text string | url string | crawl_date timestamp[ms] | label int64 | id string |
|---|---|---|---|---|
June 27, 1924 - May 30, 2023
TWIN FALLS — Betty Griff of Twin Falls, Idaho — a cherished Mom, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother — passed from life to Life Everlasting on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, a few weeks before she would have turned 99. She is now with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Betty—fondly known as “Cokee” by her grandchildren and many friends alike, was born June 27, 1924, in Twin Falls, Idaho, to John and Louise Sommer. She graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1943.
Betty married Eugene Griff in 1945 and moved to a farm on the Salmon Tract where she invested her life in creating a loving, nurturing home for her family, a family that eventually grew to include 5 children, 16 grandchildren, and 40 great-grandchildren.
She leaves behind a rich legacy of her faith in God, a legacy that shaped the lives of her 5 children. Her highest priority was that her children would love God and would love each other. She succeeded.
Betty is survived by 4 children: Kathi Lecertua of Boise, Christi Pedrow (Pat) of Moscow, Ron Griff (Janie) of Twin Falls, and Cinda Woodworth (Ken) of American Falls. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene and her son, Richard (Jackie).
A Celebration of her Life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at the Twin Falls Reformed Church. For those who are unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed and recorded on Betty's obituary page:
The family would like to express a heart-felt THANK YOU to the dear women who went to her home, workers at Harmony Place, and to Hospice Visions for the kindness and care they all provided her. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Hospice Visions, 1770 Park View Dr., Twin Falls, ID 83301.
Our mom will be greatly missed, but we grieve not in vain. “God's mercies are new every morning.” ~Lamentations 3:22-23. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/obituaries/betty-griff/article_40b1b8a6-7233-57dc-b81c-a02c214b91e7.html | 2023-06-09T05:29:58 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/obituaries/betty-griff/article_40b1b8a6-7233-57dc-b81c-a02c214b91e7.html |
IDAHO, USA — After helping renters and landlords for more than two years, Boise City./Ada County Housing Authorities closed its Emergency Rental Assistance Program application portal on Thursday.
The federal government established the program to help people get through the pandemic, Executive Director Deanna Watson said. BCACHA distributes the money on behalf of the city and county.
Now, the money is running out.
“We think we will have expended all of the funds within the next one to two weeks, and then we’ll be closing down the program,” she said.
BCACHA has about $1 million left. When it is all said and done, Watson said the agency will have given out close to $70 million in rental relief.
Although necessary, she said closing the portal was a hard decEmergency Rental Assistance Programision to come to terms with. They have been receiving anywhere from 100 to 120 applications every day.
“It breaks our hearts to not have a steady income that we can then turn and provide for people who need that help,” Watson said.
She said BCACHA is prioritizing applications where people who back rent. Then, they’ll move on to the people having difficulty paying next month’s rent or security deposits.
More than 14,000 people received ERAP money, including Boisean Elizabeth Smith. She applied on Monday and got accepted into the program Wednesday.
Smith said it will cover rent for four months.
“Being able to apply for that and having it be approved so fast was just amazing in the sense of, like, I can provide that not only for me but my family,” she said. “It was just like a huge relief.”
Landlords also benefited from the program, said Myrna Lattin, Keeley Property Management property manager. The business oversees more than 300 properties; Upwards of 100 homes received some ERAP assistance.
Lattin told KTVB over the phone she is very sad to see the money running out.
“Some of our folks run into hard times to no fault of their own,” she said. “This has been able to really help those folks out and, in turn, helps us because we manage these properties, helps our owners, and of course, we benefit because we can pay our bills.”
Unfortunately, Watson said there are not many options available for people still needing help. Even with BCACHA’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, they can only help about 25% of the people in need.
Other nonprofits around town also have extremely long waitlists. To help alleviate some of the pressure, she said Idaho’s legislature should step up and invest more money into affordable housing.
Watson said for some people, rent has increased anywhere from $300 to $900 a month.
“I think this has exposed a great deal of need in our communities that has been unmet prior to the pandemic, was met for a short time while we had funds to administer,” she said. “Now those funds are going away, and the need isn’t.”
Download the KTVB mobile app to get breaking news, weather and important stories at your fingertips.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist: | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/local-it-breaks-our-hearts-application-portal-for-federal-rent-relief-closes/277-8ad5e0bb-487c-4703-bf9e-79db2df8c928 | 2023-06-09T05:44:27 | 0 | https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/local-it-breaks-our-hearts-application-portal-for-federal-rent-relief-closes/277-8ad5e0bb-487c-4703-bf9e-79db2df8c928 |
Sliding into summer
Most Popular
-
Fort Wayne City Council approves tax abatement for 322-unit apartment complex
-
Boudreau holds no ill will toward Komets – 'It's not a messy breakup' – and is already chasing his next coaching job
-
Fort Wayne man charged with felony in harassment of Congressman Banks
-
Man in life-threatening condition after moped crash in southwest Fort Wayne
-
Warsaw printing plant to close, putting about 525 workers out of jobs | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/sliding-into-summer/article_a550586a-0651-11ee-9974-13b65d3784dd.html | 2023-06-09T05:57:28 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/sliding-into-summer/article_a550586a-0651-11ee-9974-13b65d3784dd.html |
FOREST PARK, Ga. — The Georgia Department of Agriculture is working to address concerns from Atlanta State Farmers Market vendors as they potentially face eviction.
It hosted a meeting with the merchants who are worried they could be kicked out in less than 30 days because of new rules to address crime at the market.
Vendors were told last week that they may have to get rid of the trailers they use to sell merchandise out of, or they could be evicted at the end of the month.
The agriculture department's chief of law enforcement, Harlan Proveaux, hosted a meeting this week with the vendors. Most of that meeting revolved around the trailers and the options that vendors have.
“If we remove all of the trailers we currently have, it's our livelihood; our business. I don’t want to see anyone go out of business because of it,” said one vendor during the meeting.
“We don’t either,” replied Proveaux.
“Well, that’s what your rules will do,” other vendors, including Erica Hernandez, continued to say.
RELATED: 'You're ruining business' | Atlanta State Farmers Market vendors could face eviction in one month
Proveaux says the trailers can make it challenging for emergency vehicles to pass through the market. Vendors, however, say they have had these trailers for many years, and have even been paying for them.
“Sure, they are paying for trailers,” said Proveaux. “That was something that was put in place prior to our administration. That goes against the license they are under. So that’s a non compliance issue. We’ve got to bring them to compliance.”
Vendors – specifically wholesalers – say the possible changes, and a letter that was sent out to vendors by the department last week, have already affected their businesses.
“These people buy a lot of merchandise from us and it's affecting our local sales dramatically,” a wholesaler mentioned during the meeting. “They’re afraid to get too much, get down there and get wrote up, so they’re not pushing merchandise as they were."
Now the state and the vendors are working to strike a compromise.
Vendors have suggested limiting the number of trailers they have, keeping them within lines to make sure the space is not cluttered, or putting them on wheels in case they need to be moved. That last choice, however, they say will be a difficult, lengthy, and expensive process.
During the meeting, Proveaux addressed finding solutions for trailers carrying fresh produce and in need of refrigeration. Hernandez, who co-owns El Eden and does not sell produce hopes the same importance will be given to those who do not need refrigeration. She says 70% of the merchandise she sells sits in those trailers.
“If they would rather have us remove the trailers and build a little warehouse back here and that’ll look nice, I’m on board with that,” Hernandez said. “I think the majority of us are in need of storage. I’ll pay for my warehouse. We’re willing to do a lot of whatever they want us to do.”
Proveaux says they are working on a new plan to address this.
“This is priority for me,” Proveaux told 11Alive over the phone. “It's priority because these folks make a living doing this. I don't want to string them along, unnecessarily. We'll be working the rest of this week and first of next week, and hopefully, I can get back in touch with them with a proposal. Hopefully, we can meet in the middle.”
Depending on how that new proposal goes, Proveaux says the department might extend the 30-day deadline to fix all non compliance issues. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/atlanta-state-farmers-market-vendor/85-08a38aa2-369a-491c-8ff9-8a463bd5c6a3 | 2023-06-09T06:14:56 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/atlanta-state-farmers-market-vendor/85-08a38aa2-369a-491c-8ff9-8a463bd5c6a3 |
ATLANTA — People across Fulton County are digging deep into their pockets this year to pay skyrocketing property taxes. As they do so, hundreds of commercial properties are getting major tax breaks and leaving homeowners on the hook for the deficit.
“We’re looking at hundreds of millions of dollars that we should be bringing in,” former Invest Atlanta board member Julian Bene said when referring to the loss in property tax revenue. It's resulted in commercial properties not being assessed at their full value.
“This one, 1725 Ponce, it sold for $300 million couple years ago and it’s still appraised at just over $100 million. That $200 million gap means they’re saving $3 million a year in taxes,” said Bene.
In addition to being under appraised, Bene said many of the trophy properties are also getting additional tax incentives -- which is further decreasing the property taxes, but that’s not all.
"And then, they get a brownfield tax credit and so, their taxes last year and the year before was just $4,000, which is less than most of your viewers are paying in property taxes for their home,” said Bene.
Bene's said he's be researching the issue for years and estimates that there are more than 300 similar undervalued commercial properties in Fulton County.
Former Fulton County commissioner Lee Morris said the undervalue throughout the county has to be hundreds of millions of dollars. He said part of the problem is the commercial properties' owners have the resources to appeal their assessed value; at times they go to court and win.
“Residential property owners have to make up that difference because that revenue is a number that gets set based on the needs of the county,” said Morris.
Morris was recently appointed to the Board of Assessor’s Office and said they will likely look into the matter in the near future. However, he said one of the solutions to the problem is for the county to invest in more resources so that they are prepared when commercial property taxes are appealed. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/hundreds-commercial-properties-undervalued-homeowners-high-taxes/85-e861dd4b-64f8-4337-ab26-3a2d5d26f501 | 2023-06-09T06:15:02 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/hundreds-commercial-properties-undervalued-homeowners-high-taxes/85-e861dd4b-64f8-4337-ab26-3a2d5d26f501 |
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Standing on the balcony of the tattoo parlor where he works, just off Memorial Drive, Chase Gates sees a freshly paved road and a potential start to revamping his community. He's lived in DeKalb County for about a year and said business has been booming.
"We got no worries for the most part," Gates said. "They need more lighting in certain areas on the strip, but other than that, it’s pretty safe. It's the stigma of Memorial Drive basically."
That stigma, Gates said, stems from shootings, boarded-up businesses and few places for people to turn.
"You have a history, a future and a present," Gate said. "So the history has been partying and having fun. In the present, it's been up and down. So we have to find some type of balance to make the future of Memorial Drive, way better than all of that."
DeKalb County leaders are hoping to rebrand Memorial Drive, starting by placing signs with a new logo. The efforts come after a survey taken pre-pandemic by people who live on that stretch of the busy road, home to several international and homegrown residents and business owners.
DeKalb County Commissioner Steve Bradshaw said he looked to Bill Kennedy Way in Atlanta, along with the city's stretch of Memorial Drive as examples to follow in revitalizing the road. He said the hope is to attract new business to the area and curb crime.
"In and of themselves they won't," Bradshaw said. "A sign by itself won't do that, private investment follows public investment. So this is us demonstrating a public investment in this corridor so that the private investment will follow."
Bradshaw said a task force already meets every month to address issues along the Memorial Drive corridor between I-285 and Highway 78. Police, code enforcement, sanitation and the county's economic arm are all involved.
Architect Gregory Walker of Houser Walker, the company charged with designing a logo for the soon-to-be-branded Memorial Drive corridor, said the rebranding was just a first step after which many more would follow.
"These are businesses that had largely been bypassed by time and other conditions," Walker said. "Branding is just one way to try and bring the community together and give them a common voice. And that's what all branding can do, really in this kind of application, just help give something to the community itself."
Gates said he was optimistic the signs could mark the start of revamping his community and shedding its stigma.
"If they just gave more people opportunities to have an actual business, or push the business they have on the strip, it would probably be way better," Gates said. "I actually think it could be way better than it actually is. It’s just the opportunity has to be presented.”
DeKalb County officials would not give a specific total amount they think the rebranding project on Memorial Drive could cost. They say the signage alone could cost up to $100,000, and they could decide on a logo and slogan by the end of the year. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/memorial-drive-to-undergo-rebrand-dekalb-county/85-cf381c62-8ed3-4f67-a7be-4ab14b73e2a2 | 2023-06-09T06:15:08 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/memorial-drive-to-undergo-rebrand-dekalb-county/85-cf381c62-8ed3-4f67-a7be-4ab14b73e2a2 |
CONYERS, Ga. — A Rockdale County teenager went missing Memorial Day weekend and now her family is getting some high-tech help in their search.
Everyone who lives in the Conyers area and has the Ring doorbell app got a notification about a missing 15-year-old Kellis Smith Thursday afternoon.
Sandra Smith has five grandchildren. She can't sleep over what's going on with her oldest granddaughter, Kellis, who is an honor student with a 3.9 GPA.
“It’s just tearing the family apart. It’s breaking everyone’s heart," Smith said.
Smith said it all started when she got a frantic phone call from her son early on Memorial Day.
“Her window was open, but she wasn’t there," Smith said.
The family put up fliers and then they went a step further.
“I decided to call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children after a couple of days and realizing this is really something serious," Smith said.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children often helps get the word out about children who have seemingly disappeared. It has partnered with Ring to send out notifications of missing children.
In a statement, Ring said through the partnership, the company can help spread awareness about missing children through local users who may have helpful and relevant information -- adding that it "has helped recover hundreds of missing children across the country."
“We’re trying all avenues we could possibly think of," Smith said. "This will be another way for people out there to see her and hopefully give us a call and let us know because we really want her back.”
A notification with Kellis' description and a 30-second video went out to Ring users in the Conyers area. That's where she was last seen.
“It has been successful in the past that they were able to find missing children through that," Smith said. "I’m old school. The technology for me is amazing.”
Smith is learning about the power of new technology while she uses some old-fashioned prayers.
“I just want her to come home. We all want her to come home. Her father is not doing well emotionally. He’s devastated," Smith said.
Anyone who thinks they may have seen Kellis is asked to call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or the Conyers Police Department at 770-483-6600. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/missing-in-georgia/kessi-smith-ring-app-missing-alert/85-c5d1bd90-9b5b-41db-ad9d-dc960657584c | 2023-06-09T06:15:14 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/missing-in-georgia/kessi-smith-ring-app-missing-alert/85-c5d1bd90-9b5b-41db-ad9d-dc960657584c |
Bruce Evan Parker
August 18, 1953- May 14, 2023
ALEXANDER-Bruce E. Parker, 69, Alexander, IA, went to be with Jesus on May 14, 2023, with his wife Anne at his side following a lengthy and courageous battle with various health challenges at MercyOne-North Iowa Medical Center, Mason City. A public service will be held June 10, 2023, 2 p.m., at the Andrews Funeral Homes, Belmond, IA. A time of visitation and greeting of the family will be from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the service. Memorial suggestions include directing them to Anne Becker, 309 Harriman, Alexander, IA 50420, to the St. Jude's Hospital Cancer Research in Bruce's name, or to the donor's choice. The service will be live streamed on Andrews Funeral Homes Facebook page, just LIKE the page to view.
Bruce was born August 18, 1953, the second of two sons born to Clifford and Dorothy (Clayton) Parker in Bridgeport, CT.
In his teen years Bruce worked at a veterinary clinic in Bridgeport. He also enjoyed many camping trips and adventures with his friend Gary and was an Apprentice Printer.
On October 18, 1975, he was united in marriage to Gail Morris. They were blessed with 3 children: Erik, Kara, and Ashley.
They had made a move to Tucson, AZ, before Erik was born, where they ran cheese and yogurt stores with Gail's parents. Bruce also worked as a printer. Bruce was a race car driver, mostly in the dirt track racing field.
He later moved to Iowa after his marriage to Gail ended. After moving he worked at PSI in Belmond along with various other jobs including as a delivery driver for Mid-Americal Publishing Corp., Larson Printing, Mason City, in Carpentry with Aaron Nielsen, and custodian and maintenance at the Dows Rest Area. In 1997, he moved to Alexander where he met his wife, Anne Becker. They were married on March 12, 1999.
Bruce enjoyed the roles of husband, father, and grandfather.
His memory will be carried forward in the hearts of his wife, Anne Becker, Alexander, IA; his son Erik (Melissa, stepson Jayden Lamb), Jace, Jaxon, and Jerick, all of Tucson, AZ; his daughter Kara Gates, Tucson, AZ, Julianna, Ella, and Parker; his daughter Ashley (Curt Dorman), Tucson, AZ, Reanne, Mia and Cooper; his brother Paul (Mary) Parker, Glendale, AZ, his nephew Michael (Delores) Parker, St. Cloud, FL, niece Maureen Derosa, Ogunquit, Maine; also left to cherish his memory is his former wife Gail of Tucson, AZ.
He was preceded in death by his parents, cousin Kathy Pacelli and grandson Colton. Andrews Funeral Homes, Belmond, IA. http://www.andrewsfuneralhomeandfloral.com 641-444-4474 | https://globegazette.com/news/local/obituaries/bruce-evan-parker/article_d139b79f-aee4-5c9b-a40d-5d80b6cce29d.html | 2023-06-09T06:23:21 | 1 | https://globegazette.com/news/local/obituaries/bruce-evan-parker/article_d139b79f-aee4-5c9b-a40d-5d80b6cce29d.html |
Christine A. (Haugen) Zieman, 66, of Goodell, formerly of Clear Lake, died, Sunday, June 4, 2023, at the Iowa Specialty Hospital-Belmond. Arrangements: Andrews Funeral Homes, Belmond.
Christine A. (Haugen) Zieman, 66, of Goodell, formerly of Clear Lake, died, Sunday, June 4, 2023, at the Iowa Specialty Hospital-Belmond. Arrangements: Andrews Funeral Homes, Belmond.
Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. | https://globegazette.com/news/local/obituaries/death-notices/globe-death-notices/article_075b9594-0359-5e02-b3be-0f128a28c622.html | 2023-06-09T06:23:27 | 1 | https://globegazette.com/news/local/obituaries/death-notices/globe-death-notices/article_075b9594-0359-5e02-b3be-0f128a28c622.html |
Denise Elaine Gaulke
October 19, 1962-April 6, 2023
Denise Elaine Gaulke, mother of Kady Elledge, Marshall Calvert and Bethanee Calvert, wife of Bruce Gaulke, and daughter of Sharon Walter and Randolph Walter. She was very loving, caring, and outgoing. She always wanted to put a smile on someone's face. she loved to love and that love will be missed and remembered. | https://globegazette.com/news/local/obituaries/denise-elaine-gaulke/article_bd48a6f1-1d23-561e-a069-2c2131ae38f3.html | 2023-06-09T06:23:34 | 1 | https://globegazette.com/news/local/obituaries/denise-elaine-gaulke/article_bd48a6f1-1d23-561e-a069-2c2131ae38f3.html |
Katherine "Kay" E. Engstrom
March 7, 1929-June 3, 2023
MASON CITY-Katherine "Kay" E. Engstrom, 94, of Mason City, passed away Saturday, June 3, 2023, at the Good Shepherd Health Center. Funeral services will be held at 11 A.M. Monday, June 12, 2023, at the First United Methodist Church, 119 South Georgia Ave., with the Rev. Judy Eilders officiating. Visitation will begin at 10 A.M. on Monday at the church. Memorials maybe directed to the First United Methodist Church. Online condolences maybe left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com.
Kay was born March 7, 1929, the daughter of Alvin and Beatrice (Campbell) Engstrom in Renwick, Iowa. Kay attended and graduated from Renwick High School. She went on to graduate from the Iowa State Teachers College.
With her love for children and her passion to teach she began a career mentoring children. She began in Rolfe, Iowa, on to New Mexico, returning to Buffalo Center for three years before settling in Mason City where she taught for 28 years retiring in 1990.
Kay was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church, church circle, Christian Women, PEO, NEA, ISEA, and former member of the University Women.
Kay loved to travel and see the world, her trips took her to Israel, Switzerland, Norway, Panama Canal and Alaska to name a few. She enjoyed every trip and always looked forward to the next.
Those thankful for having shared in Kay's life include her three nieces, Thea Oppedal, Nona Hubbard, Denise (Dan) Johnson; two nephews, Scott Green, Stuart (Laurie) Green; many great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews and great-great-great nieces and nephews.
Kay Engstrom was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Marlys Heide, Bev (Chuck) Green; and one nephew, Curtis Heide.
Arrangements are with Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City, Iowa 50401, 641-423-0924. | https://globegazette.com/news/local/obituaries/katherine-kay-e-engstrom/article_a48e12cc-c1a4-5aad-b1f9-e0c06de3d6cd.html | 2023-06-09T06:23:40 | 0 | https://globegazette.com/news/local/obituaries/katherine-kay-e-engstrom/article_a48e12cc-c1a4-5aad-b1f9-e0c06de3d6cd.html |
Events
Friday, June 9
CAR CRUISE: 5 to 8 p.m. June 9, 23; show off your car during the Car Cruises; 615 E. Moss Mill Road, Galloway Township. 609-748-8999 or historicsmithville.com.
HERB DISH GARDEN (DEMO ONLY) WITH JOE ALVAREZ: 1 to 2 p.m.; Woodbine Community Redevelop, 812 Longfellow St., Woodbine; free, registration required. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org.
NORTH TO SHORE ATLANTIC CITY EVENTS: daily through June 11; live musical performances, open mic, spoken word, food, dance performance, move screenings, art, and more; various locations including Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University, Dante Hall, Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, Chicken Bone Beach, Absecon Lighthouse, Stockton University and more; prices vary. northtoshore.com/atlantic-city.
People are also reading…
SECOND FRIDAY ART RECEPTION: 6 to 8 p.m. second Fridays; celebrate the opening of newest galleries; The Noyes Arts Garage Stockton University, 2200 Fairmount Ave., Atlantic City. 609-626-3805 or ArtsGarageAC.com.
Saturday, June 10
AUTHOR VISIT - KRISTIN HARMEL: 2 to 3:30 p.m.; author of "The Forest of Vanishing Stars," among other titles; Cape May County Park & Zoo, 707 Route 9, Middle Township. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org.
AVALON GARDEN CLUB 39TH ANNUAL FLOWER SHOW: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; enjoy beautiful flower arrangement and horticulture exhibits; Avalon Community Hall, 3001 Avalon Ave., Avalon. 610-291-0758 or avalongardenclub.org.
BOAT AMERICA BOAT SAFETY CLASS: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; basic safe boating class; New Jersey law requires all operators of power boats complete an approved boating safety class for obtaining a NJ Boating Safety Certificate; St. Peter's United Methodist Church, 501 E. Eighth St., Ocean City; $60. 609-399-4299 or uscgaux-ocnj.org.
GM AUTO SHOW: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; rain date June 11; day full of all things cars; Historic Smithville, 615 E. Moss Mill Road, Galloway Township. 609-748-8999 or historicsmithville.com.
JAMES' PAR FOR THE HARBOR: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; fifth annual event; afternoon of food and drinks, basket raffles; benefits Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Gregory's Restaurant & Bar, 900 Shore Road, Somers Point; $50. 609-231-1402.
MAKER'S SPACE SEWING: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. June 10, 24; for teens and adults; discover how to sew both by hand and with machines; Hammonton Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 451 S. Egg Harbor Road, Hammonton; registration required. 609-561-2264 or atlanticlibrary.org.
NJ BOATING SAFETY CERTIFICATE CLASS: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; earn your NJ Boating Safety Certificate; 6708 Tilton Road, Egg Harbor Township; $75. 856-441 0242 or whitmanmarinetraining.com.
SATURDAY MOVIE TIME: 1 to 3 p.m. June 10, 24, July 8, 22, Aug. 5, 19; Pleasantville Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 33 Martin Luther King Junior Ave., Pleasantville. 609-641-1778 or atlanticlibrary.org.
Sunday, June 11
AUDITIONS FOR FOOL MOON THEATRE'S 'CLUE': 4 to 6 p.m. June 11, 6 to 8 p.m. June 12; Margate Community Church School, 8900 Ventnor Ave., Margate. 609-457-0903 or foolmoontheatre.org.
HISTORY AND DESSERTS: 3 to 5 p.m.; local historian, Mark Demitroff, will speak on the history of Friendship Church and the surrounding area, followed by desserts and beverages in the social hall; Friendship Church, Weymouth Road, Buena; free, donations accepted. 609-636-7504.
LGBTQ+ PRESENTATION: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; learn about state and federal legislation regarding individual rights; Ocean Heights Presbyterian Church, 2116 Ocean Heights Ave., Egg Harbor Township. 856-364-2309 or ohchurch.org.
For kids
Friday, June 9
HOMESCHOOLERS WORKSHOP: LENAPE COIL POTS: 10 to 11 a.m.; presented by Jakes Branch County Park and sponsored by the Friends of the Stafford Library; for ages 8 to 11; STEM show-and-tell of replicas of Lenape artifacts; learn how the Lenape survived nature; Stafford Branch Library, 129 N. Main St., Stafford Township. 609-597-3381 or theoceancountylibrary.org.
'KINDNESS HEROES: THE SWORD IN THE STONE': 11 a.m. to noon; Talewise interactive program for ages 4 to 11; interactive re-imagining of the King Arthur legend centers on two friends who learn the value of kindness on a quest to save the kingdom; Ocean County Library Long Beach Island Branch, 217 S. Central Ave., Surf City. 732-349-6200 or theoceancountylibrary.org/events.
Saturday, June 10
DROP-IN LEGO PLAYTIME: 1 to 2 p.m. Saturdays through August; Egg Harbor Township/Atlantic County Library System, 1 Swift Drive, Egg Harbor Township. 609-927-8664 or atlanticlibrary.org.
LET'S GO LEGO: 11 a.m. to noon every other Saturday through Aug. 19; Mays Landing Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 40 Farragut Ave., Hamilton. 609-625-2776 or atlanticlibrary.org.
SATURDAY FAMILY STORYTIME: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays through August; Egg Harbor Township/Atlantic County Library System, 1 Swift Drive, Egg Harbor Township. 609-927-8664 or atlanticlibrary.org.
SPRINGTIME STORYTIME: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays, June 10, 24; for ages 3 1/2 to 5, siblings welcome; few quick stories, songs, an easy craft, plus a treat; Somers Point Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 801 Shore Road, Somers Point; registration required. 609-927-7113 or atlanticlibrary.org.
TEEN BOARD GAME AND SNACK AFTERNOONS: 2 to 4 p.m. Saturdays, June 10, 24, July 8, 22, Aug. 5, 29; for kids and teens, ages 10 and older; Egg Harbor Township/Atlantic County Library System, 1 Swift Drive, Egg Harbor Township; registration required. 609-927-8664 or atlanticlibrary.org.
Groups
Friday, June 9
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: 1 to 3 p.m. Fridays; Wildwood Crest Branch, 6300 Atlantic Ave., Wildwood Crest. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org.
CONVERSATIONAL LENAPE LANGUAGE - WITH TERI HISLOP: 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Fridays; newcomers welcome; Lower Cape Branch, 2600 Bayshore Road, Lower Township. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org.
'LIGHTBULB' ONLINE GROUP: 3 to 4 p.m. Fridays; virtual group presented by the Mental Health Association in New Jersey; weekly online discussion group and forum to ask questions about mental health and wellness. 609-652-3800 or MHANJ.org.
Saturday, June 10
SOUTHERN NJ AFRICAN VIOLET CLUB: 10 a.m. to noon second Saturdays; Elwood Volunteer Fire Dept., 414 Elwood Road, Mullica Township; discuss plant care tips and needs; open to all; no membership fees; masks required and COVID-19 social distancing rules in effect. snjavc.org or email snjavc.violet@gmail.com or Facebook@southernnewjerseyafricanvioletclub.
Health, fitness
Friday, June 9
YOGA WITH TANYA DELFINI: 10 to 11 a.m. Fridays through December; no class Sept. 8, Nov. 10, 24; Cape May County Library/Sea Isle City Branch, 4800 Central Ave., Sea Isle City. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org.
Sunday, June 11
MEDITATION - ONLINE GROUP: 7:15 to 8 p.m. Sundays; offered by The Mental Health Association in Atlantic County; staff offer a guided calming meditation or breathing exercise; to receive a link by email and join the group online, email btrendler@mhanj.org. 609-652-3800 or MHAAC.info.
Music
Friday, June 9
JOE LOUIS WALKER: 7:30 to 10 p.m.; guitarist, soulful singer, and prolific songwriter; The Lizzie Rose Music Room, 217 E. Main St., Tuckerton; $35. 908-310-2941 or lizzierosemusic.com.
MUSIC TO MY EARS - ONLINE: 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 4; uplifting online discussion group in which participants share favorite music selections and what it means to them; virtual event hosted by the Mental Health Association in New Jersey. 609-652-3800 or mhanj.org.
THE MACHINE PERFORMS PINK FLOYD: 8 to 10 p.m.; extends the musical legacy of Pink Floyd; 130 N. High St., Millville, $49. 856-327-6400 or levoy.net.
Saturday, June 10
LAURIE MORVAN BAND: 7:30 to 10 p.m.; The Lizzie Rose Music Room, 217 E. Main St., Tuckerton; $33. 908-310-2941 or lizzierosemusic.com.
Sunday, June 11
'SONG FOR MY FATHER' SOUTH JERSEY AREA WIND ENSEMBLE CONCERT: 3 to 4:30 p.m.; Atlantic County Institute of Technology, 5080 Atlantic Ave., Hamilton; free. 609-927-9470 or sjawe.com. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/community-calendar/article_16b1e052-0560-11ee-9742-0764577f7f3c.html | 2023-06-09T06:24:20 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/community-calendar/article_16b1e052-0560-11ee-9742-0764577f7f3c.html |
Seashore Gardens Living Center in Galloway Township hosted a Memorial Day barbecue for residents. Prepared by the staff at the center, residents ate hamburgers, potato salad, coleslaw, corn on the cob and dessert outdoors. Residents also said goodbye to longtime staff member Rita, who retired at the end of May.
For more information about Seashore Gardens, visit seashoregardens.org.
Tags
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.
Jacklyn McQuarrie
Editorial Clerk
I interned with a small magazine in Wildwood before starting at The Press in 2013. I currently handle our Hometown and At The Shore calendar of events submissions and enjoy interacting with the local community.
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/seashore-gardens-residents-celebrate-memorial-day/article_6465496c-053b-11ee-877e-a36a0efef5fb.html | 2023-06-09T06:24:26 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/seashore-gardens-residents-celebrate-memorial-day/article_6465496c-053b-11ee-877e-a36a0efef5fb.html |
FOLSOM — An employee resource group of South Jersey Industries recently awarded $39,000 to area high school seniors and current undergraduates passionate about science, technology, engineering, math or related fields.
The South Jersey Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy honored recipients of the scholarships during the chapter’s 10th annual Scholarship Golf Outing, held May 24 at Harbor Pines Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township.
Six high school seniors were awarded $33,000 in scholarship funds, while six current college students, also former scholarship recipients, were awarded $1,000 stipends.
The American Association of Blacks in Energy is a national association dedicated to ensuring African Americans and other minorities are represented in the energy sector. The local chapter has nearly 50 active members and focuses on scholarships, mentoring, educational awareness, community service and networking.
People are also reading…
“The South Jersey Chapter of AABE works tirelessly to provide students with opportunities that help advance their educational and professional aspirations," Lisa Cottman, president of AABE-SJC and senior human resources specialist for South Jersey Industries, said in a news release. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/south-jersey-industries-employee-resource-group-awards-39-000-in-scholarships/article_68d9f492-0564-11ee-942e-0798dd92ec96.html | 2023-06-09T06:24:33 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/south-jersey-industries-employee-resource-group-awards-39-000-in-scholarships/article_68d9f492-0564-11ee-942e-0798dd92ec96.html |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – One person died and two people were brought to the hospital with serious injuries early Thursday morning after a fire engulfed a house in Vancouver, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
First responders from the Vancouver Fire Department say they arrived at 15700 Northwest Lower River Road around 6:30 a.m. to find the house on fire at the end of the roadway.
Two occupants were brought to the local hospital and one occupant was declared dead at the scene, officials say, but their names have not been released to the public.
The house itself was a “total loss,” according to CCSO.
An investigation into the fire is ongoing, and officials have yet to determine the cause of the fire.
Stay with KOIN 6 as this story develops. | https://www.koin.com/local/clark-county/vancouver-house-engulfed-in-fire-leaves-1-dead-2-seriously-injured/ | 2023-06-09T06:30:36 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/local/clark-county/vancouver-house-engulfed-in-fire-leaves-1-dead-2-seriously-injured/ |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sadaf Zahoor has bucked California's car culture by never owning one, yet she and other residents who rely on public transit worry its bleak financial outlook could soon leave them standing at empty train stations and bus stops.
The agencies running the public transit systems, particularly in San Francisco and Oakland, California, where Zahoor lives, have been living off billions of dollars in federal aid that will soon expire.
Ridership plummeted by as much as 94% during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving a gaping budget deficit. Fare box revenues have rebounded a bit, but with more people working from home, some systems haven't returned to even half their previous levels.
The transit agencies have asked Democrats who control California's government to rescue them, much like Democrats in New York recently did with a $227 billion spending plan. The request is proving to be a much tougher sell in the nation's most populous state, where majestic mountain highways and seas of suburban single-family homes have made it far more automobile-reliant than much of the Northeast.
"If there were any sort of major changes, that would definitely affect my ability to get to work," said Zahoor, 36, who figures she would have to team up with friends to buy a group car because she couldn't afford one on her own.
The California Transit Association says transit agencies will have a collective shortfall of about $6 billion over the next five years. The state, which relies heavily on taxes paid by wealthy people, is projected to have a $31.5 billion budget deficit this year amid a struggling stock market and layoffs in the tech industry.
Instead of bailing out public transit agencies, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed slashing $2 billion from their infrastructure funding to help balance the books.
H.D. Palmer, spokesperson for the California Department of Finance, said Newsom's proposed budget cuts to numerous agencies "were necessary to address the shortfall" but that the governor has pledged to restore the money if revenues rebound next year.
Bay Area Rapid Transit has warned if the state doesn't help out, it could force the agency to stop running after 9 p.m. and on weekends, while limiting regular service to just one train per hour.
Activists for transit say scaling back services is sure to only exacerbate the problem.
"It's kind of like the chicken and the egg," said Stephanie Lotshaw, acting executive director at TransitCenter, an advocacy group for public transportation systems across the U.S. "If you disinvest in it, then people won't use it. But if you invest in it, arguably more people will use it because it actually becomes a service that's usable."
The pandemic was particularly damaging to Bay Area Rapid Transit because as much as 70% of its revenue came from fares — far higher than most other transit systems, said Janice Li, president of the transit system's board of directors. Los Angeles, the nation's second-largest city, relies less on public transit than San Francisco, although voters have expressed support for it in recent years.
At the very least, Li said, California legislators should pass a stopgap measure to keep transit afloat until the 2026 election, when local voters could decide whether to pay more.
"We are not asking for the world, and we are not asking for the world indefinitely, either," Li said.
The White House has said states have flexibility to redirect some of the federal money typically used for road construction and repairs to transit operations, but many drivers call that a non-starter.
"We have the highest gas tax in the nation, and our roads are still in very poor condition," said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, a California group opposing tax hikes. "If we're looking at transportation generally, the money is better spent on those systems that people actually use, which in California is roads and highways."
Transit officials are making their pitch by appealing not just to regular riders but also to drivers who could face much more congested traffic if other options are gone. According to Bay Area Rapid Transit, almost twice as many people travel at rush hour under the Bay Bridge by train than over it by car.
Supporters have turned to creative marketing — even staging a mock funeral for transit last weekend in Oakland.
"We're doing our best but not sure what is possible at this point," said Vinita Goyal, executive director of San Francisco Transit Riders, a nonprofit advocacy group.
Legislative leaders have pledged to reject Newsom's $2 billion in cuts and make it OK for agencies to use some of that money for operations. State Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat who represents San Francisco, said that's still not enough.
"In every community in California, there are people who rely on the bus, and they are not the most powerful people. They tend to be lower income. They tend to be nonwhite. They tend to be disproportionately seniors or students," Wiener said. "Why on Earth we would for a minute contemplate allowing these systems to fall apart is beyond me."
San Francisco resident Gabriel Goffman bought his condo last year because it was on three bus lines. One has already closed due to budget constraints and another is on the chopping block.
"I moved here with three buses, and now it's like, 'How many are going to be back?'" said Goffman, 35.
Newsom and state lawmakers have until the end of June to agree to a budget for the new fiscal year that begins July 1. It's possible the negotiations for what to do about public transit agencies could drag on into the fall.
Janno Lieber, chair and CEO of New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority — the nation's largest public transit system — said state leaders saw there was no choice but to save the subway stations, which he called as vital to the city's survival as "air and water."
"Transit is literally existential for New York," Lieber said. "We could see that the federal money was going to run out in '24, and we couldn't allow us to enter into a new fiscal year (not knowing) if we were going to have to massively cut service, fire a bunch of people or dramatically raise fares."
California Assemblymember Phil Ting, a Democrat from San Francisco and chair of the powerful Assembly Budget Committee, questions whether public transit agencies in his state have adequately prepared for the loss of federal funding. He said further state money should come with conditions.
"On the one hand, they're raising the alarms. There's a fiscal cliff," Ting said. "But if you look at their business operations, it's business as usual, which is just not acceptable."
Backers of more money for California transit say its cities don't need to be as reliant on the service as a place like New York to make it a worthy investment for a state that's considering the environmental and economic benefits of reducing automobile traffic.
"This is culture. It takes a long time to change," California state Sen. Ben Allen said. "One way to assure it doesn't catch on is by letting the system fail." | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california-wants-to-save-public-transit/103-a8fd5812-3efe-4637-93a9-7bfe5ff3bd75 | 2023-06-09T07:10:13 | 0 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california-wants-to-save-public-transit/103-a8fd5812-3efe-4637-93a9-7bfe5ff3bd75 |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — City and state leaders came together to fund repairs at Southside Park Swimming Pool, which was closed for a second summer in row this year due to maintenance shortfalls.
The pool needed repairs since people began getting rashes from the pool’s old fiberglass liner.
“What we thought would be a quick fix ended up being a much more significant fix, and so as park staff was trying to figure this out, we said ‘Oh no, we don’t have enough money to start the repairs,’” said District 4 councilmember Katie Valenzuela.
Assemblymember Kevin McCarty found $500,000 in state funding to cover the deferred maintenance costs to get the pool back up and running.
“To fix this pool right now, start the process to construct it to open it up next summer,” said McCarty. “It’s a great day for southside park.”
Sacramento Parks And Community Enrichment says the construction will happen in phases — the first step is replacing that liner to get the pool back open for next year.
The Southside Park Neighborhood Association pushed the issue, highlighting that this is the only inner city public swimming pool for miles.
“I am so glad that our city leaders and our state leaders are able to really come to our aid when we ask for help,” said Sarah Cox, the president of the neighborhood association and a mom who moved in to be closer to the pool.
The pool should be on track to open next summer, but this closure reveals a city-wide issue.
Despite this pool’s funding issues mostly being cleaned up, it is just one of 17 public pools who have chronic funding shortfalls when it comes to deferred maintenance.
“Almost every single one of those pools has some sort of critical need on our deferred maintenance list that we’re continuing to prioritize and address as funding becomes available,” said Jacky Beecham from Sacramento Parks And Community Enrichment.
