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Here's full list of fireworks, parades and other Fourth of July events in Greater Canton
Looking for fireworks, parades or other Fourth of July holiday events? You have plenty of choices.
The night sky across Northeast Ohio will be lit up by the rockets’ red glare practically nightly as communities mark the Fourth of July.
One of the more notable Independence Day events in the area is returning this year: the Rib, White and Blue Festival in downtown Akron. The Fourth of July celebration was canceled last year following the fatal shooting of Jayland Walker by Akron police.
Here's a look at Independence Day celebrations happening in the area:
Akron
The Rib, White and Blue Festival runs June 30 to July 4. Free admission in downtown Akron. Events are planned for 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Lock 3 park, and will feature national and local rib vendors competing for best ribs, best sauce and people's choice award. Food includes ribs, pulled pork, chicken, corn and a variety of fair food. No outside food is permitted, except drinks purchased from downtown bars included in the designated outdoor refreshment area.
Fireworks will take place at about 9:45 p.m. July 4 in downtown Akron following the RubberDucks game. There also will be neighborhood displays at 9:45 p.m. at Patterson Park Sports Complex and the Akron Executive Airport.
Alliance
Independence Day festivities, including food trucks and live music, will be at Silver Park, 2930 S. Union Ave., from 5 to 9 p.m. July 4. Fireworks will be at dusk.
Canal Fulton
Olde Canal Days Festival runs 5 to 11 p.m. July 6 and 7; and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 8, with fireworks planned for 10 p.m. July 8.
Canton
Independence Day entertainment and fireworks will be held July 3 at the Wm. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, 800 McKinley Drive NW.
The monument grounds will open at 7 pm. Entertainment will begin at about 7:30 p.m. and includes music by En-Rich-Ment of Stark County followed by Jimmy and the Soul Blazers. Several food trucks/vendors will be on site. The fireworks display will begin at about 9:50 pm., with the fireworks staging area adjacent to the McKinley monument. There is no rain date.
Canton Township
Canton Township Community Day is 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday at Faircrest Park, 1001 Faircrest St. SW, with fireworks at dusk Saturday.
Fredericksbug
The 31st anniversary Independence Day Parade lineup begins at North Hill at 9 a.m. Parade steps off at 11 a.m. Sports teams, bands, choirs, classic and sports cars, tractors, wagons and horse groups invited to participate.
Green
FreedomFest is noon to 11 p.m. Saturday at Boettler Park, 5300 Massillon Road. Free admission and parking available at Boettler Park and at various parking lots along International Parkway. Handicap parking will be available at Boettler Park. Activities and games, food vendors, live music. Fireworks at 10:15 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the fireworks show may be postponed. Rain date for fireworks only is Sunday.
Jackson Township
The Jackson Community Celebration runs from 6 to 11 p.m. June 21 and 22; 5 to 11:30 p.m. June 23; and 1 to 11:30 p.m. June 24 at the Nash Family Jackson Amphitheater, 7454 Community Parkway NW, with fireworks at dusk Saturday.
The Lake Cable Community Independence Day Fireworks will be held at dusk July 3 at Lake Cable Beach, 5725 Fulton Road NW.
Massillon
The City of Champions Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks will be July 3 at the Duncan Plaza Amphitheater, 121 Lincoln Way E. Registration for the Li’l Miss Liberty and Li’l Uncle Sam Pageant begins at 5 p.m. at the registration table on City Hall Street. New Wave Nation will perform from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Fireworks will be at 9:45 p.m.
North Canton
The Jaycees annual July Fourth Parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. July 4. It runs along Seventh Street NE to Main Street to Harmon before ending at North Canton Middle School, 605 Fair Oaks Ave. SW. The Community Celebration and Fireworks will be from 5 to 11 p.m. at 525 Seventh St. NE. There will be food vendors, face painting, 50/50 ticket sales and other children's activities. At 7 p.m., the Recess Band will perform. Parking will be available at Hoover High School. Fireworks will be at dusk.
Orrville
Parade at 4 p.m. July 4. Carnival midway with rides, games and food at Orr Park July 4-8. Fire in the Sky Fast Pitch Softball Tournament, girls 14 or younger, July 6-8. Fireworks about 10:15 p.m. July 8.
Portage Lakes
The annual fireworks will be shot from the state park at 10 p.m. July 8. The rain date is July 9 for fireworks only. The Boat Parade will be held July 8 at 1 p.m. To sign up or for more information, contact Andy Shriner at 330-400-4470.
Wadsworth
Fireworks and food trucks will be in downtown Wadsworth from 6 to 10:30 p.m. July 3. Fireworks at dusk, around 10 p.m. Food trucks will be downtown as well as more than 20 downtown restaurants and retailers. This event is free to the public.
Wooster
The Fireworks Festival is 5 to 10:30 p.m. July 4, corner of Burbank Road and Oldman Road. Food and family entertainment prior to the fireworks at 10 p.m. North of the Kinney Building on Burbank Road between Highland and Oldman Road at the soccer complex. The Ohio Light Opera Community Pops Concert, Main Street Wooster, 377 W. Liberty St., will be held 7 to 8 p.m. near the pavilion. Free concert featuring patriotic songs.
If you are aware of an event that should be listed here, email the details to newsroom@cantonrep.com. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/06/23/guide-to-2023-fireworks-parades-and-fourth-of-july-events-in-canton-region/70337959007/ | 2023-06-23T12:59:49 | 1 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/06/23/guide-to-2023-fireworks-parades-and-fourth-of-july-events-in-canton-region/70337959007/ |
FDA warns these frozen fruits from Indiana stores may be contaminated with Listeria
Frozen fruit from the brand Sunrise Growers, Inc. has been recalled due to potential contamination with Listeria: bacteria that can cause serious infections.
The recalled fruit is under multiple brand names at Indiana stores including Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
What brand names should I look out for?
If you bought these products from the following stores, discard them or return them to the store for a refund. For more information on recalls, visit fda.gov/safety.
Walmart, from Jan. 19, 2023 to June 19, 2023:
- Great Value Mixed Fruit
- Great Value Dark Sweet Cherries
- Great Value Mango Chunks
Whole Foods, from Nov. 1, 2022 to June 21, 2023:
- 365 Organic Tropical Fruit Medley
- 365 Organic Pineapple Chunks
- 365 Pineapple Chunks
- 365 Organic Whole Strawberries
- 365 Organic Slice Strawberries and Bananas
- 365 Organic Blackberries
Trader Joe's, from March 28, 2023 to April 11, 2023:
- Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend
Target, from Oct. 14, 2022 to May 22, 2023:
- Good & Gather Organic Cherries and Berries Fruit Blend
- Good & Gather Dark Sweet Whole Pitted Cherries
- Good & Gather Mango Strawberry Blend
- Good & Gather Mixed Fruit Blend
- Good & Gather Mango Chunks
- Good & Gather Blueberries
- Good & Gather Triple Berry Blend
Check your fridge, too:Various salad mixes recalled in Indiana for potential metal presence
What risks does the recalled product pose?
The recall is linked to potential contamination from a third-party pineapple supplier. The bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes, can cause Listeriosis.
Symptoms of Listeriosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms
Pregnant people, newborns, adults 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk for severe illness, according to the CDC.
In some cases, invasive illness can be fatal.
If you exhibit symptoms of illness or injury after consuming a recalled food, contact your health care provider. You can also report your issue to the FDA. Indiana's FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator can be reached at (313) 393-8189.
Contact Pulliam Fellow Morgan Womack atmwomack@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter@womackmo. | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2023/06/23/indiana-fruit-recall-these-frozen-products-may-be-contaminated/70349580007/ | 2023-06-23T13:05:28 | 1 | https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2023/06/23/indiana-fruit-recall-these-frozen-products-may-be-contaminated/70349580007/ |
GREENSBORO — One person was hospitalized overnight after a shooting near Bywood Road and Phillips Avenue, Greensboro police said in a news release.
Officers responded to that area at 12:52 a.m. and located a gunshot victim with a serious injury, police said.
Police have not released any information about possible suspects, the victim or what may have led to the shooting.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000. Residents can also download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip, or go to P3tips.org to submit a web tip. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000. Citizens can also download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip, or go to P3tips.com to submit a web tip. All tips to Crime Stoppers are completely anonymous. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/one-person-hospitalized-after-shooting-in-greensboro-police-say/article_05cc0ab4-11c3-11ee-ba2d-bb158e590746.html | 2023-06-23T13:09:53 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/one-person-hospitalized-after-shooting-in-greensboro-police-say/article_05cc0ab4-11c3-11ee-ba2d-bb158e590746.html |
GREENSBORO — Police Chief John Thompson's "big ask" was answered when City Council approved its new budget Tuesday night and increased officers' starting salaries from $46,367 to $55,000 — making the police department a leader in compensation across the Triad.
As a result, all officers will see an increase to their salaries beginning in September.
Thompson recently urged city leaders to significantly increase starting salaries to a competitive level because officers were leaving for higher-paying jobs elsewhere amid existing staffing shortages.
"I think they're excited," Thompson said Wednesday. "To have this level of support from elected officials, it really starts to hit home. They're seeing appreciation for the job they do, and that's what is bringing up morale."
Thompson is hopeful for more positive changes within the department, and expects a huge recruitment push now that salaries are competitive. Although Thompson initially asked council members to boost starting salaries to $57,000, he said he is "pleasantly surprised we had the support to get $55,000."
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According to data provided by the city, the minimum starting salary for police officers varies in the Triad and other areas across the state: $52,500 in Winston-Salem; $49,325 in High Point; $54,011 in Burlington; $50,301 in Raleigh; $43,445 in Durham; and $57,192 in Charlotte.
Thompson credited City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba for his collaboration during the budget process.
"He has been absolutely 100% supportive," Thompson said. "I had a lot of conversations with him."
Thompson said the police department, which was authorized for 691 sworn positions, will reduce those by 30. Thompson said he also will reclassify 10 sworn positions to professional positions, bringing the total number of authorized sworn positions to 651.
That means the department now has about 90 vacancies to fill, which Thompson is hopeful will become easier with the boost in pay.
Thompson also acknowledged the support of council members and the community for recognizing that the department was unable to meet expectations with its current staffing challenges.
Competitive salaries are a crucial component, Thompson explained, for being able to attract and retain the officers needed to respond to 911 calls across the city and keep the community safe.
City Councilwoman Marikay Abuzuaiter has said increasing pay will help retain recruits trained by the city at a cost of about $75,000 per officer.
During Tuesday's council meeting, she commended the much-anticipated boost, saying it's "an attempt to make sure our city is safe.” | https://greensboro.com/news/local/greensboro-police-pay-boost/article_d1717450-1052-11ee-8094-67cd15b9e77e.html | 2023-06-23T13:09:59 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/greensboro-police-pay-boost/article_d1717450-1052-11ee-8094-67cd15b9e77e.html |
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Mom’s Siam servers and staff from the Carytown restaurant are asking for increased wages and benefits from their employer.
Many of the front of the house workers – including hosts, servers, food runners and bartenders -- have organized together as Workers Siam.
Mom’s Siam, at 2811 W. Cary St., is owned by Sukanya Pala-art, who also owns YaYa’s Cookbook and MPM Tiki Bar in Short Pump, and Mom’s Siam 2 in Shockoe Slip. With her sons, she also owns My Noodle Bar on Monument Ave.
The group said that after trying to meet with Pala-art for three months with no progress, they decided to post a petition to Coworker.org, a workplace organizing platform, listing four main demands: an increase in wages, fair scheduling practices, room for growth and raises to maintain retention. In two weeks, the petition has received over 2,800 signatures as of this writing.
The group also formed an Instagram account at Workers Siam.
“We really enjoy working at Mom’s. We’re proud to work there. We want the restaurant to do well,” Kai Pang said. He has been working at the Carytown restaurant for two years, moving from a server to the back of the bar. “We’re asking to collectively bargain and to have a seat at the table.”
“There’s a certain mindset in the restaurant industry, that this is just the way it is. We’re asking, does it have to be that way?” Tempest Britt, another employee, said. “Worker exploitation has been around (forever). Servers have never been paid as they should. And that needs to change.”
The servers at Mom’s Siam are currently being paid $2.13, plus tips, which is Virginia’s minimum wage for tipped employees. According to the petition, Workers Siam is asking for a $12 hourly wage for servers.
“I’ve had Mom’s Siam for 23 years. Never had a problem. Now all of sudden, they’re posting to Instagram. It’s not good for my business,” Pala-art said on Tuesday.
The food service industry has been spotlighted since the pandemic, with workers asking for better wages and better working conditions.
Most notably, over 8,000 workers at 320 Starbucks stores have voted to unionize, although the path to forming unions at Starbucks has been fraught. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, has accused Starbucks of hundreds of labor law violations, including firing labor organizers and illegally closing unionized stores, culminating in Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz recently being called to testify before Congress about the alleged violations, which he strongly denied.
One Chipotle Mexican Grill voted to unionize in Augusta, Maine, but the burrito chain shuttered the store and eventually agreed to pay $240,000 to the former employees.
Workers Siam said that they are not seeking to form a union, but rather a seat at the table where they can discuss their work concerns with the owner.
Pala-art said that part of the staffing issue is that Mom’s Siam in the past two years has gone from 7 to 8 full-time staff to 25 part-time staff, primarily made up of “students.”
“They don’t want to work too much. Nobody wants to work more than three days,” she said.
Pala-art met with the group on Wednesday to discuss their demands. On Tuesday, Pala-art said that she had already increased bartenders' and support staff's wages. The hosts are now paid $14-15 and the bartenders will be paid $15. At the meeting, she agreed to a $0.50 raise every six months, according to Workers Siam.
But if servers want to be paid more, they need to work more hours, Pala-art stated.
“If they don’t like it, why not work somewhere else? Or work more (hours here)?” Pala-art said.
In response, Workers Siam will be holding a rally outside Mom’s Siam in Carytown on Sunday at 1 p.m. The rally will involve speakers, chanting and flyers. Workers Siam said they are requesting another meeting with the owner and management, “to continue negotiating in good faith in hopes of finding a resolution that is satisfactory for all parties.” | https://richmond.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/mom-s-siam-restaurant-workers-in-carytown-organize-for-increased-wages/article_7b67a296-1165-11ee-b5bb-93e261f29559.html | 2023-06-23T13:10:00 | 0 | https://richmond.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/mom-s-siam-restaurant-workers-in-carytown-organize-for-increased-wages/article_7b67a296-1165-11ee-b5bb-93e261f29559.html |
This article was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Feb. 22, 2001
The phone rang at precisely 2 o'clock. Don Henley, punctual as one might expect considering his reputation as a perfectionist, was calling from Los Angeles.
"I've got the flu," he said, "but I can still talk." As few others in his business can.
Henley, playing Richmond tonight for the first time in more than two decades, is the Eagles drummer who has carved out a successful career on his own. His distinctive voice, meaningful lyrics and demand for high-quality musicianship have proved to be a potent combination in an industry relying less and less on such attributes.
He's also a rare bird in his offstage activities.
He's an environmental activist and a prolific writer of letters. He is well-read and funny, eloquent - anyone else come to mind who can so skillfully work 50-cent words such as "uncomprehendingly" into songs? - and litigious.
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And he is one of the few interviewees who will help you out with punctuation.
At one point during an hour-long chat the other week, Henley was bemoaning the way music videos actually detract from the music, saying, "But of course videos have become another must-do."
Pause.
"That's hyphenated, right?" he asked.
He writes songs about politics, corporate greed and the social landscape as well as wild rivers being tamed and, of course, love. His most recent CD, "Inside Job," includes songs about his marriage, his children and his gratitude. It also contains a hilarious song - "They're Not Here, They're Not Coming" - about space aliens.
He is a guy who is both interested and interesting. He does not mind shooting off his mouth in a measured, thoughtful way. He has his opinions and his enemies.
After more than 30 years in the business and dozens of hit songs on myriad topics, might the well of inspiration be running dry?
Henley, who will turn 54 in July, laughed.
"If I wrote a song every day for the rest of my life, I wouldn't run out of things to talk about," he said. "It's a fascinating world."
Henley's primary residence these days is in Dallas, in his native state of Texas, where he lives with his wife, Sharon, and three young children, the oldest of whom is 5. But he still spends considerable time in Los Angeles. Henley was in Southern California the day we talked "to do some business," which, it turns out, included he and Glenn Frey, the founders of the Eagles and the lone remaining original members, firing longtime guitarist Don Felder from the group.
Henley made no mention of the firing during the interview. In fact, the news didn't surface until several days later when Felder retaliated by filing suit against Henley and Frey.
Never a dull moment for a band that soared to record heights in the '70s, only to crash to earth following an internal explosion, only to put itself back together in the early '90s - when hell froze over - and rise once again.
Without mentioning the Felder situation, Henley said the Eagles are considering a tour of Europe in the summer. (Subsequently, a story on the CDNOW Web site based on an interview with Henley confirmed the Eagles' European tour will begin in May - in Moscow - and will continue through July.) He also plans to sit down with Frey in April after the current leg of his solo tour to try to write songs with an eye toward a new Eagles album. There are no guarantees, however. Trying to re-create the magical formula of a long-ago collaboration is tricky business. Different time, different ingredients.
He and Frey will approach it "one day at a time," Henley said.
Meantime, Henley is on his own, as he has been far longer than he was an Eagle. "Inside Job" is his fourth CD of new material - he also has a greatest-hits collection - and he's been on and off the road playing concerts since "Inside Job" was released last spring. The touring grows old after a couple of months, but as he said, "Unfortunately, one doesn't sell very many records in isolation.
"I could probably give up touring right now, but you can't put an album out and not go out and support it. I worked two years making this album and spent a million dollars on it. I want to do everything I can to make sure it gets a fair shake in the marketplace."
On the other hand, he loves writing songs and making music. "I don't know if I could walk away. I still have the desire to do it. I don't know what else I'd do. I can see the day coming when I want to walk away and spend more time with my children and more time fishing. But right now I'm still up for it," Henley said.
His kids ride around Dallas, singing along to their dad's CDs. His son, the middle child, asked for a set of drums for Christmas and got them. Otherwise, the kids look at their dad's job as no big deal, Henley said.
"It's just something that Daddy does," he said.
His family traveled with him on some California dates last summer, but it didn't turn out to be an ideal arrangement.
"It disrupts the children's sleep schedule, and mine," he said with a laugh. "It's better they stay put [at home]. I try not to be gone more than two or three weeks at a time."
It is interesting to listen to Henley talk about children's sleep routines and to jot down his description of his current bandmates as "great guys, excellent musicians and family men." All the while, one can almost hear the echo of "Hotel California" and "Life in the Fast Lane." The Eagles not only sang those songs, but they also lived them. Their greatest accomplishment may not have been accurately defining the '70s but surviving them.
Everything, as he sings on "Inside Job," is different now.
Kids will do that for you.
"They do," Henley said. "It's incredible. So much for the better."
His work - even during the Eagles days when the group was capturing and reflecting the excesses of the day - always had a spiritual streak. He often put Biblical references or moral commentary to good use. "Inside Job" is no different and the thread of spirituality is maybe even stronger here.
Ask Henley about religion and be prepared to sit back and enjoy.
The gist of it is this:
He was raised in the First Baptist Church in Linden, a small town in East Texas, although neither of his parents was devoutly religious and his attendance was never mandatory. In fact, he believes his father, manager of an auto-parts store, never set foot in a church except to attend friends' funerals. He would stay home on Sunday mornings to read the paper, plow his beloved garden and wash clothes.
"He enjoyed that. A washer for him was sort of a newfangled invention," Henley said, recalling the 1950s when his family got its first automatic washing machine.
But it was his dad's work in the garden that was his personal religion.
"My father had his own spiritual values about the earth and the soil and our attachment to those things," Henley said. "As I got older, I always figured he was closer to God out there with his hands and feet in the soil than those people who were sitting on some rock-hard pew listening to a man scream about hellfire and brimstone."
Henley's time in college and then, of course, freewheeling California opened his eyes to all sorts of spiritual choices that were not available in rural east Texas: Buddhism, Judaism, Native American beliefs and some a little more on the flaky side. He's come to the conclusion that spirituality is not monolithic "despite what we've been told. We have choices, and each person has to find his or her own path."
He sings about right and wrong - at least as he sees it and in his own sometimes acerbic way - and a certain soulless quality that characterizes much of society today. Without providing too much personal information, he said while he and his wife "strive daily to teach our children good values, we do not want to impose any particular spiritual path on them."
"My spiritual life is a work in progress, which I think is as it should be," he said. "I'm always wary of people who think they have all the answers."
Henley backs up his talk and his beliefs. He not only has a family to feed, he likes to say, but he also has several favorite charities, including the Walden Woods Project that he founded, which have enormous appetites.
There also are lawyers to pay. Henley and the Eagles are forever filing suit against people and businesses the band believes is trying make a buck off their name.
Last month, The Wall Street Journal ran a front-page piece about a place in Mexico for sale called the Hotel California. Its owners, trying to get close to a million dollars for the small, rundown place, are advertising that it was immortalized in the Eagles' hit of the same name, that Henley was inspired to write the song after being a guest there.
