam footage from a Michigan State Police patrol car shows the moment a runaway cow was lassoed by a wrangler, NASA has spotted wreckage on the moon, and more of today's top videos.
If you thought cowboys were a thing of the past, think again. Dashcam footage from a Michigan State Police patrol car shows the moment a runaw…
NASA spotted the wreckage of a lunar lander, which could be the first privately-funded spacecraft to land on the moon.
Canada's 2.5 million acre wildfires draw U.S. crews to battle the flames with more help on the way from Australia and New Zealand.
Who wore it better? "The Pet Gala", hosted in New York City, recreated iconic looks from this year's Met Gala, but on pets.
Once home to some 80 thousand Ukrainians, little remains of the city of Bakhmut, scene of the longest and bloodiest battle of Russia’s invasio…
A volcano around 45 miles (about 70 kilometers) southeast of Mexico City as been showing increasing signs of activity in recent days, leading …
Meet Khaleesi, the Komodo Dragon who has recently found a new home for herself at the ZSL London zoo. This giant reptile, named after one of H… | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/government-and-politics/area-volunteer-fire-departments-not-seeing-national-trends-of-shortages/article_4e138116-f9aa-11ed-a1bf-4f26eb53e7cc.html | 2023-05-25T13:48:06 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/government-and-politics/area-volunteer-fire-departments-not-seeing-national-trends-of-shortages/article_4e138116-f9aa-11ed-a1bf-4f26eb53e7cc.html |
CEDAR FALLS — Republican candidate for president Vivek Ramaswamy will be at events in Cedar Falls on Friday
The first event is an 8 a.m. meet-and-greet at Barn Happy, 11310 University Ave., hosted by former state Rep. Walt Rogers and the Black Hawk County Republicans. It will include a pancake breakfast.
At 11:30 a.m., Ramaswamy will lead a Waterloo-Cedar Falls business roundtable at Mudd Advertising, 915 Technology Parkway. He’ll be back at Mudd Advertising at 4 p.m. for a meet-and-greet event. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/government-and-politics/republican-presidential-candidate-vivek-ramaswamy-to-visit-cedar-falls/article_019cb382-fa5b-11ed-b510-f7ff34302e6f.html | 2023-05-25T13:48:07 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/government-and-politics/republican-presidential-candidate-vivek-ramaswamy-to-visit-cedar-falls/article_019cb382-fa5b-11ed-b510-f7ff34302e6f.html |
BRADFORD COUNTY, Pa. — The deadly shooting of a 15 year old by state troopers in Bradford County earlier this month was justified, according to the district attorney.
Troopers were called to a wooded area of Herrick Township, north of Wyalusing in Bradford County, on May 4 after a threat of violence was made on an online message board.
Investigators said the teen suspect, armed with a handgun, ran from troopers.
The victim was shot after pointing the weapon at troopers. He was flown to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Bradford County District Attorney Albert Ondrey ruled the shooting justified.
“The evidence showed the juvenile pointed the gun at the trooper despite multiple commands to drop the gun,” Ondrey said. “This tragedy could have been avoided had he followed those commands.”
See news happening? Text our Newstip Hotline. | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/bradford-county/da-shooting-of-bradford-county-teen-justified-herrick-township-state-police-district-attorney/523-c1af2c6e-cbf8-4a3f-be25-142cedd66009 | 2023-05-25T13:50:01 | 1 | https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/bradford-county/da-shooting-of-bradford-county-teen-justified-herrick-township-state-police-district-attorney/523-c1af2c6e-cbf8-4a3f-be25-142cedd66009 |
Gaston County now has a dental assistant academy, here's what you need to know
Gastonia now has a dental assistant academy.
Lupe Torres and Modesta Vera have been in the dental assistant business for upwards of a decade. The two met roughly nine years ago working in the same dental office and have been close friends ever since. In recent years, they had been working in offices located in Charlotte when they noticed that The Queen City had a number of dental assistant schools, and yet, Gastonia had none. That was when they decided to bring the Royal Dental Assistant Academy to life.
For Vera, having a father and a brother who are dentists in Ecuador and Chile was a huge inspiration for her to continue moving in the dental field. Torres was inspired to bring something different back to this community.
“I’m from Gastonia. I graduated from Hunter [Huss] High School, and I’m so honored to bring this academy to Gastonia,” Torres said.
Vera and Torres are excited to offer what they say is an affordable program that they believe will make a career in the dental field attainable to many.
The academy offers a 12-week dental assistant program that costs $3,300, a six-hour teeth whitening technician program costing $800, and several add-on courses. The program will also offer in house payment options and has been approved to accept WIOA payments, a government program that helps various groups of adults get into a career, beginning in March of next year.
In addition to striving for an affordable program, the academy will also be a inclusive. Royal Dental’s courses will be offered in both Spanish and English.
Classes are held on Saturday each week in an effort to make education more accessible to people who are working full-time jobs.
“We are trying to focus on weekend schedules since many people work Monday-Friday jobs... It gives them the flexibility to continue working while going to school,” Torres said, adding that if more students sign up, they will likely open the schedule up to include Friday or Monday options as well.
Offering an accelerated program was also very important to Vera and Torres.
“Four-year college is not for everyone, and we’re here to provide a program that not only [do] you graduate in 12 weeks, but students will embark on a new journey in an industry that is rapidly growing,” said Torres.
The academy currently has four instructors ready to offer hands-on experience and guidance to aspiring dental assistants. Classes begin June 3, located in the Remount Executive Center at 2020 Remount Road in Gastonia. Open enrollment will be available each spring, summer, and fall. Applicants can apply online anytime. | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/05/25/dental-school/70245342007/ | 2023-05-25T13:59:05 | 0 | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/05/25/dental-school/70245342007/ |
DALLAS — She's a global icon whose life changed right here in the City of Dallas.
On July 3, 1976, Tina and Ike Turner's rocky marriage came to a head. They were in Dallas on the eve of the American Bicentennial, gearing up to launch a tour. But on that night, the late global music superstar's well-documented and sadly abusive marriage with Ike Turner had her running across Interstate 30 for safety.
She would find refuge at the Ramada Inn, not far from where they were staying at what was then known as the Hilton-Statler Hotel.
These days, the building that once house that Ramada Inn operates as the Lorenzo Hotel.
It's rumored she left Ike as he fell asleep.
"This was the turning point in her life -- that she had had enough of that life and she wanted something different," said Al DeBerry, the managing director at the Lorenzo Hotel. "She got in here with 36 cents and a Mobil gas card, walked up to the front desk, and was battered and bruised."
Many say that separation from Ike was the pivotal moment that launched an already promising career.
Turner would go on to record a catalog of timeless and Grammy-winning songs.
These days, her portrait is prominently featured at the front of the Lorenzo's main lobby.
Upstairs on the 11th floor, though, the room at the Lorenzo where she stayed for three days, hiding from Ike, remains. Since branded as "Escape," the room pays homage to the woman they called "The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll." Inside, you'll find a wall lined with photos of Turner, pillow cases with her face on them and even quotes from the music legend written on the ceiling.
On Wednesday, it was announced that Turner has lost her life after a long battle with illness. She was 83 years old.
But at the Lorenzo Hotel, her legacy will continue to live on.
Said DeBerry: "We really are sorry and sad to see this day come." | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/tina-turner-dallas-hotel-refuge-from-abusive-ike/287-d78932c0-7117-47be-babd-1faac4584d19 | 2023-05-25T14:03:36 | 1 | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/tina-turner-dallas-hotel-refuge-from-abusive-ike/287-d78932c0-7117-47be-babd-1faac4584d19 |
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
We know that mining causes landscape destruction, water contamination and loss of wildlife habitat. We know that a changing climate leads to more powerful and catastrophic weather events. We know burning fossil fuels to produce energy makes the climate unstable. We know we must transition to an electric economy primarily powered by wind and solar farms. We know those farms will often require long distance transmission of electricity to urban centers. We know that nearly all the minerals critical to clean energy production and transmission are available in the U.S. But a long, arduous, and expensive permitting process means those minerals aren’t mined. Permitting reform allowing us to urgently but safely mine those needed minerals is critical.
We have little time to produce the minerals required to mitigate climate change. The solar panels, electric cars, wind turbines, transmission towers, and transmission lines all require mined metals. The elements in a wind turbine, for example, include carbon, cobalt, vanadium, lithium, nickel, manganese, iron, neodymium, molybdenum, zinc, copper, and silicon. Electric cars and solar panels require a similar list. Demand for those minerals already exceeds supply and that will get worse with time. Without them only about 20% of the Inflation Reduction Act’s climate ambition of a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is not going to be achieved.
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Cleaner air, cleaner water, and cleaner energy require mining of critical minerals, but because mining has a dirty history, getting a permit for mining is nearly impossible. Consequently, most of the ore needed for a transition to that better future are mined in countries with weak environmental regulations and then shipped to China to be refined. The democratic West is left largely dependent on China for the materials vital to a clean economy. That is a dangerous proposition.
We must accelerate the permitting process for mining domestically available critical metals, but we must not abandon environmental concerns or sacrifice safety. Federal regulations have already made mining much safer. Between 1900 and 1910, over 12,000 people died in mining accidents. In 2022 that number was 29. The environmental impact of mining will never go away, but it can be reduced with a wise combination of laws and regulations.
In 2011, a little over 70 applications for mining were submitted by mining companies, less than 30 received a permit. By 2022 the number of applications had fallen to about 15 and the number approved was less than half that. A transmission line bringing electricity from a wind farm in northern New Mexico to southern Arizona required a fourteen-year permitting process. We simply don’t have that kind of time.
We’ve placed an enormous amount of carbon into the atmosphere, and the result is a more volatile climate with evermore powerful hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, drought, driving political instability throughout the world. We have an urgent task to transition away from a carbon-based energy economy to a renewable energy economy. Accomplishing that change will require more mining of well-regulated domestic resources. Permits allowing mining must require mining companies to do so in the safest, least environmentally destructive way possible, but those permits must not require mining companies to experience lengthy delays. It is possible to accelerate permitting while still requiring health, environmental and social concerns to be met.
A safe and sustainable economy will require mining of the minerals needed to undergird that economy. Acceleration of permitting reform is under discussion now in Congress. We must have a permitting process that protects human health and has strong safety regulations and environmental protections but also doesn’t impose interminable delays. In our democratic society it is up to the elected representatives of the citizens to impose laws and regulations that will allow the safest and most environmentally responsible way to get the minerals necessary for a clean energy society. The time for Congress to act is now.
Mike Carran is a retired school administrator and member of the Tucson Chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby, a non-profit group advocating action to mitigate consequences of climate change. | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/local-opinion-permitting-reform-for-mining-critical-minerals/article_ff314694-f8c5-11ed-8f2e-87d9045e0466.html | 2023-05-25T14:05:32 | 0 | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/local-opinion-permitting-reform-for-mining-critical-minerals/article_ff314694-f8c5-11ed-8f2e-87d9045e0466.html |
CARROLLTON, Ga. — It's been nearly 14 years since anyone has heard from or seen Brian Wehrle.
The 39-year-old traveled to Carrollton from his home on Morningside Drive in Atlanta at the end of September 2009 to attend a Probate Court hearing. He was the executor of his parents' estate and had an appointment to sign some paperwork.
It was during this time, the City of Atlanta and surrounding communities saw record-breaking and catastrophic flooding. Wehrle's niece, Amanda Rickles said she recalled him telling her it took forever to get down to Carrollton.
On Sept. 23, 2009, Rickles said Wehrle called her while mowing his parents' lawn along Crescent Drive in Carrollton.
"He was just taking a break, going to Taco Bell," Rickles said. "He was also talking about his trip down and how frustrating it had been because it had taken him four hours to do a 45 minute drive."
Rickles said he told her he was going to go find a map so he could figure out the best route back to get around all the flooding. She said he was also not looking forward to the long drive back home after the Probate Court hearing the following morning.
Carrollton Police said they were able to track down his last few stops and the people he spoke to on the night of Sept. 23, 2009.
"We know that the last people to see him alive that we know of are his sister, Anita, and her husband Spencer. That he had gone to their house that evening," Sgt. Meredith Browning of Carrollton Police explained.
"Based on his phone records. We believe that the last person he spoke to on the phone was a friend of his. And we, of course, talked to him," she said. "But his friend doesn't live around here, did not see him in person that night. And his partner, Jeff, I believe he spoke with him that night also for a short time."
Rickels said her uncle tried to call her that same night as well, but she missed it.
"He had called and left me a message and when I called him back, he didn't answer," she said.
The only possible sighting of Wehrle after leaving his sister's home that night was by a neighbor in the overnight hours.
"The neighbors next to my grandparents’ house where he was staying saw a light on in the garage at 2 a.m.," Rickles explained. "They assumed it was him."
"We can't confirm that was Brian," Sgt. Browning said. "If that was Brian then that was the last sighting, if not, then that would obviously be a suspect or a person of interest we'd like to talk to."
The following day, Wehrle didn't show up for the Probate Court hearing. Rickles said her aunt called her asking if she'd heard from her uncle and the family soon realized, Wehrle was missing.
They found his phone, medication and all his belongings at his parents' home. Wehrle has a pacemaker. The only things that appeared to be missing were Wehrle and his light blue four-door 1992 Buick LeSabre.
It would be three months later in December, Carrollton Police would receive a call from Chattanooga Police in Tennessee.
"Officers saw the car parked against a curb on the side of a road and went to check it out because it matched the description of a car in a robbery," Sgt. Browning explained. "When they ran the tag of the vehicle, they determined the tag did not belong to the vehicle. The tag was reported stolen from another residence in Chattanooga. When they ran the VIN on the vehicle, they realized it was tied to Brian Wehrle as a missing person."
Sgt. Browning said they sent detectives up to canvass the area and process the car. She said nothing appeared to be disturbed in the vehicle. In fact, she said he had a bowl full of change that was still in it. They even found the receipt from his Taco Bell order from his dinner the night before his Probate Court hearing.
"There were some partial prints, but they are not AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) quality to be put into the database for fingerprints," Sgt. Browning said. "We actually rechecked that recently but still had no luck."
Rickles said while the break in the case was hopeful for a short time, it was once again a dead end.
She said not only did the news hit hard on her, but also on Wehrle's partner Jeff, who had been by his side for 12 years before his disappearance.
"It was heart-wrenching -- experience my own pain and then having him, the person he loved for over a decade just completely disappear and have no answer," Rickles said.
Sgt. Browning said Jeff checked in with them routinely. Unfortunately, he has since passed away. Rickles said it's heartbreaking knowing he never got any answers into what happened to the love of his life.
As for her continued fight to find out what happened to her uncle, she said she won't stop.
"There’s someone out there that did it, was involved in it or who knows and we deserve answers," she explained.
Sgt.Browning said they've been assisted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, as they even brought in cadaver dogs to assist in the investigation. These specific K-9s are trained to alert on possible human remains.
In 2015, Carrollton PD asked Trace Sargent to bring in her specialized dogs to Wehrle's parents' property where he was staying before he vanished.
"She had three dogs and we took her to this house and there was a boat house behind the house," Sgt. Browning explained. "It's on a little a little like here in town. All three of them alerted at this very same spot outside the boat house. So we went inside the boat house. They all alerted inside the boat house. Long story short, we got a search warrant. We dug up that floor and didn't find anything."
While nothing was discovered, Sergeant Browning said the fact the dogs did hit on a scent was intriguing.
She admits it's been frustrating and she does wish things might have been handled a little differently by the original investigator on the case. She said they're just waiting for the right lead to finally break this case open.
Rickles is hoping to drum up new leads by launching a billboard campaign between Carrollton and Chattanooga.
She has started an online fundraising campaign to raise money to purchase billboards to help publicize her uncle's case.
As to any potential suspects, Carrollton Police haven't ruled out the possibility that whatever happened to Wehrle, the person responsible could be someone very close to him.
Rickles said she's also come to terms with that conclusion, considering there appeared to be no struggle at her grandparents' home at the time her uncle disappeared.
Anyone with information on Wehrle's disappearance is asked to call Carrollton Police at (770) 834-4451.
Recently, Wehrle's case was featured on a crime podcast that has helped renew interest in the case.
Watch the full story of Brian Wehrle and his mysterious disappearance below. | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/atlanta-man-brian-wehrle-still-missing-14-years-mysterious-disappearance-carrollton-parents-estate/85-550d4143-a208-441d-a068-953a8259d8c5 | 2023-05-25T14:07:55 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/atlanta-man-brian-wehrle-still-missing-14-years-mysterious-disappearance-carrollton-parents-estate/85-550d4143-a208-441d-a068-953a8259d8c5 |
CALIFORNIA, USA — California regulators say the state is unlikely to experience electricity shortages this summer after securing new power sources and a wet winter that filled the state's reservoirs enough to restart hydroelectric power plants that were dormant during the drought.
The nation's most populous state normally has more than enough electricity to power the homes and businesses of more than 39 million people. But the electrical grid has trouble when it gets really hot and everyone turns on their air conditioners simultaneously.
It got so hot in August 2020 that California's power grid was overwhelmed, prompting the state's three largest utility companies to shut off electricity for hundreds of thousands of homes for a few hours over two consecutive days. Similar heat waves in 2021 and 2022 pushed the state to the brink again. State officials avoided blackouts by encouraging people to conserve energy and tapping some emergency gas-powered generators.
The state's electrical grid was strained in part because of a severe drought that left reservoirs at dangerously low levels, leaving little water available to pass through hydroelectric power plants. The water level in Lake Oroville got so low in 2021 state officials had to shut down a hydroelectric power plant capable of powering 80,000 homes.
That won't be a problem this year after winter storms dumped massive amounts of rain and snow on the state. Plus, an additional 8,594 megawatts of power from wind, solar and battery storage will come online by Sept. 1, according to Neil Millar, vice president of Transmission Planning & Infrastructure Development for the California Independent System Operator.
One megawatt of electricity is enough to power about 750 homes.
“I am relieved to say that we are in a much better position than what we were going into 2022,” said Siva Gunda, vice chair of the California Energy Commission.
The struggle to power the state during severe heat waves has been a problem for Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has aggressively moved the state away from fossil fuels. California gets much of its power now from sources like wind and solar. But those power sources are not always available.
To avoid blackouts during heat waves, Newsom and the state Legislature spent $3.3 billion to create a “strategic reliability reserve." State officials used the money to extend the life of some gas-fired power plants scheduled to retire and to purchase large diesel-powered generators. Last September, when a severe heat wave pushed the statewide demand for electricity to an all-time high, this reserve generated up to 1,416 megawatts of energy.
On Thursday, Newsom was set to update his plan to move the state away from fossil fuels and “outline a plan to achieve California's ambitious climate goals,” according to a news release from the governor's office.
While officials say the state should avoid critical power shortages, they warn the weather could change things. Wildfires are also a threat to knock out key power transmission lines. Those things could still trigger a “flex alert" warning people to conserve energy.
“I would say that folks shouldn’t be surprised to see a flex alert,” said Alice Reynolds, president of the California Public Utilities Commission. “I mean, we’re talking about extreme heat, unusual events that are hard to manage.”
Watch more on ABC10
Loneliness is new public health epidemic in US, report says | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/california-electricity-summer-flex-alerts/103-a8110f47-af58-42dd-b93d-85f915eb5a01 | 2023-05-25T14:08:01 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/california-electricity-summer-flex-alerts/103-a8110f47-af58-42dd-b93d-85f915eb5a01 |
AAA offering free towing service Memorial Day weekend to keep impaired drivers off roads
As Memorial Day weekend approaches, AAA is providing a free "Tow-to-Go" service in an effort to keep impaired drivers off the road in Michigan and other select states.
The Auto Club Group said dispatchers will send a tow truck to transport the driver and vehicle to a safe location within a 10-mile radius for free, according to a news release. The rides will be available for both AAA members and non-members.
“By providing this program, AAA gives drivers no excuse for driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol or impairing medications,” said Adrienne Woodland, spokeswoman for AAA, in a news release. “However, we remind people to treat Tow-to-Go as a last resort. Instead, make advanced plans for a safe ride home, because you do not want to be remembered on Memorial Day as the person who made the fatal mistake of driving impaired.”
The group says it is preparing to rescue more than 483,000 drivers nationwide with car trouble this Memorial Day weekend in its 25th year of offering the program. More than 1.2 million Michiganians plan to travel 50 miles or more for the holiday, according to the group's Memorial Day Travel Forecast
More:Warmer weather, cooler gas prices expected to boost Memorial Day travel
Tow-to-Go is active from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Tuesday, AAA said.
Michigan isn't the only state that offers the Tow-to-Go program. It's also available in Florida, Georgia, Iowa, North Dakota, Nebraska, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Colorado, North Carolina and Indiana.
The program, according to the group, may not be available in rural areas or during severe weather conditions, and appointments cannot be scheduled in advance.
To utilize, the service, call (855) 2-TOW-2-GO or (855) 286-9246.
jaimery@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @wordsbyjakkar | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/05/25/aaa-provides-free-towing-service-memorial-day-weekend/70255707007/ | 2023-05-25T14:12:00 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/05/25/aaa-provides-free-towing-service-memorial-day-weekend/70255707007/ |
Mich. agriculture officials find another infestation of bugs that damage hemlock trees
Michigan agricultural officials have spotted another infestation of a small bug that can impact the growth of hemlock trees and potentially kill them within 10 years, making Washtenaw County the seventh in Michigan with a confirmed infestation.
Hemlock woolly adelgids are small insects with long, siphoning mouths that they use to extract sap from hemlock trees, weakening needles, shoots, and branches over time and slowing tree growth, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The bugs were spotted earlier this month in the Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor.
“Our team of invasive species specialists is currently working with the arboretum to determine an appropriate treatment and response plan,” said Mike Philip, MDARD’s pesticide and plant pest management division director, in a press release. "There isn’t a way to determine how long hemlock woolly adelgid has been there or how it got there, but it’s possible HWA has been there for a number of years.”
Infestations are recognizable by the appearance of tiny "cotton balls" at the base of hemlock needles on the underside of the branch. Without treatment, infested trees, which get a gray appearance with time, die within four to 10 years, according to the state's agriculture department.
Hemlock woolly adelgids infestations have previously been found in Allegan, Benzie, Mason, Muskegon, Oceana and Ottawa counties. They've also been spotted within five miles of the Lake Michigan shoreline, according to MDARD.
Most of the state's infestations, Phillip said, are located in western region of the state, adding hemlock trees are not native to southeast Michigan.
“Although the pest still poses a problem for homeowners who may have planted hemlock trees or where they may have been planted in other landscaping, this HWA detection does not pose a significant threat to Washtenaw’s natural resources and environment," he said.
Hemlock woolly adelgids are just one threat to Michigan's plant kingdom, prompting state agencies to caution residents to do their part to protect trees.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials are also urging residents to take steps to spread oak wilt disease, a separate infection that can can kill oak trees within weeks.
During the period between April 15 and July 15, beetles actively carry spores of fungus from tree to tree, which increases the risk for infection with oak wilt, the DNR said. Oak trees with wounds in their bark are susceptible to the disease, which can weaken white oaks and kill red oaks within a few weeks.
First confirmed in Michigan in the early 1950s, the infection wilts trees from the top down, rapidly dropping its green and brown leaves.
“Oak trees should not be pruned between April 15 and July 15. These pruning guidelines can help keep infection from spreading,” said Simeon Wright, forest health specialist in the DNR’s forest resources division. “Once a tree is infected there is no cure. Without expensive treatments the disease spreads to other trees and may in time kill all nearby oaks.”
Firewood cut from infected oak trees can harbor the fungus, and is discouraged from moving from one place to another.
jaimery@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @wordsbyjakkar | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/05/25/michigan-agencies-caution-environmental-challenges/70252068007/ | 2023-05-25T14:12:06 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/05/25/michigan-agencies-caution-environmental-challenges/70252068007/ |
U.S. Marshals operation finds 25 missing Southeast Michigan kids
Twenty-five endangered missing children were recovered in Southeast Michigan in a 10-week federal investigation, officials said Wednesday.
The kids who were found included runaways and those who'd been abducted. Authorities with the U.S. Marshals Service said the effort, called "Operation We Will Find You," was the first nationwide missing child operation focusing on geographical areas with high numbers of critically missing children.
“The U.S. Marshals Service has many important missions, but I cannot think of any that is more critical than findingchildren who are missing and getting them to safety," Owen Cypher, the U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Michigan, said in a statement.
Marshals worked with state and local agencies in 16 communities across the country under the operation and recovered a total of 225 endangered missing children. The youngest child recovered is six months old.
In Michigan, the U.S. Marshals Service worked with representatives of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, the Michigan State Police's Missing Child Clearinghouse and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, authorities said.
Some of the recovered children were considered to be challenging cases in Southeast Michigan because of high-risk factors such as child sex trafficking, child exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and medical or mental health conditions. Others were sought due to requests from law enforcement agencies to ensure they were safe and confirm the child’s location, according to officials.
"Our work does not stop here, we are only getting started," Cypher said. "We intend to build on this mission of recovering missing children here in the Eastern District of Michigan and will stop at nothing to bring home anymissing child that we become aware of."
Cypher said a 2015 federal law enhanced the service's authority to assist law enforcement agencies in recovering endangered missing children, regardless of whether a fugitive or sex offender was involved. Under the act, the service established a Missing Child Unit.
The service also formed a partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2005. Since then, the U.S. Marshals have recovered more than 3,050 missing children. Sixty-two percent of those children were found within a week of the service's involvement in the case, officials said.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @CharlesERamirez | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/05/25/u-s-marshals-operation-finds-25-missing-southeast-michigan-kids/70255601007/ | 2023-05-25T14:12:12 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/05/25/u-s-marshals-operation-finds-25-missing-southeast-michigan-kids/70255601007/ |
OXON HILL, Md. — A $12,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of a teenager who remains on the run after allegedly trying to kill a student aboard a Prince George's County school bus.
On May 1 a public school bus was dropping students off at Iverson Street and Sutler Drive in Oxon Hill.
That's when police say three masked teenagers got on the bus and attacked a student.
One teen, a 15-year-old nicknamed "Baby K," reportedly pulled a gun and attempted to shoot the victim multiple times at point blank range.
Investigators believe the gun malfunctioned, so the group assaulted the victim before fleeing the scene.
RELATED:Search on for three who allegedly tried shooting student on PG County school bus
The student escaped with only minor injuries. The bus driver and an aide who witnessed the incident were not hurt.
Three others connected to the incident have since been arrested and charged as adults. One of them is a 14-year old girl, who allegedly helped plan the attempted murder.
"Baby K" is the last suspect on the loose tied to the assault.
Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-8477. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/12-500-reward-for-baby-k-teenager-wanted-for-attempted-pg-school-bus-murder | 2023-05-25T14:15:29 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/12-500-reward-for-baby-k-teenager-wanted-for-attempted-pg-school-bus-murder |
Understanding Salina Regional and Blue Cross' continued negotiations over rates
At the end of April, Salina Regional Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas publicly announced that the hospital and insurance company began negotiating rates paid to the hospital for care services.