While Southside Park Pool should be back next summer, other public pools could face closures, too.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Southside Park public pool closed for second summer in a row | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/southside-park-public-pool-to-reopen-2024/103-1b9453ac-fc51-4b51-b88b-ec1c33e2be51 | 2023-06-09T07:10:19 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/southside-park-public-pool-to-reopen-2024/103-1b9453ac-fc51-4b51-b88b-ec1c33e2be51 |
Judy Collins will perform at the Belle Mehus Auditorium in downtown Bismarck at 7 p.m. on Oct. 30.
The singer-songwriter of six decades released her 55th album "Spellbound" last year featuring modern folk songs.
Tickets cost $34.50-$94.50 and go on sale Friday. Tickets are available at Etix.com, via phone at 800-514-3849 or in person at the Bismarck Event Center, 315 S. 5th St. | https://bismarcktribune.com/life-entertainment/local/music/judy-collins-coming-to-belle-mehus-in-october/article_84586126-056f-11ee-ad11-5f5738f6b699.html | 2023-06-09T07:27:27 | 1 | https://bismarcktribune.com/life-entertainment/local/music/judy-collins-coming-to-belle-mehus-in-october/article_84586126-056f-11ee-ad11-5f5738f6b699.html |
Blackfoot band to perform at The Gem
The band I Am Hyde is scheduled to play 7 p.m. today at The Gem, 216 1st St. in Idaho Falls.
Blackfoot band to perform at The Gem
The band I Am Hyde is scheduled to play 7 p.m. today at The Gem, 216 1st St. in Idaho Falls.
I Am Hyde is a rock band from Blackfoot. It has released an album “The Waiting Room,” and CDs of it will be available at the event.
Tickets are $10 per person at the door, and kids aged 10 and younger get in free.
Rebroadcast of ‘The Magic Flute’ to be shown in Jackson, Wyo.
A rebroadcast of the Met’s staging of Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute” is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday at the Center for the Arts, 240 S. Glenwood St. in Jackson, Wyo.
“The Magic Flute” is about Prince Tamino and Papageno, a bird-catcher, who work to rescue Pamina, the Queen of the Night’s daughter.
Tickets are $25, and children and student tickets are $5. To purchase tickets, go to tinyurl.com/38nht524.
ARTitorium to hold kids’ Shakespeare camp
The first session of “Little Shakespeare,” a kids’ theater camp, is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at the ARTitorium, 271 W. Broadway St., in Idaho Falls. The camp will be held Tuesday through Friday, running from 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. each day.
In the camp, kids will act in, rehearse and memorize “Hamlet in 30 Minutes,” an adaptation of “Hamlet” by Jen Taschereau. Students will perform the play for family and friends at the end of the camp.
“Little Shakespeare” is for kids aged 8 to 12.
The registration fee is $110.
To register, visit tinyurl.com/56jy3jpz.
Opskamatrists to play Snake River concert
The Opskamatrists will give a free show 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Greenbelt Stage “near Memorial between D and E Streets,” according to idahofallsarts.org.
The Opskamatrists are a ska/reggae/punk band from Idaho Falls that has been performing since 1998.
Country group Lonestar set to play in Rexburg
The country group Lonestar is scheduled to play 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Hart Auditorium, 525 S. Center St. in Rexburg.
Lonestar celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022. The group recently released its newest album “TEN to 1,” which is comprised of new recordings of 10 of its No. 1 hit songs.
“Lonestar has amassed RIAA-certified sales in excess of ten million albums since their national launch in 1995 and achieved ten #1 country hits,” a release said.
For tickets, go to tinyurl.com/4ab9z9bm.
We welcome comments, however there are some guidelines:
Keep it Clean: Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexual language. Don't Threaten:
Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be
Truthful: Don't lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice: No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading. Be Proactive: Report abusive
posts and don’t engage with trolls. Share with Us:
Tell us your personal accounts and the history behind articles.
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
A receipt was sent to your email. | https://www.postregister.com/news/local/arts-music-briefly/article_4fff2ca8-0613-11ee-9dd9-d3a5b9d64837.html | 2023-06-09T08:17:45 | 1 | https://www.postregister.com/news/local/arts-music-briefly/article_4fff2ca8-0613-11ee-9dd9-d3a5b9d64837.html |
GAYLORD
Author to detail success of Ann Arbor's Zingerman's food empire
Gaylord Herald Times
GAYLORD — Certain businesses are legendary and Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor, is one of those places.
Over the years the flagship deli has expanded into a community of more than a dozen businesses, including a successful mail-order operation, restaurants, bakery and more.
Micheline Maynard, 2023 Michigan Notable Author, describes the struggles and ascent of Zingerman’s in her new book: "Satisfaction Guaranteed: How Zingerman's Built a Corner Deli into a Global Food Community."
Maynard will share her book and expertise in-person at 6:30 p.m. on June 13 at the Otsego County Library, 700 S. Otsego Ave. in Gaylord.
For more information, contact Jackie Skinner at the library at (989) 732-5841 or jskinner@otsego.org. | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2023/06/09/author-to-present-program-on-success-of-ann-arbors-zingermans/70293232007/ | 2023-06-09T08:46:45 | 0 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2023/06/09/author-to-present-program-on-success-of-ann-arbors-zingermans/70293232007/ |
Library to present adult summer reading program
GAYLORD — The Otsego County Library will be hosting its second annual summer reading program for adults, running alongside the popular program for children and teens.
A game board with 20 challenges will be available for patrons 18 and older, with every five challenges completed earning readers an entry into various prize drawings. The bi-weekly prizes include a summer fun basket, forest-themed basket, and summer games set. The grand prize is a day trip to Mackinac Island, with a set of two ferry tickets, a carriage ride, and entry to Fort Mackinac.
Take-and-makes will once again be available for those 18 and older. Every three weeks, a new project will be available, including macramé daisy keychains, “Hack a Painting” – or taking a classic work of art and making it your own, and friendship bracelets.
For more information, contact the library at (989) 732-5841, by emailing reference@otsego.org, or by visiting the library’s website. | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2023/06/09/library-to-present-adult-summer-reading-program/70282387007/ | 2023-06-09T08:46:51 | 0 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2023/06/09/library-to-present-adult-summer-reading-program/70282387007/ |
A West Dallas church known as a pillar in DFW’s American Indian community has been deemed a total loss after a fire Wednesday quickly ripped through the 60-year-old building.
"This is like our second home for a lot of our churchgoers,” said Greg Smithson.
For six decades, the Dallas Indian Revival Center is where some of life’s most precious moments have played out.
It's where Smithson and his wife, Carrie, were married. Today, it’s where he serves as a deacon and oversees the children’s ministry.
“We were able to see kids from small kids to growing up to even have families of their own now,” he said.
They’re generations of memories that are now reduced to ash.
Late Wednesday, Dallas Fire-Rescue responded to a fire call at the church. Investigators determined roofers working with a torch accidentally ignited the building.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
“I saw the smoke coming from south Dallas,” said Pastor Patrick Osage.
By the time Osage arrived, the roof had collapsed. He said he immediately knew the building was a total loss.
"It's hard, especially because of the history of the church, how long it's been here, you know, 60 years of American Indian community gathering here, praising God,” he said.
Though they managed to save a few photos, inside little else remains. Still, there are signs of hope.
“The building is just a building. The church is the people who gather here to praise God, fellowship together and help each other out in times of need,” said Osage.
Sunday, Osage said the congregation will gather in the shadow of the sanctuary for their 11 a.m. worship service.
Then together, they'll figure out how to rebuild, creating a new home for the memories forever in their hearts.
"I’m excited to see what God has planned for us,” he said. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-american-indian-church-pledges-to-rebuild-after-fire-destroys-sanctuary/3273967/ | 2023-06-09T08:47:28 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-american-indian-church-pledges-to-rebuild-after-fire-destroys-sanctuary/3273967/ |
Skip to content
Main Navigation
Search
Search for:
Local
Weather
Responds
Investigations
Video
Sports
Entertainment
Newsletters
Live TV
Share
Close
Trending
Belmont Stakes 🏇
Triple-digits 🌡
June astronomy: Look up! 🌖
Sign up for Good News 😊
Watch us 24/7 📺
Expand
Local
The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-church-pledges-to-rebuild-after-devastating-fire/3273993/ | 2023-06-09T08:47:34 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-church-pledges-to-rebuild-after-devastating-fire/3273993/ |
Investigators are searching for the driver responsible for hitting and killing a Garland teenager before leaving the scene.
Noah Cavazos, 17, of Garland was staying with a friend near Pecan Gap in Delta County for a graduation celebration last weekend, according to his family. Cavazos’ older sister Karina Cortez said her brother initially planned to come home Sunday but later called his family to ask to stay another night.
Cortez received a call from her brother’s phone around 6:40 a.m. Monday.
“When I answered, it wasn’t my brother. It was a police officer asking my name. Asking how old I was. Asking my relationship to my brother,” she recalled. “The officer used the word ‘deceased’ and when he said that, I couldn’t believe it. I was completely shattered. You can imagine what happens in that moment. I had friends over, so I just started yelling.”
According to the Delta County Sheriff’s Office, the 911 call was received just after 3:30 a.m. Monday. Cortez said her family has been told her brother was alone at the time of his death. He was found by the 1800 block of FM 1532, which she said is near the home he was staying at.
“They [friends] said they never heard the door open, so they didn’t know he was gone,” she said. “They saw him walking, and that was the last time they saw him. I would say, around midnight.”
Cortez shared photos she took recently with her little brother, laughing and smiling at an event with family just weeks ago.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
“It was almost as if we knew or the universe knew he was leaving. The way they set up my brother, we all got some special time,” she said. “His last couple days, he was really happy. I love that.”
Cavazos’ death came weeks before his 18th birthday, according to his family. He was raised by his grandmother Martha Hernandez. She said at the age of 3, Cavazos was initially set to live with his aunt.
“One day, I went to pick him up from his aunt. He said, ‘Abuelita, don’t you think I should be with you? You’re the closest to my blood than anybody else,’” Hernandez said. “I took him away from the aunt, who I appreciate so much. I need to ask for forgiveness forever, because I know how much she loves him.”
Throughout the years, Cavazos’ family said he grew up to be a kind and helpful person with a love for music and art.
“I had four kids, and I raised them as a single mom. I love them. They’re awesome, just beautiful. But Noah was the best of all of them. The most beautiful one,” Hernandez said. “He gave us all of the honor that a son should give to a parent.”
As of Thursday, Delta County authorities have not identified the driver who hit Cavazos. According to investigators, vehicle parts found at the scene suggest the car is a Nissan Altima between the years of 2001 and 2005. Delta County authorities said the color is unknown, but the car will likely have fresh damage to the driver’s side, front bumper, and/or the driver’s side front fender area.
Investigators released a stock photo of the car they may be looking for, though they noted the color of the car is not known at this point in the investigation.
Cavazos’ family hopes the person responsible will come forward so they can have closure.
“Not because we have hate or anything like that. We feel bad for that person, too. They didn’t mean to. But we just want to feel like…why? What happened?” his grandmother said. “We don’t want to condemn anybody. Our heart is full of grace, like God gave us grace.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Delta County Sheriff’s Office at 903-395-2146.
Memorial services for Cavazos have been set for Monday. The family has started an online campaign to help with funeral expenses. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/family-seeks-answers-after-garland-teen-killed-in-hit-and-run/3273917/ | 2023-06-09T08:47:40 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/family-seeks-answers-after-garland-teen-killed-in-hit-and-run/3273917/ |
Leaders in Grand Prairie said they hope to build on success elsewhere in the city with a new high-rise development planned along Interstate 30 to be known as the Grand Prairie Gateway.
Grand Prairie, between Dallas and Fort Worth, used to be a sleepy bedroom community with little to offer visitors. That changed over the years as the rest of North Texas boomed and Grand Prairie’s population grew to more than 200,000.
“It was a bedroom community. There were a lot of people that wanted to keep it a bedroom community, but there were a number of us that got tired of driving to the neighboring hood,’ Grand Prairie Mayor Ron Jensen said.
Along the George Bush Turnpike is evidence of a new direction for Grand Prairie. The Epic Central development near Grand Prairie Police Headquarters features new stores, restaurants and parks. A convention hotel is under construction.
People from surrounding cities who never considered stopping in Grand Prairie before now flock there.
Melissa Majors and her family from Cedar Hill were at the Chicken N Pickle restaurant and leisure attraction Thursday.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
“Absolutely, there’s something for the family. There’s parks, great food, and places where you can come and hang out,” she said.
Completion of the George Bush Turnpike over a decade ago provided access to land that Jensen said was once cotton fields.
“The opportunity came when the George Bush Turnpike opened up, when we got frontage roads on I-20 and now I-30,” Jensen said.
Completion of frontage roads along I-30 near Beltline Road provides new access for the Gateway plan.
“There is a great opportunity for us to do something like what you see at Epic Central. That’s why the council hired OmniPlan architects to create a vision of how I-30 could look,” Grand Prairie Economic Development Director Marty Wieder said.
Renderings prepared by OmniPlan show apartments, stores, hi-rise offices and hotel space.
“That area for so long was visible but it wasn’t accessible until those frontage roads were put in,” Wieder said.
Nearby along Beltline Road there is already Lone Star Park horse racing, The Texas Trust CU Theater music venue and the former Air Hogs minor league baseball park, which is being renovated for major league cricket this year.
All of it brings tax revenue to Grand Prairie. But Jensen said he supported development for other reasons, too.
“I wanted opportunities and options for our citizens. I wanted jobs for our citizens to not have to drive to downtown Dallas or Arlington, or to go eat,” Jensen said.
Now, people from other places are coming to Grand Prairie for those things.
Visitor Demetri Cotton from Oak Cliff in Dallas said he visits every day to play pickleball at Chicken N Pickle and likes what he sees.
“I think they’re doing a really great job,” he said. “There’s an old Grand Prairie and there’s a new Grand Prairie.
Cotton may soon see more of the new on his I-30 drive from Oak Cliff to Grand Prairie.
Wieder said a six-story building will be the first to break ground by the end of 2023 in the new Grand Prairie Gateway area. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/grand-prairie-puts-itself-on-the-map-with-another-attraction/3273842/ | 2023-06-09T08:47:46 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/grand-prairie-puts-itself-on-the-map-with-another-attraction/3273842/ |
Skip to content
Main Navigation
Search
Search for:
Local
Weather
Responds
Investigations
Video
Sports
Entertainment
Newsletters
Live TV
Share
Close
Trending
Belmont Stakes 🏇
Triple-digits 🌡
June astronomy: Look up! 🌖
Sign up for Good News 😊
Watch us 24/7 📺
Expand
Local
The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/north-texas-teen-killed-in-hit-and-run/3273997/ | 2023-06-09T08:47:52 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/north-texas-teen-killed-in-hit-and-run/3273997/ |
Getting a haircut can be stressful, especially for children who have different sensory or physical needs. The goal at Little Royals Cuts and Styles in Roanoke is to cut away the stress.
"You can love cutting hair, but if your love of children doesn't exceed your love of cutting hair, you won't succeed in this business," co-owner Angelique Lawrence said.
Lawrence has a nephew with autism. Her business partner, Tumeaka Berry, has a brother with Down syndrome. Both understand the need for patience and sensitivity when their young clients sit in their chairs.
"They don't want to be treated different," Berry said. "They want to be treated the same."
Berry cut 6-year-old Luke's hair as he sat in his wheelchair, making jokes and tossing a toy football to his mother.
"With the exception of being in a wheelchair, he is a typical 6-year-old kid," Luke's mom, Nicole Stickane said. "He has an older sister and a younger brother and he wants to do all the things they get to do."
"I want to help build their confidence up when they look in the mirror. They don't have to second guess. Like, I look good just as the next kid," Berry said. "You know confidence is everything!"
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Right next to Luke, 3-year-old Conor sat in a chair that looks like a car getting his hair cut by Lawrence.
"It's something he used to be so afraid of," Erin Montgomery said of her son Conor, who has sensory processing differences. "For him to get through it without tears, without being afraid to come in...as his mom it's a huge weight off. It makes my heart really happy."
Conor gave 'Miss Angie' a hug when she was finished.
"So we just feel the need and we have a gift to kinda take that part of the stress away of having a special needs child," Lawrence said. "This is what I believe we were born to do." | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/roanoke-hair-salon-makes-cuts-less-stressful-for-kids-with-different-physical-and-sensory-needs/3273787/ | 2023-06-09T08:47:58 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/roanoke-hair-salon-makes-cuts-less-stressful-for-kids-with-different-physical-and-sensory-needs/3273787/ |
The FBI on Thursday arrested a businessman at the center of the scandal that led to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's historic impeachment, a move that came amid new questions about the men’s dealings raised by financial records the Republican's lawyers made public to try to clear him of bribery allegations.
Nate Paul, 36, was taken into custody by federal agents and booked into an Austin jail in the afternoon, according to Travis County Sheriff’s Office records. It was not immediately clear what charges led to his arrest, but the records showed he was being held on a federal detainer for a felony.
Paul's arrest followed a yearslong federal investigation into the Austin real estate developer — a probe that Paxton involved his office in, setting off a chain of events that ultimately led to his impeachment last month.
Lawyers for Paul did not immediately respond to requests for comment. One of Paxton's defense attorneys, Dan Cogdell, said he had no additional information on the arrest. The FBI declined to comment, and a spokesman for federal prosecutors in West Texas did not respond to inquiries.
FBI agents examining Paul's troubled real estate empire searched his Austin offices and a palatial home in 2019. The next year, seven of Paxton’s top deputies reported the attorney general to the FBI on allegations of bribery and abusing his office to help Paul, including by hiring an outside lawyer to examine the developer's claims of wrongdoing by federal agents.
The allegations by Paxton's staff prompted separate FBI investigation of the attorney general, which remains ongoing, and are central to articles of impeachment overwhelmingly approved by the GOP-led state House of Representatives.
On Wednesday, Paxton’s defense team showed a packed room of journalists a bank statement that included a 2020 wire transfer purportedly showing him, and not a donor, paying more than $120,000 for a home renovation.
The wire transfer was dated Oct. 1, 2020 — the same day Paxton’s deputies signed a letter informing the head of human resources at the Texas attorney general’s office that they had reported Paxton to the FBI.
The $121,000 payment was to Cupertino Builders, whose manager was an associate of Paul, state corporation and court records show.
The company did not incorporate as a business in Texas until more than three weeks after the transaction took place. A company of the same name was formed in Delaware in April of that year, although public filings there do not make clear who is behind it.
Last year a court-appointed overseer for some of Paul’s companies wrote in a report that Cupertino Builders was used for “fraudulent transfers” from his business to Narsimha Raju Sagiraju, who was convicted of fraud in California in 2016. The report described Sagiraju as Paul’s “friend.”
Paul, who also employed a woman with whom Paxton acknowledged having an extramarital affair, has denied bribing Paxton. In a deposition, Paul described Sagiraju as an “independent contractor” and said he didn’t remember how they first met.
The timing of the payment — and the identity of who was paid for renovations at Paxton’s home in Austin — was not publicly known before his new legal team held a news conference Wednesday in which they put financial documents on a projector screen while criticizing the impeachment. They were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Tony Buzbee, a prominent Houston attorney who was hired by Paxton over the weekend and led the news conference, said by email Thursday that receipts “clearly demonstrate” Paxton paid for the repairs. He did not address questions about the timing of the payments or Cupertino Builders.
“Without any evidence, the politicians leading this sham impeachment falsely accused General Paxton of not paying for the repairs to his home. That is a lie,” Buzbee said.
Since becoming just the third sitting official in Texas history to be impeached, Paxton has attacked the proceedings as politically motivated and rushed, saying he was never given the chance to rebut the accusations in the state House.
“We have the receipts,” Buzbee told reporters Wednesday as the documents flashed onscreen. “This is the type of evidence we tried to offer them once we found out this foolishness was going on.”
Paxton is temporarily suspended from office pending the outcome of a trial in the Texas Senate that is set to begin no later than Aug. 28. The “jury” will be the members of the 31-seat Senate; one of them, Paxton’s wife, Sen. Angela Paxton, has not said whether she will recuse herself.
The Paxtons purchased the Austin house in 2018. When it was remodeled two years later, Paxton’s former staff alleged in court documents, Paul “was involved in” the work.
Among the 20 articles of impeachment are accusations that Paxton used the power of his office to help Paul over unproven claims of an elaborate conspiracy to steal $200 million of the developer’s properties. The FBI searched Paul’s home in 2019, but he has not been charged and his attorneys have denied wrongdoing.
The city has no record of building permits from the time of the renovations. A different Austin contractor — not Cupertino Builders — received a federal grand jury subpoena in 2021 for records related to work on Paxton’s home that started in January 2020.
Cupertino Builders was formed in October 2020 and dissolved less than two years later, according to Texas corporation records. Its manager was Sagiraju, who said in a deposition for an unrelated case that he did “consulting” work for Paul’s business and had an email address with Paul’s company.
Sagiraju acknowledged that he served prison time for securities fraud and grand theft in California before moving to Austin, according to a transcript of the deposition. He said he was first introduced to Paul by a mutual friend before his prison term and they later did “a few projects” together.
A lawyer for Sagiraju did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Paxton was separately indicted on securities fraud charges in 2015, though he has yet to stand trial. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/fbi-arrests-businessman-linked-to-impeachment-of-texas-ag-ken-paxton/3273898/ | 2023-06-09T08:48:04 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/fbi-arrests-businessman-linked-to-impeachment-of-texas-ag-ken-paxton/3273898/ |
How Delaware will celebrate Juneteenth, the nation's longest-running Black holiday
The observance of Juneteenth goes by many names: Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day or Black Independence Day. But no matter what you call it, it is one of the most significant celebrations in American history.
It was on June 19, 1865 — two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation — that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, received word that the Civil War had ended and that all slaves were free. Shortly after, former slaves began to celebrate with prayer, song and dancing.
Although Juneteenth has been unofficially celebrated for more than 150 years, the United States now commemorates the day as the official end of slavery. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation that made Juneteenth a federal holiday in the wake of a summer of nationwide protests in 2020 that was set off by the killing of George Floyd.
In recent years, organizations in Delaware typically host different events in honor of Juneteenth. Here are some to help you celebrate.
Wilmington
Founded in 1994, the state’s oldest Juneteenth organization, the Delaware Juneteenth Association, is hosting the following events:
6th annual Juneteenth Gala
Sunday, June 11, 5 p.m., The Chase Center, 815 Justinson St., Wilmington
Juneteenth Freedom Festival and Parade
Saturday, June 17 – Parade, 10 a.m. at Rodney Square, 11th and King streets; festival, noon at Tubman-Garrett Park, Rosa Parks Drive, Wilmington
Juneteenth Observance
Monday, June19 - 5 p.m., Cornerstone Fellowship Baptist Church, 20 W. Lea Blvd., Wilmington. Admission is free.
26th annual Delaware Juneteenth Pageant
Saturday, June 24 – 5 p.m., The Grand Opera House, 818 N. Market St., Wilmington
For more information regarding these events, call (302) 314-5863 or email juneteenthdelaware@gmail.com.
4th annual Beyond Juneteenth Festival
Sunday, June 18 – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington.
Hosted by the Delaware Art Museum, the Beyond Juneteenth Festival celebrates the ancestral traditions of those who had been enslaved or bonded in the United States. This year's festival features an AfrisymPOEMsium and Expo centered around healing, protection and adaptation of the human spirit.
For more information about this event, visit delart.org.
Glasgow
YMCA Delaware’s inaugural fundraising walk: Journey to Freedom: A Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 10 – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Glasgow Park Trail, 2275 Pulaski Highway, Glasgow
In celebration of Juneteenth, join and support YWCA Delaware’s first-ever fundraising walk. The event includes a 2.6-mile walk that highlights the history of Juneteenth, an after-party, music, raffle prizes and giveaways. It will also have educational opportunities to learn more about the group's mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.
This event is open to the public. To learn more, visit https://myevent.com/ywcajourneytofreedom.
School Hill Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 18 – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., George Wilson Community Center, 303 New London Road, Newark
Newark's historic Black community will host its annual community celebration. This event is being presented by what is the last generation to grow up in what was once Newark’s Black communities. It will feature prayer, flag-raising, a walk through the community's historical areas, speakers, storytelling and more.
More:'A different look': How Wilmington honored Juneteenth and the people who made it happen
Friends of Cooch’s Bridge Historic Site Juneteenth Event
Monday, June 19 – 3 p.m., Park at Pencader Heritage Museum, 2029 Sunset Lake Road, Newark
The Friends of Cooch’s Bridge, a nonprofit that aims to preserve the built and natural features of the state-owned historic property Cooch’s Bridge Historic Site, will host a Juneteenth celebration on the day. Admission is free but registration is required because parking is limited and there is no lavatory/building access.
To register for this event, visit friendsofcoochsbridge.org.
Hockessin
Wednesday, June 14 – 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Hockessin Memorial Hall, 610 Yorklyn Road, Hockessin
The Hockessin Historical Society and New Castle County are sponsoring a Juneteenth event lecture. It will feature two guest speakers who will discuss Juneteenth and the Underground Railroad. This event is free and open to the public.
To learn more about the Hockessin Historical Society, visit hockessinhistoricalsociety.org.
Lewes/Georgetown
The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice, an organization that educates, informs and advocates for racial justice, equality and fair opportunity, will host Juneteenth celebrations for Lewes and Georgetown. Georgetown Freedom Day Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 17 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., parade starts at 10 a.m. and will proceed about 1 mile to the Richard Allen Center, 316 S. Railroad Ave., Georgetown
Lewes Freedom Day Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 24 – 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Richard Allen School, 316 S. Railroad Ave., Georgetown
To volunteer for these events or for more information, visit, https://sdarj.org/.
Middletown
Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce’s Juneteenth Freedom Day
Sunday, June 18 – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Charles E. Price Memorial Park, Middletown. Registration is required, according to the chamber's website.
Did we miss other Juneteenth events happening? If so, contact reporter Cameron Goodnight at cgoodnight@delawareonline.com, or by calling or texting 302-324-2208. Follow him on Twitter at @CamGoodnight and support the Facebook group Delaware Voices Uplifted. | https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/juneteenth-2023-delaware-where-to-celebrate/70301505007/ | 2023-06-09T09:01:53 | 1 | https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/juneteenth-2023-delaware-where-to-celebrate/70301505007/ |
GREENSBORO — The “center of Republican politics.”
That’s what Greensboro will be today and Saturday as some of the biggest names in the Republican Party — including those wanting to be the nation’s next president — converge on the Koury Convention Center for the North Carolina GOP convention.
Former President Donald Trump, considered the early frontrunner for the nomination, speaks Saturday night. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a top contender, makes his case tonight. And Mike Pence, who was vice president under Trump, speaks at the group’s luncheon on Saturday on the heels of officially entering the race earlier this week.
“You have possibly the top three candidates,” said Chris Meadows, Guilford County’s GOP chairman, adding that there are rumors of other potential nominees showing up. “I would say this is going to be the center of Republican politics for two days.”
People are also reading…
It also speaks to North Carolina’s continued importance as a swing state. Although Republicans have long dominated presidential races, Barack Obama’s narrow victory over John McCain in 2008 changed the state’s political landscape. A Republican win was no longer thought to be a certainty.
And while GOP candidates claimed the state in 2012, 2016 and 2020, the margins of victory have been decidedly more narrow.
Add the Tuesday announcement from former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie that, he, too, is making a run for the White House — boosting the GOP’s 2024 campaign field to 10 — the timing of the convention “makes North Carolina the biggest stage for these candidates,” according to Jeff Moore, the state GOP communications director.
Expect Trump and DeSantis to trade barbs. Even Pence has gone after his former boss since announcing.
Also expect protestors along Gate City Boulevard, which the convention center fronts, as well as potentially closed roads and heavy traffic especially around Interstate 40.
About 1,800 delegates from across the state and nearly 200 guests will be in attendance as well as a throng of media compared to past conventions.
“We’re working at 10 times the media interest,” Moore said.
And with Trump and Pence in town, the Secret Service won’t be far behind not to mention local law enforcement, which will have a larger presence than usual.
When dignitaries come to town, law enforcement agencies have safety plans on whether some roads need to be closed or monitored and where to station extra officers. Even how to handle protests.
“We do not share the routes dignitaries take for safety reasons,” said Josie Cambareri, a spokeswoman for the Greensboro Police Department.
If a road is closed for a prolonged period of time, police will notify media outlets.
“This could be a last-minute decision,” Cambareri said. “Of course, there may not be any large closures either.”
But before things begin tonight, a group of North Carolina and Florida leaders will hold a virtual press conference this morning denouncing DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson of Greensboro, who they say are “sending the country in the wrong direction.”
“We just really want to showcase what can happen if North Carolina and the rest of the country continues to move in this direction,” said Durrell Johnson of Progress North Carolina.
Meanwhile, organizers are reiterating that safety is a top concern.
“The Secret Service isn’t just the men and women running around in dark suits around the president,” Meadows said. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/north-carolina-republican-convention-donald-trump-ron-desantis/article_5bab0d4c-0631-11ee-9499-fbf1d303612d.html | 2023-06-09T09:29:42 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/north-carolina-republican-convention-donald-trump-ron-desantis/article_5bab0d4c-0631-11ee-9499-fbf1d303612d.html |
Polk says there's no easy fix to Imperial Lakes flooding, but long-term fix is in planning
Imperial Lakes residents looking for a quick fix to decades-long flooding problems will probably be disappointed.
Joan Pezzani and her neighbors told Polk County commissioners at Tuesday's meeting that they wanted an immediate fix to periodic flooding along Imperial Lakes Boulevard. The boulevard is the only way in or out of the massive 1,700-acre golf course community with housing and commercial developments in Mulberry.
She is concerned that her disabled daughter and the more than 60% of the community's elderly residents may not be accessible by first responders in the event of an emergency.
County officials said Tuesday there is no immediate fix to the problems, but they suggested they might try to expedite a longer-term fix that's in the works. In the meantime, commissioners decided to reach out to the homeowners association of Belmont Park, a small neighborhood within Imperial Lakes that's close to the flood-prone area, to see if the association could dredge a retention pond and a drainage ditch.
But on Wednesday, the treasurer of the Belmont Park Home Owners Association of Polk County Inc. said the association's retention ponds and its drainage ditch are not to blame.
The three retention ponds on the association’s property are maintained and are clean, said Glenn Harshbarger, the BPHOA treasurer and an 11-year Belmont Park resident. The association had also paid to have the drainage ditch cleaned out earlier this year, and yet the flooding continues.
“It definitely seems like a grading issue with the road,” he said by phone. The Imperial Lakes Boulevard slopes downward near the flood-prone area of the roadway and there is a potential for stormwater to linger in front of his subdivision, he said.
PreviouslyImperial Lakes residents fed up with flooding
In KathleenDeveloper tries again for approval of Deeson Road subdivision with fewer homes
Off Lake Hatchineha RoadCreek Ranch developer submits plan for 1,876 homes
“That problem has been happening – from what I’ve been told from residents who have lived there – 30 years,” Harshbarger said. “It was initially blamed on Belmont Park, and that was the exact reason we got that cleaned out so we could show proof to the county that that part of the ditch was cleaned out, it’s not our issue.”
Harshbarger said he is glad residents are attending county meetings and photographing and taking videos of the flooding because his neighborhood is also impacted negatively by flooding.
“This is a county issue through and through, and it is on them to fix,” he said.
Another resident who spoke at the county meeting, David Kolodziej, 64, of Old Colony Road said there is a nearly 1,000-feet drainage pond behind his and his neighbors' homes that has not been maintained in at least seven years.
"We have another hurricane and we're in trouble," said Kolodziej, who has lived in his home for 27 years. He said recent floodwaters have reached the back tires of his car while it is parked in his driveway.
"It's never been like that, never," he said by phone Thursday.
On a drive through Belmont Park, he added, their retention ponds are all cleaned out just as Harshbarger said. But the retention pond behind his house remains choked with muck and weeds. The association used to spray the retention area but no longer does that.
"I just found out Belmont owns it," Kolodziej said, who has checked with the Polk County Property Appraisers maps that show the unmaintained retention pond is within the association's property.
Harshbarger referred further comment to John Hall at the Lakeland-based Polk Community Association Management, the property owner. A phone message left for Hall on Thursday was not returned by deadline.
Commission Chairman George Lindsey told the residents at the meeting in Bartow on Tuesday that the county was aware of the flooding issue and there was a longer-term solution in the works.
“This community was developed over 50 years ago, and the standard then was certainly not the standard we hold people to today,” Lindsey said.
He hoped permitting and engineering and then construction for the long-term fix could be expedited. The current timeframe is 18 months to finish the project once it starts.
Jay M. Jarvis, Polk County’s director of roads and drainage, has told Pezzani via email that there is a $15 million Imperial Lakes Boulevard Drainage Improvement project in the works to address stormwater issues in the housing development.
Jarvis also said there were no short term “fixes to address this flooding.”
"We have contacted one of the HOA Property Management Companies about cleaning out a portion of the drainage ditch that goes from Imperial Lakes Blvd to the west and an old pond that is on their property as well," Jarvis added in an email on Wednesday.
"It is my opinion that the cleaning of these drainage facilities will not address the type of storm events that flood the roadway but could provide some relief for smaller storm events," he said.
Jarvis also shared drawings of the proposed concept plan that showed the addition of a second concrete pipe for drainage from the boulevard to the parcels the county plans to purchase on the east side of Imperial Lakes Boulevard for stormwater management. The drawing notes say the area devoted to water retention would be expanded by more than 10 acres and the capacity of an existing pond would expanded. | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/polk-county-long-term-fix-imperial-lakes-boulevard-flooding/70296993007/ | 2023-06-09T09:35:04 | 1 | https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/polk-county-long-term-fix-imperial-lakes-boulevard-flooding/70296993007/ |
TUPELO – The city of Tupelo has reached a major milestone in energy savings.
This week, the city of Tupelo reached over $1 million in energy savings since the city’s partnership with Schneider Electric began in 2015.
The project began as a way to improve the lighting of the athletic fields around town, and eventually transformed into a citywide parks and recreation upgrade focusing on better and more energy efficient lighting.
Schneider Electric, which has been known to help different cities statewide, presented a plan to the city and gained the partnership.
Even after the presented plan was installed, however, Schneider Electric continued to be a working partner with the city.
“That’s one of the pluses of working with companies like (Schneider Electric),” Don Lewis, Tupelo City Director, said. “They’re not just there for the quick sale. They’re in there for the long haul.”
The savings come from a variety of sources, including a switch to LED lighting for city-owned buildings, changing to more efficient heating and cooling units, and more.
“This was a big push for energy efficiency and lighting efficiency,” Lewis said.
The program and partnership with Schneider Electric continue, and the company makes sure that the changes are maintained and running correctly.
“It’s going to be an ongoing program that we have,” Lewis said.
Based on the success of this program, the city has also been working with Tupelo Water & Light to upgrade street lighting to be more efficient and effective. So far, they have upgraded the lighting on the major streets, and are now working in local neighborhoods.
Newsletters
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request. | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/city-of-tupelo-reaches-1-million-in-energy-savings/article_28871fcc-0628-11ee-9d07-93b2624ab1ba.html | 2023-06-09T09:40:20 | 0 | https://www.djournal.com/news/local/city-of-tupelo-reaches-1-million-in-energy-savings/article_28871fcc-0628-11ee-9d07-93b2624ab1ba.html |
BAM!, Cathy Cowgill Flowers, Stark Humane Society join forces for pet adoption event
- BAM! Healthy Cuisine, Cathy Cowgill Remarkable Flowers and the Stark County Humane Society are joining forces to host a pet adoption event.
- The event will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Jackson location of BAM! Healthy Cuisine.
- Puppies and kittens will be available to adopt, and flowers will be given to the first 50 who adopt or donate.
JACKSON TWP. ‒ Three Stark County businesswomen are joining forces to host BAM!imals, an animal adoption event.
The pet adoption event, a collaboration between BAM! Healthy Cuisine, Cathy Cowgill Remarkable Flowers and the Stark County Humane Society, will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Jackson Township BAM! location, at 7160 Fulton Drive NW.
“We speak for those who cannot speak for themselves,” said Jackie Godbey, executive director of the Stark County Humane Society. “And we’re truly blessed when local businesses like BAM! Healthy Cuisine and Cathy Cowgill Remarkable Flowers make a commitment to do the same.”
The humane society will be on site with puppies and kittens available for adoption. Cathy Cowgill Remarkable Flowers will provide a free bouquet of flowers to the first 50 people who either adopt a pet or make a financial donation to the humane society.
Stark County Humane Society:Agency set to rework its facilities
BAM! will launch its new line of pet-friendly menu items and will provide free pet snack bags during the event, and also will donate a percentage of profits from all food sold during the event to the humane society.
Discount coupons for BAM! and Cathy Cowgill Remarkable Flowers will be available at all three participating organizations’ locations. Cathy Cowgill Remarkable Flowers is at 4315 Hills and Dales Road NW in Plain Township. The Stark County Humane Society is at 5100 Peach St. NE in Nimishillen Township.
“BAM! team members are all animal lovers at heart,” said BAM! Healthy Cuisine co-owner Ashley Fockler-Roberts. “And we’re all committed to getting involved and making a positive impact on the communities we serve. This event is the perfect opportunity to do both.”
Stark County patios:It's patio season. Here are more than 30 to check out in the Stark County area.
Kathy Cowgill, co-owner of Cathy Cowgill Remarkable Flowers, also shares a love of animals and didn’t hesitate to get involved in this event.
“I jump at any opportunity to support the Stark County Humane Society, both personally and professionally,” said Cowgill, who also has adopted several rescue pets from the agency. “So, I didn’t need to think twice when the opportunity to partner with BAM! Healthy Cuisine for the benefit of the humane society presented itself.”
BAM! Healthy Cuisine review:Lots of options to be healthy at BAM! Healthy Cuisine in North Canton | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/06/09/stark-county-businesswomen-join-forces-for-pet-adoption-event/70292563007/ | 2023-06-09T09:53:42 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/06/09/stark-county-businesswomen-join-forces-for-pet-adoption-event/70292563007/ |
A grand jury has indicted two federal Bureau of Prisons employees for allegedly failing to provide medical care for an inmate who had a serious medical emergency and later died at the correctional facility in Petersburg, the Justice Department announced Wednesday .
Lt. Shronda Covington, 47, and registered nurse Tonya Farley, 52, face charges of violating the inmate’s civil rights by showing deliberate indifference to the male inmate’s medical needs at the Federal Correctional Institution at Petersburg in January 2021, a department news release said.
Farley is also charged with writing a false report about the incident. Covington and Farley, both residents of Chesterfield County, are also both charged with making false statements to federal agents.
Records obtained by The Associated Press identified the man who died as Wade Walters. He died on Jan. 10, 2021, with his category of death listed as “cardiac,” but the documents did not specify a cause of death.
The civil rights charges each carry a maximum penalty of life in prison, the false report charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 in prison and each false statement charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
It was not immediately known if the two employees had lawyers who could comment for them.
PHOTOS: Recognize anyone? 30 photos from the Times-Dispatch archives
Bellwood
This November 1947 image shows hangars used by the National Guard and Army in their military flying program at Byrd Field. That year, the city of Richmond held negotiations with the War Assets Administration for the return of the airport, which had been transformed into the Richmond Army Air Base during World War II. When the field was returned to the city, it was more than 850 acres larger than when the federal government took it over.