Henley described that assertion as similar in smell and substance to what you often step in on Texas cattle ranches.
"The deal with that is there are a couple of shysters trying to trade on the Eagles name and reputation. Period," said Henley, who noted that no Eagle ever heard voices down a corridor there. "They're all lying through their teeth.
"We would have sued them already, but it's Mexico, so there's not much you can do."
Henley has always had strong views about the world, but he is seeing life now through the eyes of his children, and he doesn't like a lot of what's come into focus. He rails against the self-aggrandizement that he believes pollutes the music industry and society in general.
"In the music industry, we're still pandering to fads and fetishes," he said. "In the interviews you see, people rarely talk about musicianship. They talk about what somebody was wearing to the Grammys. We live in a cult of personality. Where else - let me think about this before I say it - where else but in America could Dennis Rodman and Carmen Electra get famous?"
OK, he said with a laugh, people might not take kindly to his words. "Maybe Dennis will come looking for me."
While Henley is checking over his shoulder for a tall former basketball player in green hair and a skirt, he is not looking back to admire his career. Too soon for that.
"I appreciate the career I've had and the longevity of it, but I really feel like I'm not done yet," he said. "There are a lot of areas I want to explore both musically and lyrically. I'll look back in a few more years." | https://richmond.com/news/local/a-new-speed-limit-for-henleys-life-in-the-fast-lane/article_70721498-111f-11ee-a465-9fdfb820cf61.html | 2023-06-23T13:10:06 | 0 | https://richmond.com/news/local/a-new-speed-limit-for-henleys-life-in-the-fast-lane/article_70721498-111f-11ee-a465-9fdfb820cf61.html |
This article was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on March 17, 2000.
When big shots visit a strange town, they often are ferried around in stretch limos with smoked windows and elaborate entertainment systems.
Dave Barry is not like most big shots. He came to Richmond yesterday and rode in my green minivan with a half-dressed baby doll on the floor as well as a few recycled tissues.
And he laughed.
Barry, the syndicated columnist, 1988 Pulitzer Prize winner and maybe the funniest writer alive, is funny in real life, too. Also very likable.
What's not to like about a guy who turns a mean phrase, plays in a rock band with the likes of Warren Zevon, launches a campaign for president because all of the other candidates are "goobers," carries his own luggage and changes his daughter's diapers?
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Sophie is his daughter. She was born three weeks ago, which, by Barry's figuring, means she's produced more than 11,000 dirty diapers and allowed him about four minutes of sleep.
"I'm running on empty," confessed Barry, who has continued to write for the Miami Herald (his home paper) and work on a new book.
Nonetheless, he remained genuinely genial as he sat in a leather recliner at mid-court in the gymnasium at Thomas Jefferson High and taped commercials (to be aired during coverage of the Olympic Summer Games) for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, which publishes his columns each Sunday. His primary reason for visiting Richmond came last night when he was the featured speaker at the 94th annual meeting of the Retail Merchants Association of Greater Richmond. I drove him to his hotel.
At 52, Barry remains boyish in appearance - except, maybe, for the reading glasses - and somewhat "juvenile," by his own admission, in approach. He is embarking on fatherhood for the second time. Rob, from a previous marriage, is 19 and a college student and a frequent topic in his columns. Sophie is a new adventure.
"They are in stark contrast to each other," said Barry. "They keep the same hours, however."
One of Barry's earliest books, "Babies and Other Hazards of Sex," arrived soon after Rob did. He has no plans to publish a revision, but he will surely have the material. Next summer, Barry's wife, Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman, plans to cover the Summer Games in Australia. Dave and Sophie will stay home, with the former ostensibly caring for the latter.
"By then I'm hoping she'll be a gifted child," said Barry, who actually talked his wife into making the trip. "Maybe about fourth or fifth grade."
In fact, Barry turns down most speaking gigs, like the one last night, so he can stay home. And he was due to fly home to South Florida early this morning so that he wouldn't miss any additional magic moments of his new child's life - or risk immediate divorce. However, he did acknowledge that he was looking forward to a good night's sleep last night.
Fatherhood the second time around, as it was the first, is "great," said Barry. But not necessarily fair, and he knows it.
Take breast-feeding.
"Whenever they talk about the advantages of breast-feeding, they never say the most important one," he said, "which is men can't do it."
Compared to fatherhood, running for president is a snap. Barry's been doing it for years.
"I never stopped running," he said. "I always accept contributions. I'm in it until I run out of bumper stickers."
Which is not likely to happen soon because of his abundant supply.
"I got a deal," he said.
In fact, the new book he's working on is about politics, the federal government and Washington.
"It'll be a serious book," he said, which means, of course, it won't be.
We laughed about a hilarious piece he wrote many years ago about a senatorial race in Florida. He traveled with both candidates. He asked crazy questions. He got crazy answers - from one of the candidates, anyway. At one stop, grim-faced reporters from other papers were asking the candidate, in serious tones, to comment on this issue and that. Barry scooped up a Florida-sized bug on his reporter's notebook and asked the candidate to comment on it. He did.
How hard is it to be funny? Plenty.
How hard is it to be as funny for as long as Barry has been? Impossible.
Or almost, as in Barry's case.
Barry said he is driven by fear.
"I have no career to fall back on," he said. "If I had to stop and do something useful, I'd definitely be living in a refrigerator carton somewhere." | https://richmond.com/news/local/barrys-funny-in-real-life-too/article_ef57c92a-1114-11ee-861b-a333cf09f5ec.html | 2023-06-23T13:10:12 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/barrys-funny-in-real-life-too/article_ef57c92a-1114-11ee-861b-a333cf09f5ec.html |
This article was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Feb. 23, 2001.
It's been a long run for Don Henley, and a long time between visits to Richmond.
The venerable rocker last played in Richmond as a member of the Eagles at their end of their successful sprint through the 1970s. He returned last night with a lot of lost time to make up for.
On a icy night outside, Henley warmed an appreciative, almost-full house at Richmond's Landmark Theater with a trip down memory lane through his old hits and a present day jaunt through his new ones. "I haven't been here in a long time. Some interesting things have happened to me here," Henley joked. "I don't want to go into the details."
Henley played for well over two hours, despite fighting a cold that he said was a gift from his children.
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"They're always bringing me things," he said.
Backed by a seven-piece band, a vocal trio and two trombonists in shades on a ska version of "Hotel California," Henley played 21 songs, a third of which came from his latest album, "Inside Job."
Playing before a stage backdrop that looked like the inside of a bombed-out church, Henley was singing to the choir. He had the audience standing and singing during old favorites such as "Life in the Fast Lane," "The Long Run" and "All She Wants to Do Is Dance." Henley played mostly predictable choices from his 30-year resume, but at least one was a pleasant surprise: the country-styled "You Must Not Be Drinking Enough," which is from one of his earlier albums.
He closed his show with a strong second encore that included two deeply personal songs from his new CD - "My Thanksgiving" and "Taking You Home" - and his old standby, "Desperado."
Henley opened the current leg of his solo tour Wednesday night in Atlanta. He said last night after the show that the Eagles will reform in May and tour in Europe, and may tour in Asia later in the year. The group also hopes to write and record songs for a new Eagles' CD.
Backstage after the show, Henley said he could not discuss the situation with longtime Eagles' guitarist Don Felder, who sued Henley and Glenn Frey after he was booted from the group earlier this month. Henley said the band would hire another guitarist. | https://richmond.com/news/local/henleys-richmond-stop-a-trip-down-memory-lane/article_c3d64d92-111b-11ee-a5ae-2b3f4b163138.html | 2023-06-23T13:10:19 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/henleys-richmond-stop-a-trip-down-memory-lane/article_c3d64d92-111b-11ee-a5ae-2b3f4b163138.html |
A crash on Interstate 95 is causing significant delays for northbound commuters in Richmond Friday morning.
The Virginia Department of Transportation first reported the crash, which occurred near the Chamberlayne Avenue exit, around 7:15 a.m.
The left shoulder, left lane and center lane are closed, with backups stretching more than two miles.
Drivers are cautioned to expect delays and seek alternate routes if possible.
This morning's top headlines: Titanic sub's implosion; Hunter Biden whistleblower; NBA Draft
Authorities have turned their focus to determining why a submersible carrying people to the wreck of the Titanic imploded deep in the North Atlantic, as tributes poured in for the five aboard who were killed. The announcement that no one survived Thursday brought a tragic end to a five-day saga that included an urgent around-the-clock search for the vessel known as the Titan. A U.S. Coast Guard official said the investigation into what happened was already underway and would continue in the area around Titanic where debris from the submersible was found.
The desperate search for the missing Titan submersible has turned into a possible recovery effort after officials announced that the vessel imploded sometime this week, killing all five aboard, near the Titanic shipwreck. Deep-sea robots will continue to search the sea floor for clues about what happened deep in the North Atlantic. The Titan's pilot and four passengers died in the catastrophic implosion. Officials say there isn’t a timeframe for when they will call off the massive international search, and Coast Guard Rear Adm. John Mauger says the prospect of finding or recovering remains is unknown.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought his comedy game to Thursday's big White House dinner in his honor. Modi cracked jokes about his lack of singing chops and the time President Joe Biden wanted him to eat even though he was fasting. Modi isn't known for having a sense of humor, but he had the nearly 400 guests in stitches throughout his toast. Titans of business, fashion, entertainment and more made the guest list. Designer Ralph Lauren, filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan and tennis legend Billie Jean King were among those rubbing shoulders with tech leaders from Apple, Google and Microsoft.
Hail hurts dozens of concertgoers, scraps Louis Tomlinson show at Red Rocks Amphitheater near Denver
A brief but fierce storm pummeled concertgoers at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Denver with golf ball-sized hail, injuring dozens and forcing the cancellation of the show’s headliner, former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson. Authorities say as many as 90 people were treated for non-life-threatening injuries from Wednesday night’s storm and seven people were taken to the hospital. Nicole Criner and her sister covered their heads with a small plastic sign they grabbed as the storm intensified as they were trying to get to their car. Tomlinson tweeted he was “devastated” about the cancellation and promised to return.
Chemical manufacturer 3M has agreed to pay at least $10.3 billion to settle lawsuits over contamination of many U.S. public drinking water systems with potentially harmful compounds known as PFAS. The deal was announced Thursday by the company based in St. Paul, Minnesota, and an attorney representing hundreds of public water systems. 3M is a leading maker of PFAS chemicals used widely in firefighting foams and many nonstick and grease-resistant consumer products. They're described as “forever chemicals” because they don’t degrade naturally in the environment. PFAS compounds been linked to a variety of health problems, including liver and immune-system damage and some cancers.
House Republicans have released testimony from two IRS whistleblowers who allege that the Justice Department interfered with their yearslong investigation into President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter. It was a charge the department swiftly denied. The testimony from the two IRS agents detailed what they called a pattern of “slow-walking investigative steps” and delaying enforcement actions months before elections. The Justice Department denied the claims, saying the U.S. attorney in charge of the Hunter Biden probe had full authority over the case. The release comes days after Hunter Biden announced he will plead guilty to misdemeanor tax offenses as part of an agreement with the Justice Department.
Tropical Storm Bret is bringing winds and heavy rain to islands in the eastern Caribbean that shut down to prepare for potential landslides and flooding. The storm’s center was west of St. Vincent early Friday and moving west. Its maximum sustained winds were 60 mph. Airports, businesses, schools and offices have been closed on St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique and other islands since midday Thursday. Residents stocked up on gasoline, water and canned food. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Barbados, Dominica, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Up to 6 inches of rain is forecast in places. But Bret is expected to weaken in the Caribbean and dissipate by Sunday.
Victor Wembanyama is the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, headed to San Antonio with enormous expectations to become basketball’s newest sensation. The selection of the 19-year-old from France that had been a foregone conclusion for months was announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Thursday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Wembanyama arrives with far more height and hype than most No. 1 picks. Listed at 7-foot-4, he dominated his French league in his final season there, leading all players in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. Brandon Miller of Alabama was the No. 2 pick by the Charlotte Hornets and Scoot Henderson went third to the Portland Trail Blazers. | https://richmond.com/news/local/interstate-95-north-chamberlayne-avenue-crash-delays/article_b1665636-11c3-11ee-91fb-ebd1af3f78f6.html | 2023-06-23T13:10:25 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/interstate-95-north-chamberlayne-avenue-crash-delays/article_b1665636-11c3-11ee-91fb-ebd1af3f78f6.html |
MIDLAND, Texas — Tall City Brewery and the Museum of the Southwest will be partnering up for the month of June for a good cause.
Anytime someone orders the Cosmic Cowpoke at Midland's Tall City Brewery, the proceeds will go directly back to the museum.
"The Cosmic Cowpoke is one of my favorite beers that we have on tap right now," said Tall City Tapper Manager Logan Vitela. "It is a double dry hopped hazy IPA, so it can be a little intimidating at times, but really it just has a little bit more flavor really it has nice citrus notes you get some orange peel notes in that as well it's perfect for these hot days whenever we're in the triple digits, so it's really tasty come get it while you can."
Each month moving forward, Tall City plans on choosing a different local organization to partner up with in an effort to give back to the community.
"It's really important for us to, you know really involve ourselves in the community," Vitela said. "You know the community supports us every day and every action that we do, especially at tailgates, they're there for anything. They're also there for us. So we want to give back to them as well, it's actually really fun."
At this time, the brewery is still deciding what local business to sponsor for the month of July. | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/tall-city-brewery-partners-up-with-local-museum-for-the-month-of-june/513-1b971d43-645c-4529-a6c7-a9a53cd4701e | 2023-06-23T13:10:29 | 1 | https://www.newswest9.com/article/news/local/tall-city-brewery-partners-up-with-local-museum-for-the-month-of-june/513-1b971d43-645c-4529-a6c7-a9a53cd4701e |
This article was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Sept. 24, 2006.
GLADESBORO
He ambled cautiously but confidently through the darkened but familiar hallway of his church.
His hands reached for a light switch and then a door, which he pushed open to reveal the sanctuary divinely bathed in sunlight. The stained-glass windows filled with life. The bright-red carpet glowed as if on fire.
"Isn't it gorgeous?" said the Rev. Duane L. Steele. "I think this is the most beautiful church in Carroll County."
Pride is one thing, but how exactly might Steele know? Not once in his 28 years as pastor of Gladesboro Evangelical Lutheran Church, tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia, has he seen the place.
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Steele is blind, but he's come to know beauty when it presents itself.
"The ambience," Steele explained, not put off at all by the question. "You can feel it. Don't you just feel the reverence in here?"
This is all part of Steele's job: helping others see the light he can only feel.
Steele, 59, has been blind since shortly after birth. He was stricken in an epidemic in the 1940s and early 1950s that claimed the sight of thousands of premature infants given supplemental oxygen that was too rich.
He's been friendly, enthusiastic and outgoing just about as long.
His best friend, Craig Werner, also blind, remembers when he met Steele more than 50 years ago. Werner was 7, a scared and lonely child entering the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind in the Bronx, a residential school where Steele was already a student. Steele immediately welcomed Werner.
"I'll be your friend," Werner recalled Steele telling him.
"He was a very caring person, even as a small child," said Werner, associate professor of English at Buffalo State College. "He had the kind of personality . . . you just wanted to take to him."
Steele grew up in the Catskill Mountains north of New York City, and didn't have family close by. Werner's parents lived a few blocks from the school and embraced Steele as their own. They invited him into their home on weekends, took him to church and to concerts, and introduced him to opera. He and Werner became like brothers.
When Steele was about 10, Werner noticed his friend had taken a keen interest in religion - in class, in church and on the radio. For Steele, the radio was a sanctuary, a cherished source of news, music and ballgames, as well as a wave of on-the-air preachers who never failed to enlighten, or at least entertain.
"My favorite heroes when I was growing up were pastors," said Steele. "I took an interest in the Bible very early on . . . and I always sat in the front pew as close to the pastor as I could get.
"Then I started listening to all the people on the radio. Billy Graham, Norman Vincent Peale, Harry Emerson Fosdick. I would listen to these guys week after week, and I would say, 'I want to be one of them.'"
In high school, though, Steele turned away from the church, disillusioned by the war in Vietnam and by religion in general. He went to college, thinking he'd become a teacher. But he discovered few opportunities for blind teachers. He quit college, married and started a family.
A gifted singer and pianist, he poured his soul into music. He took jobs playing in restaurants and clubs. He moved to Northern Virginia and at one point was holding down three jobs: tuning pianos, playing gigs and serving as organist at a small Lutheran church.
He wearied of that lifestyle and enrolled at what was then Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, graduated in 1974, and, at age 27, decided he would indeed like to go into the ministry. He finished seminary and found a church in Lancaster, Pa., willing to hire a blind intern. He wanted to prove his independence. He got the chance.
The pastor went on vacation and left Steele in charge. When a member of the congregation died, a panicked Steele tracked down his boss by phone.
"What do I do?" Steele asked.
Came the reply: "The funeral."
Meantime, Gladesboro Evangelical Lutheran Church was a small congregation in search of a pastor. He came for a visit, preached the sermon on Palm Sunday in 1978 and, a few weeks later, was offered the job.
His oldest child, Jennifer, then 9, helped him learn his way around the church.
"She brought me over to the church and we walked and walked and walked," said Steele. "She was very patient. My children learned over the years having a blind parent to be very patient."
It took only a week for Steele to become comfortable in his new surroundings; he acknowledges it might have taken some members of the congregation a little longer to become comfortable with him. However, he eventually allayed their fears, largely through his disarming manner; it's hard not to like a man who can perform a great, thunderous hymn on the electronic keyboard, then push the piano button and launch into a bouncy version of "Ain't Misbehavin'." He also made members of the congregation active participants in the ministry, regularly enlisting them to drive him on pastoral visits.
Steele loves Gladesboro - it's not too terribly different from where he grew up, although he says with a smile that he doesn't recall eating pinto beans on cornbread - and he loves the people and the church, which celebrated its 150th anniversary last year. Over the years, he's traveled the country with his music ministry and as an advocate for the blind. At church, he's married a lot, buried a lot and begun to baptize the children of children he baptized years ago.
But his deep-rooted ambition gnaws at him. Having grown up around big-city churches in New York, he always envisioned himself pastoring a larger church. The opportunity never came.
"Frankly, I lost track of the number of turn-downs I received after about the first 10," Steele said. "Most of the time, the rejections were subtle. In a couple of instances before the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act [of 1990], people said frankly that they were uncomfortable, or thought that their parishes might not be up to the challenge of working with a blind person.
"I'm no longer marketable for those big churches, and I know that. So, I grow where I'm planted. I believe God had a vision, and maybe his vision was different from mine. But it still worked out. I've had a fantastic life. The people of Gladesboro Church have hung in there with me. I love these people, and they love me.
"If I had to be in one place for my whole ministry, this was the place to be."
He and Janet, his wife of 38 years and a middle-school teacher in nearby Grayson County, raised four children, all grown and gone.
He tries not to ponder what if, focusing instead on what is.
He said he has never been angry about being blind; he has known life no other way. He has been angered at having to work so much harder to be, as he put it, "normal," but he has never been angry at the blindness itself. In some ways, it has made him challenge himself, and he is not ungrateful for that.
"When you operate with a disability, regardless of what job you go for, you have to give it everything," he said. "You have to be absolutely the best. I think being blind made me reach more for the stars."
After all these years, Sunday mornings remain his favorite time. Church member Bob Willard stops at Steele's home evey week to pick up the preacher and drive him the quarter-mile to the church. While Steele gets ready to preach, the two talk sports.
Technology has made teaching and preaching much easier than it used to be for Steele. He has computer software that can transform text on a screen into a digitized voice, and a Braille printer that spits out paper covered with raised dots. He loves e-mail. He also loves his MP3 player, being a fan of music of all kinds but particularly classical.
On a recent Sunday at Gladesboro Church, the morning was still and quiet. Early-arriving worshipers gathered out front to chat. Cows grazed in the next pasture. Inside, Steele sat at a table in the middle of a Sunday school classroom in his dark suit the color of his sunglasses, his fingers crawling across his textured notes. Steele asked someone to read the story of the conversion of a woman named Lydia in the Book of Acts. The reader had barely finished when Steele blurted, "Isn't that cool?"
His enthusiasm is something the members of Gladesboro have appreciated since the moment they met him.
"That's what we needed," said Annette Marshall, a church member for 50 years.
And his blindness?
"It didn't really bother anyone after we first saw him," said Marshall, who has been one of Steele's many drivers through the years.
During the 11 o'clock service, Steele preached and sang with the choir - he said his voice has weakened in recent years because of asthma - and delivered the sort of announcements that ministers typically make. Before a congregation of about 75, he welcomed visitors and noted a birth, announced who was ailing and revealed who was celebrating his 60th birthday.
During the last hymn, Steele recessed - alone and without a cane - down the center aisle. He stopped at a pew to sing and visit with two of his grandchildren, then continued to the welcoming red front doors of the church to greet his departing flock.
"He has this unclouded view of who we are, untainted by the visual things that our eyes catch," said Bishop James F. Mauney of the Virginia Synod of the Evangelical Church in America. "Without getting too sappy, I think Duane sees in ways others of us don't see, and I think that's a unique gift for a pastor."