The announcement came via public addresses from both entities and messaging in a system-wide email to staff at Salina Regional. Both Salina Regional and Blue Cross have created their own webpages dedicated to the issue and their claims about payment rates for care.
More about the negotiations:Blue Cross Blue Shield, Salina Regional Health begin battle over payment rates
Here are some brief key points of why such negotiations happen, what they mean and why this one is different.
What are hospital/insurance company negotiations and why do they happen?
On an annual basis, insurers work with hospitals to outline payment rates for the care they provide. Hospitals must come to an agreement by a given deadline or contracts expire and they become an out-of-network provider.
Hospital reimbursement is based on many factors including specialty services offered, patient volume and patient complexity, among other factors.
The process of agreeing on payment rates typically takes place privately, between providers and insurers. But Salina Regional and Blue Cross have taken the negotiating process public.
What are each party's claims and arguments?
Salina Regional
Salina Regional claims Blue Cross paid comparable health systems in the state up to 50% higher rates than it paid Salina Regional, and possibly other providers, for at least two years.
The hospital's webpage about the issue also claims Blue Cross could pay Salina Regional more without raising premiums for its members, citing the insurance company's profits shown on an annual report from 2018.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas
The insurance company holds that Salina Regional is not paid 50% less than its competitors and that the health system is paid the same as hospitals of similar size.
The insurance company says that current demands from Salina Regional are not a fair ask, and that paying Salina Regional more would mean its members paying more, too.
What is the publicly available pricing transparency Salina Regional mentions?
In 2021, the federal government ordered hospitals to begin publishing a machine-readable standard charges file for their items and services, including the prices they negotiate with private insurers and the actual price of 300 shoppable services.
But most hospitals have not yet posted the data. Only 25% of hospitals are fully complying with price transparency rules, according to Patient Rights Advocate. And when they have, it's not consumer friendly.
The pricing transparency Salina Regional cites can be found on hospital websites in convoluted files that contain thousands of cells and entry points, making it difficult for the public to compare them accurately.
How do the current negotiations between Salina Regional and Blue Cross affect the general public?
The battle between Salina Regional and Blue Cross has already thrust the public, members of Blue Cross of Kansas, into the center of the debate in its early stages. The importance of high-quality medical care close to home, and overall affordability of care for members, is leveraged by both parties.
But even with growing tensions, both sides have stated they want to come to an agreement. As negotiations continue, members can still receive in-network care at Salina Regional. The current contract between Blue Cross of Kansas and Salina Regional ends this year on Dec. 31.
This is a developing story. The Salina Journal will provide more coverage as negotiations continue and more information, including rates paid to competing hospitals, comes available.
Kendrick Calfee has been a reporter with the Salina Journal since 2022, primarily covering county government and education. You can reach him at kcalfee@gannett.com or on Twitter @calfee_kc. | https://www.salina.com/story/news/local/2023/05/24/what-the-public-salina-regional-blue-cross-negotiations-mean/70244354007/ | 2023-05-25T14:22:03 | 0 | https://www.salina.com/story/news/local/2023/05/24/what-the-public-salina-regional-blue-cross-negotiations-mean/70244354007/ |
CHILLICOTHE — Summer Camp Music Festival returns to Chillicothe this week, and some of its stages will be bubbling over with local, home-brewed jams.
Under two dozen bands or artists that are either local or have roots to Central Illinois will be performing across this four-day festival, beginning with Thursday’s pre-party sets and ending Sunday with a heavily stacked lineup.
You can get your Sunday Funday started at Summer Camp with BloNo favorite Leah Marlene, who’s finishing off her tour with a 3 p.m. show at the Campfire Stage, not far from the fest’s front gates. Her 21-stop run began in St. Louis and traced up the East Coast to New England this month.
I was delighted to catch up with her via video call the day before she performed May 16 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Marlene told me playing Summer Camp will be her first time back home in Illinois in a while. It’s also her first bigger stage with her band, she said.
Marlene said she didn’t know what turnout would be like on her tour, but she’s been pleasantly surprised. She also said she’s been working constantly while out on the road. Before her Cambridge show, she said she got to enjoy some quality time with her bandmates in Boston.
Her latest single, “Feel Like,” dropped earlier this month, after collaborating on production with Megan Redmond and Brett Truitt. Marlene’s vocals on the new track pounce with all the same energy she had singing “Firework” with Katy Perry one year ago on "American Idol." But they also strike a funky fresh groove that will surely get you up and dancing.
While she’s “such an album gal,” she said deciding to put out singles over longer records can be a wrestling match. Marlene said she expects to release quite a few more singles before her next album.
She said her songwriting process is always evolving: The vocal theme to “Feel Like” was created in her basement at home during the pandemic, and she rediscovered it before getting together to write with Redmond and Truitt. And they were both ready to jump on it.
After drafting an intro and dropping in the "da-da-da-daa-daa" part as a chorus, Marlene said the song started feeling “so good,” and they kept building around that.
“I just am so inspired by so many sounds,” said Marlene, but it’s difficult to balance creating material she can build also her brand around.
After her tour, Marlene said she will resume Patreon postings. People can also sign up for her email list to stay updated on her work.
Leah Marlene isn’t the only highly talented woman performing at this festival. I can also recommend listening to bluegrass performer Sierra Hull, jazz trumpeter and backup-singer-turned-bandleader Jennifer Hartswick, and electronic dance music by Denver’s Maddy O’Neal.
Songs for the soul
An indispensable ingredient to any camping music festival is a quality bluegrass band.
There’s several favors of bluegrass to pick from this year at Summer Camp. I’ll be staying up late to stomp to Yonder Mountain String Band’s 2 a.m. Friday set at the Campfire stage.
Rob Bailey, guitarist for Peoria bluegrass act Still Shine, credited Yonder Mountain as the band that got the jam-grass movement started in the 1990s.
Still Shine will get picking fast at 9:30 p.m. Sunday at the Soulshine tent stage. If you end up dipping out of the Vulfpeck show early, I highly advise camping out for some grassy jams by Still Shine.
Bailey said what he loves about bluegrass is how the music speaks to all ages. Whether their listeners are 8 years old or 80, he said his band gets a good response.
He also likes the variety, in that sets may include traditional tunes or modern hits. Bailey said they’ll play popular songs like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” “Rocket Man” by Elton John or Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble.”
Bailey said those kinds of bluegrass fusions are fairly unique for Central Illinois. They also play originals like “Walkin' Shoe,” which was written by their mandolinist, Wes Duffy.
It’ll be his band’s sixth time at their hometown festival. He also said Summer Camp definitely feels like a reunion.
Bailey said it’s fun to see friends and catch bands he usually wouldn’t have time to see as a working musician.
“That’s why festivals are always fun,” he said.
A trip around the sun
If you can swing a two-day pass and arrive by Saturday, there’s one regular Summer Camp act you absolutely should not miss.
Horns and strings and synth keyboards — oh my! Blasting through the solar system at warp-speed is Sun Stereo, an Urbana-Champaign band that melds Beatlesque vocals with fast-paced, funky rock jams.
Filling out their stage with two percussionists (Jamie Ryan and Jesse Greenlee), bassist Chuck Applebee, a three-piece brass section (trumpeter Omar Cantoran, trombonist David Fletcher and bari-saxophonist Jenelle Orcherton), violinist Johnny Lusardi and dancers Christine Marie and Beckie Marie, Sun Stereo delivers a big-top show of grand extravagance.
When asked what their stage presence is like, lead vocalist and keyboardist Kelly McMorris answered it’s indescribable. The 10-piece band returns at 7:30 p.m. Saturday to the festival’s Campfire stage for its 10th year.
McMorris described the Summer Camp fest vibes as “dusty with a 100% chance of sparkle.”
Sun Stereo does in fact deliver the sparkle to Summer Camp. “Dance MF” on their EP “Give It All Away” lives true to its name, and will get your shoes kicking all through an interplanetary trip.
McMorris said they prepare shows for the season, ending with a favorite set closer: “Long Way Out.”
If you can’t be at their festival set, Sun Stereo will be also performing Friday, June 23, at Make Music Normal here in the Twin Cities.
But if you’ve read this far, I must highly suggest that you reconsider your plans and make all four days of Summer Camp.
For the last two years, I’ve only attended the festival on the final day, Sunday. And, believe me when I write that I missed out on a lot.
I won’t be making that mistake this year. I hope you’ll do the same as me, and support as many Central Illinois performers you can at Summer Camp.
From Woodstock to Coachella: 50 historic music festivals
A look back at 60 years of historic music festivals
1958: Newport Jazz Festival
1965: Newport Folk Festival
1967: Monterey Pop Festival
1967: Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival
1968: Miami Pop Festival
1968: Northern California Folk-Rock Festival
1969: Woodstock Music & Art Fair
1969: Toronto Rock and Roll Revival
1970: Isle of Wight
1970: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
1971: Glastonbury
1973: Astrodome Jazz Festival
1973: Summer Jam at Watkins Glen
1974: Ozark Music Festival
1975: Schaefer Festival
1976: San Francisco Kool Jazz Festival
1978: Texxas World Music Festival
1979: World's Greatest Funk Festival
1980: Heatwave
1983: US Festival
1985: Farm Aid
1985: Rock in Rio
1991: Lollapalooza
1992: Reading Festival
1994: Woodstock
1995: Beale Street Music Festival
1996: Warped Tour
1997: Bridge School Benefit
1998: Tibetan Freedom Concert
1999: Coachella
1999: Woodstock
2000: Glastonbury
2000: Detroit Electronic Music Festival
2001: Summer Jam
2002: Austin City Limits
2002: Bonnaroo
2004: Coachella
2004: Dave Chappelle's Block Party
2005: Sasquatch!
2006: Street Scene
2007: Pitchfork
2008: Lollapalooza
2009: Bonnaroo
2010: Lollapalooza
2011: Austin City Limits
2012: Coachella
2013: Riot Fest
2015: Camp Flog Gnaw
2016: Desert Trip
2017: FYF Fest
Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison
Brendan Denison is our breaking news reporter. Denison was a digital content producer for WCIA-TV in Champaign and a reporter for The Commercial-News in Danville. He can be reached at (309) 820-3238 and bdenison@pantagraph.com.
Peoria bluegrass band Still Shine performs live Feb. 11 at Kenny's Westside Pub in Peoria. Next up for the band is a show Sunday, May 28, at Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe.
Kelly McMorris, right, and Christine Marie, left, are shown in this edited promotional photo provided by Sun Stereo, a Champaign-based band performing Saturday at Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe. Image captured at a Canopy Club show in Urbana. | https://pantagraph.com/entertainment/local/leah-marlene-other-central-illinois-artists-ready-for-summer-camp-music-fest/article_f63cfdb6-fa65-11ed-b90c-37e73d20529f.html | 2023-05-25T14:22:03 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/entertainment/local/leah-marlene-other-central-illinois-artists-ready-for-summer-camp-music-fest/article_f63cfdb6-fa65-11ed-b90c-37e73d20529f.html |
Expenses higher than predicted: Here's what to know about Saline County's budget process
In the next few months, Saline County will begin revising and refining the following year's fiscal budget, and in the process, working to reduce some requested allocations from different departments.
At their weekly meeting Tuesday, the Saline County Board of Commissioners got a first look at the collective budget allocation requests for fiscal year 2024. The brief presentation included some staggering numbers, with property-tax supported funds initially 16.66% higher than what was adopted in 2023.
The initial larger valuation would mark a $7.5 million increase across five taxpayer-supported funds from the current fiscal year — a number County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes noted was not feasible nor on the radar for county administration.
After that first look, Smith-Hanes explained where the county has to go from there.
So, what's next in the budgeting process?
Increases in county revenues are not enough to support the requested increase in expenditures. If all requests were approved, the county's property tax rate would increase by approximately 10 mills. On May 23, Smith-Hanes and the commission noted that this would not be a reasonable consideration.
To maintain the current mill levy, requested expenditures will have to be trimmed by about $7.2 million. Smith-Hanes noted that several of the larger requests are for projects that can be funded over multiple years and can be easily reduced for fiscal year 2024.
"Presenting an overview to you today, this will sort of launch into the more public part of the process," Smith-Hanes said to the commission May 23. "So we will be, next week, having meetings with departments to go over some of those requests and then we will be back in front of (the commission) in June."
Next steps
Commissioners will meet in a study session May 30 to discuss expenditure requests in detail.
Following commission feedback on May 30, and valuations from the county clerk, Smith-Hanes will prepare a recommended budget to distribute to departments and present it to the commission June 20.
Any appeals to the recommended budget will be heard by the commission July 11. On July 18, Commissioners will determine whether to hold a Revenue Neutral Rate hearing so proper notices can be provided to the public.
Official budget adoption is anticipated to be this Aug. 22 for fiscal year 2024.
Kendrick Calfee has been a reporter for the Salina Journal since 2022, primarily covering county government and education. You can reach him at kcalfee@gannett.com or on Twitter @calfee_kc. | https://www.salina.com/story/news/local/2023/05/25/saline-county-to-begin-work-on-reducing-2024-budget-expenditures/70244554007/ | 2023-05-25T14:22:09 | 0 | https://www.salina.com/story/news/local/2023/05/25/saline-county-to-begin-work-on-reducing-2024-budget-expenditures/70244554007/ |
BLOOMINGTON — Bloomington District 87 announced Connie Morgan will be the next principal of Irving Elementary School, pending board approval in June.
Morgan is currently the principal at South Elementary School in Marshall, and has been since 2016. She and her husband will relocate to Bloomington, as he has accepted a position with Illinois State University.
Morgan has a bachelor's degree in science education with an emphasis on art from Southern Illinois University and a master's degree in arts education from McKendree University.
She previously taught high school art at Carbondale Community High School, where she was chairwoman for the fine arts department and the student activities director from 1999 to 2016.
At Irving, Morgan is expected to succeed Messina Lambert, who was approved in May as principal of Bloomington Junior High. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/morgan-named-principal-of-irving-elementary-school/article_4c59a12a-fa77-11ed-8e3e-73d55a91e6cb.html | 2023-05-25T14:22:09 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/morgan-named-principal-of-irving-elementary-school/article_4c59a12a-fa77-11ed-8e3e-73d55a91e6cb.html |
What to know
- The applications for the Excelsior Scholarship in New York are now open; they let eligible full-time students attend a SUNY or CUNY two-year or four-year college tuition-free for the 2023-2024 academic year
- Students have through August 31 at midnight to apply.
- Some students who are undocumented or have a visa and meet the criteria for the Excelsior Scholarship under New York State Senator José Peralta's DREAM Act can apply.
New York State has opened applications for the Excelsior Scholarship that allows eligible full-time students to attend a SUNY or CUNY two-year or four-year college tuition-free for the 2023-2024 academic year, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
The scholarship is administered by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation.
"The Excelsior Scholarship is one of the most promising programs in New York State, providing access to an affordable college education for thousands of middle and lower-income New Yorkers," Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement. "At a time when economic disparities are widening, it is more important than ever that every student has access to the resources they need to succeed."
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Students have through August 31 at midnight to apply.
The 2023-2024 Excelsior Scholarship application is open to first-time students entering college in the Fall 2023 term and current college students who have never received the Excelsior Scholarship. Students currently receiving an Excelsior Scholarship do not need to complete this application to receive continued award payments.
Education
Here's everything you need to know about the scholarship and how to apply:
What is the Excelsior Scholarship?
The Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows students to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free. The program covers tuition for eligible SUNY and CUNY students.
Who is eligible?
For the 2023-24 academic year, families who earned $125,000 or less in the tax year 2021 are eligible to apply.
Students must also:
- Be a resident of New York State and have resided in the state for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the term.
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Have either graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma, or passed a federally approved "Ability to Benefit" test, as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department.
- Have a combined federal adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less.
- Be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college, including community colleges and the statutory colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University.
- Be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program through continuous study with no break in enrollment except for certain reasons that can be documented.
- If attended college prior to the 2023-24 academic year, have earned at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program prior to applying for an Excelsior Scholarship;
- Be in a non-default status on a student loan made under any New York State or federal education loan program or on the repayment of any New York State award.
- Be in compliance with the terms of the service conditions imposed by any New York State award that you have previously received.
- Execute a Contract agreeing to reside in New York State for the length of time the award was received, and, if employed during such time, be employed in New York State.
What happens if I meet the requirements for the Excelsior Scholarship but I am undocumented or have a visa?
Students eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship under the Senator José Peralta New York State DREAM Act can apply here.
What are the requirements?
Students newly applying for NYS financial aid under the provisions of the DREAM Act must first apply for eligibility under the NYS DREAM Act before applying for the Excelsior Scholarship. If you have previously qualified under the NYS DREAM Act, you will simply need to update any prior year information that may have changed to apply for the Excelsior Scholarship.
Here is the complete list of requirements under the Dream Act.
How much is the scholarship worth?
The Excelsior Scholarship covers any remaining gap in tuition expenses after other federal and state grants and scholarships are applied, up to $5,500.
To determine the award amount, the tuition rate charged is first reduced by the total dollar amount awarded from other student financial aid awards for the academic year, including an NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award and/or federal Pell Grant. The Excelsior Scholarship covers any remaining tuition expenses up to $5,500. In instances where tuition expenses exceed the total financial aid a recipient is awarded, a tuition credit will be applied to the remaining balance.
Tuition rates are based on 2022-23 resident tuition rate charged by SUNY ($7,070) or CUNY ($6,930)
Note: Any award payment received may have tax implications. Any questions regarding this should be directed to a tax professional, the Internal Revenue Service, or the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.
How can I apply for the scholarship?
The application is used to establish your eligibility for the Excelsior Scholarship. If additional documentation is required, you will be prompted to submit it electronically to expedite the process.
To start the application process visit this website.io web.
When is the deadline for the application?
Students have through August 31 at midnight to apply.
How long does it last?
A recipient of an Excelsior Scholarship is eligible to receive award payments for not more than two years of full-time undergraduate study in a program leading to an associate's degree or four years of full-time undergraduate study, or five years if the program of study normally requires five years, in a program leading to a bachelor's degree.
Where can I find more information?
For more information about the scholarship, visit this website. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/excelsior-scholarship-applications-are-open-how-to-get-your-ny-college-education-tuition-free/4362958/ | 2023-05-25T14:36:32 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/excelsior-scholarship-applications-are-open-how-to-get-your-ny-college-education-tuition-free/4362958/ |
A 48-year-old Long Island man has been arrested in a road rage fight that started outside a TGI Fridays and continued inside the restaurant a day ago, police said Thursday.
According to detectives, Antonio Condello got into a road rage-related war of words with a 39-year-old driver near the franchise's Northern Boulevard location in Manhasset around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday.
It's not clear what sparked the confrontation initially, but Nassau County cops say Condello got out of his car as the two were arguing, went to his trunk and pulled out a firearm -- all the while continuing to yell at the victim.
The victim, afraid for his safety, went into the TGI Fridays restaurant. Condello followed him, cops say, and punched him multiple times in the face before fleeing the scene. He did not require medical attention.
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Police caught up with Condello at his New Hyde Park home later in the day and took him into custody without further incident. A black firearm was found under the passenger side doormat of his car, they say.
Condello is charged with menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and assault. He is expected to be arraigned later Thursday in Hempstead. Information on a possible attorney for him wasn't immediately available. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/long-island-road-rage-attack-at-tgi-fridays-in-nassau-county/4366100/ | 2023-05-25T14:36:39 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/long-island-road-rage-attack-at-tgi-fridays-in-nassau-county/4366100/ |
ATHENS, Ga. — During the first week of May, two crashes not even a mile from each other in Athens took the lives of a man and an older woman, according to reports from the police department on Thursday.
Police reports show that the two deadly wrecks happened on the same road at different intersections, just two days apart.
The first crash happened May 4 at the intersection of Danielsville and Nowhere Roads, just a little under two miles from Athens Technical College.
A 36-year-old man named Fredrico Purnell, driving a Chevrolet Tahoe, was heading north down Danielsville Road when he hit the median, police said.
Athens-Clarke police officers were called to the scene around 4:22 p.m., learning that the man had been thrown from the truck after striking the raised median.
Purnell was taken to the local hospital by EMS, and on Wednesday, the police department was notified that the 36-year-old died. Then two days later, another fatal crash happened in the city, involved two cars.
This crash happened May 6 at the intersection of Freeman Drive and Nowhere Road, just over half a mile from the previous crash, police said.
Athens-Clarke County Police Department said Julia Hampton was driving north down Freeman Drive when she crashed into a Jeep Cherokee at the Nowhere Road intersection. The 85-year-old was taken to a hospital.
Police said they were told on Thursday that Hampton had died from her injuries.
According to the report, Hampton's crash marked Athens-Clarke County's sixth fatal car crash this year. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/freeman-nowhere-danielsville-road-crash-fatal-fredrico-purnell-julia-hampton/85-036e3026-6fb1-4162-a189-ce7d0d2c7d83 | 2023-05-25T14:39:51 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/freeman-nowhere-danielsville-road-crash-fatal-fredrico-purnell-julia-hampton/85-036e3026-6fb1-4162-a189-ce7d0d2c7d83 |
ATLANTA — Editor's note: The video above is from a previous web story
Zoo Atlanta announced Tuesday that one of their Southern white rhinos is expecting a calf, which will be the first one born at the zoo.
Kiazi, the pregnant rhinoceros, is expected to give birth “around December 2023, with a potential birth window extending into February 2024,” according to a post from Zoo Atlanta’s website.
The website said the 21-year-old will carry the baby for about 16 months until she is ready to give birth.
While this is Kiazi’s first birth at Zoo Atlanta, this is not her first calf. She has given birth to three other calves prior to her arrival. While two survived, one was stillborn, officials said.
Officials said they are excited about the pregnancy, which is part of a larger plan recommended by the AZA White Rhino Species Survival Plan.
The group works to “maintain healthy, genetically diverse populations of southern white rhinos in accredited zoos,” the website added.
Since southern white rhinos are classified as Near Threatened, officials believe it’s incredibly important that efforts are made to ensure the species' survival.
Luckily, Kiazi hit it off with her mate, Mumbles, who was brought to the zoo back in 2020. This is the first child for the 12-year-old rhino.
Why are white rhinos near threatened?
Southern white rhino populations have declined significantly due to poaching. Like other rhinos, they are hunted for their horns, the website said.
Officials said white rhinos are "especially venerable" since they travel in herds, which makes it easy for poachers to find them. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/zoo-atlantas-southern-white-rhino-pregnant-kiazi-mumbles/85-232e86a6-1ca1-4382-9d44-fe34cc28780a | 2023-05-25T14:39:52 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/zoo-atlantas-southern-white-rhino-pregnant-kiazi-mumbles/85-232e86a6-1ca1-4382-9d44-fe34cc28780a |
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Petersburg police are investigating a death at a local hotel Wednesday night.
According to a tweet posted by the Petersburg Bureau of Police shortly before 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, the department is looking into the circumstances surrounding how a person died at the Budget Motor Inn, located just off of U.S. 460 Business on Jamestown Road
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Petersburg Bureau of Police at (804) 732-4222 or contact Crime Solvers anonymously at (804) 861-1212.
This is a developing story that will be updated as more information is made available.
Top five weekend events: Friday Cheers RVA Music Night, Big Tent & Daydream Fest
Daydream Fest at Main Line Brewery
Sunday and Monday
Experience two full days of live music this extended weekend with the second year of the Daydream Fest at Main Line Brewery. The fest features a vast lineup of local bands, including Palm Palm, Matthew E. White, Kate Bollinger, No BS! Brass Band and more, plus drinks, food trucks and vendors, with plenty of outdoor seating to camp out with some friends. Doors open at 1 p.m.; music starts at 2:30 p.m. 1603 Ownby Lane. $30-$50. Rain or shine. www.daydreamfest.com .
Dylan Akers
Friday Cheers RVA Music Night
Friday
Claim your spot on the lawn on Brown’s Island for Friday Cheers' RVA Music Night, showcasing the talents of Butcher Brown, Celler Dwellers and Cassidy Snider & The Wranglers along with vendors offering food and drinks. 6:30-9:30 p.m.; gates open at 6 p.m. 500 Tredegar St. $10 in advance, $15 at door. www.myticketstobuy.com .
The Richmond Symphony Big Tent
Saturday
Bring the family (and your pup, too) and head to Jackson Ward as the Richmond Symphony puts on a free outdoor concert conducted by Chia-Hsuan Lin, featuring music from Florence Price, Joseph Bologne and Adolphus Hailstork and a painting demonstration led by Richmond artists. 7 p.m., Abner Clay Park, near 200 W. Clay St. Free. Rain date Sunday. If both days are rained out, the event will be cancelled. www.richmondsymphony.com . The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia also has special hours with family activities leading up to the concert. 122 W. Leigh St. $6-$10. www.blackhistorymuseum.org .
Richmond Symphony
Lager Fest at The Answer
Saturday
Treat your tastebuds to an afternoon all about savoring refreshing brews under the sun and exploring the flavors of eight lagers on tap from an outdoor trailer in The Answer Brewpub’s beer garden. There will also be an eclectic mix of food trucks, slinging lobster bisque, bao buns and sisig. Noon-4 p.m. 6008 W. Broad St. Free entry; pay as you go. (804) 282-1248 or www.theanswerbrewpub.com .
Corey Ingles
Diamond Flea Market
Sunday
The Diamond Flea Market kicks off its third season with over 100 vendors offering a wide selection of products and unique finds, from vintage apparel, sneakers and handmade jewelry to home goods, tufted rugs, body scrubs and more. Noon-6 p.m. 3001 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. Free entry; pay as you go. www.diamondfleamarket.com .
Malique McFarland
‘Sign Spotting’
Opens Thursday
From vintage neon signs to Jim Crow-era public facility signs, the Valentine’s new exhibition explores the rich history of iconic Richmond signage. Visitors will see signs from Ignatius Hats, Overnite Transportation and from the museum’s most recent acquisition, the Robin Inn, among many others. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday with extended hours to 7 p.m. Thursday. 1015 E. Clay St. $8-$10; free for members and ages 17 and younger; free admission on Thursdays. Through next year. thevalentine.org or (804) 649-0711 .
The Valentine
'Space: An Out-of-Gravity Experience'
Opens Saturday
If the weather is a washout this weekend, check out the Science Museum of Virginia’s new exhibit, “Space,” to learn how astronauts live and work. At interactive stations, put your hand inside an astronaut’s glove, go inside a full-size mock-up of the International Space Station’s U.S. Destiny lab module, and more. Through Sept. 4. 2500 W. Broad St. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. $10-$17, additional $5 ticket required. www.smv.org or (804) 864-1400 .
Richard Fleischman | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-courts/petersburg-police-death-investigation-budget-motor-inn/article_bf14aa12-faf8-11ed-b59a-5b2833c3a533.html | 2023-05-25T14:41:12 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-courts/petersburg-police-death-investigation-budget-motor-inn/article_bf14aa12-faf8-11ed-b59a-5b2833c3a533.html |
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Contact Us | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/local/asbestos-concerns-close-frankford-high-into-next-year/3573334/ | 2023-05-25T14:42:29 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/local/asbestos-concerns-close-frankford-high-into-next-year/3573334/ |
HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT) — The Alabama Department of Transportation will host a community meeting in Hoover about a new I-459 interchange project Thursday.