Times-Dispatch
Virginia State Library reading room, 1977
This February 1977 image shows a reading area at the Virginia State Library. Established in 1823, the library, now known as the Library of Virginia, was housed in the state Capitol or along Capitol Square for more than 150 years - this image was taken in the library’s third location, now known as the Patrick Henry Building. In 1997, the library moved to its fourth and current location at 800 E. Broad St.
Times-Dispatch
Sixth Street Market
In August 1948, the Buyer’s Resistance Group, mostly made up of housewives, had been organizing a boycott of local meat markets, such as this one at the Sixth Street Market in Richmond, to attempt to bring down prices. This image was taken during a normally busy time for the market, which instead was nearly empty. Similar demonstrations were popping up across the nation.
Times-Dispatch
WWII
On Dec. 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, soldiers and sailors were called to return to their bases. This farewell scene in Richmond was a common one around the nation.
Times-Dispatch
ScrapMetal
In June 1941, Richmond firefighters Charles Donnini (from left), I.A. Butler and W.C. Gilman helped collect aluminum from Richmonders. Scrap metal drives were a popular way to support national defense and war preparation efforts.
Times-Dispatch
Fort Lee
In April 1941, the dance floor was full at the newly opened Service Club at Camp Lee in Prince George County. The dance kicked off a series that was to run three times per week, with a different battalion invited each night. About 500 service members and 125 women attended this first dance.
Times-Dispatch
Spirit of '76 locomotive
In August 1971, Allison Bell (left) and Pat Umlauf participated in ceremonies in Richmond unveiling the Seaboard Coast Line’s new locomotive. The Spirit of '76 was set to travel throughout the nation to remind people of America’s upcoming bicentennial celebration.
Times-Dispatch
Cigarettes
This December 1946 image shows a machine at the Philip Morris plant in Richmond that could make as many cigarettes in one minute as a person could hand-roll in one day. Such machines were a key part of the tobacco company’s growth.
Times-Dispatch
Racing
In May 1958, Bill Shockley of Greenville, S.C., spun out in an eight-lap midget auto heat on the half-mile dirt track at the State Fairgrounds. About 1,800 spectators turned out for the day’s racing, which featured a 25-lap final race.
TIMES-DISPATCH
Ginter Park
In June 1950, gleeful children left Ginter Park School in Richmond as they were dismissed for the summer months — though they did need to return a few days later for their report cards.
Times-Dispatch
Arena
In March 1956, a full house at the Arena in Richmond watched the State Group 1 high school basketball tournament. Admission was $1 per game for adults and 50 cents for students. Newport News High School won the tournament.
Times-Dispatch
Charter Change
In October 1947, as Richmonders headed home from work, Thomas Jefferson High School students distributed literature for the Junior Chamber of Commerce promoting the change to a council-manager type of city government. In the next month’s vote, the issue generated a higher turnout than the 1944 presidential election, and the new charter was approved overwhelmingly.
Times-Dispatch
Richmond Home for Boys, 1965
In September 1965, Richmond Home for Boys Assistant Director W.H. Gorman (left) chatted with two residents. In the foreground is the bell that had been used for 70 years to summon young residents. The organization was founded in 1846 as the Richmond Male Orphan Society and moved to its current site on West Broad Street in Henrico County in 1957. It is now known as the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls.
Times-Dispatch
Sixth Street Market
In September 1948, Beverly Horsley, a Miller & Rhoads fashion model, chose vegetables from a lavish display at the Sixth Street Market as part of Style Marches On, a weeklong celebration of new fall fashion in the downtown Richmond retail district.
Times-Dispatch
Ashe
In January 1971, Richmond native and tennis star Arthur Ashe conducted a clinic at the Valentine Museum in Richmond. The event was sponsored by the museum’s Junior Center and drew 675 youngsters and adults. Ashe, who had just returned from a trip to Africa, answered questions and demonstrated principles of the game.
Times-Dispatch
JFK High
This May 1970 image shows the John F. Kennedy High School rifle team marching on East Grace Street in Richmond. Kennedy merged with Armstrong High in 2004, keeping the Armstrong name.
TIMES-DISPATCH
Grace Street
This November 1926 image shows the view down Grace Street, the “Fifth Avenue of Richmond,” near Third Street downtown. Merchants in the district were anticipating a number of large buildings, including a new Loew’s Theatre, for the thriving thoroughfare.
Times-Dispatch
Civil Rights
In January 1959, protesters marched through the rain to the state Capitol in Richmond to support school integration. In the midst of the state’s Massive Resistance to the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, protests were mounting across Virginia. Richmond schools were not integrated until 1970.
Harold Lafferty
Red Cross cantten class, 1942
In August 1942, members of the canteen class, sponsored by the Richmond chapter of the American Red Cross, finished their course with a demonstration of mass feeding at the Sauer Co. Among those serving were (from left) Mrs. T.V. Adamson, Mrs. Thomas Cook, Mrs. Keeling Sisson and Mrs. Irving Matthews.
Times-Dispatch
Restaurants
In June 1943, the restaurant at a Peoples Drug Store in Richmond was bustling. The chain was founded in 1905 in Alexandria, and by 1943, there were six locations in the Richmond area, plus one in Petersburg. Many of them had lunch counters.
Times-Dispatch
Powell
This June 1970 image shows Bob Powell at his keyboard, high in the grandstand at Parker Field in Richmond. Powell was the organist for the Richmond Braves baseball team from 1964 to 1971. He made special efforts to get to know all the players and come up with a special melody to suit them.
Bill Lane
Agnes
In June 1972, the remnants of Hurricane Agnes brought some of the worst flooding in decades to Richmond, as seen in a watery entrance to Main Street Station downtown. The James River crested at 36.5 feet at the city locks.
TIMES-DISPATCH
Westhampton School
In September 1958, a yard full of bicycles made clear that classes were back in session at Westhampton School. The school dates to 1917; in late 2013, Bon Secours Virginia Health System announced plans to renovate the complex for use as a nursing college and medical imaging school.
Times-Dispatch
Air Raid
In July 1942, Mrs. P.M. Edwards directed a group of women to a shelter during a daylight air raid test in Richmond. She was among the first women to serve as auxiliary wardens during a test.
Times-Dispatch
YMCA
This June 1938 image shows the old YMCA building at Seventh and Grace streets in downtown Richmond. Built in 1908, it was the center of “Y” activities for 30 years. In 1938, it was sold for $300,000, and the YMCA later relocated to West Franklin Street, where it remains. This building was torn down after the sale, and a new one replaced it.
Times-Dispatch
Westhampton
In March 1938, the Westhampton opened on Grove Avenue in Richmond. The newest addition to the Neighborhood Theatres group had one screen and a balcony (which was later converted to a second screen). Admission was 25 cents (20 cents for matinees, and 10 cents for children). Current operator Regal Entertainment Group has announced that the struggling Westhampton will close this year.
Times-Dispatch
Tredegar
In June 1948, Dewey Picklesimer poured molten iron at Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond. Tredegar opened in 1837 and was a major manufacturing center for the Confederacy during the Civil War. It survived the evacuation fire of 1865 and continued as a production facility through most of the 1950s. Today the facility houses the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar.
Times-Dispatch
Railroads
In November 1940, The Richmond News Leader published a photo essay titled “Working … on the railroad,” which featured laborers on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. This image shows motor cars being lifted off the tracks at the end of the day, while the cook in the kitchen car in the background signals that it’s dinnertime.
Times-Dispatch
Armistice Day
In November 1952, Armistice Day ceremonies were held at the old John Marshall High School in Richmond. Today known as Veterans Day, the 1952 events marked the 34th anniversary of the end of World War I. At John Marshall, the school’s band and color guard took part in the service, and wreaths were placed on two plaques bearing names of former students who gave their lives in the two world wars.
Times-Dispatch
Restaurants
In June 1943, the restaurant at a Peoples Drug Store in Richmond was bustling. The chain was founded in 1905 in Alexandria, and by 1943, there were six locations in the Richmond area, plus one in Petersburg. Many of them had lunch counters.
Times-Dispatch | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-courts/grand-jury-indicts-2-petersburg-prison-employees-in-inmates-death/article_90bb417a-058a-11ee-982f-13f0fa21c748.html | 2023-06-09T10:10:54 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-courts/grand-jury-indicts-2-petersburg-prison-employees-in-inmates-death/article_90bb417a-058a-11ee-982f-13f0fa21c748.html |
As word of the shooting outside the Altria Theater after Huguenot High’s graduation ceremony spread through social media, Richmond residents reacted in real-time in the digital community.
One such reaction was from @DJKingCise, a popular account in the local high school sports community.
I’m at Huguenot graduation. There was just a live drive by shooting.
— Young Simba (@DJKingCise) June 6, 2023
At 5:20 p.m., @DJKingCise tweeted: “I’m at Huguenot graduation. There was just a live drive by shooting.”
That tweet came 7 minutes after police said the shooting occurred. The account with display name “Young Simba” called Tuesday the scariest day of his life.
People are also reading…
“Love my city, but today completely shook me,” the account wrote later Tuesday evening. “Seen things I’ll never be able to unsee.”
Love my city, but today completely shook me. Seen things I’ll never be able to unsee.
— Young Simba (@DJKingCise) June 7, 2023
The owner of the account spoke with the Times-Dispatch about his experience on the condition of anonymity for fear of his safety.
“So, after the graduation, this was during the let out,” the account owner began when asked to describe what he saw upon the conclusion of the ceremony.
“So what happened was the graduation had just finished, and all the families and all the guests were leaving the Altria Theater. And they had formed two rows or two isles. So all of the graduates were walking out one by one by one by one.
“At that point, the kids were trying to find their families ... they were looking for their parents, looking for their loved ones.
“I actually don’t think all of the graduates even made it out. And everyone was in a big semi-circle, like, it probably was 300 to 400 people, or 500 people outside the Altria Theater. And then a car just pulls up and just starts letting out shots. ... We just hear loud booms, and everybody just takes off running.”
The owner of the account is not a Huguenot student, but a mentor who attended the graduation to support mentees who were graduating.
“I actually took off running because there was this big crowd of people, like anyone could have got hit. And then initially there was like a second wave of running and chaos and I’m not sure what exactly happened, just saw people running.
“So I actually ran into the Altria Theater, and there was a big stampede almost. I saw grandmothers and mothers getting pushed over and ran over, people were scared, screaming, crying. It was just like mayhem because no one knew what was going on.
“But it was just very scary times.”
Another prominent local Twitter account, @zyndoa, tweeted a collection of photos and videos from the aftermath of the shooting late Tuesday evening.
🧵 Today was a day that I will never forget.
— Zyn (@zyndoa) June 7, 2023
You see on the news talks about school shootings all the time, albeit this was not IN a school, it was my old high-schools graduation.
Below are some SFW scenes from tonight. #Richmond // #RichmondVA // #RichmondShooting pic.twitter.com/kvZyzvDSlz
The owner of the account, Evan Dwyer, is a former Huguenot High student who had a close friend at the graduation ceremony and headed toward Altria Theater from a restaurant on Broad Street about 20 minutes after the shooting.
“When I got the notification about it and heard the VCU sirens go off ... I didn’t think it was a tornado or anything. I was like, ‘What is going on?’” said Dwyer, a photographer and videographer.
“I first tried to ask officers where I can go. I felt like it was a good idea to try and capture what was going on so people can understand.
“There was a lot of police, a lot of roads blocked and a lot of confusion across the board. I feel like some of the cops were confused about what was going on as well, nothing had been thoroughly communicated yet other than there was a shooting.”
Dwyer knows teachers, administrators and guidance counselors at the high school where he spent his sophomore and junior years in 2015 and 2016.
“They were kind of in my mind. And of course the students,” he said.
“I didn’t know any of them directly but of course they were in my thoughts. It’s graduation, it’s the start of your real life, the start of being an adult. A lot of responsibility comes with that, and everybody was excited to finally take that step into adulthood.
“Sadly, a son and his dad ... that’s insane. I’m glad more people weren’t hurt. Hundreds of people had congregated, and with the amount of shots that people were saying there were, I’m glad it wasn’t worse but I’m very much surprised it wasn’t.”
One of Dwyer’s best friends was at the ceremony inside the Altria for his brother’s graduation. The two texted in the evening following the shooting, and Dwyer said his friend, who was about 75 feet from the shooting when it occurred, is still processing what happened.
“Entire families, newborns. A 9-year-old got hit by a car. Every type of person and age ... this could be the first time someone in that family graduated,” Dwyer said.
“This could be huge for them. And to have it uprooted by someone who isn’t even from the city, from the high school, has no connection whatsoever beyond being friends or whatever the situation was with that individual, and then ruined it for so many people.
“Even with some of the answers, people are still confused and lost. This isn’t Richmond. A lot of beef that there is in the communities is handled in the communities. This is incredibly out of the norm.”
Richmond graduation mass shooting: Complete coverage
This is continuing Times-Dispatch coverage of a shooting that killed two after a Richmond high school graduation ceremony.
Four days after a deadly shooting took place at the Altria Theater, performances are still planned at the theater for this weekend.
This is continuing coverage from The Times-Dispatch of Tuesday's shooting in Monroe Park.
• Richmond graduation mass shooting: Complete coverage
• Graduate, father killed in shooting after Richmond commencement ceremony
• Shooting after graduation ceremony ignites fresh anger about gun violence
• Tuesday shooting was 2nd at school-related event this year in Richmond
• Timeline: What happened after the Huguenot High School graduation
Seven people were shot — two fatally — Tuesday evening outside the Altria Theater in Richmond, following Huguenot High School's graduation ceremony. Here's what we know right now.
This is continuing coverage from The Times-Dispatch of Tuesday's shooting in Monroe Park.
• Richmond graduation mass shooting: Complete coverage
• Graduate, father killed in shooting after Richmond commencement ceremony
• Shooting after graduation ceremony ignites fresh anger about gun violence
• Tuesday shooting was 2nd at school-related event this year in Richmond
• Timeline: What happened after the Huguenot High School graduation
18-year-old Shawn Jackson struggled in school, said Huguenot High School Principal Robert Gilstrap. But despite that, he graduated Tuesday afternoon.
A day set aside for pomp and circumstance ended with two dead, a woman mourning her husband and her son, and a public outcry against gun violence.
In a new statement Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears says "the one that pulled the trigger is ultimately responsible for his heinous actions."
Protestors gathered and were joined by Second District Council Member Katherine Jones in front of the Virginia State Capitol following the rec…
Graduation had ended, and the nearly 300 students exited the theater onto the street. Then Fabiola Chesnut heard about 10 gunshots in rapid succession.
Huguenot High School graduation before the shooting.
Richmond Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras didn't know Shawn Jackson well, he said in a joint press briefing with Mayor Levar Stoney and Acting Police Chief Rick Edwards Wednesday morning at Richmond Police Department headquarters on Grace Street.
This is continuing coverage from The Times-Dispatch of Tuesday's shooting in Monroe Park.
• Shooting after graduation ceremony ignites fresh anger about gun violence
• Tuesday shooting was 2nd at school-related event this year in Richmond
• Timeline: What happened after the Huguenot High School graduation
• In their words: How elected officials are reacting
• City, school officials speak following Monroe Park violence
• 'Who is in charge?' says Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears
• Video: Police respond to shooting near Altria Theater
• Photos: Shooting after Huguenot High School graduation ceremony
Tuesday's shooting outside the Huguenot High School graduation ceremony was the second to occur at a Richmond public school function this year.
The shooting left two dead and five more injured, one with life-threatening conditions.
GOP Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Democrats clashed on social media after she made comments in the wake of a shooting following a Richmond graduation ceremony.
Officials reacted Tuesday to a shooting in Richmond following a high school graduation ceremony:
Interim Chief Edwards, Mayor Stoney and Superintendent Kamras speak following shooting outside Altria Theater
Police respond to shooting near Altria Theater
"Please know that you are not alone and that there are so many people here for you."
Henrico County Public Schools continue to hold graduation ceremonies after the shooting tragedy at Altria Theatre. Families at Thursday's Highland Springs ceremony said they were determined to enjoy the day.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., included a ban on assault rifles - as well as gun safety measures that Virginia already adopted - in a broader new legislative package.
Days after tragedy and chaos ensued just few feet away, solidarity and candlelight illuminated Monroe Park. | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime/shooting-huguenot-altria-theater-high-school-reaction-twitter/article_1cbe678c-0578-11ee-8293-db1d9072b663.html | 2023-06-09T10:11:00 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime/shooting-huguenot-altria-theater-high-school-reaction-twitter/article_1cbe678c-0578-11ee-8293-db1d9072b663.html |
In the wake of Tuesday night's fatal shooting at the Altria Theater, many students and their families are experiencing a myriad of emotions.
William Fox Elementary hasn't had a normal year since before COVID-19. Last year, a devastating fire impacted the school. This year, parents and students were looking forward to celebrating the end of a "normal year," when school was canceled for the last three days due to the shooting.
"People lost their lives, and that is just feeling too much like the new normal," Katie Ricard, a Fox mom said about having to explain to her kids why school was canceled.
This is continuing coverage from The Times-Dispatch of Tuesday's shooting in Monroe Park.
• Richmond graduation mass shooting: Complete coverage
• Graduate, father killed in shooting after Richmond commencement ceremony
• Shooting after graduation ceremony ignites fresh anger about gun violence
• Tuesday shooting was 2nd at school-related event this year in Richmond
• Timeline: What happened after the Huguenot High School graduation
Ricard, a former high school administrator in Chesterfield, knows the effort put into getting students their diplomas and what should have been a joyous occasion for the Huguenot students -- a generation that has already experienced loss and a disruption in education during COVID-19, Ricard said.
People are also reading…
"It really breaks my heart that this day was marred by tragedy for them," Ricard said.
Other students, like Jude Shelton-Eide, 14, and Maya Weinstein, 13, who recently graduated from Binford Middle School in Richmond, expressed sadness, fear and anxiety in response to Tuesday's shooting.
"I think it’s really awful and it's so sad," Shelton-Eide said. She mentioned another 13-year-old boy at her school who was killed outside of school grounds in an accidental shooting earlier this year. "It's scary and terrifying. More kids are being shot. Whenever you hear a big bang or something, you always think, is it a gun?"
Shelton-Eide said that she had visited the Altria Theater last week to see "Hadestown." "It's definitely nerve-wracking to think, could that have been me?"
"There are so many school shootings around the U.S. now. It's really scary and it makes it hard to want to go to school without being scared," Weinstein said.
Both Weinstein and Shelton-Eide said that they were relieved they didn't have to finish out the school year this week and that their graduation, which was held earlier this week, wasn't impacted.
Dr. Anjali Ferguson is a clinical psychologist specializing in trauma-informed care who treats children and families. Traumatic events like the shooting can have a wide range of impact, whether a child or young adult experienced the trauma first hand or seeing the events happen in their communities, Ferguson said.
These impacts can include changes in sleep, appetite, mood or in behaviors such as anxiety, anger, avoidance and frustration. Trauma may also impact the ability to focus or interfere with one's interpersonal relationships. Children and young adults may no longer feel a desire to be out in public spaces due to not feeling safe in them anymore, Ferguson said.
Some consequences may be physical. Ferguson said science has observed cumulative trauma resulting in toxic stress, which in the long term may lead to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, or alcoholism.
Marginalized communities are at greater risk for experiencing different types of toxic stressors. A lot of it is due to systemic inequalities and systemic racism, along with disparities in resources available, Ferguson said.
"Our marginalized communities are experiencing a greater need and that disparity is just growing," Ferguson said. "The gaps are widening."
Ferguson said parents must have conversations with their kids about what they've seen or heard. Richmond is a strong community that will need to work through these issues and do it together, she said.
"It's not necessarily a mental health issue, it's an access to firearms issue," Ferguson said. "If you ask any mental health expert, they will outline steps that we can take from a policy standpoint and legislative standpoint that would help minimize these risks significantly for our communities."
Gabriela de Camargo Gonçalves (804) 649-6123
gdecamargogoncalves@timesdispatch.com
@decamgabriela on Twitter | https://richmond.com/news/local/huguenot-shooting-familie-emotions/article_b807f8d2-0624-11ee-8dc7-ab5d7bb48d2a.html | 2023-06-09T10:11:06 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/huguenot-shooting-familie-emotions/article_b807f8d2-0624-11ee-8dc7-ab5d7bb48d2a.html |
Richmond is feeling the buzz a little extra this summer thanks to the increase in bee swarms.
Steve White, vice president of programs and swarm dispatcher for Richmond Beekeepers Association, said he's taken over 200 calls so far this year as compared to fewer than 70 last year.
Typically, swarm season starts at the beginning of April and lasts approximately four to six weeks, White said. This is around the time when flowers — which are bees' primary source of food — begin to bloom.
Early spring is also when honeybees begin reproduction and, as colonies grow and hives become more crowded, bees divide colonies in a process called swarming.
But this year, White started getting calls about honeybee swarms in natural settings like trees and bushes as early as mid-February. As the season continues, honeybees will migrate into people’s homes and other structures like chimneys and decks.
This surge in swarms is primarily weather-related, because the warmer-than-average winter has caused swarm season to start weeks earlier than usual, White said.
“The weather this year has been strange,” White said. “It was like a switch went off and I started receiving six or seven calls a day … I still get calls almost every day.”
Wokaty also said that there has been a unique pattern of about one day of rain followed by several days of sunshine this year, which is a welcome change for the bees because it boosts their food production.
With more food comes more swarms, and the surge in swarms this year has left beekeepers scrambling to provide the correct amount of space in boxes and honeycombs for bees, Wokaty said.
But Virginia is not the only place buzzing. Other areas across the U.S. like Pennsylvania and parts of the U.K. have reported similar swarming patterns this year. Last month, a volunteer police officer responding to a report of a bee swarm in Los Angeles was hospitalized after getting stung numerous times on his face and collapsing onto the street.
While some may wish the honeybees would stick to beeswax as opposed to their homes, White noted that, unlike hornets, wasps and yellow jackets, honeybees will not usually sting people and they actually play an important role in maintaining food supply.
This spike in swarms is even sweeter because it shows honeybee populations are bouncing back after declining over the past several years, White said.
White advised that anyone who comes across a swarm should leave the bees alone and contact their local beekeeper association to have it properly removed.
In May 1953, students at the York County Training School for Negroes had to attend class in school buses after a fire that week destroyed the school’s 11-room main building near Yorktown. Five classes were held on buses and three in small buildings that were saved from the flames.
In November 1982, a crowd filled Regency Square mall for the first day of Sunday store openings in Henrico County. Before the Sunday closing law, or so-called blue law, was formally repealed by the Board of Supervisors, Henrico residents — who in a referendum that month voted in favor of repeal — had to travel to surrounding localities to shop on a Sunday.
In March 1959, visitors at the Richmond Boat Show inspected a new cruiser, a sort of floating camper, during the five-day event at the State Fairgrounds in Henrico County. It was considered to be the first strictly marine show to be held in Richmond.
In August 1971, members of Camp Willow Run gathered outside their dormitories, which were former train boxcars. The railroad-themed camp, on a Lake Gaston peninsula in Littleton, N.C., is still run by Youth Camps for Christ Inc. The dining hall, modeled after an 1890 train depot and built from plans furnished by the Southern Railway Co., was the focal point of activities.
In July 1963, John Adam, director of talking books for the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London, visited Richmond and showed Virginia Library for the Blind employee Mrs. Richard V. Carter a new cassette system for recording and reproducing audio tapes of books. Using a federal grant and tapping into British expertise, the Virginia library was testing the system, whose cassettes offered more capacity and lasted longer than old discs used by blind patrons.
This September 1953 image shows the canal locks in downtown Richmond between 14th and Pear streets. After their installation and later refurbishment in the mid-19th century, the locks increased boat traffic and allowed for easier transport of goods to and from the city.
In September 1935, a small group of men, part of a larger army of workers and 70 trucks, reinforced dikes with sandbags to protect the 5-mile area controlled by Richmond’s Shockoe Creek Pumping Station from flooding caused by a severe storm.
In July 1977, Christine Bunce, a student at Manchester High School in Chesterfield County, worked in the Chippenham Hospital gift shop in Richmond as a volunteer. The nickname “candy striper” came from the red-and-white striped aprons worn traditionally by volunteers.
In April 1976, men tended to the roasting planks at the 28th annualshad planking in Wakefield, an event in Sussex County that lured politicians, reporters, campaign workers and others to kick off the electoral season. Sponsored by the Wakefield Ruritan Club, the event historically was a function of the state’s Democrats, but it evolved into a bipartisan tradition.
In October 1941, babies slept in the nursery at Brookfield, located on West Broad Street in Henrico County. The home for unwed mothers was the successor to Spring Street Home in Richmond’s Oregon Hill area, which was established in 1874 by the Magdalen Association to help single women and their children.
In April 1979, the St. Mary’s Hospital Orchestra rehearsed in the hospital auditorium in Henrico County. The orchestra, which formed in 1966 and initially consisted of staff doctors and hospital employees, performed several public concerts a year at the hospital.
In May 1950, motorcyclists raced in the 10-Mile National Motorcycle Championship at the Atlantic Rural Exposition grounds in Henrico County. The winner was “Little Joe” Weatherly of Norfolk, who later turned to stock car racing and won NASCAR titles in the 1960s before being killed in a race accident in Riverside, Calif., in 1964.
In July 1954, Kitty Liles performed with her band. Liles had played the drums for years, starting when she was a student at Varina High School in the 1940s. In 1954, Liles was using money from her gigs around Richmond to pay for her pursuit of a social work degree at Richmond Professional Institute.
In September 1948, Richmond actress, singer and national radio show host Patsy Garrett greeted a friend downtown during her visit here. Garrett was known for her time on Fred Waring’s “Pleasure Time” radio show in the 1940s and for her recurring film and television roles in “Nanny and the Professor,” “Room 222” and the “Benji” movie series.
In September 1985, NASCAR Cup driver Kyle Petty inspected his wrecked Ford Thunderbird after a practice session at the half-mile Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway during the Wrangler 400. Petty’s car hit Dale Earnhardt’s, with Petty getting the worst of it.
In March 1969, balmy weather drew a large crowd to Monroe Park in downtown Richmond. A small band joined the gathering, serenading visitors as spring arrived.
In April 1968, David Long manned the bar at an exhibit at a Virginia Restaurant Association convention, and Barbara Ann Brigel took a spot along the brass rail. That year, the General Assembly allowed liquor by the drink to become a local option in Virginia.
In June 1941, Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech was re-enacted at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Church Hill in Richmond as part of its bicentennial celebration. Construction of the church, built on land donated by city founder William Byrd II, was completed in June 1741.
In May 1942, actress-singers Dorothy Lamour (center), Patsy Garrett (at left) and actor Bert Lytell (at right) visited Richmond as part of a rally to stimulate sales of war bonds and stamps. They stood under a “Welcome to Richmond” sign and were flanked by Malcolm Bridges (left), the executive secretary of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, and Ship Ahoy Girls Jetsy Parker and Dorothy Schoemer. The rally drew more than 5,000 people.
This 1966 image of a quiet night on Franklin Street in downtown Richmond was captured by Times-Dispatch photographer David Harvey, who became renowned for his National Geographic magazine work and has received national awards. His photographs have been exhibited nationwide, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts locally.
In June 1977, John Stevens and his long-eared assistant performed a magic trick. Known as Nabis the Magician, Stevens was among the Richmonders in the International Brotherhood of Magicians. The local chapter had 25 members who met regularly to discuss their craft.
In January 1970, Virginia Gov. Mills E. Godwin Jr. received his final salute from state police as he and his wife, Katherine, left the Executive Mansion in Richmond en route to the inauguration of A. Linwood Holton Jr. Godwin, then a Democrat, returned as governor four years later as a Republican.
In June 1968, Toru Yanagida (left) and Ken Seguchi posed at Hillcrest Dairy in Crewe, in Nottoway County. They were learning American farming techniques from the dairy farm’s owners, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Johnson, who were their sponsors. Seguchi was a dairy farmer from Gifu, Japan, and Yanagida was a student in a college horticulture program in Hokkaido.
In May 1973, local Scouts assembled their tents amid exhibits at the daylong Scout-O-Rama at the State Fairgrounds in Henrico County. In addition to traditional skills of woodcraft, wilderness survival, camping and cooking, the event highlighted Scouting’s growing attention to archaeology, seamanship, aviation, metal detection, TV and space technology, among other topics. More than 2,000 Cub and Boy Scouts attended the event that year.
In June 1977, a crowd lined up for drinks and barbecue chicken at the Virginia Chicken Festival in Crewe, a town in Nottoway County southwest of Richmond. Held on the pavilion grounds of the Southside Electric Cooperative, the annual affair was sponsored by the Burkeville Ruritan Club and the Crewe Kiwanis Club. It attracted state and local politicians — including gubernatorial nominees John Dalton and Henry Howell — among the more than 3,500 attendees that year.
In February 1973, prisoners at the Virginia State Penitentiary made and stacked license plates. The pen was along Spring Street at Second Street in downtown Richmond. A print shop, metal shop, textile plant, leather shop and woodworking area offered vocational training to prisoners. Today the site is largely occupied by Afton Chemical Corp., a unit of NewMarket Corp.
In November 1951, workers constructed a new lane on Monument Avenue in Henrico County. The truck was occupying what used to be the front yard of a house in the 6500 block. The road was being widened for divided lane traffic in the block between Bevridge Road and Roxbury Road.
In May 1953, students at the York County Training School for Negroes had to attend class in school buses after a fire that week destroyed the school’s 11-room main building near Yorktown. Five classes were held on buses and three in small buildings that were saved from the flames.
times-dispatch
In November 1982, a crowd filled Regency Square mall for the first day of Sunday store openings in Henrico County. Before the Sunday closing law, or so-called blue law, was formally repealed by the Board of Supervisors, Henrico residents — who in a referendum that month voted in favor of repeal — had to travel to surrounding localities to shop on a Sunday.
times-dispatch
In March 1959, visitors at the Richmond Boat Show inspected a new cruiser, a sort of floating camper, during the five-day event at the State Fairgrounds in Henrico County. It was considered to be the first strictly marine show to be held in Richmond.
TIMES-DISPATCH
In August 1971, members of Camp Willow Run gathered outside their dormitories, which were former train boxcars. The railroad-themed camp, on a Lake Gaston peninsula in Littleton, N.C., is still run by Youth Camps for Christ Inc. The dining hall, modeled after an 1890 train depot and built from plans furnished by the Southern Railway Co., was the focal point of activities.
TIMES-DISPATCH
In July 1963, John Adam, director of talking books for the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London, visited Richmond and showed Virginia Library for the Blind employee Mrs. Richard V. Carter a new cassette system for recording and reproducing audio tapes of books. Using a federal grant and tapping into British expertise, the Virginia library was testing the system, whose cassettes offered more capacity and lasted longer than old discs used by blind patrons.
Times-Dispatch
This September 1953 image shows the canal locks in downtown Richmond between 14th and Pear streets. After their installation and later refurbishment in the mid-19th century, the locks increased boat traffic and allowed for easier transport of goods to and from the city.
Times-Dispatch
In September 1935, a small group of men, part of a larger army of workers and 70 trucks, reinforced dikes with sandbags to protect the 5-mile area controlled by Richmond’s Shockoe Creek Pumping Station from flooding caused by a severe storm.
Times-Dispatch
In July 1977, Christine Bunce, a student at Manchester High School in Chesterfield County, worked in the Chippenham Hospital gift shop in Richmond as a volunteer. The nickname “candy striper” came from the red-and-white striped aprons worn traditionally by volunteers.
Times-Dispatch
In April 1976, men tended to the roasting planks at the 28th annualshad planking in Wakefield, an event in Sussex County that lured politicians, reporters, campaign workers and others to kick off the electoral season. Sponsored by the Wakefield Ruritan Club, the event historically was a function of the state’s Democrats, but it evolved into a bipartisan tradition.
TIMES-DISPATCH
In October 1941, babies slept in the nursery at Brookfield, located on West Broad Street in Henrico County. The home for unwed mothers was the successor to Spring Street Home in Richmond’s Oregon Hill area, which was established in 1874 by the Magdalen Association to help single women and their children.
Times-dispatch
In April 1979, the St. Mary’s Hospital Orchestra rehearsed in the hospital auditorium in Henrico County. The orchestra, which formed in 1966 and initially consisted of staff doctors and hospital employees, performed several public concerts a year at the hospital.
Times-dispatch
In May 1950, motorcyclists raced in the 10-Mile National Motorcycle Championship at the Atlantic Rural Exposition grounds in Henrico County. The winner was “Little Joe” Weatherly of Norfolk, who later turned to stock car racing and won NASCAR titles in the 1960s before being killed in a race accident in Riverside, Calif., in 1964.
Times-Dispatch
In July 1954, Kitty Liles performed with her band. Liles had played the drums for years, starting when she was a student at Varina High School in the 1940s. In 1954, Liles was using money from her gigs around Richmond to pay for her pursuit of a social work degree at Richmond Professional Institute.
times-dispatch
In September 1948, Richmond actress, singer and national radio show host Patsy Garrett greeted a friend downtown during her visit here. Garrett was known for her time on Fred Waring’s “Pleasure Time” radio show in the 1940s and for her recurring film and television roles in “Nanny and the Professor,” “Room 222” and the “Benji” movie series.
Times-Dispatch
In September 1985, NASCAR Cup driver Kyle Petty inspected his wrecked Ford Thunderbird after a practice session at the half-mile Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway during the Wrangler 400. Petty’s car hit Dale Earnhardt’s, with Petty getting the worst of it.
1985, Times-Dispatch
In March 1969, balmy weather drew a large crowd to Monroe Park in downtown Richmond. A small band joined the gathering, serenading visitors as spring arrived.
Bob Brown
In April 1968, David Long manned the bar at an exhibit at a Virginia Restaurant Association convention, and Barbara Ann Brigel took a spot along the brass rail. That year, the General Assembly allowed liquor by the drink to become a local option in Virginia.
Times-dispatch
In June 1941, Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech was re-enacted at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Church Hill in Richmond as part of its bicentennial celebration. Construction of the church, built on land donated by city founder William Byrd II, was completed in June 1741.
times-dispatch
In July 1979, two boys walked along the rocks in the James River near the Lee Bridge in Richmond.
times-dispatch
In May 1942, actress-singers Dorothy Lamour (center), Patsy Garrett (at left) and actor Bert Lytell (at right) visited Richmond as part of a rally to stimulate sales of war bonds and stamps. They stood under a “Welcome to Richmond” sign and were flanked by Malcolm Bridges (left), the executive secretary of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, and Ship Ahoy Girls Jetsy Parker and Dorothy Schoemer. The rally drew more than 5,000 people.
Times-Dispatch
This 1966 image of a quiet night on Franklin Street in downtown Richmond was captured by Times-Dispatch photographer David Harvey, who became renowned for his National Geographic magazine work and has received national awards. His photographs have been exhibited nationwide, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts locally.
Times-Dispatch
In June 1977, John Stevens and his long-eared assistant performed a magic trick. Known as Nabis the Magician, Stevens was among the Richmonders in the International Brotherhood of Magicians. The local chapter had 25 members who met regularly to discuss their craft.
times-dispatch
In January 1970, Virginia Gov. Mills E. Godwin Jr. received his final salute from state police as he and his wife, Katherine, left the Executive Mansion in Richmond en route to the inauguration of A. Linwood Holton Jr. Godwin, then a Democrat, returned as governor four years later as a Republican.
Times-dispatch
In July 1961, two men fished for bluegills in Chickahominy Lake, a large water-supply reservoir along the New Kent-Charles City county line.
Times-dispatch
In June 1968, Toru Yanagida (left) and Ken Seguchi posed at Hillcrest Dairy in Crewe, in Nottoway County. They were learning American farming techniques from the dairy farm’s owners, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Johnson, who were their sponsors. Seguchi was a dairy farmer from Gifu, Japan, and Yanagida was a student in a college horticulture program in Hokkaido.
TIMES-DISPATCH
In May 1973, local Scouts assembled their tents amid exhibits at the daylong Scout-O-Rama at the State Fairgrounds in Henrico County. In addition to traditional skills of woodcraft, wilderness survival, camping and cooking, the event highlighted Scouting’s growing attention to archaeology, seamanship, aviation, metal detection, TV and space technology, among other topics. More than 2,000 Cub and Boy Scouts attended the event that year.
TIMES-DISPATCH
In June 1977, a crowd lined up for drinks and barbecue chicken at the Virginia Chicken Festival in Crewe, a town in Nottoway County southwest of Richmond. Held on the pavilion grounds of the Southside Electric Cooperative, the annual affair was sponsored by the Burkeville Ruritan Club and the Crewe Kiwanis Club. It attracted state and local politicians — including gubernatorial nominees John Dalton and Henry Howell — among the more than 3,500 attendees that year.
times-dispatch
In February 1973, prisoners at the Virginia State Penitentiary made and stacked license plates. The pen was along Spring Street at Second Street in downtown Richmond. A print shop, metal shop, textile plant, leather shop and woodworking area offered vocational training to prisoners. Today the site is largely occupied by Afton Chemical Corp., a unit of NewMarket Corp.
TIMES-DISPATCH
In November 1951, workers constructed a new lane on Monument Avenue in Henrico County. The truck was occupying what used to be the front yard of a house in the 6500 block. The road was being widened for divided lane traffic in the block between Bevridge Road and Roxbury Road. | https://richmond.com/news/local/weather/bees-swarm-richmond-weather/article_12b38224-03e6-11ee-9625-4f283d2cfb08.html | 2023-06-09T10:11:12 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/weather/bees-swarm-richmond-weather/article_12b38224-03e6-11ee-9625-4f283d2cfb08.html |
ODESSA, Texas — On Wednesday, a train-vehicle collision happened in Midland, ultimately causing road closures. It’s a scary situation that has been a recent trend in the Permian Basin, but it can easily be avoided as it really comes down to drivers in West Texas simply following traffic signals.
The area has several locations where train tracks are close to intersections, which can create dangerous situations if drivers position themselves poorly.
“The bottom line is that always allow plenty of distance between your vehicle and the tracks," said Corporal Steve LeSueur, Public Information Officer for the Odessa Police Department. "Even if the light’s red and the train’s not coming, never park your vehicle over the tracks. There’s a reason why you have to stay back as far as possible.”
Crossing train tracks can result in frightening situations, particularly at intersections in the Permian Basin where traffic backs up.
“Don’t ever stop on the tracks," said Steven Blanco, a Sergeant with the Texas Department of Public Safety. "So, traffic backs up, they’re having to wait at the intersection for traffic to clear, they have their trailer on the tracks – or partially on the tracks – and they’re sitting there for several minutes at a time, and now, here comes a train. And they can’t go forward because traffic’s in front, they can’t back up, and now the vehicles on the tracks, resulting in a train-vehicle collision.”
Drivers also try to beat the train to the intersection, which causes collisions as well. In West Texas, these types of train-vehicle accidents are more common.
“Speaking with my partners at the railroad Union Pacific, this is one of their areas they have a lot of train-vehicle collisions – Midland-Odessa-West Texas area," said Blanco. "I think this is a situation that’s contributed to by the general poor driving that we see in West Texas.”
Even if the crossing gates are up, it’s worth looking both ways just in case a train is coming. Paying attention to traffic signs and using caution will allow the area between railroad tracks and roadway to operate smoothly.
“Always stop at those intersections when the crossing arms are lowered," said Blanco. "Do not drive around the lowered gates. Always follow the traffic signals, so, obviously, when a train is approaching those intersections, the red lights start flashing [and] the arms come down.”