After the service, Eldon Gardner stood near the last pew, talking about how he's attended the church for all of his 88 years and how he used to drive Steele to nursing homes for musical visits. Gardner played the harmonica.
"The only reason he's stayed," a smiling Gardner said of Steele's long tenure in Gladesboro, "is he couldn't see to leave."
At that very moment, Steele walked past, heard the comment and recognized the voice.
"I love you, Eldon," said Steele, without the slightest hint of offense and without slowing.
Replied Gardner, "I love you, too, Duane." | https://richmond.com/news/local/seeing-the-light-that-the-pastor-is-blind-hasnt-deterred-faithful-flock-that-follows-him/article_a5881d8c-1113-11ee-b4e1-4f6bb634f057.html | 2023-06-23T13:10:31 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/seeing-the-light-that-the-pastor-is-blind-hasnt-deterred-faithful-flock-that-follows-him/article_a5881d8c-1113-11ee-b4e1-4f6bb634f057.html |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — First responders and emergency services are on the scene of a motorcycle crash in east Wichita.
The call came in around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday near the intersection of 21st and Webb in east Wichita.
The Wichita Police Department says that a 40-year-old man was transported to a local hospital after a vehicle collided with a motorcycle.
This is a developing story.
KSN will continue to provide updates on this story as more details are received. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/one-critically-injured-in-east-wichita-motorcycle-crash-2/ | 2023-06-23T13:13:28 | 1 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/one-critically-injured-in-east-wichita-motorcycle-crash-2/ |
Households With Access to a Vehicle: 95.6%
Workers Who Commute by Car: 78%
Average Commute Time: 24.6 minutes
Average Annual Time Lost in Rush-Hour Traffic: 74 hours
Austin is known for being a little different. The "Live Music Capital of the World" is home to world-class art festivals, one of the country's largest universities, the Texas Capitol, and a unique local culture. However, it's also home to a lot of cars. Congestion tends to be the worst along I-35 and the MoPac Expressway, where waiting in traffic can feel similar to waiting in line for brisket at Franklin Barbecue.
5. Dallas, Texas
Households With Access to a Vehicle: 95.4%
Workers Who Commute by Car: 85%
Average Commute Time: 26.9 minutes
Average Annual Time Lost in Rush-Hour Traffic: 67 hours
Dallas is synonymous with diversity. With 38 colleges and universities, myriad industries, and one of the country's most diverse populations, "Big D" has something for everyone. However, that also includes traffic. At nearly 400 square miles, Dallas is a massive, sprawling city – which may be why so many of its households have access to a car. Traffic tends to pile up where you'd expect: at the convergence of major highways such as I-45 at I-30 and US 75 at I-635.
6. Orlando, Florida
Households With Access to a Vehicle: 95.2%
Workers Who Commute by Car: 85%
Average Commute Time: 28.1 minutes
Average Annual Time Lost in Rush-Hour Traffic: 68 hours
Thanks to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and more, Orlando is one of the most visited cities in the world – meaning its traffic issues probably come as no surprise. But even without the tourists who flock to O-Town year-round, traffic jams around I-4 and other areas would likely still be an issue given the high percentage of households that have access to at least one car.
7. Charlotte, North Carolina
Households With Access to a Vehicle: 95.1%
Workers Who Commute by Car: 82%
Average Commute Time: 25.6 minutes
Average Annual Time Lost in Rush-Hour Traffic: 58 hours
Charlotte is North Carolina's largest city and has experienced significant growth in the past several years. All that growth – along with a booming financial sector, professional sports teams, museums, and the country's seventh-highest rate of household car access – has resulted in regular traffic congestion throughout the city. Predictably, I-77 and I-485 are some of the major pain points. However, traffic can also get seriously backed up on local roads like Independence Boulevard and Providence Road – something that seems a little ironic in the home of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/woman-charged-with-possessing-stolen-vehicle-in-bloomington/article_88625070-1135-11ee-8254-17fa33f54446.html | 2023-06-23T13:16:14 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/woman-charged-with-possessing-stolen-vehicle-in-bloomington/article_88625070-1135-11ee-8254-17fa33f54446.html |
OMAHA, Neb. — Firefighters who responded to February's fiery train derailment in Ohio struggled to immediately identify the hazardous chemicals the train was hauling due to a lack of communication from the railroad, officials said Thursday.
During a public hearing in East Palestine — where thousands of residents had to evacuate their homes because of the derailment — National Transportation Safety Board chairwoman Jennifer Homendy asked why Norfolk Southern was able to provide details of the freight to one of its contractors within 10 minutes of the Feb. 3 derailment, but that it took an hour to get that information to first responders.
Knowing what was on the train helps firefighters determine the proper response.
The two-day NTSB hearing was designed to provide information to residents, officials and investigators about the emergency response and the crucial decision three days after the derailment to release toxic vinyl chloride from five tank cars and burn it to keep them from exploding.
That sent a towering plume of black smoke over the town near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border and prompted the evacuation of about half of its 5,000 residents. Even now, residents are concerned about lingering impacts on health, even though state and federal officials say tests show the town's air and water are safe.
East Palestine Fire Chief Keith Drabick said Thursday that there was a consensus in the command center that releasing and burning the chemicals was the “least bad option.”
Railroad experts and contractors who helped with the emergency response said they believed they had no choice except to use explosives to blow a hole in the tank cars to release and burn the vinyl chloride. Moving the cars or draining the chemicals were not options.
Temperature readings and malfunctioning pressure relief valves led experts to believe a chemical reaction was taking place inside the tank cars that was building pressure, and that this could cause an explosion.
Drew McCarty with Specialized Profession Services said one of the tank cars “frankly scared the hell out of us” when it violently released vinyl chloride with a roar after hours of calm. McCarty said that, combined with his decades of experience, made him think the cars could explode.
Officials from Oxy Vinyls — the company that produced the vinyl chloride — said they were convinced that the chemical remained stable inside those cars and they tried to explain that to the railroad before officials decided to vent the cars and burn the vinyl chloride, but Norfolk Southern didn't explain that to decision makers. Tests the company did later showed no evidence that the reaction had occurred.
Drabick said it would have been helpful to know about Oxy Vinyls' opinion at the time, but he doesn't think it would have changed the decision.
Norfolk Southern's Robert Wood said even if there wasn't a chemical reaction, officials were still concerned that the tank cars could fail and release the vinyl chloride.
“If that car fails, that is a large cloud of liquefied flammable gas that’s going to light off and can have devastating consequences,” Wood said.
Drabick and other first responders who testified said firefighters need more training — particularly volunteer firefighters like those first on the scene after the derailment — on how to handle hazardous materials. But he conceded it would be hard to imagine ever being fully ready for a disaster of that magnitude.
“I don’t think you can ever be prepared for something like this,” Drabick said.
Ohio officials said volunteer firefighters receive only 36 hours of initial training when they are certified — significantly less than the 200 hours professional firefighters receive — and that includes no hazardous materials training.
The fire chiefs said the initial response to the derailment was complicated because the radios used by the different departments don't work with each other. It also took time for emergency responders to discover exactly what the train was carrying because the first firefighters on scene didn't have access to the AskRail app that railroads developed to provide that information. The train crew that also had that information was a mile away after moving the locomotive and didn't immediately connect with first responders.
Drabick said it took about 45 minutes for his department to discover what was in the cars. Homendy said the railroad didn't immediately provide that information to dispatchers and officials who requested it.
Eventually, officials learned about the dangerous nature of the cargo and pulled firefighters back from the derailment site. They also ordered the evacuation of all homes within one mile.
The NTSB said in its preliminary report that an overheated bearing on one of the railcars likely caused the derailment, but it could take more than a year before the agency publishes its final report. The bearing started heating up miles before the derailment, according to sensors on the tracks, but it didn’t get hot enough to trigger an alarm until just before the crash. The crew had little time to react.
Video gathered by investigators showed sparks or fire beneath one of the rail cars starting at least 26 miles (42 kilometers) before the derailment in Salem, Ohio.
The hearing on Friday will focus on tank car safety and the trackside detectors.
This derailment and others generated nationwide concern about railroad safety and prompted members of Congress to propose reforms. Norfolk Southern’s CEO Alan Shaw was grilled at two Senate hearings where he apologized for the derailment and promised to make things right in East Palestine. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/decisions-made-ntsb-hearing-ohio-train-derailment/530-67db55e3-dd73-43a0-bd34-6f94733a8500 | 2023-06-23T13:16:42 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/decisions-made-ntsb-hearing-ohio-train-derailment/530-67db55e3-dd73-43a0-bd34-6f94733a8500 |
ATLANTA — A new community center is making a big difference in its community already, but is facing a massive challenge regarding funding - and its deadline is quickly approaching.
The Reverend Timothy McDonald Outreach Center, located within the Iconium Baptist Church on Moreland Avenue, is fighting to stay open and seeking community help.
It opened in February and brought 12 non-profits together to streamline resources families need, including violence prevention and conflict resolution programs. It’s already serving about 200 families and has plans to grow.
According to Black Push founder, who headed the project, Shaun Smith, the center needs to raise $10,000 by the end of the month to help keep the doors open and also needs volunteers.
11Alive's Cheryl Preheim talked to Smith, Sharmaine Brown, who lost her son to gun violence and one of the youths utilizing the center, 13-year-old Urijah Miles, about the urgent need and the impact.
"We are just looking for community support to get behind us," Smith said. "This is another resource to keep our kids off the streets."
Smith's organization began turning toward gun violence as a focus after he traveled to the sites of shootings in places such as Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas, to see the community responses there. He said he realized his organization could make a change from the bottom-up in Atlanta.
"As I began to look at it, I began to realize that most of the issues we're having, when it came to gun violence, were community issues, and they start in the community. We can resolve them in the community," he said.
An online fundraiser was set up to support the center online here or through Black Push on its website here. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/outreach/metro-atlanta-outreach-center-needs-community-black-push/85-ac335693-38aa-4d4e-acca-0dcc41d34b90 | 2023-06-23T13:16:48 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/outreach/metro-atlanta-outreach-center-needs-community-black-push/85-ac335693-38aa-4d4e-acca-0dcc41d34b90 |
POULSBO, Wash. — People like to say babies are miracles, but Aria Carter-Uutela may be living proof.
At just 15 days old little Aria has already lived a lifetime.
"I'm extremely grateful," said her father, Christopher.
Aria's mother, Allie, was still nine days from her due date when she went into labor at their Poulsbo home on June 7. She and Christopher got in the car and headed for the birthing center about an hour away.
"We made it about 30 minutes before my water broke," said Allie.
"I really didn't know what to think at the time," Christopher added. "She said she could feel something and asked if I could tell her what it is. I look over as we're driving down the road and I see two feet hanging out. I was like, oh my gosh!"
The baby was breech.
Christopher pulled to the side of Highway 101 near Discovery Bay and called 911.
"The baby is steadily coming out," said Christopher. "Every time she has a contraction, the baby comes out a little bit more."
To complicate matters, Aria's head became stuck, her tiny lungs started filling up with fluid.
When she finally came out, Aria wasn't breathing. Christopher feared his brand new baby, whom he had just delivered, might never feel the embrace of her mother.
"The only thing I could think about was letting Allie hold her at least a little while in case she didn't make it. That was my only concern," said Christopher. "I didn't tell her anything about it. I just wanted her to hold her."
Seconds later, Trooper Simon Hovinghoff arrived on the scene and started coordinating with EMS.
"I just knew it was a medical emergency. We didn't know someone was giving birth. It's not something most troopers experience, and I doubt I'll have the chance to experience it again," he said. "We don't have a lot of training in these sorts of things."
Medics rushed Aria to the hospital and continuously pushed air into her lungs during the ride.
"I'm convinced that's what saved her," said Christopher.
Aria was then helicoptered to a neonatal intensive care unit. After five tense days, she finally emerged, perfectly healthy.
"They did tell us at the NICU she is a miracle baby," said Christopher. "Most babies that come into the world like that don't end up like this."
Days later, the family returned to that spot on the side of the road. To them, it is a sacred spot they plan to visit on every one of Aria's birthdays.
"She's incredible," said Allie. "It was an experience. I'm just glad everything played out the way it did." | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/poulsbo-father-deliver-baby-on-side-of-road/281-9814c1bb-2505-47f4-a0ff-365cd2855b30 | 2023-06-23T13:16:54 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/poulsbo-father-deliver-baby-on-side-of-road/281-9814c1bb-2505-47f4-a0ff-365cd2855b30 |
ATLANTA — The housing market can be complex for buyers to navigate, but local experts say there are resources to help.
On Saturday, June 24, the Urban League of Greater Atlanta will host the annual "Super Saturday" event with experts, workshops and services to assist individuals and families on their path to homeownership. Upon completion of the course, participants can receive a certificate which makes them eligible for down payment assistance programs.
Experts emphasize such support and education as critical, given barriers of affordability, inventory and interest rates. Predatory lending also continues to be a problem, Natallie Keiser with HouseATL explained.
"When we think about homeownership, it continues to be important to encourage and incentivize homebuyers to participate in HUD-certified homebuyer education and counseling, which helps protect them," Keiser said.
Groups like HouseATL, a taskforce addressing affordability in metro Atlanta, and the Urban League are part of a collective working to preserve and create 6,000 homeowners of color in Atlanta. The mission, part of Wells Fargo WORTH initiative, comes as metro Atlanta also deals with a 26% homeownership gap between Black and white households.
"Historically, there have been a number of systems in place that have made it difficult for Black families to own land in the early stages in the 1800s and 1900s right after Emancipation," Nancy Flake Johnson, President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, said. "And then it became more sophisticated in the form of redlining, even being able to get homeowner's insurance. Most recently, there's been several studies that have shown that appraisals have been biased, and not in just a little bit biased, but hundreds of thousands of dollars that directly impacts our ability to build wealth."
Affordability of the rental market can also have an impact, Keiser noted, adding to the difficulty of not only saving for a nonpayment but other fees like closing costs. The taskforce details problems the metro is facing in its latest report, with plans to release recommendations to address the issue this fall.
A "one stop shop" portal for prospective and existing homeowners, builders and industry professionals to come together is also in the works. The launch date of the portal is still forthcoming but Flake Johnson calls the plan a historic one.
"To buy a home, there are a lot of players," she said. "It's really important as a first time homebuyer that you take advantage of this free education so that you can learn the process, get prepared. And really, it's about sustaining homeownership. Not just getting the home, but keeping the home." | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/super-saturday-homebuyer-event-atlanta-homeownership-racial-gap/85-a5e12849-970d-4db8-aa70-1e53d929aaca | 2023-06-23T13:17:00 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/super-saturday-homebuyer-event-atlanta-homeownership-racial-gap/85-a5e12849-970d-4db8-aa70-1e53d929aaca |
IMLAY CITY, Mich. (WJRT) - One person is in the hospital with life-threatening injuries following a two-vehicle crash in Imlay City on Wednesday.
Lapeer County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a crash just after 8 a.m. Wednesday at the intersection of M-53 and Armstrong Road.
A 30-year-old man from Clinton Township was driving north on M-53 in a Ford Ranger when he made a left turn toward Armstrong Road in front of a man in a Ford F-250 pickup truck, which was towing a boat.
The Ranger overturned and came to rest on the driver's side with the F-250 partially positioned atop it.
Other motorists on the scene were able to free the driver of the Ranger before emergency services arrived. The man was unconscious from the wreck.
An ambulance rushed the Clinton Township man to McLaren Lapeer Region Hospital, where he remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the F-250 was not injured.
The sheriff's office believes neither alcohol or speed contributed to the crash, but the investigation will continue. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/one-person-hospitalized-following-a-crash-in-imlay-city-wednesday/article_abb07d8a-114a-11ee-b4db-d320b1ca4637.html | 2023-06-23T13:21:46 | 0 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/one-person-hospitalized-following-a-crash-in-imlay-city-wednesday/article_abb07d8a-114a-11ee-b4db-d320b1ca4637.html |
FREMONT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WJRT) - Two people were found dead in their home on Tuesday of what appears to be a drug overdose, according to the Tuscola County Sheriff's Office.
Just before 8 p.m., deputies responded to a house on North Lake Road in Fremont Township for a report of two deceased persons.
According to the sheriff's office, a family friend had stopped by as they had not had contact with their friends in a while and they found the couple.
Mayville Rescue assisted deputies on scene and the Medical Examiner's Office was contacted.
The sheriff's office adds the couple was deceased for "some time." An initial indication makes deputies believe a drug overdose was involved.
The Tuscola County Medical Examiner's Office was planning an autopsy. | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/sheriff-two-people-found-dead-tuesday-from-an-apparent-drug-overdose/article_584c7a6c-1137-11ee-b41b-8b79234e8352.html | 2023-06-23T13:21:52 | 0 | https://www.abc12.com/news/local/sheriff-two-people-found-dead-tuesday-from-an-apparent-drug-overdose/article_584c7a6c-1137-11ee-b41b-8b79234e8352.html |
ORLANDO, Fla. – A baffling debate has been happening in Florida and it’s strange even by Florida standards.
The fight to make a sweet, friendly and unique bird the winged representative of the Sunshine State is likely to leave you scratching your head.
I thought the one person who could make things crystal clear for us about the mockingbird versus Florida scrub-jay debate was Orlando Sentinel Columnist Scott Maxwell.
As it turns out, Maxwell thinks this story defies logic, too.
“I’ve covered a lot of weird stories, and covering politics in Florida, for more than two decades. Florida does weird the way like the shark from ‘Jaws’ does eating swimmers. I mean, we do a lot of it,” he explained.
When this is Maxwell’s out-of-the-gate answer to your first question, you know the rest of this story is likely going to leave you with more.
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In case you didn’t know, the official state bird of Florida is the mockingbird, or as my birding friends like to call it, Mimus polyglottos. According to the Florida Department of State, “The mockingbird is a superb songbird and mimic. Its own song has a pleasant lilting sound and is, at times, both varied and repetitive. Often the mockingbird sings all the night long, especially under bright springtime moonlight.” Well, that does sound lovely.
Until you realize this bird gets around. It is also the state bird of Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas.
Not only is it not unique in this aspect, but Maxwell also joked, “Naming the mockingbird as your state bird is like naming McDonald’s as your official state restaurant.”
Point made.
If only Florida had a bird that these other states don’t have. A bird so different, it would stand out in the crowd because of its unique qualities.
Enter the Florida scrub-jay, which also answers its street name of Aphelocoma coerulescens.
According to the National Audubon Society, “This bird is noteworthy on several counts. It lives nowhere in the world except Florida.”
Insert the record-scratch sound here. Do other people know about this?
Sure enough, other people do know. In fact, many more people know about the Florida scrub-jay thanks to some Seminole County high school students who led the charge more than two decades ago to give the bird its day in the Sunshine State.
“So they said, ‘Let’s make this bird our state bird.’ It seemed like it should be a no-brainer, maybe a bird-brainer,” Maxwell said.
When those high school students floated the idea of switching up state birds, they had no idea the feathers they were ruffling.
With as much passion and love as those students in 1999 had for the Florida scrub-jay, one woman had just as much disdain — maybe even more — for the cute little blue bird.
“It is because of one person, and everybody admits it,” Maxwell said.
That person? Marion Hammer, a former longtime lobbyist for the National Rifle Association.
Maxwell describes Hammer’s hate for the Florida scrub-jay as next-level.
“Marion Hammer hates the scrub-jay with a white-hot, absolutely bizarre passion, and when I say she hates it, I mean that this woman has gone to Tallahassee multiple times, testified in hearings about how much she loathes the scrub-jay,” he said.
Why does Hammer have so much hate toward a bird known for its friendly qualities? Maxwell said that’s one of the reasons most people like this bird. He said it will land on your head and even eat out of your hands, though we should note that because Florida scrub-jays are a federally-designated threatened species, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sees feeding them like that as harassment and forbids it. Still, that particular quality of the friendly bird is one reason Hammer squashed any hopes of the Florida scrub-jay pushing the mockingbird off of its perch.
Maxwell explained that on one occasion when Hammer went to Tallahassee to testify, she said the fact that the Florida scrub-jay would eat out of your hands was proof, “It had a welfare mentality.”
But all hope is not lost. A new generation of Seminole County students who continue to fight for the Florida scrub-jay has made some headway.
Seminole County recently voted to make the Florida scrub-jay its official county bird.
One county down, 66 more to go.
You can watch the entire interview with Scott Maxwell in the video player at the top of this story. Also, let us know what you think. Should the Florida scrub-jay be our official state bird, or should the mockingbirds continue their nearly 100-year reign?
You can listen to every episode of the Florida’s Fourth Estate podcast in the media player below: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/23/how-one-womans-hate-clipped-the-florida-scrub-jays-wings-and-kept-it-from-becoming-state-bird/ | 2023-06-23T13:23:18 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/23/how-one-womans-hate-clipped-the-florida-scrub-jays-wings-and-kept-it-from-becoming-state-bird/ |
PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – Victory Casino Cruises voluntarily canceled its Thursday evening sailing after a stack fire broke out on its Victory 1 gambling ship as it was returning to Port Canaveral from its day cruise around 4 p.m., according to News 6 partner Florida Today.