According to ALDOT, this is an open house meeting that will have visual project information in the form of maps and comment forms. Attendees will have the opportunity to express concerns and ask questions.
ALDOT said this project will include auxiliary lanes from Exit 10 to the new interchange, bridges over I-459 and the railroad, along with an extension of Ross Bridge Parkway.
This is to improve traffic operations within the Highway 150 and I-459 corridor.
“We really and truly- we have to look at the metropolitan area as well,” said Mayor Frank Brocato in March after the project’s funding was approved. “And you take something like the interchange for instance. That’s going to affect a lot of people outside the city of Hoover, certainly within the city, but just around the metro area. And so, we want to be a part of that. That’s quality of life.”
The project is not sitting well with everyone, with some community members worried about how their homes could be affected throughout the process.
One resident said a major concern revolves around their privacy being disturbed. Another said they question the city’s lack of transparency and concern for their neighborhood.
Mayor Brocato said it is likely that less than 10 people will be affected, and those individuals will be taken care of properly.
“If it involves a home for instance, there are federal guidelines in place that really protect those property owners and we’re going to make sure, and the federal government is going to make sure, that we follow all of those procedures to make sure we have as little impact as we can on those families,” said Mayor Brocato.
As thousands of people from all over the country pile into Hoover for this week’s SEC baseball tournament, some community members already see the difference this new interchange could make for traffic flow.
“I think it’s going to give us more opportunity to get in and out of the Ross Bridge area where I live as well as some of the homes back on the backside of Highway 11 and things like that,” said Hoover resident David Hohny. “So, I think it’s only going to help us get home faster than it is today.”
Hoover city leaders and ALDOT representatives will be present to answer your questions at the meeting. A comment form is also available. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/aldot-to-host-community-meeting-about-new-hoover-i-459-interchange-project/ | 2023-05-25T14:42:58 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/aldot-to-host-community-meeting-about-new-hoover-i-459-interchange-project/ |
Here is your Duluth News Tribune Minute podcast for Thursday, May 25, 2023.
The Duluth News Tribune Minute is a product of Forum Communications Company and is brought to you by reporters at the Duluth News Tribune, Superior Telegram and Cloquet Pine Journal. Find more news throughout the day at duluthnewstribune.com. Subscribe and rate us at
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. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/listen-forsman-changes-mind-decides-to-run-again | 2023-05-25T14:45:06 | 0 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/listen-forsman-changes-mind-decides-to-run-again |
Stark commissioners create boundaries for Canton Township's new tax abatement zone
- The Stark County commissioners approved a resolution Wednesday to establish boundaries for a new tax abatement zone in Canton Township.
- Eligible commercial and industrial companies in the area will be able to receive tax exemptions through the program.
CANTON – The Stark County commissioners are moving forward with plans for a new tax abatement zone in Canton Township.
The three-member board approved a resolution to establish boundaries for a Community Reinvestment Area in the township during its regular meeting Wednesday. The program will allow eligible commercial and industrial companies in the area to receive tax exemptions on future construction or renovations.
County Administrator Brant Luther said officials hope eligible commercial and industrial businesses are able to take advantage of the program and help the entire area.
The tax-break zone is known as the Raff/Gambrinus/Faircrest Community Reinvestment Area. The area is approximately 970 acres. It is bound by Canton city boundaries on 13th Street NW to the north and Faircrest Street SW/SR 627 to the south. It follows Gambrinus Avenue SW to the east and the line between Perry Township and Canton Township along Whipple Avenue SW to the west.
According to the Ohio Revised Code, a tax exemption for industrial or commercial properties is up to 100% for 12 years for the remodeling of existing commercial and industrial facilities with costs of at least $5,000, and 100% for 15 years for construction of new commercial or industrial facilities.
The term and percentage will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis ahead of remodeling or construction.
The commissioners designated a housing officer to administer the program and also created a Community Reinvestment Housing Council that will make an annual inspection of properties that received an exemption.
Luther said the next step is for the zone to be assigned a number by the Ohio Department of Development and be advertised in the newspaper.
"Then at that point it will be a valid and active Community Reinvestment Zone," he said.
The Canton Township trustees adopted a resolution in support of creating the Community Reinvestment Zone earlier this month.
In other action Wednesday, the commissioners:
- Awarded the Stark County engineer's Strip Avenue Improvement Project contract to Akron-based Lockhart Concrete Co. for a total value of $3.6 million. The project will primarily be funded through grants. Jackson Township will contributed $50,000. Any remaining costs will be paid for using the county's motor vehicle funds.
- Awarded a contract for the Welty Road Bridge Replacement Project to Canfield-based Shook Co. The contract has a total value of $747,474 and will be paid for through federal grants.
Reach Paige at 330-580-8577, pmbennett@gannett.com or on Twitter @paigembenn. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/05/25/commissioners-set-limits-for-canton-townships-tax-abatement-zone-in-canton-township/70251617007/ | 2023-05-25T14:48:34 | 0 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/05/25/commissioners-set-limits-for-canton-townships-tax-abatement-zone-in-canton-township/70251617007/ |
The Boys and Girls Club of Flagstaff recently announced their Youth of the Year (YOY) Scholarship winners for 2023.
Emmalynn Hunzeker was named the Youth of the Year at the April 18 ceremony, while Jesus Franco Leal was named Junior Youth of the Year.
“The YOY program gave teens the opportunity to tell their stories as well as to take a step toward their future with new skills, such as public speaking, interviewing and networking,” according to the announcement. “Each finalist did a wonderful job representing their sites, communities and families, and the club is incredibly proud of all for completing the journey.”
The other 2023 YOY finalists were Haseya Williams, Christopher Hendershot and Durena King. Finalists were chosen after they presented their story to a panel of five community members and completed an interview.
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Each of the finalists received a $100 clothing scholarship in addition to a technology scholarship that included a laptop, accessories and a year of Microsoft software. After each enters a post-secondary school, Hunzeker and Leal will receive scholarships worth $3,000 and $500, respectively.
The funds for these scholarships were provided by an anonymous donor, while the ceremony and technology scholarships were sponsored by a number of local organizations.
Hunzeker is a senior at Holbrook High School and said she “had an amazing time at the ceremony.” Similarly, Leal, a student at Pine Forest Charter School, called the announcement “a good opportunity and an exciting moment.”
“Through this experience, I learned and gained so much value. [I] highly recommend that youth should do this,” Hunzeker said.
More information can be found at bgcflag.org. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/education/boys-and-girls-club-of-flagstaff-recognizes-2023-youth-of-the-year/article_62946540-f8ee-11ed-a228-73bb64be2281.html | 2023-05-25T14:54:40 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/education/boys-and-girls-club-of-flagstaff-recognizes-2023-youth-of-the-year/article_62946540-f8ee-11ed-a228-73bb64be2281.html |
Arianna Garcia will be graduating from Summit High School this week with plans to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Garcia transferred to Summit from Coconino High School after an unexpected pregnancy her sophomore year. While she said her first few years of high school “were not good for me,” that pregnancy and her son, Aurelius Hernandez, turned things around for her.
"Once I got pregnant, it opened my eyes to a lot. It matured me for the better. ... I came here on a rough note, but I overcame it for sure. That baby is a blessing to my life,” she said of her son, who is now 18 months old.
As part of Summit’s Teenage Parent Program (TAPP), Garcia continued her studies while Aurelius was in the school’s daycare or sometimes in the classroom with her. She said Summit’s approach to teaching, with its focus on support, also helped her finish high school.
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"[The teachers here] want you to graduate and they’re focused on each and every student, so they don’t just throw a paper at you and expect you to know what’s going on,” she said.
She added: “They’re very understanding.”
Garcia said TAPP teacher Erin Celona’s class was a highlight of her time at Summit for similar reasons.
“She’s always been my favorite teacher, ever since I first came here,” Celona said. “ ... She’s always been a very humble person and she’s always been very patient with all of us students.”
Celona, who taught Garcia in both her first and last year at Summit, noted Garcia's leadership and friendliness in the classroom as well as her patience and kindness in parenting.
"She has come a long way since beginning high school and has blossomed into a thoughtful, caring, compassionate person," Celona said of her student. " ... Arianna has overcome challenges and significant loss in her life. And yet she has the grit to keep moving forward toward her goals. There is no doubt she will continue to reach further goals and become the traveling nurse she dreams of. She will make her family proud, and us too."
After graduating, Garcia plans to attend Coconino Community College (CCC) to study nursing as part of the CCC2NAU program, with the goal of eventually earning a bachelor’s in nursing at Northern Arizona University. She’s wanted to be a nurse since she was young, inspired by her mother, who is in the field.
“I always loved to see her help people,” she said. “I love to help people. It’s a good feeling.”
She wanted other Summit students to know that “everyone will go through hardships and trials and tribulations, but you just have to learn from it.”
“Don’t take the teachers for granted, because they are really trying to help you. A lot of kids don’t see that at first,” she said, adding that she’d been one of those students earlier in high school. “ ... After a certain point, I realized that they’re here to help you and they take the opportunity to be at this kind of school.” | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/education/summit-graduate-spotlight-arianna-garcia-looks-to-the-future-for-her-family/article_d4797c30-fa61-11ed-82d2-5342e6e01dd9.html | 2023-05-25T14:54:46 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/education/summit-graduate-spotlight-arianna-garcia-looks-to-the-future-for-her-family/article_d4797c30-fa61-11ed-82d2-5342e6e01dd9.html |
In the 1970s, Deborah Fresquez started her career in law enforcement on a dare.
“To be honest, it was a dare from a high school friend who was already working for the sheriff’s department. Back then they didn’t have a lot of women in that field. He dared me that I couldn’t survive,” she said. “There’s a part of me that doesn’t take no for an answer sometimes. That also helped back then. People would say, ‘You can’t do it,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, I can, and I’ll show you.’”
She joined the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) under Sheriff Joe Richards. Her patrol lieutenant at that time was Jim Driscoll, the current sheriff. Her tenacity paid off, because she not only became a sheriff’s deputy, but she also she served with CCSO for 17 years.
Behind the badge, Fresquez would work at the jail, on the road and in criminal investigations. She was also one of the earliest members of the CCSO Alpine Team, which is now called the Search and Rescue Unit.
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“I think I like crisis work. I think that’s just kind of in my blood. I was given the opportunity to explore new direction in the sheriff’s department. When I first came out of the academy, I was assigned to a special task force, with the FBI leading it, and worked in Tucson for about a year and a half. Then came back and was working the road. I had the opportunity to work a small stint in the jail, and landed in the detective division,” Fresquez said. “I just enjoy working in my community. I’ve been given opportunities to do that.”
Last week, Fresquez was the toast of the town at Wednesday's Taste of Flagstaff, an annual fundraiser for Victim Witness Services for Northern Arizona. The “Boot Scootin’ Ball” doubled as an opportunity to celebrate the longtime public servant’s contributions to the community.
This year, after a 17-year career at Victim Witness, Fresquez will retire from her role as advocate supervisor.
Fresquez has deep roots in Flagstaff. Her family has lived in the area for four generations. Her father owned gas stations and opened one of the first drive-in restaurants in the region.
She recalls growing up around the “home of the king-sized hamburger,” a restaurant that has long since closed down. The Jack in the Box on Milton Road now occupies the spot where the carhop-tended burger joint once stood.
“It was fun. It was a good way to grow up,” she said. “My parents are great people. They always supported us and taught us work ethics.”
Ultimately, Fresquez left the sheriff’s office to help in the family business. After that, she would join Victim Witness as a volunteer.
“I believe in the agency,” Fresquez said of Victim Witness. “If you look at our mission, they’re still to this day running off that mission -- being able to meet people where they’re at with no judgement and support the best they can. I have a friend who was actually the domestic violence advocate at the time. I used to talk to her all the time and she loved the job and the agency, so I started volunteering and working crisis work at night.”
Victim Witness Executive Director Jennifer Runge says Fresquez has a superpower: her ability to wake up at 2 a.m. and respond to a text message.
“She is beyond dedicated. Deb might not necessarily be on call, but she’s always on call,” Runge said.
Although co-workers laud Fresquez’s work ethic, she maintains that victims are the ones doing the hard work of coping with trauma. Her work, she insists, is easy by comparison.
In time, the same curiosity that made her an astute detective would make her a strong and sincere victim advocate.
“The thing that strikes me the most is her level of curiosity. It plays out not only with coworkers but the clients as well ... curiosity. She has a genuine curiosity and interest in their stories. I think that’s what makes her such a long-lasting, strong advocate,” Runge said.
Runge first met Fresquez in 2018, and said for as long as she’s known her, she’s been an engaged and active listener.
“I’ve seen her in action and it truly is phenomenal. She listens in a way that people know she’s listening. There’s listening to get the facts, there’s listening to get the emotion. It’s not just a word, it’s an action,” Runge said.
Fresquez said that skill transferred from her work as a deputy.
“That’s a huge skill to have for anybody. Be a good listener, and meet them where they’re at. Let them voice their frustrations and what’s going on. Let them be heard,” she said.
Fresquez said it was the idea that she could be in someone’s corner when they really needed it, that she could walk beside someone in some of their most challenging moments, that kept her in advocacy work.
“I think that’s who she is at heart, an advocate,” Runge said.
Over years of guiding people through trouble and trauma, Fresquez has seen the relatively new field of victim’s services grow and evolve.
“I’ve loved the challenge of being able to be involved in the growth of Victim Witness,” she said. “It was a much smaller agency when I started, and through the years we’ve expanded by servicing Coconino County. How that looked is putting up satellite offices in different areas like the Grand Canyon, Williams and Page.”
Now, Victim Witness will have to go through another season of change, as Runge said the organization will absolutely notice Fresquez’s absence.
“I think it’s going to take the office a few months to adjust,” Runge said.
Runge, who was emotional going over her remarks on Fresquez’s retirement Wednesday night a week ago, said it won’t be long before Fanta retires, too.
Fanta is a black Labrador retriever, and has been a K9 advocate and service animal for most of her nine years. She’ll leave big paw prints to fill, alongside the shoes Fresquez leaves behind.
Runge said Fresquez will still be volunteering with Victim Witness on and off to help train new dogs and humans on the ins and outs of the job. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/toasting-a-34-year-career-in-public-service-deb-fresquez-gets-sendoff-at-taste-of/article_0044a4b0-f5b8-11ed-a049-9b6d84f64693.html | 2023-05-25T14:54:52 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/toasting-a-34-year-career-in-public-service-deb-fresquez-gets-sendoff-at-taste-of/article_0044a4b0-f5b8-11ed-a049-9b6d84f64693.html |
Even as fire managers work on northern Arizona’s first wildfire of the season west of Slide Rock, many hope 2023 will prove to be a lighter fire year for the region than residents and fire managers have come to expect.
Last year by this time, northern Arizona had already seen the Tunnel Fire and the Crooks Fire, with the Pipeline Fire just around the corner. But the combination of the record winter seen in northern Arizona and across much of the West may spell good news for fire managers.
Fire managers are responding to the Miller Fire northwest of Sedona.
Unusual spring rains across northern Arizona in the last two weeks also lessened the potential for fires, said Flagstaff District Ranger Matt McGrath.
“With the rain we’ve had, it probably did maybe bump back fire season about two weeks, And because of where we live, the closer we get to [the monsoons in] mid-July, the closer we get to not having a big fire season,” McGrath said.
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That was also the assessment of the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
Tiffany Davila, the spokesperson for the state agency, said this year, southern and central Arizona are at higher risk for fire than the high country -- at this point.
“We have that window of opportunity shortening for fire season up here. If we do get some fires, they're probably going to be small, short-duration fires,” Davila said. “But again, anything's possible coming off of last year with the Tunnel Fire, Pipeline, the Crooks Fire.”
The recent rain shortened that further, and couldn’t have come at a better time, said National Weather Service meteorologist Benji Johnson.
May and June are generally the driest months in northern Arizona, and that lack of precipitation and hotter weather dries up fuels quickly, even after a heavy winter.
And that is exactly what they had been seeing up until the recent monsoon-like weather, Johnson said.
“We were drying out very quickly. Actually, we went over a month in most places without any rainfall or any significant precipitation, so we dried out very, very quickly,” Johnson said. “So in terms of preventing wildfires, last week's rain couldn't have come at a more opportune moment, in my opinion.”
Even so, Johnson said their forecasts are clearing up, with little to no precipitation expected in the coming weeks.
And both McGrath and Northern Arizona University Ecological Restoration Institute Director Andrew Sánchez Meador said it doesn’t take long for fuels to start drying out again.
“I mean, my fruit trees are doing well right now, but we are moving from May into June into July -- which is the period of time in Flagstaff where we're on a constant daily temperature increase. We're well into a constant daily precipitation decrease,” Sánchez Meador said. “It's woven into Memorial Day Weekend to this weekend -- which is always a little bit of a concern. More people in town is more of opportunities to have human caused fires.”
Green up and dry out
As thankful as fire managers and residents alike are for the heavy snowfall this winter and recent rains, the precipitation can pose challenges of its own. Grasses and shrubs take advantage of that moisture to sprout and grow quickly, then dyeing and drying as the moisture disappears.
That phenomenon is always a large concern in southern and central Arizona, Davila said.
But Sánchez Meador said even in areas of the high country like Flagstaff, forest managers can observe the same pattern.
“You know, thinking back to the amount of growth that the Tunnel Fire ran through, that was mainly burning through grasses and shrubs and stuff like that,” Sánchez Meador said. “All of the growth of the understory and shrubs and things like that, those are going to pose risks late in the fire season. And we can still have fires in August, we can have them all the way in October, and, of course, we can have fires next year.”
On top of that, Sánchez Meador said the heavy snows and recent rains don’t reverse the current mega-drought that northern Arizona -- and much of the West -- has been experiencing for decades.
Forests are still stressed after years of record setting high temperatures and dry weather.
Monsoons
Of course, the fire season in Flagstaff is always a sort of race to mid-July between wildfire and the monsoon rains.
It’s never easy to predict when those monsoon rains will get going, or how heavy they will be, but Johnson said there might be some signs that the rains could be a little delayed this year.
“There are some signs that could point to a later onset than normal as far as the monsoon goes, but it's not a clear signal,” he said.
The Climate Prediction Center currently leans toward a somewhat delayed monsoon, but it’s not a strong prediction, Johnson said.
The weather phenomenon of the monsoons relies heavily on the heating up of the North American landmass throughout the early and mid-summer, Johnson said. As the land heats up, and the oceans stay cooler, winds begin to reverse from normal, pulling moisture out of the Pacific Ocean and gulfs of Mexico and California, and dumping it across the West, Johnson said.
That weather pattern starts in southern Mexico, which heats up first, and, according to Johnson, meteorologists can track it north as hot temperatures develop, sucking those winds and moisture north.
“A wet and snowy winter could delay the onset of the monsoon by delaying the heating of the North American landmass. And that's one of the primary drivers for the change in the weather pattern that results in the monsoon for Arizona. So that's kind of one hypothesis,” Johnson said. “We just can't say conclusively whether or not we'll have a traditional onset of the monsoon or later than usual onset of the monsoon.”
Forest restrictions
Still, local forest managers are hoping to lessen the chance for those human-caused fires to spark.
Earlier this year, the Flagstaff Ranger District expanded the area of a camping and campfire ban around the area of Flagstaff. That ban has been in effect on some parts of the forest near Flagstaff for decades, but McGrath said in the aftermath of the Tunnel and Pipeline fires, the decision was made to expand the restrictions farther.
“We had an area just south of the Peaks that was closed to campfires, but camping was allowed. Last year, we had two huge gas fires in that area. So fires are already prohibited there, but people sometimes can't help themselves if they're camping. What we were thinking is if we're less likely to have somebody camping in these areas, we're less likely to have illegal fire,” McGrath said.
Traditionally, given the high cost of living in Flagstaff, the National Forest around the city has seen a significant number of people living in the woods, or what McGrath called “non-recreational camping.”
That’s illegal, but very difficult to enforce, McGrath said, and can pose a fire risk as people go about their lives, cooking, traveling or staying warm within the forests.
“Now that we have that area close to camping, if we see people once, we know that they ought not to be there and we can say, ‘This area’s closed, you need to move on.’ So, really, the driving factor is reducing the number of human-caused ignitions, especially in that area southwest of the Peaks,” McGrath said. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/weather/heavy-snow-and-early-rain-may-lead-to-easier-2023-fire-season-for-flagstaff/article_294780f0-fa61-11ed-8571-4be18b866486.html | 2023-05-25T14:54:53 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/weather/heavy-snow-and-early-rain-may-lead-to-easier-2023-fire-season-for-flagstaff/article_294780f0-fa61-11ed-8571-4be18b866486.html |
This was a banner year for athletics in our local schools.
With the end of the spring season, it's come to a close.
Whether it was new champions, old ones, surprises, the oh-so-close finishers and everything else, the city kept pushing out new contenders every season.
At the high school level there were 19 teams named region or section champions, 23 athletes earning player of the year awards in their respective regions or sections, 33 all-conference players and 38 teams that made their respective postseasons. There were even three runner-up finishers, including The Northland Prep Academy softball team and Flagstaff boys tennis squad that both reached the championship round for the first time in their histories.
Many individuals placed well in their respective sports at the state level, too.
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And, to cap it off, there were nine individual or team champions crowned, with each of the four area high schools earning at least one.
The Northland Prep Spartans girls soccer team won its fifth title in six years in the fall, just weeks separated from the Flagstaff girls cross country team and senior Mia Hall both ending the season with team and individual gold medals. The Eagles cross country boys weren’t far behind, finishing second after winning the season before.
The Flagstaff mountain biking team stood atop the podium for the second consecutive year, too.
Coconino senior Cooper French won his third consecutive Division III wrestling title. The Flagstaff Eagles girls basketball team won its first state championship in 31 years, and first under 4A Conference coach of the year Tyrone Johnson, after falling in the same game a year prior.
Then Basis Flagstaff senior Evan Hofstetter capped his varsity career with three divisional titles in the spring for track and field.
Each program had title aspirations at the beginning of the year and had contended in the past. But it didn’t make the moment any less special.
“This day means everything for them," Eagles cross country coach Trina Painter said after the girls won their championship in November. "There’s obviously a history at Flag High, but each team is different. It’s a fresh start every year. They’ve had some bumps, they’ve had some injuries, but they pulled it together today and all ran superior races, and I couldn’t ask for anything better."
For some of the runner-up squads, just getting to the big dance was an accomplishment.
“I don’t think we ever let ourselves think that we would do it during the year,” Spartans softball manager Betty Dean said ahead of the 2A Conference title contest.
“I was expecting us to go deep, but definitely not here. It’s been a pleasant surprise,” Eagles boys tennis junior Rowan Hawkins said of the team’s run to the D-II final.
And then there’s the college athletics scene.
Northern Arizona men’s cross country won another NCAA championship in the fall, highlighting what would prove a special academic year.
As a school, Northern Arizona boasted eight postseason conference titles -- six in cross country and track and field combined, one in swimming and diving, and one in women’s soccer.
Perhaps the most surprising was the women’s soccer team rebounding from going winless in their first 11 matches against D-I opponents -- and having their coach placed on administrative leave -- to ending the season with a 7-1 mark in conference play to be named Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament champions.
“I think it’s a lifetime experience. If we get to do that again one day I’d be super thankful, but just being in that, going through the adversity that we went through and accomplishing the goal was unbelievable,” Lumberjacks coach Alan Berrios said of winning the conference tournament.
The Lumberjacks also had five teams finish as runner-ups in their respective conference postseasons. Basketball was one of the main shockers, especially the men’s team, which underperformed early in its season.
The Lumberjacks women, meanwhile, put together a win streak at the end of the regular season to sneak into the No. 1 seed after returning two of their five starters from the season prior. They reached the Big Sky Conference tournament title game before running into a Sacramento State Hornets team that simply played better in a one-game sample.
Northern Arizona played in back-to-back conference championship games, and will likely compete for more in the coming years.
The men also put together one of their best runs in recent history. After losing 10 conference games by five points or fewer, and a few buzzer-beating plays that left them on the wrong side of the SportsCenter Top-10, the Lumberjacks got a bit of revenge.
"Nobody wants to play us right now," Lumberjacks guard Liam Lloyd said following the finale of the regular season. Whether that confidence was warranted or not, the Lumberjacks at least showed outwardly that they were excited to see what they could do in the tournament.
The No. 9 Lumberjacks in the 10-team tournament went on to dispatch Idaho before pulling off upsets over No. 1 Eastern Washington and No. 4 Montana. Notably, freshman guard Oakland Fort hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from a distance that Big Sky alumnus Damain Lillard would have been proud of to upset the Eagles and reach the semifinals.
The Lumberjacks ultimately fell to an overpowering Montana State Bobcats group that has now won back-to-back titles. But Northern Arizona showed some real guts and could be solid moving forward.
Women’s golf and both the men’s and women’s tennis teams finished second in their respective postseasons.
Even Coconino Community College cross country boasted an NJCAA Division II national champion in Hayley Burns, as both the men’s and women’s squads made the championship race in Florida in their first eligible season.
Athletes and coaches use the word “potential” frequently.
While often it can be used as a crutch for underperforming teams and athletes who believe they have the skill to play better despite results showing otherwise, I believe many of the Flagstaff-area teams played up to their potential this academic year. Many maxed out every bit of luck and talent needed to succeed.
Of course, a few things have to go a group’s way to end on top.
If Fort misses the 3 from far beyond NBA range -- the usual result from shooting from that far at the buzzer -- the Lumberjacks men’s basketball team surprises nobody with an early exit.
If a penalty kick goes wrong for the Northern Arizona women’s soccer team, the turnaround season is nice but doesn’t result in a conference championship.
If Hall’s ailing leg injury is just a bit worse, maybe she’s unable to finish the race in front and push the Eagles to a championship.
One mistake in the tournament, and French could have Coconino’s best wrestling career in its history finish with a dud.
The point is, sports fans can “what if” their way through the history of each team, spewing hypotheticals about a point here, a miss there, a close call from an official to swing a contest or any number of factors.
Sometimes, things just go your way.
Call it luck, magic, fortune, an overabundance of talent or whatever, but it appears, for about a year, that Flagstaff had it. | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/historic-year-comes-to-a-close-in-local-school-sports-in-flagstaff/article_f5454678-f9cc-11ed-a316-fbbd9a32ccd6.html | 2023-05-25T14:54:57 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/historic-year-comes-to-a-close-in-local-school-sports-in-flagstaff/article_f5454678-f9cc-11ed-a316-fbbd9a32ccd6.html |
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Police on Thursday asked the public for help in finding a missing 12-year-old Lincoln girl who was last seen Wednesday night.
Angel Ne ighbors was last spotted at around 7 p.m. Wednesday near NW 50th Street and W McGuire Road , in the Arnold Heights neighborhood, the Lincoln Police Department said in a tweet.
The department asked anyone with information on Angel's whereabouts to contact police at 402-441-6000.