In the event of a driver's vehicle getting stuck on the railroad tracks with a train coming, the driver should abandon the vehicle, get to safety and call 9-1-1. The train always has the right-of-way, so when the railroad crossing signs activate, it’s on the driver to yield and keep everyone safe. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/avoiding-train-vehicle-collisions/513-48401a3c-3c10-4349-88dd-157a3e437960 | 2023-06-09T10:19:28 | 0 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/avoiding-train-vehicle-collisions/513-48401a3c-3c10-4349-88dd-157a3e437960 |
A total of 21 patients registered in Ohio’s medical marijuana program have had their cards revoked or suspended since the program’s start several years ago, and a few Miami Valley dispensaries have been reprimanded by state agencies over the past few years.
This includes a Springfield dispensary that paid a $100,000 fine and had an employee’s license revoked.
These were a few key findings in a Dayton Daily News investigation of how Ohio’s medical marijuana program monitors and regulates medical marijuana patients, dispensaries and physicians licensed to recommend medical marijuana to patients.
The Dayton Daily News investigated oversight of the state’s medical marijuana program as state lawmakers and others propose overhauling how it’s managed, as well as expanding it — possibly to include recreational use.
“Ohio’s medical marijuana program isn’t perfect, but it works,” said Tom Haren, spokesperson of the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. “It shows Ohio can safely regulate the possession and sale of marijuana products.”
Critics of the state’s medical marijuana program voice concerns over the efficacy of cannabis as a treatment option and the regulation of products.
The Dayton Daily News obtained hundreds of documents from a few state agencies to gather details about how regulation works in the medical marijuana program.
Three agencies oversee program
Medical marijuana was legalized in Ohio in 2016, and state officials created the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program to oversee it.
The Ohio Department of Commerce, State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy and State of Ohio Medical Board all play their own roles in the operation of the state’s medical marijuana program.
The state’s commerce department is responsible for looking after cultivators, processors and testing laboratories, while the pharmacy board oversees marijuana retail dispensaries, the registration of medical marijuana patients and caregivers and the approval of new forms of medical marijuana.
The medical board certifies physicians who can recommend medical marijuana to patients, and this board can also add to the list of qualifying conditions.
Dispensaries
Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Control Program has issued nearly 90 operation certificates to dispensaries across the state since its start. Less than 10 of these dispensaries are in Montgomery, Warren and Greene counties. Neighboring Butler County contains five dispensaries, and Clark County is home to two.
The state’s program has seen the sale of 168,045 pounds of plant material — totaling $1.33 billion — as of April this year.
Dispensaries themselves have seen few sanctions since the birth of the state’s medical marijuana program, but the pharmacy board has completed a slew of investigations against dispensary employees, our investigation found.
Employees of medical marijuana dispensaries are granted their own licensing through the state. This license is necessary to obtain and maintain employment at one of Ohio’s dispensaries.
Roughly 20 dispensary employees across the state have been sanctioned in a way that impacted their employee license through the program since 2020.
The most common citation among the state’s dispensaries over the past few years was related to dispensaries with provisional licenses not being operational within 270 days of receiving their license. Dispensaries in Riverside and Beavercreek were fined due to this violation, per medical marijuana control program records.
Provisional licenses are temporary licenses issued to dispensary applicants. Provisional licensees are authorized to begin the process of establishing a dispensary.
In another case in 2020, a Springfield dispensary employee had his key employee license and support employee license revoked following a state investigation. The dispensary where he worked — Terrasana Labs, a dispensary of company Cannamed Therapeutics — settled with the state pharmacy board and agreed to pay $100,000 in fines.
Dayton Daily News reached out to Terrasana Labs and Cannamed Therapeutics for comment but the companies did not respond.
The investigation started after the dispensary ran an internal audit and found a discrepancy in its data in the statewide system that tracks medical inventory, seed to sale. The company contacted the state in May 2020, with an investigator running an inspection of the dispensary the following month.
The inspection found that an employee was reconciling inventory discrepancies after errors in dispensing. This involved the worker manipulating sales of medical marijuana in his reports submitted through the tracking system, according to pharmacy board records.
The employee made several sales to patients between February 2020 to April 2020 where the products sold to them differed from what was logged into the tracking system. He told state investigators that this was done “in an effort to correct” mistakes made in dispensing.
The state pharmacy board found that this employee “engaged in conduct that has a casual connection” to a “substantial discrepancy in a Board audit of medical marijuana.”
Physicians
Physicians cannot legally prescribe medical cannabis, but with certification through the medical marijuana program they can recommend it to patients who have qualifying conditions.
Physicians who apply for the licensing needed to recommend medical marijuana are required by law to complete at least two hours of continuing medical education that will assist in diagnosing qualifying conditions, treating those conditions with medical marijuana and possible drug interactions.
A total of 660 physicians have been issued certificates to recommend medical marijuana since the program’s start. Roughly 220 were listed as active in early June. Out of the more than 200 current certified physicians statewide, 26 call the Miami Valley home.
Under the state program, physicians have given more than 700,000 recommendations of medical marijuana to Ohioans. Patients can receive more than one recommendation, resulting in more than 355,000 registered patients in the state since the program’s birth.
The Dayton Daily News investigation found that no physicians have had their certification to recommend medical marijuana to patients revoked since the program’s start.
A total of 11 physicians — none from the Miami Valley — had their applications for certificates to recommend marijuana denied by the state, however.
In all instances, the physicians had “prior disciplinary history… based in whole or in part on inappropriate prescribing, personally furnishing, dispensing, diverting, administering, supplying or selling a controlled substance or other dangerous drug,” according to a list provided by the state medical board.
Cardholders
Roughly 3% of Ohio’s population is registered in the state’s medical marijuana program. This includes adults and minors who have parent or guardian permission, according to the Medical Marijuana Control Program.
Of the state’s more than 362,000 registered patients, 21,719 are veterans, 22,786 have indigent status and more than 1,316 are faced with a terminal diagnosis, according to program data as of April.
Jonathan Wright, of Montgomery County, said he registered as a patient of Ohio’s program after moving back to the area from Colorado.
He wanted to enroll in Ohio’s program because he was diagnosed with blood cancer and was looking for a sleep aid and something to help him eat. He said he’s struggled with stomach issues all his life and has been on multiple medications to alleviate discomfort.
“I used to think there was a ‘pill for every ill,’” Wright said. “But there were so many side effects.”
He had his virtual consultation at the start of the pandemic, where he sat in his car and talked to a doctor about his health conditions and what symptoms he was hoping to improve. Wright said his doctor walked him through eligibility, what steps he’d need to take to get a card, and even which strains of cannabis would suit him best.
“It was really like going to any other doctor’s appointment,” he said. “And with dispensaries... it’s like a pharmacy, only much better.”
A patient’s registration in the program is valid for one year and must be renewed to continue in the program.
Under current Ohio medical marijuana law, the state pharmacy board is charged with investigating allegations against registered patients and has the authority to revoke, suspend, restrict or refuse to renew their registration.
According to the Ohio Board of Pharmacy, 21 patients have had their registration revoked or suspended since the program’s start.
Reasons for sanctions against patients’ registration vary. Someone registered in the program, for example, can be sanctioned for having more than a 90-day supply of medical marijuana in a 90-day period. Others can have their registration revoked for being found to mislead or falsify their application for the program.
Patients can also surrender their medical marijuana cards — something they’re required to do if their eligible diagnosis is lifted.
Qualifying conditions for Ohio’s medical marijuana program are vast, including HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy and other seizure disorder, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, sickle cell anemia, terminal illnesses and more.
The list could also expand to include conditions like autism spectrum disorder and even opioid use disorder, if pending Ohio legislation passes.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/ohio-medical-marijuana-program-how-many-doctors-dispensaries-patients-have-been-sanctioned/EHP6QKPRRRBBHKWKIJNPBQGOSA/ | 2023-06-09T10:28:38 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/ohio-medical-marijuana-program-how-many-doctors-dispensaries-patients-have-been-sanctioned/EHP6QKPRRRBBHKWKIJNPBQGOSA/ |
Jeff Dunham is bringing his "Still Not Canceled" tour to the Bismarck Event Center at 7 p.m. Oct. 4.
Dunham, a ventriloquist, and his cast of characters will bring a dose of absurdity about the times we live in. Some of the show's content is for mature audiences.
Tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. Monday and are available at www.jeffdunham.com, Etix.com, via phone at 800-514-3849 or in person at the Bismarck Event Center, 315 S. 5th St. | https://bismarcktribune.com/life-entertainment/local/events/comedian-jeff-dunham-announces-bismarck-show/article_16ad3a64-056c-11ee-a0ea-e3e002adb10f.html | 2023-06-09T10:30:01 | 0 | https://bismarcktribune.com/life-entertainment/local/events/comedian-jeff-dunham-announces-bismarck-show/article_16ad3a64-056c-11ee-a0ea-e3e002adb10f.html |
INDIANAPOLIS — For more than a decade, the former site of Central State Hospital looked very uncertain. Now, the Haughville neighborhood is seeing a brand-new development project coming to the west side of Indianapolis — and new is housing is expected to be just the beginning.
Those driving past the former Central State Hospital campus will notice new beginnings.
"It seems like new development is coming alive," Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said.
Fresh dirt, a construction site and groundbreaking Thursday are signs of a new community coming to the historic Haughville campus.
"Indy needs more housing, especially housing that is attainable because it is affordable," Hogsett said.
The Plaza at Central Greens will provide that affordable housing for families. The $36 million investment will include 122 units priced below-market, as well as community service space.
T&H Investments is spearheading this project.
"12,000 people are positively impacted by one project. So, we decided our 10-year goal at T&H is going to be 100 communities, 1 million people impacted," said Jana Hageman of T&H Investments.
Construction is expected to be complete in late 2024, with families moving in the following spring.
"To all of our partners today who brought this vision into being, if I may be so bold to speak on behalf of an entire city, I give you this city's deepest thanks," Hogsett said.
The city is supporting the project, using money from the American Rescue Plan Act. Hogsett said in the next 20 years, the city will save the project $4.5 million in property tax dollars. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/new-housing-development-set-for-former-central-state-hospital-site/531-02e93966-6559-4e84-9ea9-e2a098538f79 | 2023-06-09T10:40:55 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/new-housing-development-set-for-former-central-state-hospital-site/531-02e93966-6559-4e84-9ea9-e2a098538f79 |
Highlights of Gastonia's upcoming budget
The city of Gastonia passed a $296.7 million budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, with a 5-cent decrease in the property tax rate.
The budget passed despite some opposition from residents who spoke during the public comment period. One man said he may have to sell his house because he could not afford the property taxes.
The property tax rate was lowered to 47 cents per $100 of assessed value, 10 cents higher than the rate that would be needed to be revenue neutral.
It is the lowest tax rate the city will have had since the year 2000, officials said, but it comes at a time when property values significantly increased due to a recent revaluation.
The city's proposed budget also included a general fund of $86.6 million, a 15.05% increase from the 2022-2023 fiscal year general fund balance of $81.7 million.
City Manager Michael Peoples said that the budget process this year was challenging.
"It has been challenging, probably more challenging than any of the past budgets that I've been part of. It has probably been scrutinized and questioned thoroughly since it was introduced in March to you," he told the council.
Peoples also highlighted the lower tax rate and the fact that water and sewer fees will remain the same.
City Councilwoman Jennifer Stepp said during the meeting that the property taxes affect council members too. She said the council did not have a choice in when the revaluation took place, who did the appraisal, who handled the appeals, "none of that."
She said she is concerned about residents who are struggling financially.
"I've heard stories of people not being able to buy groceries, medications, or having to move," she said.
She said that when Gastonia City Council was first considering their budget, they thought the property value increase would be less than what it was.
"That has bothered me very much. It's a bad time for everybody right now. None of us can control that," she said. "But I do think that I would like myself personally to work a little harder to find a little more relief for our residents."
City Councilman Robert Kellogg said that the city itself has needs that must be addressed.
"We are facing the need for two fire departments in order to keep us safe, one in the probably right in this area, the central area, the other in the south. We have unprecedented growth. We have roads that we cannot keep pace with, even with the bond referendum that passed," Kellogg said. "It's still not enough money... We face rising challenges with recruitment and retention, especially with our police. We had to invest over $600,000 last year just for recruitment and retention purposes, and we're not out of the woods yet."
He said he also was disappointed when he looked at the numbers.
"But here we are, and I think in order for this city to keep and maintain the services that we need... I will have to vote yes for this," he said.
Councilwoman Donyel Barber stressed that the budget process was complex.
"I don't know about anyone else, but for me, I've had to live with this and practically sleep with this to really understand all the details that go into coming up with this budget," she said. "I commend the staff for all the hard work that you've put in developing this budget."
Stepp, along with Councilman Jim Gallagher, voted against approving the budget. The other four council members voted to approve it.
The budget the council passed also included a 4% cost-of-living salary increase for city employees, as well as a 1% increase for employees who participate in a career development program. | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/gastonia-city-council-passes-city-budget/70298912007/ | 2023-06-09T10:41:01 | 0 | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/gastonia-city-council-passes-city-budget/70298912007/ |
The story behind, and opening of Firehawk Brewpub in Mount Holly
Scott Blackwood can't stay away from the restaurant business.
He started working at restaurants in college. After leaving school during his second semester, he continued the work. Other jobs didn't seem to work out.
"I worked in restaurants for a while, and people in my life, whether it was parents or girlfriends or an ex-wife, would say, 'You need to get a real job,'" he said. "And so I'd leave the restaurant industry and get a 'real job,' and be miserable for a couple years and end up quitting or getting fired. And then I'd end up back in a restaurant."
A little over a decade ago, things changed. His wife, Erin, suggested he stay in the industry.
"She said, 'You know. You're really good at this restaurant work, and it seems to make you happy. Have you ever thought about just sticking with that?'" he said.
And so he did.
Blackwood's newest venture is a culmination of his years in the industry. He recently opened Firehawk Brewpub at 309 North Main St. in Mount Holly, offering a menu of house-made beer and barbecue, and more.
The concept behind Firehawk is straightforward. Blackwood enjoys cooking barbecue at home, and he likes cooking over an open fire.
People also had been asking him for years when he was going to open a restaurant in Mount Holly. Blackwood is from Mount Holly originally, and when he saw that a building that once housed the fire department was available, "It just sort of instantly made sense that we should bring the fire department back to life, and we should put a live fire grill inside the kitchen, and we should do wood fired barbecue."
"This restaurant is for me. This restaurant is for Mount Holly, and so that is kind of where the concept came from. It's a homecoming," he added. "I'm returning to my hometown. I'm returning to the type of food that I cook at home, half a mile from my house… That is kind of the concept, and that's where it came from. It came from here. It came from Mount Holly."
Firehawk is not Blackwood's first business, but he said that it is both the biggest project he has taken on and the most difficult.
"It was the size of it, but more importantly than the size of it, it was the timing," he said.
He left his last restaurant, The Bottle Tree, in Oct. 2021. In Jan. 2022, he was preparing for the Firehawk, but construction and equipment costs had skyrocketed. During the second half of 2022, they had trouble getting materials — an electrical panel he ordered in June didn't show up until January. Because costs were fluctuating so much, it took Blackwood six months to get the loan for the restaurant written and underwritten and the contracts he needed signed.
Despite those early challenges, Firehawk finally opened on May 20. Right now, the restaurant is only open for dinner, but Blackwood hopes to open soon for brunch and lunch. He also eventually plans to have a rotating, eight-draft system of Firehawk's beers, which they brew on-site, on tap.
"I'm trying to give myself like two-week runways, so two weeks of just doing Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, all day Saturday, and then two weeks of adding in Monday and Sunday, and then two weeks of adding in lunch, and then adding in brunch and being full open, so maybe a month and a half," he said. "If we hit our stride and we can make it happen faster we will, but I don't want to push it so hard that the wheels fall off. I'd rather be open half as much and be twice as good."
The grand opening went well, Blackwood said. It was hectic, stressful work, but "incredible."
From 11 a.m. until 9 p.m., around 1,500 people came through the restaurant, and he sold out of barbecue by 6:30 p.m.
"It felt good. It felt real good, actually… Hearing the sounds of laughter and people from the community being together inside the building was exactly what I wanted it to be. So I would say it was wonderful," he said.
Reporter Kara Fohner can be reached at 704-869-1850 or at kfohner@gannett.com. | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/the-story-behind-and-opening-of-firehawk-brewpub-in-mount-holly/70251977007/ | 2023-06-09T10:41:07 | 1 | https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/the-story-behind-and-opening-of-firehawk-brewpub-in-mount-holly/70251977007/ |
Welcome to Food Truck Fridays, a weekly video series about the various and unique food trucks in the Richmond area.
Each week, we will talk to a different owner/chef about their food, history and culture, highlighting their signature dishes and love of food.
This week’s feature dives into the comforting fusion of Caribbean culture and Southern soul food served at Chef Nichole Richardson’s Mobile Yum Yum food truck.
With experience as a private chef, caterer and restaurant manager, Richardson has crafted a unique menu that speaks to her heritage. At a young age, she learned the intricacies of soul food cooking from her grandmother, who has been a light and role model in her life. Later, she began taking trips to Jamaica where she embraced the culture of her ancestors, learning the culinary arts of the Caribbean.
The menu at Mobile Yum Yum features a fusion of the cultures including dishes like the island fries, loaded Caribbean nachos and delicious jerk chicken tacos.
The main event, however, is the famous yum yum rolls — savory egg rolls filled with fried chicken, mac n’ cheese and collard greens, served with the namesake yum yum sauce.
Dishes typically run $7 to $10.
Thursday
Best known as the co-star and co-creator of Comedy Central’s critically-acclaimed sitcom "Broad City," comedian Ilana Glazer makes her way to Dominion Energy Center to bring a dose of laughter to your Thursday night, beginning her East Coast stand-up tour in none other than the RVA. 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m., 600 E. Grace St. $27-$37. (800) 514-3849 or www.etix.com.
Embrace diversity and community at the Multicultural Festival: Imagine 2023, a city effort between departments and the nonprofit Reestablish Richmond, as it heads to Dogwood Dell. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a celebration of different cultures and heritage with traditional dance performances by local immigrant communities, vendors serving cuisines from around the globe, a children’s area with games and more. 11 a.m.-5 pm., 600 S. Arthur Ashe Blvd., free to attend, food available for purchase. (804) 552-5525 or www.reestablishrichmond.org.
Join the Elegba Folklore Society as it hosts Juneteenth 2023, A Freedom Celebration, to remember the impact of enslaved Africans in Virginia, beginning with a torchlit night walk along the Trail of Enslaved Africans and followed by Dancing With the Ancestors, a sacred commemoration featuring a lineup of live music and interactive performances, plus a Freedom Market to shop from, a youth summit, food and more. Torch Lit Night Walk begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, 1308 Brander St., free. Dancing With the Ancestors begins at 4 p.m. on Sunday, 1540 E. Broad St., $5. (804) 644-3900 or www.efsinc.org.
Dust off your wand and head to the Altria Theater as the Richmond Symphony makes the classic wizardly score of “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” come to life in two live performances alongside showings of the film on the big screen. 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., 6 N. Laurel St., tickets start at $52.50. (804) 592-3368 or www.etix.com.
Journey into the heart of India's rich heritage at the Taste of India festival and experience a showcase of cultural dances, music, authentic cuisine, artistic creations, clothing and jewelry from across India as the city gathers to celebrate the culture and traditions of the country and our local Indian community. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., 6641 Ironbridge Pkwy, Chester. Free admission and parking. www.cciva.org.
Top five weekend events: Ilana Glazer, Juneteenth & Taste of India
Get ready to feast on a weekend menu that’s all about one thing: variety. From a symphony of wizardry to a celebration of cultural diversity, RVA’s got festivities to satisfy every craving.
Thursday
Best known as the co-star and co-creator of Comedy Central’s critically-acclaimed sitcom "Broad City," comedian Ilana Glazer makes her way to Dominion Energy Center to bring a dose of laughter to your Thursday night, beginning her East Coast stand-up tour in none other than the RVA. 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m., 600 E. Grace St. $27-$37. (800) 514-3849 or www.etix.com.
Courtesy of the artist
Saturday
Embrace diversity and community at the Multicultural Festival: Imagine 2023, a city effort between departments and the nonprofit Reestablish Richmond, as it heads to Dogwood Dell. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a celebration of different cultures and heritage with traditional dance performances by local immigrant communities, vendors serving cuisines from around the globe, a children’s area with games and more. 11 a.m.-5 pm., 600 S. Arthur Ashe Blvd., free to attend, food available for purchase. (804) 552-5525 or www.reestablishrichmond.org.
Juan Jose Sayago
Saturday and Sunday
Join the Elegba Folklore Society as it hosts Juneteenth 2023, A Freedom Celebration, to remember the impact of enslaved Africans in Virginia, beginning with a torchlit night walk along the Trail of Enslaved Africans and followed by Dancing With the Ancestors, a sacred commemoration featuring a lineup of live music and interactive performances, plus a Freedom Market to shop from, a youth summit, food and more. Torch Lit Night Walk begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, 1308 Brander St., free. Dancing With the Ancestors begins at 4 p.m. on Sunday, 1540 E. Broad St., $5. (804) 644-3900 or www.efsinc.org.
Eva Russo/TIMES-DISPATCH
Saturday
Dust off your wand and head to the Altria Theater as the Richmond Symphony makes the classic wizardly score of “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” come to life in two live performances alongside showings of the film on the big screen. 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., 6 N. Laurel St., tickets start at $52.50. (804) 592-3368 or www.etix.com.
Courtesy of the Harry Potter Film Concert Series
Saturday
Journey into the heart of India's rich heritage at the Taste of India festival and experience a showcase of cultural dances, music, authentic cuisine, artistic creations, clothing and jewelry from across India as the city gathers to celebrate the culture and traditions of the country and our local Indian community. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., 6641 Ironbridge Pkwy, Chester. Free admission and parking. www.cciva.org. | https://richmond.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/richmonds-mobile-yum-yum-food-truck-serves-up-caribbean-eats/article_3962864e-0491-11ee-95b5-9b863c0e8dc2.html | 2023-06-09T11:07:16 | 1 | https://richmond.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/richmonds-mobile-yum-yum-food-truck-serves-up-caribbean-eats/article_3962864e-0491-11ee-95b5-9b863c0e8dc2.html |
TWIN FALLS — Amalgamated Sugar Co. is getting two new buildings, one to house its administrative staff and central laboratory, and another across the street, to be complete in about a month. The buildings expand the company’s research center.
A ribbon cutting Wednesday marked the occasion.
The office building is providing much-needed space and a welcome update for administrative staff, said plant Manager Ian Kihara, The central lab, which will perform testing and quality checks for the sugar factory, is a great improvement.
Sugar content looks a bit down this year.
It’s a “night and day difference,” said Nick Castle, lab services manager. It’s three times as large as the old lab and will allow them to be certified at the highest level.
About 50 employees will work from the office building.
Amalgamated’s investment of millions of dollars for the upgrades shows its dedication to Magic Valley and its employees, Kihara said.
People are also reading…
“We look forward to another 100 years of operation,” Kihara said.
Another building along Orchard Drive will soon provide additional room for its growing research company, Amalgamated Research LLC, or ARi for short.
The majority of its work deals with sugar beet processing, such as getting as much sugar as possible from sugar beets, said Vadim Kochergin, company president, but the company is getting international recognition and has been selling technology to 30 companies for applications including water treatment, dairies and petrochemical industry.
The technologies developed at ARi include high-efficiency separation, mixing, and fluid distribution and collection.
The new building will be completed in about a month and, with the company expected to continue its steady growth, will give it enough room for 10 or 15 years, Kochergin said. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/amalgated-celebrates-construction-of-2-new-buildings/article_938a24c2-062d-11ee-8a8a-7f78a239dfb1.html | 2023-06-09T11:09:08 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/amalgated-celebrates-construction-of-2-new-buildings/article_938a24c2-062d-11ee-8a8a-7f78a239dfb1.html |
This city of 3,000 has a full slate of activities this weekend as residents come together for Filer Fun Days.
It wasn’t always like this.
About five years ago, the annual festivities at the fairgrounds was dying out but a group was formed to kick it back into gear, said Joe Lineberry, chairman of the Filer Events Committee.
Now it’s a full day of family fun, with a parade, food, a veterans tribute, live music and concludes with fireworks that will shoot off at dusk.
The event starts off with a fish fry Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. to raise money for the Filer Fair Foundation’s projects.
Then there is a community breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday at merchant building No. 1, with proceeds benefiting the Filer FFA Chapter.
A parade begins at 11 a.m., leaving from gate No. 2 and winding around city streets before making its way back to the fairgrounds.
People are also reading…
Bryon Hildreth takes the stage at 3:30 and Copperhead at 7 p.m.
Fireworks begin at about 10:15 p.m.
For more information and schedule of events, visit the Filer Events Committee Facebook page. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/filer-fun-days-gets-underway-this-weekend/article_a1eaa522-0624-11ee-bbb6-e37437eba409.html | 2023-06-09T11:09:14 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/filer-fun-days-gets-underway-this-weekend/article_a1eaa522-0624-11ee-bbb6-e37437eba409.html |
South-central and eastern Idaho farmers, who celebrated a heavy winter snowpack followed by a stormy spring as a reprieve from drought, are now finding many of their fields have been hit with too much of a good thing.
University of Idaho agriculture experts offered crop updates during a recent Ag Talk Tuesday online discussion.
Among the reports included observations that have compounded challenges for winter cereal growers.
“The whole area has been shredded with hail damage. A number of winter wheat and winter barley fields were taken out of production for hail damage,” said Juliet Marshall, a University of Idaho professor of plant pathology and head of the Department of Plant Sciences. “We’re looking at yield reductions of 70% easily in some areas.”
In addition, lingering snow cover amid a cool and moist spring created ideal conditions for snow mold to damage winter cereal crops. Snow mold fungi grow at near-freezing conditions under prolonged snow cover, and damage has been extensive in winter wheat, especially in the Arbon and Malad valleys of southeast Idaho.
People are also reading…
Winter kill, due to very cold and dry conditions on exposed winter wheat and barley, has plagued those areas not under snow cover. Ponding of water in low areas also reduced stand in winter crops.
Near Pocatello and Fort Hall in southeast Idaho, symptoms of bacterial infections in wheat are developing. Hail and wind-driven sleet damage plants allowing infection and development of bacterial leaf streak in barley and black chaff in wheat.
Flooding of fields has caused soil erosion and delayed planting in the high-elevation Soda Springs and Antelope areas of eastern Idaho, exacerbated by late snowmelt.
“The area where we were going to plant for a wireworm study has been flooded, and I’m not sure if we’re ever going to get in and plant,” Marshall said, adding that the university’s scheduled field day in the Rockland Valley of southeast Idaho may ultimately be canceled, as there’s little information to glean from the experimental cereal stands due to extensive snow mold damage.
The Rupert winter wheat and winter barley variety trials were plowed under due to winter kill damage in the surrounding field of winter barley.
Triticale fields in southern Idaho were especially hard hit by the winter conditions, with many farmers reporting crop survival of just 10% to 20%.
In northern Idaho, which has received about 3 inches below normal precipitation, Idaho Wheat Commission officials said cereal crops are faring relatively well.
Pamela Hutchinson, UI Extension potato cropping systems weed scientist, has heard several reports from potato farmers throughout southcentral and eastern Idaho regarding foliar damage to spud plants caused by excessive moisture carrying preemergence herbicides too deep into the soil profile. With just 1 or 2 inches of excess rainfall within a two-week period, pre-emergence herbicides may move down to where they’re absorbed by emerging potato shoots rather than the roots of weeds growing within the top 2 inches of the soil, as intended.
The herbicides Matrix and Metribuzin are especially water soluble, but Hutchinson has also received inquiries about potato damage this season from growers who used moderately soluble products such as Prowl H2O, Linex, Eptam, Dual Magnum, Outlook and Sonalan.
Hutchinson has conducted simulated excess rainfall trials at the UI Aberdeen Research and Extension Center to evaluate potential herbicide damage with regular moisture, 3 inches of excess moisture and 6 inches of excess moisture within two weeks of application.
Depending on the chemistry, symptoms of herbicide damage may include crinkled leaves, stunting, blotchy yellow spots, vein chlorosis, stubby roots, thickened stems and heart-shaped leaves.
In Hutchinson’s trials, potato plants typically recover from the damage with time.
“We’ve seen potatoes recover and not have any yield loss because of early herbicide damage,” Hutchinson said.
If moisture moves herbicides so deep in the soil that weeds are not controlled, growers may subsequently apply products labeled for post-emergence use, such as Metribuzin.
Hutchinson said many farmers who recently reported problems in their potatoes used 0.8 inches of water or more to incorporate their preemergence herbicide application into the soil through irrigation or chemigation. She advises using no more than 0.4 inches to 0.6 inches of water for herbicide incorporation, thereby giving growers wiggle room in case of wet weather.
Hutchinson urges growers who have experienced herbicide damage this season to follow their usual irrigation programs based on their soil moisture, recognizing it’s important to avoid further stressing the developing potato plants. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/hailstorms-damage-crops-in-the-magic-valley/article_85c6630a-064b-11ee-9c14-f362e12c2dae.html | 2023-06-09T11:09:21 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/hailstorms-damage-crops-in-the-magic-valley/article_85c6630a-064b-11ee-9c14-f362e12c2dae.html |
Skip to content
Main Navigation
Search
Search for:
Weather
Local
Sports
Entertainment
Investigators
Videos
Newsletters
Live TV
Share
Close
Trending
Watch NBC10 24/7 on Streaming Platforms
Wawa Welcome America
Phillies Baseball
2023 Philly Mayoral Race
Expand
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/gunmen-ambush-man-just-feet-from-his-front-door/3582361/ | 2023-06-09T11:12:46 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/gunmen-ambush-man-just-feet-from-his-front-door/3582361/ |
WATERLOO — Prosecutors said they know how Tamica Allison and her friend, Andrea “Taste” Anderson, were shot to death.
County Attorney Brian Williams also said he knows the “who” part of the case. He alleges it was Allison’s boyfriend, Matthew Dee Buford III, 39, who pulled the trigger in their West Second Street apartment on Feb. 10, 2020. But what remains elusive is why they died.
“The only people who could tell you why are dead in pools of their own blood,” Williams told jurors on Thursday as testimony began in Buford’s trial for two counts of first-degree murder and one count of flight to avoid prosecution.
Following the double slaying, Buford said goodbye to friends and family and traveled to Peoria, Illinois, before eventually turning himself into authorities, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said Buford shot both women shortly before 10 p.m. while Allison’s teen son and daughter were in their rooms upstairs.
People are also reading…
Her daughter, who was 14 years old at the time, recounted how she heard the adults talking downstairs.
She heard her mother say, “What are you going to do, shoot me in the face? I don’t care, I’m not scared.”
That was immediately followed by two gunshots. She noticed that music that had been playing also stopped.
The daughter said she was scared and attempted to wake her older brother.
From the landing, she saw that Buford turned off the light downstairs and walk out of sight. She called out his name.
“Don’t come down here, because I love you,” Buford told her, according to her account.
She came down.
“I saw my mom on her back, and I saw Taste on her side or her stomach, and there was a lot of blood under them. And Matthew was sitting in a chair, and he was holding a gun,” the daughter testified.
She returned upstairs to her brother.
“I told him I think that they are dead … because they weren’t moving and there was a lot of blood,” the daughter said.
That’s when Buford called them downstairs, telling them to bring jackets.
The three of them left through the front door, bypassing the room with the bodies.
He asked the teens where they wanted to go and dropped off the son at a friend’s house, driving off.
According to the daughter, they then drove around. Buford went to visit his own children at their mother’s house, waking them to give hugs but not offering any explanation.
They drove around to other family and friends. Buford told the daughter “You’re not going to love me anymore. You are going to hate me.”
“I felt stuck, like I couldn’t say anything,” she told jurors. “I just kept thinking about see my mom and Taste on the floor.”
Buford eventually took her to the home of Anderson’s daughter. She was crying when they let her in and she told them what happened.
Defense attorney Alfred Willett said prosecutors won’t be able to meet the burden of proof.
“The state’s evidence will fail to show that Matthew Buford shot and killed Tamica Allison and Andrea Anderson,” Willett said.
He said no one saw the shooting and there is no evidence linking Buford to the gun recovered in the investigation.
“There is no DNA connecting the firearm, there is no DNA connecting the magazine to the firearm that was found. There are no latent fingerprints linking the firearm to the defendant,” Willett said.
He said the medical examiner won’t be able to determine which woman was shot first and toxicology tests indicated both of the victims were intoxicated.
Testimony in the trial is scheduled to continue Friday. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/teen-testifies-in-mothers-murder-trial/article_ee376ad8-0605-11ee-a62c-f75434c9c821.html | 2023-06-09T11:16:51 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/teen-testifies-in-mothers-murder-trial/article_ee376ad8-0605-11ee-a62c-f75434c9c821.html |
CEDAR FALLS – An enhanced patron experience is the impetus for new construction this summer on the largest project at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center since its inception in 2000.
The facility saw more than 100 dignitaries, supporters and patrons gather outside Thursday to celebrate the “groundbreaking” on the $14.9 million expansion and renovation -- all funded by private donations.
Steve Carignan, executive director of the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the center's renovation and expansion project.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
“With this investment today, it will continue to be a beacon of artistic brilliance, a source of inspiration, part of the social glue of our shared experiences and a catalyst for the cultural growth of our university and the Cedar Valley for years to come,” said Robert Frederick, president of the Gallagher Bluedorn Friends board of directors.
Groups lined up to grab shovels and flip some dirt at 8201 Dakota St. while grabbing photos as keepsakes. An ensemble played music in the background and refreshments were served on a warm summer day in celebration of the milestone.
The future high-end, upscale Marquee Lounge was the cause for much of the excitement. It will lend a place for around 150 friends and family to congregate before and after events on two floors with high-end finishes, a built-in bar and expanded food options.
University of Northern Iowa officials gather for the groundbreaking ceremony for Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center renovation and expansion project. Pictured, from left, are: Robert Frederick, John Burns, Pam Steinbeck, Steve Carignan, Mark Nook and Becky Mudd.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Another facet of the project will be a more dynamic, versatile entry plaza where more points of service and restrooms will be available for patrons.
Fundraising for the work included 344 individual donors who contributed as part of the University of Northern Iowa's $250 million “Our Tomorrow” campaign. So far, $14.2 million has been raised for the Gallagher Bluedorn renovation. Officials hope to raise the rest by the end of the year.
“We wouldn’t be adding to a building if we hadn’t built this building in the first place, and this building got built the way all buildings have gotten built in the Cedar Valley, and that is by the people of the Cedar Valley,” said Steve Carignan, executive director of the Gallagher Bluedorn. “Turns out we don’t have a lot of billionaires, but what we do is we build things because we bring people together that care about it, and people do what they can.
“Whenever we do one of these projects, it’s a heavy lift by lots of people, and I think that actually makes it special.”
Work began about a week ago on what will be 16-18 months of construction led by Henkel Construction, the general contractor.
Seating inside the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center has been removed and will be replaced as part of the renovation and expansion project.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Among the speakers Thursday was UNI President Mark Nook, who related that his wife became especially enthusiatic about his prospects of landing the university's top job after seeing the Gallagher Bluedorn.
He explained how the arts are brought to life by the space, a space that benefits and impacts the university and the region.
Ken Hagen, project architect with OPN Architects, jokingly pointed out the much-needed addition of more bathrooms before expanding on the vision for the “transformative project” and expressing his joy at how everything comes together with the new lobby, lounge and concession and ticket areas.
Becky Mudd, chair of the Gallagher Bluedorn Advisory Board, noted the project is a “win” not just for supporters but the entire Cedar Valley. She described the venue's economic impact and the number of people who travel from outside the area to experience its entertainment offerings.
The project also will include seating improvements in the Great Hall, multiple drop-off areas, giant lobby and lounge windows, energy-efficient paneling and new collaborative office space.
The expansion will be on the southern side of the facility, adding 13,000 square feet to its footprint. In a typical year, the center hosts hundreds of events and serves more than 115,000 visitors, according to the university.
15 major cities where homebuyers can have the upper hand
15 major cities where homebuyers can have the upper hand
In 2022, potential homebuyers saw home prices hit record highs around the country. The median sale price increased 10.2% from 2021, topping out at $386,300.
Although sellers have been able to command these high prices due to high demand and low inventory, there are indications that for 2023, the market could be tipping in the buyer's direction . Higher mortgage rates combined with higher prices have kept many buyers on the sidelines, and affordability has become a bigger issue.
This has caused prices to cool off slightly, with some selling below list price. When a home sells below its list price, that's typically a sign that the seller is not on the same page as market conditions. While there could be issues with a specific house that makes it undesirable, other factors that could cause this gap include more homes for sale—meaning more options for buyers—or prices that are out of step with what people can afford.
Rocket Homes used its listing data to see which cities have the highest share of homes selling below asking price. Cities were ranked on the share of homes that sold below list price between March 2022 and March 2023. In the more than 140 cities analyzed, 38% of homes sold went for below asking price. Many of the cities on this list have experienced construction booms in the last decade. They are also places that skyrocketed in popularity during the pandemic—a sign prices could be normalizing in these markets.
Canva
#15. Orlando, Florida
- Total homes sold: 5,091
- Share sold under asking price: 50.8%
- Median sale price: $340,015
During 2021 and 2022, investors made up as much as 27% of the homebuying population in Orlando. Led by out-of-town corporations with plenty of cash, they were partially responsible for driving up prices in the market. Now with interest rates rising, which makes borrowing more expensive, they're pulling back from buying up more houses. Higher home insurance costs are also causing more investors to sell their properties. These two factors have helped increase inventory in the city, leading to more price negotiation between buyers and sellers.
Canva
#14. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Total homes sold: 7,885
- Share sold under asking price: 51.4%
- Median sale price: $269,645
Even though more inventory is available in Philadelphia, the number of homes sold is on the decline, and houses are sitting on the market longer. In January 2023, inventory increased nearly 15% year over year, and the average length of time it took for a home to sell was 53 days, up seven from 2022.
While prices are still 25% to 30% higher than they were before the pandemic, they are starting to fall. Realtors in the area are advising sellers to look at a shorter time frame of comparable sales when they set their prices and be prepared to negotiate. As housing affordability is an issue in the area, houses on the lower end of the market are still popular with buyers, but homes priced at $1 million and up are languishing. Experts predict that slowing will also happen with homes in the $700,000 to $800,000 range, which should instigate price drops.
Canva
#13. Chicago, Illinois
- Total homes sold: 27,868
- Share sold under asking price: 51.8%
- Median sale price: $346,878
Sellers in Chicago seem optimistic about the market compared with what's actually happening with home prices in the city. In fall 2022, sellers played it safe, pricing more conservatively in the wake of higher interest rates keeping buyers on the sidelines. As inventory tightened up and buyers adjusted to the idea of having to pay more interest if they wanted a house, they started becoming more active in the marketplace.
Sellers then figured that there would still be enough competition, so they started raising their asking prices—in spring 2023, asking prices were 1.1% above the peak in May 2022. That optimism hasn't translated to the actual sale price. Median prices dropped 3.2% in March 2023 compared to March 2022.
Canva
#12. Henderson, Nevada
- Total homes sold: 5,055
- Share sold under asking price: 52.0%
- Median sale price: $479,168
Henderson ranks as Nevada's best city to live in, according to House Digest , due to its proximity to Las Vegas, a low crime rate, and a wide variety of recreation options. The housing boom that hit Southern Nevada in 2021 is slowing down in 2023 . Rising interest rates are one of the main culprits—as the Federal Reserve raised them, housing inventory grew and sellers cut prices throughout 2022.