Victory and Canaveral Fire Rescue officials say the fire was confined to the ship’s stack, with no damage any other areas of the ship. There were no injuries to the ship’s passengers and crew.
The incident caused a stir on social media. But Victory officials say the matter was blown out of proportion, and that the ship would be sailing as scheduled on Friday.
Tim Levensaler, Victory’s marine superintendent and master of the vessel, said the incident was triggered when a squall with wind gusts he estimated at more than 55 mph developed as the Victory 1 was approaching the port at the end of its five-hour cruise.
“During our approach to the pier, an extreme squall hit us, causing us to have to run the main engines up to the maximum” revolutions per minute, Levensaler said.
“We did this so we could get away from the pier and circle around to make another approach. This caused the exhaust temperatures to rise high enough to ignite the residual soot inside the exhaust pipes. Once this overheated exhaust got to the top of the exhaust and mixed with the oxygen of the atmosphere, it ignited into flames and smoke at the exit point.”
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Levensaler said the flame was inside the exhaust pipe and the exit point to the atmosphere, and “at no time was there any flames or smoke within the vessel. In the marine trade this is called a ‘stack fire.’ It is an occurrence that is quickly and safely handled by shutting down the engine. This takes away the heat source, and immediately extinguishes the fire. At no time were the passengers and crew in any danger.”
Canaveral Fire Rescue Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal Derek Yossifon confirmed that the fire was contained to the stack. He said his department inspected the ship, and found no damage to other parts of the ship.
Yossifon said the ship’s crew got passengers off the ship after it docked without any problems.
Victory Chief Executive Officer Lester Bullock said there were about 300 passengers, plus about 80 Victory crew members and other staff, on the ship at the time of the incident.
Bullock said he voluntarily decided to cancel the Thursday evening sailing, adding that the ship was cleared by the U.S. Coast Guard to sail on Friday, when it has two scheduled sailings.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/23/port-canaveral-based-gambling-cruise-ship-catches-fire/ | 2023-06-23T13:23:24 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/06/23/port-canaveral-based-gambling-cruise-ship-catches-fire/ |
DPH calls Taunton addiction unit essential. But it could close anyhow — Here's why
TAUNTON — Former Morton Hospital nurse Janet DeMoranville said the permanent closing of Morton Hospital's maternity unit in 2018 forces pregnant mothers to travel greater distances to give birth to their infants.
“The nearest hospital with maternity services (Good Samaritan in Brockton) is 17 miles away,” DeMoranville said during a June 20 State House hearing on legislation aimed at overhauling the closing of essential hospital services — as Morton proposes to shutter an addiction treatment unit in Taunton.
“For many women who walked or took public transportation to Morton Hospital, this might as well have been 100 miles,” she said
Morton's owner, Steward Health Care said at the time they could not find a neonatal provider to succeed Partners Health Care, which said it decided not to continue its service contract due to a low volume of births at Morton.
DeMoranville said she works at Beth Israel Hospital’s maternity unit in Plymouth, and it’s having an overflow of pregnant mothers because the maternity units closed at Tobey Hospital in Wareham and Falmouth Hospital.
“This compromises the care of those patients and the patients who normally deliver at Beth Israel Deaconess Plymouth,” she said. “Our patient load has increased, but our staffing and other resources have not.”
State Rep. Carol Doherty, D-Taunton, said the closing of Morton Hospital’s maternity unit occurred five years after its pediatric unit was closed by Steward Health Care in 2013.
“The loss of pediatric and maternal health care has been detrimental to this community,” she said during the hearing. “It has forced families to travel further for service or go without health care.”
Longtime Taunton pediatrician Dr. Eric Ruby, who had a solo practice in Taunton for 43 years before retiring in 2020, strongly opposed the closing of the maternity at Morton, his community hospital, in 2018, and submitted written testimony for the hearing on June 20.
"When Steward took over Morton Hospital, they promised not to 'change services' for three years. The hiring of pediatric hospitalists took our patients away from us. The closure of the nursery sent our babies 20 miles away. When Steward couldn't make pediatrics profitable the ward was closed," Ruby said.
"To a low socio- economic population these closures were dangerous and unnecessary. No patients under 15 were seen in our emergency room or admitted to our wards," Ruby said.
"Closing essential services serves corporate America. Don't let their balance sheet be the decider."
Tensions mount over umpire harassmentTalks between umps and Taunton Little League fall apart as tensions mount. What we know
Morton Hospital detoxification unit proposed for relocation
Steward is currently proposing to close Morton Hospital's 32-bed addiction treatment unit, MORCAP (Morton Comprehensive Addiction Program), which opened just a year ago.
Steward Chief Physician Dr. Joseph Weinstein previously said the firm needs to relocate the detoxification unit to Carney Hospital in Dorchester because a fire at Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital on Feb. 7 forced its medical resources to be shifted.
Earlier this month, the state Department of Public Health found that the Morton addiction unit is an essential service “necessary for preserving access and health status within the hospital’s service area.”
But the DPH has no ability to require the treatment service to remain open even if it is deemed essential.
State Sen. Marc Pacheco, D Taunton, submitted written testimony critical of the process, stating in part: “If the Department or Division officially finds services to be ‘essential,’ and then does nothing to prevent those services from being eliminated, then I respectfully submit that our current classification system has no actual value or purpose.”
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Legislation to regulate hospital essential service closings
The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing on June 20 heard testimony on "An Act Relative to the Closing of Hospital Essential Services" sponsored by State Rep. Edward F Coppinger-D-Boston and State Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Cape Cod.
“This bill would include a number of checks and balances,” Doherty said.
The bill includes the following reforms to the current system:
- Extend the official notice period to the DPH in advance of a closure or discontinuation of health services
- Instruct the attorney general to seek an injunction to maintain the essential services for the duration of the notice period
- Prohibit the hospital from eligibility for an application for licensure or expansion for a period of three years from the date the service is discontinued, or until the essential health service is restored, or until such time as the DPH is satisfied with a modified plan
- Prohibit the closure of beds, units, or facilities during any declared state of emergency pertaining to health care
Pacheco said he is urging the Committee on Health Care Financing to give a favorable recommendation for the proposed legislation.
“I’m hoping with the new leadership in public health under the Healey-Driscoll administration that this issue will be given the seriousness it deserves. There are too many changes taking place, particularly in the southeastern region of the state,” Pacheco said. | https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/taunton-ma-morton-hosptial-morcap-closings-steward-bill-essential/70344301007/ | 2023-06-23T13:23:27 | 0 | https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/taunton-ma-morton-hosptial-morcap-closings-steward-bill-essential/70344301007/ |
Taunton cop and coach saves boy's life at little league game. Here's what happened.
It was supposed to be an exciting day of little league baseball over at the Taunton East Little League field on Saturday, June 17 - part of the Father’s Day Bash Tournament going on all weekend - until rain cancelled all the games for the day.
According to Dan Williams, 10 and Under Coach for Taunton West Little League, all the coaches for the games were huddled over at the concession stand with the Tournament Director, planning out the rescheduling of games for Sunday, when a mother approached them, panicking, saying her son was choking.
Williams, a patrolman for Taunton Police Department the last seven years, acted on instinct and ran to the kid. “His face was turning blue,” he said of the 13-year-old boy.
Williams performed the Heimlich, as well as several body blows, which dislodged the food from his throat. Apparently, the boy had been eating Airhead candy strips. Williams said he spit out a “golf ball-sized wad” of Airheads.
After the incident, Williams said the kid “was scared and embarrassed over it” but was fine afterwards. “The mother was very grateful and emotional.”
WHAT WE KNOW:Talks between umps and Taunton Little League fall apart as tensions mount
“Thank God he was there and was able to recognize the situation and act. He handled the situation perfectly,” said Tyler Doehler, president of Taunton West Little League.
Honored by City Council
Taunton East Little League President AJ Marshall, would later state to City Council on June 20 the 13-year old was there to see his younger brother play for the Nipmuc Baseball League, coming from Mendon.
“We don’t know what the outcome could have been, but we know what the outcome was,” said Marshall, wanting Council to “make it known, the heartfelt appreciation” Taunton East Little League has for Williams’ actions.
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Williams received a citation from the City of Taunton at the June 20 Council meeting, “in grateful recognition of your life-saving measures,” read Kelly Dooner, City Council president.
Williams, who also served four years with the Somerset Police Department before joining Taunton PD in 2016, remained humble over receiving the citation.
He thanked Taunton Police Chief Edward J. Walsh for “the training and expertise” he’s received over the last seven years, as well as the coaches and staff of Taunton West Little League, some of whom were in attendance, for the “hundreds of thankless hours every year we put in to make the operation what it is today.”
He added to recognize him is to recognize “Taunton West Little League as a whole,” and this “sheds light on the importance of youth baseball” as programs like this “build winners for life.” | https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/taunton-police-officer-little-league-coach-dan-williams-saves-boy/70346170007/ | 2023-06-23T13:23:28 | 0 | https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/taunton-police-officer-little-league-coach-dan-williams-saves-boy/70346170007/ |
As efforts to ban books skyrocket across the country, the Dayton Metro Library is taking steps to collect and protect endangered books.
The board of directors at Dayton Metro Library have declared the library system a Book Sanctuary, joining more than 2,400 libraries across the United States that seek out books that have been subject to bans or attempted bans, making them available for patrons to check out.
“If you don’t like a children’s book that’s on the shelf, don’t let your children read it,” Dayton Metro Library Executive Director Jeffrey Trzeciak said. “That’s a conversation between you and your child. But you don’t get to tell other people what their children can and cannot read. It’s really that simple.”
The American Library Association documented a record 1,269 demands to ban library books in 2022, the highest number of censorship attempts since ALA began compiling the data more than 20 years ago.
The number is nearly twice the 729 challenges reported in 2021.
The push primarily comes from book lists generated by organized censorship groups, according to the Library Association. Of the overall number of books challenged, 90% were part of attempts to censor multiple titles, and 40% were in cases involving 100 books or more.
Of the titles targeted for censorship, the vast majority were written by or about the LGBT community and people of color.
Credit: JIM NOELKER
Credit: JIM NOELKER
“As your public library, we are standing firm and saying that we don’t ban books,” Trzeciak said.
The library system currently has a traveling exhibit standing in the lobby of downtown Dayton’s main library, titled “Americans and the Holocaust.” The display examines the motives and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism during the 1930s and 1940s.
“Very early during the Nazi era, one of the first things they did was ban books, books either by Jewish authors or about Jewish culture,” Trzeciak said. “And we’re seeing very similar movements here today, with local bans, in terms of erasing voices of African Americans and the LGBTQ community.”
To challenge a book at Dayton Metro Library, a person must fill out a request for reconsideration, Trzeciak said. Once the request is received, the book is reviewed by a panel of librarians who specialize in the age group the book is for.
In the last two years, five books or other materials at Dayton Metro have been challenged, including “Avengers: Endgame,” and “Ritu Weds Chandni.” All five materials remain on the Dayton Library’s shelves.
“Making DML a Book Sanctuary reinforces our commitment to provide our community with diverse, inclusive materials and services and to protect (our patrons’) freedom to read,” Steve Moser, teen services librarian at the Trotwood Branch told the DML board of trustees in February.
As part of being a book sanctuary, the library will actively purchase titles that have been banned in other locations, and protect those materials from censorship, according to the library board’s resolution. The library also provides book talks, clubs, and programs on diverse themes and characters, and resources on the history of book banning and the importance of protecting intellectual freedom.
The library’s collection is available to everyone, and library patrons are able to make their own choices in what they view, read or listen to, and parents have the right to determine what is appropriate for their child, Trzeciak said.
“If you don’t like a book, don’t read it. It doesn’t give you the right to tell others what to read,” Trzeciak said.
Credit: JIM NOELKER
Credit: JIM NOELKER
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/dayton-metro-library-becomes-sanctuary-to-protect-banned-books/MS2CVQE6HRDS3JU3YC55H57Y74/ | 2023-06-23T13:29:10 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/dayton-metro-library-becomes-sanctuary-to-protect-banned-books/MS2CVQE6HRDS3JU3YC55H57Y74/ |
In his first year as tournament director, former-pro-turned-tennis-executive Todd Martin is preparing for the imminent return of the Western and Southern Open, one of the world’s premier annual tennis tournaments that will see roughly 200,000 fans descend upon Mason this August.
This year’s rendition, however, will be marked by an uncertain future. After new tournament owners took over last year with the task of accommodating an expanded tournament with more players, more days and, by extension, more courts and more fans by 2025, local and state leaders have found themselves competing with Charlotte, North Carolina’s efforts to lure the tournament away.
Martin explained to reporters on Thursday that tournament owner Beemok Capital will make its decision soon after the upcoming tournament. Whether it moves forward with $150 million renovations in Mason or a new $400 million facility in Charlotte, construction would need to begin this fall to meet the 2025 deadline.
Independent of the tournament’s future, Martin said his focus has been on improving the product folks will experience from Aug. 8 to Aug. 20 of this year.
“We’re working urgently, right now, to make sure that we’re ready to entertain everybody this year the best way they’ve been entertained here in Cincinnati, but in the long term, there’s big, big improvements coming,” Martin said.
Improvements are centered on amenities for both fans and players — an aspect that Martin feels the Western and Southern Open needs to catch up on. For fans, there will be renovated suites, an extended fan zone, new vendors and a higher volume of video boards to observe all the action. For players, there will be a revamped lounge, recovery rooms and fitness spaces along with a better dining experience.
Martin described the improvements as a precursor of what’s to come if the tournament should stay local.
“Our 2025 plans for expanding the property is what’s going to catch us up and hopefully pass a lot of our peer group,” Martin said. “The improvements this year and next year are to make sure that everybody knows we’re going dramatically in the right direction so that when we get to the big renovation, people are gonna be thrilled.”
Martin, a proud midwesterner, touched on the unique position the Western and Southern Open has always had on the professional tennis circuit.
The tournament is one of the 15 most prestigious tournaments in the world, with congruent tournaments hosted in cities like Shanghai, Paris, Rome and Madrid. In absence of a glimmering city or picturesque landscape, Martin said Mason’s Western and Southern Open has had to carve out its own unique identity to compete for players’ and fans’ affection.
“Each tournament across the globe has their own identity, and if they don’t have an identity, they don’t succeed, really and truly,” Martin said. “This event’s identity is community. This event’s identity is the midwestern simple charm and hospitality, which, being from the area, makes me proud.”
When asked if there was an inherent value in a marquee event being held in a smaller market like Mason, Martin said the answer is subjective across the sport, from players to business executives.
“I think we would all have different opinions on that. I think my position would be more: it doesn’t have to be and it can’t not be, right?” Martin said. “It fits if it fits — that’s why we’re working so hard to make the improvements that are necessary to be able to compete at that level, irrespective of the size of the market.”
Mason has thrived by pulling from a broad range of nearby markets — a trait noted by Martin when he was a player and confirmed now as director — and has benefited from being a staple of professional tennis since 1899. But, Charlotte offers a substantially larger market in one of the fastest growing cities in the country and a climate that could make a new venue usable year-round.
Martin said the tournament is in similar positions with both potential host cities and noted that Mason, Warren County and the state were “fighting like cats and dogs” to keep it local.
“We’re working deliberately to work through the civic process,” Martin said. “I think both the cities, counties and states are working urgently to make sure they do everything they can to get here.”
In Mason, local, county and state leaders have pulled together the requested $50 million in public funds, including a $25 million promised by local lawmakers in the looming state budget. In Charlotte, city leaders recently approved $65 million toward Beemok Capital’s $133 million request. City leaders said the new venue could potentially be used up to 200 days a year.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/western-southern-opens-new-director-looks-forward-amid-uncertain-future-for-masons-global-tennis-tourney/22E2TMQPU5HBZGBSCFBTGF6MDU/ | 2023-06-23T13:29:17 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/western-southern-opens-new-director-looks-forward-amid-uncertain-future-for-masons-global-tennis-tourney/22E2TMQPU5HBZGBSCFBTGF6MDU/ |
Average daily flows Snake River at Jackson 276 cfs
Snake River at Palisades 12,185 cfs
Snake River at Heise 13,040 cfs
Snake River at Blackfoot 6,916 cfs
Snake River at American Falls 12,701 cfs
Snake River at Milner 3,005 cfs
Little Wood River near Carey 309 cfs
Jackson Lake is 81% full.
Palisades Reservoir is 99% full.
American Falls Reservoir is 91% full.
Upper Snake River system is at 92% of capacity.
As of June 22 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/average-daily-streamflows/article_23fe72fa-111a-11ee-8c87-43f9cc30faaa.html | 2023-06-23T13:29:46 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/average-daily-streamflows/article_23fe72fa-111a-11ee-8c87-43f9cc30faaa.html |
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The latest news from around North Texas. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-murder-suspect-arrested-in-oklahoma-after-being-on-the-run-for-weeks/3283222/ | 2023-06-23T13:39:41 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dallas-murder-suspect-arrested-in-oklahoma-after-being-on-the-run-for-weeks/3283222/ |
DALLAS — A man died at the hospital on Wednesday after being arrested on outstanding warrants, according to Dallas police.
The Dallas Police Department (DPD) said officers conducted a traffic stop involving a person of interest in an ongoing murder investigation at approximately 11 a.m. on June 21. Xzavier Franklin, 39, was taken into custody on outstanding warrants without incident and was taken to Dallas Police Headquarters to be interviewed regarding the ongoing investigation, DPD said.
After the interview, Franklin told officers that he was feeling ill and needed to go to the hospital, DPD said.
Dallas Fire-Rescue were notified at 3:11 p.m. and responded by 3:15 p.m., according to DPD. Franklin was transported from DPD headquarters at 3:37 p.m. to a local hospital and arrived at 4:10 p.m. Dallas police did not name which hospital Franklin was transported to.
Franklin died at the hospital at 9 p.m., according to DPD.
An autopsy will be performed on June 23, and toxicology is pending.
The Dallas Police Special Investigations Unit is investigating the incident, and the Dallas County District Attorney’s office was notified and will conduct its own investigation. The Office of Community Police Oversight was also notified.
More Texas headlines: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-police-in-custody-death/287-6334b9b1-a946-4b2c-b403-ef32b16d88ba | 2023-06-23T13:41:03 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-police-in-custody-death/287-6334b9b1-a946-4b2c-b403-ef32b16d88ba |
A resident of Belle Vernon pleaded guilty in federal court to a wire fraud charge for taking money from a local credit union while she was the manager and setting a safe on fire to cover the evidence.
Patty Lynn Mavrakis, 65, was the branch manager for Valley 1st Community Federal Credit Union in Belle Vernon on Sept. 5, 2016, when she took cash from the safe while it was closed for Labor Day, according to the Department of Justice.
The next day, she arrived before any other employees and staged a fire in the safe, then claimed an alarm wire caught fire, burning $340,200 in cash. She then filed a false claim, which was paid by the insurance company.
Mavrakis remains free on bond. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 11.
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CHESTERTON — A 29-year-old Chesterton man faces numerous felony drug charges after police came knocking earlier this week following an investigation into allegations of narcotic trafficking.
Jonathan R. Shaffer was taken into custody without incident and is charged with felony counts of dealing in a narcotic drug in an amount of 10 or more grams, dealing in methamphetamine in an amount of 10 or more grams, possession of a narcotic drug in an amount between 10 and 28 grams, possession of a hypodermic syringe or needle, and misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia, according to Chesterton Police Chief Tim Richardson.
Riding Shotgun with Merrillville Police Officer Amanda Earley
On Tuesday, members of the Porter County Multi Enforcement Group, the Chesterton Police Department, and several members of the Porter County S.W.A.T. Team executed a search warrant in the 800 block of S. 6th Street, Richardson said.
"The search warrant was the result of an intense operation conducted by the PC-MEG unit into allegations of narcotics trafficking," he said.
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Shaffer was taken into custody and a search of the home led to the recovery of evidence that was consistent with narcotics trafficking, according to police.
Richardson lauded the efforts of the PC-MEG Group.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Derek Hartz during this difficult time," Porter County police said.
"These men and women are the local unsung heroes in the war on drugs plaguing our nation," he said. "Many times in the dark of night, these investigators are working tirelessly to keep this poison off of our streets."
Richardson said further, "that specifically in Chesterton, the pieces of the puzzle have all come together to continue the department’s recent efforts in drug eradication."
"The work product between our patrol officers, our recently implemented K-9 program and our partnership with PC-MEG is running on all cylinders. Information sharing between entities is at its finest."
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into the Porter County Jail
Travis Vaughn
Arrest date: June 16, 2023
Age: 32
Residence: Chesterton, IN
Booking Number: 2302506
Charges: OWI, Misdemeanor
Provided
Brittany Fitzgerald
Arrest date: June 16, 2023
Age: 25
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2302504
Charges: OWI, Misdemeanor
Provided
Bailey Ficek
Arrest date: June 16, 2023
Age: 24
Residence: Crown Point, IN
Booking Number: 2302505
Charges: OWI, Misdemeanor
Provided
Changquan Tang
Arrest date: June 15, 2023
Age: 39
Residence: Brooklyn, NY
Booking Number: 2302501
Charges: Dealing hash/marijuana/salvia, felony
Provided
Stevie Seymour Jr.