Most dangerous cities in Nebraska
Dangerous Cities in Nebraska
See how your hometown ranks among the most dangerous cities in Nebraska. Ratings have been determined according to the number of violent crimes per 1,000 people in cities of at least 10,000, with violent crime being classified as murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. The numbers are for 2019, the most recent year for which the FBI provides data.
6. South Sioux City
With 30 violent crimes in 2019 and a population of 12,771 (the smallest on our list), the city in northeast Nebraska had 2.35 violent crimes per 1,000 people.
Photo: An RV park in South Sioux City on the Missouri River.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
5. Scottsbluff
The city of 15,862 had 53 violent crimes for a rate of 3.34 per 1,000 in 2019.
Photo: Gering Police Officer Jordan McBride talks with Scottsbluff Police Officer Michael Modeac as he puts up crime scene tape at the scene of an armed standoff in Scottsbluff in June 2021.
STAR-HERALD FILE PHOTO
4. North Platte
With a population of 23,705 and 89 violent crimes, the city had a rate of 3.75 per 1,000.
Photo: Union Pacific train engines line up outside a service building in North Platte.
FILE PHOTO
3. Lincoln
The Star City had a population of 291,128 with 1,115 violent crimes, a rate of 3.83 per 1,000.
Photo: Police in Lincoln investigate a shooting near the intersection of 14th and E streets in August 2019.
JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
2. Grand Island
With a population of 51,821 and 236 violent crimes, the largest of the Tri Cities had a 2019 rate of 4.55 per 1,000 people.
Photo: Grand Island police and State Patrol personnel investigate after a body was found in a Grand Island yard in August 2020.
GRAND ISLAND INDEPENDENT FILE PHOTO
1. Omaha
In 2019, the state's largest city at 470,481 people had 2,833 violent crimes for a rate of 6.13 per 1,000.
Photo: Omaha police and University Police guard the entrance to the Nebraska Medicine Emergency room after an Omaha police officer was shot at Westroads Mall in March 2021.
WORLD-HERALD FILE PHOTO
A note about the numbers
With eight violent crimes in 2019, Boys Town topped the state at 13.82 per 1,000 people, which is a misleading stat because it only had a 2019 population of 579.
Photo: The statue at the entrance to Boys Town. It doesn't take much to skew the numbers.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO
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Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/missing/police-seek-12-year-old-girl-reported-missing-in-northeast-lincoln/article_781551dc-faff-11ed-9174-7f2d9cf5baaf.html | 2023-05-25T14:57:45 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/missing/police-seek-12-year-old-girl-reported-missing-in-northeast-lincoln/article_781551dc-faff-11ed-9174-7f2d9cf5baaf.html |
Like thousands of high school juniors across Nebraska, Nola Rhea will make a big decision about her future in the coming months.
The 17-year-old is enrolled in the academically rigorous International Baccalaureate program at Lincoln High School. She participated in debate and played the part of Israel in the Model United Nations. This spring, she scored a 33 on the ACT, putting her in the 99th percentile nationally on the college entrance exam.
A resume like that would likely qualify Rhea for a Regents Scholarship at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, allowing her to attend what she described as her long-time dream school tuition-free to pursue an education in political science.
But Rhea, who is transgender, plans to give all that up.
With the passage of LB574 last week, the puberty blockers and hormone therapy Rhea has been taking since she began her transition more than two years ago could soon become illegal in Nebraska.
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The controversial measure from Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth, which was part of a wave of similar legislation introduced in statehouses across the country, banned all gender-affirming medications and surgeries for anyone under the age of 19 in Nebraska.
An amendment to the bill from Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, added during an intense and emotional third and final round of debate earlier this month, removed the prohibition on medications from the bill and instead put regulating those treatments under the purview of the state’s chief medical officer.
Opponents of the bill raised concerns that the rules put in place by a gubernatorial appointee will likely put those medications out of reach for transgender youths like Rhea after Oct. 1, when the bill goes into effect.
The uncertainty has led Rhea and her mother, Heather, who have tracked the bill's progress from its introduction in January to a marathon committee hearing in February to the final floor debate on Day 81 of the Legislature last week, to reassess their lives.
Should they make arrangements to leave the state together? Could Nola live for a year with family in Colorado or friends in Minnesota while she finishes high school? Or would it be possible to stock up on enough medications that would last until Nola turned 19?
Even then, with conservative lawmakers promising to continue pushing for more restrictions for transgender-related health care, would Nebraska even be an option?
Rhea said the fact that her family has had to have those discussions illustrates the bill's immediate impact since its introduction.
“It’s not about the medication, it’s about the message,” Rhea said. “The message is, ‘You are not welcome here.’ I think that’s the thrust of it, and I think that’s the thing that gets me so worried about the future here.”
For Heather Rhea, who watched tearfully from the balcony on several occasions as the Legislature debated LB574, the fear of what comes next is just as palpable.
She dreads her child backsliding into the deep depression she was experiencing before beginning her transition, when she learned Nola had been making — and hiding — suicidal gestures.
“As a parent, I feel like I’m in a place where I can’t protect my child,” she said.
Abbi Swatsworth, executive director for OutNebraska, said the advocacy group for LGBTQ communities in Nebraska has fielded more questions from parents about what states might be more welcoming for trans teens as the debate over LB574 continued.
Currently, OutNebraska is encouraging parents to consult with their health care providers and watch as the rules and regulations for hormone replacement therapy are developed, Swatsworth said.
No one has advised anyone to move, but it is something several families have been exploring, she added.
"I think parents always want to do what's best for their kids and their family," Swatsworth said.
"They want a safe environment, an environment where their family is affirmed and not compared to the devil," she added, referring to a comment made by Gov. Jim Pillen at the signing ceremony for LB574 on Monday.
Pillen said the bill will prevent parents from getting "duped into the silliness" that, if they help their teens transition, they will become happier.
"That is absolutely Lucifer at its finest," the governor added.
"I am appalled he would characterize parents using that language," Swatsworth said. "I wish I could demand an apology, but I don't think we're going to get one."
Heather Rhea said comments like Pillen's misunderstand what trans youth and their families experience by having access to care and only serve to increase hostility to people like Nola.
Before LB574's introduction, Nola had never had any issues at school after coming out as transgender. There was no bullying. Nobody in the broader community of Lincoln ever approached her with a nasty comment.
"Her life hasn't been harder because of it until now," Heather said.
The transition
Before she hit puberty, Nola Rhea said she would often go to bed wishing she would wake up as a girl.
"I had no clue there was anything wrong with me," she said. "It didn't seem unusual at all."
But once her body began to grow and change, hair growing on her arms and legs, her voice deepening, Nola said her desire to wake up as someone else turned into an intense self-loathing.
She hated her appearance, tucking her arms all the way inside the sleeves of her sweatshirt and pulling the hood as far over her face as it would go so no one could see her at school.
When Nola spoke, she put on an affectation to hide the changes to her voice from her family and friends.
“I was horrified at what was happening to me, I was not happy at all and became depressed,” she said. “I didn’t want to be perceived at all because I didn’t like who I was.”
Nola would later determine she was likely suffering from gender dysphoria, the feeling that her biological sex and gender identity did not match, but the self-diagnosis only focused her depression further.
As she descended into depression, Nola began to harm herself, which she was able to hide from her mother until friends told school officials that Nola, then in sixth grade, was expressing thoughts about suicide.
It was a terrifying revelation, Heather Rhea said. Her child was so smart, so kind, and so loved. Heather and her family refused to leave her alone or to quit on her.
Gradually, Nola began to emerge from the darkness. After seventh grade, she floated the idea that she was a girl to her mother — and found acceptance.
“I was like, ‘OK, what’s your name?’” Heather recalled asking.
Nola and Heather began attending therapy in the fall of 2019 at a clinic in Lincoln, where they each filled out a lengthy questionnaire and watched informational videos about gender transitions and the effects of hormone therapy.
As she grew in confidence and understanding of who she was, Nola told a friend, testing the waters ahead of a full social transition, when she would tell her family and teachers and peers at school in the spring of 2020.
Everyone Nola told was supportive, including family members and long-time friends. To a person, they just wanted Nola to be happy.
“I would say she did a pretty good job of advocating for herself,” Heather said.
Once she came out as trans, and before she started gender-affirming care, both Nola and Heather noticed an incredible difference. No longer did she feel the need to hide, she said, feeling more comfortable in her own skin.
Months of therapy and counseling always ended with the two being sent home to think through the options and consider how they wanted to proceed as doctors and multiple clinics reviewed Nola's case file, Heather explained.
Once she was deemed a good candidate for gender transition, Nola finally began hormone therapy in October 2020, just weeks before her 15th birthday.
Nola was given a regimen that included spironolactone, a testosterone blocker that was long used by medical professionals as a blood pressure medication.
She was also given estradiol — the hormone estrogen — and once doctors were satisfied that the two were well-balanced in her system through a series of monthly blood draws, she was also prescribed progesterone a year later, to help further her transition.
For the Rheas, the information and care provided by medical professionals through a slow, deliberative process saved Nola's life.
Nola's personality hasn't changed, nor has her wry sense of humor or her kindness, her mother said: "Now she's who she was supposed to be."
Instead of putting in so much effort to be something she's not, Heather said Nola has been able to channel her energy into school and extracurricular activities and friends.
Nola said she hasn't considered suicide since.
'I don't think it will stop there'
Included in the final version of LB574 was a "grandfather clause," a provision allowing transgender youth who began using "puberty-blocking drugs, cross-sex hormones, or both" before the law goes into effect to continue doing so.
That likely means Nola would be able to continue obtaining her medications for the next year or so when she turns 19 and would no longer be subject to the language of LB574.
But both Nola and Heather say the uncertainty around how the law will be interpreted by doctors and clinics that specialize in gender-affirming care is cause for worry.
They also empathize with the transgender youth who are in the same situation they found themselves in nearly four years ago, before she was able to get help from doctors and therapists.
"If it's illegal to get that medication for people who are under the age of 19, people who really want it and really need it are going to get it extra-legally (illegally)," Nola said. "And there's not going to be doctors prescribing it, there's not going to be people testing your blood to make sure your potassium levels are OK.
"The medical oversight that is there is going to disappear. People already do this in a lot of places; they get them online and self-medicate, and that's not good," she added. "That's dangerous."
Nola also said Kauth's "Let Them Grow" act included what she referred to as "a less-intuitive flaw" that many lawmakers didn't consider before pushing their green button to advance the bill.
Yes, it's true that young people make mistakes and their brains don't fully develop until the age of 25, she said, as was repeated dozens of times during floor debate.
Puberty blockers might slow down the changes to the body, resulting in a lower bone density or stunt an individual's height somewhat, but they also don't stop a person from going through puberty if and when they decide to do so, she said.
"Why can't we, at a minimum, delay puberty until they are old enough that they actually want to make that decision (to go through puberty)," Nola said. "Really, it is forcing people to go through normal puberty that may, for people like me who are trans, be a painful experience."
Heather said while she and Nola will likely be fine when the new law takes effect, she added her heart breaks for the parents who don't yet know their kids are transgender.
"Their options will be so limited and so much harder," Heather said. "It's already not easy."
Like the Rheas, when that day comes, they may also take a serious look at their options, both in Nebraska and elsewhere.
Nola says she would prefer not to leave Nebraska, where she once envisioned a career working on public policy and hoped to one day run for public office — "I think politics is the best avenue for making the world a better place for people like me" — but the changing climate for transgender individuals and youth in particular has changed her perspective.
At the signing ceremony for LB574 earlier this week, Pillen and Kauth both suggested further legislation targeting transgender youth could come before lawmakers next year.
In a tweet on Tuesday, Pillen said "LB574 is just the start."
Nola agrees with the governor and senator's assessment, and said it has led to her decision to pursue higher education, and potentially a life beyond, in a different state.
"I don't think it will stop there," she said, "so I don't want to wait around here and see how bad it gets." | https://journalstar.com/news/local/family-of-trans-youth-considering-leaving-nebraska-for-states-that-feel-safer/article_ace37072-f999-11ed-baf3-bb67022fde98.html | 2023-05-25T14:57:51 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/family-of-trans-youth-considering-leaving-nebraska-for-states-that-feel-safer/article_ace37072-f999-11ed-baf3-bb67022fde98.html |
FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — Publix reopened on Fort Myers Beach Thursday, 239 days since Hurricane Ian forced their doors to shut.
“I’m ecstatic, just ecstatic,” said long-time resident Emmy. “Another business is back.”
He is the first person to walk through these doors since they were forced to close 239 days ago.
He said he is excited to get inside again to shop and, of course, get a Pub Sub. But what he is looking forward to most is seeing the store associates.
“I pretty much know everybody that works here through the years, and like after the storm, we had to leave the island, and I found a lot of the workers from here at the other public,” Emmy said. “I said, you know you’re working at the wrong store!”
Now, those associates are back and ready to serve the beach community — especially those who have and continue to serve the community, like Beach Baptist Church.
“We’re able to do laundry, and you now get all the necessities, and then with a Publix back, it’s really a god-sent,” Emmy said.
Beach Baptist told NBC2 they are excited to partner with Publix, and the community still needs support to rebuild.
- PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Official opening day scheduled for Fort Myers Beach Publix
But having hot meals nearby will help the church not have to continue using emergency supplies.
Publix will donate about $5,000 in items and gift cards to Beach Baptist. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/05/25/publix-reopens-on-fort-myers-beach-after-239-days-of-closure-due-to-ian/ | 2023-05-25T14:59:31 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/05/25/publix-reopens-on-fort-myers-beach-after-239-days-of-closure-due-to-ian/ |
COCOA, Fla. – Parents, you may still be looking for a program that will get your kids out of the house this summer.
There’s an option in Brevard County that will have your kids walking onto the green, but leaving with life lessons and new skills.
It’s a free golf camp open for all kids ages 10 to 17 with a nearly 30-year history of mentorship that’s right on par.
“They taught us manners. They taught us how to carry ourselves throughout life. They taught us how to be respectful to adults. They taught me many life lessons. They really encouraged me to keep going on school, keep continue to get As in school so I can be successful later on down in my life,” said camper Preston Odom.
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The program is driving positive change through the game of golf.
It’s all part of the P.J. Wilson and Henry Scott Minority Youth Golf Camp at the Eastern Florida State College Fred Gay Golf Academy in Cocoa, located at 3570 State Road 524.
The camp runs from June 5-15 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. The camp is free and includes drinks and snacks for the kids. Transportation is not provided.
16-year-old Odom studies at Rockledge High School and has been attending the golf camp the last five years.
“He’s a person of shy words, but he gets the job done,” said Eastern Florida State College executive director of community engagement Michael Cadore.
Cadore serves as a camp volunteer who has mentored many youths, including Odom, and said the program has gotten Odom out of his shell.
“He is speaking a little bit more, but also to see his skill level go from a novice all the way up to a higher level... it’s rewarding and I’m honored to be a part of it,” Cadore said.
With nearly 100 campers each year, Odom said the environment is very welcoming.
“It feels friendly. It feels warm. Everyone enjoys each other’s company. Everyone learns from each other. Everyone supports each other. Nobody’s mean to each other,” Odom said.
Along with the lessons that can be applied on and off the course, parents say there’s another benefit of the camp.
“It’s free. It doesn’t cost them anything. And besides, from the two-week program that they typically have during the summer, they still have the opportunity to continue the program because Jamie, the coach that runs the program, is out here every Saturday with the kids teaching them how to improve those golf skills,” said Odom’s mother Charmaine.
Eastern Florida State College Golf coach Jamie Howell is continuing the decadeslong legacy of the golf camp.
“It’s carrying on a tradition that was started back in 1992. I came to the college in 1994 and have been involved with the camp since that year and wouldn’t trade it for many of the other jobs we do. You know, working with young people, it keeps you young as well. And then some of them, the campers, they come back, and you get to see what they grow into and that in itself, you get to see a little bit of the influence that this camp had on them,” Howell said.
Influence that followed former camper Blake Gladin through high school and college.
“To me, it was just about golf. And what I didn’t expect was what was to come next, which was really the interactions with the coaches, with the staff there, but more importantly with the kids that were all kind of sharing the same background as me. Everybody was a little nervous at first, but it turned out to be a camp that really changed my life for the better,” Gladin said. “And today I still credit a lot of my accomplishments and a lot of what I do to that time at the camp.”
Many campers like Gladin have returned as adults to volunteer and mentor the next generation of campers.
“I enjoyed it more looking back than I did even being a part of the camp. It came full circle for me, you know, to go from one of the kids that was attending all the way to the end volunteering and to kind of see the back end of everything was, I can’t explain it, it gives me chills to this day,” Gladin said. “It’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve done in my whole life.”
At the end of each camp, EFSC awards a high school senior with a scholarship covering tuition and book fees.
“I think the friends keep me coming back and the coaches. I really like the coaches. I like the program. Everything. I like the people here. In fact, I’m planning on volunteering next year for the next camp,” Odom said.
To register for the Eastern Florida State College P.J. Wilson and Henry Scott Minority Youth Golf Camp, send an email to Karen Wilson at wilsonk@easternflorida.edu with “Summer Golf Program” in the subject line. Registration ends May 26, 2023, with orientation taking place June 3, 2023.
d | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/25/free-brevard-county-summer-golf-camp-teaches-kids-skills-life-lessons/ | 2023-05-25T15:00:24 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/25/free-brevard-county-summer-golf-camp-teaches-kids-skills-life-lessons/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The city of Vancouver is eying an area near the Kiggins Bowl as a potential location for its next Safe Stay Community to shelter homeless people.
The property is located at 4611 Main St. and is owned by the Washington State Department of Transportation and is leased to the city. It’s wedged between Main Street and Interstate 5, directly north of the Kiggins Bowl.
The city feels this location is ideal because it is close to public transportation.
Vancouver is currently reaching out to all residents and business owners within 1,200 feet of the proposed site. They’re invited to share input during a public comment period that is part of the process for opening any Safe Stay Community.
If approved, this would be the fourth Safe Stay Community in Vancouver.
The first is located in east Vancouver and opened in December 2021. The second site is in Northeast Vancouver and opened in April 2022. A third site has been approved for 415 W. 11th St. in downtown Vancouver and is awaiting construction.
The city said that the first two sites have successfully provided residents with referrals for permanent housing, job placement support and access to critical health and treatment services to help them move off the streets.
The city also said that calls for police and emergency services at the locations of other Safe Site Communities have dropped since the sites began operating.
If approved, the fourth site would provide 20 modular shelters to house up to 40 people. The site will be fenced and staffed 24/7 by Do Good Multnomah. It will include trash bins, sanitation services, portable toilets and handwashing stations, office space, and access to services provided by local agencies.
Community members interested in providing public comment on the fourth Safe Stay Community site can do so online at beheardvancouver.org/ssc4 The public is invited to attend two community information sessions where they can ask questions and learn more about how the shelter will work.
- Attend Online – Wednesday, May 31, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Community members can participate in the virtual session using a computer, smart device or phone. To register, visit cityofvancouver.us/cis
- Attend In-Person – Monday, June 5, from 7 to 9 p.m., Discovery Middle School Commons, 800 E 40th St, Vancouver, WA 98663. Please RSVP to kerry.peck@cityofvancouver.us
People who would like to participate by phone or who would like to request language interpretation services should call (360) 487-8616.
After the public input is received and if the site receives final approval, the city plans to open the fourth Safe Stay Community in fall 2023. | https://www.koin.com/local/clark-county/vancouver-has-a-potential-site-selected-for-its-fourth-safe-stay-community/ | 2023-05-25T15:07:44 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/local/clark-county/vancouver-has-a-potential-site-selected-for-its-fourth-safe-stay-community/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The 2023 Multnomah County Fair begins on Saturday bringing musical performances, a car show and so much more to Oaks Park.
The Multnomah County Fair has been running since 1906, but it has only been at Oaks Park since 1997.
This year’s fair will feature performances by Portland’s School of Rock and Hillsboro High School’s Mariachi Sangre Azul, as well as a wiener dog costume contest, several dance troupes and an Encanto sing-along.
KOIN 6 New’s Kohr Harlan visited Oaks Park to get a sneak peek at all the upcoming events and attractions.
Watch the video in the player above for more. | https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/kohr-explores-multnomah-county-fair-returns-to-oaks-park-this-weekend/ | 2023-05-25T15:07:45 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/kohr-explores-multnomah-county-fair-returns-to-oaks-park-this-weekend/ |
Check out these top stories and more in The Times and nwi.com.
UPDATE: Brothers nabbed with 120 pounds of cocaine found not guilty of dealing the drug: https://bit.ly/436osnA
Brumm's Bloomin' Barn founder Jerry Brumm dies, remembered as 'everyone's friend': https://bit.ly/3OFj3zQ
Stay connected with all your Region News at www.nwi.com.
Video provided in partnership with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/219-news-now-update-brothers-nabbed-with-120-pounds-of-cocaine-found-not-guilty-of/article_5ce23dfa-fb02-11ed-b99d-ab7a91727d29.html | 2023-05-25T15:09:05 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/219-news-now-update-brothers-nabbed-with-120-pounds-of-cocaine-found-not-guilty-of/article_5ce23dfa-fb02-11ed-b99d-ab7a91727d29.html |
American Legion Allied Post 369 was started on the south side of East Chicago in 1946 by returning World War II veterans.
The veterans group grew to the largest American Legion post in the state, with 2,126 members, in 1990. The post has hosted countless gatherings, funded countless scholarships and honored countless fallen and missing-in-action service members over the years.
But the World War II veterans who made up much of its membership have been dying, and many of its members have moved further south in Lake County as part of a wider population shift.
Now the post is moving from its longtime spot at 1401 W. Chicago Ave. in East Chicago to a new home at 9501 Wicker Ave. in St. John. It's hoping to welcome new members, including younger veterans from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It's looking to lure them with a more family-friendly atmosphere that will eventually include picnics, a deck, a playground out back and video games.
A dedication ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday as the American Legion post gears up for a busy Memorial Day weekend during which its members will place small American flags on the gravesites of veterans buried in local cemeteries across the Calumet Region. United States Rep. Frank Mrvan and potentially other members of Indiana's Congressional delegation are expected to attend.
The American Legion Post will move the flag from its old spot across from Bishop Noll Institute and raise it off the new site on U.S. 41, where it already moved a Howitzer canon from World War II that sat outside the old post and, before that, Roosevelt High School in East Chicago. During Saturday's ceremony, there will be an honor guard salute, remarks from Post Commander Frank Darrington and food and refreshments.
The public is invited to attend.
"The reason it's called Allied Post 369 is that it was started by Allies forces from World War II who came back after winning the war. It was probably the largest initiation in the state of Indiana," Building Manager Marty Dzieglowicz said. "They took the Allied name when they started with 200 members in the St. Stanislaus school. They eventually moved to a 20,000-square-foot space at 1401 W. Chicago Ave. that was the largest post in Indiana."
Membership has fallen to about 350 members, but the post hopes to bring in new blood in a fast-growing community in south Lake County.
"We are downsizing to a smaller space," Dzieglowicz said. "But it looks very promising. It's a prominent space with a lot of traffic passing by and we're right next to a Dairy Queen."
The post held banquets, retirement parties, birthday parties and funerals at its longtime location in East Chicago. Hundreds would turn out for some of its dinners. It gave annual awards to firefighters, first responders and veterans. It used to run the Salute Awards ceremony for notable veterans every year at the Star Plaza Theater in Merrillville, which thousands of people attended in the early 2000s.
It held a number of fundraisers, including for college scholarships, the Hoosier Boys State program and the Boy Scouts. The post does a number of fundraising activities, such as selling poppies outside Strack & Van Til supermarkets in reference to the flowers depicted in the poem "In Flanders Field" that symbolize fallen soldiers during World War I.
American Legion Allied Post 369 also does an annual Veterans Day program at Lake Central High School for 3,500 students and 400 veterans for the community. It plans to be active in the Tri-Town community, especially in the schools.
"We've been very active," Dzieglowicz said. "We were mainly World War II vets and then the Vietnam vets and Korean vets trickled in. We've been getting new members from Desert Storm and Iraq at a slow pace but hope that will pick up dramatically."
The American Legion is open to all veterans, unlike the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which is restricted to those who served in combat overseas.
While the new site has a bar, it's not just a watering hole.
"We're trying to create a family atmosphere to entice younger vets," Dzieglowicz said. "We're promoting family-oriented functions. We hope that will entice new members to come in as interest in joining the American Legion and other VSOs has declined nationwide."
The post has been renovating the 1,800-square-foot building with the help of members. They've been rushing to get it ready in time for Saturday.
"We're going to offer it for party rentals but we're not going to cook," Darrington said. "People can bring catering in. We're looking at small gatherings of maybe four dozen people: baby showers, wedding showers and so on. You're not going to get 300 people in here. It will be open to the public."
The bar will offer finger foods like pizza and hot dogs eventually. The post also plans to host regular family gatherings for the membership, including spaghetti fests, steak frys, corn roasts, pig roasts, chili cookoffs and cookouts out in the backyard of the former daycare that was originally built as a home nearly a century ago.
It hopes to make use of the backyard for badminton, touch football, horseshoes and other outdoor recreational activities.
"It's a unique building for a Veterans Service Organization," he said. "Typically a VSO is a building and a parking lot and that's it. But we have lawns for family gatherings and outdoor parties. We knew when we moved out of East Chicago we wanted it to be family-oriented. We do have adult beverages but the focus is not on adult beverages. The focus is family, comradeship and Legion programs. The bar area is not that large compared to others. It's not just elbows hunched on the bar watching TV."
It's non-smoking and there are tables where people can gather to talk with fellow veterans, play chess, play cards or hang out with family, Darrington said.
"All of the posts across the country are shrinking and getting smaller because World War II vets are dying off," he said. "But attitudes of the veterans are changing. The new veterans no longer want to go to a gathering place with a bunch of old men smoking cigars and drinking beer. They don't want a shot-and-a-beer place. They want a place where their children and spouses can come with them. They want to bring their girlfriend who won't be offended by cussing and stinky cigars. They want a family place like you'd expect to find if you went to a restaurant. They don't want a bunch of smelly guys smoking and swilling beer and sucking on cigars. They want something nice and pleasant. That's the type of culture we're trying to create here."
The hope is they can rekindle the camaraderie they had during their time in the service.
"Then when they come here they realize among veterans there is like-mindedness or kinship that changes our lives for the better through our service in the Armed Forces," Darrington said. "There are values and attitudes we share that are not common in the regular civilian population. It's based on our experience. It's pleasant to come to a place and share that with other veterans."
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Pierogi stand, Brown Skin Coffee and Alpha Family Resale opening; Ixxa and Dan's Pierogies updating
Region native Joseph S. Pete is a Lisagor Award-winning business reporter who covers steel, industry, unions, the ports, retail, banking and more. The Indiana University grad has been with The Times of Northwest Indiana since 2013. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/american-legion-allied-post-369-relocates-from-east-chicago-to-st-john-welcomes-younger-vets/article_e735509e-fa7d-11ed-a5c9-0b8c99dcb753.html | 2023-05-25T15:09:05 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/american-legion-allied-post-369-relocates-from-east-chicago-to-st-john-welcomes-younger-vets/article_e735509e-fa7d-11ed-a5c9-0b8c99dcb753.html |
PORTAGE — Portage police have released surveillance photos in the hopes the public can help identify two people sought in the wake of a recent theft of a wallet.