Median sales prices fell nearly 12% to $425,000 from May 2022 to March 2023 in the Las Vegas area. Average sale time is also on the rise in Henderson, up 190% year-over-year to 46 days. New construction also continues in Henderson, with a project that will add more town houses to the real estate inventory.
Canva
#11. Hialeah, Florida
- Total homes sold: 1,530
- Share sold under asking price: 52.1%
- Median sale price: $399,826
During the pandemic, homebuyers flocked to southern Florida, and the resulting demand caused prices to skyrocket in many cities, including Hialeah, a suburb of Miami. In August 2022, Hialeah was ranked the fifth least affordable housing market in the country. The city's housing stock is old, with 60% of housing units built between 1950 and 1970. However, real estate developers have been hard at work building new housing to attract a younger generation. Housing inventory is low, but the number of homes sold is also dropping, down 16.8% from March to April 2023 . These factors are having an effect on the final price tag, as more buyers are getting concessions from sellers.
Canva
#10. Cleveland, Ohio
- Total homes sold: 5,007
- Share sold under asking price: 52.7%
- Median sale price: $125,000
Homes in Cleveland are sitting on the market just a little bit longer in 2023. As interest rates rose and pushed some buyers out of the market, sellers took longer to adjust their asking prices . Even though it's still a seller's market, houses took an average of 44 days to sell in April 2023, compared to 41 days a year earlier.
Several neighborhoods in the city have declined in population, but have gained housing units , as new construction has appeared in some areas of the city that haven't had new housing for decades. New development is also happening in Cleveland's suburbs. One example is a development of empty-nester homes slated to be built on the former SeaWorld property at Geauga Lake, southeast of the city.
Canva
#9. Houston, Texas
- Total homes sold: 21,107
- Share sold under asking price: 54.0%
- Median sale price: $329,470
Houston's housing market has shifted abruptly from record sales volume in 2021 to a decline in sales volume in 2022, the first such decline the city's experienced since 2015. Prices are also declining—down 18% year over year in April 2023 and the second decline in as many months in 2023.
Rising mortgage rates are one factor, but homeowners here also face higher taxes and insurance costs. That's caused houses to sit on the market a little longer—39 days in April 2023 versus 31 days the year prior —and has given buyers some leverage in seeking concessions. Buyers looking for newly constructed homes may need to seek out condos or town homes. Overall, new construction permits declined by 10% during 2022 , but the amount of single-family home permits dropped drastically while the number of multifamily permits grew.
Canva
#8. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Total homes sold: 3,507
- Share sold under asking price: 54.9%
- Median sale price: $225,313
Realtors in Pittsburgh note the city's real estate market has remained fairly stable, but that doesn't mean prices aren't coming down in some parts of the city. While some neighborhoods have seen price gains in the beginning of 2023 compared to 2022, about 40% of the city and surrounding suburbs have experienced price drops .
Inventory has also been on the rise, up 17% in 2023 . Mortgage foreclosures have also been steadily rising since federal pandemic moratoriums expired in mid-2021. In Allegheny County where Pittsburgh is located, 1,068 homes in all price brackets were foreclosed on in 2022, with over half of those coming in the last six months of the year. That trend continued in January 2023, when there were 101 foreclosures, a 55% increase from January 2022.
Canva
#7. Detroit, Michigan
- Total homes sold: 4,629
- Share sold under asking price: 56.3%
- Median sale price: $79,999
Inventory is rising in metro Detroit, adding nearly a full month's supply in March 2023 compared to February. Still, the 2.8 months' supply is much lower than the six months of inventory needed to have a balanced market. Sellers are starting to make some concessions in order to attract buyers, but with inventory tight and the pace of new construction slow, they still have leverage.
Buyers are starting to use more creative financing techniques in order to buy that dream home. These include post-closing possession agreements that allow sellers to rent the home until they're able to find their own new house, 2/1 buydown programs that reduce mortgage interest rates for the first two years of the loan, and all-cash guarantees from lenders that allow buyers to make a cash offer for a property and receive a mortgage for it after closing.
Canva
#6. Scottsdale, Arizona
- Total homes sold: 5,500
- Share sold under asking price: 56.7%
- Median sale price: $802,293
Scottsdale was a prime relocation target during the first year of the pandemic, with 68% more people moving to this Phoenix suburb in 2020 versus leaving. Scottsdale trends toward the luxury buyer and has seen some price fluctuations from 2022 to 2023. From May to October 2022, prices for single-family homes dropped by 8% . Comparatively, in April 2023, during the high point of the selling season, median sold prices rose 10.2% to nearly $800,000.
Although prices are experiencing some growth, homes here are sitting on the market much longer—70 days compared to 26 a year prior. More luxury housing is slated for the city—an 81-home development is planned to start construction in fall 2024.
Canva
#5. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Total homes sold: 1,543
- Share sold under asking price: 57.7%
- Median sale price: $439,856
Home prices are ticking upward in Fort Lauderdale, a once modest city that's transforming into a more high-end urban area. Developers are seeing the potential of the area and are pursuing more luxury projects within the city limits, including six condo buildings downtown . The luxury market is seeing some price declines—at its peak in November 2021, the average sale price for homes over $1 million was $3.5 million, but a year later was just $2.7 million. Severe weather may also have an effect on the housing market—residents who endured a major flood in April 2023 may opt to sell , as damage plus increasing home insurance premiums make home ownership financially difficult.
Canva
#4. Hollywood, Florida
- Total homes sold: 1,746
- Share sold under asking price: 57.8%
- Median sale price: $444,726
Even though median sales prices for homes in Hollywood continue to rise, buyers do have an edge in this Broward County beachside city. Prices may be higher than in 2022, but the number of sales in Hollywood has slowed dramatically in 2023, dropping 26.2% from March to April 2023. It's also taking longer to sell a home here, with an average of 65 days in April 2023 compared to 50 in April 2022. That's proving to be too long for some homeowners, who even vacate the house before it sells. Hollywood has a homeowner vacancy rate of 1.6%, the 6th highest vacancy rate in Florida.
Canva
#3. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Total homes sold: 4,062
- Share sold under asking price: 57.9%
- Median sale price: $347,601
Buyers have the advantage to ask for more concessions in New Orleans as the market slows down from pandemic-era buying wars that led to 25% increases for average house prices. Inflation and higher interest rates are two of the usual suspects keeping buyers on the sidelines, but insurance prices are also killing deals.
After hurricanes caused serious damage in Louisiana in 2020 and 2021, dozens of insurance companies have left the state. This has caused home insurance policies to skyrocket, leaving some potential buyers unable to afford a home. In April 2023, inventory grew 14.1% month-over-month, and houses are staying on the market longer, up 60.7% year-over-year to an average of 55 days in April 2023.
Canva
#2. Miami, Florida
- Total homes sold: 10,121
- Share sold under asking price: 59.3%
- Median sale price: $507,218
Miami has been a pandemic relocation destination, with a nearly 60% increase in people moving to the city in 2022 compared to 2019. That growth increased demand for housing, but there are indicators that buyers could have an edge. The amount of inventory increased to 5.8 months' supply at the beginning of 2023, making it a nearly balanced market.
While home prices are rising, sellers have been in the habit of overpricing their homes due to the recent history of high demand. That strategy has backfired a bit—in April 2023, homes were sitting on the market for an average of 61 days , a 19.6% increase from the previous year. That's causing sellers to lower prices from the initial listing in order to find the right buyer.
Canva
#1. Macon, Georgia
- Total homes sold: 676
- Share sold under asking price: 61.5%
- Median sale price: $106,333
The real estate market in central Georgia is primed to see a mild dip due to higher interest rates and mortgage costs. The number of sales fell in 2022, although the 2023 spring buying season saw an 89.1% jump in the number of homes sold in April compared to March, with 121 properties changing hands. Macon still boasts affordability compared to nearby cities, particularly Atlanta, but low local wages can keep some potential buyers on the sidelines. One newer local tax may help with housing affordability. In 2021, voters approved an Other Local Option Sales Tax that rolled back property taxes close to 40%.
Data reporting by Elena Cox. Story editing by Jeff Inglis. Copy editing by Tim Bruns.
This story originally appeared on Rocket Homes and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Canva
Want to see more like this?
Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/uni-gallagher-bluedorn-groundbreaking-celebrated/article_5c22aeae-0561-11ee-8957-93e9066235a1.html | 2023-06-09T11:16:57 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/uni-gallagher-bluedorn-groundbreaking-celebrated/article_5c22aeae-0561-11ee-8957-93e9066235a1.html |
WATERLOO — Downtown is about to become more monitored through the installation of pedestrian-level cameras.
The City Council approved the purchase of these cameras during a special session on Thursday.
The cost of the cameras is not to exceed $150,000. The invoice document shows that 72 cameras will be purchased. The cameras would be paid with bond money.
A pedestrian-level camera would be mounted or pointed lower than a standard traffic camera in order to see more of the streets and sidewalks and get around obstructions, such as trees or businesses’ awnings.
Police Chief Joe Leibold said the cameras would cover an area bounded by Franklin Street to the north and Washington Street to the south between Park Avenue and Fifth Street. This would include Lincoln Park. He said there would be no facial recognition technology.
People are also reading…
Leibold said he doesn’t see the cameras necessarily as a need for downtown. Rather, the city is just following trends of greater use for the devices.
“It’s standard in public safety anymore for events where things are held to have cameras,” he said. “It’s different than it was 30 years ago.”
He said the city has been having conversations about more cameras for multiple years but it is now coming to fruition with the expansion and revitalization of the East Fourth Street corridor.
As more technology and funding is available, he would like to expand the range of the cameras in places such as parks, near schools, where children congregate and where “national news making events happen.”
Leibold hopes the cameras will be installed before Irish Fest, which is held in August. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/more-cameras-downtown-waterloo-with-purchase/article_cb9be718-0634-11ee-ae54-f7cf179b301b.html | 2023-06-09T11:17:03 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/more-cameras-downtown-waterloo-with-purchase/article_cb9be718-0634-11ee-ae54-f7cf179b301b.html |
Read any good books lately?
I can tell you who has: The 2023 members of Liz’s Book Club.
This year, our “club” (which “meets” in the pages of this newspaper and on our website) welcomed 25 new members — Kenosha News readers who shared book recommendations.
More than 120 books made this year’s list, but the actual number of recommendations is much higher because some of those suggestions are for series of books, especially several mystery/thriller book series.
As always, the 2023 contributors are a mix of first-timers and Book Club veterans. The titles they recommend range widely, from a biography of Johnny Carson to current best-sellers like “Happy Place” by Emily Henry. That author gets a lot of Book Club love for her breezy novels, including “People We Meet on Vacation” and “Book Lovers” ... which is the PERFECT title for a book club pick, right?
People are also reading…
Thanks to recommendations from Liz’s Book Clubbers in 2022, I spent part of my summer with a giant Pacific octopus who helps a widow working the night shift at an aquarium solve the mystery of her missing son. That’s the plot of “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” a remarkably entertaining novel that made the list again this year.
Another book I picked up at the library is “The Last Thing He Told Me,” Laura Dave’s thriller about a missing husband. “Last Thing” made the 2021 and 2022 Book Club lists and is back this year, joining other perennial favorites “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens and anything by John Grisham. (If you enjoy Grisham’s books, Thom Sczygielski, a regular Liz’s Book Club contributor, recommends you “circle your calendar for Oct. 17 to read Grisham’s ‘The Exchange,’ a sequel to ‘The Firm.’”)
You can’t read just one ...
A lot of Liz’s Book Club readers recommend book series, and it is fun to discover an author — and characters — you like enough to follow through several adventures.
Among the book series recommended this year:
Paul Doiron’s books about Mike Bowditch, a game warden in Maine, who discovers natural predators aren’t the only killers using the wilderness as a stalking ground.
Two series set in France: books by Martin Walker (start with “Bruno, Chief of Police”) and M.L. Longworth (start with “Death in the Vines”).
Mysteries written by Andrew Grant (“Die Twice”).
Julia Spencer-Fleming’s Claire Fergusson mysteries, about an Episcopalian priest who “helps” a police chief solve mysteries in upper New York state.
Richard Osman’s popular “Thursday Murder Club” books, set in a British retirement village.
Peter Robinson’s DCI Banks series about a gritty British inspector, starting with “Gallows View” in 1987.
Author C.J. Box’s books about game warden Joe Pickett.
Two best-selling series by Michael Connelly: his Harry Bosch series of crime novels, including “Echo Park,” and his “Lincoln Lawyer” books.
Whew! Just working your way through all those book series could take you until the 2024 edition of Liz’s Book Club.
Blue House Books
Our Book Club is also a contest, and Peggy Molloy of Pleasant Prairie won our random drawing. She receives a $50 gift certificate to our own Blue House Books in Downtown Kenosha.
Samantha Jacquest, who operates Blue House Books at 5915 Sixth Ave. A, is a great source for book recommendations and hosts story times, book clubs, meet-and-greet author events and other programs. For more details, go to blue-house-books.com.
It’s fitting Molloy won, seeing as she was the first person to send in her book recommendation this year. Her pick? “The Lost English Girl” by Julia Kelly.
The novel starts in 1930s Liverpool and involves an unplanned pregnancy, a forced marriage and a child presumed dead during World War II.
Molloy says what she likes about this book “besides my love of historical fiction (second only to mysteries), the plot was engrossing, and the ending, while satisfying, was NOT sappy.” That’s my sweet spot, too, Peggy: Satisfying but not sappy. Like a good pop song or a crisp pizza crust. Or is that soggy?
Keep on reading
Thanks to everyone who sent in book recommendations, and to our many readers who tell us every year they look forward to the Book Club.
I’m cheered by how many book recommendations we received. As an avid reader myself, I can’t understand how anyone who knows how to read would choose not to do so. That’s like choosing not to breathe! So keep on reading and enjoy these precious days of summer.
I leave you with these cheery words from Book Club member Elizabeth Denman, who tells us “I will be 92 on my next birthday, and I am never without a book.” Her recommendations include two books with irresistible titles: “Does This Beach Make Me Look Fat?” and “I’ve Got Sand in all the Wrong Places.” Both are collections of humorous stories and essays by the mother-and-daughter writing team of Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella.
Liz’s Book Club, and its list of some 120+ titles, ran in the June 4 Kenosha News and can be found on our website, kenoshanews.com (search “Liz’s Book Club”) If you need an actual paper copy, send me a note. Have a comment? Email me at esnyder@kenoshanews.com or call 262-656-6271. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-news-readers-share-120-plus-titles-in-lizs-book-club/article_9b10701a-0570-11ee-9e8b-0f7f2928f255.html | 2023-06-09T11:19:38 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-news-readers-share-120-plus-titles-in-lizs-book-club/article_9b10701a-0570-11ee-9e8b-0f7f2928f255.html |
The Bureau of Land Management Coos Bay District sold 12.8 million board feet of timber during an oral auction on Friday, May 26, 2023.
Swanson Group of Roseburg, Ore., was the high bidder for the “Calloway Creek” timber sale. The timber sold for $3.5 million. The timber is located on Coos Bay Wagon Road Lands in Coos County.
The BLM manages 2.4 million acres of forests and woodlands in western Oregon. A sustainable forestry program is critical to the economies in western Oregon.
“The BLM is committed to providing predictable and sustainable timber harvest opportunities to support our local communities,” said Steve Lydick, Coos Bay District Manager.
Revenue generated from BLM timber sales on Coos Bay Wagon Road Lands are used to pay an in-lieu tax payment to Coos and Douglas Counties, where the 60,000 acres of Coos Bay Wagon Road Lands are located. The Coos Bay Wagon Road Lands were revested to the federal government after completion of a military wagon road between Roseburg and Coos Bay, Ore.
It takes approximately 16,000 board feet of lumber to frame a 2,000-square-foot home. One million board feet of timber is enough to build approximately 63 family sized residential homes.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/coos-bay-district-sells-12-million-board-feet-of-timber/article_007df660-065d-11ee-ae52-6b8f3beeac82.html | 2023-06-09T11:33:31 | 1 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/coos-bay-district-sells-12-million-board-feet-of-timber/article_007df660-065d-11ee-ae52-6b8f3beeac82.html |
North Bend City Councilor Susanna Noordhoff will represent the city on the Coos Bay-North Water Board Budget Committee after all.
Two weeks after Mayor Jessica Engelke declined a request from Noordhoff to return her to the board, things changed. Engelke explained the city’s finance director had some personal issues come up and asked to be replaced as the city representative on the board.
“I know Councilor Noordhoff expressed interest in being on the water board,” Engelke said. “I know the finance director had something come up and can’t be on the board. Councilor Noordhoff, would you consider being on the board?”
“I’d love that,” Noordhoff responded.
During the regular council meeting, Noordhoff asked that an agenda item placing her on the water board committee be removed from the consent agenda. The item was then passed unanimously by the council.
The move brought to a close a tumultuous time on the council that started when Noordhoff was removed from her committee and board assignments by a vote of the council. Noordhoff filed a lawsuit, saying the move violated council rules because the vote was done during “Other Business” with no public notice.
Judge Martin Stone agreed with Noordhoff and told the council to reinstate her to all boards and committees she was removed from.
Since that time, the council has changed its rules and now allows decisions that are not controversial and are unanimous to be considered during “Other Business.”
Noordhoff told The World she would serve the committee with “decorum” and would bring a report back to the council. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/noordhoff-returned-to-water-board-committee/article_6baad696-0636-11ee-91ba-931c418e23bd.html | 2023-06-09T11:33:39 | 1 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/noordhoff-returned-to-water-board-committee/article_6baad696-0636-11ee-91ba-931c418e23bd.html |
The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay (Port) is pleased to award its annual Port of Coos Bay scholarship to a local graduating senior pursuing educational advancement at a trade school, community college, or university.
These scholarships reflect the Port’s dedication to facilitating the growth and development of Oregon’s South Coast regional economy by supporting the workforce of tomorrow.
Eligible applicants are graduating seniors living within the Port District, with special consideration given to students seeking educational advancement in trades or skills related to the maritime, rail, or trade and logistics industries.
This year’s recipients are Emily Kirk and Hayden Napier. Emily Kirk is graduating from Marshfield Highschool with plans to attend the Advanced Esthetics Institute in Eugene Oregon to become certified as an Aesthetician.
Hayden Napier is graduating from North Bend High School and plans to attend Southwestern Oregon Community College with the goal of becoming a registered nurse (RN).
In awarding the scholarships, the Port takes into consideration student’s academic achievement, involvement in extracurricular activities, and alignment with the Port’s mission to promote sustainable economic development in southwestern Oregon and the State.
“Investing in our youth and growing our workforce locally is essential in ensuring that our community can continue to grow and thrive,” said John Burns, Port CEO, “As we look to the future of our region, encouraging our young people to pursue successful careers and return to the area is critical.” | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/port-of-coos-bay-announces-2023-scholarship-recipients/article_eace5c16-0660-11ee-bf2b-03d7adfa3ba6.html | 2023-06-09T11:33:40 | 0 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/port-of-coos-bay-announces-2023-scholarship-recipients/article_eace5c16-0660-11ee-bf2b-03d7adfa3ba6.html |
'Reinventing space' the norm at overcrowded, 70-year old Dighton Elementary School
A tour of Dighton Elementary School (DES) shows how it has adapted over the years to dealing with student overcrowding.
“We’ve taken non-instructional spaces and converted them into classrooms,” said Bill Runey, superintendent for Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District.
The former front main office space has been converted into a pre-kindergarten classroom, and the IT center moved out of traditional office space into a badly-lit storage room just above the staircase to the school’s basement. Repurposing department teacher lounges and office spaces at the elementary school are also common stories.
Lynn Dessert, Dighton Elementary School principal, said teachers and subjects, such as art classes, have been relocated numerous times over the years to smaller settings to accommodate bigger enrollment needs, like special education.
“We’ve been reinventing space in this building for years, just to accommodate whatever the needs are,” said Dessert.
Teacher lounge is backstage
The theatre stage inside the cafeteria has even been converted to house the main faculty lounge. The backstage area of the stage is blocked off, with the curtains always closed. The school hasn’t used the stage for actual stage productions for a few years. Here, faculty have a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, and a couple of chairs, along with a massive amount of boxes and other materials kept there because storage space is a coveted premium in the school.
Crowded building
Built in 1953, the Dighton Elementary School building is undersized and woefully deficient, officials say.
According to Runey, Dighton Elementary School’s occupancy capacity for its main building is 413 students. The school exceeded this amount by the 2018-2019 school year. It had an enrollment of 562 students for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Runey attributes a steady increase in student enrollment over the past 10 years to the growth of the town of Dighton, as well as the “excellent reputation” the elementary school has garnered through its academic programming.
Runey said a study done within the last year by the school administration showed that, on average, 86% of the youth in the town of Dighton, of elementary school age, are attending Dighton Elementary School.
Some improvements over the years
Much of the internal systems and structures, like electrical wiring, plumbing, interior doors and exterior walls, are original to the building.
The building's roof was replaced in 2016. Other upgrades include replacing all exterior windows in 2018, as well as installing a new boiler and some HVAC distribution, also in 2018.
Some new additions to the main building of the elementary school came in 1999 in the form of a wing for Pre-K and kindergarten, a library, and a wing with a gymnasium, music room and additional PE spaces.
But these newer spaces have their limitations.
Principal Dessert said that despite the gym being the largest indoor space for the school, they still can’t have full student assemblies with every grade present because it simply isn’t big enough.
There’s no conference room or official space for teacher assemblies or training, so the library is used for these meetings. This requires shutting down student access to the library during this period.
“It’s the only space to fit this group of adults” as well as have the technological capabilities for professional development, said Dessert.
Modular classrooms added
In 2018, the Town of Dighton approved $1.1 million dollars for the purchase of six modular trailer units. The units, each representing a classroom, were attached to each other to create one whole academic facility. Classes moved in by early 2019.
“It was only supposed to be temporary,” said Dessert, as the school desperately needed new classroom space. The modular extension, which you can enter into through the main building, has an additional capacity of 150 people, including students and teachers, or 25 people per unit.
The whole modular space has been gradually sinking on one side. The daily weight of occupancy over the last few years has resulted in a slant. This is due to half of it resting on asphalt, while the other side sits on soil.
TOP EARNERS:Which Bridgewater-Raynham employees earned the most in 2022-2023? Here are the top 11
While Runey said there’s plenty of land to install more trailers for classrooms at the elementary school, he said that’s not addressing the real problem: the inadequacies of the main building.
Money is tight forcing recent layoffs
The school district was recently forced to close a $1.9 million dollar budget gap for next school year by laying off several staff and teachers, as well as continuing to put on hold needed expenditures, such as upgrades to decades-old and outdated textbooks.
Despite DES being overcrowded, the school district has been steadily losing students the last few years, and, hence, revenue, as Runey and the D-R administration said at the FY24 budget presentation last March.
Factoring in the new Bristol-Plymouth Reg. Voc Tech costs
Residents and town officials are greatly concerned with how they are going to pay for their portion of the new Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical Building, approved last year.
According to Dighton Town Administrator Michael Mullen, Dighton’s total cost for the new B-P building, based on current fiscal year enrollment, is $24.73 million, paid over the next 30 years. The town is paying $254,000 for FY24, which, Mullen said, the town has the ability to absorb this through the current tax levy capacity. The FY24 budget for Dighton was approved on June 5.
TOP SALARIES:Which Dighton workers made the most in 2022? Here are the top 10 highest earners
From FY25 and beyond, they will see substantial increases in the cost to the town; by FY30, the assessment will be between $850,000 - $900,000.
In addition, Mullen stated in a FY24 budget overview at Dighton Town Meeting on June 5 that the town is also paying $149,000 a year for Bristol County Agricultural High School’s renovations.
“We are now beginning to see a slippery slope where education and educational capital assessment budgets will further crowd out our ability to fund core town government functions and deferred capital needs,” said Mullen in his budget overview for the June 5 town warrant.
Mullen said the town is still examining options for how to continue funding its portion of B-P, including further cuts to town operations and services, a possible debt exclusion taken to public ballot vote, and looking for more opportunities to reduce town costs through more shared and regionalized services.
Despite being “very supportive of education in this town,” Runey sees Dighton’s B-P funding obligations as an enormous hurdle for funding improvements to DES. “If they have to take out more for B-P, that means less for everyone else.”
Seeking MSBA approval for feasibility study
In May, the D-R Regional School District submitted a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to get funding for a feasibility study on DES, to determine whether it needs to be replaced. The ultimate goal is to get an offer by the state to fund half or more of the total cost for a new school building.
“Population projections show that this problem will only get worse in the future. It’s imperative that the district addresses these issues, and we hope the MSBA gives us fair consideration,” said Aaron Morse, D-R School Committee chairman, in a press release about the SOI.
SCHOOLS:Bristol Aggie students with big dreams of becoming veterinarians get giant boost
Runey said the district will know by December if the state will support the study.
Assuming the best-case scenario in terms of getting a study approved and, ultimately, an offer by the state to subsidize the cost of a new building, Runey said the D-R administration is still a long ways off before working to get the backing of Dighton’s government and residents to cover the rest of the cost, whatever that may be. | https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/dighton-elementary-school-overcrowding-outdated-facility-seeking-msba-approval/70297137007/ | 2023-06-09T11:37:52 | 0 | https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/dighton-elementary-school-overcrowding-outdated-facility-seeking-msba-approval/70297137007/ |
Richmond muralist Emily Herr unveiled her new, massive 4,000 square foot mural in Scott’s Addition on Tuesday.
It’s the 31-year-old’s largest mural to date and the entire process took roughly three years to complete.
The mural was commissioned The Otis, the mixed-use development with 350 apartments and shops like Grit Coffee encompassing a city block at 1601 Roseneath Road in Scott’s Addition.
The beautiful mural has already sparked some controversy.
Entitled “Starting Space: A Love Letter to the Creative Process,” the mural is a love letter to a certain time period in Scott’s Addition history.
While Scott’s Addition has become known as Richmond’s “adult playground” for its recent explosion of craft breweries, bars and apartments, Herr reached back – not to Scott’s Addition’s industrial roots in the 1920s -- but to the more recent past.
People are also reading…
She honed in on the past two decades of Scott’s Addition, roughly the time period between 2000 and today.
“I wanted to honor the DIY community,” Herr said. Before the craft breweries and apartment buildings moved in, Scott’s Addition had plenty of affordable space in warehouses where Richmonders could find studio space for cheap or launch a business. Her mural is an homage to the makers, painters, welders, weavers, restaurateurs and retailers who found space to work and create in Scott’s Addition.
“I talked to many people about their experiences of setting up shop in Scott’s Addition in the early 2010’s,” Herr said. “I wanted to show the invisible community that did occupy this neighborhood over the past 20 years,” Herr said.
The massive mural spans four 200-foot-long panels and features many of the people and businesses she interviewed or researched, such as Studio Two Three, Phoenix Handcraft, Wax Moon Records, The Highpoint, Rag & Bones bicycle co-op and even the Paper Moon strip club.
“My hope is that those that inspired this mural will (literally and figuratively) see themselves in it,” Herr said in a statement.
However, many of the businesses and people pictured in the mural have had to move out of Scott’s Addition, either through loss of space going to development or due to skyrocketing rents.
“We have mixed feelings about the mural,” Johannah Willsey, co-owner of Phoenix Handcraft, a custom furniture maker featured in the mural, said. Phoenix Handcraft had space on Altamont Avenue in Scott’s Addition since 2010 before moving to central Virginia last year.
“(The mural is) a beautiful and exciting tribute to the maker community, as well as a deeply researched reflection of that history. On the other hand, it's a form of branding used by large corporations that whitewashes the history of pushing the creative community out of the neighborhood.
“While this has come to be seen as a normal cycle in city neighborhoods, from cheap rent that's accessible for small business creatives to trendy upscale neighborhoods, it's bittersweet for those of us who got our start there,” Willsey said.
Hack.RVA, a member-run nonprofit makerspace on Roseneath Road, moved into the neighborhood in 2012.
Kent Durvin, vice president of the group, said the neighborhood was “filled with empty warehouses, plenty of parking, and no place to eat. We had a coal forge in the parking lot, and we raced drone-like air cars around the lot.”
But now, the Hack.RVA space on Roseneath Road is being sold and redeveloped. Hack.RVA will be moving just across I-95 to a new location on Dabney Road.
“There is some negativity around the transition from empty spaces [in this neighborhood] to breweries,” Herr said. “But spaces like this, it doesn’t stay the same anywhere.”
Herr took inspiration from Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry murals, a series of stunning murals painted for the Detroit Institute of Arts in the 1930s to depict the automotive industry, as well as other sources.
Herr began painting the mural last summer, along with the help of several assistants. Painting took 14 weeks, whereas a more standard-size mural takes her anywhere from 4 days to 4 weeks.
Herr is known locally for the traveling mural project “Girls! Girls! Girls!” to better represent women in public art. In 2022, she traveled to Kosovo where she was invited to participate in the MuralFest, along with other Richmond muralists over the years such as Nils Westergard and Mickael Broth.
In 2015, Herr bought a step-van and transformed it into a mobile studio complete with running water that carries her paints, brushes and materials with her. She calls it the HerrSuite mobile studio.
“It’s where I do all my demo work. It’s where I mix paint and make my sketches. I take everything with me onsite, like a turtle. I don’t know how anybody else does it,” she said.
Rather than moving in a chronological time frame, the mural moves from panel to panel in perspective, painting a portrait of the makers and artists who made Scott’s Addition their home.
The Highpoint, a shared workspace for creatives since 2018 featured in the mural, closed earlier this year in March. The Blue Bee Cider building, pictured in several panels, was sold and the new owners of the cidery are taking the business to Henrico. And Studio Two Three is currently packing up its Scott’s Addition space, which it has held since 2015, and moving to the former Dogtown Dance Theatre in Manchester later this year.
"Scott's Addition has been the hottest real estate market in Richmond for several years and artist spaces are becoming fewer and farther between," Ashley Hawkins, executive director of Studio Two Three said. "Emily captured the legacy of artists and DIY culture in the neighborhood (in her mural)."
"Richmond has had an identity as a rough, gritty, artistic scene. But that's been changing over the past few years, as it's becoming more expensive to live here and more development comes in. I'm hopeful the city will recognize the benefit of that identity. It needs tending to thrive. It doesn't just happen," Herr said. "My hope is that when people look at this, people wonder, where are these people going to go?...How does an artist impact a city? And how does the city impact the artists?” | https://richmond.com/life-entertainment/local/art-theater/richmond-muralist-unveils-massive-scott-s-addition-mural-sparks-controversy/article_0592b246-0557-11ee-837f-635f3ba2b34f.html | 2023-06-09T11:42:07 | 0 | https://richmond.com/life-entertainment/local/art-theater/richmond-muralist-unveils-massive-scott-s-addition-mural-sparks-controversy/article_0592b246-0557-11ee-837f-635f3ba2b34f.html |
The Canadian wildfire smoke that has surged southward into Virginia is reminiscent of the hazy summer days of the 1970s and 1980s before the Clean Air Act was passed. During that time, summer air pollution was regularly much worse than we have had over the past 20 years.
Air pollution then was largely from ground level ozone, before regulations were put in place to curb industrial and automobile emissions. But air pollution this week has been from particulates — wildfire smoke. And some of this particulate matter is especially small, imperceptible to the naked eye. Known as PM2.5, these particles are about 20 times smaller than the width of a human hair, reaching deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing longer-term respiratory problems.
Looking to the source, it is important to remember that wildfires are not uncommon in Canada, but the intensity of the fires and the transport of the smoke southward is highly unusual this year.
People are also reading…
Regarding a connection to the changing climate, a warming climate does dry out ground surfaces and vegetation more quickly, which contributes to a more rapid spread of wildfires once they begin. Notably, much of Canada had its hottest May on record, so the warming climate probably has an influence.
However, the number of fires is not obviously becoming more numerous in Canada. There has been an upward tick in total area burned since the start of the 21st century, but there were years with larger areas burned in the 1980s and 1990s.
Back in Virginia, and areas immediately north, it is the trajectory of the wind that has made this entire event so unusual. It is related to the relatively cooler weather in Virginia of the past several weeks and the historically hot May in Canada.
The jet stream has been blocked into place, with a relatively consistent trough, or southward surge, in eastern North America since early May. As a result, our wind direction has been from the north more often than we typically see this time of the year.
This is also the reason heat waves have been holding west of Virginia so far this season, allowing much warmer air to surge into Canada, and sending the Canadian wildfire smoke southward.
🎧 Weather can have a big impact on specific wagers for sports bettors. Learn how on the latest episode of Across the Sky.
A combination of things may be in play to cause the unusually blocked up weather pattern. A broad area of storminess that slowly circulates around the tropics (known as the MJO) may be reacting with the rapidly warming eastern Pacific Ocean (El Niño).
But exactly how these interact is not straightforward. According to Jan Dutton, a meteorologist at the Charlottesville-based World Climate Service, “A rapidly developing El Niño does tend to promote a North Atlantic blocking pattern in early summer, but the block is not clearly related to the El Niño trajectory. It’s more likely connected to the big MJO phase 4 in early May. Or perhaps a combination of the two.”
Research from the Canadian Forest Service suggests the area burned north of the border will tend to increase as the climate warms further in the coming decades. But whether that smoke is sent southward into Virginia will be more related to the shorter-term weather patterns around the time of the fires. Generally by June, our prevailing winds are from the west or southwest, keeping Canadian air, whether cool and clear or hazy and smoky, away from Virginia.
While it is probably premature to assign the hazy and smoky skies from Virginia to the Northeast solely to a warming climate, it is an important reminder of a recent past where the summer sky was much hazier and the air was much dirtier. And it serves as a caution that the tapestry of work that has been done to make the air cleaner can be unraveled as the climate continues to warm, increasing the risk of larger wildfires and, in time, hazier and smokier skies.
So when the wind pattern does slip into something unusual, we could go through this all over again. | https://richmond.com/news/local/weather/air-quality/article_2c12c5e6-0638-11ee-bbb3-8358f5f83448.html | 2023-06-09T11:42:13 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/weather/air-quality/article_2c12c5e6-0638-11ee-bbb3-8358f5f83448.html |
Need something to do? Check out these Lubbock-area community events
SPC to host STEM Summer Camp
LEVELLAND – South Plains College will host Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Summer Camp June 12-16 for students in high school incoming 9th through 12th grades. The weeklong camp begins at 8 a.m. daily through 3:45 p.m.in the Science Building.
The camp will feature interactive, hands-on activities in the subject areas of robotics, biology, forensics and geology.
The cost of the camp is $60, and it includes all materials, travel, meals, shirt and backpack.
In robotics, students will build mBot Ranger robots and use computer programming language to manipulate the robots. Students will compete in robot challenges and obstacles.
Campers will explore pathogens and immune response with printed 3D models while studying biology. They will discover unknown viruses via gel electrophoresis.
Curious investigators will uncover evidence using fingerprinting and blood splatter detection methods during forensics training.
The campers will travel to Carlsbad Caverns on a day trip to discover geologic formations and learn about preservation.
Sign up, use the link: https://secure.touchnet.net/C20027ustores/web/productdetail.jsp?PRODUCTID=256&SINGLESTORE=true
For more information, contact Camp Director Dr. Laci Alexander, professor of chemistry at South Plains College, at (806) 716-2322 or email lalexander@southplainscollege.edu.
Christian Women's Connection meets June 13
Is your "Closet Calling" you to organize and sort out your life?
If so, join the Lubbock Christian Women's Connection on Tuesday, June 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Lubbock Country Club, 3400 Mesa Road.
Special speaker will be Debbie Monahan, from Lewisville, who will demonstrate how to be the organized woman you've always wanted to be.
Cost is $23 for a buffet lunch, program and a chance to win a door prize.
Contact Sharen at (806) 392-0264 or LubbockCWC@gmail.com to make a reservation. The deadline is June 9.Payment is at the door. While they always accept walk-ins, they would prefer reservations to ensure seating and quantity of food.
Model Railroad Association hosting summer show
The Lubbock Model Railroad Association is hosting its Summer Model Train Show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from June 13-17 at the American Windmill Museum, 1701 Canyon Lake Drive.
Admission is $5 per person with kids 5 and younger admitted for free. AWM members are also admitted for free.
The LMRA will have model train layouts of all sizes on display throughout the museum in addition to the AWM's permanent large G-scale display.
Train-themed raffle prizes will be drawn each day. Raffle tickets will be $1 each and all proceeds go to LMRA.
Covenant Health hosts Ready Summer Camp
Covenant Health is once again welcoming area middle schoolers (grades sixth through eighth) to learn about different careers in health care with our Second Annual Covenant Ready Summer Camp.
Students can experience first-hand what it is like to work at the hospital. Our camp will help them explore different health care opportunities and hear from professionals like doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medics, respiratory, occupational, physical, and speech therapists, and more.
The camp will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and lunch will be provided. Dates for the camp are June 14 or 15 or July 11 or 12, at Maxey Park, 4007 30th St.
Camp is one day only and only 100 students can attend. There will be a waiting list for each day.
For more information, contact Terri Morris by email at morristl1@covhs.org.
TTU Museum Association hosting art show, sale
The Museum of Texas Tech University Association’s 9th Annual Art on the Llano Estacado Show and Sale is open free to the public June 17 and 18, 2023.
The event is in the Museum of Texas Tech University’s Helen DeVitt Jones Sculpture Court, 601 Indiana Ave. Art is available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis. The event is open Saturday, June 17 from 10:00 a.m. – 4 pm and Sunday, June 18 from 1-4 pm.
Art on the Llano Estacado Show and Sale was established not only as a fundraiser for the Museum of Texas Tech Association, but also to bring a variety of art to Lubbock. The event is an opportunity to purchase high quality art and support the Association mission to assist the Museum in providing free exhibitions and public programming. Art on the Llano gives visitors an opportunity to not only buy art but see art not readily available in Lubbock and to visit with artists working in a variety of mediums.
The event will feature about 250 original works of art by more than 40 artists from across the southwest representing a wide variety of styles and media.
Jim Eppler is the 2023 Art on the Llano Estacado Legacy Artists. Jim is a sculptor and painter who uses his love of nature to give his work a life-like feeling. Eppler hand-finishes each bronze in his limited editions. Using patina and paint, his intricate knowledge of his subject matter is expressed with distinctive markings unique to each species. Jim received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Texas Tech University.
For more information, contact the Museum of Texas Tech University Association at (806) 742-2443 or by e-mailing jouana.stravlo@ttu.edu.
Buckner sets foster care, adoption informational meeting
Nonprofit Buckner Children and Family Services is hosting a free informational meeting on foster care and adoption June 22, 7-8 p.m. At the meeting, attendees will learn more information on the process of becoming a foster parent or adopting through Buckner.
Attending a virtual information meeting is the first step in starting a foster care and adoption journey with Buckner. Attendance and completion of the information meeting is required to proceed in the process for all Buckner foster care and adoption programs.
To register for the virtual foster care and adoption meeting, visit Buckner.org/foster-care-adoption/events
For additional information, call Buckner at (806) 795-7151.
Night to Remember benefits Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Lubbock will hold its annual fundraising event, Night to Remember – Casino Royale Gala, at the Frazier Alumni Pavilion on the Texas Tech University campus on Friday, June 23.
It will include a welcome reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner, casino-style games, a raffle drawing, silent and live auctions, plus dancing. The gala will be a time to “bond together,” and make a change for those in need.
Various sponsorship packages are available to support the agency’s mission, and can be secured by contacting Development Director, Geneva Aragon-Allen at geneva@cclubbock.org or at 806-765-8475, ext. 131. Night to Remember – Casino Royale Gala tickets are $80 per person and can be purchased by emailing geneva@cclubbock.org.