Arrest date: June 15, 2023
Age: 42
Residence: Chesterton, IN
Booking Number: 2302492
Charges: Auto theft, felony
Provided
Michael Rodich
Arrest date: June 15, 2023
Age: 28
Residence: Hobart, IN
Booking Number: 2302487
Charges: Leaving the scene of an accident, felony
Provided
Jackelyne Medrano
Arrest date: June 15, 2023
Age: 23
Residence: San Antonio, TX
Booking Number: 2302485
Charges: OWI, Misdemeanor
Provided
Michael Menear
Arrest date: June 15, 2023
Age: 24
Residence: Hobart, IN
Booking Number: 2302491
Charges: OWI, felony
Provided
Joseph Coleman
Arrest date: June 15, 2023
Age: 36
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302493
Charges: Theft with a prior conviction, felony
Provided
Brandon Allen
Arrest date: June 15, 2023
Age: 39
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number: 2302488
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Provided
Ashley Marshall
Arrest date: June 14, 2023
Age: 26
Residence: Chesterton, IN
Booking Number: 2302483
Charges: Possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug, felony
Jill Tenorio
Arrest date: June 14, 2023
Age: 32
Residence: Lake Station, IN
Booking Number: 2302472
Charges: Resisting law enforcement, felony
Blake Brown
Arrest date: June 14, 2023
Age: 30
Residence: LaPorte, IN
Booking Number: 2302480
Charges: Robbery, felony
Jessica Gates
Arrest date: June 14, 2023
Age: 36
Residence: Glen Ellyn, IL
Booking Number: 2302484
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Cameron Kerr
Arrest date: June 12, 2023
Age: 25
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302457
Charges: Weapons/serial number has been removed, obliterated, or altered, felony
William Hanyard
Arrest date: June 12, 2023
Age: 23
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Booking Number: 2302454
Charges: Invasion of privacy, felony
Jarell Jenkins
Arrest date: June 12, 2023
Age: 27
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number: 2302450
Charges: Criminal recklessness, felony
Kevin Garcia
Arrest date: June 12, 2023
Age: 21
Residence: Schiller Park, IL
Booking Number: 2302445
Charges: Resisting law enforcement, felony
Michael Dolan
Arrest date: June 12, 2023
Age: 48
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2302460
Charges: Battery, felony
John Weir II
Arrest date: June 11, 2023
Age: 26
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302433
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Julie West
Arrest date: June 11, 2023
Age: 31
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2302441
Charges: Possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug, felony
Jeremy White
Arrest date: June 11, 2023
Age: 43
Residence: Hobart, IN
Booking Number: 2302432
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Robert Veden
Arrest date: June 11, 2023
Age: 40
Residence: LaCrosse, IN
Booking Number: 2302436
Charges: OWI, felony
Jeremiah Gonzalez
Arrest date: June 11, 2023
Age: 19
Residence: Delray Beach, FL
Booking Number: 2302431
Charges: Auto theft, felony
Miguel Pulido Jr.
Arrest date: June 11, 2023
Age: 23
Residence: Kouts, IN
Booking Number: 2302429
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Kenneth Quinn
Arrest date: June 11, 2023
Age: 37
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302430
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Nicholas Serrano
Arrest date: June 11, 2023
Age: 37
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302437
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Marvin Buckland
Arrest date: June 11, 2023
Age: 57
Residence: Porter, IN
Booking Number: 2302442
Charges: Auto theft, felony
Maxamillion Correa
Arrest date: June 11, 2023
Age: 23
Residence: Westville, IN
Booking Number: 2302434
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Joseph Croy
Arrest date: June 11, 2023
Age: 56
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302443
Charges: OWI, felony
Kuldeep Singh
Arrest date: June 10, 2023
Age: 26
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2302420
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
David Rudd
Arrest date: June 10, 2023
Age: 26
Residence: Knox, IN
Booking Number: 2302424
Charges: Possession hypodermic syringe or needle, felony
Johnathan Nelson
Arrest date: June 10, 2023
Age: 29
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302425
Charges: OWI, felony
Amelia Pack
Arrest date: June 10, 2023
Age: 18
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Booking Number: 2302418
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Eric Lewis
Arrest date: June 10, 2023
Age: 52
Residence: Gary, IN
Booking Number: 2302426
Charges: Theft, felony
Rabecca Broschat
Arrest date: June 10, 2023
Age: 58
Residence: Lincoln Park, MI
Booking Number: 2302421
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Steven Dunn
Arrest date: June 10, 2023
Age: 41
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302419
Charges: OWI, misdemeanor
Travis Talley
Arrest date: June 9, 2023
Age: 32
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302413
Charges: Battery, misdemeanor
Dustin Neuliep
Arrest date: June 8, 2023
Age: 44
Residence: Valparaiso
Booking Number: 2302409
Charges: Burglary, felony
Lawrence Reilly
Arrest date: June 9, 2023
Age: 46
Residence: Rensselaer, IN
Booking Number: 2302403
Charges: Intimidation, felony
Arthur Schmidt III
Arrest date: June 8, 2023
Age: 42
Residence: Portage, IN
Booking Number: 2302410
Charges: Reckless homicide, felony
Devon Malerich
Arrest date: June 8, 2023
Age: 31
Residence: Valparaiso, IN
Booking Number: 2302402
Charges: Invasion of privacy, felony
Dylan Merrell
Arrest date: June 8, 2023
Age: 29
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Booking Number: OWI
Charges: Misdemeanor
Shaunna Dickson
Arrest date: June 9, 2023
Age: 40
Residence: Braddock, PA
Booking Number: 2302414
Charges: Possession hypodermic syringe or needle, felony
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A few showers this afternoon, but most will stay dry. That won't be the case when our next cold front arrives this weekend. Find out when the rain chance will begin, when storms are most likely, and what temperatures to expect in our updated forecast video.
25 states Americans visit the most
25 states Americans visit the most
U.S. travelers are expected to visit U.S. destinations more in 2023 than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data from the World Travel and Tourism Council. Thanks in part to rising inflation rates, which make international travel far more difficult to budget for a family, along with the general public's desire to freely move about now that COVID-19 restrictions are fully lifted. Combining that with the plethora of places to choose from when it comes to making your way across America, domestic travel rates went up 30.1% in 2022, and it seems to be on trend to continue its ascent.
With so much to do, however, who could blame someone for wanting to get in the car and leave their cares behind during an epic road trip? For booking that last-minute flight on a whim because the mood seems to strike. The U.S. is home to 424 National Parks, 620 amusement parks , over 35,000 museums , and don't even get us started on how many restaurants there are to try!
As summer approaches, and many are beginning to plot out their itineraries for the road, we wondered—which states are the most popular to visit by U.S. tourists? Using data from YouGov to determine what states Americans are visiting, Stacker has ranked the top 25 by the percentage of U.S. adults who have already made a visit. Check the rankings to see if your next destination is among these popular choices, or find your next adventure as you scroll.
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#21. Oklahoma (tie)
Percentage of US adults who have been: 30%
In a state full of early American history, Oklahoma City visitors can take the opportunity to learn about the state's 39 Native American nations in Oklahoma by visiting the First Americans Museum . Tulsa's museum Greenwood Rising tells visitors about the city's Black neighborhood, Greenwood, a once-historic space known as a freedom colony after slavery was abolished. The area, lauded as Black Wall Street, was infamously bombed in 1921 during an incident known as the Tulsa Race Massacre .
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#21. New Mexico (tie)
Percentage of US adults who have been: 30%
Travelers who like visiting the cultural landmarks listed among the bevy of UNESCO World Heritage sites can see more here than in any other U.S. state. In order to achieve UNESCO World Heritage status , a place must be a work of human genius, contain superlative natural phenomena, or any of the eight other requirements on the qualifications list. The sites located in New Mexico, such as Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, and Taos Pueblo all manage to fit the criteria!
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#21. Missouri (tie)
Percentage of US adults who have been: 30%
While Missouri may be most well known for the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, many are unaware upon first glance that the museum housed beneath the landmark is full of history about the "Show Me State" including how it got the nickname. Don't be fooled though, Missouri offers so much more. Branson, for example, is known as the "Live Entertainment Capital of the World " per their tourism site because of the amount of entertainment that is accessible at any given time, and the state has six national parks you can visit .
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#21. Michigan (tie)
Percentage of US adults who have been: 30%
Michigan offers a mixture of natural beauty, history, and culture all wrapped up in one state. Visitors often make their way to Detroit to visit the Motown Museum , where curators pay homage to a form of music that, in essence, created the blueprint for all other music to follow. Home to four of the Great Lakes (Erie, Superior, Huron, and Michigan) travelers can also enjoy a car-free adventure—including a side trip to Mackinac Island , home to Arch Rock. On top of that, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor offers a huge list of attractions from the University of Michigan Museum of Arts, to the Museum of Natural History Planetarium.
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#20. Louisiana
Percentage of US adults who have been: 31%
There are some places that make you feel like you've stepped back in time and Louisiana is one of them. It is known for having a multitude of plantations , with at least 14 still open to visit, but they also represent a painful chapter of enslaved people in the state's history. New Orleans is home to the French Quarter, known for jazz on Bourbon Street, shimmery beads during Mardi Gras, and some of the best beignets you can find. Grand Isle is known as a "sportsman's paradise " with amazing fishing spots that offer unencumbered views of the Gulf of Mexico. Plus, if you've always wanted to delve a little deeper into understanding Voodoo, an African diasporic religion, there are plenty of places to dive in.
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#18. Kentucky (tie)
Percentage of US adults who have been: 34%
Travelers can walk through part of the world's longest-known cave system in Mammoth Cave National Park . With more than 400 miles of explored caves and nearly 53,000 acres of land to explore, you can spend a whole day there and not even notice. If you're in more of a sporty mood, you can head north to Louisville for river cruises, horse racing at Churchill Downs, and baseball nostalgia at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory.
Ko Zatu // Shutterstock
#18. Massachusetts (tie)
Percentage of US adults who have been: 34%
Massachusetts is the kind of state where the kid in you can come out and play! Baseball fans will feel right at home in Boston's Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox and the oldest ballpark of any Major League Baseball team. Fans can surround themselves with the peanuts and Cracker Jacks as the stadium is open for tours all year round . In the fall, Salem, Massachusetts, becomes the state's focal point as a popular destination to celebrate Halloween—and no wonder, considering the town's history! The infamous Salem Witch Trials took place in the state, a time when religious persecution and fear allowed women to be burned at the stake if they were found to be witches. Speaking of American history, you can also visit Plymouth Rock , known as the landing spot of the Mayflower.
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
#17. Colorado
Percentage of US adults who have been: 36%
Winter sports are definitely the draw when it comes to the popularity of Colorado, or at least one of the big ones thanks to the Rocky Mountains as the state's backdrop. Aspen, Vail, and Breckenridge are some of the most well-known ski towns in the country. Colorado is also home to one of the most amazing outdoor amphitheaters, Red Rocks , which gets world-class musical acts on a constant basis and is housed within a natural rock formation. For history fans, the Chicano Movement was a heavy influence on the landscape of the state, and you can visit the Chicano Humanities and Art Council Gallery to learn about the rich history of the 60s and 70s.
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#15. South Carolina (tie)
Percentage of US adults who have been: 38%
When you think of white sand beaches you might not necessarily think of anywhere stateside—but that's where South Carolina comes in to prove you wrong. The state has a bevy of beaches, including the popular family tourist attraction Myrtle Beach, which offers 60 miles of white sand and a fantastic boardwalk full of carnival rides, games, and delicious food. Speaking of the cuisine, culinary tourists can head to Charleston, which is known for making a killer bowl of shrimp and grits. For a sweet treat, the brown sugar and butter explosion known as Charleston chewies is the local favorite. Both of these borrow heavily from the influence of the Gullah Geechee , descendants of West and Central Africa forced upon the lands during the trade of enslaved people, and who have been well known for preserving and maintaining their cultural heritage.
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#15. Maryland (tie)
Percentage of US adults who have been: 38%
Maryland is another state well-loved for its seafood dishes, but here crab is king. Travelers will find plenty of unique local dishes, including Maryland Crab Soup, Smith Island Cake, and stuffed ham. Travelers can also make their way to Baltimore, where you can find everything from the National Aquarium, to the Baltimore Museum of Art, and Oriole Park to spend a day traversing.
P. Dorman // Shutterstock
#13. Nevada (tie)
Percentage of US adults who have been: 39%
Lucky be a lady in Nevada, or at least she does in its most famous city, "Sin City" Las Vegas, Known as the kind of destination where what happens there, stays there, you can hit the Strip for gambling, fine dining and residency shows that alternate throughout the season. If the bright lights of the big city aren't your thing, Nevada also has spectacular natural attractions like Red Rock Canyon and Lake Tahoe.
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#13. Ohio (tie)
Percentage of US adults who have been: 39%
Ohio is full of family-friendly stops, like Cleveland's Great Lakes Science Center and the Cleveland Botanical Garden. Tourists can head out of town to learn about a different way of life with a visit to Amish country, where you can learn about what life is like without technology.
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#11. Tennessee (tie)
Percentage of US adults who have been: 40%
Nashville, Tennessee, is where country music and bachelorette parties meet in the lively downtown honky-tonks. Head west to Memphis for the soulful sounds of blues music on Beale Street. If you're looking for a strong drink, the Tennessee Whiskey Trail is home to at least 30 distilleries open for a visit.
f11photo // Shutterstock
#11. New Jersey (tie)
Percentage of US adults who have been: 40%
Boardwalk and beach lovers get both along the Jersey Shore, which is far more entertaining than what the MTV series made it seem like. In fact, it's known for being a well-loved family destination, especially in Ocean City, which is known as an alcohol-free city . Gamblers can try their luck by heading north to the casinos in Atlantic City, home to the first boardwalk built in the world.
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#10. Arizona
Percentage of US adults who have been: 41%
The natural red-rock formation known as the Grand Canyon may be Arizona's top stop, but Arizona has many natural feats to admire. Saguaro National Park protects the state's majestic cacti, as well as the petroglyphs left behind by the Hohokam tribe. Guided tours in Antelope Canyon can feel like hiking through another world, with canyons and formations that look more like they belong on Mars than in America.
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#8. North Carolina (tie)
Percentage of US adults who have been: 42%
North Carolina is a regular pit stop for racing fans. Charlotte's NASCAR Hall of Fame not only tells the history of the sport but puts visitors in the driver's seat in its racing simulators. Those who want off the roads and into the great outdoors can make their way to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park , full of lush forests, wildflowers, and waterfalls as far as the eye can see.
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#8. Virginia (tie)
Percentage of US adults who have been: 42%
Outdoor lovers have plenty to choose from between Virginia's Atlantic Ocean beaches and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Literary fans can enjoy the Poe Museum in Richmond , dedicated to one of the United States' most famous writers and a tragic tale in literary history, Edgar Allen Poe. Fans of history can visit the sites for the Battle of Yorktown, the last battle of the Revolutionary War, as well as the colonial town of Williamsburg known as the world's largest living history museum .
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#7. Illinois
Percentage of US adults who have been: 43%
Foodies have many options in Illinois' biggest city, Chicago, from the city's deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs to upscale dining from award-winning chefs. Tourists and locals alike flock to the lakefront in the summer, when the weather is ideal. The state is also known for playing a heavy role in the Underground Railroad , and in Alton, you can partake in either driving or walking tours that guide you along some of the most important landmarks.
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#6. Georgia
Percentage of US adults who have been: 46%
Atlanta's film and music industries make Georgia's capital city an entertainment hub. You can take a tour of Tyler Perry's massive production studio , or catch a glimpse of The Dungeon , the studio where Outkast recorded their albums. Tourists who want a more relaxing pace choose Savannah's historic downtown and coastal living.
Christopher V Jones // Shutterstock
#5. Pennsylvania
Percentage of U.S. adults who have been: 48%
Head to Philadelphia to bring a U.S. history lesson to life, with visits to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the Benjamin Franklin Museum . Art lovers can hop over to Pittsburgh to The Andy Warhol Museum, home to the largest collection of Warhol art and archives. You can also get your fill of chocolate as Pennsylvania is the home of Hershey's Chocolate World .
gg5795 // Shutterstock
#4. Texas
Percentage of US adults who have been: 52%
Trips to Texas leave a lot of ground to cover, from Space Center Houston for NASA lovers, to the Alamo in San Antonio for history buffs, and Big Bend National Park's limestone cliffs in the western part of the state. Fans of live entertainment can also make their way to Austin for SXSW every March for a week-long festival and conference centering around music, arts, technology, and culture.
PiercarloAbate // Shutterstock
#2. New York
Percentage of US adults who have been: 55%
The city that never sleeps is also the city that brings the most visitors to the state of New York. First-time U.S. and international tourists love to visit Times Square, catch a Broadway show, and eat a New York slice of pizza. Music lovers can take walking tours that show you the birthplace of punk in Greenwich Village and the East Village or the birthplace of hip-hop in Harlem . Not to mention the city's countless museums, galleries, live music venues, and more.
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#1. Florida
Percentage of US adults who have been: 61%
For countless families, a visit to Orlando's Disney World makes a childhood, or adulthood, dream come true. Florida's pristine beaches also make it the top-ranked state for a trip in the U.S. Everglades National Park offers a great day trip for families, and if you happen to have a birdwatcher in your family, the wetlands in the park are home to the largest breeding ground for tropical wading birds in North America .
Data reporting by Lucas Hicks. Story editing by Olivia Monahan. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick.
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Question to candidates: What steps would you take to resolve the homelessness crisis in Tucson?
Mayor
Arthur Kerschen
Year round and city wide enforcement of existing anti-camping ordinances, as well as strict shoplifting enforcement are required.
Regina Romero
When I was elected Mayor, one of my goals was to create the solutions Tucson needed to address the growing challenge of unsheltered homelessness. I introduced the Housing First concept to my colleagues on the council in January 2020 and with unanimous support we created a position of Housing First Program Director. Since then, we have also brought on a team of Housing Navigators to connect people to resources.
With our use of American Rescue Plan dollars we have brought to life our Housing First program with the purchase of 3 properties:
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- There are currently three facilities in operation: Wildcat Inn, Desert Cove and the NoTel adding up to 164 beds.
- Under my direction, additional properties will be acquired and to add to our shelter capacity.
- I successfully advocated for federal dollars to support the Housing First Resource Center at Amphi.
We have provided low-barrier shelter/bridge housing at newly acquired properties targeting high-needs unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness. In total, newly acquired shelter projects served approximately 75-125 persons nightly. To solve homelessness in Tucson, it is clear that we need more housing.
In 2021, I directed City Staff to create our first Housing Affordability Strategy for Tucson (HAST). It was adopted by Mayor and Council on December 21, 2021, and since then, has been our guide to expand housing stock across the spectrum from emergency shelter to affordable housing to market rate housing.
As defined in the Housing Affordability Strategy for Tucson, “we consider housing to be affordable when a household can pay for it while still having money left over for other necessities like food, transportation, and healthcare.”
With this strategy we have a road map on how to start building more units that are affordable for our Tucson Community. I have and will continue to work with our regional and state partners to bring more low income housing tax credit projects to Tucson to ensure long term affordability. With the partners that we already have on the ground, we need to start identifying opportunities to build more congregate shelters that are able to increase our capacity city wide.
I am also working with city staff and local non-profits to continue to build their capacity to provide shelter and services to our unsheltered population.
It is clear that this is a complex issue with many underlying causes that requires collaboration, creativity and commitment from all of us to move the needle.
Janet “JL” Wittenbraker
Enforce current City statute, e.g., park hours (no camping) and the prohibition of any person soliciting or attempting to solicit employment, business, contributions, donations or sales of any kind from the occupant of any vehicle, as well as cracking down on homeless encampments and charging homeless people on private property with trespassing. I would also work with government and local charitable organizations to mitigate homelessness through community involvement.
Ed Ackerley
EXPAND CENTER FOR OPPORTUNITY. The very best response to homelessness has been the creation of the HSL Family Foundation Center for Opportunity. Eleven states and one other country so far have visited within the last few months to see how this center operates. The “one stop” format of a place to stay, to be fed, to receive medical care, to receive short term and long-term housing assistance, job training, and mental health services is unique. It is one of the best programs of its kind. The city should increase the footprint of the Center and expand the reach across the valley. Providing low barrier housing or a free home is not the total solution, a wholistic approach to the homelessness problem including mental health assistance, law enforcement, compassionate counseling and economic alternatives need to be increased.
Ward 1
Victoria Lem
Victoria Lem did not respond to our questionnaire.
Miguel Ortega
Affordable housing should not be symbolic or minimal. The unsheltered crisis must be addressed as a crisis, necessitating the management of programs and development agreements that require real affordable housing, with a percentage that is more equitable and accessible to the people that need housing the most. We must properly fund the programs and agencies that address many root causes of being unsheltered: domestic violence, addiction, mental illness, economic insecurity, etc.