The theft of the wallet occurred around 3:30 p.m. Monday at the local Walmart store, police said.
Anyone with information about the two people pictured is encouraged to contact the police department through Facebook or contact Detective Chris Burch at 219-764-5796.
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Heather Wood
Shannon Uttal
Thomas Littlefield
Kevin Carrico
Barry Rogers
Jonathan Riley Jr.
Crysta Carrico
Cynthia Cruz
Cory Hebda
Prince Pugh
DeMario Young Jr.
Tyler Roark
Christopher Deming
Mitchell Demeter
Cassidy Stewart
Colin Page
Martell Joe
Willie Key Jr.
Stephen Williams
William Jackson
Brittany Jeleniewski
Janese Moore
Shawn Sparks
Bryce Parlin
Matthew Martin
Solitaire Johnson
Edward Levine
Michael Gilpin
David Caldwell
An Indianapolis man died of a fentanyl poisoning last year. The man who gave it to him was recently implicated in his death
Jason Platipodis (right) poses with his triplet siblings Jessica and Jeff. They are the first set of triplets successfully born in Valparaiso.
INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County 911 dispatchers answered a call around 7:15 a.m. Jan. 3, 2022. The voice of a 6-year-old girl traveled through the receiver. She told dispatchers she couldn't wake her father and needed help.
Indianapolis police and medical personnel swiftly arrived at the scene to do a welfare check on the girl's father at his apartment in the 7000 block of River Walk Drive. The medics found Jason Platipodis, 40, deceased.
Jason's brother, Jeff, who lived in the area, arrived at Jason's apartment and grabbed Jason's phone. While scrolling through messages, he saw texts between Jason and a contact called "Johnny Boy." Messages showed that Johnny Boy had acquired some sort of drugs and given them to Jason.
Jason had a history of drug abuse but had been clean for six years. Jeff was shocked.
"I saw him every day. We worked together," Jeff said. "If he had relapsed, I would have known."
Jeff brought Jason's phone to the Indianapolis Metro Police Department and handed it to a detective, which was the beginning of an investigation that would last over a year into how Jason died and who would be held responsible for giving him the lethal substance that ended his life.
Fighting for Jason
Jonathan Spurling, 38, of Valparaiso was charged March 22 with dealing a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony, for his role in Jason's death. If convicted, he is looking at 20 to 50 years in prison.
A law passed in 2018 gave prosecutors the ability to file charges against anyone who allegedly provided a drug that resulted in death, but the cases are difficult to prove. The charges against Spurling are one of few cases in Indiana in which charges have been filed since the law was passed.
In the Region, charges related to this statute are seldom filed. There have been seven cases charged in Lake County, six in LaPorte County and three in Porter County, according to data from the Indiana Supreme Court.
Shortly after Jason's death, his uncle Scott Westergren said he read an article about a woman named Susan Fox who lost her son, Nathan May, to a fentanyl overdose in 2020. Fox had worked to collect evidence that implicated the man who provided the lethal drug to her son. She presented the evidence to police, who involved the Drug Enforcement Administration. Charges were filed in June against the man who provided the drug.
Westergren sent an email to her. She responded and connected him with the DEA agents who worked on her son's case.
DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke said families have taken a crucial role in these cases when it comes to gathering evidence.
"It’s really the families who are driving this," Cooke said. "Every time [law enforcement] investigate or come upon an overdose victim, I don’t think the thought is, ‘this is a homicide.’ It’s really the families of the victims who are getting involved and going to state local law enforcement.”
Westergren said he knew the case was being investigated but was not aware of the details until charges were filed.
“I am so grateful that the DEA and Indianapolis police were able to pursue these charges,” he said. "We got to fight for Jason."
Jason's story
Jason, a triplet, grew up in Valparaiso. His triplet brother, Jeff, said Jason worked as a carpenter. The two lived in Indianapolis but would drive back to the Region every weekend to work on a home improvement project. Jason loved fishing and spending time with his daughter. Jeff described him as a "family man" who always had a smile on his face.
"He's the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back," Jeff said. "He was a good dad, a hard worker, a family man."
Jason Platipodis poses with his nephew. His family remembers him as someone who enjoyed bringing all generations of his family together for ac…
Jason was prescribed an opioid pain reliever for back pain early in adulthood, Westergren said. He said their family has a history with substance abuse but believes the prescription could have been the catalyst that fueled Jason's opioid abuse. When Jason's daughter was born, he worked to get sober and "transformed."
"He’s dearly missed," Westergren said. "There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him."
His triplet sister, Jessica, said she remembers him taking all his nieces and nephews swimming, boating and fishing. He wanted to involve the "younger generation" in every activity.
“He was the glue to our family," she said. "He always tried to get our family together while he was out in Valparaiso.”
By bringing awareness to the circumstances surrounding Jason's death and the charges filed against his alleged dealer, the family said they hope it can bring awareness to substance-abuse disorders and bring justice to other victims of drug poisonings.
Proving their case
Investigations related to dealing a controlled substance resulting in death are handled as homicide investigations, LaPorte County Drug Task Force Sgt. Kyle Shiparski said.
Techniques used to investigate are similar. Detectives rely on evidence from cellphones, witnesses toxicology reports and forensic evidence on scene. The difficulties lie in proving that a person died from a specific instance in which they were supplied a drug and subsequently ingested it.
This can be hard, Shiparski said, if a person has multiple suppliers or died with a combination of drugs in their system. More challenges include underlying conditions or other risks surrounding death. The cases are not black-and-white.
“What we’re seeing with these cases is, they’re much harder to prove and investigate," Shiparski said. "And when they get in front of a jury, they become even harder to prove in that setting.”
The deaths are often labeled as accidental overdoses, Shiparski said. Once the cause of death is determined, investigators can begin to explore the case, searching into what happened on scene. Law enforcement are reliant on cellphones and witnesses to provide information, and a timeline of events is created.
Official cellphone data showed that Jason communicated with Spurling in the days before his death. According to court documents, Spurling traveled to a location in the Chicago area to obtain drugs from another source. Jason asked Spurling to "grab me a couple," purportedly referencing the drugs Spurling was purchasing. The men planned to meet up Jan. 2, 2022 at Spurling's home in Valparaiso. After obtaining the drugs, Jason and his daughter, who were in Valparaiso that weekend, subsequently drove back to Indianapolis.
In one of the messages, Spurling said: "Promise it did the trick but wasn’t overwhelming?" Investigators believe this indicates that Spurling knew the drug had the potential to have an "overwhelming" effect. Spurling told police he gave Jason heroin and nothing else, according to court documents.
Shiparski said there are some people who do not agree with how the law reads. The language of the law targets anyone who "knowingly manufactures or delivers" a drug that results in death, but the ultimate goal is to find the drug dealers who are widely distributing the counterfeit pills.
“You try to climb that ladder and hold the initial source of supply accountable,” Shiparski said.
Kristen Martin, founder of Gary Harm Reduction, said she believes laws related to dealing resulting in death are counterproductive to curbing the drug epidemic in the United States. She said stricter laws could instill fear in people who are using drugs, making them scared to ask for help.
"If we’re charging people, no one is going to want to ever call for help if somebody is overdosing," Martin said. "They’re going to leave more people left for dead.”
Martin said some trust has been built in communities of people who use drugs, erring on the side of nonjudgment and leading with compassion to help people struggling with substance abuse to find help. Martin and other organizations offer free naloxone and fentanyl testing strips to reduce harm for anyone who uses drugs. She worries that if laws surrounding the prosecution of individuals who deal or use drugs villainize those who are struggling with addiction, it will do more harm than good.
“There’s a fine line between drug dealer and drug user,” Martin said. “It’s not getting at the root of the problem. How is ruining someone else’s life by putting them in prison going to help the issue?”
Seeking justice
Spurling, who posted bond April 4, is set to stand trial May 30 in Marion Superior Court, according to online court records. The family has traveled from Valparaiso to attend some of the court hearings and plan to attend the trial.
Jason's family said they will continue to bring awareness to the law that they believe will help them get justice for their brother.
"We understand it’s not going to bring Jason back, but it could save another family from going through what we went through," Jessica said. "Something needs to be done. People who are dealing need to be held accountable."
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Heather Wood
Shannon Uttal
Thomas Littlefield
Kevin Carrico
Barry Rogers
Jonathan Riley Jr.
Crysta Carrico
Cynthia Cruz
Cory Hebda
Prince Pugh
DeMario Young Jr.
Tyler Roark
Christopher Deming
Mitchell Demeter
Cassidy Stewart
Colin Page
Martell Joe
Willie Key Jr.
Stephen Williams
William Jackson
Brittany Jeleniewski
Janese Moore
Shawn Sparks
Bryce Parlin
Matthew Martin
Solitaire Johnson
Edward Levine
Michael Gilpin
David Caldwell
An Indianapolis man died of a fentanyl poisoning last year. The man who gave it to him was recently implicated in his death
Jason Platipodis (right) poses with his triplet siblings Jessica and Jeff. They are the first set of triplets successfully born in Valparaiso.
INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County 911 dispatchers answered a call around 7:15 a.m. Jan. 3, 2022. The voice of a 6-year-old girl traveled through the receiver. She told dispatchers she couldn't wake her father and needed help.
Indianapolis police and medical personnel swiftly arrived at the scene to do a welfare check on the girl's father at his apartment in the 7000 block of River Walk Drive. The medics found Jason Platipodis, 40, deceased.
Jason's brother, Jeff, who lived in the area, arrived at Jason's apartment and grabbed Jason's phone. While scrolling through messages, he saw texts between Jason and a contact called "Johnny Boy." Messages showed that Johnny Boy had acquired some sort of drugs and given them to Jason.
Jason had a history of drug abuse but had been clean for six years. Jeff was shocked.
"I saw him every day. We worked together," Jeff said. "If he had relapsed, I would have known."
Jeff brought Jason's phone to the Indianapolis Metro Police Department and handed it to a detective, which was the beginning of an investigation that would last over a year into how Jason died and who would be held responsible for giving him the lethal substance that ended his life.
Fighting for Jason
Jonathan Spurling, 38, of Valparaiso was charged March 22 with dealing a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony, for his role in Jason's death. If convicted, he is looking at 20 to 50 years in prison.
A law passed in 2018 gave prosecutors the ability to file charges against anyone who allegedly provided a drug that resulted in death, but the cases are difficult to prove. The charges against Spurling are one of few cases in Indiana in which charges have been filed since the law was passed.
In the Region, charges related to this statute are seldom filed. There have been seven cases charged in Lake County, six in LaPorte County and three in Porter County, according to data from the Indiana Supreme Court.
Shortly after Jason's death, his uncle Scott Westergren said he read an article about a woman named Susan Fox who lost her son, Nathan May, to a fentanyl overdose in 2020. Fox had worked to collect evidence that implicated the man who provided the lethal drug to her son. She presented the evidence to police, who involved the Drug Enforcement Administration. Charges were filed in June against the man who provided the drug.
Westergren sent an email to her. She responded and connected him with the DEA agents who worked on her son's case.
DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke said families have taken a crucial role in these cases when it comes to gathering evidence.
"It’s really the families who are driving this," Cooke said. "Every time [law enforcement] investigate or come upon an overdose victim, I don’t think the thought is, ‘this is a homicide.’ It’s really the families of the victims who are getting involved and going to state local law enforcement.”
Westergren said he knew the case was being investigated but was not aware of the details until charges were filed.
“I am so grateful that the DEA and Indianapolis police were able to pursue these charges,” he said. "We got to fight for Jason."
Jason's story
Jason, a triplet, grew up in Valparaiso. His triplet brother, Jeff, said Jason worked as a carpenter. The two lived in Indianapolis but would drive back to the Region every weekend to work on a home improvement project. Jason loved fishing and spending time with his daughter. Jeff described him as a "family man" who always had a smile on his face.
"He's the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back," Jeff said. "He was a good dad, a hard worker, a family man."
Jason Platipodis poses with his nephew. His family remembers him as someone who enjoyed bringing all generations of his family together for ac…
Jason was prescribed an opioid pain reliever for back pain early in adulthood, Westergren said. He said their family has a history with substance abuse but believes the prescription could have been the catalyst that fueled Jason's opioid abuse. When Jason's daughter was born, he worked to get sober and "transformed."
"He’s dearly missed," Westergren said. "There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him."
His triplet sister, Jessica, said she remembers him taking all his nieces and nephews swimming, boating and fishing. He wanted to involve the "younger generation" in every activity.
“He was the glue to our family," she said. "He always tried to get our family together while he was out in Valparaiso.”
By bringing awareness to the circumstances surrounding Jason's death and the charges filed against his alleged dealer, the family said they hope it can bring awareness to substance-abuse disorders and bring justice to other victims of drug poisonings.
Proving their case
Investigations related to dealing a controlled substance resulting in death are handled as homicide investigations, LaPorte County Drug Task Force Sgt. Kyle Shiparski said.
Techniques used to investigate are similar. Detectives rely on evidence from cellphones, witnesses toxicology reports and forensic evidence on scene. The difficulties lie in proving that a person died from a specific instance in which they were supplied a drug and subsequently ingested it.
This can be hard, Shiparski said, if a person has multiple suppliers or died with a combination of drugs in their system. More challenges include underlying conditions or other risks surrounding death. The cases are not black-and-white.
“What we’re seeing with these cases is, they’re much harder to prove and investigate," Shiparski said. "And when they get in front of a jury, they become even harder to prove in that setting.”
The deaths are often labeled as accidental overdoses, Shiparski said. Once the cause of death is determined, investigators can begin to explore the case, searching into what happened on scene. Law enforcement are reliant on cellphones and witnesses to provide information, and a timeline of events is created.
Official cellphone data showed that Jason communicated with Spurling in the days before his death. According to court documents, Spurling traveled to a location in the Chicago area to obtain drugs from another source. Jason asked Spurling to "grab me a couple," purportedly referencing the drugs Spurling was purchasing. The men planned to meet up Jan. 2, 2022 at Spurling's home in Valparaiso. After obtaining the drugs, Jason and his daughter, who were in Valparaiso that weekend, subsequently drove back to Indianapolis.
In one of the messages, Spurling said: "Promise it did the trick but wasn’t overwhelming?" Investigators believe this indicates that Spurling knew the drug had the potential to have an "overwhelming" effect. Spurling told police he gave Jason heroin and nothing else, according to court documents.
Shiparski said there are some people who do not agree with how the law reads. The language of the law targets anyone who "knowingly manufactures or delivers" a drug that results in death, but the ultimate goal is to find the drug dealers who are widely distributing the counterfeit pills.
“You try to climb that ladder and hold the initial source of supply accountable,” Shiparski said.
Kristen Martin, founder of Gary Harm Reduction, said she believes laws related to dealing resulting in death are counterproductive to curbing the drug epidemic in the United States. She said stricter laws could instill fear in people who are using drugs, making them scared to ask for help.
"If we’re charging people, no one is going to want to ever call for help if somebody is overdosing," Martin said. "They’re going to leave more people left for dead.”
Martin said some trust has been built in communities of people who use drugs, erring on the side of nonjudgment and leading with compassion to help people struggling with substance abuse to find help. Martin and other organizations offer free naloxone and fentanyl testing strips to reduce harm for anyone who uses drugs. She worries that if laws surrounding the prosecution of individuals who deal or use drugs villainize those who are struggling with addiction, it will do more harm than good.
“There’s a fine line between drug dealer and drug user,” Martin said. “It’s not getting at the root of the problem. How is ruining someone else’s life by putting them in prison going to help the issue?”
Seeking justice
Spurling, who posted bond April 4, is set to stand trial May 30 in Marion Superior Court, according to online court records. The family has traveled from Valparaiso to attend some of the court hearings and plan to attend the trial.
Jason's family said they will continue to bring awareness to the law that they believe will help them get justice for their brother.
"We understand it’s not going to bring Jason back, but it could save another family from going through what we went through," Jessica said. "Something needs to be done. People who are dealing need to be held accountable."
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Heather Wood
Shannon Uttal
Thomas Littlefield
Kevin Carrico
Barry Rogers
Jonathan Riley Jr.
Crysta Carrico
Cynthia Cruz
Cory Hebda
Prince Pugh
DeMario Young Jr.
Tyler Roark
Christopher Deming
Mitchell Demeter
Cassidy Stewart
Colin Page
Martell Joe
Willie Key Jr.
Stephen Williams
William Jackson
Brittany Jeleniewski
Janese Moore
Shawn Sparks
Bryce Parlin
Matthew Martin
Solitaire Johnson
Edward Levine
Michael Gilpin
David Caldwell
An Indianapolis man died of a fentanyl poisoning last year. The man who gave it to him was recently implicated in his death
Jason Platipodis (right) poses with his triplet siblings Jessica and Jeff. They are the first set of triplets successfully born in Valparaiso.
INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County 911 dispatchers answered a call around 7:15 a.m. Jan. 3, 2022. The voice of a 6-year-old girl traveled through the receiver. She told dispatchers she couldn't wake her father and needed help.
Indianapolis police and medical personnel swiftly arrived at the scene to do a welfare check on the girl's father at his apartment in the 7000 block of River Walk Drive. The medics found Jason Platipodis, 40, deceased.
Jason's brother, Jeff, who lived in the area, arrived at Jason's apartment and grabbed Jason's phone. While scrolling through messages, he saw texts between Jason and a contact called "Johnny Boy." Messages showed that Johnny Boy had acquired some sort of drugs and given them to Jason.
Jason had a history of drug abuse but had been clean for six years. Jeff was shocked.
"I saw him every day. We worked together," Jeff said. "If he had relapsed, I would have known."
Jeff brought Jason's phone to the Indianapolis Metro Police Department and handed it to a detective, which was the beginning of an investigation that would last over a year into how Jason died and who would be held responsible for giving him the lethal substance that ended his life.
Fighting for Jason
Jonathan Spurling, 38, of Valparaiso was charged March 22 with dealing a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony, for his role in Jason's death. If convicted, he is looking at 20 to 50 years in prison.
A law passed in 2018 gave prosecutors the ability to file charges against anyone who allegedly provided a drug that resulted in death, but the cases are difficult to prove. The charges against Spurling are one of few cases in Indiana in which charges have been filed since the law was passed.
In the Region, charges related to this statute are seldom filed. There have been seven cases charged in Lake County, six in LaPorte County and three in Porter County, according to data from the Indiana Supreme Court.
Shortly after Jason's death, his uncle Scott Westergren said he read an article about a woman named Susan Fox who lost her son, Nathan May, to a fentanyl overdose in 2020. Fox had worked to collect evidence that implicated the man who provided the lethal drug to her son. She presented the evidence to police, who involved the Drug Enforcement Administration. Charges were filed in June against the man who provided the drug.
Westergren sent an email to her. She responded and connected him with the DEA agents who worked on her son's case.
DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke said families have taken a crucial role in these cases when it comes to gathering evidence.
"It’s really the families who are driving this," Cooke said. "Every time [law enforcement] investigate or come upon an overdose victim, I don’t think the thought is, ‘this is a homicide.’ It’s really the families of the victims who are getting involved and going to state local law enforcement.”
Westergren said he knew the case was being investigated but was not aware of the details until charges were filed.
“I am so grateful that the DEA and Indianapolis police were able to pursue these charges,” he said. "We got to fight for Jason."
Jason's story
Jason, a triplet, grew up in Valparaiso. His triplet brother, Jeff, said Jason worked as a carpenter. The two lived in Indianapolis but would drive back to the Region every weekend to work on a home improvement project. Jason loved fishing and spending time with his daughter. Jeff described him as a "family man" who always had a smile on his face.
"He's the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back," Jeff said. "He was a good dad, a hard worker, a family man."
Jason Platipodis poses with his nephew. His family remembers him as someone who enjoyed bringing all generations of his family together for ac…
Jason was prescribed an opioid pain reliever for back pain early in adulthood, Westergren said. He said their family has a history with substance abuse but believes the prescription could have been the catalyst that fueled Jason's opioid abuse. When Jason's daughter was born, he worked to get sober and "transformed."
"He’s dearly missed," Westergren said. "There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him."
His triplet sister, Jessica, said she remembers him taking all his nieces and nephews swimming, boating and fishing. He wanted to involve the "younger generation" in every activity.
“He was the glue to our family," she said. "He always tried to get our family together while he was out in Valparaiso.”
By bringing awareness to the circumstances surrounding Jason's death and the charges filed against his alleged dealer, the family said they hope it can bring awareness to substance-abuse disorders and bring justice to other victims of drug poisonings.
Proving their case
Investigations related to dealing a controlled substance resulting in death are handled as homicide investigations, LaPorte County Drug Task Force Sgt. Kyle Shiparski said.
Techniques used to investigate are similar. Detectives rely on evidence from cellphones, witnesses toxicology reports and forensic evidence on scene. The difficulties lie in proving that a person died from a specific instance in which they were supplied a drug and subsequently ingested it.
This can be hard, Shiparski said, if a person has multiple suppliers or died with a combination of drugs in their system. More challenges include underlying conditions or other risks surrounding death. The cases are not black-and-white.
“What we’re seeing with these cases is, they’re much harder to prove and investigate," Shiparski said. "And when they get in front of a jury, they become even harder to prove in that setting.”
The deaths are often labeled as accidental overdoses, Shiparski said. Once the cause of death is determined, investigators can begin to explore the case, searching into what happened on scene. Law enforcement are reliant on cellphones and witnesses to provide information, and a timeline of events is created.
Official cellphone data showed that Jason communicated with Spurling in the days before his death. According to court documents, Spurling traveled to a location in the Chicago area to obtain drugs from another source. Jason asked Spurling to "grab me a couple," purportedly referencing the drugs Spurling was purchasing. The men planned to meet up Jan. 2, 2022 at Spurling's home in Valparaiso. After obtaining the drugs, Jason and his daughter, who were in Valparaiso that weekend, subsequently drove back to Indianapolis.
In one of the messages, Spurling said: "Promise it did the trick but wasn’t overwhelming?" Investigators believe this indicates that Spurling knew the drug had the potential to have an "overwhelming" effect. Spurling told police he gave Jason heroin and nothing else, according to court documents.
Shiparski said there are some people who do not agree with how the law reads. The language of the law targets anyone who "knowingly manufactures or delivers" a drug that results in death, but the ultimate goal is to find the drug dealers who are widely distributing the counterfeit pills.
“You try to climb that ladder and hold the initial source of supply accountable,” Shiparski said.
Kristen Martin, founder of Gary Harm Reduction, said she believes laws related to dealing resulting in death are counterproductive to curbing the drug epidemic in the United States. She said stricter laws could instill fear in people who are using drugs, making them scared to ask for help.
"If we’re charging people, no one is going to want to ever call for help if somebody is overdosing," Martin said. "They’re going to leave more people left for dead.”
Martin said some trust has been built in communities of people who use drugs, erring on the side of nonjudgment and leading with compassion to help people struggling with substance abuse to find help. Martin and other organizations offer free naloxone and fentanyl testing strips to reduce harm for anyone who uses drugs. She worries that if laws surrounding the prosecution of individuals who deal or use drugs villainize those who are struggling with addiction, it will do more harm than good.
“There’s a fine line between drug dealer and drug user,” Martin said. “It’s not getting at the root of the problem. How is ruining someone else’s life by putting them in prison going to help the issue?”
Seeking justice
Spurling, who posted bond April 4, is set to stand trial May 30 in Marion Superior Court, according to online court records. The family has traveled from Valparaiso to attend some of the court hearings and plan to attend the trial.
Jason's family said they will continue to bring awareness to the law that they believe will help them get justice for their brother.
"We understand it’s not going to bring Jason back, but it could save another family from going through what we went through," Jessica said. "Something needs to be done. People who are dealing need to be held accountable."
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Heather Wood
Shannon Uttal
Thomas Littlefield
Kevin Carrico
Barry Rogers
Jonathan Riley Jr.
Crysta Carrico
Cynthia Cruz
Cory Hebda
Prince Pugh
DeMario Young Jr.
Tyler Roark
Christopher Deming
Mitchell Demeter
Cassidy Stewart
Colin Page
Martell Joe
Willie Key Jr.
Stephen Williams
William Jackson
Brittany Jeleniewski
Janese Moore
Shawn Sparks
Bryce Parlin
Matthew Martin
Solitaire Johnson
Edward Levine
Michael Gilpin
David Caldwell
An Indianapolis man died of a fentanyl poisoning last year. The man who gave it to him was recently implicated in his death
Jason Platipodis (right) poses with his triplet siblings Jessica and Jeff. They are the first set of triplets successfully born in Valparaiso.
INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County 911 dispatchers answered a call around 7:15 a.m. Jan. 3, 2022. The voice of a 6-year-old girl traveled through the receiver. She told dispatchers she couldn't wake her father and needed help.
Indianapolis police and medical personnel swiftly arrived at the scene to do a welfare check on the girl's father at his apartment in the 7000 block of River Walk Drive. The medics found Jason Platipodis, 40, deceased.
Jason's brother, Jeff, who lived in the area, arrived at Jason's apartment and grabbed Jason's phone. While scrolling through messages, he saw texts between Jason and a contact called "Johnny Boy." Messages showed that Johnny Boy had acquired some sort of drugs and given them to Jason.
Jason had a history of drug abuse but had been clean for six years. Jeff was shocked.
"I saw him every day. We worked together," Jeff said. "If he had relapsed, I would have known."
Jeff brought Jason's phone to the Indianapolis Metro Police Department and handed it to a detective, which was the beginning of an investigation that would last over a year into how Jason died and who would be held responsible for giving him the lethal substance that ended his life.
Fighting for Jason
Jonathan Spurling, 38, of Valparaiso was charged March 22 with dealing a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony, for his role in Jason's death. If convicted, he is looking at 20 to 50 years in prison.
A law passed in 2018 gave prosecutors the ability to file charges against anyone who allegedly provided a drug that resulted in death, but the cases are difficult to prove. The charges against Spurling are one of few cases in Indiana in which charges have been filed since the law was passed.
In the Region, charges related to this statute are seldom filed. There have been seven cases charged in Lake County, six in LaPorte County and three in Porter County, according to data from the Indiana Supreme Court.
Shortly after Jason's death, his uncle Scott Westergren said he read an article about a woman named Susan Fox who lost her son, Nathan May, to a fentanyl overdose in 2020. Fox had worked to collect evidence that implicated the man who provided the lethal drug to her son. She presented the evidence to police, who involved the Drug Enforcement Administration. Charges were filed in June against the man who provided the drug.
Westergren sent an email to her. She responded and connected him with the DEA agents who worked on her son's case.
DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke said families have taken a crucial role in these cases when it comes to gathering evidence.
"It’s really the families who are driving this," Cooke said. "Every time [law enforcement] investigate or come upon an overdose victim, I don’t think the thought is, ‘this is a homicide.’ It’s really the families of the victims who are getting involved and going to state local law enforcement.”