A raffle drawing provides an opportunity to win three prizes, $1,500, $500, and $250, at a price point of $20 a ticket. The winning raffle ticket will be drawn that evening, and the winner does not need to be present to win.
All proceeds from the event will be used to support local Catholic Charities’ programs that help meet critical needs for families and individuals in Lubbock and 29 surrounding counties. To learn more about Catholic Charities programs, visit www.cclubbock.org.
Bubba's raises funds for veteran homes
Through Tuesday, July 4, Lubbock’s Bubba’s 33, 6210 Slide Road, will partner with Homes For Our Troops to raise money to help build specially adapted homes for veterans. For every Patriot Burger purchased, Bubba’s 33 will donate $1 to Homes For Our Troops.
Donations will also be accepted for Homes For Our Troops at all locations and the goal for Bubba’s 33 is to raise $100,000 as a brand.
One lucky Lubbock guest will win free burgers for a year, when they enter, in-person, at the restaurant.
Home For Our Troops is a nonprofit organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes for post 9-11 veterans, severely injured in the line of duty. The organization has completed more than 354 homes in 47 states with an additional 76 projects currently underway. To date, Bubba’s 33 and parent company, Texas Roadhouse, have raised more than $2 million to help build homes.
Throughout these dates, guests are also invited to register to win a free burger, every week, for a year. See store for details.
Youths encouraged to attend ‘Explore the Arts’ camp in July at SPC
LEVELLAND – Area youngsters ages 5 to 17 are welcome to participate in South Plains College’s “Explore the Arts" camp July 24-27 in the Fine Arts building. The cost is $90.
The four-day camp will feature rotating classes from 9 a.m. to noon for participants. Students ages 5-11 will attend theater, visual art, music and photography. Participants ages 12-17 can create their own camp schedule by registering for the specific classes they wish to attend.
To register online, click on the link: https://secure.touchnet.net/C20027_ustores/web/store_cat.jsp?STOREID=1&CATID=1&SINGLESTORE=true. Registration will be accepted through the first day of the camp.
For more information, contact Camp Director Brent Wheeler, associate professor of commercial music, at (806) 716-2023 or email bjwheeler@southplainscollege.edu.
Frenship ISD to provide free summer meals
Frenship ISD and Aramark are teaming up once again to combat child hunger during the summer months. The sixth annual Tiger Bites Summer Feeding program will provide free meals for all children age 18 or younger across the Lubbock and Wolfforth communities.
Starting June 5 until July 28, children can receive a free lunch each day Monday through Friday at the two designated Tiger Bites feeding locations. All children are welcome, and they do not have to be a Frenship student to receive the meal.
Due to state and federal restrictions, children must be present in order to receive the free lunch and they must eat on site. Families will be able to enjoy games and activities at each Tiger Bites location.
Tiger Bites Summer Feeding Locations and Times:
Frenship High School Soccer Complex, 702 Donald Preston Drive, Wolfforth; 11 a.m. to noon
Duran Park, 26th Street and Kewanee Avenue, Lubbock; 12:30-1:30 p.m.
There will be no Tiger Bites during the Fourth of July holiday week (July 3-7). For more information on Frenship ISD’s Tiger Bites program, visit www.Frenship.net.
Pre-registration under way for Vamos a Pescar
Pre-registration is now available for the annual Vamos a Pescar, Let's Go Fishing event set for 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5.
Those who pre-register can check in as early as 5 a.m. the day of the event.
The event is free, does not require a fishing license, no registration fee, and no cost for lunch.
Pre-registration is urged so that organizers can ensure enough food and supplies for everyone.
For more information or to register, visit https://www.loshermanosfamilia.org/vamos-a-pescar-let-s-go-fishing | https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/need-something-to-do-check-out-these-lubbock-area-community-events/70303788007/ | 2023-06-09T11:44:45 | 0 | https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/need-something-to-do-check-out-these-lubbock-area-community-events/70303788007/ |
STANFORD — The Olympia FFA Chapter held its annual chapter banquet on Sunday, April 16 at Minier Christian Church to honor FFA members.
Fifty-two FFA members and more than 150 guests attended the event.
The new officer team for 2023-24 was announced and includes Logan Demling, president; Aime Witham, vice president; Libby Shaffer, vice president; Reed Naughton, vice president; Nora Collins, secretary; Keagan Meserole, treasurer; Rylee Robb, reporter; Cheyenne Hanlin, sentinel; Anna Kindred, chaplain; and Mallory Miller, historian.
Seven Olympia seniors were awarded scholarships between $1,000 and $2,000 each, including Tarah Hilt, Isabelle Forrest, Brooke Rogers, McKenna Lally, Luke Pratt, Paige Finchum and Chrystal Cornwell.
Other awards included Shane Demline, star greenhand; Reed Naughton, star sophomore; Blake Buatte, star junior; and Tarah Hilt, star senior.
Outstanding FFA members were also recognized in each level of membership. The outstanding greenhands included Braxton Apel, Ryan Ballinger, Wyatt Reinhart, Camryn Hilt, Palmer Scheets, Anna Johnson, Anna Gordon and Nora Collins.
The outstanding chapter degree members included Chase Ragar, Keagan Meserole, Mallory Miller and Kaitlyn Whitecotton. The outstanding juniors included Trinity Weeks, Aime Witham, Libby Shaffer, Anna Kindred, Cheyenne Hanlin, Logan Demling and Rylee Robb.
The outstanding seniors included Brooke Rogers, Isabelle Forest and Kassidy Tackett.
Photos: Olympia softball at University High School
New Officers: Back (L-R): Reed Naughton, Rylee Robb, Libby Shaffer, Logan Demling, and Keagan Meserole. Front (L-R): Cheyenne Hanlin, Mallory Miller, Nora Collins, Aime Witham and Anna Kindred. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/a-look-at-the-latest-central-illinois-academic-successes/article_3aa45a78-04aa-11ee-ab20-436d2c6f6a46.html | 2023-06-09T11:47:18 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/a-look-at-the-latest-central-illinois-academic-successes/article_3aa45a78-04aa-11ee-ab20-436d2c6f6a46.html |
NORMAL — The Normal Woman's Christian Temperance Union announced winners in the 2023 coloring, posters and essay contest.
The winners are various Cornerstone Christian Academy and Tri-Valley school students.
Winners in the coloring category include kindergarteners Zella Zwanzig, first place; Sam Artman, second place; Graham Porter, second place; Laishley Karr, third place; Annika Sieben, honorable mention; and Sophia Walden, honorable mention.
First-grade winners in the coloring category are Avery Bardwell, first; Emily Hollis, second; Tenley Cvetan, third; Reese Bandy, honorable mention; Caleb Brothers, honorable mention; and Isabella Willis, honorable mention.
Second-grade winners are Bennett Young, first; Madeline Blackburn, second; Amelia Fitch, second; Eden Gerber, third; Hazel Sudlow, honorable mention; and Paisley Cottrell, honorable mention.
Ansley Pearl Baldwell (age 10, grade 4) from Tri-Valley Middle School won first place in Division I for the poster contest. She also won first in the Division 1 category for the essay contest.
Jefferson Dhas (ages 13, grade 8) from Cornerstone won first place in the Division II category for the poster contest. Melinda Dhas (grade 10, age 16) from Cornerstone won first place in the Divison III category.
The Illinois State Awards for the coloring, poster and essay contests were also announced. The entries advance to the national contest, where the winners will be announced at the 150th National WCTU Convention Aug. 6-12 in Reno, Nevada.
Coloring winners are Avery Bardwell, first grade, first place; and Ellie Brothers, third grade, second place. The first place poster winner is Ansley Bardwell. The essay contest winners include Ansley Pearl Bardwell, second place, Division I (grades 4-6); Jefferson Dhas, first place, Division II (grades 7-9); and Melinda Dhas, first place, Division III (grades 10-12).
Photos: Gibault takes control early in downing Cornerstone Christian in Class 1A State Tournament semifinals | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/a-look-at-the-latest-central-illinois-academic-successes/article_90afb01c-0558-11ee-9d73-efb0be017a09.html | 2023-06-09T11:47:24 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/a-look-at-the-latest-central-illinois-academic-successes/article_90afb01c-0558-11ee-9d73-efb0be017a09.html |
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) — Elizabethton Engineering department employees rescued a pair of puppies found on Wednesday.
Matthew Balogh and Dave Carney started their day with a list of items to complete, including checking on a paving project at Powder Branch Road, a social media post from the city stated.
After checking on the project, Balogh and Carney reportedly took a shortcut back to the office that brought them out on Hart Road when the two saw something in the road that “brought a tug to their hearts.”
According to the post, two female puppies, most likely siblings around three-five months old, were found on the road with a need for rescue. After searching for the owners and knocking on doors of homes nearby, Carney decided his dog at home needed company.
“They looked lost but looked like they belonged together,” said Carney. “We brought them to the treatment plant and after thinking about what to do, I decided my dog at home needed some company so I took them home with me.”
Carney stated he contacted the animal shelter and provided a description of the puppies for a post on the shelter’s website in case the owners were looking for them.
The puppies received a flea bath from Carney and his partner Emma before settling down in a crate their other dog used occasionally, the post said.
“I am not sure if they really have a home and if no one claims them I might keep them,” said Carney. “They slept soundly through the night in that crate.” | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/city-of-elizabethton-employees-rescue-pair-of-puppies/ | 2023-06-09T11:52:37 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/city-of-elizabethton-employees-rescue-pair-of-puppies/ |
EAST NAPLES, Fla. — One person was flown to the hospital after a crash at Radio Road near Santa Barbara Boulevard in East Naples.
The crash that happened between two cars happened Thursday night around 10:12 p.m.
One person was taken by MedFlight to Gulf Coast Medical Center as a trauma alert.
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/collier-county/2023/06/09/one-flown-to-hospital-after-east-naples-crash/ | 2023-06-09T11:56:00 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/collier-county/2023/06/09/one-flown-to-hospital-after-east-naples-crash/ |
LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. — Deputies are searching for the driver involved in a hit-and-run crash Friday morning on Prospect Avenue in Lehigh Acres.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office told NBC2 a minivan crashed into several other cars and then took off on foot.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to contact LCSO.
The crash remains under investigation.
Count on NBC2 to provide updates as more information is released. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/06/09/driver-wanted-in-lehigh-acres-hit-and-run-crash/ | 2023-06-09T11:56:06 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/lee-county/2023/06/09/driver-wanted-in-lehigh-acres-hit-and-run-crash/ |
$711 million 'Live Local Act' most 'meaningful' housing law passed since 1992, says co-author
DAYTONA BEACH — There's no question affordable housing is in short supply in Florida, with more than 1 million of the state's renters handing over 35% – 40% of their income to landlords.
Volusia County has thousands of its own struggling renters, and on Thursday a Tallahassee-based government affairs consultant came to Daytona Beach to discuss a new law that's hoped to spark a surge in affordable housing development across Florida.
"We knew going into the 2023 (state legislative) session it would be a big session for housing," consultant Harold "Trey" Price told about 35 people gathered for a Volusia County Tiger Bay Club meeting at the Halifax River Yacht Club.
Florida state Senate President Kathleen Passidomo wanted to make housing her legacy, Price said. So the Republican from Naples got behind a sweeping bill that's now law and will funnel $711 million into affordable housing programs and incentives aimed at helping developers and state residents.
The 106-page law dubbed the "Live Local Act," more than doubles current funding for housing and rental programs. It increases tax credits and creates tax exemptions for affordable housing development. It provides incentives for investment in affordable housing and encourages mixed-use developments in struggling commercial areas.
Price, the former executive director of the Florida Housing Finance Corp., helped author the act. He said it's "the most comprehensive, meaningful housing legislation" since the Sadowski Act was passed in 1992.
The Sadowski Act created a dedicated revenue source to fund Florida’s affordable housing programs and the Catalyst Program for Training and Technical Assistance.
Local governments lose authority
The new law goes into effect July 1. Some local government officials are more disappointed and nervous than excited. Among other new restrictions, the law prohibits local governments from imposing rent controls, and it pre-empts local government rules on zoning, density, and building heights in some circumstances.
The law says local governments must approve multifamily and mixed-use residential developments in any area zoned for commercial, industrial, or mixed-use as long as at least 40% of the rental units will be affordable for at least 30 years. For mixed-use projects, at least 65% of the total square footage will have to be used for residential purposes.
A city or county won't be able to require a proposed multifamily development to obtain a zoning or land use change, special exception, conditional use approval, variance, or comprehensive plan amendment for changes in building height, zoning, and density.
Local governments also won't be able to restrict the height of a new development below the highest limit allowed for a commercial or residential building located within one mile of the new structure.
Price said he has heard some concerns about the height provision, and he expects some legal challenges will come before judges.
Another dramatic change is that a lot of affordable housing projects won't be coming to city commissions and county councils for approval. Starting July 1, the affordable housing projects that meet all the requirements of the new law must be approved only by the local government's staff.
Florida rents exceed many salaries
Many Florida jobs are tied to agriculture and tourism, and the pay in those industries is low for most employees. Those low-wage jobs, coupled with Florida's population growth, have helped create a dearth of affordable housing, Price said.
"We've got to find ways to keep workers here and house them," he said.
That's the purpose of the Live Local Act, to help employees live near their place of work, Price said. He said the law is designed to accelerate workforce housing construction and expand housing options for low- and medium-income employees.
The measure is aimed at people such as couples who together earn less than $50,000 per year, and families of four with a household income of less than $62,000.
New law could expand affordable housing:Florida's new affordable housing law strips power from local government officials
An out-of-the-box thinking solution:Company pitches recycled shipping containers as solution to affordable housing crisis
State legislators are hoping the law gets more market-rate housing developers to add affordable apartments and houses to their projects, Price said. He's been talking to some market-rate developers who want to learn more.
Developers can get property tax exemptions of 75% – 100% for affordable housing projects, he said.
You can reach Eileen at Eileen.Zaffiro@news-jrnl.com | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/06/09/new-law-aims-to-make-housing-more-affordable-for-floridas-working-poor/70296386007/ | 2023-06-09T12:23:51 | 0 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/06/09/new-law-aims-to-make-housing-more-affordable-for-floridas-working-poor/70296386007/ |
VOLUSIA
Hungry? Volusia County Schools will offer free breakfast, lunch for children this summer
Mark Harper
The Daytona Beach News-Journal
Starting Monday, Volusia County Schools will be offering free breakfast and lunch on weekdays at its School Way Cafés in 40 schools.
Most of the cafés will operate starting on Monday, June 12, and continuing through Thursday, July 27. Four will run through August 3. Times vary at different locations but can be found using the Summer BreakSpot search tool.
Here is a list of school cafes that are participating:
Daytona Beach
- Campbell Middle School, 625 S. Keech St., Daytona Beach, FL 32114 (June 12 - July 20)
- Champion Elementary, 921 Tournament Dr., Daytona Beach, FL 32114 (June 12-Aug. 3)
- David C. Hinson Sr. Middle, 1860 N. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32117 (June 12 - July 27)
- Mainland High, 1255 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114 (June 12 - July 27)
- Palm Terrace Elementary, 1825 Dunn Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32114 (June 12 - June 29)
- R.J. Longstreet Elementary, 2745 S. Peninsula Dr., Daytona Beach, FL 32118 (June 12 - July 27)
- Seabreeze High School, 2700 N. Oleander Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32118 (July 5 - July 27)
- Turie T. Small Elementary, 800 South Street, Daytona Beach, FL 32114 (June 12 - July 27)
- Westside Elementary, 1210 Jimmy Ann Dr. Daytona Beach, FL, 32117 (June 12 - July 27)
DeBary
- DeBary Elementary, 88 W. Highbanks Rd., DeBary, FL 32713 (June 12 - Aug. 3)
DeLand
- DeLand High, 800 North Hill Ave., DeLand, FL 32724 (June 12 - July 27)
- Edith I. Starke Elementary, 730 S. Parsons Ave., DeLand, FL 32720 (July 5 - July 27)
- Freedom Elementary, 1395 S. Blue Lake Ave., DeLand, FL 32724 (June 12 - Aug. 3)
- George Marks Elementary, 1000 N. Garfield Ave., DeLand, FL 32724 (June 12 - July 27)
Deltona
- Deltona High, 100 Wolf Pack Run, Deltona, FL 32725 (June 12 - July 27)
- Deltona Lakes Elementary, 2135 Providence Blvd., Deltona, FL 32725 (June 12 - July 27)
- Deltona Middle, 250 Enterprise Rd., Deltona, FL 32725 (June 12 - July 27)
- Discovery Elementary, 975 Abagail Dr., Deltona, FL 32725 (July 5 - July 27)
- Friendship Elementary, 2746 Fulford St., Deltona, FL 32738 (June 12 - Aug. 3)
- Pine Ridge High, 926 Howland Blvd., Deltona, FL 32738 (July 5 - July 27)
- Pride Elementary, 1100 Learning Ln., Deltona, FL 32738 (June 12 - July 27)
- Spirit Elementary, 1500 Meadowlark Dr., Deltona, FL 32725 (June 12 - July 27)
- Sunrise Elementary, 3155 Phonetia Dr., Deltona, FL 32738 (July 5 - July 27)
Edgewater
- Edgewater Public Elementary, 801 S. Old County Rd., Edgewater, FL 32132 (June 12 - July 27)
- Indian River Elementary, 650 Roberts Rd., Edgewater, FL 32141 (June 12 – Aug. 3)
Holly Hill
- Holly Hill School, 1500 Center Ave., Holly Hill, FL 32117 (June 12 - July 27)
Lake Helen
- Volusia Pines Elementary, 500 E. Kicklighter Rd., Lake Helen, FL 32744 (June 12 - June 29)
New Smyrna Beach
- Chisholm Elementary, 557 Ronnoc Ln., New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 (June 12 - June 15)
- Coronado Elementary, 3550 Michigan Ave., New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169 (June 12 - July 27)
- New Smyrna Beach High, 1015 10th St., New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 (July 5 - July 27)
Orange City
- Orange City Elementary, 555 E. University Ave., Orange City, FL 32763 (June 12 - July 27)
- University High, 1000 W. Rhode Island Ave., Orange City, FL 32763 (July 5 - July 27)
Ormond Beach
- Pathways Elementary, 2100 Airport Rd., Ormond Beach, FL 32174 (June 12 - July 27)
Osteen
- Osteen Elementary, 500 Doyle Rd., Osteen, FL 32764 (June 12 - July 27)
Pierson
- Pierson Elementary, 657 N. Center St., Pierson, FL 32180 (July 5 - July 27)
- T. Dewitt Taylor Middle/High, 100 E. Washington Ave., Pierson, FL 32180 (June 12 - July 27)
Port Orange
- Atlantic High, 1250 Reed Canal Rd., Port Orange, FL 32129 (June 12 - July 27)
- Cypress Creek Elementary, 6100 S. Williamson Blvd., Port Orange, FL 32128 (June 12 - July 27)
- Silver Sands Middle, 1300 Herbert St., Port Orange, FL 32129 (June 12 - Aug. 3)
- Spruce Creek Elementary, 642 Taylor Rd., Port Orange, FL 32127 (June 12 - July 27) | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/06/09/where-can-volusia-county-schools-students-get-free-breakfast-lunch/70303250007/ | 2023-06-09T12:23:57 | 1 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/06/09/where-can-volusia-county-schools-students-get-free-breakfast-lunch/70303250007/ |
NOAA releases comments on proposed aquaculture zones, including off Sarasota County shores
Opponents of proposed aquaculture project off south Sarasota County to rally Tuesday in Venice, demand EPA pull permit after proposed project changes
Public comments on federal plans to create commercial aquaculture sites in the Gulf of Mexico – including areas offshore of Collier, Sarasota and Pinellas counties – were mostly negative and many of those that originated from Southwest Florida targeted a proposed demonstration project off of Sarasota County, rather than the more general issue of the potential for fish farming off Florida's west coast.
The comments were released in a 455-page document on May 2 by NOAA. The projected release date for a comprehensive environmental review is in early 2024.
Between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration solicited comments on the proposed aquaculture opportunity areas as it started developing a review of how those potential aquaculture areas would impact the environment.
Ocean Era, a company based in Hawaii ,has been pursuing an offshore demonstration project that would be in federal waters south of Venice and north of Englewood.
Proposed changes to the way the Ocean Era fish confinement net pen would be anchored to the seafloor and the type of fish cultivated prompted opponents to urge the Environmental Protection Agency to void a wastewater discharge permit issued.
Representatives of many of the opposing groups will rally at a press conference set for 11:30 a.m. June 13 at Maxine Barritt Park, 1800 Harbor Drive S., Venice, designed to draw attention to that effort.
Permits for both the overall Aquaculture Opportunity Area concept and the Ocean Era demonstration project are currently being challenged in separate federal court cases.
Here’s a look at the recent comments, as well as the status of the Ocean Era project.
Where the Ocean Era project stands
Ocean Era is contemplating two changes to its proposed demonstration project off of south Sarasota County.
One would change the type of net pet from a single anchor point on a swivel to a more traditional four-corner anchor system.
The other is a change in the type of fish raised from Alamco Jack to Redfish.
Dennis Peters, executive director of Gulfstream Aquaculture and a partner of Neil Anthony Sims, CEO of Ocean Era Inc., on Velella Epsilon, said as part of the NOAA grant, a manufacturer to create the swivel-point mooring system for a single net pen couldn't be found, while the four-point anchored pens are abundant.
“It’s still submersible, so we still raise it up and down to avoid storm conditions,” Peters said.
Sims has used the swivel point mooring for previous Ocean Era projects in the Pacific Ocean.
The change from Alamco jack to redfish is based on economics, Peters said.
“There’s been a definite drop in market demand for the Alamco jack and an increase in redfish,” Peters said, adding that over the last several years hard freezes in Gulf Coast states where commercial fishermen raise redfish on land-based ponds have resulted in reduced output.
Because of that, he said, traditional redfish growers are looking for offshore options.
“Everything points to the fact that it’s more productive, it's more advantageous in net pens than in ponds,” Peters said.
Because redfish grow slower, the fish will likely be smaller than Alamco jack would have been.
The study period for the Ocean Era project is 10 to 12 months.
Marianne Cufone, an environmental attorney who is executive director of the Recirculating Farms Coalition, who also represents the nonprofit Don’t Cage Our Oceans, questioned whether both changes would result in Ocean Era needing to apply for new permits.
“To me that is a substantially different project than they are awarded permits for,” she said.
A spokesman with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said via email that while the net pen change has been discussed, no formal application to modify the net pen has been made. Following an application, officials at the Jacksonville District of the Army Corps of Engineers would discuss the next steps with both Ocean Era and related agencies.
Why the interest in offshore aquaculture?
The process of finding aquaculture opportunity areas is in response to the May 7, 2020 Executive Order on “Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness And Economic Growth.”
The goal was to identify areas between 500 and 2,000 acres in size that meet industry requirements for all types of aquaculture.
The United States Aquaculture Atlas, a document released in November 2021 by NOAA, identified potential aquaculture opportunity areas, referenced the growing demand for seafood – which comprises roughly 20% of animal protein consumed – as the global population increases from an estimated 7.9 billion people to 8.5 billion people by 2030. It also documents overharvesting of a dwindling fish stock as a main reason to pursue offshore aquaculture.
In 2020, the global value of aquaculture production was $275 billion while U.S production was valued at only $1.3 billion.
About 80% of the comments submitted opposed the identification of the aquaculture opportunity areas, while 49.5% of those who submitted comments identified themselves as being from Florida.
However, not all respondents noted where they were from.
Many who objected to aquaculture projects cited raising finfish in net pens. There was a more favorable response to raising shellfish.
Recreational fishermen voiced a concern about losing access to fishing grounds, while individuals and businesses already part of the aquaculture industry supported identifying areas in the Gulf of Mexico.
What the comments said
NOAA Fisheries received 216 total written and verbal comments, with 173 – or 80.1% − opposed to the opportunity zones in some way. Ten comments expressed support.
Seven comments addressed permits issues for the Ocean Era project.
A petition with 8,272 signatures submitted by the nonprofit Don’t Cage Our Oceans that opposed “aquaculture facilities everywhere” was counted as one submission, as was a petition submitted by Healthy Gulf that was signed by 242 people.
The largest number of comments raised concern over potential ecological impacts of finfish net pens – specifically a concentration of fish waste and uneaten fish food promoting the growth of harmful algal blooms, such as red tide.
Some submissions included the suggestion of establishing artificial reefs under net pens, to help treat fish waste.
Several comments also raised concern about safety of finfish net pens during storms, as well as concerns about potential diseases spread among the farm-raised fish.
Positive comments came from those involved in the promotion and development of offshore aquaculture.
Donna Lanzetta, CEO and founder of Manna Fish Farms – a New York-based company that is seeking approval of an operational aquaculture project that produces redfish, striped bass and other species at an 105-acre site south of Pensacola – wrote that land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (referred to as RAS) aren't reasonable, partly because “growing fish to market size in RAS at a commercial scale is an entirely different form of aquaculture, with different challenges and a completely different business model."
Manna Fish Farms proposes to start with two net pens in the Gulf of Mexico and then expand.
Key permits face court challenges
Both a nationwide aquaculture permit issued in January 2021 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a permit issued by the EPA in June 2022 for the wastewater discharged by the Ocean Era demonstration project are being challenged in federal court.
Related:EPA grants permit for Ocean Era aquaculture demonstration project off of Sarasota County
The Center for Food Safety is spearheading the suit against the nationwide permit, alleging it violates the Endangered Species Act.
The challenge to the EPA permit for Ocean Era was filed in federal appeals court on Sept. 27 by a coalition of seven groups, led by Washington, D.C.-based Food & Water Watch. Included in that group are both Suncoast Waterkeeper and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper.
While offshore cultivation of shellfish such as oysters and clams has been widely embraced because the bivalves help filter water, Cufone contends that establishing offshore aquaculture for finfish is not needed.
“We already have a lot of existing industries that rely on the marine environment,” Cufone said. “Adding one more industry that is wildly unpopular we could say – with an 80% thumbs down score – is not really necessary.” | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/06/09/opinion-on-project-off-sarasota-county-skews-aquaculture-comments/70242174007/ | 2023-06-09T12:26:02 | 0 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/sarasota/2023/06/09/opinion-on-project-off-sarasota-county-skews-aquaculture-comments/70242174007/ |
TUCKER, Ga. — A pedestrian was been struck and killed by a vehicle in Tucker early Friday morning.
Right now, there is very little additional information.
However, DeKalb County Police briefly closed off the intersection of Brockett Road and Lawrenceville Highway where the incident took place.
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
Also download the 11Alive News app and sign up to receive alerts for the latest on this story and other breaking news in Atlanta and north Georgia. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/pedestrian-hit-killed-tucker-brockett-road/85-2afa449e-ecb6-45b4-9688-2a32bcadb4a2 | 2023-06-09T12:26:08 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/pedestrian-hit-killed-tucker-brockett-road/85-2afa449e-ecb6-45b4-9688-2a32bcadb4a2 |
ADAMS COUNTY, Pa. — The coroner responded to an overnight crash in Adams County, 911 Dispatch confirmed this morning.
According to Dispatch, the crash occurred in the 900 block of Frederick Pike and involved only one car.
It is unclear at this time if anyone was injured or killed in the crash.
The Littlestown Police Department and the Alpha Fire Company responded to the scene.
This is a developing story. FOX43 will provide updates as more information becomes available. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/coroner-called-adams-county-crash-frederick-pike/521-149b4ca4-9597-4406-a69b-eff24b6500bd | 2023-06-09T12:30:00 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/coroner-called-adams-county-crash-frederick-pike/521-149b4ca4-9597-4406-a69b-eff24b6500bd |
BURTON, Mich. (WJRT) - A fire on Schumacher Street in Burton destroyed a house and detached garage Thursday evening.
Firefighters from Burton, Grand Blanc Township, Mundy Township and Flint Township all responded to the fire in the 1000 block of Schumacher Street near Fenton Road around 4 p.m.
Burton Fire Chief Kirk Wilkinson said everyone escaped the home safely, but the residence and a detached garage were a total loss.
Investigators will continue looking into what started the fire. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/fire-destroys-house-and-detached-garage-in-burton/article_33358d4c-06bd-11ee-b3bd-2382d35e186e.html | 2023-06-09T12:31:10 | 0 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/fire-destroys-house-and-detached-garage-in-burton/article_33358d4c-06bd-11ee-b3bd-2382d35e186e.html |
FLINT, Mich. (WJRT) - It's been a little under two months since the first of more than 1,900 structures in Genesee County came down.
Over $40 million from local and state sources have been secured to ensure up to 2,000 structures are demolished through this program. The Genesee County Land Bank's blight removal program aims to clear vacant and blighted structures affecting neighborhoods.
"We're excited to see it go down. This house has been vacant for seven years," said Flint resident Paul Farber.
He and his wife are happy to see the demolition of the blighted structure that sat next to his home for the majority of his time in this Flint neighborhood.
"I've lived in this house for eight years," he said.
The Land Bank is moving steadily toward demolishing up to 2,000 blighted structures:
- Funded demolitions with current funding -1,910 structures
- Demolitions contracted and in progress - 337 structures
- Blighted structures knocked down - 110 structures
- Demolitions preparing to bid - 178 structures
It's important for the land bank to keep residents updated with the progress and numbers because blight removal has been a huge concern in the Flint community.
"It's an accountability factor for the land bank. We're getting money from various sources and we need to be held accountable, so this project is done," said Jonathon Mateen, demolition manager for the land bank.
With the impact this program is making on neighborhoods, the land bank wants to stay on track.
"Our goals for 2023 is to have 583 properties demolished and to have 756 properties bid out total," said Mateen.
Farber and his wife look forward to beautifying what has been torn down.
"We'll get the vacant lot and build a garden," he said.
Stay updated with the scheduled demolitions on the Land Bank's Flint Property Portal. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/genesee-county-land-bank-on-track-with-demolition-project/article_150553f8-0649-11ee-907d-fbf09e7f83a1.html | 2023-06-09T12:31:16 | 1 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/genesee-county-land-bank-on-track-with-demolition-project/article_150553f8-0649-11ee-907d-fbf09e7f83a1.html |
City axes housing ballot initiative, offers help to rewrite
CHARLEVOIX — Despite having collected 350 registered voter’s signatures, a Charlevoix ballot initiative attempting to secure a piece of city-owned property near Ferry Beach for year-round housing has failed to meet the necessary requirements and won’t appear in the November election.
However, Charlevoix’s city council has given permission for their city attorney to work with volunteers spearheading the initiative toward rewriting the proposal’s language, with a deadline of Aug. 1 if there is any possibility of it being approved for the local ballot this fall.
There were several issues with the current ballot initiative discussed at the city council meeting on June 5. Most notably, in its current form, the language was determined to be contrary to the city charter in its attempt to allocate funds, resulting in a recommendation that it not be included in the election by both the city clerk and the city attorney.
The citizen-driven ballot initiative, led by former Charlevoix Mayor Luther Kurtz, had sought to decide the future fate of the old department of public works property at the corner of Stover Road and Ferry Avenue, across from the city's boat launch.
Since the city's public works began its move from the location in 2021, leaving a vacant corner lot with million-dollar views of Lake Charlevoix, the topic of what to do with the publicly-owned prime piece of real estate has been much discussed among city officials and the surrounding residents. A study was commissioned by the city last year in which use of the land as park space was recommended in alignment with the wishes of the majority of Charlevoixians surveyed at the time.
More:Charlevoix petition circulating for use of city land as year round housing
Subscribe:Check out our latest offers and read the local news that matters to you
However, motivated by the community's pervasive lack of year-round housing, a group of citizens — including Tom Kirinovic, Boogie Carlson, Sherm Chamberlain and Shirley Gibson — gathered forces to recommend an ordinance that could be voted on by the people of Charlevoix designating the piece of land be used for housing with a deed restriction requiring no short-term rentals or seasonal housing would be allowed.
Many citizens spoke during public comment on June 5 on the perceived lack of due process surrounding the ballot initiative, with some suggesting the ballot language had been changed since collection of the signatures, resulting in the public not knowing what they agreed to support.
The city attorney and clerk also noted a "procedural deficiency" among the reasons for deeming the ballot proposal "insufficient" as being the lack of a statement attesting "that each signer had an opportunity before signing to read the full text of the ordinance proposed or sought to be considered."
Some residents spoke at the meeting in support of the property being used as park land. Dennis Halverson, who owns property adjacent to the city property, wrote to the Courier, "Our Friends of Ferry Beach organization is growing weekly. We believe parkland is a significant community resource. The sale of this property would permanently deprive our community of any future improvements or expansion of Ferry Beach Park."
Halverson also commented, “Eventually city voters will be asked if more high end condos or more park space is a better long term direction for the city. The touted deed restrictions for this property by the developers are just lipstick. Are the city police going to be doing bed checks every night? This is a joke.”
At the meeting, Kurtz spoke to council urging them to allow the proposal on the ballot in its current form, stating, "Even the mayor ran on the idea that he wanted the people to vote on what this property should be used for. Three hundred and fifty of your constituents said they wanted the people to vote on this."
He also suggested council simply adopt the ordinance requiring the land be used for year-round housing without a vote, saying, "I ask council to just vote to adopt this ordinance at the next meeting ... we were trying to give you the opportunity to see what the public wanted."
Charlevoix Mayor Lyle Gennett, who ran his mayoral campaign on the property use being voted on, supported the recommendation from the city clerk and city attorney to not accept the ballot proposal in its current form.
"I wanted this to go to vote of the people, but I want everyone to understand completely what direction this is going. If this has to take another year so be it. I’m sorry it’s turned out this way but that’s the way it is, it is important for everybody to understand what this is," he said, adding, "I appreciate what everybody did — that’s a lot of signatures, but I would like everybody to be on the same page."
Other members of the public commented on the need for housing.
Charlevoix resident John Keiser said, "We have a real problem. We need to solve the problems and come up with solutions. We need to get workplace housing and we need to do it soon."
After the recommendations to not approve the ballot proposal were presented by the city attorney with warnings that if it were approved it would likely be challenged in court, council voted in agreement with the recommendation, but added the caveat that the attorney could help work to create new ballot language with the initiative's volunteers.
The vote, however, was not unanimous. Council members Shane Cole and Aaron Hagen voted no.
According to the city charter, initiative and referendum petitions must be signed by 15 percent of the registered voters of the city, so the group, once again, will need to obtain at least 345 signatures out of the possible 2,300 voting residents to reach the requirement for placement on the ballot.
The next regularly scheduled city council meeting is at 6 p.m on June 19 at Charlevoix City Hall.
— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231)675-0099 or adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com. Follow her on Twitter, @adoylenews. | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/charlevoix/2023/06/09/charlevoix-city-council-axes-a-housing-ballot-initiative-offers-help-to-rewrite-the-proposal/70291361007/ | 2023-06-09T12:33:59 | 1 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/charlevoix/2023/06/09/charlevoix-city-council-axes-a-housing-ballot-initiative-offers-help-to-rewrite-the-proposal/70291361007/ |
Proposed city budget would include a small decline in taxes despite rise in spending
GAYLORD — The Gaylord City Council will consider adopting a proposed budget of nearly $11.5 million for next year at a 7 p.m. meeting in city hall on June 12.
The city, which runs on a fiscal year that begins July 1 and ends on the next June 30, is currently operating under a budget of $10.4 million for 2022-23. Owners of a home with a market value of $100,000 that translates into a taxable value of $50,000, paid $1,136 in property taxes this year to fund operations.
If the new budget is adopted as proposed, those same homeowners would pay about $1,070 in property taxes to fund city operations for 2023-24, according to city manager Kim Awrey.
Even though the budget is increasing, the taxes will decline slightly because the city took in $311,000 in marijuana tax revenue.
"We had anticipated only getting a couple of hundred thousand dollars (from the cannabis tax). We also saw an increase in shared revenue from the state. We are dropping the police and fire millage by one mill," said Awrey.
She noted that council has had a work session in which it reviewed the 2023-24 spending plan on a line-by-line basis.
"There was no indication they wanted to see anything different," added Awrey.
The police department makes up the largest part of the budget, with expenditures set for $2.4 million next year. The department currently has 12 full-time employees.
The department of public works (DPW), which has eight full time and three part-time workers, is the second biggest item. DPW is responsible for snow removal, maintenance of all city buildings and parks, and the elk herd.
There are a couple of street projects scheduled for completion this year. One involves Clover Drive and Random Lane. Awrey said that project should be completed by the end of the month.
"We will also do two blocks of North Elm and one block of Sheldon, and that is scheduled to start in August and should be done by the fall," Awrey said.
SubscribeCheck out our latest offers and read to local news that matters to you
Next year, the city is looking to start work on the improvements for the area that houses the elk herd. Awrey said the city is still trying to secure a Sparks grant from the Department of Natural Resources for the park, which is expected to cost just under $1 million when completed.
Awrey said council set aside $150,000 in this year's budget for the park and will add another $150,000 to it next year. Plans call for the construction of a parking area, pavilion with indoor bathrooms along with a heated ADA-compliant elk viewing platform.
The public will be able to comment on the budget at the meeting.
— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com. | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2023/06/09/proposed-city-budget-would-include-a-small-decline-in-taxes-despite-rise-in-spending/70294734007/ | 2023-06-09T12:34:05 | 0 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/gaylord/2023/06/09/proposed-city-budget-would-include-a-small-decline-in-taxes-despite-rise-in-spending/70294734007/ |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Rock Springs, a popular spring run and swimming hole in Kelly Park, will remain closed into the weekend due to alligator activity, according to Orange County Parks and Recreation.
In an update Thursday, the county stated Kelly Park would stay open at full capacity, adding the closure of the springs was meant for the safety of guests.
The waterfront is set to reopen Sunday at the earliest, according to the county.
🛑 For the safety of our guests, @OrangeCoParksFL #KellyPark’s #RockSprings is closed through Saturday 6/10 due to alligator activity. The park remains open daily until capacity is reached. pic.twitter.com/rJXKRrPqZ5
— Orange County Parks and Recreation (@OrangeCoParksFL) June 8, 2023
Though the county has made no correlation of the alligator activity and alligator breeding season, it’s about that time regardless.
In nature, alligators begin courting each other in early April and mating happens in May or June, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Nesting season comes in late June or early July, with hatching set from mid-August to early September.
[TRENDING: Become a News 6 Insider]
News 6 spoke with Gatorland experts when last year’s alligator breeding season rolled around. According to them, alligators will be more prone to move among Florida’s many bodies of water, some of which have since been turned into attractions.
Here are some quick tips from Gatorland to stay aware and safe in this context:
- Alligators can be very territorial and many are on the move looking for mates.
- When water levels are low, this also puts alligators on the move.
- Use extra caution in the morning or evening hours in shallow water, as alligators may think the splashing is an animal at the water’s edge.
- Stay away from alligators you see in the wild and do not feed them.
- Remember, it is against the law in Florida to feed or harass an alligator in the wild.
- Report any alligator concerns by contacting FWC.
You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/09/kelly-parks-rock-springs-closed-due-to-gators/ | 2023-06-09T12:34:06 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/09/kelly-parks-rock-springs-closed-due-to-gators/ |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A large hole in a 55 and older community in Orange County is forcing residents out of their homes.
Neighbors said the hole has forced them to live out of hotels for weeks.
News 6 visited the Emerald Villas Apartments in Pine Hills on Thursday.
While the hole was filled, people living there said they have not been told they can return home. They’ve also been in and out of three hotels.
[TRENDING: Become a News 6 Insider]
Residents also said they’re still paying rent and electricity for homes they’re not living in.