We must respect the concerns of neighbors that have safety and quality of life concerns about the various camps that have popped up around the City. The vast majority of these residents that have safety concerns regarding unsheltered populations in or near their neighborhoods are also compassionate about the plight of these individuals as well. We should partner with neighborhood leaders to address both: resident safety concerns and the needs of the unsheltered.
Lane Santa Cruz
In my first term I prioritized this issue as we all witnessed how during a pandemic and accompanying economic crisis many of our neighbors lost their homes. We developed the Housing First program as well as launched the El Pueblo Housing Development to provide services and infrastructure to address the issue. Solutions to this issue must intersect with other issues such as employment programs, exploring options such as universal basic income, increasing access to mental health, harm reduction and detox services. Increasing the supply of housing that is quality and affordable with low barriers for entry are critical as well.
Ward 2
Paul Cunningham
I have worked with homeless youth for 20 years and this crisis is unprecedented. Our traditional strategies for addressing homelessness are not going to be enough. We need to continue doing the things that have worked in the past and develop them to scale AND we need to come up with innovative strategies to augment our traditional approaches.
The City of Tucson continues to purchase motels (including an eastside location coming online very soon) that offer shelter and services to those who are ready to accept help and I have personally placed a number of individuals in housing that I have come across in my duties as a teacher, a parent or a city councilman. We need to continue to purchase locations that make sense to develop into housing.
At Ward 2, I am trying a number of things; I’ve hired a Homeless Outreach Specialist out of my office to help our response times both to offer services to unsheltered individuals and to clean up tier 3 and problem homeless camps. Though in its early stages, this experiment seems to be working, and I look forward to replicating it in other parts of the city. Most significantly however, I have been working with the Pima County Attorney, pretrial services as well as other City and County officials to develop a Continuum of Shelter program that will provide more flexibility in the amount of structure and autonomy in regional shelter programs. I’ve personally talked to hundreds of homeless individuals and my office has assisted dozens of people find permanent housing so I know how widespread this crisis is. I remain open to any reasonable ideas and will meet with anyone to discuss them.
Lisa Nutt
Homelessness in Tucson, as it has in many cities, has multiple causes including a lack of affordable housing options, under-staffed mental health/substance treatment resources and a seemingly inability to develop a comprehensive plan to deal with the issue. While there is no one size fits all solution, it is my belief that none of the key stakeholders on this issue are coming together to set an actual plan in motion. My first step is to convene those resources and develop a plan that ensures real federal, state and local public/private players are coordinated, collaborating and held accountable for meeting specific goals for ending homelessness.
Ernie Shack
Ernie Shack echoed Wittenbraker’s responses.
Pendleton Spicer
The police need to remove encampments and individual tents from public areas, and charge the individuals involved with the crimes they are committing such as loitering, camping on public property, defecating in public, stealing, assault, etc. This must be done with as much kindness as possible. Drug addicts need to be offered treatment, and the mentally ill cared for as needed based on their condition. Government handouts need to stop and the private sector encouraged to assist the homeless; the government rules and regulations that are currently in place make the development of assistance programs in the private sector unreasonably difficult. Any food that is offered to the homeless needs to be as healthful and nutritious as possible.
Ward 4
Ross Kaplowitch
Tucson’s homeless crisis is partially a self-created problem. Homeless individuals should be offered services like those offered by non-profits such as Gospel Rescue Mission, and if they chose not to participate, they should be relocated. Those individuals who suffer from mental health issues should also be offered assistance, but as a city council member, I will prioritize the rights of our residents over the rights of those who chose to remain homeless. Parks must be returned to local neighborhoods, residents should not have to bear the burden of tent encampments on their front yards, and all citizens should feel safe.
Nikki Lee
I recognize the pressing need to address the homeless crisis in Tucson. While our recent investments, including the $10 million allocation for low barrier shelter housing, the distribution of $53 million in Federal Rental Assistance Funds to support over 9,800 households in Tucson and South Tucson, and the utilization of the majority of FY 22/23 Ward 4 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to tackle homelessness, are commendable, we must build on this progress through additional strategic measures.
Expand affordable housing: Continue working with developers, non-profit organizations, and the private sector to increase the availability of affordable housing units, offering incentives such as tax breaks and zoning adjustments to facilitate development.
Strengthen support services: Work with the State of Arizona, Pima County, and non-profit organizations to enhance existing services and establish new ones to address mental health, substance abuse, and job training, helping individuals transition out of homelessness and into stable living situations.
Regular evaluation and assessment: Continuously monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of our initiatives, using data-driven approaches to refine strategies and allocate resources where they will have the greatest impact.
By implementing these comprehensive steps, we can create a more inclusive and supportive community for all Tucsonans. As a city council member, I am dedicated to working collaboratively with my colleagues, local organizations, and the community to ensure that we address homelessness with the urgency and compassion it deserves. | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/city-election-questionnaire-homeless/article_1212cb52-d89b-11ed-841c-2f05c3bd8651.html | 2023-06-23T13:45:49 | 1 | https://tucson.com/opinion/local/city-election-questionnaire-homeless/article_1212cb52-d89b-11ed-841c-2f05c3bd8651.html |
PHOENIX — Firefighters pulled two unconscious people from a home fire in Phoenix late Thursday night, the city's fire department said.
The fire, which ignited near 107th and Campbell avenues, was raging inside of the home when fire crews arrived at the scene, the department said. The two people were found and extracted during a search and rescue.
Both people, a man and a woman, were transported to a local hospital in extremely critical condition.
Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.
This is a developing story. Stay with 12News for updates.
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PHOENIX — Crews battled a fire burning at the Nikola headquarters in Phoenix early Friday morning.
Multiple electric semi trucks were on fire during the incident near 40th Street and Broadway Road, the Phoenix Fire Department said.
Nikola tweeted that it believes the fire may have been intentionally set, as a vehicle was seen in the area right before the flames were ignited. The exact cause of the fire is still unknown.
This is a developing story. We will update this story as more information becomes available.
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Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/fire-burns-multiple-semi-trucks-at-nikola-headquarters-in-phoenix-arizona/75-39eee946-38ac-44e2-b450-2d184863dd69 | 2023-06-23T13:58:28 | 0 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/fire-burns-multiple-semi-trucks-at-nikola-headquarters-in-phoenix-arizona/75-39eee946-38ac-44e2-b450-2d184863dd69 |
For Ryan Elewaut, a local luthier and entrepreneur, it all started with a book — and a clunky one at that.
“When I was 15 a friend of my dad gave me a book called 'Guitar Making Tradition and Technology.' It was a big textbook, and I couldn’t put it down,” Elewaut said. “I read it two or three times and started highlighting stuff. I found some tools in my dad’s garage and built a guitar with some help from the local shop I liked to visit sometimes.”
Elewaut wasn’t old enough to drive a car, more or less work for a guitar shop building and repairing instruments. That’s what he wanted more than anything.
“If a 15-year-old comes to me and wants a job, I know what that feels like now,” he said, describing the shop owner’s reticence to hire him. “When I showed them what I was making, they let me start apprenticing there.”
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After that, Elewaut was hooked. He fell in love with the process of crafting and mending instruments.
His favorite guitars to build are acoustic. He loves the nuance involved, the process of giving a voice to wood and steel strings.
“I think working with the wood is really special. The way you can carve wood and make the different parts of the guitar sound different. I call it functional art,” Elewaut said. “It’s something you can actually use and experience rather than just observe."
On the summer solstice, Elewaut officially opened Solstice Guitars at 3880 E. Route 66.
The longtime luthier -- a maker of stringed instruments -- said the best part of the process is the moment when a finished guitar is placed in the hands of a player.
For almost 15 years, he put guitars into a lot of hands in northern Arizona. Elewaut was the owner and operator of Custom Sound, a retail and repair shop on Beaver Street in downtown Flagstaff. It was a place to shop for strings, to browse a selection of guitars and the odd fretted lute that wasn’t a guitar.
Like so many other businesses, Custom Sound took a hit when the pandemic began. The doors of the small store were shut and the windows shuttered, and it soon became apparent the place would be closed permanently.
For Elewaut, that wasn’t a reason to fret. If anything, the pandemic presented a pivot point, a chance to get back to focusing on the thing he loved the most: building fine instruments.
He assembled a few guitars in the interim until he found a much bigger shop in east Flagstaff.
“We got through the whole COVID thing and were working out of a few different locations, and this opportunity presented itself to kind of put everything under one roof and hit the gas pedal,” he said.
The new space was large enough for all of Elewaut’s tools. It had the industrial capacity he needed to ramp up instrument production, plenty of upstairs storage, and a cozy space in the back for displaying finished instruments and stocking capos, picks and strings.
“I’ve been wanting to do this for a decade, find a space like this,” Elewaut said.
In that upstairs storage space, Elewaut has stocked beautiful blocks of wood — the raw material that will one day make music.
He points to a block of old-growth ponderosa pine that’s been drying, waiting for its chance to shine. Soon, he’ll be using the wood to craft the body of one of his guitars.
Elewaut will launch Solstice Guitars with two “flagship” models: an electric guitar based on the Fender Telecaster with modifications available, a specialized neck joint and unique chambering, and a smaller body finger-style acoustic guitar. They’ll be called the Tellurian and the Ecliptic, respectively.
Elewaut said in the past, about two-thirds of the guitars he’s made have been custom orders. Now, he said, he wants to do more production, crafting instruments with a high-end feel that appeal to dedicated guitar lovers, collectors, professionals and semi-professional musicians.
“When we’re building guitars that aren’t for a custom order, the philosophy is a one-guitar-at-a-time approach. Every guitar is going to be a bit unique and a little different. A lot of builders do batches or they try to keep things extremely consistent. We kind of do it the opposite way, where we want to make each guitar an individual. Each instrument has its own personality,” he said.
He’ll still be doing repairs, modifications and restorations for customers, but the new shop affords the space for him to develop the individual character of many new instruments.
For Elewaut, it’s been a long journey to the longest day of the year and he’s ready to celebrate.
He’ll will kick off this new season in his career as an entrepreneur and luthier with a grand opening for Solstice on Friday night. A food truck and local rock band Radio Blazer will be set up in the parking lot. The lead singer plays one of Elewaut’s guitars.
The event will also double as a canned food drive and fundraiser for St. Mary’s Food Bank. For more information, visit solsticeguitars.com. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/business/a-new-season-for-a-longtime-luthier-ryan-elewaut-opens-solstice-guitars-in-east-flagstaff/article_1ea3624a-1131-11ee-bf70-9b3b7425d548.html | 2023-06-23T14:02:18 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/business/a-new-season-for-a-longtime-luthier-ryan-elewaut-opens-solstice-guitars-in-east-flagstaff/article_1ea3624a-1131-11ee-bf70-9b3b7425d548.html |
The plans for a new Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC) on Tuesday were again brought to Flagstaff City Council, which approved the preliminary plat for the project as well as a call for a special election that could include a referendum on its recent rezoning approval.
Preliminary plat approval
As city attorney Sterling Solomon noted in the Tuesday meeting, plats differ from rezoning (which has been the focus of the majority of city meetings on the campus so far) in that Council has discretion with rezoning considerations, but not with plats.
In this case, the plat allows Northern Arizona Healthcare, which is seeking to move FMC, to divide its 172.6-acre property next to Fort Tuthill into five blocks of land (labeled A-E), with another two tracts set aside for future development.
Like the campus itself, the plat will be developed in two phases.
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“The development that you’ve seen currently includes Block E and Block C,” said Tiffany Antol, the city planning manager. “Block E is the location of the hospital. Block C is the wellness retreat. Block A and Block B are open-space tracts. There are two tracts for future development; those will happen in a future phase when infrastructure is constructed to support those tracts.”
At its June 14 meeting, Planning and Zoning had found that the plats met the requirements outlined in the city zoning code. In its approval at the June 14 meeting, city council had the same finding.
The minimum required improvements, Antol explained in her presentation, are based on the subdivision code, which requires complete analysis of public systems as well as designs for the lot street block and easement.
She briefly outlined these requirements, based on the traffic, stormwater, water and sewer, and other impact analyses -- each of which she said the FMC development plans would meet.
Referendum
Referendums are infrequent in Flagstaff, said city clerk Stacy Saltzburg, with the most recent occurring in 2010.
Should this referendum make it to the ballot, voters will be asked whether to approve the ordinance in question, deciding whether to rezone that property. A vote against the ordinance would mean the rezone will not be granted.
“As far as what that means for the campus plans, that is something NAH would have to answer,” she said.
Saltzburg added: “The zoning code provision to wait a year with a rezone rejection does not apply to a referendum. It is unknown at this time how a referendum might affect a reapplication and is something that would need to be determined, should the referendum be successful and if there is a desire for a reapplication from the hospital.”
For the referendum to make it onto the ballot, Flagstaff Community First, the political action committee leading the effort, must gather at least 2,607 signatures by July 6. Those will then be processed by the city to determine whether the referendum has qualified.
The qualification process, which is outlined in Title 19 of state statute, is “very prescriptive and extensive,” Saltzburg said.
It includes a city clerk review of petitions and related information to see whether petition sheets or signatures need to be disqualified. If there are still enough signatures after this, a random sample of 5% will go through a similar verification process, this time performed by the county recorder.
"Following the county review, the clerk will remove the signatures identified for disqualification by the recorder and also determine the percentage of all signatures found to be invalid in the random sample," she explained. "That percentage is then subtracted from the signatures remaining. This will then determine the final calculation of valid signatures.”
She also noted these steps come with prescribed time frames, with the final deadline being determined by the date the petitions are submitted to the clerk. If that submission happens July 6, the determination deadline would be Aug. 29.
When asked whether the referendum could be challenged, she said the city's role was only to process the signatures and make the qualification determination.
"Whether NAH believes they have a right to challenge the referendum or will attempt to do so is unknown by the city," she said.
Special election
The referendum effort was also briefly mentioned in the meeting, with item 12N calling for a special election. The ballot for the mail-only election will include 19 changes to the city charter -- as well as the referendum, should it receive enough signatures by July 6.
Vice Mayor Austin Aslan noted a likely increased turnout from a different set of voters than those who usually participate in these special elections if the referendum is on that ballot, and asked what it might mean for approval of other items.
Saltzburg said she did not have a clear answer. She noted that vote-by-mail elections tend to have a lower turnout and that the referendum “may bring more voters out -- which is always fantastic.”
“It could be a different subset,” she said, “but that’s too far beyond what I would be able to predict.”
“I think the only consideration I would bring to the table here is the number of questions that we're looking at placing on this ballot,” she added. “We've had conversations before with this process about voter fatigue and what that might do for the outcome of our elections, but that's something for, I think, [Council] to wrestle with. It is a consideration, but I don't have a good answer as to what that may or may not do. I think it's really speculative.”
Aslan said the question was meant to be speculative.
“I'm not involved in the referendum process in any way, but I do recognize that it could potentially change the formula for who votes in this particular special election," he said. "I know that we place these items on the ballot because we're looking for highly informed voters to help us pass these things that we want to see.
“If we have a highly motivated voting bloc that is clearly in opposition to some of the city’s stated goals, it could have an impact on things. ...Just something to consider and something to keep an eye on and something to remember during the phase in which we’re making our case for why these 19 items need to move forward.”
A recording of the meeting can be found online, with the plat presentation beginning at around 2 hours and 35 minutes. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/flagstaff-city-council-approves-preliminary-plat-for-flagstaff-medical-center-campus-backs-special-election/article_3dfd7d9e-1152-11ee-b024-4b49eafba062.html | 2023-06-23T14:02:24 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/flagstaff-city-council-approves-preliminary-plat-for-flagstaff-medical-center-campus-backs-special-election/article_3dfd7d9e-1152-11ee-b024-4b49eafba062.html |
Rewinding to two years ago, the Arizona Diamondbacks sat at the bottom of Major League Baseball with the worst record to underscore a nightmare season. Last season brought hope as the team took a leap with 22 more wins.
The most significant moment of the 2022 season, however, came packaged as a 22-year-old outfield prospect, standing at 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds.
Corbin Carroll was productive from the moment he debuted on Aug. 29, producing well-above-average numbers to close out the season.
Despite his impressive start, his contributions had minimal impact on the team’s success. The Diamondbacks finished 74-88, ending their season at 23rd in team ERA (4.25) and 14th in runs scored per game (4.33).
This season has been a different story. The Diamondbacks are 44-30 and hold first place in the NL West. The team’s overall ERA is still not elite, ranking 21st in MLB (4.46), but the offense ranks fifth in the league in runs scored per game (5.18) after averaging 4.33 runs last year.
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Ketel Marte, Christian Walker, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Geraldo Perdomo have produced solid starts to the season. As of earlier this week, the quartet has a combined batting average of .283, with the league average being .248.
Carroll’s latest achievement was being named the NL Player of the Week on June 12. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo had nothing but praise for Carroll’s mentality and work ethic shortly after the announcement.
“His humbleness is one of the things we all love about him. He’s never satisfied. He’s always on the search to get better. He never wastes days,” Lovullo said. “He never wastes one day learning, growing and pushing forward.”
“It’s definitely cool,” Carroll said about winning the award. “But it’s also cool to play winning baseball. That’s, in my mind, the more important part.”
Carroll’s 3.7 WAR is tied for fourth place with Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres. Offensively, Carroll is ranked first among all of MLB. He is also first in the NL in slugging percentage (.591), OPS (.975) and OPS+ (164).
Additionally, DraftKings currently gives him the second-best odds to win the NL MVP at +500.
No one could have expected this level of production so soon from the young left-handed batter.
Carroll was selected by the Diamondbacks 16th overall in the 2019 draft out of Lakeside High School in Seattle, Washington. He quickly ascended through the minor leagues with terrific speed, power, plate discipline and defense. In 142 minor league games, he accumulated a .310 batting average with 134 runs scored, 28 home runs, 87 RBIs and 52 stolen bases.
After playing seven games in 2021 due to a shoulder injury, he was called up before finishing his second full professional season.
Carroll has lived up to the hype. Every sports team needs star players, such as Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez of the 2022 World Series champion Houston Astros. But in Arizona, having a star like Carroll is what the franchise needs not only to win a title but to fill up seats in Chase Field. The Diamondbacks have ranked ninth or worse in attendance for NL teams every full season since 2005.
Chase Field can fit 48,519 fans, but in the last 15 years, it has never surpassed 31,000 fans per game for a full season. The attendance isn’t solely tied to the team’s success, as numbers were low even during seasons when the Diamondbacks made the playoffs.
Carroll’s incredible talent, flare and athletic ability make him marketable and has recently helped improve ticket sales. During the Diamondbacks’ first three homestands this season, the average attendance was 18,565, excluding an opening day sellout. In the team’s last two homestands, the average increased to 22,365.
This year’s attendance has been the highest average for the team since before the pandemic. Last Thursday, 23,032 fans showed up for an afternoon game -- the highest since the pandemic before Sunday’s announced attendance of 42,031 shattered the post-pandemic record set a few days prior.
The thousands of fans have showered Carroll with MVP chants in hopes Carroll can restore the glory days of the early 2000s, when Randy Johnson took home the World Series MVP trophy. | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/corbin-carroll-s-stardom-everything-diamondbacks-need-to-rejuvenate-franchise-fan-base/article_14a69012-111f-11ee-8084-9705caaca903.html | 2023-06-23T14:02:31 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/corbin-carroll-s-stardom-everything-diamondbacks-need-to-rejuvenate-franchise-fan-base/article_14a69012-111f-11ee-8084-9705caaca903.html |
WOODBRIDGE, Va. — A northern Virginia police officer has been seriously injured after authorities say he was struck by a stolen car he was attempting to stop.
The driver then sped directly at the officer, according to police. The officer opened fire before he was struck by the car. The car crashed and the driver fled on foot.
Police say the suspect was found around 1:30 a.m. Friday after an extensive search and did not appear to have been injured by the officer’s gunfire.
The officer was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Police said they would release more information Friday after the suspect is formally arrested. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/2023/06/23/virginia-officer-struck-car-injured/6296970e-11c9-11ee-8d22-5f65b2e2f6ad_story.html | 2023-06-23T14:03:41 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/2023/06/23/virginia-officer-struck-car-injured/6296970e-11c9-11ee-8d22-5f65b2e2f6ad_story.html |
NEW YORK — Tony- and Grammy Award-winning lyricist Sheldon Harnick, who with composer Jerry Bock made up the premier musical-theater songwriting duos of the 1950s and 1960s with shows such as “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Fiorello!” and “The Apple Tree,” has died. He was 99.
Bock and Harnick first hit success for the music and lyrics to “Fiorello!,” which earned them each Tonys and a rare Pulitzer Prize in 1960. In addition, Harnick was nominated for Tonys in 1967 for “The Apple Tree,” in 1971 for “The Rothschilds” and in 1994 for “Cyrano — The Musical.” But their masterpiece was “Fiddler on the Roof.”
Bock and Harnick were first introduced at a restaurant by actor Jack Cassidy after the opening-night performance of “Shangri-La,” a musical in which Harnick had helped with the lyrics. The first Harnick-Bock musical was “The Body Beautiful” in 1958.