Westergren said he knew the case was being investigated but was not aware of the details until charges were filed.
“I am so grateful that the DEA and Indianapolis police were able to pursue these charges,” he said. "We got to fight for Jason."
Jason's story
Jason, a triplet, grew up in Valparaiso. His triplet brother, Jeff, said Jason worked as a carpenter. The two lived in Indianapolis but would drive back to the Region every weekend to work on a home improvement project. Jason loved fishing and spending time with his daughter. Jeff described him as a "family man" who always had a smile on his face.
"He's the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back," Jeff said. "He was a good dad, a hard worker, a family man."
Jason Platipodis poses with his nephew. His family remembers him as someone who enjoyed bringing all generations of his family together for ac…
Jason was prescribed an opioid pain reliever for back pain early in adulthood, Westergren said. He said their family has a history with substance abuse but believes the prescription could have been the catalyst that fueled Jason's opioid abuse. When Jason's daughter was born, he worked to get sober and "transformed."
"He’s dearly missed," Westergren said. "There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him."
His triplet sister, Jessica, said she remembers him taking all his nieces and nephews swimming, boating and fishing. He wanted to involve the "younger generation" in every activity.
“He was the glue to our family," she said. "He always tried to get our family together while he was out in Valparaiso.”
By bringing awareness to the circumstances surrounding Jason's death and the charges filed against his alleged dealer, the family said they hope it can bring awareness to substance-abuse disorders and bring justice to other victims of drug poisonings.
Proving their case
Investigations related to dealing a controlled substance resulting in death are handled as homicide investigations, LaPorte County Drug Task Force Sgt. Kyle Shiparski said.
Techniques used to investigate are similar. Detectives rely on evidence from cellphones, witnesses toxicology reports and forensic evidence on scene. The difficulties lie in proving that a person died from a specific instance in which they were supplied a drug and subsequently ingested it.
This can be hard, Shiparski said, if a person has multiple suppliers or died with a combination of drugs in their system. More challenges include underlying conditions or other risks surrounding death. The cases are not black-and-white.
“What we’re seeing with these cases is, they’re much harder to prove and investigate," Shiparski said. "And when they get in front of a jury, they become even harder to prove in that setting.”
The deaths are often labeled as accidental overdoses, Shiparski said. Once the cause of death is determined, investigators can begin to explore the case, searching into what happened on scene. Law enforcement are reliant on cellphones and witnesses to provide information, and a timeline of events is created.
Official cellphone data showed that Jason communicated with Spurling in the days before his death. According to court documents, Spurling traveled to a location in the Chicago area to obtain drugs from another source. Jason asked Spurling to "grab me a couple," purportedly referencing the drugs Spurling was purchasing. The men planned to meet up Jan. 2, 2022 at Spurling's home in Valparaiso. After obtaining the drugs, Jason and his daughter, who were in Valparaiso that weekend, subsequently drove back to Indianapolis.
In one of the messages, Spurling said: "Promise it did the trick but wasn’t overwhelming?" Investigators believe this indicates that Spurling knew the drug had the potential to have an "overwhelming" effect. Spurling told police he gave Jason heroin and nothing else, according to court documents.
Shiparski said there are some people who do not agree with how the law reads. The language of the law targets anyone who "knowingly manufactures or delivers" a drug that results in death, but the ultimate goal is to find the drug dealers who are widely distributing the counterfeit pills.
“You try to climb that ladder and hold the initial source of supply accountable,” Shiparski said.
Kristen Martin, founder of Gary Harm Reduction, said she believes laws related to dealing resulting in death are counterproductive to curbing the drug epidemic in the United States. She said stricter laws could instill fear in people who are using drugs, making them scared to ask for help.
"If we’re charging people, no one is going to want to ever call for help if somebody is overdosing," Martin said. "They’re going to leave more people left for dead.”
Martin said some trust has been built in communities of people who use drugs, erring on the side of nonjudgment and leading with compassion to help people struggling with substance abuse to find help. Martin and other organizations offer free naloxone and fentanyl testing strips to reduce harm for anyone who uses drugs. She worries that if laws surrounding the prosecution of individuals who deal or use drugs villainize those who are struggling with addiction, it will do more harm than good.
“There’s a fine line between drug dealer and drug user,” Martin said. “It’s not getting at the root of the problem. How is ruining someone else’s life by putting them in prison going to help the issue?”
Seeking justice
Spurling, who posted bond April 4, is set to stand trial May 30 in Marion Superior Court, according to online court records. The family has traveled from Valparaiso to attend some of the court hearings and plan to attend the trial.
Jason's family said they will continue to bring awareness to the law that they believe will help them get justice for their brother.
"We understand it’s not going to bring Jason back, but it could save another family from going through what we went through," Jessica said. "Something needs to be done. People who are dealing need to be held accountable."
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Heather Wood
Shannon Uttal
Thomas Littlefield
Kevin Carrico
Barry Rogers
Jonathan Riley Jr.
Crysta Carrico
Cynthia Cruz
Cory Hebda
Prince Pugh
DeMario Young Jr.
Tyler Roark
Christopher Deming
Mitchell Demeter
Cassidy Stewart
Colin Page
Martell Joe
Willie Key Jr.
Stephen Williams
William Jackson
Brittany Jeleniewski
Janese Moore
Shawn Sparks
Bryce Parlin
Matthew Martin
Solitaire Johnson
Edward Levine
Michael Gilpin
David Caldwell
An Indianapolis man died of a fentanyl poisoning last year. The man who gave it to him was recently implicated in his death
INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County 911 dispatchers answered a call around 7:15 a.m. Jan. 3, 2022. The voice of a 6-year-old girl traveled through the receiver. She told dispatchers she couldn't wake her father and needed help.
Indianapolis police and medical personnel swiftly arrived at the scene to do a welfare check on the girl's father at his apartment in the 7000 block of River Walk Drive. The medics found Jason Platipodis, 40, deceased.
Jason's brother, Jeff, who lived in the area, arrived at Jason's apartment and grabbed Jason's phone. While scrolling through messages, he saw texts between Jason and a contact called "Johnny Boy." Messages showed that Johnny Boy had acquired some sort of drugs and given them to Jason.
Jason had a history of drug abuse but had been clean for six years. Jeff was shocked.
"I saw him every day. We worked together," Jeff said. "If he had relapsed, I would have known."
Jeff brought Jason's phone to the Indianapolis Metro Police Department and handed it to a detective, which was the beginning of an investigation that would last over a year into how Jason died and who would be held responsible for giving him the lethal substance that ended his life.
Fighting for Jason
Jonathan Spurling, 38, of Valparaiso was charged March 22 with dealing a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony, for his role in Jason's death. If convicted, he is looking at 20 to 50 years in prison.
A law passed in 2018 gave prosecutors the ability to file charges against anyone who allegedly provided a drug that resulted in death, but the cases are difficult to prove. The charges against Spurling are one of few cases in Indiana in which charges have been filed since the law was passed.
In the Region, charges related to this statute are seldom filed. There have been seven cases charged in Lake County, six in LaPorte County and three in Porter County, according to data from the Indiana Supreme Court.
Shortly after Jason's death, his uncle Scott Westergren said he read an article about a woman named Susan Fox who lost her son, Nathan May, to a fentanyl overdose in 2020. Fox had worked to collect evidence that implicated the man who provided the lethal drug to her son. She presented the evidence to police, who involved the Drug Enforcement Administration. Charges were filed in June against the man who provided the drug.
Westergren sent an email to her. She responded and connected him with the DEA agents who worked on her son's case.
DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke said families have taken a crucial role in these cases when it comes to gathering evidence.
"It’s really the families who are driving this," Cooke said. "Every time [law enforcement] investigate or come upon an overdose victim, I don’t think the thought is, ‘this is a homicide.’ It’s really the families of the victims who are getting involved and going to state local law enforcement.”
Westergren said he knew the case was being investigated but was not aware of the details until charges were filed.
“I am so grateful that the DEA and Indianapolis police were able to pursue these charges,” he said. "We got to fight for Jason."
Jason's story
Jason, a triplet, grew up in Valparaiso. His triplet brother, Jeff, said Jason worked as a carpenter. The two lived in Indianapolis but would drive back to the Region every weekend to work on a home improvement project. Jason loved fishing and spending time with his daughter. Jeff described him as a "family man" who always had a smile on his face.
"He's the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back," Jeff said. "He was a good dad, a hard worker, a family man."
Jason was prescribed an opioid pain reliever for back pain early in adulthood, Westergren said. He said their family has a history with substance abuse but believes the prescription could have been the catalyst that fueled Jason's opioid abuse. When Jason's daughter was born, he worked to get sober and "transformed."
"He’s dearly missed," Westergren said. "There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him."
His triplet sister, Jessica, said she remembers him taking all his nieces and nephews swimming, boating and fishing. He wanted to involve the "younger generation" in every activity.
“He was the glue to our family," she said. "He always tried to get our family together while he was out in Valparaiso.”
By bringing awareness to the circumstances surrounding Jason's death and the charges filed against his alleged dealer, the family said they hope it can bring awareness to substance-abuse disorders and bring justice to other victims of drug poisonings.
Proving their case
Investigations related to dealing a controlled substance resulting in death are handled as homicide investigations, LaPorte County Drug Task Force Sgt. Kyle Shiparski said.
Techniques used to investigate are similar. Detectives rely on evidence from cellphones, witnesses toxicology reports and forensic evidence on scene. The difficulties lie in proving that a person died from a specific instance in which they were supplied a drug and subsequently ingested it.
This can be hard, Shiparski said, if a person has multiple suppliers or died with a combination of drugs in their system. More challenges include underlying conditions or other risks surrounding death. The cases are not black-and-white.
“What we’re seeing with these cases is, they’re much harder to prove and investigate," Shiparski said. "And when they get in front of a jury, they become even harder to prove in that setting.”
The deaths are often labeled as accidental overdoses, Shiparski said. Once the cause of death is determined, investigators can begin to explore the case, searching into what happened on scene. Law enforcement are reliant on cellphones and witnesses to provide information, and a timeline of events is created.
Official cellphone data showed that Jason communicated with Spurling in the days before his death. According to court documents, Spurling traveled to a location in the Chicago area to obtain drugs from another source. Jason asked Spurling to "grab me a couple," purportedly referencing the drugs Spurling was purchasing. The men planned to meet up Jan. 2, 2022 at Spurling's home in Valparaiso. After obtaining the drugs, Jason and his daughter, who were in Valparaiso that weekend, subsequently drove back to Indianapolis.
In one of the messages, Spurling said: "Promise it did the trick but wasn’t overwhelming?" Investigators believe this indicates that Spurling knew the drug had the potential to have an "overwhelming" effect. Spurling told police he gave Jason heroin and nothing else, according to court documents.
Shiparski said there are some people who do not agree with how the law reads. The language of the law targets anyone who "knowingly manufactures or delivers" a drug that results in death, but the ultimate goal is to find the drug dealers who are widely distributing the counterfeit pills.
“You try to climb that ladder and hold the initial source of supply accountable,” Shiparski said.
Kristen Martin, founder of Gary Harm Reduction, said she believes laws related to dealing resulting in death are counterproductive to curbing the drug epidemic in the United States. She said stricter laws could instill fear in people who are using drugs, making them scared to ask for help.
"If we’re charging people, no one is going to want to ever call for help if somebody is overdosing," Martin said. "They’re going to leave more people left for dead.”
Martin said some trust has been built in communities of people who use drugs, erring on the side of nonjudgment and leading with compassion to help people struggling with substance abuse to find help. Martin and other organizations offer free naloxone and fentanyl testing strips to reduce harm for anyone who uses drugs. She worries that if laws surrounding the prosecution of individuals who deal or use drugs villainize those who are struggling with addiction, it will do more harm than good.
“There’s a fine line between drug dealer and drug user,” Martin said. “It’s not getting at the root of the problem. How is ruining someone else’s life by putting them in prison going to help the issue?”
Seeking justice
Spurling, who posted bond April 4, is set to stand trial May 30 in Marion Superior Court, according to online court records. The family has traveled from Valparaiso to attend some of the court hearings and plan to attend the trial.
Jason's family said they will continue to bring awareness to the law that they believe will help them get justice for their brother.
"We understand it’s not going to bring Jason back, but it could save another family from going through what we went through," Jessica said. "Something needs to be done. People who are dealing need to be held accountable." | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/portage-police-release-photos-of-suspects-sought-in-wallet-theft/article_036747f8-fafc-11ed-bb55-038a3badd4ce.html | 2023-05-25T15:09:06 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/portage-police-release-photos-of-suspects-sought-in-wallet-theft/article_036747f8-fafc-11ed-bb55-038a3badd4ce.html |
OLD TOWN -- An overnight fire in Old Town destroyed a local woodworking shop. Members of the community are already stepping up to support the local business.
Bren's Woodworks caught fire around midnight on Tuesday, destroying the entire shop and inventory.
Owner Brenden Gasaway announced on social media that along with the building, a trailer and plow that were near the structure were also lost in the fire.
Capt. Matt Redding of the Old Town Fire Department says by the time crews arrived the building was already up in flames.
"Yesterday we spent some time out there investigating the fire, trying to figure out even just as much as the area of origin, what part of the building the fire started in and we're not even able to determine that because everything was so uniformly destroyed," said Redding.
After conducting their investigation, Redding says the cause was undetermined, though they know it was accidental in nature.
There has already been a significant amount of community support. Friends of Gasaway put together a go-fund me page that has raised over ten thousand dollars.
The money raised will go towards rebuilding the shop and redeveloping all the inventory lost in the fire.
Over the past three years, Gasaway has been making custom pieces of furniture sold all over Maine. Gasaway also said on social media that with some help from the community his business should be up and running in the next couple weeks. | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/fire-in-old-town-destroys-local-business/article_1f5085f0-fafd-11ed-aa30-130739366ff6.html | 2023-05-25T15:09:41 | 0 | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/fire-in-old-town-destroys-local-business/article_1f5085f0-fafd-11ed-aa30-130739366ff6.html |
In low-income Phoenix neighborhoods, the lack of shade trees is a question of equity
In central Phoenix, rows of multidecadal Aleppo pines and evergreens form lush corridors along residential city streets. Their canopies expand over roadways and sidewalks, diverting the Phoenix sun, allowing for a thriving ecosystem of human activity to form within its cover. Couples walk on sidewalks pushing strollers, a teenager rides his bike in the designated lane and an elderly man tends to a flowering rose bush in his front yard.
About seven miles away, a South Phoenix neighborhood built alongside a freeway bakes in the sun, its asphalt exposed from sunrise to sunset with limited tree cover across the residential area.
People find their way under the shade of the sparse tree population. In an adolescent rite of passage, three children climb and hang upside down from the limbs of one of few trees. Down the street, a man takes a phone call in his backyard as he leans his weight on a branch of a tree that is just a few feet taller than him. And construction workers tuck away in the shade, chugging root beer as they hide from the sun.
Some contrasting characteristics of the two neighborhoods are more apparent in terms of the green dome of leaves and their shade, but a bigger discrepancy is the root of their differences: income and race. And lack of shade can have serious effects for community health and resiliency in adapting to hotter and longer summers.
That’s, in part, why Phoenix is looking to revise its 13-year-old tree and shade master plan. The original and current goal of the plan is to reach 25% canopy cover across the entire city by 2030 to reduce heat stress and minimize negative effects to human health and activity.
But a blanket goal of 25% may not address the critical issue of where the shade is needed most. Some areas are more in need of trees than others, which means focusing on individual neighborhoods or even streets.
“The goal needs to be more nuanced,” said Lora Martens, the urban tree program manager for the city’s office of heat response and mitigation “Certain areas need more tree coverage, so I’m not sure a blanket 25 percent is the right goal to have.”
But the city still faces an array of hurdles to get more people in the shade. Phoenix’s messy urban design, heat islands and private land all stand in the way of reaching tree equity.
Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to extensive concrete and asphalt, increased pollution, greater population densities and a concentration of infrastructure that intensifies effects from urban heat, drought and extreme weather. Urban forests and tree cover provide a critical role in helping cities address climate change by supporting greenhouse gas mitigation and reducing the effects of extreme heat and altered climate that impair human health.
Increasing shade:'Life and death infrastructure': Volunteers plant trees for a new Phoenix 'cool corridor'
Lowest tree canopy rates are in south Phoenix
Minimizing heat stress is a top priority for the hottest major U.S. city. Last year, heat killed at least 359 people across Maricopa County. Extreme heat is also linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, among other health complications.
The city uses studies conducted by Arizona State University on tree equity, geographic system modeling, and the American Forests tree equity map to determine which areas officials believe need more trees.
The tree equity map calculates a score based on how tree canopy and surface temperature align with income, employment, race and health factors, and is broken down by census block groups.
“There’s a strong correlation between canopy cover and demographic,” said Ariane Midel a professor and researcher at Arizona State University “Neighborhoods that are lower income or Hispanic neighborhoods traditionally have less canopy cover to begin with, but they are also more vulnerable because they have less resources.”
The worst-scoring neighborhoods in Phoenix are mostly in the southern part of the city and near Sky Harbor International Airport.
The neighborhood with the lowest tree equity score in the city — where the children climbed trees — is bound by Buckeye Road to the north, 19th Avenue to the east, and Interstate 17 to the south and west. Most of the homes here are affordable housing units.
This region, which also houses an elementary school and a public park, has less than 1% of canopy cover. People of color make up 97 percent of the population and more than 90% of the people who live in the neighborhood live below the poverty threshold, with a median household income of $11,016.
Uptown, In the lush neighborhoods sprawling from either side of Central Avenue between Missouri and Dunlap avenues, canopy goals have been “achieved” with roughly 20% cover throughout the area. A cluster of neighborhoods in the area ranks the best in the city for canopy cover. In one census block, people of color make up only 3% of the population. The median household income there is $187,344.
The south Phoenix neighborhood scores a 32 out of 100 on its “equity score.” The uptown neighborhoods are the highest scoring in the city with a perfect 100.
Areas in the city with less tree cover tend to have higher concentrations of Hispanic populations, according to census data. Hispanic households make up more than 90 percent of the population in the lowest-scoring neighborhoods.
Urban heat island increases need for shade
Urban areas across the world are seeing rising temperatures, in part as a result to the urban heat island effect, which is caused by buildings and streets absorbing heat throughout the day and re-emitting it at night.
Phoenix’s urban design and sprawl maximize the dangerous effects of the heat island in an already sweltering city.
“The way Phoenix was designed is conducive to this urban heat island,” said Midel. “In order to get around we need cars because everything is so far away and in order to do that we need roads and parking lots.”
Phoenix is a sprawling city built on a grid street plan, and public transportation cannot serve every area equally, making commuting by car the most popular way to get around. Because of this, many city streets are wide, stretching across seven or more lanes. And to account for all these cars, Phoenix has a lot of parking spots. A 2017 study suggests that metro Phoenix had more than 12 million parking spots, making up about 10 percent of the entire region's land use.
All of this asphalt absorbs heat and spits it back out in the nighttime, making the city hotter than surrounding rural areas. Midel says there are not enough trees to make up for all that extra heat found in the city’s urban core.
“Our roads are so wide, and the buildings are usually single-family homes and are set back with a front yard so there’s no way to create shade with buildings as well,” said Midel. “It’s much more uncomfortable during the day because there is a lack of shade, and the urban form definitely contributes to that.”
Midel says the car-centric city design is one reason why expanding urban forestry in Phoenix so important: Trees and vegetation lower both surface and air temperatures by providing shade and through evapotranspiration. Shaded surfaces may be 20–45 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the peak temperatures of unshaded materials, according to the EPA.
“It’s really important to think about where to place those trees because city resources are limited,” she said “It’s really important to pick the locations where they have the biggest impact, and that’s where people actually are; where they walk, where people wait for the bus, maybe in parks. These areas where tree shade can have a direct impact on people.”
The city does not have a publicly accessible tree inventory, but Martens says they are working to plant trees in areas where people are moving around outside. The city’s Park and Recreation Department is working toward planting 1,500 new trees a year in parks.
In 2020 the city’s street transportation department implemented its cool corridors program. The $1.5 million project aims to plant 200 trees per mile for a total of 1,800 new trees planted across nine projects.
Martens says the transportation department is working to plant trees on the busiest and biggest streets in the city to reduce the effects of heat stress on pedestrians or people who rely on public transportation.
Shade from the sun:Proposal would create a $30 million fund to plant trees in areas suffering from heat
Planting trees adds expense, work for homeowners
In addition to greening a concrete jungle, getting more trees on private land is a hurdle the city has struggled to deal with. The city only has the authority to plant trees on municipal property and public rights of way, along city streets or public parks. This limits the resources available to reach their current goal of 25% canopy cover.
The city is hoping to start a grant program this summer, with implementation in the fall, to get more trees planted in neighborhoods to rapidly expand canopy cover.
“The city doesn’t own enough land to plant that many trees,” said Midel. “So you need people like you and me to chip in and plant some trees in our front yards and back yards. But lower-income families will probably not have the resources to purchase, maintain and water those trees.”
Adding trees can be a financial burden for a homeowner, especially for low-income families in neighborhoods where trees are needed most. Adding trees to a property would likely create a higher water bill and maintenance would be required to keep the tree alive and healthy.
“Trees are kind of like a pet, you can’t just get one and that’s it,” said Aimee Esposito, executive director of Trees Matter, a nonprofit based in Phoenix that aims to educate and promote increased tree canopy across the Valley. “When we go into a community that already has limited resources in time, energy, and financials we also need to show with resources to support them.”
Shade from trees may offset the cost of a higher water bill by reducing the need for air conditioning. A study that looked at homes in California found planting trees on the west and south sides of a home can reduce a household’s summer electric bill by about $25 a year.
“It's kind of a double whammy, right? So people who don't have enough money to run their air conditioning, they're also then living in these neighborhoods that have less shade or less resources,” said Midel. “There are all these aspects that go into this vulnerability while there all of these things that happen at the same time that increase their vulnerability.”
The city says it is working with water services department to identify how much of an increase in water bills a new tree would represent.
“We are trying to get some real numbers to be very transparent about the cost of a tree for a private homeowner,” said Martens. “We are very concerned with asking people to take on a responsibility they don’t understand.”
'It's a matter of public health'
Trees Matter has its own prioritization map that differs from the city's, one that looks at heat-related deaths and illness, income demographics and cardiovascular disease rates to determine areas that would benefit the most from expanded tree canopy. The group has mostly planted on school campuses but is in the beginning stages of doing neighborhood plantings.
Esposito says starting with schools can promote increased canopy cover in a neighborhood and get communities excited about adding more trees.
They group planted 33 trees at Mary Mcleod Bethune School in south Phoenix last month, in the heart of an area that severely lacks tree cover. The school already had an irrigation system in place, which allowed for this planting to be executed.
The school is a majority-minority, with 76 percent of the students at the school identifying as Hispanic.
They planted trees like desert willows and red push pistache inside the school’s campus to add vibrant colors for students on their walk to class, in hopes of improving mental health and atheistic value. Outside along the baseball fields and near bus stops, the group planted trees that will grow larger, like acacias, which will provide year-round shade for students.
Trees Matter and other groups recently worked with state Sen. Mitzi Epstein, D-Tempe, to introduce the "trees for kids bill," an attempt to get more trees on school grounds. The state budget that passed in May includes $300,000 for planting trees at low-income schools across the state. The group calls it a major win for equity for children and communities across Arizona.
And while more shade is now found at Bethune, a lack of critical canopy cover still plagues the areas surrounding the school ahead of Arizona’s hottest months.
Across the street from the campus, a group of people wait for the Valley Metro bus. They wear big hats to block to the sun, and one man lifts his white t-shirt from the hem and dabs his forehead. The sun beats down on this part of town, with temperatures nearing 100 degrees in May as the asphalt and pavement absorbs the heat that it will release back into the atmosphere at night, fueling the urban heat island.
“These people need trees,” said Midel about the neighbors of south Phoenix. “It’s a matter of public health, it is so important.”
Jake Frederico covers environment issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send tips or questions to jake.frederico@arizonarepublic.com.
Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Phoenix is not prepared for a simultaneous heat wave and blackout, new research shows
If a five-day heat wave and a blackout power outage hit Phoenix at the same time, nearly 817,000 people — more than 50% of the city's current population of 1.4 million — could end up in the emergency room, a new study has calculated.
By the year 2055, under projected warming scenarios due to climate change, that number would rise to nearly 877,000 people requiring a visit to the ER and to nearly 989,000 by 2085, not accounting for population growth.
That's a big problem for America's hottest big city, which currently has fewer than 3,000 emergency department beds.
What does the data say?
The study, published Tuesday in the scientific journal Environmental Science & Technology, also evaluated the potential human health impact of a blackout during a five-day heat wave in Atlanta and Detroit. But the toll in Phoenix dwarfs that in both of those cities.
That's because extreme temperatures in Phoenix are more extreme than in most other U.S. cities and because 90% of Phoenix residents rely on air conditioning units that would not function during a blackout. While scientists defined a heat wave in Detroit, where only 60% of residents have air conditioning, as a five-day period when temperatures range between 72 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, a heat wave in Phoenix is defined as a five-day period with temperatures that stay between 90 and 113 degrees.
More:Exertional heat stroke is on the rise for athletes. Could tracking urine be the answer?
The frequency of both heat waves and major electrical grid failures has increased dramatically in recent years. Since 2015, when the U.S. Energy Information Administration started reporting monthly on blackouts, the number of such events affecting more than 50,000 people and lasting longer than one hour has doubled, from around 45 in 2015 to 90 in 2021.
Matei Georgescu, a professor at Arizona State University and the paper's senior author, said the odds of a five-day heat wave occurring during a major power outage are small. But it's happened before, for example in the northeast U.S. in August 2003. It's important to predict the impact of such events so that cities can better prepare.
“Low likelihood events, even if some mathematician rounds them off to zero, still happen and have happened in reality," Georgescu said. "And if we don’t account for these, we’re in trouble.”
Phoenix's unhoused population at risk during potential heat wave
The scientists also calculated likely mortality rates in each of these cities during a five-day heat wave without power. As with the emergency room visits calculation, they used a complicated model that estimated individual exposure over time to specific temperatures common in certain environments, whether indoors, outdoors or in a vehicle, for different people based on where they live and typical daily movement patterns.
They found that around 1% of the Phoenix population would succumb to such an event, amounting to a death toll of about 13,250 people, 10 times the number of fatalities that resulted from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Elderly residents, children, those living in lower-income neighborhoods that can be 10 degrees hotter than wealthier ones and those with pre-existing health conditions would likely make up a large percentage of this total, as these groups are more vulnerable to the health effects of extreme heat.
Proof that the study's numbers are in the right ballpark has been borne out in Phoenix by heat deaths among the unhoused population, who regularly experience the type of exposure conditions without air conditioning that the paper simulates. In 2021, the Maricopa County Public Health Department reported 130 heat-related deaths among an estimated local homeless population of 8,200. (Recent reporting by The Republic suggests this total is an underestimate.)