News 6 reached out to the complex’s management for comment but has not received a response.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/09/large-hole-forces-residents-out-of-55-community-in-orange-county/ | 2023-06-09T12:34:12 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/09/large-hole-forces-residents-out-of-55-community-in-orange-county/ |
Greenville County nonprofit offering $50 in vouchers for seniors for area farmers markets
A nonprofit is distributing $50 in vouchers to qualifying seniors in Greenville County as part of the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).
"Food is definitely one of the pretty significant challenges for folks as they get older in this regard," Andrea Smith, executive director of Senior Action, said. "Their money is pretty slim. There's a high percentage of seniors that are living paycheck to paycheck, and sometimes they have to make choices about do they buy their medicine or do they get healthy food."
Senior Action is a nonprofit organization in Greenville devoted to keeping adults over the age of 55 active and healthy.
The vouchers are valid until October 2023 and can be used to purchase fresh produce at approved local farmers' markets, including Beechwood Farms, Fountain Inn Farmers Market, Simpsonville Farmers Market, TD Saturday Market, and the Travelers Rest Farmers Market.
Last year, the program gave out 700 vouchers but only 50% were used.
Smith said she wants to get the redemption rate higher. Lack of transportation, losing the voucher or farmers not accepting the voucher are obstacles that have added to a lower redemption rate.
"If we could get more farmers participating in a year, that gives people more opportunities to use the vouchers," Smith said.
Black farmers:Each of his perfect peaches is a tribute to the legacy of Black farming in South Carolina
How to apply for Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
Applicants must be Greenville County residents, show a driver’s license or government-issued ID, be at least 60 years old and meet all eligibility & income requirements.
Applications must be completed in person at one of the distribution events. Anyone who is unable to apply in person may designate an authorized representative (AR) to apply on their behalf. Vouchers are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Qualifying seniors can apply for vouchers at the following sites:
- Simpsonville Activity & Senior Center (310 W Curtis St., Simpsonville) Wednesday, June 7, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Travelers Rest City Hall (125 Trailblazer Dr, Travelers Rest) Thursday, June 8, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Berea Community Center (6 Hunts Bridge Road, Greenville) Monday, June 12, 1-5 p.m.
- Senior Action (3715 E North Street, Greenville) Wednesday, June 1, 1-5 p.m.
Royale Bonds covers affordable housing and gentrification for the Greenville News. | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/greenville-farmers-markets-nonprofit-vouchers-senior-action/70294021007/ | 2023-06-09T12:41:35 | 1 | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/greenville-farmers-markets-nonprofit-vouchers-senior-action/70294021007/ |
Juneteenth in Greenville, Anderson: Where to celebrate the holiday dedicated to freedom
- Greenville and Anderson counties plan to hold empowering events for Juneteenth.
- Juneteenth is the oldest Black holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved Black people.
- Celebrations honoring Black culture now are held in cities and communities across the country.
Greenville and the surrounding area are celebrating Juneteenth with empowering programs such as job fairs and economic summits to help people improve their lives, careers and appreciate Black history in America.
Activities surrounding Juneteenth will begin in Greenville and Anderson counties on Thursday, June 15. Greenville will hold a job fair and an economic summit on June 15 and Pendleton plans to host a fundraiser featuring card games, bingo, food, music and more. Money raised will go to future educational efforts for The Pendleton Foundation for Black History & Culture.
Juneteenth is the oldest Black holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved Black people in America. The first celebration began on June 19, 1865, when enslaved people learned about their freedom from federal troops who arrived in Galveston, Texas. It was more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863.
Celebrations honoring Black culture now are held in cities and communities across the country. The day was first recognized as a federal holiday in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed it into law.
The holiday is observed on June 19 to coincide with the first holiday which is how it became known as Juneteenth.
Here are the ways to honor the holiday and learn more about Juneteenth in Greenville and Anderson counties:
Sizzling Summer:Greenville area street concerts and festivals: Here's what's happening this summer.
15 Minutes With ….Reuben Hays of Juneteenth GVL
Greenville Juneteenth Celebrations
- Juneteenth Job Fair – 225 S. Pleasantburg Ave. – 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. June 15Corporate representatives from local manufacturers such as BMW, Milliken, Thermo King and more will be onsite with information on career possibilities. Event attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their resumes and other hiring materials necessary to discuss employment opportunities. This event is hosted by Juneteenth GVL and SC Works Greenville.
- Black Economic Mobility Summit – Greenville Convention Center, 1 Exposition Drive – 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. June 15Conversations around generational wealth, financial freedom and economic mobility are at the forefront of this event hosted by Greenville Racial Equity and Economic Mobility Commission. The summit will welcome business leaders from around the country and community to discuss and share information on organizing, supporting and fostering economic growth and relief. General admission into the event is free, as VIP tickets already have sold out.
- 2nd Annual Juneteenth GVL Mega Fest – Main and Broad Streets downtown Greenville – noon until 10 p.m. June 17Come out and enjoy live music, merchandise vendors, food, a kid's zone and more as the streets of downtown Greenville will be packed for the 2nd annual Juneteenth GVL Mega Fest. The event is free and will feature a day full of cultural showcases.
- Juneteenth Celebration – 415 Hampton Ave. – 4 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. June 19 Faith-based music, spoken word, a bounce house for the children, food and more are happening at the Matoon Presbyterian Church and its celebration of Juneteenth. This year's theme is entitled: When I liberate myself, I help liberate others. This event is free.
- K5 Cycling & Yoga with Vets – 20 E. Broad St. – 7 a.m. June 17 Join Juneteenth GVL and their 5K ride alongside the veterans of the Upstate as the ride beginning at the Camperdown Plaza will include two cycle bar rides beginning at 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Afterward, a yoga with vets session begins at 10:45 a.m. and is open to all. Those interested in biking can sign up at juneteenthgvl.org.
- The Royal Gala – 1 Exposition Dr. – 7 p.m. until midnight June 17Come dressed to impress at The Royal Gala, the scholarship festival and fundraiser organized by Juneteenth GVL, Inc. which exists to support the annual Mr. and Miss Juneteenth scholarship program. This is a black-tie affair and will be an evening filled with funk, R&B, laughter and togetherness in celebration of Black culture and progress. Tickets begin at $125, and also include a three-course meal.
Flowers for Sell:West Greenville soon to lose oldest Black-woman-owned florist after 35 years in business
Anderson Juneteenth Celebrations
- African American Leadership Society Juneteenth Gala – 604 N. Murray Ave. (Anderson) June 16 – 6:30 p.m.The United Way of AndersonCounty has announced plans to host a Juneteenth Gala, according to Carol Burdette, executive director. Details of the event will feature an awards ceremony, and feature keynote speaker Angela Williams, an Anderson native and CEO of United Way Worldwide. Tickets are $65 per person and tickets can be found at unitedwayofanderson.org.
- AnMed Juneteenth "The Unveiling" – 2000 E. Greenville St. (Anderson) – 5 p.m. June 19Join Herman Keith, the I AM Strong Dance Company and AnMed as their unveiling of a sculpture Keith created of wood and metal that depicts a tribute to the five lynching victims in Anderson. The event is a part of the Equal Justice Initiative and hosted by the Anderson Area Remembrance and Reconciliation Initiative and AnMed Office of Diversity. "We believe this incredible work of art will inspire conversations and experiences that reinforce our common virtues," said Juana Slade, chief diversity officer for AnMed. "This coincidental unveiling is AnMed's timely observance of Juneteenth."
- Juneteenth Celebrating Freedom Fundraiser – 145 Town St. (Pendleton) – 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. June 15Expect to see card games, bingo, food, music and prizes given away at the Pendleton Community Center. The event is accepting $10 donations to participate in the card games/tournaments as a fundraiser toward programming future educational efforts for The Pendleton Foundation for Black History & Culture.
- Celebrating Juneteenth Black Business Expo & Job Fair – 2106 Bolt Drive (Belton) – 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. June 17This event hosted at the Welfare Baptist Church and sponsored by Generation 4 will offer business empowerment workshops alongside business and food vendors with a guest comedian and job opportunities with local manufacturers.
If you have a Juneteenth event you'd like to have added to this list, or if there is something we missed, please email it to ajackson@gannett.com.
– A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and more for The Greenville News and Anderson Independent Mail. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on Twitter @ajhappened. | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/juneteenth-greenville-anderson-sc-events-black-economics-summit-festival-gala/70292873007/ | 2023-06-09T12:41:41 | 1 | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/juneteenth-greenville-anderson-sc-events-black-economics-summit-festival-gala/70292873007/ |
For a man consumed by ambition, paranoia and murderous rage, Cole Conrad sounded remarkably upbeat on the phone Tuesday.
Probably because he was speaking as himself — a young actor about to start a summer tour — and not as his character, the Scottish lord Macbeth.
Conrad plays the title character in Shakespeare’s tragedy, starting today with an outdoor performance in Bong State Recreation Area.
“It’s such a fun thing to do, to travel all across the state to the different parks,” Conrad said of the Summit Players Theatre tour.
The troupe will take “Macbeth” to 22 Wisconsin state parks, hitting all four corners of the state before finishing on Aug. 19 in nearby Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee.
Performing outside “is a unique experience,” Conrad said, calling on a lunch break from his day job in Racine. “You perform in different kinds of terrain. You’ll be in a clearing in an open field one day and then in the middle of a forest at the next park.”
People are also reading…
Conrad, who first performed with Summit Players in 2021, is thrilled to be back.
“The team is absolutely great, and it’s so much fun to be working with everyone,” he said.
This is his first time taking on the doomed character Macbeth, though the 2019 University of Wisconsin-Parkside theater graduate does have experience with the Bard’s plays.
“Macbeth is a challenge,” he said. “He’s a very complex character, and he does very bad things. The challenge is making the audience connect with him, to see him as a person and why he makes those choices.”
Aside from all the murdering, Conrad relates to Macbeth on a personal level.
“Everyone can relate to wanting something very badly,” he said. “Macbeth wants to be king of Scotland, and he talks about not having a reason for wanting to be king, it’s just that he has ambition.”
And while “Macbeth” is a tragedy, the Summit Players’ production of the show is not.
“We try to make it a fun, outdoor show,” Conrad explained. “We play up the parts that are funny, which contrasts with the heavy stuff that comes later.”
‘Macbeth’ for kids
Conrad — a Burlington native now living on Kenosha’s northside — said this version of “Macbeth” is family friendly: “We don’t lean into anything too gruesome. It’s a blood-free zone.”
Also, he said, the pre-show workshop “is great, for kids and adults. We walk everyone through the plot, and they even get to act out different parts of the story.”
This version of “Macbeth,” while still tragic, is told “like a scary story around a campfire,” Conrad said. “Scary stories can be fun, and we can all learn something. We get to experience all that drama without having to do anything terrible ourselves.”
Conrad has “always liked this play. It’s a fun, spooky story, and it’s always very fun to track ‘how mentally unhinged is Macbeth as this point?’ He starts seeing things, like witches and ghosts, and you wonder, ‘how much of that is in his head? Or is this really supernatural?’ You can make a strong case either way.”
Audience members, he said, will find this version of “Macbeth” is “more fun than you might think. And while you might not understand every single word, you will understand what’s going on. You won’t be confused.”
One show, 22 parks
The Summit Players tour hits the road after its Bong performance, visiting parks including Blue Mound State Park near Madison, on June 18; Kohler-Andrae in Sheboygan on July 15; and Mirror Lake, near Wisconsin Dells, on July 22.
“We try to bring free theater to as much of the state as we can,” Conrad said.
While he enjoys the entire tour, if pressed, he admits a particular fondness for Copper Falls State Park in northwestern Wisconsin, near Lake Superior, where the troupe performs on July 7. “It’s so beautiful there,” he said, “and we have time to go hiking in the morning, before the show.”
Other favorites include Mirror Lake and Rib Mountain, near Wausau, where “Macbeth” is slated for July 14.
“It’s hard to choose one park over others,” Conrad said. “They’re all so gorgeous. That’s a great benefit to this tour. You get to see all the different parks.”
Conrad, who took a break from acting to get married last summer, is happy to be getting back on stage. Or, rather, several stages — from makeshift platforms, to natural amphitheaters, to that clearing in a field.
“We’re ready to go, and we can’t wait to see everyone at the shows,” he said. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-actor-cole-conrad-performing-a-macbeth-for-the-masses/article_0ac1c6a6-048c-11ee-b7d2-af846663baa1.html | 2023-06-09T12:42:22 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-actor-cole-conrad-performing-a-macbeth-for-the-masses/article_0ac1c6a6-048c-11ee-b7d2-af846663baa1.html |
June is Great Outdoors Month ... so get outdoors! We have plenty of wonderful places to get outside in Wisconsin. For a guide to our state parks and campgrounds, go to travelwisconsin.com.
The Summit Players Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is this evening in Bong State Recreation Area, 26313 Burlington Road (Highway 142). The show is designed to be family friendly. At 5:30 p.m., a free, interactive workshop is designed to get children (and adults) ready for the show. The play itself starts at 7 p.m. and runs about an hour and 15 minutes. All ages are welcome (recommended for kids age 8 and up). Admission is free. However, a Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker is required to enter Bong. The cost is $8 per day ($3 for ages 65 and older) for Wisconsin residents. Annual park admission stickers are also available ($28 for Wisconsin residents; $13 for ages 65 and older). Also, donations to the theater troupe can be made at their website, summitplayerstheatre.com.
People are also reading…
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.
Milwaukee’s season of ethnic festivals starts with a big one: Polish Fest is today trough Sunday, June 9-11, at the Summerfest Grounds in downtown Milwaukee at the lakefront. Billed as America’s largest Polish festival, the three-day festival includes traditional food and music, as well as vodka tastings. Just point us in the direction of the Non-Stop Polka Stage. For more details, go to polishfest.org. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-area-for-friday-june-9/article_c201422e-056d-11ee-b144-03c2e0a2eae9.html | 2023-06-09T12:42:28 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-area-for-friday-june-9/article_c201422e-056d-11ee-b144-03c2e0a2eae9.html |
INDIANAPOLIS — Saundra Mitchell, a lifelong Hoosier, is packing up her family and moving out of the state. The reason? She's a queer author, and her wife is a transgender woman and a local librarian, and they don't feel safe here anymore.
"I never imagined leaving Indiana, but now I can't imagine staying," Mitchell said.
Mitchell said the dozens of anti-transgender and LGBTQ+ bills have steadily made them feel unwelcomed, but she said the last straw was the legislation banning gender-affirming treatment for minors.
"You have this small group of people in politics that have decided to demonize LGBTQIA people and especially transgender people," Mitchell said. "As they continue to pass laws to make our world smaller and smaller, it's less safe for us. Now that they're that determined to pass all of these laws that prohibit my wife's existence and my family's existence, how can we stay?"
Mitchell and her wife, Jayne, fought hard for change with other LGBTQ+ advocates at the Statehouse.
But now, she feels defeated after selling her dream home, which was also their first house and where they raised their youngest daughter.
Mitchell said they didn't make this decision lightly.
"Now, we have to sell our house and move to a state with a much higher cost of living. We can't afford a house there. The wealth we would have left our children in the equity of our house, that's not going to happen now," Mitchell said.
Although they're moving, they plan to continue to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in Indiana. With the Indy Pride Parade days away, Mitchell won't be at this year's parade because she'll still be packing up her house, but she said it's more important than ever that people show up.
"It does send a message to the legislature and to that very small minority that they are a small minority," Mitchell said.
The law banning gender-affirming care for minors in Indiana takes effect July 1.
Supporters of the bill, which Gov. Eric Holcomb signed in April, said it's about protecting kids from making life-altering decisions at a young age. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/family-leaving-indiana-due-to-recent-bills-lifelong-hoosier-saundra-mitchell-lgbtq/531-61c1e6ca-bb88-4499-b372-1aed2ce375c1 | 2023-06-09T12:47:16 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/family-leaving-indiana-due-to-recent-bills-lifelong-hoosier-saundra-mitchell-lgbtq/531-61c1e6ca-bb88-4499-b372-1aed2ce375c1 |
News Tribune, June 9, 1983
- A report by President Reagan's task force on acid rain shows Northeastern Minnesota lakes are among the country's most susceptible to acidic precipitation. The report also links acid rain to pollution from coal-burning power plants in the Midwest.
- The Army Corps of Engineers yesterday began reducing water flow from Lake Superior into lakes Michigan and Huron because they are already at an unusually high level. Heavy rainfall has raised the water level to the highest point since the summer of 1979.
News Tribune, June 9, 1923
- The Duluth Board of Education last night heard complaints from three parents that their children, students at the Park Point School, had been whipped with a razor strap by the principal. The board members promised to undertake an immediate investigation.
- The initial excursion of the season to Fond du Lac by the steamer Rotarian will be made tomorrow, it was announced yesterday. Also, tomorrow evening the Rotarian will take a tour around the Duluth harbor, with orchestra music provided. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/bygones-100-years-ago-duluth-parents-accused-principal-of-beating-children | 2023-06-09T12:47:24 | 0 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/bygones-100-years-ago-duluth-parents-accused-principal-of-beating-children |
Firefighters from five departments battle Jackson Township apartment complex fire
Firefighters battle Jackson Township apartment fire
JACKSON TWP. − Firefighters from several departments responded to battle a fire at the London Square Apartments Thursday evening that displaced several people, a Jackson Township fire official said.
No one was hurt, said township Fire Battalion Chief Seth Rieger. The apartment complex, 2751 Blackfriars Drive NW, is just west of Whipple Avenue NW south of Hills and Dales Road NW. The fire was reported at 6:49 p.m. Firefighters had it out by 7:32 p.m.
It's not clear who was in the building at the time. But Rieger said firefighters checked on several residents but no one had to be taken to a hospital. Rieger did not yet have information on a possible cause, damage to the building and contents, or how the blaze had progressed through the building.
Firefighters from North Canton, Plain Township, Green and Perry Township were among those who rushed to the scene to assist.
Around 9:15 p.m., Jackson Township firefighters were wrapping up work ventilating the building.
Rieger said an unknown number of people who lived in the complex will have to stay elsewhere due to damage. A representative from the Red Cross was on scene to help them.
Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. Twitter: @rwangREP. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/jackson/2023/06/09/firefighters-put-out-jackson-township-apartment-blaze/70304709007/ | 2023-06-09T12:47:47 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/jackson/2023/06/09/firefighters-put-out-jackson-township-apartment-blaze/70304709007/ |
Why are there so many car washes in Stark County? Industry experts cite growing demand
Splish! Splash! Give your car a bath — almost on every corner.
If it seems like there are a lot of car washes in the Akron-Canton region, it's because there are.
At least 60 car washes are operating in Stark County with plans for more in Alliance, North Canton, Plain Township and Jackson Township. There are tens of thousands of car wash businesses in the U.S., according industry statistics.
Summit County:Car washes make a huge splash as service sector booms in the Akron area
"I've asked myself, 'Why didn't I get in the car wash business?' There looks like a lot of money and low maintenance," Chris Kreareas of North Canton said as he cleaned his prized 2022 Ford Bronco in a self-service bay at Applegrove Car Wash.
So, why are we seeing so many car washes popping up all over the area? The simple reason given is demand.
Eric Wulf, chief executive officer of the Glen Ellyn, Illinois-based International Carwash Association, said the $13.7 billion car wash industry has seen "historic growth" over the last three to five years. He credited new car wash models, subscriptions and better equipment for the boom.
"Although to folks outside the industry, who might not suspect it, there is a lack of supply (car washes) in most markets," he said.
He also said many of today's car wash businesses create full-time positions with benefits and the potential for careers.
"It's not like when you or I were kids and there was a lot of seasonal, part-time jobs," he said. "That's not what this industry creates anymore."
How many car washes are there?
The total number of car washes in the U.S. vary based on the study and research firm.
Research firm IBISWorld estimates there are 56,773 car wash and auto detailing businesses in the U.S. — a 0.4% increase from 2022. The International Carwash Association has that figure around 62,750. The discrepancies seemed based on public data available at the time of the research and the study's definition of a car wash.
For example, IBISWorld does not include companies whose primary business is changing motor oil or repairs, but also has a car wash service. A place like Roy's Car Wash & Lube in Alliance might not make its count. But it would for the association.
"For many Americans, their car, SUV or pick-up truck is the second-most expensive item (after a house) that they will purchase and maintaining that investment on wheels is paramount," Andy Hait and Earlene Dowell wrote for the U.S. Census Bureau in 2021.
They continued: "And because many see their cars as an extension of their personality, maintaining an image by keeping their cars clean also matters."
Florida resident Dylan Greco, a Canton native, was getting his slick 2018 Honda Civic cleaned before returning to Tampa Bay after two weeks back home.
"This is my car. This is my baby," he said, finishing up at Ivanho car wash in Canton. "It has to look nice. I live in Florida, so it has to look like a Florida car."
Kreareas also has a routine.
He said he cleans his vehicles regularly; usually by hand or self-service for the soft-topped Bronco. He uses the automated car washes on his other vehicles.
"It looks good after I'm done, especially when I do it myself," Kreareas said. "I bring a towel to dry it off."
Monthly subscriptions changed the game
Wulf said the car wash industry started to flourish with technological advances, larger and sleeker facilities, and monthly subscriptions.
"The subscription model really changed how attractive the industry is for outside investors," he said.
Roy Clunk, owner of Roy's Car Wash & Lube in Alliance, agreed. He said subscriptions were a "shot in the arm financially," because monthly passes guarantee income.
Wulf said the industry was historically a weekend activity when car washes made a majority of its revenue.
"Rain was always the enemy," he said because stormy weather on the weekends meant a financial blow to car wash owners.
"But the subscription," he said — paying a monthly free for unlimited washes — has freed drivers and car wash owners from past practices. Now, Wulf said, "consumers can get a wash whenever they want, essentially as often as they want, and rain over the weekend doesn't make a dent in your sales."
He also said the modern, attractive look of the newer car washes has required older facilities to "up their game" and put out a better product.
How much is too much?
Wulf said some markets — likely, smaller ones — could become oversaturated with car washes.
Clunk, who has been in business for 38 years, said he believes larger chains could hurt the market or squeeze out smaller car washes.
"The pie is only so big and it's going to get sliced up. Personally, I think we are going to turn out a cleaner and dryer car," he said.
That possibility has caught the attention of several Northeast Ohio cities, including Stow, Brook Park and Macedonia, who have enacted temporary moratoriums on new car wash construction. Their reasons ranged from keeping their economy diversified to preventing a flooded market.
"We are landlocked a little bit, where we don’t have too many areas to grow, so what we want to assure to our residents and our visitors coming to our city is that we are going to provide a variety of retail," Brook Park Mayor Edward Orcutt told News Channel 5.
That said, Wulf believes nationally that the car wash industry will continue to grow over the next few years. Not decline.
"I very confidently can say that I expect the growth to continue. I think consumers want more car washes," he said.
Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @bduerREP | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/06/09/car-wash-near-me-stark-county-alliance-canton-massillon-ohio-washes-demand-growth/70052812007/ | 2023-06-09T12:47:53 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/06/09/car-wash-near-me-stark-county-alliance-canton-massillon-ohio-washes-demand-growth/70052812007/ |
WATERLOO — The city has received more than $600,000 in new funds to focus on a former Rath Packing Company building, currently occupied by Crystal Cold.
The Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 presented the city with $642,400 as a grant recipient for brownfields cleanup. A brownfield is a former industrial or commercial site where the land could be affected by environmental contamination. The grant program is funded by President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Tom Poe, Crystal Cold owner and president, speaks at a ceremony Thursday where the Environmental Protection Agency presented a grant of $642,400 for cleanup of the former Rath Packing Company site in Waterloo. The site is adjacent to Crystal Cold.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
The funds will be used to clean up the former Rath property at 1442 Sycamore St. The more than four-acre site has four interconnected brick structures which operated as a meat packing plant from 1908 to 1985. The cleanup would remove the asbestos in the building materials, preparing it for possible demolition.
In 1985, when Rath went bankrupt, Crystal Cold moved into the multi-story building. Since then, Crystal has had four expansions on the Rath site for its cold storage business, with the latest addition at 1656 Sycamore St. being the largest. The building now has 200,000 square feet of refrigerated space.
Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart speaks at a ceremony Thursday where the Environmental Protection Agency presented a grant of $642,400 for cleanup of the former Rath Packing Company site.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
The $21 million expansion sits where the former Rath slaughterhouse used to be. After nearly two years of construction, the building has now created efficiency and modernity in refrigeration and extra safety for both employees and the food in cold storage.
Tom Poe, the president of Crystal Cold, said the one-story building eliminates the need for elevators, which are used in the Rath building. He said the elevators there are so old that no one wants to fix them.
Crystal Cold employees and Waterloo city officials gather for a ribbon cutting during a ceremony where the Environmental Protection Agency presented a grant of $642,400 for cleanup of the former Rath Packing Company site. The site is adjacent to Crystal Cold.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
The city currently owns the Rath building and Poe hopes every employee is phased into the new building by mid-July. Then, the EPA will do asbestos abatement. After that, Poe hopes the building will be torn down.
If it is, he expects there to be another expansion of Crystal Cold. Another possibility, he said, is that a new food processing plant would to come to town.
The Environmental Protection Agency granted the city of Waterloo $642,400 for the cleanup of the former Rath Packing Company site adjacent to a new Crystal Cold storage facility.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
Mayor Quentin Hart, along with multiple people from the EPA, were glad Crystal Cold didn’t move far from its Rath location. At one point, Waterloo was labeled as “Factory City, Iowa,” according to Hart.
“(Waterloo) has been instrumental across the country for providing products and providing service to our greater country,” he said. “It’s important to make sure that we never forget those cities in the impact that we have done, or may have done to the overall environment of our local community.”
The Environmental Protection Agency granted the city of Waterloo $642,400 for the cleanup of the former Rath Packing Company site adjacent to the Crystal Cold storage facility.
CHRIS ZOELLER Courier Staff Photographer
He said it’s important to transform former industrial sites into a place to provide more jobs to the community.
Other brownfield sites in Waterloo that have been cleaned up and repurposed include the former Grand Hotel, now Grand Crossing; the former Wonder Bread Bakery, now SingleSpeed Brewing; and a former dry cleaner, which is now the Boys and Girls Club.
Iconic child stars of the '70s
Iconic child stars of the '70s
The 1970s brought typical family comedies, detective stories, game shows, and the like to television audiences—but the nuances and variables that came with them made all the difference.
Audiences began to see racial barriers previously never crossed suddenly disintegrate. During that time, Americans witnessed the first Black-centered family comedy with "The Jeffersons," along with the in-your-face comedy of "All in the Family," where the storyline often forced Carroll O'Connor's curmudgeonly patriarch to confront his overt racism in uncomfortable conversations.
The '70s became a byproduct of the counterculture revolution that firmly rooted itself in the American lexicon during the '60s. The sexual revolution, the feminist movement, and anti-war sentiments all managed to make their way into the foundational structures of shows that were groundbreaking for the time. These included shows with female-led casts to powerful miniseries events such as "Roots" taking over the airwaves.
We forget that many of the casts of these shows—especially some everlasting family-centered dramas in television's history—had child stars put into a completely unfamiliar spotlight. No one could prepare these young performers for this level of fame, as television in and of itself was such a new and uncharted art form. These child stars began their careers as young as infancy, and a number of them have achieved success over the years. Some have won Oscars; some have chosen to leave Hollywood; some left us far too soon. In whatever category they may fall, these child stars made their way into millions of people's lives every week and have left their legacy in the entertainment world.
Stacker compiled a list of 25 of the most iconic child stars of the '70s using multiple sources for television and film history, including IMDb and Time . These actors left an indelible mark on the small or large screen, some of whom have carried on to wildly successful careers as adult actors. Scroll through to see if some of your childhood favorites made the list.
Brad Elterman // Getty Images
Jodie Foster
While you may recognize this Oscar-winning actor from her roles in movies like "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Panic Room," Jodie Foster began her long-standing career in Hollywood as a child star.
Foster was nominated for her first Oscar at 14 for her role in the Martin Scorsese-directed movie "Taxi Driver," which she played at age 12 alongside Robert De Niro. With those kinds of acting credits at such an early age, it's no wonder she has continued in the industry.
Sunset Boulevard/Corbis // Getty Images
Corey Feldman
As famous as he is infamous, child actor Corey Feldman began his career as a young star, appearing in hundreds of commercials and TV shows like "The Bad News Bears" and "Mork and Mindy" by the time he became a teenager.
Throughout his adolescence, Feldman became a young heartthrob, tilting his career on an upward trend while taking his mental health on a downward spiral. Like many young actors of the time, Feldman suffered from addiction issues. Battling his way through, Feldman has since become an advocate for child actors .
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Mackenzie Phillips
Mackenzie Phillips was a fresh-faced kid from a fairly famous family when she landed her role on the '70s sitcom "One Day at a Time," a show based around a divorcee-mother attempting to raise two children on her own.
Phillips, daughter of The Mamas & the Papas lead singer John Phillips, saw her tenure on the show finish before the series due to substance abuse issues. Her Hollywood career never fully recovered, but she became a substance use disorder counselor in Pasadena .
Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images
Brooke Shields
There were child stars, and then there was Brooke Shields, who starred in a Dove commercial at 11 months old—by the age of 14, Shields had already landed a print advertisement spread in Vogue magazine.
Her first major role in the French film "Pretty Baby" caused quite a stir as the 12-year-old Shields played Violet, a young girl raised in a brothel—the scenes were so risqué for a child that many accused filmmakers of child pornography violations . From there, her career flourished in Hollywood and the modeling world, maintaining a TV and film career and becoming a published author.
Bettmann // Getty Images
Ricky Schroder
Ricky Schroder became the lovable son of Hollywood in 1979 with his breakout role in the movie "The Champ," a neo-noir drama starring Jon Voight and Faye Dunaway. The role earned Schroder a Golden Globe Award, making him the youngest actor in the award show's history to date to take home a trophy. Afterward, Schroder went on to star in the family sitcom "Silver Spoons."
His career continued into adulthood, with starring roles in various shows from "Lonesome Dove" to "NYPD Blue."
Franco Zeffirelli // Getty Images
Tatum O'Neal
Tatum O'Neal was a young kid from a Hollywood family when she made her debut in the 1973 film "Paper Moon," which starred her father Ryan O'Neal. Tatum, who played a child con artist being mentored by her grifter father (played by her real-life father), earned an Academy Award for the role. She is still the youngest person to have ever won an Academy Award.
While her career was fairly successful early on, her personal life was marred by rocky personal relationships, including a volatile and public separation from tennis star John McEnroe, and arrests that led her adult career to taper off.
Harry Fox/Mirrorpix // Getty Images
Leif Garrett
Leif Garrett had a mile-long resume by the time his musical career took off in the mid-70s. Before then, he had appeared in the "Walking Tall" movies as Mike Pusser and had a recurring role on the series "Family," among other shows and films.
His appearance in the 1975 miniseries "Three for the Road" assisted in Garrett's achievement of teen heartthrob status, and from there, his musical career took off. Like many young stars of the time, legal troubles blemished Garrett's career. In 2019, he published an autobiography entitled "Idol Truth."
Fin Costello // Getty Images
Maureen McCormick
Few shows impacted popular culture during the '70s the way "The Brady Bunch" did—the wholesome sitcom showcased a blended family, something reasonably unheard of then. By proxy, everyone in the cast became instant stars, including Maureen McCormick , who played the beautiful, bright-eyed eldest sister and next-door character of Marcia Brady.
However, her popularity seemed to end as quickly as it came, and despite her early fame, her career halted. McCormick attempted a music career that did not get very far, and since the early 2000s, she has appeared on a smattering of reality shows.
Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images
Janet Jackson
Famous families are a recurring theme when talking about child stars, but the Jacksons could be considered the most famous of them all during the '60s and '70s. This family produced many stars, from the leading quintet The Jackson 5 to "The Jacksons Variety Show" to the solo star born when Michael Jackson debuted as a solo artist.
Included in that all too famous family was actor and singer Janet Jackson, who made her acting debut on her family's variety show but quickly paved her own path with appearances on "Good Times," "Fame," and "Diff'rent Strokes." Jackson eventually found her love, passion, and success in music, selling more than 100 million records worldwide.
Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images
Michael Jackson
Another progeny of the Jackson family brood was Michael Jackson, who, from an early age, became the coat whose tails his family rode in on. While the entire Jackson family seemed preternaturally talented, Michael had the undeniable charm, presence, and charisma to make him a star.
From his early success in The Jackson 5 to releasing his first solo album "Off the Wall" in 1979, Jackson's career transformed him into the proverbial "King of Pop"—though his personal life often brought his career into question, including multiple lawsuits alleging Jackson had molested children at his Neverland Ranch home. While no charges were ever filed, the question mark loomed over his head (even after his untimely death in 2009).
Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images
Robert Downey Jr.
You may know this particular star from his turn as the red and copper-clad superhero Iron Man, or you remember him from his earlier roles as one of the infamous boys of the Brat Pack . But before he was all of those things, Robert Downey Jr. was a child actor who made his first appearance in the 1970 film "Pound" based on the off-Broadway play "Comeuppance," both of which were written by his father.
Despite his fairly consistent success, Downey also had his fair share of problems with the law and drugs throughout his career. After being arrested multiple times on various substance-related charges, Downey received a three-year sentence in the late '90s but only served a year in a Corcoran-based rehab facility—a testament to what can happen when rehabilitation is the focus of incarceration.
Hulton Archive // Getty Images
Kim Fields
You take the good, you take the bad, you take it all, and then you have the fact that for a decade, "The Facts of Life" theme song played its way into millions of homes—and with it came Tootie, the lovable, gossipy character played by actor Kim Fields.
Centered around a girls' boarding school, the show thrust Fields and her shining stage presence into the spotlight. Fields went on to have a successful career after the series, starring in the groundbreaking '90s sitcom "Living Single," which many have pointed to as the blueprint with which the success of shows like "Friends" was founded.
Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images
Linda Blair
There isn't a movie that left such a terrifyingly indelible mark upon its viewers as "The Exorcist," a 1973 supernatural horror movie about a young girl possessed by an evil force. Linda Blair earned a Golden Globe Award for the role of the girl, as well as an Academy Award nomination.
Despite her near-instant success, the allegations that the film was cursed also seemed to haunt Blair's career. She became typecast, relegated to horror films, and spent most of her career in B films. As time went on, she seemingly embraced that role, making tongue-in-cheek appearances in horror films such as Wes Craven's "Scream" franchise.
Silver Screen Collection // Getty Images
Scott Baio
Among the heartthrobs of the '70s was Scott Baio, who found his big break on the nostalgic sitcom "Happy Days" starring fellow child star Ron Howard. Baio's screen presence, handsome looks, and killer smile not only earned him the recurring role as Chachi on "Happy Days," but his character's success as a love interest for the show's character Joanie earned them a spinoff, "Joanie Loves Chachi" that aired for 17 episodes.
While his career never had A-list success, Baio has made a decent career with bit parts and appearances in various TV shows, in some instances playing himself.
Robin Platzer/Images // Getty Images
Valerie Bertinelli
Another child television star alumnus from "One Day at a Time" is the cherubic-faced starlet who stole everyone's hearts and won two Golden Globes in the process: Valerie Bertinelli. Her smile lit up the television screen, and she portrayed an aura of wholesomeness.
During a time of sexual openness and counter-revolution, many TV viewers—especially parents—sought out something wholesome, and they found that in Bertinelli. After her early period of fame in some '70s and '80s sitcoms, she went on to marry rock star and '80s hair god Eddie Van Halen, which kept her in the spotlight for a whole other reason. Since then, Bertinelli has published memoirs and cookbooks highlighting her Italian heritage. She also starred alongside Betty White in the TV show "Hot in Cleveland" from 2010 to 2015.
Archive Photos // Getty Images
Peter Ostrum
If you grew up any time between the '70s and the present day, you're likely familiar with Peter Ostrum's role as the Golden Ticket-winning Charlie Bucket in the trippy classic "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory" with comedic legend Gene Wilder.
Ostrum's turn as Charlie gained him instant notoriety, but he realized early on that Hollywood life was not for him. He graduated from Cornell University in 1984 and has worked as a veterinarian ever since.
Silver Screen Collection // Getty Images
David Cassidy
The 1970s musical family comedy "The Partridge Family," which combined super saccharine songs along with mad-cap scenarios carried about by the Partridge kids, produced a young heartthrob in actor David Cassidy. Cassidy made his way onto TV screens and music albums throughout his career in the '70s, but as the over-the-top disco era ended, so did his career.
He's made guest appearances and one-offs on various TV shows, in some instances playing himself over the years, but substance and legal issues marred his career. Cassidy ultimately passed away in 2017 after suffering from liver failure.
Bettmann // Getty Images
Kristy McNichol
Kristy McNichol was a young, freckle-faced kid when she made her first appearances in a variety of commercials. Yet, her breakthrough role in the mid-70s sitcom "Family" earned her screen recognition and critical acclaim. Her role as Letitia "Buddy" Lawrence earned her back-to-back Emmy award nominations in 1977, 1978, and 1979—with her winning two out of those three years.
She found her way into a supporting role on the '80s sitcom "Empty Nest," a spinoff of the wildly popular "Golden Girls" on which McNichol appeared. She announced her retirement from acting in 2001.
Frank Edwards // Getty Images
Ron Howard
Another Oscar winner among the many '70s child stars is Ron Howard, who got his start as the cute kid from "The Andy Griffith Show" who went on to make another imprint with his supporting role in "Happy Days."
While Howard was known early in his life for acting, his later career took him behind the camera. He became an award-winning director who helmed films, including "Cocoon" and "Splash" in the '80s, "Apollo 13" and "Ransom" in the '90s, and "A Beautiful Mind," "Cinderella Man" and "Frost/Nixon" in the 2000s, all of which earned him multiple nominations and awards, including Oscars, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes.
Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images
Danny Bonaduce
Another "Partridge Family" star who found a quick road to stardom was Danny Bonaduce, the ginger-haired youngster who played Shirley Jones' middle son known for his wise-cracking personality. Bonaduce's real-life personality seemed to match the mischievous nature of his Partridge family character, which got him into his fair share of trouble as his career continued.
Incidents include his well-known 1990 arrest in Daytona Beach while attempting to buy cocaine—despite being in the area to host a D.A.R.E event. He's maintained a somewhat solid career of television appearances over the years and, much like a few other child stars, played himself in some of these appearances.
Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images
Marie Osmond
Having started her music career at an early age, Marie Osmond made appearances on "The Andy Williams Show" by the time she was 6, and found success with the release of her 1973 debut album "Paper Roses" at age 12. Her wholesome lyrics, persona, and family upbringing gave her a heavy appeal to the masses.
By 16, she co-hosted a popular variety show with her brother Donny Osmond. She's maintained her career over the decades through various means, such as memoirs and a talk show revival of the "Donny & Marie" show, which aired from 1998 to 2000.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Donny Osmond
In a similar vein to his sister Marie, Osmond began making appearances on television shows like "The Andy Williams Show" when he was barely old enough to go to kindergarten. Known for his boyish good looks and charm, Osmond was a teen idol in music before collaborating with his sister to form the "Donny & Marie" show, which first aired from 1976 to 1979. Osmond continued acting, making music, and hosting television shows over the years.
David Redfern // Getty Images
Melissa Gilbert
"Little House on the Prairie" was a highly successful young-adult series of books adapted into a successful series. Melissa Gilbert played the lead character Laura Ingalls, who spent her life on the proverbial prairie with her family. The show catapulted Gilbert into fame, and she appeared in several successful miniseries during that period, such as "The Diary of Anne Frank" and "The Miracle Worker" and has since gone on to voice characters in successful animated series such as "Batman: The Animated Series" as Batgirl.