“I think in all of the years that we worked together, I only remember one or two arguments — and those were at the beginning of the collaboration when we were still feeling each other out,” Harnick, who collaborated with Bock for 13 years, recalled in an interview with The Associated Press in 2010. “Once we got past that, he was wonderful to work with.”
They would form one of the most influential partnerships in Broadway history. Producers Robert E. Griffith and Hal Prince had liked the songs from “The Body Beautiful,” and they contracted Bock and Harnick to write the score for their next production, “Fiorello!,” a musical about the reformist mayor of New York City.
Bock and Harnick then collaborated on “Tenderloin” in 1960 and “She Loves Me” three years later. Neither was a hit — although “She Loves Me” won a Grammy for best score from a cast album — but their next one was a monster that continues to be performed worldwide: “Fiddler on the Roof.” It earned two Tony Awards in 1965.
Based on stories by Sholom Aleichem that were adapted into a libretto by Stein, “Fiddler” dealt with the experience of Eastern European Orthodox Jews in the Russian village of Anatevka in the year 1905. It starred Zero Mostel as Teyve, had an almost eight year run and offered the world such stunning songs as “Sunrise, Sunset,” “If I Were a Rich Man” and “Matchmaker, Matchmaker.” The most recent Broadway revival starred Danny Burstein as Tevye and earned a best revival Tony nomination.
In a masterpiece of laughter and tenderness, Harnick’s lyrics were poignant and honest, as when the hero Tevye sings, “Lord who made the lion and the lamb/You decreed I should be what I am/Would it spoil some vast eternal plan/If I were a wealthy man?”
Bock and Harnick next wrote the book as well as the score for “The Apple Tree,” in 1966, and the score for “The Rothschilds,” with a book by Sherman Yellen, in 1970. It was the last collaboration between the two: Bock decided that the time had come for him to be his own lyricist and he put out two experimental albums in the early 1970s.
Harnick went on to collaborate with Michel Legrand on “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” in 1979 and a musical of “A Christmas Carol” in 1981; Mary Rodgers on a version of “Pinocchio” in 1973; Arnold Black on a musical of “The Phantom Tollbooth;” and Richard Rodgers on the score to “Rex” in 1976, a Broadway musical about Henry VIII.
He also wrote lyrics for the song “William Wants a Doll” for Marlo Thomas’ TV special “Free to Be... You and Me” and several original opera librettos, including “Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines” and “Love in Two Countries.” He won a Grammy for writing the libretto for “The Merry Widow” featuring Beverly Sills.
His work for television and film ranged from songs for the HBO animated film “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” in 1991 with music by Stephen Lawrence, to lyrics for the opening number of the 1988 Academy Awards telecast. He wrote the theme songs for two films, both with music by Cy Coleman: “The Heartbreak Kid” in 1972 and “Blame it On Rio” in 1984.
In 2014, off-Broadway’s The York Theatre Company revived some of Harnick’s early works, including “Malpractice Makes Perfect,” “Dragons” and “Tenderloin.” “She Loves Me” was last revived on Broadway in 2016 in a Tony-nominated show starring Zachary Levi.
Harnick was born and raised in Chicago and earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the Northwestern University School of Music after serving in the army during World War II. Trained in the violin, he decided to try his luck as a songwriter in New York.
His early songs included “The Ballad of the Shape of Things,” later recorded by the Kingston Trio, and the Cole Porter spoof, “Boston Beguine,” from the revue “New Faces of 1952.”
He and his wife, artist Margery Gray Harnick, had two children, Beth and Matthew, and two grandchildren. Harnick had an earlier marriage to actress Elaine May. He was a longtime member of the Dramatists Guild and Songwriters Guild.
___
Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/2023/06/23/sheldon-harnick-dead-fiddler/c40fad86-11c9-11ee-8d22-5f65b2e2f6ad_story.html | 2023-06-23T14:03:47 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/2023/06/23/sheldon-harnick-dead-fiddler/c40fad86-11c9-11ee-8d22-5f65b2e2f6ad_story.html |
Virginia State Police troopers apprehended a man Friday morning after he fled from police in King William County and then barricaded himself in a recreational vehicle at a Henrico County intersection for several hours, police said.
Deputies with the King William County Sheriff's Office responded to a residence in Manquin around 2:30 a.m. Friday after reports of a domestic dispute.
Upon learning that the suspect, who has not been identified, had left the residence in a 1992 Winnebago, the King William deputies chased the vehicle. State police helped in the pursuit before taking the lead once the Winnebago crossed into Henrico County.
According to a VSP spokesperson, the Winnebago ran out of gas at Glenside Drive and Bethlehem Road in Henrico, where the driver barricaded himself in the vehicle.
After several hours of negotiation, state police took the man into custody shortly before 8 a.m. Photos taken by local television reporters indicated that a tactical vehicle tore an opening in the Winnebago so that officers could extract the driver.
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He is being taken to a local hospital for medical evaluation and is expected to be charged later. | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-courts/virginia-state-police-winnebago-pursuit-king-william-henrico/article_7743bdde-11c5-11ee-9db2-43b55665fab6.html | 2023-06-23T14:06:38 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/crime-courts/virginia-state-police-winnebago-pursuit-king-william-henrico/article_7743bdde-11c5-11ee-9db2-43b55665fab6.html |
ORLANDO, Fla. — Local hospital systems are working with the University of Central Florida to take on Florida’s growing nurse shortage.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
It’s an issue the school has taken on before.
The school added 100 students beyond its standard enrollment last year in order to keep pace with Florida’s demand for new nurses.
Read: ‘Inclusion and Diversity: Orange County expands ESOL Pilot Program for I-Drive employees
Channel 9 found out how local groups are working with UCF to take it a step further.
A Florida nurse workforce report show to address projected shortages by the year 2035 in our state, an additional 2,300 RNs and 1,700 LPNs would need to enter the workforce each year, and Orlando Health and AdventHealth are looking to UCF for a solution.
Read: ‘Learn and be successful’: Over 100 local tourism workers completed ESOL classes.
The hospital systems committed 10 million dollars to UCF’s College of Nursing for its new building in Lake Nona, student internships and scholarships.
Most of UCF’s nursing alumni live and work in Florida.
Watch: Workers nationwide feel uncertain about job security after recession warnings
See more in the video above.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/local-hospital-systems-work-with-ucf-tackle-nursing-shortage/PMXGCHR4HJD4FFGGJIW4L6KCOI/ | 2023-06-23T14:08:36 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/local-hospital-systems-work-with-ucf-tackle-nursing-shortage/PMXGCHR4HJD4FFGGJIW4L6KCOI/ |
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orange County commissioner is working on a plan to crack down on illegal short-term rental properties.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Short-term rentals aren’t allowed in residential neighborhoods, but there are probably thousands of them scattered around the county.
Commissioner Mayra Uribe said illegal short-term rentals are contributing to the county’s housing shortage.
She wants to force those rentals back into the housing supply.
“What if you could actually house a couple, two people there for a year as opposed to just seven days or while on vacation because we really have a huge need,” Uribe said.
Watch: Titusville pharmacist accused of distributing oxycodone, methadone without medical purpose
The plan will be discussed by commissioners over the next couple of months.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/orange-county-looking-crack-down-illegal-short-term-rental-properties/RPK7N6LUK5H57KWTGNW63F7CBA/ | 2023-06-23T14:08:42 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/orange-county-looking-crack-down-illegal-short-term-rental-properties/RPK7N6LUK5H57KWTGNW63F7CBA/ |
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — One of the largest video game tournaments in the country will be in Daytona Beach this weekend.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Officials were making final preparations Thursday for the CEO Fighting Game Championships.
Competitors will be playing in more than 20 fighting games including Nintendo’s “Super Smash Brothers,” “Mortal Kombat 11″ and the tournament debut of the newest “Street Fighter” game.
More than 2,700 people from all over the world will be competing in this weekend’s event.
“This weekend we have 32 countries representative from Japan, Korea, you know, everywhere,” said Alex Jebeiley with CEO Fighting Game Championships.
Watch: Scientists warn seaweed piling up on Florida beaches could carry dangerous bacteria
Jebeiley said this weekend is a huge leap from where they started in 2010 hosting small tournaments.
More information about the gaming tournament can be found here.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/thousands-expected-video-game-tournament-daytona-beach-this-weekend/AQ7ZMOMXYNC7XJEQEHJGXX2X74/ | 2023-06-23T14:08:48 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/thousands-expected-video-game-tournament-daytona-beach-this-weekend/AQ7ZMOMXYNC7XJEQEHJGXX2X74/ |
Here is your Duluth News Tribune Minute podcast for Friday, June 23, 2023.
The Duluth News Tribune Minute is a product of Forum Communications Company and is brought to you by reporters at the Duluth News Tribune, Superior Telegram and Cloquet Pine Journal. Find more news throughout the day at duluthnewstribune.com. Subscribe and rate us at
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'Sweetheart deal'? Why West Warwick's town manager is getting full pay and a police pension
- Mark Knott is the only person covered by the Municipal Employee Retirement System of Rhode Island allowed to earn a full salary from the same MERS community where he is collecting a pension.
- West Warwick ordinance approved specifically for Knott, and his contract with the town.
- Town officials defend their actions to recruit Knott for the manager's job, citing his experience as police chief and his "institutional knowledge" as a lifelong West Warwick resident.
WEST WARWICK – Town Manager Mark A. Knott last year received an income of more than $300,000 after the Town Council carved out an ordinance allowing him to earn his municipal salary and benefits – while receiving a $91,000 annual pension for his nearly three decades working in the town’s Police Department.
In what some are calling a double dip, Knott is the only one of the 13,962 people covered by the Municipal Employee Retirement System of Rhode Island allowed to earn a full salary from the same MERS community where he is collecting a pension. It follows an elaborate series of steps the town took two years ago, paving the way for it to happen.
Every other employee in the MERS system is guided by strict caps on how much they can earn while receiving a pension. Municipal employees can go back and work 75 full days, teachers no more than 90 full days (though that cap has been suspended through June 2024 to avert a substitute teacher shortage). And if you are a state employee, you can’t go back to work in any capacity without suspending your pension.
Solar panels, paint jobs, board spots:Why a Coventry resident filed an ethics complaint against Hopkins Hill chief
As a result, the executive director of the state’s retirement system, Frank J. Karpinski, sent a letter to Town Council President David Gosselin Jr. on April 25, informing him that the board had “reluctantly” approved Knott’s pension.
In an interview last week, Karpinski said Knott’s arrangement is not replicated anywhere else in Rhode Island, but the retirement board’s hands were tied because of enabling legislation passed by the General Assembly, a West Warwick ordinance approved specifically for Knott, and his contract.
“It was a unique situation that the board is not used to seeing, given what it knows about the Rhode Island General Laws,” Karpinksi said. In fact, three members of the board voted against awarding Knott his pension, and one abstained. “It had language in there that permitted this post-retirement employment; that was the driver,” he added.
We break it down:It's not a full COLA, but new RI budget has something for pensioners.
Anonymous letter from Florida brings Knott's pension deal to light
Even though Knott was hired as town manager two years ago and the pension was awarded six months ago, it flew under the public radar until town resident Alan Palazzo – a longtime observer and frequent critic of the Town Council – said he received a copy of Karpinski’s letter in the mail last month. The envelope that arrived at Palazzo’s home had no return address and was postmarked May 12 from Fort Myers, Florida.
He has subsequently talked with some retirees who say they're upset about Knott’s deal with the town.
Karpinksi concluded his letter to Gosselin, saying: “I trust that this communication will be provided to the Town Council for review in order that the Retirement Board’s concerns are effectively memorialized and communicated should the West Warwick Town Council contemplate further similar actions in the future.”
Palazzo discovered that Gosselin had only shared the letter with Vice President Maribeth Williamson; the three other members of the council knew nothing about it.
“It’s a sweetheart deal,” Palazzo, a retired U.S. Navy commander, said in an interview with The Hummel Report. “This is par for the course in West Warwick. It’s upsetting. The taxpayers don’t understand.”
Political Scene:A decade after RI 'pension reform,' anger and suspicion still rule the conversation.
'An easy choice': Why Knott was recruited for the job over a nationwide pool of applicants
Knott joined the town’s Police Department as a rookie patrolman in 1994, moving up the ranks to become chief in 2019. After Town Manager Ernest Zmyslinski’s departure, Knott was appointed acting town manager in the fall of 2020, while continuing in his role as chief. The town advertised for a new full-time manager, receiving applications from all over the country.
But the council never interviewed any of them, instead focusing on Knott, a lifelong town resident. Williamson and Gosselin encouraged him to apply for the job.
“I’ve seen town managers come, not even move their furniture in, and leave,” said Gosselin, adding that there have been eight managers during his 16 years on the council. “[Knott is] a lifetime resident of West Warwick, he’s very involved in the community, always at community events. He also has a vested interest in his pension, so he would care about what goes on in the pension [plan].”
Williamson concurred: “Mark knew the community and, quite honestly, the level of résumé we received …. I could not see the benefit of transferring someone from Ohio or from Illinois to come in and get a sense of what West Warwick was all about and be able to hit the ground running like Mark could. It was an easy choice, as far as I was concerned, and one that I would make again, because he’s done a terrific job.”
'Money grab':Is East Providence profiting from deceptive billing for police details?
In a wide-ranging interview with The Hummel Report on Wednesday, Knott said he made sacrifices early in his police career, knowing that a good pension would be waiting if he got to 28 years.
So when Gosselin and Williamson approached him about being full-time manager, he said he wasn’t initially interested. He had looked at jobs in Massachusetts and Maryland as he neared retirement from the police department. “I told them, ‘If we can find a way where I’m not going to negatively affect my pension, I’ll consider the town manager job.’”
West Warwick passes ordinance to benefit Knott before joining state pension system
About the same time West Warwick was looking for a manager, its pension system was deemed “distressed” — funded between 20% and 25%. So town leaders secured enabling legislation from the General Assembly during the 2021 session, allowing it to join the state system.
MERS has a wide reach in Rhode Island: 69 municipalities, sewer districts and housing authorities participate, along with 53 municipal police and fire departments.
Hummel Report:Property rights, climate change collide over plan to build house on stilts in Narragansett
But before officially joining MERS in September, the West Warwick Town Council passed a three-page ordinance — drafted by Knott’s personal attorney — that allowed Knott to continue to hold the title of director of public safety after starting as town manager, so he could continue to accrue time toward his police pension. He would reach eligibility a year and a half later, in December 2022.
“In my mind, that was a pension for 28 years of dedicated police service for all of the exposure, danger and sacrifices,” Knott said, noting that the town had the lowest pay scale in the state when he started and at one point he and his young family received food stamps.
Meanwhile, Knott’s lawyer also drew up an eight-page contract, approved by the council in June 2021, that laid out his salary and benefit package. But it also called for the town to contribute $184,558 to “buy” time to get him to the maximum he could collect from his police pension. It called for Knot to contribute $21,627.67 — but allowed him to use “accrued and unused sick time to fund the employee contribution.”
That series of actions by the town meant that Knott’s agreement was essentially “grandfathered” in when the state accepted West Warwick’s underfunded plan into MERS on Sept. 1, 2021, trumping state law that prohibits double dipping in the MERS system. Over the last two years, the West Warwick plan has improved modestly under the state’s guidance, and is now 30% funded.
Knott and council leaders deflect criticism of 'double dipping'
Knott takes issue with Karpinski’s assertion that his situation is unique.
“I’m not collecting a MERS pension," he said. "The state is administering our legacy plan. It’s kind of deceiving. I did everything that I thought was right and proper.”
Williamson said the arrangement doesn’t affect the town’s overall finances.
“If Mark was sitting in the town manager’s seat in North Kingstown, that would be OK [from a pension perspective]," she said. "How foolish would that be to bypass and give up that institutional knowledge that he has about West Warwick and have his talents used somewhere else?”
Gosselin added, “If the town hired Mark Knott, or if we hired Joe Schmo from off the street, the town’s finances would be almost identical. Because Mark Knott would be collecting his pension as of today, and we’d be paying another individual the same dollar amount, if not more.”
Asked whether he was concerned about the optics, Knott responded, “It’s a concern, because the perception could be that you’re double dipping. I never anticipated being West Warwick town manager. I anticipated after 28 years I’d still be young and marketable and be looking to maximize my earning potential in a community somewhere.”
More:Six issues died at the State House this week. These are the ones expected in 2024.
How much has Knott received in compensation?
According to figures provided by the town, Knott last year received $193,610 in compensation as manager. The breakdown: $126,551 in regular pay; $10,500 in personal time off; $7,854 in holiday pay; $17,259 in longevity; $17,316 in vacation buyback; and $2,553 in personal time. Knott, like other town employees who worked through the pandemic, received a bonus of $1,250 from American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The town also contributed $10,327 toward a private pension plan for Knott.
In addition, the town paid $20,259 for its portion of a Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island family plan (Knott contributed $3,300); $1,281 toward a dental plan; and $400 toward a life insurance policy.
That totals $215,553 from the town, plus his $91,000 pension, for a grand total of $306,553 in 2022.
Knott began with a base pay of $145,000, which increased 3.5% percent on July 1, 2022, and will increase another 2% next month. His annual longevity payment is 11.5% of his base pay.
Why the state board approved Knott's pension, with 'reluctance'
Karpinski checked with attorneys and the Internal Revenue Service, leading up to the December vote on Knott’s pension, to make sure it was legal, but he told The Hummel Report that the board had little choice other than to approve.
In his letter to Gosselin, Karpinski wrote: “The Retirement Board specifically voted: To approve the pension application of Mark Knott, with a corresponding letter to be sent to West Warwick expressing the board’s reluctance to do so in light of concerns highlighted by Mr. Knott’s pension eligibility. Given the remedial purpose of the legislation allowed West Warwick to join MERS, the Board wished to express its concerns to West Warwick with regard to the town’s perceived lack of transparency and actions that appear to be inconsistent with the goals of the legislation in allowing this pension candidate to become pension eligible while also working full time.”
Gosselin said he wanted to speak directly with Karpinski — which he has since done — before discussing the situation with the rest of the council.
Williamson said she, too, has spoken with Karpinski. “It’s not about the town doing anything wrong, it’s not about Mark Knott doing anything wrong, and [Karpinski] vetted all of that and made his board aware of that,” she said this week.
“I’m confident that there’s no story here — other than that we made the right decision,” Williamson added.
Palazzo’s response: “Not many people attend the council meetings, and it remained hidden. Many things in West Warwick remain hidden.”
The Hummel Report is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies, in part, on donations. For more information, go to HummelReport.org. Reach Jim at Jim@HummelReport.org. | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/west-warwick-rhode-island-paved-way-for-town-manager-to-get-full-pay-while-collecting-police-pension/70346962007/ | 2023-06-23T14:11:57 | 0 | https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/west-warwick-rhode-island-paved-way-for-town-manager-to-get-full-pay-while-collecting-police-pension/70346962007/ |
Police in Allen County are continuing to investigate a head-on crash that left five people in critical condition Thursday in Leo.
Officers said they responded to a two-vehicle collision about 2:30 p.m. in the 7900 block of Schlatter Road.
They found the victims suffering from injuries after two cars struck each other, said Adam Griffith, spokesman for the Allen County Sheriff's Department.
An adult and two children were in one vehicle, and two teens in the other, he said.
No further information was released. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/leo-crash-leaves-5-critical/article_6500dce2-11c5-11ee-bbfb-fb676ae770f5.html | 2023-06-23T14:17:46 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/leo-crash-leaves-5-critical/article_6500dce2-11c5-11ee-bbfb-fb676ae770f5.html |
MIDLAND, Texas — Tall City Brewery and the Museum of the Southwest will be partnering up for the month of June for a good cause.
Anytime someone orders the Cosmic Cowpoke at Midland's Tall City Brewery, the proceeds will go directly back to the museum.
"The Cosmic Cowpoke is one of my favorite beers that we have on tap right now," said Tall City Tapper Manager Logan Vitela. "It is a double dry hopped hazy IPA, so it can be a little intimidating at times, but really it just has a little bit more flavor really it has nice citrus notes you get some orange peel notes in that as well it's perfect for these hot days whenever we're in the triple digits, so it's really tasty come get it while you can."
Each month moving forward, Tall City plans on choosing a different local organization to partner up with in an effort to give back to the community.
"It's really important for us to, you know really involve ourselves in the community," Vitela said. "You know the community supports us every day and every action that we do, especially at tailgates, they're there for anything. They're also there for us. So we want to give back to them as well, it's actually really fun."
At this time, the brewery is still deciding what local business to sponsor for the month of July. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/tall-city-brewery-partners-up-with-local-museum-for-the-month-of-june/513-1b971d43-645c-4529-a6c7-a9a53cd4701e | 2023-06-23T14:18:09 | 0 | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/tall-city-brewery-partners-up-with-local-museum-for-the-month-of-june/513-1b971d43-645c-4529-a6c7-a9a53cd4701e |
ANAHEIM, Calif. — If you’re heading to the Disneyland Resort this summer, prepare to be transported into a new bustling city that merges San Francisco and Tokyo.
San Fransokyo Square, inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Academy Award winning movie, “Big Hero 6" is set to officially open at Disney’s California Adventure starting in July.