This equates to a mortality rate of 1.6% among the unhoused population during a heat wave, a number that falls between the scientists' estimated death toll of 0.9% of overall residents in current conditions and 1.9% under increased temperatures in 2085. The study did not account for the ability of people to leave town to seek relief, but many vulnerable residents might not have that option.
What are the potential solutions?
"The results from this study emphasize why it is so important to invest in short-term emergency response measures for managing heat events and longer-term strategies that can cool the city," David Hondula, an author on the study and the head of Phoenix's Office of Heat Response and Mitigation, told The Republic. "The comprehensive approach that Phoenix is adopting is helping us become more resilient not just to the routine heat that we can expect every summer, but also to low-probability, high-impact scenarios like a multi-day regional outage."
Read our climate series:The latest from Joan Meiners at azcentral, a column on climate change that publishes weekly
Solutions the scientists considered included increasing tree shade along major roadways to 50% and expanding the use of cool roof coatings to reduce urban temperatures. They calculated that these interventions could potentially save around 250 to 600 lives, respectively, per 100,000 Phoenix residents if fully implemented. Data on the current percentage of roadway shading by trees in Phoenix is not available, the study reported.
Given the ongoing drought, water crisis and shortages on the Colorado River, vastly expanding tree planting throughout Phoenix may not immediately seem like a plausible solution. But Georgescu asserted to The Republic that, if irrigation practices included better water conserving measures like drip irrigation and only watering at night, the water supply could stretch to accommodate many extra trees.
Another intervention frequently hailed as a solution to extreme heat in Phoenix are cooling centers. These are facilities and businesses that have signed up with the city's "Heat Relief Network," managed by Hondula, to allow residents who may not have air conditioning at home to come inside and cool off. A study published last year and reported in The Republic found that these centers are unlikely to make a major dent in heat deaths since they are underused and many residents don't know about them or how to get there. Still, Phoenix has plans to expand the network to deal with impacts of extreme heat, particularly among the unhoused community.
How Phoenix is trying to cool itself:Amid heat waves, a study questions cooling centers. A Phoenix official says we need more
Cooling centers are also limited in that if a major blackout struck Phoenix centers without backup power would have little to offer residents seeking escape from their warming homes. And the problem of the heat relief network not being well known would be compounded once the ability to charge phones and communicate went out.
“There’s a social aspect. If something like this were to happen, how does one get the word out about cooling centers and hydration stations when nobody has energy anymore?" Georgescu said. "We didn’t touch on this in the study but I think that would interesting due to the broader implications."
An intervention not included in the study, but one that Georgescu says he is working on separately, is the ability of the solar grid and battery storage to provide emergency energy in the event of a power failure. He said the expansion of solar infrastructure provides opportunities not only for additional sources of power that may be safer from certain outages, but that the panels themselves can offer shade if installed within urban areas.
Floris Wardenaar, a professor at ASU who studies the effects of extreme heat on human health, said it's important to be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion — which include dizziness, excessive sweating, cool, pale, and clammy skin, nausea or vomiting, rapid, weak pulse and muscle cramps — and the more serious heat stroke, which can be evidenced by a throbbing headache, no sweating, red, hot, dry skin, nausea or vomiting, a rapid, strong pulse and a possible loss of consciousness. Spending time in a swimming pool, if one is available, or wetting clothing can help, he said.
"(This paper) is very important, as power outages do happen," Wardenaar said. "I remember the one in Texas a couple of winters ago. Especially because Phoenix is heavily AC-reliant, a backup plan is needed. This research will help to make people aware that our cities and county should invest in greener streets and roofs, as modeled in the paper."
Joan Meiners is the climate news and storytelling reporter at The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Before becoming a journalist, she completed a doctorate in ecology. Follow Joan on Twitter at @beecycles or email her at joan.meiners@arizonarepublic.com. Read more of her coverage at environment.azcentral.com.
Support climate coverage and local journalism by subscribing to azcentral.com at this link. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2023/05/25/phoenix-is-not-prepared-for-a-simultaneous-heat-wave-and-blackout/70252691007/ | 2023-05-25T15:15:12 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2023/05/25/phoenix-is-not-prepared-for-a-simultaneous-heat-wave-and-blackout/70252691007/ |
Memorial Day weekend travel: Here's what to know in Arizona
As Memorial Day weekend approaches, here is what to expect when traveling throughout Arizona.
Expected to be the third-busiest holiday weekend since 2000 in terms of travel, those with their sights set on Arizona will want to know what to expect when touching down in the Grand Canyon state.
No weekend freeway closures planned
A Valley staple will be taking its own Memorial Day vacation this weekend, as the Arizona Department of Transportation will pause the freeway closures for the holiday.
"We have established a tradition of avoiding freeway closures on holiday weekends that are associated with travel in and out of the Valley. Memorial Day weekend is one of those 'give drivers a break' times. ADOT isn't scheduling any closures over the weekend," Arizona Department of Transportation spokesman Doug Nintzel told The Arizona Republic.
Existing work zones still linger, however, including one that is guaranteed to see a lot more traffic with the increase in travel.
"Drivers should of course slow down and stay alert in existing work zones such as the ones along I-10 near Sky Harbor Airport for the Broadway Curve Improvement Project," Nintzel said.
Additionally, those heading north on Interstate 17 will want to allow plenty of extra time for travel. A work zone as part of a widening project on I-17 between Anthem Way and the Sunset Point Rest Area remains as well. Drivers are advised to "take it easy" when moving through these zones.
To ensure the utmost safety while on the road, ADOT reminded drivers to heed these tips:
- Never drive while impaired. Buckle up and obey speed limits.
- Arrange for a designated driver or ride service if necessary.
- Check your vehicle, including tire pressure.
- Get some rest before traveling. Fatigue is a serious safety risk.
- Avoid distractions. Don’t text while driving.
- Don’t park in areas with grasses and brush. Hot vehicle components could start a fire.
Traffic conditions can always be checked at az511.gov to stay up to date.
'Get a ride. Not a DUI!'
As is custom with Memorial Day weekend, DUI task forces will be out in full effect.
Units will be out beginning Friday, ready to catch those driving under the influence or disregarding traffic and road safety laws.
Departments including the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Scottsdale, Gilbert, Mesa and Tempe police are part of the task force.
"Task force officers will contact drivers and arrest those who make the disastrous decision to drive impaired, removing them from the roadway before they hurt others or themselves. If your celebration plans for Memorial Day weekend include consuming alcoholic beverages or using marijuana, it is best to pre-arrange a sober designated driver, ride-share, or taxi," Scottsdale police said in a statement.
What can I expect at the airport?
Whether coming or going, travelers heading to Sky Harbor International Airport should be as prepared as possible when embarking on their journey.
Coming off a record-setting first quarter, Sky Harbor is expecting more of the same this weekend.
"Typically, the days shortly before and after a holiday are the busiest. So Friday, Monday and Tuesday may be some of the busier days upcoming. We have had a record-setting year through the first three months and expect more of the same moving forward," Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport public information officer Eric Everts told The Republic.
That being said, Everts recommends some key points to make sure the airport process goes by smoothly.
- Plan ahead and reserve parking in advance.
- Give yourself extra time. Arrive two hours (domestic) or three hours (international) before your flight.
- Use cellphone lots and the PHX Sky Train Stations at 24th/44th Street for drop-off and pickup.
The Sky Harbor website also provides useful information for flyers, including resources on how to book parking, TSA bag requirements, and the PHX RESERVE program to alleviate some check-in stress in the future.
More information can be found here.
How's the weather for Memorial Day weekend?
If you're looking to get some sun, you're in the right place.
The forecasts from each Arizona National Weather Service office ― Flagstaff, Phoenix and Tucson ― are relatively the same, aside from the temperature.
For the high country, conditions are slated to be much drier following a bout of "unsettled weather" that swept through the north.
"It's looking dry this coming weekend, much drier conditions than what we've seen in the past week. We're not looking at really any chance of precipitation this coming weekend and high temperatures will be very close to average," said Flagstaff office meteorologist Benji Johnson.
High country temperatures through the weekend will be a breeze, hanging in the 70s with sunny and mostly clear skies. Low 70s are on tap for Flagstaff, with the lower elevations, such as Verde Valley, expected to be in the upper 80s to low 90s.
"As far as wind goes, it's looking breezy but nothing serious at all, just typical southwest breezes that we often see this time of year," Johnson said.
It will be persistent, though, as each afternoon for most of northern Arizona will receive about 15 to 25 mph wind gusts.
Both Phoenix and Tucson will see their temperatures hold steadily in the upper 90s, each with clear and sunny skies.
"Right now, we're above-normal temperature through this week, and when we get to Friday, we're gonna cool a little bit closer to our seasonal normals. It still will be in the upper 90s, looking at a high towards 97 before we start climbing back up Saturday through Sunday," Phoenix office meteorologist Jessica Leffel said.
Saturday and Sunday in the Phoenix area are projected to be about 98 degrees, with Memorial Day itself creeping up on the triple-digit mark, but likely holding steady at 99.
In Tucson, the seven-day forecast shows that a high and low of 96 and 61 degrees will prevail throughout the holiday weekend. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-traffic/2023/05/25/memorial-day-weekend-travel-arizona/70248739007/ | 2023-05-25T15:15:18 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-traffic/2023/05/25/memorial-day-weekend-travel-arizona/70248739007/ |
Missing relatives, mistreatment raise new concerns over centers that target Native people
Tesla Benally was determined to work on her sobriety and decided to check herself into a sober living home in Phoenix in hopes that she could get the help she needed.
She chose a center that allowed her to bring her young children. Her father, who at the time wanted to work on getting sober as well, went along with his daughter and grandchildren. Benally had been to a legitimate rehab facility before and said the three months they lived at this facility felt like it operated unlike any other place she’d been to.
“I was there with my dad and it was really different because I had been in rehab prior to that,” said Benally. “Just how they ran things was different. They never really helped me. I started feeling like something weird was going on. They ended up kicking me, my kids and my dad out.”
Benally has been in at least 10 of what turned out to be fraudulent rehab centers scattered across metro Phoenix. For years, people from these centers have driven to tribal communities and border towns and promised vulnerable and unhoused tribal community members sobriety if they go back to the centers. The centers then billed the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Arizona's Medicaid program, for services that often were never provided, as part of a scam that has cost the government hundreds of millions of dollars.
Reva Stewart and Coleen Chatter, both Navajo, have single-handedly worked to get the word out about these fraudulent centers for over a year. Before the state or tribal entities made any type of announcement warning people about the centers, or of vans preying on vulnerable tribal members, Stewart and Chatter went before tribal and state leaders to explain how the Indigenous population was being targeted.
“When I reached out a year ago to legislation, to the senator, to everybody I had messaged ‘would you have believed me if I told you there was human trafficking?’” said Stewart. “No response."
But as tribal members began making the public aware of these scams by posting on social media about facilities or posting about people being picked up by vans and taken to Phoenix, officials moved to act. During a May 16 news conference, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes explained how the fraudulent centers operate.
“These vulnerable individuals were incentivized to participate in 'treatment' at an outpatient clinic,” said Mayes. “With offers of free food, cash incentives, or free rent. Patients of these facilities could be in crisis, making it extremely heartbreaking.”
After the recruited patient went through a simple intake process, where patients gave the centers their personal information and Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System ID numbers, the centers used the information to charge AHCCCS for treatment that was never received.
Mayes described scammers buying lists of names and dates of births and using those to bill AHCCCS, in one case charging AHCCCS for 13 hours a day for alcohol rehabilitation service for a four-year-old who wasn’t in a center or in need of the service.
“I think they would charge my kids' AHCCCS,” said Benally. “They were charging my dead grandpa’s AHCCCS, and my grandpa passed away years ago. But I know they would get your kids' AHCCCS and use that too. I know that for sure.”
After leaving the center, Benally ended up staying with a friend for a while, and her dad eventually died, after which she went back home to the Navajo Nation. Her dad's death caused Benally to relapse, and she sought out another sober living center. This time she was placed in an apartment with her children for about three weeks before she was kicked out again.
At this center, she raised concerns of running out of food stamps and not being able to buy food. The center was supposed to be providing for her and her children, but when she brought up the issue they informed her that they wouldn't be able to.
“After voicing my concerns they called me to the office and said, ‘Yeah, we are going to have to kick you out. We don’t allow kids here,’” said Benally. “After I had been there for three weeks. I told them they shouldn’t even have accepted me in the first place, knowing I had kids.”
Benally stayed a bit longer after she was told to leave, and police were eventually called. She and her children left with only the clothes on their backs. When she returned to retrieve her stuff, she found it had been thrown out in a trash bin. The program had changed its number, and when she had a relapse, she went to another center where there were a number of inebriated people living.
“I didn’t feel what they were doing was right,” said Benally, who saved text messages and other information that she gathered while staying at these centers. At one point she researched one of the center's business licenses and it showed up as an Airbnb. She believes they were working with the landlord of the apartment complex where she was staying.
“Me and my friend found out that their phone number, and the places they were using to say it was their business, was out of an apartment complex,” said Benally. “It wasn’t even the place we were going to.”
Sober living scams:Unregulated rehab centers are victimizing Indigenous patients, advocates tell Arizona lawmakers
Preying on the vulnerable
The scams aren’t anything new. In a previous interview with The Republic, Diana Yazzie Devine, president and CEO of Native American Connections, said the organization had been aware of the scam going back to October 2019.
Mayes said special agents and investigators have been investigating, indicting, pursuing financial remedies and attempting to disrupt fraudulent billing schemes for the past three years. She said it has been challenging because former Gov. Doug Ducey's administration had not been able to address the structural vulnerabilities.
“To this day there have been more than 45 indictments and upwards of $75 million seized or recovered,” said Mayes. “Their AHCCCS ID was used to rip off taxpayers. A fraudulent biller submitted over $1 million in alleged services for a woman and her two children in a course of one year. Some instances, services to deceased individuals have been billed to AHCCCS.”
In a news conference last week, Gov. Katie Hobbs announced action against more than 100 Medicaid service providers. She also said operational changes within AHCCCS will occur, including a third-party forensic audit from 2019 and examination of Arizona Department of Health Services licensing measures, a new reporting system for claims, and additional fraud prevention to secure the Medicaid system.
Targeting Indigenous people:Unanswered questions, loose ends: What to know about Arizona's Medicaid fraud investigation
The search for a missing dad
“The human impact of this fraud is the most heartbreaking,” said Mayes. “Scammers are using random IDs for millions of dollars of services. Thousands of Arizonians are in real need. Some have been living in these homes while not being provided the services they need. Some of them, and we don't know how many, may be considered missing by their families.”
Rotrina Bia last saw her dad, Roger Charley, Sr., on Aug. 16, 2021, as he left her home on foot in Chilchinbito on the Navajo Nation and headed back to Chinle. She hasn’t seen him since.
That day she couldn’t go after him to offer him a ride because her children were home attending online classes. But this was something Charley had done before, and when able to, Bia usually would drive out to Chinle to check on him. This time, she couldn’t find him. She gave it a couple of days because Charley would eventually show up or he would call Bia. Not this time.
After his disappearance, Bia posted on social media that she was trying to locate her father. She reported him missing. Then along with Navajo Nation Police, community members and neighbors, she helped organize search parties to locate Charley, but to no avail. And because Charley was an alcoholic, Bia believes he may have been caught up in one of the fraudulent homes. She isn’t sure because she had never known about the scams until a year ago.
“I didn’t put these rehab centers into consideration until a year later, because people would say there are people coming out and picking up people in vans,” said Bia. “My dad would usually be on the road, drinking, and that’s where I figured maybe he would’ve gotten picked up.”
Bia hasn’t given up on finding out what has happened to her father. At this point she and her brother, Roger Charley, Jr., and family want closure.
“We aren’t at peace,” said an emotional Bia. “It’s our dad and he’s out there somewhere. We want some kind of closure, or something from him that will calm us down. Anything, so we don’t have to worry about him anymore.”
Defrauding the state:Legislative proposal targets 'frightening' scam rehab centers that prey on Native people
'Rainbow Bridge' created to help
The Navajo Nation last week unveiled the Rainbow Bridge operation to help those who will be affected and displaced by the sober living facilities where authorities are taking action.
People are encouraged to call 2-1-1, choosing option 7, if they are trying to locate a family member, or are in need of assistance after being displaced by the fraudulent center.
People who call the service will "receive immediate assistance from caring and trained specialists who will assess the situation and connect with necessary resources,” said Justin Chase, president and chief executive officer of Solari, Inc. “We can help with transportation and temporary housing, treatment services and family reunification.”
Chase said anyone concerned about a missing loved one, or reporting suspected abuse and neglect from a sober living facility can also contact that number.
Help for families:'We need allies': More than 500 walk through Phoenix to remember missing Indigenous people
'Each person with an addiction is a dollar sign'
Before the establishment of the 2-1-1 call center, Stewart and Chatter had been working on trying to get people home by using their own money and resources. They established a GoFundMe account for those who want to donate to help with costs.
"I’m glad all this is happening now. But why did we have to wait this long, for so many deaths to happen that were unnecessary to happen?" said Stewart. "We just had two more deaths.”
She has her concerns about the 2-1-1 calling center, having already heard of and dealt with some glitches in the process that she hopes will be rectified. Many people prefer to reach out to her and Chatter to help them get home.
“We’ve gotten people back as far as Flagstaff, we got one person to Albuquerque,” said Stewart. “We got a few of them to Gallup. We make sure the family is there to pick them up. Personally, we've done this on our home. We have done a majority of this ourself, Coleen and I.”
Stewart said Chatter even bought a bus ticket for a person to return home to Montana, prompting her to wonder if Navajo Nation will help those who aren’t Navajo or from Arizona.
“Navajo Nation, good job, but at the same time, what about our relatives that were brought in from other tribes,” said Stewart. “I say over 60 people we’ve helped. Quite a few.”
The crisis highlights the need to respond to alcohol and substance abuse issues in tribal communities, experts say, where detox centers, rehab centers, and domestic violence shelters aren’t readily available or aren't available at all.
"The reality is all our economic desires and resources are based in border towns," said Emily Ellison, executive director at Battered Families Services Inc. in Gallup. "We need to have that collaboration with the municipality, counties, private and public organizations and really build our own rehab centers. There's a lot of money in it, which is why people gravitate toward it, because each person with an addiction is a dollar sign."
In 2021, former Navajo Nation Police Chief Phillip Francisco worked on getting the first-ever commissioned assessment and strategic plan for the Navajo Police Department. The assessment examined mortality rates and reported that the dominant leading cause of death on Navajo Nation primarily was due to alcohol and substance abuse.
He said more than 98 percent of the people they dealt with on calls regarding reports of domestic violence, drinking and driving, or fights, all had alcohol in their system or long-term substance abuse problems.
“We can arrest people for their actions but what is causing their actions? It's because we have uncontrolled substance abuse problems,” said Franciso, now the chief of police at the Bloomfield Police Department in northwest New Mexico. ''We take them to jail for a couple of hours, but there is no intervention, and then we release them. They may have a court date but courts don't have teeth to give them mandate treatment. So officers would arrest them, put them in jail, and they’re back to the same lifestyle that they had before.”
This type of cycle has never worked, said Francisco, adding that what has always needed to be addressed was how to get people into facilities that will get them out of their alcohol and drug dependency.
“If you want to stop these problems of domestic violence, people getting killed, people going missing because people get intoxicated and wander off or get into situations they’re not supposed to,” said Franciso. “You have to address the root cause, and that’s substance abuse.”
During his tenure at the Navajo Nation, he said he had gone before Navajo politicians a number of times to inform them of what had to be done, but his concerns weren’t taken into consideration. A pilot project he wanted to start was to bring everyone together, such as Indian Health Services, Navajo Nation social services, courts, and jails, and figure out a system that would address substance abuse for highest repeat offenders, but nothing ever really came of his vision.
“I pitched a few times that we need to start a treatment center on Navajo Nation to send our people there and not outsource them out of state,” said Francisco. “It’s been proven that having traditional counseling and healing is much more effective for our people. No one was paying attention to the substance abuse problem on the Navajo Nation, and that’s what caused this issue where we have our people exploited. They want to brush it aside and not talk frankly about substance abuse in our communities.”
Gallup Police Chief Erin Toadlena-Pablo reported that the Gallup Police Department has investigated 33 cases involving “sober homes” since 2022, of which 15 remain open. In 2023, the department also investigated a total of 74 missing persons cases involving juveniles, adults, and other jurisdictions. To date, 14 of these cases remain open.
“One thing I tried working on that no one really got behind me on was the border town alcohol sales,” said Francisco. “The bigger alcohol sale distributors are right there on the border (between Navajo Nation and border towns) and their clientele are aimed at the Navajo people. Their business model is targeted toward selling to people on the reservation.”
The Navajo Nation continues to use the data Francisco gathered during his time there, and after fraudulent rehab centers became a concern, Navajo leaders amped up discussions about detox centers. In 2021, some 25,000 arrests were made, and 12,000 were for public intoxication.
In an effort to address the high number of crimes related to alcohol, the Navajo Division of Public Safety entered into a memo of understanding with Four Corners Detox and Treatment Services in October 2022. About 400 Navajo people voluntarily signed up for treatment, but none actually entered the facility and began their treatment.
In 2022, the Navajo Nation Council approved $19 million through the American Rescue Plan Act to develop detox and residential treatment and rehabilitation centers in Shiprock, Chinle, Kayenta, and Tuba City and transitional housing facilities in Fort Defiance and Kayenta.
Arlyssa Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send ideas and tips to arlyssa.becenti@arizonarepublic.com.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/05/25/scam-rehab-centers-targeting-native-people-raise-new-concerns/70245017007/ | 2023-05-25T15:15:24 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/05/25/scam-rehab-centers-targeting-native-people-raise-new-concerns/70245017007/ |
Sedona considers restricting off-road vehicle access on city streets, highways
SEDONA — The familiar sight of off-highway vehicles traveling through the streets of Sedona could soon be a thing of the past thanks to an ordinance proposed by city council.
The ordinance would require all motor vehicles driving on paved public roadways to comply with certain vehicle safety standards, which the city argues nearly all OHVs do not meet.
If passed, the ordinance would make it illegal to drive a motor vehicle that is unsafe, does not include proper safety equipment or that is not approved by the manufacturer to be operated on paved or public roads within the city of Sedona.
Notably, as it is written now, there is currently an exemption for city employees under the ordinance, intended to allow the fire department to continue using their fleet of UTVs on calls for service across town.
The backbone of the ordinance relies on the fact that OHV manufacturers themselves explicitly state in their owners manuals that the vehicles are not designed for travel on paved roads of any kind.
Further, the tires that equip these vehicles do not meet Department of Transportation requirements for travel on streets and highways.
Additional safety concerns were raised by city leaders as OHVs often lack other safety equipment designed to keep drivers of traditional vehicles safe including airbags, anti-lock brakes, crumple zones, stability control, bumpers and turn signals.
“What is a fact is that there are six manufacturers that all say these vehicles do not belong on paved roads and that’s an indisputable fact,” Councilor Brian Fultz said.
“Now that I know that, I can’t un-know that,” he said.
Fultz also made a point to emphasize twice that Polaris, one of the most popular manufacturers of OHVs, does not oppose the basis for this ordinance. Instead, they are just concerned about the continued economic viability of the local industry, a sentiment shared by many of the speakers and a majority of those on council.
Futlz said it was the city council’s responsibility to take preemptive action to protect drivers who may or may not be aware of the inherent dangers of these vehicles.
“I do believe that when a manufacturer says it's not safe to do something, there’s a Darwinian principle involved when you do it anyway,” echoed Councilor Melissa Dunn.
Mayor Scott Jablow said that while he understood the concerns from the community, safety should remain the priority. Moreover, he said just because there hasn’t been a deadly OHV accident in Sedona yet doesn’t mean they should wait until there is one to act.
"All we're doing is keeping people safe," Jablow said. "And it could be you, it could your wife, your spouse, your child, you don't know."
When presenting the ordinance, the city referred to the U.S. Consumer and Product Safety Commission that reports an average of more than 700 deaths per year involving OHVs. According to the Commission's most recent annual report, there were 2,178 deaths associated with OHVs from 2017 to 2019, the most recent year with complete data.
Councilors, residents concerned about unintended consequences
Much of the night’s conversations revolved around limiting the potential unintended consequences if this ordinance were to go into effect. Speakers both in support of and opposed to the ordinance expressed various concerns that could potentially arise as a result of this legislation.
If OHVs are prohibited from paved roadways, they would need to be taken to trailheads on large trailers, which many people pointed out could end up being more disruptive than the already-crowded parking situation that currently exists in many popular areas.
Additionally, countless speakers connected to the OHV industry expressed worries that the restrictions will have a significant negative impact economically on local rental businesses and their employees.
More on the red rocks:Best Sedona restaurants in 2023 have views and food to savor. Here's what to order
City leaders shared some of these concerns and reaffirmed their commitment to support the industry through a potential transition.
“I don’t believe a city council should be in the business of putting businesses out of business,” Fultz said.
Multiple councilors expressed their general support for the ordinance but there needs to be more research into the potential impacts before they can vote.
“We have two things to do: keep you in business, and I mean that, but keep our residents and the traveling public safe as well," Jablow said.
Other popular off-road destinations have passed similar restrictions
Sedona is not the first tourism destination that has had to tackle the issue of OHVs on public roadways.
Just this March, trade groups sponsored by OHV manufacturers sent a letter to the Oregon legislature opposing a proposed bill that would have made OHVs and ATVs street legal in the state, stating they are not safe for highway use.
Nearby in New Mexico, it is illegal to operate an OHV on paved roads or highways except as allowed by local authority or the state transportation commission.
Meanwhile, Montana requires any OHVs to be modified to be street legal before they can drive on public paved roadways, which could include adding a functioning headlamp, stop lamp, brakes, electric horn, rearview mirror, exhaust muffler and spark arrestor.
These states, councilors pointed out, have still been able to maintain successful off-road industries.
“It’s about changing a business model,” Vice Mayor Holli Ploog said.
Conservative think tank questions ordinance legality
The day before the meeting, Adam Shelton, a lawyer with The Goldwater Institute, wrote a letter to the city questioning the legality of the ordinance under state law.
Many residents who spoke against the proposal specifically referenced the letter and the potential for legal action if the ordinance is eventually passed.
“We believe that the proposed ordinance is likely preempted by state law, which allows OHVs to be legally driven on streets and highways so long as they are outfitted with equipment prescribed by state statute,” Shelton wrote.
This does not clearly conflict with the Sedona ordinance as written, which essentially just requires all vehicles on public roadways to be approved for highway use — which appears to also be the intention of the state law.
More on tourism:Sedona takes charge of tourism promotion after split with chamber of commerce
During the meeting, Sedona City Attorney Kurt Christianson presented multiple statutes under Arizona law that he said gives local municipalities the authority to institute restrictions of this kind.
“We are not in the business of passing illegal ordinances,” Ploog added.
The Goldwater Institute is a conservative and libertarian public policy think tank located in Phoenix whose stated mission is "to defend and strengthen the freedom guaranteed to all Americans in the constitutions of the United States and all fifty states."