Gilbert was also the president of the Screen Actors Guild and ran for Congress in Michigan in 2016. Though she won, she had to drop out after the primaries due to health issues.
NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images
Christopher Knight
Best known for playing Peter Brady, the mischievous middle child on "The Brady Bunch," Christopher Knight transitioned from child stardom to a successful tech career throughout his career. "The Brady Bunch" launched him and his other co-stars into an ever-focused spotlight, and Knight became a heartthrob before the show ended.
He had a successful career in computer tech in the '90s, co-founding Visual Software, a graphics company then-known for its state-of-the-art 3D software. He briefly returned to acting, but mostly in the reality show capacity, most recently appearing as one of the Mummies in the eighth season of "The Masked Singer" along with fellow "Brady Bunch" alum Barry Williams.
Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images
Gary Coleman
Gary Coleman charmed audiences on the sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" as Arnold Jackson, a young orphan adopted alongside his older brother by the wealthy single father who had employed the boys' mother before her death. Coleman's mischievous character and catchphrase—"Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?"—was a massive hit throughout the series' eight seasons on TV.
However, during and long after the end of "Diff'rent Strokes," Coleman struggled off-screen. The child actor faced career and financial challenges and trouble with the law. Coleman died at 42 in 2010 after an accidental fall caused a fatal brain hemorrhage.
Story editing by Chris Compendio. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.
Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images
The business news you need
Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/business/grant-to-help-waterloo-clean-up-rath-site/article_61c5178a-03d5-11ee-9057-73d4a554c257.html | 2023-06-09T12:48:12 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/business/grant-to-help-waterloo-clean-up-rath-site/article_61c5178a-03d5-11ee-9057-73d4a554c257.html |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — House Bill 2024 allows a parent of a person with lawful custody the right to surrender an infant who is younger than 60 days to a safety device.
A newborn safety device must be at an authorized location, including a police station or health department. They have to voluntarily install them.
No authorized entities in Sedgwick County have plans to build these devices.
The Wichita Police Department said in a statement:
“We will attempt to seek clarification on several aspects of the Bill. Specifically, where will the funding come from for the purchase and installation of the devices, the staffing and technology that will be necessary to provide 24 hour monitoring of the devices and the requisite training for our personnel on how to safely use them. The WPD is committed to serving the community and ensuring the protection and safety of all life, so at this time, as we are in the process of acquiring more information regarding these critical details and unanswered questions, the WPD will not be participating.”
As someone who grew up in the foster care system, Alexandria Ware sees the pros and cons of the new devices.
“I can see the good and bad in both of those because then you can see rates of kids raising in foster care, but then also like what happens to that mom eventually who may have changed her mind, and in that heat of the moment, she wanted to give her kid away because maybe she was going through something or it didn’t have enough money,” Ware said.
The authorized employee is required to report the surrender to the Secretary for Children and Families.
The container is required to have an alarm that is triggered when an infant is placed inside. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/house-bill-2024-legalizes-newborn-safety-devices/ | 2023-06-09T13:04:14 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/house-bill-2024-legalizes-newborn-safety-devices/ |
HAYSVILLE, Kan. (KSNW) — Thursday marked 25 years since the deadly DeBruce Grain elevator, the largest in the world at the time, exploded. For Wichita Fire Department Battalion Chief Chad Winton, a veteran with 27 years of experience, he remembers responding to the scene as if it were yesterday.
Just before the accident, Winton was two years into his career. He had just tried out for the rescue team and was one of three candidates who were accepted. Little did the then-rookie know just days later, everything he had learned up to that point would be put to the ultimate test.
“I remember that morning. It was kind of a cloudy, overcast morning, I think they were predicting some storms, and we just finished PT here, and the call came out, we heard the rumble from here, and we thought maybe it was thunder,” Winton said.
Moments later, Winton would be one of the first firefighters on his way to the scene of the explosion.
“And I could hear, hear the guys up front talking, so I obviously kinda peeked around to look and … the elevator was blown out at both ends, the headhouse, you could see holes in the headhouse from a good half mile away,” Winton said.
As a new member of the rescue team, Winton worked as a gofer.
“[I] started getting buckets to move grain, shovels, lumber, cutting lumber, just stuff to shore up holes and keep grain in place so we could start tunneling and trenching in to get to those victims that we thought were still at the bottom of that elevator,” Winton said.
Winton says the teams worked in 12-hour shifts with the help of several county, state, and out-of-state agencies.
“We had no firm count of how many were missing, so [there] was a little bit of confusion there and how many were actually working, and how many got out on their own,” Winton said. “They were still trying to get a head count … it all happened really quick.”
Tragically, it soon became apparent any hope of finding additional survivors was gone.
The team switched to recovery mode a week later.
“It sticks with you,” Winton said. “That stuff never leaves you … especially as a young, young firefighter, you’re really just kinda overwhelmed at what’s going on, you just, you lean on the older guys, the senior guys with their guidance, and we did what we were told to do.”
Seven people died as a result of that explosion. Ten more people were injured. In February 2001, DeBruce paid nearly $700,000 in fines without admitting fault. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/it-sticks-with-you-wfd-battalion-chief-recalls-debruce-grain-elevator-explosion/ | 2023-06-09T13:04:16 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/it-sticks-with-you-wfd-battalion-chief-recalls-debruce-grain-elevator-explosion/ |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A pedestrian was killed in a crash on Thursday. It happened on North West Street near Murdock around 9:20 p.m.
The Wichita Police Department said the man was crossing the street and was struck by a northbound vehicle in the curb lane. The man wasn’t in a crosswalk, police said.
“At this point, we don’t think there is any impairment or speed is a factor contributing to the accident,” said WPD Capt. Santiago Hungria Jr.
Police haven’t identified the victim. Several witnesses were interviewed, and police were looking for video prior to the incident. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/one-killed-in-crash-in-northwest-wichita/ | 2023-06-09T13:04:17 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/one-killed-in-crash-in-northwest-wichita/ |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Only two days remain in this year’s Riverfest!
Below is a list of the events taking place Friday, June 9, and Saturday, June 10. This includes attractions you can find daily at Riverfest and general information about the festival.
Events
Friday, June 9
- When: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Where: Century II Tripodal and Kennedy Plaza Stage
- What: Celebrate Wichita’s rich and vibrant Hispanic culture all day long with Hispanic-themed entertainment, food, activities for the whole family, shopping, and more.
- When: 6-8 p.m.
- Where: Old Library lawn
- What: The Budweiser Clydesdales are a symbol of the brewer’s heritage, tradition, and commitment to quality.
- When: 4-11 p.m.
- Where: Century II Kennedy Plaza
- What: Edén Muñoz is a Mexican singer, songwriter and producer of Regional Mexican Music. This concert features Los Humildes Hermanos Ayala, Mariachi America, Pepeyo Y Los Diamantes De Ojinaga, Los De LA Sierra, and DJ Tynno Morales.
Saturday, June 10
- When: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Where: REI Co-op
- What: Cheer on cyclists as they compete in Riverfest’s first bike event featuring a 20-mile ride and a 40-mile ride.
- When: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Where: Hyatt lawn
- What: Watch as high school teams of 10 compete in fun and friendly competitions, such as cornhole, tug of war, trivia and art.
- When: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Where: Century II Exhibition Hall
- What: Artists were asked to paint one to three original pieces around Wichita for prize judging at this exhibition and sale.
- When: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Where: Douglas Avenue between Water Street and Main Street
- When: Take a gander at a collection of class and custom cars.
- When: 6-8 p.m.
- Where: Old Library lawn
- What: The Budweiser Clydesdales are a symbol of the brewer’s heritage, tradition, and commitment to quality.
Parmalee with Jenna & Martin Duo and Pete Gile
- When: 5:30-10:30 p.m.
- Where: Century II Kennedy Plaza
- What:
- 5:30 p.m. – Pete Gile is a singer and songwriter from Kansas.
- 7 p.m. – Jenna & Martin are a duo who specialize in a combination of country, rock, bluegrass, and gospel music.
- 9 p.m. – Parmalee is an American country music band.
- When: 10:30 p.m.
- Where: West bank of the Arkansas River between the Lewis Street Bridge and the Douglas Street Bridge
- What: Watch as Wichita Festivals Inc. brings Riverfest 2023 to a close with a dynamic pyrotechnic performance.
Attractions
- Quantum Credit Union Food Court
- Beer Garden
- Riverfest Carnival
- Kids’ Corner
- Inflatables at Kids’ Corner
- WEEE Entertainment Carnival
- Boats & Bikes at River Vista
- Hot Air Balloons
- Helicopter Rides
- Wagonmasers River Tour
- Paddle Boats
- Medallion Hunt
- Brickmob Mural Painting at Habitat Build
General Information
Buttons: Riverfest buttons are your key to getting into the festival. These buttons are available at all local QuikTrips while supplies last.
Parking: Check out VisitWichita’s interactive parking map to find the best place to park.
- When: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Where: A. Price Woodard Park
- When: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Where: Northwest corner of Douglas and Water Street
- More info: This station also offers a diaper-changing area and breast-feeding area
- When: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
- Where: Northwest corner of Douglas and Water Street
Rules and safety: Click here to find a list of dos and don’ts.
Zoo discount: Riverfest has partnered with the Sedgwick County Zoo to offer a special discount of $2 off admission when you show your Riverfest button at the zoo’s gate. Offer ends June 10.
Riverfest takes place in downtown Wichita from Friday, June 2, through Saturday, June 10.
To find more information about Riverfest 2023 and to find out what events are coming up, head to their website, check out Visit Wichita’s list of events, or download Riverfest’s a | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/what-can-you-find-during-the-last-2-days-of-riverfest/ | 2023-06-09T13:04:34 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/what-can-you-find-during-the-last-2-days-of-riverfest/ |
Cars driving near the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University are going much slower since the city installed speed bumps last month, a response to the deaths of two Virginia Commonwealth University students struck and killed by cars this year.
But some Richmond residents say the obstacles don't stop cars from flying down the hill one block earlier.
In a two-week period before the speed bumps were installed, cars in the 300 block of West Main Street traveled an average speed of 30 mph, based on speed boxes operated by VCU police. The 300 block, which is two blocks east of North Belvidere Street, is near the VCU engineering building.
People are also reading…
In roughly three weeks after the speed bumps were installed, cars traveled an average of 15 mph. The normal speed limit on the road is 25 mph but decreases to 15 mph at each bump.
The slower speeds are based on preliminary data. In the two weeks before the speed bumps were installed, VCU police counted almost 46,000 cars. In the following three-week period, they counted fewer than 3,000.
The drop in traffic could be caused by VCU ending its spring semester in early May, construction crews closing roads for several days while the speed bumps were installed and drivers potentially finding new routes.
Twelve so-called speed tables were due to be installed on West Main, West Cary, West Franklin and West Grace streets in and around VCU. Speed tables are elongated speed bumps that allow for a slightly faster velocity.
John Schilling, who has worked at 300 West Main Street for more than 40 years, has seen numerous accidents outside his office. The speed bumps, which are between North Madison and North Monroe streets, stop cars from speeding in an attempt to beat the red light crossing Belvidere Street, he said.
On Tuesday masonry workers rebuilt a cinder block wall of Schilling's law office building that was destroyed in the May 4 crash that killed Shawn Soares, a 26-year-old graduate student who had been standing on the sidewalk.
Deon Allen, who was working in the area, said he's noticed cars go slower now, and the road feels safer. He said the speed bumps provide justice for VCU students.
But the speed bumps don't slow cars one block earlier, which often race down the hill from the Jefferson Hotel and speed past the 7-Eleven, said Ashley Tammer, who visited the convenience store on Tuesday. There are other problems with the road, she said. The shoulders are too narrow to fit wide cars or trucks.
A beverage delivery truck delivering products was parked on the left shoulder of West Main. The shoulder was so narrow, passing cars had to veer slightly to avoid it.
"That's an accident waiting to happen," Tammer said.
The speed bumps also don't improve the intersection of Madison and West Main, where the law office and 7-Eleven are situated. Drivers of cars on Madison trying to cross or turn left onto West Main have trouble seeing oncoming traffic. That's how most accidents at the intersection occur, Schilling said.
Last month, city council member Andreas Addison proposed a number of traffic safety improvements, including making Main and Cary streets two-way. He said the city is working on installing radar speed cameras in school zones and other high-traffic areas. City workers already installed a radar camera that displays a driver's velocity at the 300 block of West Main Street.
State law allows municipalities to install radar and automatically ticket offenders through the mail only in school zones and construction zones. VCU isn't considered a school zone.
The city also said it plans to narrow the intersections of West Main near VCU, which should slow traffic and shorten the distance to cross the street. Addison said he's unaware of progress toward additional traffic safety projects.
Mahrokh Khan, a 22-year-old VCU senior, was killed in January at the intersection of West Main and Laurel streets, near the Altria Theater. Khan was struck by a car while she crossed West Main. The driver stayed at scene and wasn't charged, police said.
After her death, VCU police started a traffic safety campaign. Its officers dressed as referees, issued social media blasts and wrote more traffic tickets in six weeks than in all of 2022.
Days after the campaign ended, a second pedestrian death occurred. Soares was standing on the sidewalk of the 300 block of West Main Street. The driver of a car in a center lane attempted to make a right turn, cutting off another car and colliding onto the sidewalk, said Michael Jones, president of Richmond City Council.
That part of the street had been identified as a problem location by VCU police, because cars go down hill on a wide open section of West Main, often exceeding the speed limit.
No one has been charged in that incident, either, police said. Both wrecks are still under investigation. | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime/speed-bumps-installed-near-vcu-campus-are-slowing-traffic/article_723617b4-03cf-11ee-b29b-bbe75fe60450.html | 2023-06-09T13:09:09 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime/speed-bumps-installed-near-vcu-campus-are-slowing-traffic/article_723617b4-03cf-11ee-b29b-bbe75fe60450.html |
Two gunmen ambushed a man returning to his North Philadelphia home -- firing dozens of shots, some that went into the man's home and narrowly missed a child inside, Philadelphia police said.
Police officers and medics arrived along North Marston Street in North Philadelphia around 12:30 a.m. Friday to find a man bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds in the living room of his home, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.
The man -- who is in his 20s -- was rushed to the hospital where he was being treated in critical condition, Small said.
The man was just returning home when two men opened fire, investigators said.
Get Philly local news, weather forecasts, sports and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia newsletters.
"We know over 35 shots were fired by two separate caliber weapons," Small said.
At least 15 bullets struck the home where the man's family -- including four children -- resides. At least two of the bullets went into the man's living room -- "just missing" a 13-year-old who was laying on the couch, Small said.
Police said they were using surveillance video to try and track down the shooters.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/ambush-shooting-philadelphia/3582359/ | 2023-06-09T13:19:11 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/ambush-shooting-philadelphia/3582359/ |
Bismarck's South Washington Street will be receiving $15.5 million worth of upgrades including a roundabout at one intersection in preparation for more traffic in the future.
The City Commission recently unanimously green-lit a project that will turn the two-lane street into a three-lane road.
Talks to reconstruct South Washington began last December. A public meeting was held in April to present options to the public.
"The need for this project is the ongoing and continued development in south Bismarck. The traffic volumes continue to increase along South Washington Street," City Engineer Gabe Schell said.
More than 7,000 vehicles pass through the stretch of road every day, and the number is expected to nearly double by 2045. Traffic peaks occur at roughly 8 a.m. and at 6 p.m.
People are also reading…
Comments from the public noted that speeding was a problem along the corridor, and highlighted the importance of pedestrian and driver safety.
A study by the city found that cars consistently go above the posted speed limit of 40 mph. Only 20% of people hit by a car at 40 mph survive the crash, according to the study.
The addition of a left turning lane from Burleigh Avenue to the South Bismarck Drainage Ditch will be paired with the additions of curb and gutter, a storm sewer system, lighting and a sidewalk on the east side. A sidewalk already exists on the west side of the road. A three-lane road was chosen over a five-lane road to ensure pedestrian safety and to prevent cars from speeding through the corridor.
The project also will widen Burleigh Avenue into a three-lane road from South Washington Street to Boston Drive.
The commission chose to make the intersection of Burleigh Avenue and South Washington Street a roundabout over a traffic-signal intersection in an effort to make the intersection safer for pedestrians.
The intersection at Santa Fe Avenue -- currently a four-way stop -- will be fixed with a traffic signal. The move is to prevent cars from speeding through South Washington, where pedestrians could be crossing the road. The commission voted not to construct refuge islands for pedestrians. Refuge islands are small sections of pavement on roads where pedestrians can stop before finishing crossing a road.
"I think we need to go with the three-lane for some of the safety aspects of it -- with the turn signal," Commissioner Steve Marquardt said.
A bus stop will be added at the intersection of Victoria Circle and Peach Tree Drive.
The cost of the project comes out to roughly $15.5 million. Funding is not yet firm but improvements on South Washington Street likely will be funded from a mix of $4.5 million in federal aid and funds from a half-cent sales tax. Improvements on Burleigh Avenue likely will be funded by sales taxes, special assessments, or a combination of the two. Final decisions on funding will be determined during the 2024 city budget adoption, according to Schell.
"The public’s passage of the half-cent sales tax in 2018 allows the city to use a combination of federal funds and local funds to improve arterial road corridors like South Washington Street," Schell said.
Construction is tentatively planned to begin in May 2024 and to be completed in November 2024.
More information is at: https://www.bismarcknd.gov/1498/Bismarck-Streets. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/15-5-million-project-will-upgrade-south-washington-street-3-lanes-roundabout-part-of-effort/article_3bad60bc-fb32-11ed-948f-5f8a69ef5b23.html | 2023-06-09T13:32:43 | 1 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/15-5-million-project-will-upgrade-south-washington-street-3-lanes-roundabout-part-of-effort/article_3bad60bc-fb32-11ed-948f-5f8a69ef5b23.html |
Here's what you need to know about Summerfest 2023 tickets, parking and bag policy
One of the largest music festivals in the country is back.
Summerfest is celebrating their 55th anniversary on Milwaukee's lakefront this summer.
This year's lineup features about 800 different acts with everything from Imagine Dragons to the Zac Brown Band. Here's your guide for everything you need to know about the festival this year:
When is Summerfest?
Summerfest runs from June 22-24, June 29-July 1 and July 8 this year. The festival is at Maier Festival Park, 200 N. Harbor Drive in Milwaukee.
How do I get a ticket?
To purchases tickets, visit www.summerfest.com/ticket-info
General admission: $26, single pass. There are more than a dozen ways to get in for free to the festival this year.
UScellular 3-day pass: $62
UScellular 9-day pass: $130
BMO Harris Pavilion reserved seating: (includes general admission): Reserved tickets range in price starting around $60.
Level Up Viewing Deck at the Miller Oasis stage: (includes general admission and two drinks): Tickets range in price starting at $65.
American Family Insurance Amphitheater: Ticket prices vary by artist.
How do I get to Summerfest?
Take the bus: MCTS will be running two shuttles every half hour from College Avenue or Brown Deer Park and Ride lot. Shuttles are now cashless and you can pay using Umo app or card. MCTS Connect 1 CRT line can also drop you off on the corner of Wisconsin and Van Buren and you can walk a couple blocks to the grounds
Take a bar shuttle: Some bars run shuttles to festival grounds during Summerfest.
Bike: You can rent a bike from Bublr Bikes and dock it at the Discovery World station and walk to the grounds. If you're taking your own bike, bicycle parking is near the Mid, North and South gates.
Electric Scooter: If you see a scooter, you can download the app on your smartphone to rent an electric scooter. Users can park the scooters essentially anywhere in an upright position, without blocking traffic.
The Hop Streetcar: The streetcar stops at Broadway and St. Paul in the Third Ward and you can walk to the festival from there.
Parking: Parking lots are open daily at 9a.m. at a first-come, first-served basis. You can get a pre-paid parking pass for a specific date during Summerfest online at the Summerfest store. Preferred parking is $30 per day. For a list of public parking lots near the ground, visit Park Milwaukee.
Need a place to stay?
Here's a list of some nearby hotels:
There's no RV parking on the grounds. For information on nearby RV parking, visit the Wisconsin State Fair RV park.
What's Summerfest's bag policy?
All bags are subject to inspection before you enter the grounds. Backpacks and bags larger than 9x10x12 aren't allowed on the grounds.
If you need to bring any medication, medical equipment or diapers, you can store those items in a clear bag. If you have privacy concerns, you can put those items in a smaller bag within the clear bag.
What can't I bring with me to Summerfest?
Any prohibited items sill be confiscated by security and will not be returned.
- Backpacks, with exceptions for parents with infants and those with medical needs
- Large Bags over 9x10x12 inches
- Camelback style hydration packs
- Picnic Baskets
- Outside food and beverages, except for infants, medical or dietary needs
- Cans and glass or plastic or metal containers
- Coolers
- Stainless steel reusable drinking straws
- Self-defense sprays
- Aerosol cans
- UAV-drones
- Alcohol
- Illegal drugs or substance
- Firearms
- Knives
- Weapons
- Fireworks, sparkler or explosives
- Professional cameras
- Recording devices
- Brooms, selfie sticks, poles, trekking sticks and tripods
- Pet, expect service animals or during special events
- Banners or flags on poles
- Laser pointers
- Skateboards, roller skates, inline skates or hoverboards
- Food powered or electric scooters
- Bicycles, tricycles or unicycles
- Wagons
- Kites
- Hula-hoops, frisbees or beach balls
- Stadium seats, Sit-Upon, seat cushions and lawn chairs
What's the exit & re-entry policy?
Wristbands to leave and re-enter the grounds are available at all gate areas from noon until 6:30p.m. daily. The wristbands are valid for a single, same-day re-entry until 7p.m.
Is Summerfest cashless?
Yes, Summerfest is a cashless festival. No cash is accepted at the box office or on the grounds. Reverse cash machines are available.
Contact Alex Groth at agroth@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @grothalexandria. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/summerfest-2023-guide-to-tickets-parking-and-carry-ins/70294890007/ | 2023-06-09T13:40:07 | 1 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/summerfest-2023-guide-to-tickets-parking-and-carry-ins/70294890007/ |
Following the death of an 8-year-old on a Wisconsin dairy farm, officials look to bridge law enforcement language gap
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for Dispatches, a newsletter that spotlights wrongdoing around the country, to receive our stories in your inbox every week.
Local officials in Wisconsin are planning to improve how sheriff’s deputies communicate with people who don’t speak English in response to a ProPublica report that found that an investigation into the death of an 8-year-old Nicaraguan boy living on a dairy farm was mishandled due to a language barrier.
Dane County supervisors said that their goals include making language access a key part of department equity plans and creating a dedicated countywide language-access coordinator.
The efforts come as the parents of the boy, Jefferson Rodríguez, have settled a lawsuit against the farm and its insurance company over the July 2019 death in rural Dane, about a half hour north of Madison. As ProPublica reported in February, sheriff’s deputies wrongly concluded that the boy’s father, José María Rodríguez Uriarte, had accidentally run his son over with farming equipment.
But it was another worker, on his first work day at D&K Dairy, who had been driving the 6,700-pound Bobcat skid steer that crushed Jefferson, ProPublica found. The man had waited at the scene, expecting to be questioned, on the night Jefferson died. But deputies never interviewed him, in part due to a language barrier. ProPublica was able to reach him and he acknowledged he was driving the skid steer that night.
Jefferson’s death was ruled an accident and nobody was charged criminally. But Rodríguez was blamed in the official account. Rodríguez and Jefferson’s mother, María Sayra Vargas, who lives in Nicaragua, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in August 2020 against the farm and its insurer, Rural Mutual Insurance Company.
The trial was originally scheduled to begin this week in Dane County Circuit Court. But, about a month after ProPublica published its story, Jefferson’s parents reached a tentative agreement with the farm and insurance company, neither of which admitted wrongdoing. The agreement was later finalized in court and the lawsuit was dismissed in April.
Lawyers for Rural Mutual and the farm declined to comment.
Rodríguez said that the truth about his son’s death “has come to light” because of ProPublica’s reporting. He declined to share the settlement amount, but said the money will be helpful to him and his family.
“It doesn’t mean I’m happy. The sadness remains,” said Rodríguez, who now works on another dairy farm in Wisconsin. “All the money in the world wouldn’t make me the person I used to be. … I would like to be able to share this with Jefferson. That is what would fill me with joy.”
In the weeks after the initial story was published, more than a half-dozen members of the Dane County Board of Supervisors told ProPublica they were horrified to learn of the conditions leading up to Jefferson’s death and the flawed law enforcement investigation that followed. Jefferson lived with his father above the farm’s milking parlor, the barn where hundreds of cows were brought day and night to be milked by heavy, loud machinery.
The Board of Supervisors sets the budget for and can make recommendations to the sheriff’s office. But it is limited in its ability to set policy.
A spokesperson for the sheriff’s department, which was not a defendant in the wrongful death lawsuit, said there have been no changes to its language access practices. The department has no written policies on what deputies should do when they encounter people who speak a language other than English or when to bring in an interpreter. The department relies on deputies to self-report their ability to speak languages other than English.
County Supervisor Dana Pellebon said one way she and her colleagues on the county board hope to improve language access at the department is through its equity work plan, a road map that each county agency lays out for how it can become more inclusive and fair. County departments are now updating those plans, she said, and the plans are then approved by the Equal Opportunity Commission, which she chairs. “Language access is something that will be a part of all the plans,” Pellebon said.
One area she hopes the sheriff’s office can address is ensuring language access in rural parts of the county where cellphone reception is weak and phone-based interpretation services aren’t available. “We want to make sure there is a workaround,” Pellebon said. “Either get to a space where there is cellphone service or find a landline at the space they’re at.”
She and other county officials are also considering the possibility of testing deputies’ proficiency in a foreign language instead of relying on their self-assessments. The deputy who interviewed Rodríguez the night his son died had described herself as a proficient Spanish speaker. But when a ProPublica reporter interviewed her, we discovered that the phrase she had used to ask Rodríguez whether he had run over his son with the farm machinery didn’t mean what she thought it did: It lacked a verb and a subject, and the result was confusing.
Rodríguez later told ProPublica he thought the deputy had asked whether his son had been run over by the skid steer, not whether he was driving the machine.
Dane County Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner said she will prioritize creating a countywide language-access coordinator position in next year’s budget to help agencies fulfill their obligations and organize the county’s plans and resources.
“It’s a basic access-to-government civil rights issue that permeates every department,” Wegleitner said. County departments that receive federal funding are required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to take steps to make their services accessible to people who speak limited English.
The challenges that non-English-speaking immigrants face in communicating with law enforcement officials extend beyond Dane County. ProPublica found that sheriff’s deputies and police officers across the state routinely fail to communicate directly with Spanish-speaking immigrant workers on dairy farms when responding to incidents ranging from assaults to serious accidents. Records from dozens of incidents show that law enforcement officials routinely rely on employees’ supervisors and coworkers to communicate with immigrant workers. Often they turn to Google Translate. Sometimes they don’t speak with the workers at all or ask children to interpret.
Language access is “haphazard throughout the system,” said Nancy Rodriguez, a criminology professor at the University of California, Irvine who co-authored a May report for the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation on the issue. The report, which was based on a survey of law enforcement agencies across the country, recommended that agencies do more to understand the language needs of the people they serve and to monitor compliance with a language-access plan.
Our investigation into Jefferson’s death was the first story in our series “America’s Dairyland.”
We plan to keep reporting on issues affecting immigrant dairy workers across the Midwest. Among those issues: traffic stops of undocumented immigrants who drive without a license; difficulty accessing medical care or workers’ compensation after injuries on the job; and problems with employer-provided housing.
Do you have ideas or tips for us to look into? Please reach out to us using this form.
And if you know a Spanish speaker who might be interested in this topic, please share with them a translation of the story about Jefferson’s death — which also includes an audio version — or this note about how to get in touch with us. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2023/06/09/after-boys-death-wisconsin-dairy-farm-officials-look-to-bridge-law-enforcement-language-gap/70298259007/ | 2023-06-09T13:40:13 | 1 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2023/06/09/after-boys-death-wisconsin-dairy-farm-officials-look-to-bridge-law-enforcement-language-gap/70298259007/ |
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Kingsport Fire Department (KFD) helped save a kitten on Thursday, but not from the stereotypical tree.
The KFD’s Engine 2 crew responded to Sycamore Street and found a kitten with its head stuck in the rim of a spare tire, a social media post stated.
The fire crew was able to save the day with a little vegetable oil, which helped free the kitten from the tire.
The kitten was reported as healthy by the KFD. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/kingsport-fire-department-saves-kitten-from-tire/ | 2023-06-09T13:41:25 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/kingsport-fire-department-saves-kitten-from-tire/ |
VALPARAISO — Exactly seven months after a 24-year-old Chesterton teacher was killed when her vehicle was rear-ended while waiting for a traffic light to change along Willowcreek Road, a 42-year-old Portage man was taken into custody Thursday evening and charged with reckless homicide, Portage police announced.
Arthur Schmidt was arrested at his home around 4 p.m. and taken to the Porter County Jail. He faces an additional count of criminal recklessness when defendant commits aggressive driving resulting in death, said Portage police Lt. Rob Maynard.
"We want to thank the officers and detectives of the Portage Police Department who investigated this case as well as the members of the Porter County Prosecutor's Office who dedicated many hours to meticulously prepare this case for prosecution in order to reach the point of an arrest being made," police said in a prepared statement.
"We of course continue to express our sympathies and extend our condolences to the Thompson family and all of those whose lives have been tragically affected by this crash," police said.
Police say Lauren Thompson, an eighth-grade English teacher at Chesterton Middle School, was in her GMC SUV stopped behind two cars at a red light around 5:45 p.m. Nov. 8 near the intersection of Willowcreek and Lute roads when a Cadillac smashed into her vehicle from behind.
The speed of the Cadillac caused Thompson's vehicle and two cars in front of her to slide through the intersection and onto the south side of Lute Road, police said. Six vehicles were involved in the crash.
“In the aftermath of this initial collision, three other vehicles that were traveling on Lute Road or northbound Willowcreek were struck in secondary collisions with the first three vehicles,” Maynard said. “One of these involved vehicles flipped onto its roof and another vehicle came to rest on top of the Cadillac.”
Thompson was reportedly dead when police arrived.
The Times had identified Schmidt in April when a civil lawsuit was filed against him in the wake of the crash.
"(Mitchell) Taebel still maintains a delusion that he and the ARTIST will be married and, if elected President, that the ARTIST will be his First Lady," charges say.
One of those injured, Andrew Larr, filed suit against Schmidt and Larr's car insurance company, seeking to invoke his uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, according to the litigation filed on his behalf by Porter County-based attorney Jesse Harper.
Portage Police Chief Mike Candiano previously said that his department received numerous questions regarding the identity of the drivers in the deadly crash and has been accused on social media of withholding the information for various reasons.
"As with any crime or potential crime, we do not release names of suspects/participants until the investigation is complete and charges are filed or in the event there is an immediate threat to the community," he said.
Porter County Prosecutor Gary Germann had said the investigation into the crash was "fairly complex."
After the crash, Schmidt was taken to a Chicago hospital for treatment of severe injuries. Maynard said police were initially unable to speak to him because of his medical condition and he reportedly later refused to talk to police without an attorney present.
In addition, the prosecutor's office said it had not received much cooperation from the hospital.
The case has been assigned to Porter Superior Court Judge Mike Fish, court records show.
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Porter/LaPorte County Courts and Social Justice Reporter
Bob is a 23-year veteran of The Times. He covers county government and courts in Porter County, federal courts, police news and regional issues. He also created the Vegan in the Region blog, is an Indiana University grad and lifelong region resident. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/portage-man-charged-in-november-crash-that-killed-chesterton-teacher/article_fe5096be-06b5-11ee-bba3-8b649de773c2.html | 2023-06-09T13:47:48 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/portage-man-charged-in-november-crash-that-killed-chesterton-teacher/article_fe5096be-06b5-11ee-bba3-8b649de773c2.html |
MERRILLVILLE — A woman is dead and an a man is in critical condition following shootings late Thursday night in the area of the Menards at 6300 Mississippi St., said Merrillville Police Cmdr. Matthew Vasel.
Officers were called to the scene around 11:15 p.m. and found a man shot near the entrance of the store, Vasel said.
Medics arrived a short time later and began treating the shooting victim, who was later transported by helicopter to a Chicago hospital where he was listed Friday morning in critical condition, according to police.
"Officers continued to search the area and located a female, who was deceased on scene as a result (of a) gunshot wound," police said.
"We of course continue to express our sympathies and extend our condolences to the Thompson family and all of those whose lives have been tragically affected by this crash," police said.
The shootings are under investigation and police did not release the identities of those shot.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Alexander Van Rite at 219-769-3531, extension 349, or at avanrite@merrillville.in.gov.
Porter/LaPorte County Courts and Social Justice Reporter
Bob is a 23-year veteran of The Times. He covers county government and courts in Porter County, federal courts, police news and regional issues. He also created the Vegan in the Region blog, is an Indiana University grad and lifelong region resident.
A woman is dead and an a man is in critical condition following shootings late Thursday night in the area of the Menards store at 6300 Mississippi St., Merrillville Police Cmdr. Matthew Vasel said. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/woman-dead-man-critical-in-overnight-shootings-merrillville-police-say/article_635cc7ae-06bf-11ee-a88f-4b80b78213da.html | 2023-06-09T13:47:54 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/woman-dead-man-critical-in-overnight-shootings-merrillville-police-say/article_635cc7ae-06bf-11ee-a88f-4b80b78213da.html |
GRU bills drop in 'high' rankings, now comparable to Newberry, Ocala, Tampa
Gainesville Regional Utilities no longer has the highest bills in the state of Florida, according to the latest report released by the Florida Municipal Electric Association.
The monthly report compares electric bills between municipal and inventory-owned utilities. Typically, the reports are delayed by about a month or two.
The latest ranking places GRU at No. 7 in the state with an average electric bill of around $167 per 1,000 kWh. The average is lower than Florida Public Utilities, Duke Energy, Florida- Power and Light Northwest, Leesburg, Bushnell and Havana. In March, GRU ranked first in the state with electric bills teetering around $185.
Despite vast criticism over GRU's bills, the municipal utility now has comparable pricing to neighboring Newberry and Ocala electric providers, as well as Tampa Electric, all of which are within a $10 difference.
More:Gainesville places 1st in national water conservation competition
More:Gov. DeSantis awaits controversial GRU takeover bill. Here's what to know
City leaders previously signaled that their recent decisions − mixed with increasing rates from other utilities, like Duke and FPL − would soon put GRU in a more competitive bracket for power after years of consistently placing among the highest bills in the state.
Cost of cutting back
Gainesville officials and the utility have been under increased scrutiny over the past year following a 2022 audit that pointed out the utility's $1.7 billion debt. Additionally, lawmakers have demanded city leaders drastically cut services, programs, and proposed raising property taxes to mitigate the issue.
Since then, city leaders have vowed to cut its budget by almost $20 million, most of which comes from what's commonly referred to as the general fund transfer − a pot of money that moves from the utility to help pay for city services, such as fire rescue, police and parks.
That hasn't been enough for some City Hall critics.
State Rep. Chuck Clemons, R-Newberry, and Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, helped through an unprecedented bill that would remove the City Commission's control over the municipal utility, placing all decision-making powers with a five-member "authority" appointed by presidential hopeful and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The bill has yet to be sent to DeSantis' office, despite passing the Legislature.
Moody’s Investors Service has signaled that the change of governance could result in a credit downgrade, something lawmakers previously said was a concern and reason to remove the commission's voting ability. | https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/gru-bills-70298379007/70298379007/ | 2023-06-09T13:53:34 | 1 | https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/local/2023/06/09/gru-bills-70298379007/70298379007/ |
HANOVER, Pa. — Families could take advantage of their local state parks and test their adventure side on Friday.
Codorus State Park in Manheim Township, York County hosted their second annual Outdoor Experience.
Families could take kayak rides, run through an obstacle course, compete in disc golf, climb a rock wall and so much more. Plus, families could learn about environmental topics through beautiful nature displays and exhibits.
There was live local music, over 40 craft vendors and food trucks offering a variety of foods for visitors to enjoy.
All these activities are included in the $10 per car admission fee. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/codorus-state-park-outdoors-experience/521-5b043b79-1cc3-4b0c-abff-50934857e527 | 2023-06-09T14:01:29 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/codorus-state-park-outdoors-experience/521-5b043b79-1cc3-4b0c-abff-50934857e527 |
LANCASTER, Pa. — Police are investigating a shots-fired incident in Lancaster.
It occurred at about 9:28 p.m. on the 500 block of Fourth Street, according to Lancaster Police.
No one was injured, but responding officers discovered multiple shell casings and damage to several homes and vehicles along the block, according to police.
Investigators do not believe the incident was random and think that the shots were fired at a specific target. No suspects are in custody at this time, according to police.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Lancaster Police Det. Austin Krause at (717) 735-3416 or submit a tip online. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/lancaster-county/lancaster-police-shots-fired-500-fourth-st-investigation/521-9d185cd1-e79c-403d-ab61-51457d5d0374 | 2023-06-09T14:01:30 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/lancaster-county/lancaster-police-shots-fired-500-fourth-st-investigation/521-9d185cd1-e79c-403d-ab61-51457d5d0374 |
MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A judge set bond Friday morning for an Ocala woman accused of shooting and killing her neighbor last week.
Susan Lorincz, 58, was arrested Tuesday on charges of manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery and two counts of assault in the death of Ajike Owens, 35. Owens was shot Friday, moments after going to the apartment of Lorincz, who had yelled at Owens’ children as they played in a nearby lot, according to authorities.
The judge set Lorincz’s bond at $150,000 for the manslaughter charge and $1,000 for each of the remaining charges, for a total of $154,000.
Prosecutors initially asked the judge for a $200,000 bond, while the defense asked for a $17,000 bond.
BREAKING: A judge has set bond for Susan Lorincz.
— Mark Lehman (@MarkLehman6) June 9, 2023
$150K for the manslaughter charge.
$1,000 for each of the remaining misdemeanor charges.
Total bond for Lorincz is $154K. She will need to wear an ankle monitor if she is able to post bond. pic.twitter.com/r0ce8gPrIN
Prosecutors said on Thursday that they planned to file a pre-trial detention motion in the case, however, they said they are no longer planning to file after reviewing the case.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said Owens, 35, was shot on Friday moments after going to Lorincz’s apartment, who had yelled at Owens’ children as they played in a nearby lot. He also said Lorincz had thrown a pair of skates that hit one of the children.
When interviewed, Lorincz claimed that she acted in self-defense and that Owens had been trying to break down her door prior to her discharging her firearm. Lorincz also claimed that Owens had come after her in the past and had previously attacked her. Through their investigation – including obtaining the statements of eyewitnesses – detectives were able to establish that Lorincz’s actions were not justifiable under Florida law, a statement from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.
A neighbor who helped Owens’ children the night of the shooting said Lorencz often antagonized children in the neighborhood, including her own. The neighbor said Lorencz would use racial slurs and other insults against the children.
Sheriff’s officials said deputies were called to the neighborhood a dozen times as part of an “ongoing neighborhood feud” between Owens and Lorincz.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/09/judge-grants-bond-for-woman-accused-of-shooting-killing-neighbor-in-marion-county/ | 2023-06-09T14:05:40 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/09/judge-grants-bond-for-woman-accused-of-shooting-killing-neighbor-in-marion-county/ |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.