Referencing the claims outlined in the letter, councilor Pete Furman pointed out that the group hasn't always been the best judge of what's best for Sedona.
"I might remind all of us that the Goldwater Institute and the Arizona state legislature didn't think short-term rentals would be harmful in any way either," Furman said.
Sedona has been trying to solve OHV problems for years
The city has been trying to mitigate the impacts of the OHV industry for nearly a decade with very little tangible solutions to show for it. Residents have long complained about the dust and noise created by these vehicles, which have skyrocketed in popularity over the past decade.
Many of those who spoke against the ordinance alleged that this was a roundabout way for the city to ban OHVs altogether, which the City Council pushed back on.
While the city considers this ordinance, there is still a separate and extensive effort underway to develop solutions with various stakeholders around the issue.
The Greater Sedona Recreation Collaborative started working last year as a collection of community representatives that reflect the wide array of perspectives on this topic. But councilors expressed frustration with the group’s timeline and their focus on solutions that have already been around for years, like reducing OHV volume or modifying mufflers to reduce noise.
"At some point in time we have to say, 'Do something' and I'm not seeing anything new being done," Jablow said.
Group facilitator Jessica Archibald acknowledged that while a multi-year timeline might not be ideal, ensuring the success of this project requires the building of trust between all opposing sides — something that simply cannot happen overnight.
“This is an incredibly complicated issue,” Archibald said. “There’s a reason this has taken nine years.” | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/05/25/sedona-leaders-weigh-new-ohv-restrictions-within-the-city/70254750007/ | 2023-05-25T15:15:30 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/05/25/sedona-leaders-weigh-new-ohv-restrictions-within-the-city/70254750007/ |
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MIDDLE TOWNSHIP — Law enforcement is preparing to use artificial intelligence to aid their investigation into a local boy's disappearance over 30 years ago.
Investigators will use Vollee Artificial Intelligence to help investigate the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh, police said.
“It is important that we use every available resource and the latest technology to help us find Mark," said Township Police Chief Chris Leusner, who is retiring on June 1. "My hope is this pilot program will help us solve Mark’s case and be used as a model to help with other cold cases.”
Himebaugh vanished from the township's Del Haven neighborhood on Nov. 25, 1991, last being seen in the afternoon walking toward the playground in Cape May County Park South. The immediate investigation prompted an outcry for help.
Because investigations can yield large quantities of evidence and data, the technology being employed in the case can help find patterns and connections not apparent to humans, police said.
Law enforcement are increasingly utilizing new technologies to advance investigations, police added.
“We are delighted and honored to help Chief Leusner, the Middle Township Police Department and their law enforcement partners,” said Anil Balakrishnan, CEO of Vollee. “Vollee’s advanced AI capabilities accelerate digital evidence analysis by identifying new patterns and correlations across a wide variety of media and documents, which might otherwise remain hidden.”
Anyone with information regarding the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh can call Middle Township police at 609-465-8700, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-463-2800 or the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135.
GALLERY: Look back at Mark Himebaugh case
Mark Himebaugh
Police hand out fliers to motorists on Nov. 24, 1992 related to the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
HIDE VERTICAL GALLERY ASSET TITLES
Maureen Himebaugh
Maureen Himebaugh has old photos and age-enhanced photos of her missing son Mark, hanging on her refrigerator at home. Eleven-year-old Mark Himebaugh disappeared Nov. 25, 1991, near his house in Del Haven.
Press archives
Maureen Himebaugh
Nov. 25th marks the 27th anniversary since 11-year-old Mark Himebaugh went missing near his house in Del Haven. (Dale Gerhard / Staff Photographer)
AVALON ZOPPO
Staff Writer
Mark Himebaugh
Mark Himebaugh, 11, disappeared from the Del Haven section of Middle township on Nov. 25, 1991, police said in a statement Tuesday.
Provided by the Middle Township Police Department via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Himebaugh billboard
A rendering of the billboard shows an age-progressed photo of Mark Himebaugh displayed in the region for National Missing Children’s Day.
provided
DSC_0181
Maureen Himebaugh speaks to attendees May 20 at Missing in New Jersey at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Himebaugh’s 11-year-old son, Mark, disappeared in 1991.
ERIN SERPICO / STAFF WRITER
missing8
Maureen Himebaugh, mother of Mark Himebaugh, who went missing 25 years ago, stands at the podium with State Police Sgt. Joel Trella before speaking to the audience.
ERIN SERPICO / STAFF WRITER
Mark Himebaugh
Historic photos related to the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, on November 25, 1991. Natalie Hollish during a vigil, Nov. 26, 1992
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Search near Sluice Creek on Nov. 27, 1991 related to the disappearanceelaw of Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Mark Himebaugh lived on Beach Road in the Del Haven section of Middle Township, shown Dec. 2, 1991.
Press archives
Mark Himebaugh
Maureen Himebaugh, holds one of her son's toys on May, 14 1992 related to the disappearance of, he son, Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
State police press conference (Lt. John Hannah, left, Lt. Walt Oliver,) on Nov. 23, 1992 related to the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Police hand out fliers to motorists on Nov. 24, 1992 related to the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Note from Mark Himebaugh, from Del Haven, who disappeared on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Maureen Himebaugh talks to media on Nov. 24, 1992, outside her home about the disappearance of her son, Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, who disappeared on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Maureen Himebaugh, center, during a vigil, Nov. 24, 1992 related to the disappearance of, he son, Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
HIMEBAUGH
Family photo of Mark Himebaugh, from Del Haven, who disappeared on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Police hand out fliers to motorists on Nov. 24, 1992 related to the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Beach Road, in Del Haven, on Dec. 2, 1991 the street wheref Mark Himebaugh lived before he disppeared on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
State police press conference (Lt. John Hannah, left, Lt. Walt Oliver,) on Nov. 23, 1992 related to the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Family photo of Mark Himebaug, left, with his brother, Matthew, in front of their home in 1991. Mark, from Del Haven, disappeared on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Police search near the Delaware Bay on Nov. 30, 1991, for Mark Himebaugh, who disappeared five days earlier from the Del Haven section of Middle Township.
Press archives
Mark Himebaugh
Search near Sluice Creek on Nov. 27, 1991 related to the disappearanceelaw of Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Search near Green Creek on Nov. 28, 1991 related to the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Police search near Delaware Bay on Nov. 30, 1991 related to the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Maureen Himebaugh, center, during a vigil, Nov. 24, 1992 related to the disappearance of, he son, Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Family photo of Mark Himebaug, left, with his brother, Matthew, in front of their home in 1991. Mark, from Del Haven, disappeared on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Search near Green Creek on Nov. 28, 1991 related to the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Note from Mark Himebaugh, from Del Haven, who disappeared on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
HIMEBAUGH
Family photo of Mark Himebaugh, from Del Haven, who disappeared on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Maureen Himebaugh talks to media on Nov. 24, 1992, outside her home about the disappearance of her son, Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, who disappeared on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh
Police search near Delaware Bay on Nov. 30, 1991 related to the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh from Del Haven, on November 25, 1991.
Press archive
Mark Himebaugh disappearance 25th anniversary Vigil
Attendees listen to remarks by retired police detective Rich McHale during a vigil marking the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh, Friday Nov. 25, 2016, at Cape May County Park South in the Del Haven section of Middle Township. (Michael Ein/Staff Photographer)
Michael Ein / Staff Photographer
Mark Himebaugh disappearance 25th anniversary Vigil
HIMEBAUGH
Maureen Himebaugh , 64, hugs her son Matthew, of Cape May Court House, during a vigil Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of her other son, Mark, at Cape May County Park South in the Del Haven section of Middle Township. ‘I’m hoping it’s my last year doing this,” she said.
Michael Ein / Staff Photographer/
Mark Himebaugh disappearance 25th anniversary Vigil
‘We will never give up on this case,’ Middle Township Police Chief Chris Leusner told Maureen Himebaugh and vigil attendees.
Michael Ein / Staff Photographer
Mark Himebaugh disappearance 25th anniversary Vigil
HIMEBAUGH
Maureen Himebaugh , 64, hugs her son Matthew, of Cape May Court House, during a vigil Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of her other son, Mark, at Cape May County Park South in the Del Haven section of Middle Township. ‘I’m hoping it’s my last year doing this,” she said.
Michael Ein / Staff Photographer/
Mark Himebaugh disappearance 25th anniversary Vigil
Attendees listen to remarks by retired police detective Rich McHale during a vigil marking the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh, Friday Nov. 25, 2016, at Cape May County Park South in the Del Haven section of Middle Township. (Michael Ein/Staff Photographer)
Michael Ein / Staff Photographer
Mark Himebaugh disappearance 25th anniversary Vigil
Attendees listen to remarks by retired police detective Rich McHale during a vigil marking the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh, Friday Nov. 25, 2016, at Cape May County Park South in the Del Haven section of Middle Township. (Michael Ein/Staff Photographer)
Michael Ein / Staff Photographer
Mark Himebaugh disappearance 25th anniversary Vigil
Maureen Himebaugh thanks police and the community during a vigil marking the 25th anniversary of her son’s disappearance Nov. 25, 2016, at Cape May County Park South in Del Haven.
Press archives
Cold Cases
Maureen Himebaugh's son Mark disappeared Nov. 25, 1991, from their Del Haven neighborhood in Middle Township. Maureen Himebaugh keeps pictures of Mark and his age progression photo on her refrigerator. Thursday July 03, 2014. (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)
Dale Gerhard
Cold Cases
Maureen Himebaugh's son Mark disappeared Nov. 25, 1991, from their Del Haven neighborhood in Middle Township. Maureen Himebaugh keeps pictures of Mark and his age progression photo on her refrigerator. Thursday July 03, 2014. (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)
Dale Gerhard
New reward offered for Himebaugh information
County prosecutor Bob Taylor, Sheriff Gary Schaffer and Middle Township Police Chief Chris Leusner join Maureen Himebaugh to announce a new reward for information on her son, Mark Himebaugh, who has been missing for 20 years.
Mother of child missing 20 years says all she wants is peace
Police released an image of Mark Himebaugh as he looked at 11 years old, 20 years ago, and the way he might look at 27 years old.
Mark Himebaugh disappearance 25th anniversary Vigil
‘We will never give up on this case,’ Middle Township Police Chief Chris Leusner told Maureen Himebaugh and vigil attendees.
Michael Ein / Staff Photographer
Mark Himebaugh disappearance 25th anniversary Vigil
Attendees listen to remarks by retired police detective Rich McHale during a vigil marking the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh, Friday Nov. 25, 2016, at Cape May County Park South in the Del Haven section of Middle Township. (Michael Ein/Staff Photographer)
Michael Ein / Staff Photographer
Mark Himebaugh disappearance 25th anniversary Vigil
An unidentified woman video records speakers during a vigil marking the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh, Friday Nov. 25, 2016, at Cape May County Park South in the Del Haven section of Middle Township. (Michael Ein/Staff Photographer)
Michael Ein / Staff Photographer
Mark Himebaugh disappearance 25th anniversary Vigil
Attendees listen to remarks by retired police detective Rich McHale during a vigil marking the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh, Friday Nov. 25, 2016, at Cape May County Park South in the Del Haven section of Middle Township. (Michael Ein/Staff Photographer)
Michael Ein / Staff Photographer
Mark Himebaugh disappearance 25th anniversary Vigil
Maureen Himebaugh gives thanks to police and the community during a vigil marking the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of her son Mark, Friday Nov. 25, 2016, at Cape May County Park South in the Del Haven section of Middle Township. (Michael Ein/Staff Photographer)
Michael Ein / Staff Photographer
Mark Himebaugh disappearance 25th anniversary Vigil
Maureen Himebaugh gives thanks to police and the community during a vigil marking the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of her son Mark, Friday Nov. 25, 2016, at Cape May County Park South in the Del Haven section of Middle Township. (Michael Ein/Staff Photographer)
Michael Ein / Staff Photographer
Maureen Himebaugh
Maureen Himebaugh’s Middle Township home is full of photos, poems and trinkets related to her missing son Mark. ‘I cannot sell this house because Mark could find this house,’ she says.
Dale Gerhard / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Maureen Himebaugh
Nov. 25th marks the 25th anniversary since 11-year-old Mark Himebaugh went missing near his house in Del Haven. His disappearance is still a mystery and his mother, Mawureen Himebaugh, still lives in the same house, and holds hopes that Mark is alive, but wants closure more than anything else. Monday Nov. 21, 2016. (Dale Gerhard / Staff Photographer)
Dale Gerhard
Maureen Himebaugh
Maureen Himebaugh has old and age-enhanced photos of her missing son Mark on the refrigerator at her Del Haven home, the same house she lived in when the then-11-year-old disappeared in 1991. She still holds hopes Mark is alive, but says she wants closure more than anything else.
Dale Gerhard / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Maureen Himebaugh
Maureen Himebaugh talks about having hope that one day her missing son Mark will come home, but wants closure as to what happened to her boy 25 years ago. Nov. 25th marks the 25th anniversary since 11-year-old Mark Himebaugh went missing near his house in Del Haven. His disappearance is still a mystery and his mother, Maureen Himebaugh, still lives in the same house, and holds hopes that Mark is alive, but wants closure more than anything else. Monday Nov. 21, 2016. (Dale Gerhard / Staff Photographer)
Dale Gerhard
Maureen Himebaugh
Maureen Himebaugh has old photos and aged enhanced photos of her missing son Mark, hanging on her refrigerator at home. Nov. 25th marks the 25th anniversary since 11-year-old Mark Himebaugh went missing near his house in Del Haven. His disappearance is still a mystery and his mother, Maureen Himebaugh, still lives in the same house, and holds hopes that Mark is alive, but wants closure more than anything else. Monday Nov. 21, 2016. (Dale Gerhard / Staff Photographer)
Dale Gerhard
Maureen Himebaugh
Maureen Himebaugh has old and age-enhanced photos of her missing son Mark on the refrigerator at her Del Haven home, the same house she lived in when the then-11-year-old disappeared in 1991. She still holds hopes Mark is alive, but says she wants closure more than anything else.
Dale Gerhard / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Maureen Himebaugh
Maureen Himebaugh looks over a photo of her sons Mark and Matthew taken shortly before Mark’s disappearance Nov. 25, 1991. She still holds
out hope Mark is alive — what
he may look like now, at left — but says she wants closure more than anything else.
Dale Gerhard / STAFF PHOTO
Maureen Himebaugh
Maureen Himebaugh has old photos and aged enhanced photos of her missing son Mark, hanging on her refrigerator at home. Nov. 25th marks the 25th anniversary since 11-year-old Mark Himebaugh went missing near his house in Del Haven. His disappearance is still a mystery and his mother, Maureen Himebaugh, still lives in the same house, and holds hopes that Mark is alive, but wants closure more than anything else. Monday Nov. 21, 2016. (Dale Gerhard / Staff Photographer)
Dale Gerhard
Maureen Himebaugh
Maureen Himebaugh talks about having hope that one day her missing son Mark will come home, but wants closure as to what happened to her boy 25 years ago. Nov. 25th marks the 25th anniversary since 11-year-old Mark Himebaugh went missing near his house in Del Haven. His disappearance is still a mystery and his mother, Maureen Himebaugh, still lives in the same house, and holds hopes that Mark is alive, but wants closure more than anything else. Monday Nov. 21, 2016. (Dale Gerhard / Staff Photographer)
Dale Gerhard
The One Percent: The Mark Himebaugh Story
Rippy Saling and Ed Claypoole's new documentary, "The Once Percent: The Mark Himebaugh Story," played at the Cape May Film Festival on Saturday Nov. 11. The pair hope that the film, which documents the story of 11-year-old Mark Himebaugh who went missing near his Del Haven home 25 years ago, will bring answers to their aunt Maureen Himebaugh.
MADISON RUSS, Staff Writer
Mark Himebaugh
Himebaugh Mark Himebaugh was last seen on Nov. 25, 1991. A documentary reexamining his disappearance will be shown Saturday afternoon at the Cape May Film Festival.
Photo provided by the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office
Maureen Himebaugh
Small Maureen Himebaugh says she will watch the documentary on her son Mark’s disappearance 25 years ago for the first time Saturday at the Cape May Film Festival. Family will be with her.
DALE GERHARD / Staff Photographer
Mark Himebaugh 2
HIMEBAUGH
Rip Saling / Provided
Himebaugh Update
The Middle Township police department, the Cape May County prosecutors office and FBI, partnered with the National Center for Missing Children, to assist in the case of the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh in November of1991. Over the next several weeks, a task force operated in the Del Haven section of Middle Township where HImebaugh disappeared, hoping to gather more information and hoping to jar anyones memory from events of that day. Monday June 01, 2015.
Dale Gerhard / Staff Photographer
Himebaugh
Thomas Butcavage, a person of interest in disappearance of Mark Himebaugh.
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Photo
Himebaugh Investigation
Cape May County prosecutors are staffing a command center this week at the County Park South on Bayshore Road in Del Haven where Mark Himebaugh disappeared in 1991. The command center is open daily through Friday if anyone has any information about the case.
Staff photo by Michael Miller
Himebaugh Case
Investigators from the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office are looking for this man depicted in an artist's sketch as a person of interest in the 1991 disappearance of Mark Himebaugh.
Staff photo by Michael Miller
Himebaugh
Middle Township Police Chief Chris Leusner, center, talks about the newly formed task force working on the cold case of Mark Himebaugh, who disappeared in November 1991. Leusner is flanked by Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor, left, and FBI special agent Richard Frankel. Over the next several weeks, a task force with be operating in the Del Haven section of Middle Township where Himebaugh disappeared, hoping to gather more information from events of that day.
Dale Gerhard / Staff Photographer
MT Committee01 0604 C.jpg
Police Chief Christopher Leusner and Mayor Tim Donohue honor retired Middle Township police officers Richard McHale and W. Scott Webster for their volunteer work in preparing a full review of the Mark Himebaugh case.
Himebaugh
The Middle Township police department, the Cape May County prosecutors office and FBI, have partnered with the National Center for Missing Children, to assist in the case of the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh in November of1991. Over the next several weeks, a task force with be operating in the Del Haven section of Middle Township where HImebaugh disappeared, hoping to gather more information and hoping to jar anyones memory from events of that day. Monday June 01, 2015.
Dale Gerhard / Staff Photographer
Himebaugh
Middle Township police released a sketch of a 9-10 year old girl that was last seen with Mark Himebaugh before he disappeared. The Middle Township police department, the Cape May County prosecutors office and FBI, have partnered with the National Center for Missing Children, to assist in the case of the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh in November of1991. Over the next several weeks, a task force with be operating in the Del Haven section of Middle Township where HImebaugh disappeared, hoping to gather more information and hoping to jar anyones memory from events of that day. Monday June 01, 2015.
Dale Gerhard / Staff Photographer
Himebaugh
A posted displayed at the Himebauge press conference, showed and age progression depiction of Mark Himebaugh. The Middle Township police department, the Cape May County prosecutors office and FBI, have partnered with the National Center for Missing Children, to assist in the case of the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh in November of1991. Over the next several weeks, a task force with be operating in the Del Haven section of Middle Township where HImebaugh disappeared, hoping to gather more information and hoping to jar anyones memory from events of that day. Monday June 01, 2015.
Dale Gerhard / Staff Photographer
Himebaugh
FBI special agent Richard Frankel, talks about the newly formed task force working on the Himebaugh case. The Middle Township police department, the Cape May County prosecutors office and FBI, have partnered with the National Center for Missing Children, to assist in the case of the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh in November of1991. Over the next several weeks, a task force with be operating in the Del Haven section of Middle Township where HImebaugh disappeared, hoping to gather more information and hoping to jar anyones memory from events of that day. Monday June 01, 2015.
Dale Gerhard / Staff Photographer
Himebaugh
Middle Township police chief Chris Leusner, talks about the newly formed task force working on the Himebaugh case. The Middle Township police department, the Cape May County prosecutors office and FBI, have partnered with the National Center for Missing Children, to assist in the case of the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh in November of1991. Over the next several weeks, a task force with be operating in the Del Haven section of Middle Township where HImebaugh disappeared, hoping to gather more information and hoping to jar anyones memory from events of that day. Monday June 01, 2015.
Dale Gerhard / Staff Photographer
Himebaugh
Middle Township Police Chief Chris Leusner, center, talks about the newly formed task force working on the cold case of Mark Himebaugh, who disappeared in November 1991. Leusner is flanked by Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor, left, and FBI special agent Richard Frankel. Over the next several weeks, a task force with be operating in the Del Haven section of Middle Township where Himebaugh disappeared, hoping to gather more information from events of that day. Monday June 01, 2015.
Dale Gerhard / Staff Photographer
Himebaugh
Middle Township police released a timeline of the events of the day Mark Himebaugh disappeared. The Middle Township police department, the Cape May County prosecutors office and FBI, have partnered with the National Center for Missing Children, to assist in the case of the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh in November of1991. Over the next several weeks, a task force with be operating in the Del Haven section of Middle Township where HImebaugh disappeared, hoping to gather more information and hoping to jar anyones memory from events of that day. Monday June 01, 2015.
Dale Gerhard / Staff Photographer
Team of active and retired investigators to review Himebaugh disappearance
In the photo on the left, Mark Himebaugh is shown as he appeared 23 years ago, when the boy disappeared near his Del Haven home. On the right, is an age progression photo made by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Investigators to re-examine 1991 Himebaugh disappearance
Investigators this winter will re-examine the 1991 disappearance of 11-year-old Mark Himebaugh from near his home in Middle Township. An age-progressed image shows what Himebaugh might look like today.
Investigators to re-examine 1991 Himebaugh disappearance
Mark Himebaugh was 11 in this photo when he disappeared near his Del Haven, Middle Township, home in 1991. Investigators are launching a new examination of the missing-persons case this winter.
Middle Township police release age-progressed photo of Himebaugh
age-progressed photo of Mark Himebaugh
Cold Cases
Maureen Himebaugh's son Mark disappeared Nov. 25, 1991, from their Del Haven neighborhood in Middle Township. Maureen Himebaugh keeps a troll doll Mark had wrapped for her as a birthday present days before he disappeared. Thursday July 03, 2014. (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)
Dale Gerhard
Cold Cases
Maureen Himebaugh's son Mark disappeared Nov. 25, 1991, from their Del Haven neighborhood in Middle Township. Maureen Himebaugh keeps pictures of Mark and his age progression photo on her refrigerator. Thursday July 03, 2014. (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)
Dale Gerhard
Cold Cases
Maureen Himebaugh's son Mark disappeared Nov. 25, 1991, from their Del Haven neighborhood in Middle Township. Maureen Himebaugh keeps keeps a quilt with the name inscriptions of Mark and her other son Matthew. Thursday July 03, 2014. (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)
Dale Gerhard
Cold Cases
Maureen Himebaugh's son Mark disappeared Nov. 25, 1991, from their Del Haven neighborhood in Middle Township. Maureen Himebaugh keeps keeps a quilt with the name inscriptions of Mark and her other son Matthew. Thursday July 03, 2014. (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)
Dale Gerhard
Cold Cases
Maureen Himebaugh's son Mark disappeared Nov. 25, 1991, from their Del Haven neighborhood in Middle Township. Maureen Himebaugh keeps keeps a troll doll Mark had wrapped for her as a birthday present days before he disappeared. Thursday July 03, 2014. (Dale Gerhard/Press of Atlantic City)
Dale Gerhard
Contact Eric Conklin:
609-272-7261
econklin@pressofac.com
Twitter @ACPressConklin
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Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/investigators-using-ai-in-case-of-middle-township-boy-missing-since-1991/article_cfbc56b2-fafd-11ed-9797-4386a076f581.html | 2023-05-25T15:19:44 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/investigators-using-ai-in-case-of-middle-township-boy-missing-since-1991/article_cfbc56b2-fafd-11ed-9797-4386a076f581.html |
Mike Trout, 31, a 2009 Millville High School graduate, is a center fielder with the Los Angeles Angels and was the 2014, 2016 and 2019 American League MVP.
Tuesday: Hit a two-run, opposite-field home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to help the Angels beat Boston 4-0. Batting second and playing center field, he went 1 for 4.
Wednesday: Batting second and playing center field, went 1 for 4 with a two-run homer in a 7-3 win over the Red Sox in the series finale. Trout homered in the bottom of the fourth inning off Nick Pivetta, which capped the scoring for the Angels. He also struck out twice in the win.
Thursday: The Angels are off and will begin a three-game series starting at 9:38 p.m. Friday at home against the Miami Marlins.
Stats: Trout is hitting .275 (50 for 182) with 12 home runs, 27 RBIs and 33 runs scored in 47 games. He has walked 21 times and struck out 58 times. His on-base percentage was .364, his OPS .891. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/daily-mike-trout-report-hits-a-2-run-homer-in-angels-win-over-red-sox/article_f26c28ba-fa6a-11ed-8663-e3530e2bbb43.html | 2023-05-25T15:19:51 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/daily-mike-trout-report-hits-a-2-run-homer-in-angels-win-over-red-sox/article_f26c28ba-fa6a-11ed-8663-e3530e2bbb43.html |
Pat Grimley and Joey Berardis each scored six goals and added two assists to lead the second-seeded Ocean City High School boys lacrosse team to a 16-1 victory over 15th-seeded Toms River South in a South Jersey Group III first-round game Wednesday.
Charlie Schutta scored twice and added two assists for the Red Raiders (12-6), the sixth-ranked team in The Press Elite 11. John Williams won 15 of 17 faceoffs. John Moyer added two assists, and Paul Tjoumakaris and Bryce Hanin each scored once and added an assist.
Cole Ritter, Jack Scherbin and Dylan Schlatter each scored once. Kai Lindsay added an assist. Gavin Neal made three saves. Ocean City led 7-0 after the first quarter.
Ben Hartzfeld scored for Toms River South (4-13).
The Red Raiders will host seventh-seeded Jackson Memorial in the quarterfinals Wednesday. Last season, Ocean City lost in the sectional semifinals and won the title in 2021.
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Middletown North 7, No. 10 Barnegat 5: Luke Tortorici, Robert Sawicki and Seth Freiwald each scored once and added an assist for the Bengals (13-5). Bailey Carroll and Jakob Jason each scored once. Lucas Holland made 14 saves. Middletown North improved to 9-7.
Seneca 17, Oakcrest 3: Micah Whitehead scored twice for the Falcons (4-11). Nick Thavisack added a goal. Marek Guerrier won 15 of his 19 faceoff attempts and added a team-leading nine ground balls. William Will contributed eight ground balls. Jorge Curtidor-Cornejo made eight saves.
Colin Walsh and Jake Hasson each scored four for Seneca (7-9), which led 9-0 after the first quarter. Noah Locantore added seven assists and three goals. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/no-6-ocean-city-boys-lacrosse-win-first-round-game-late-wednesday-roundup/article_29d70792-fb07-11ed-ab64-73b386bcc4f7.html | 2023-05-25T15:19:57 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/highschool/no-6-ocean-city-boys-lacrosse-win-first-round-game-late-wednesday-roundup/article_29d70792-fb07-11ed-ab64-73b386bcc4f7.html |
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