The new area formerly known as Pacific Wharf, will be home to a multi-cultural mashup of San Francisco and Tokyo’s most iconic landmarks and touches. Fans will get to walk across the San Fransokyo Gate Bridge that sits above tide pools connecting to the Paradise Gardens Park obelisk.
Most importantly, fans will have the chance to pose for selfies with Big Hero 6's beloved robot Baymax at a newly added meet-and-greet location outside of the Hamada Bot Shop.
Disney California Adventure visitors will have a chance to taste food from brand new menus, including Asian inspired items and tasty margaritas. The area will also feature a brand new Cervecería.
New menu offerings will launch mid-July. Additional food and drink options will be rolled out through mid-August, according to the Disneyland Resort.
Here's a first look at the new San Fransokyo Square
WATCH RELATED: San Diego County, Oceanside shines bright in Disney's 'Hailey's On It!' (June 2023).
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ADD THE CBS8+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE Roku | Amazon Fire | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/disney-shares-images-of-san-fransokyo-square/509-6a361bbd-c215-4166-b70f-f65a145c4790 | 2023-06-23T14:18:16 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/disney-shares-images-of-san-fransokyo-square/509-6a361bbd-c215-4166-b70f-f65a145c4790 |
In what is probably the closest thing Casper has to a Mardi Gras, Crimson Dawn held its 94th annual Midsummer’s Eve event on Wednesday night.
The walk, which consists of a guided path throughout the woods that surround Neal Forsling’s home, with stops for witches, blind minstrels, leprechauns and more otherworldly creatures, drew in people from the community, both those interested in magical tales and those with young children. (And, of course, those who fit both categories.)
Casper Mountain blew cool puffs of air across attendees, settled mist on their shoulders and warmed them with evening sun. The skies alternated between a purplish-gray color and bright blue, before the sun disappeared behind the hills completely.
It was, in a word, transcendental.
For the youngest attendees, it was just magical.
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They found walking sticks and worried about stepping on bugs. They sang unintelligible songs from atop their parents’ shoulders. They stared in awe at the people dressed as witches or leprechauns. At one of the first stops, when the witch greeted them, a chorus of very energetic, very small “Hi’s!” greeted her back.
“See? Ain’t he cool?” one woman said, bringing a little girl up to a leprechaun by her hand.
In the woods, it was cooler and wetter. A crowd had formed near the back, so the front of the line was thinner, sparser, even though Rebecca Hunt, who has been leading the walk since 1991, asked that smaller children be brought up to the front.
No need to rush, though. There was a lot to see.
The walk took children through many different places, including under the sea. Undine the Homesick Sea Witch welcomed children to her stop with seashells. Her many necklaces shimmered in the evening light.
“She said to tell you that she does want a seashell, but she’s shy,” one woman said, relaying a message from a little girl to the sea witch. She was bestowed a seashell of her own to keep.
One child, Nova Rain Fey Page-Sanders and her sister, Amaya, eagerly received oceanic gifts from Undine.
“What do you say?” Nova’s grandmother asked.
“Thank you!” Nova replied brightly. “It’s pretty. I love it. Daddy, do you want one?”
At another stop, Teagan Bonine sat with his hands under his chin against the fence around his grandmother’s, the Emerald Witch, stop.
“He was my really big helper,” she said, noting that he had handed out little green stones to the older kids while she had given them to the littlest eventgoers.
“Teagan. Is there any more on the ground?” she asked.
Bonine appeared to be lost in thought.
For some, the encouragement to “bring children” extended to feline children as well. Ashley McCollum brought her shoulder cat, Oliver, as well as her two daughters.
A rescue from Laramie Peak Humane Society, Oliver sat politely on McCollum’s shoulders, leashed. Though he did not tell the Star-Tribune this in so many words, he appeared to be enjoying himself, even though McCollum noted that he would have probably liked to roam around freely.
This was not his first adventure in the woods, however. He has also been camping.
Cameron, McCollum’s daughter, grabbed his paw. “It’s a freckle!” she said, pointing to a spot on the underside of his foot.
The group gradually drifted further and further apart. As the sky grew darker – actually, just mistier – children grew a little bit more impatient, more eager to go off the beaten path and make their own adventures.
The Cardinal Witch and the Blind Minstrel were the last stop on the walk, stretching around a foothill, playing gentle music.
“It’s the first day of summer, and it feels like the first day of winter,” the Cardinal Witch remarked.
An ever-present mist settled over the mountains like a down quilt. | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/crimson-dawn-association-casper-mountain-midsummers-eve-celebration/article_b892aa52-111b-11ee-9e08-a7aa6164e053.html | 2023-06-23T14:26:34 | 0 | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/crimson-dawn-association-casper-mountain-midsummers-eve-celebration/article_b892aa52-111b-11ee-9e08-a7aa6164e053.html |
"Heat pan, add meat, break up and stir. Mix in taco seasoning. Stir, and bring to a boil. Simmer for five minutes."
These are some of the instructions provided as part of a recipe for walking tacos, a lunch prepared by students with special needs at the Independent Living Center on Thursday.
With the help of two teachers and additional support staff, Koda Dubbs, Darius Antonides and Matthew Leach were busy at work, each assigned with a different task.
Hovering over the stove, Dubbs was browning and breaking up ground beef into bits and pieces in a pan, Leach was peeling avocados and Antonides was looking up instructions on an iPad.
A typical day where special needs students come together to learn, cope and become functioning adults.
The Independent Living Center is a Lincoln Public Schools program under the Independence Academy aimed at equipping 18- to 21-year-old students with disabilities with the skills needed to better transition to adult life.
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Recent renovations, thanks to a hefty donation from former LPS teacher Pat Campbell, added more rooms and now allow for greater space and accessibility.
Currently, the center can accommodate between 12-15 students at any given time.
"We have a variety of opportunities for our students to engage in activities to prepare them for that next step," said Alisha Bollinger, special education supervisor and an administrator at the Independence Academy. "Students can really focus on those independent living skills that they would need to live either on their own or in a supported living environment."
Established more than 20 years ago, the Independent Living Center is one of 11 programs for students with special needs.
It’s also the only one open in the summer.
According to Bollinger, the goal is to provide certain students with the added assistance they need during the summer months so they can build on progress they’ve made during the school year.
"We want to make them as independent as possible,” Bollinger said. “But we also know that the outcomes are really varied and that we have students who are going to need a lot of support when they reach the age of 21."
Along with the students’ parents, an Individual Education Program (IEP) team makes decisions about which programs and services need to be provided based on each student's needs.
During their time at the center, students take part in day-to-day activities, including laundry, dishes, cooking practice and even yard work when the weather allows.
Abigail Elgueta, a teacher at the Independence Academy, said one of her favorite parts is seeing progress being made.
"Being able to finally see it or being able to finally hear a student say a certain thing like 'Please,' or 'Excuse me,' or 'I need to use the restroom,' — that’s one of my favorite things because that just means that we’re helping them with the things that they need to learn," Elgueta said. "And that’s our whole purpose here: to be able to give them these skills before they leave." | https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/lps-center-helps-students-with-disabilities-prepare-for-adult-life/article_f1599cda-107e-11ee-892b-8709e0211d72.html | 2023-06-23T14:29:07 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/lps-center-helps-students-with-disabilities-prepare-for-adult-life/article_f1599cda-107e-11ee-892b-8709e0211d72.html |
U.S. travelers are expected to visit U.S. destinations more in 2023 than they did before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data from the World Travel and Tourism Council. Thanks in part to rising inflation rates, which make international travel far more difficult to budget for a family, along with the general public's desire to freely move about now that COVID-19 restrictions are fully lifted. Combining that with the plethora of places to choose from when it comes to making your way across America, domestic travel rates went up 30.1% in 2022, and it seems to be on trend to continue its ascent.
With so much to do, however, who could blame someone for wanting to get in the car and leave their cares behind during an epic road trip? For booking that last-minute flight on a whim because the mood seems to strike. The U.S. is home to 424 National Parks, 620 amusement parks, over 35,000 museums, and don't even get us started on how many restaurants there are to try!
As summer approaches, and many are beginning to plot out their itineraries for the road, we wondered—which states are the most popular to visit by U.S. tourists? Using data from YouGov to determine what states Americans are visiting, Stacker has ranked the top 25 by the percentage of U.S. adults who have already made a visit. Check the rankings to see if your next destination is among these popular choices, or find your next adventure as you scroll. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/weather/weather-forecast-nebraska-rain-storms-severe/article_580c8f79-8b16-58dd-915d-a252bcd138ca.html | 2023-06-23T14:29:09 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/weather/weather-forecast-nebraska-rain-storms-severe/article_580c8f79-8b16-58dd-915d-a252bcd138ca.html |
Honda is recalling nearly 1.2 million vehicles in the U.S. because the rear view camera image may not appear on the dashboard screen.
The recall covers certain Odyssey minivans from 2018 to 2023, as well as Pilot SUVs from 2019 to 2022 and Passport SUVs from 2019 to 2023.
Honda says in documents posted Friday by U.S. safety regulators that the problem was traced to a faulty coaxial cable connector. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says if the rear view camera image doesn't display, it can cut driver visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
The company says it received nearly 274,000 warranty claims from May of 2017 through June 8. It has no reports of any injuries.
Dealers will replace a cable harness and install a straightening cover at no cost to owners, who will be notified by letter starting July 24. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/recall-alert/honda-recalls-nearly-1-2m-vehicles-because-rear-camera-image-may-not-appear-on-dashboard-screen/3283213/ | 2023-06-23T14:34:22 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/recall-alert/honda-recalls-nearly-1-2m-vehicles-because-rear-camera-image-may-not-appear-on-dashboard-screen/3283213/ |
Every morning, NBC 5 Today is dedicated to delivering you positive local stories of people doing good, giving back and making a real change in our community. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/something-good/neighbors-in-navarro-county-help-with-cleanup-after-severe-storms/3283221/ | 2023-06-23T14:34:28 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/something-good/neighbors-in-navarro-county-help-with-cleanup-after-severe-storms/3283221/ |
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles announced Friday that all department systems are down.
According to the Texas DMV, the outage will affect all online and in-person services, including county tax offices. Registration renewal locations such as grocery stores, vehicle dealerships, and MyPlates will also be affected while systems are down.
All 16 TxDMV offices will be closed on Friday, the department said.
The 16 department offices in Texas are located in Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, Longview, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, Pharr, San Antonio, Waco, and Wichita Falls. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-dmv-offices-closed-friday-while-systems-are-down/3283260/ | 2023-06-23T14:34:34 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-dmv-offices-closed-friday-while-systems-are-down/3283260/ |
Bayshore High School student wins Congressional Art Competition for Florida's 16th District
BRADENTON — Skylar Goldrick of Bayshore High School won the 2023 Congressional Art Competition for young artists in Florida's 16th District, Congressman Vern Buchanan announced on Tuesday. Arthur (Xiaoyi) Li of Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School was this year’s “Facebook Fan Favorite” winner.
“I’m impressed by the exceptional talent of every high schooler who submitted artwork for this year’s competition. It’s clear that students from the 16th Congressional District have an endless amount of creativity and skill,” Buchanan said. “Skylar’s art will be placed on display in the U.S. Capitol and Arthur’s art will be displayed in my Washington, D.C. office.”Students from the 16th District who submitted entries for the competition were judged by Sarah Cartwright, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art's Ulla R. Searing Curator of Collections; Ola Wlusek, the Keith D. and Linda L. Monda Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art; and Libby Bennett, the Ringling Museum Manager of Design and Production.
Skylar’s work, “Welcome to my World,” will be showcased for one year in the highly traveled corridor between the U.S. Capitol and the Cannon House Office Building.
For the seventh year, the 16th Congressional District’s contest included a separate recognition – the “Facebook Fan Favorite” Award – awarded to the student whose artwork won the highest number of likes and shares on the congressman’s Facebook page. Arthur’s “Grounded Gallery,” received 85 likes and 18 shares and will be displayed in the congressman’s Washington, D.C. office for one year.
Also from the 16th District, Cole Ryskamp’s (Saint Stephen’s) “Florida Gator” and Joela Hammon’s (Bradenton Christian) “Celebration” were second-place winners. Justin Millican’s (Saint Stephen’s) “Morning Dew” and Teagan Munce’s (Bradenton Christian) “A Seljandsfoss Summer” earned honorable mention.
The second-place winners’ artwork and the honorable mentions’ submissions will be on display in the Johnson-Blalock Education Center at the Ringling Museum for two months.
Submitted by Savannah Plafker | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/bayshore-hs-saint-stephens-students-win-congressional-art-competition/70337085007/ | 2023-06-23T14:45:24 | 1 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/bayshore-hs-saint-stephens-students-win-congressional-art-competition/70337085007/ |
Sarasota-Manatee animal shelters taking part in free statewide pet adoption event
ALSO in Community Briefs: Great American Picnic at Wellen Park; Englewood Performing Arts Series returning; Student Support Center grant; court diversion program; sixth annual Sunset Photo Contest.
Local animal shelters taking part in free statewide adoption event
The Humane Society of Sarasota County (2331 15th St.), Manatee County Animal Services (305 25th St. W., Palmetto), Suncoast Humane Society (6781 San Casa Drive, Englewood), and Cat Depot (2542 17th St., Sarasota) are participating in a statewide initiative this weekend to find homes for 5,000 dogs and cats in shelters.
All adoption fees will be waived during the Petco Love Florida Mega Adoption Event on June 23-25 and thousands of pets will be available for adoption at 50 organizations across 31 counties. All pets will be spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccinations.
“Summers are notoriously challenging for shelters nationwide and this is an opportunity to change the lives of so many dogs and cats,” said Denise Deisler of the Jacksonville Humane Society, which is facilitating the event. “Petco Love has been instrumental in Florida’s increased lifesaving for many years, and we are so appreciative for their continued dedication to animals and animal welfare organizations in the Sunshine State.”
The event is funded by Petco Love, a national nonprofit, in partnership with Bobs from Skechers. For more information, visit megaadoptflorida.com. Details also are available on social media by following @MegaAdoptFlorida on Facebook and Instagram or using #MegaAdoptFL.
Great American Picnic set for Downtown Wellen Park
Wellen Park will mark the start of the Fourth of July holiday weekend with a Great American Picnic celebration on July 1 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. featuring live music, family friendly activities, a pie bake-off, and food and drinks.
Music performers for the festival (19745 Wellen Park Blvd. in North Port) include Rob Hazen, the Derek Lersch Country Band, Queen Kay Duo, and the Nightbreakers. Family-friendly activities include a water balloon toss, a watermelon eating contest, face painting, carnival games, cornhole, a 360 Photo Experience, and paddle boat races.
Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for seating on the Great Lawn and to bring picnic baskets. For more information, visit wellenpark.com/events/great-american-picnic.
Education Foundation receives gift to support Student Success Center
The Education Foundation of Sarasota County recently received a $15,000 grant from the James M. Doss Charitable Foundation Trust to support the new Student Success Center at Sarasota Military Academy, where students in grades 9–12 can access one-on-one advising and coaching.
Education Foundation Student Success Coaches help students identify interests and then develop a plan for life after high school. They provide knowledge of colleges and financial aid and assist students during the college search and application process.
For more information about the Education Foundation and its programs that support student success, visit EdFoundationSRQ.org.
Sarasota County developer provides $50,000 to court diversion program
The Sarasota County Mental Health Court, a diversion program that helps move individuals out of jails and into mental health treatment programs, has received a $50,000 donation from Sarasota County developer Hugh Culverhouse Jr.
The funds will be directed to the Comprehensive Treatment Court (CTC) coordinated by Centerstone, a not-for-profit that provides services to individuals who commit nonviolent offenses and suffer from severe mental health disorders. “CTC has built a track record, supported by data, of moving people with mental health issues out of jail and onto a path to permanent supportive housing, staying off the streets and out of hospitals and long-term incarceration," Centerstone regional CEO Melissa Larkin-Skinner said. "We are so grateful for the support.”
The program offered by Centerstone includes addiction treatment, counseling, drug testing, medication and medical care management, life skills training, linkage to housing and job training, and relapse prevention. For information, visit Centerstone.org.
Around and about ...
The Englewood Performing Arts Series, which started over 40 years ago but has been suspended since 2020 because of the pandemic, is returning in November with a Friday night concert series in partnership with Englewood Methodist Church. The series will kick off on Nov. 17 with a multiple Grammy Award-winning performer, according to organizers. Ticket sales and lineups to be announced. Updates will be posted at facebook.com/EnglewoodPAS.
· Submissions are being accepted for the sixth annual Sunset Photo Contest managed by Triple 3 Marketing. The deadline is Sept. 2. The photo must have been take this year in the Gulf Coast region and photo editing is permitted. Email photos as a jpeg file to randy@triple3marketing.com. Seven winning photos will be showcased in the fall editions of Englewood Healthy Living and South County Healthy Living.
Submissions by Marc Masferrer, Alissa Jackson, Laura Hardin, Tracy Spalsbury, Maryann Grgic, Beth Harrison, Randy Moore. | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/sarasota-manatee-animal-shelters-join-free-statewide-pet-adoption-event/70336014007/ | 2023-06-23T14:45:30 | 1 | https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/sarasota-manatee-animal-shelters-join-free-statewide-pet-adoption-event/70336014007/ |
CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Police in Clayton County are searching for a missing 17-year-old girl they say was last seen wearing her Chick-fil-A uniform.
According to the Clayton County Police Department, Rayna Marvin was last seen on Thursday a little before 2 p.m. at the Chick-fil-A in Hampton on Tara Boulevard.
Police describe her as standing 4-foot-11 with blue eyes and brown, shoulder-length hair.
A Mattie's Call was put out for Rayna on Thursday. The circumstances of exactly how she went missing were not clear.
News happens fast. Download our 11Alive News app for all the latest breaking updates, and sign up for our Speed Feed newsletter to get a rundown of the latest headlines across north Georgia. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/missing-in-georgia/clayton-county-missing-17-year-old/85-02d14961-6998-40b2-b849-7b874dbbc0d1 | 2023-06-23T14:48:22 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/missing-in-georgia/clayton-county-missing-17-year-old/85-02d14961-6998-40b2-b849-7b874dbbc0d1 |
ATLANTA — Frustration continues for Georgia families who are trying to get answers on when critical SNAP benefits will arrive, and now thieves are preying on that desperation.
A spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Human Services confirmed a new scam is making the rounds, trying to solicit personal info from beneficiaries of the program.
11Alive's Liza Lucas also spotted Facebook posts from suspected scammers who are promising faster support to individuals who've not received their monthly benefits or are struggling to reach a caseworker.
RELATED: SNAP delays in Georgia | How the state and federal government are working to resolve issues
"We are aware of a new phishing scheme in which scammers have created a fake live chat to trick customers into revealing personal information," a statement from the department said. "Customers seeking assistance from DHS should do so using the contact information and methods available on dhs.ga.gov. Our office is also working with law enforcement to help them go after these bad actors."
The scam warning comes ahead of a Friday meeting between state and federal regulators to address the current backlog of SNAP cases.
As of June 13, more than 52,000 cases were overdue, or over standard of promptness (OSOP), according to data provided by DHS. The state has not responded to 11Alive's question asking for updated numbers as of this week, though confirmed the "team is working as quickly as possible to process customers’ benefits."
Meanwhile, families tell 11Alive they are struggling to pay their bills and keep food on the table while they wait for their monthly food assistance.
"I'm no longer able to pay my bills at the beginning of the month, like I've always done," Clotious Doctor, a DeKalb resident, explained. Instead, the mom of four is now forced to choose which bills can wait so she can use those funds to purchase food for her kids.
"I told myself it'd be better next month. They'd get it together next month," she added, speaking of the struggles to reach her caseworker and fix paperwork that would keep her case active. "Now I'm at month three, about to be month four at July."
She ended up submitting a new application on May 15, in hopes of getting her benefits. But a letter she received this week only acknowledged that processing that application, too, is delayed. Cases are supposed to be processed within 30 days.
While the agency has not provided a timeline as to when the backlog will be resolved, Georgia DHS confirms it's an "all hands on deck" situation. DHS has been dealing with a staffing shortage of caseworkers, though the agency says it has hired 693 new economic support specialists since July of last year, "with more continuing through the onboarding process."
A spokesperson confirmed employees can get compensatory time for voluntarily working over 40 hours/week. Schedule benefits and stipends for non-casework staff who help with the workload is also available. Georgia DHS continues to reiterate the need for flexibilities from federal regulators via waivers the agency said would help process applications faster. According to the state, such waivers include:
- Using attended bots (i.e., bots operated by a human user) to automate processes without caseworker interaction;
- Approval for ex-parte renewals (a term that describes an automatic renewal without any input from the SNAP recipient) when "necessary information is already known and sufficient";
- And review of standard medical deduction information for potential updates to support customers and case processing.
USDA Food and Nutrition Services previously approved three waivers for the state to assist with staffing challenges and a separate backlog of stemming from renewals last October.
The agency denied a technology waiver on June 2 of this year, which would have allowed Georgia DHS to use Google Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist households with SNAP interviews.
"The State’s technology waiver request did not require the SNAP Interview to be conducted by State Merit Staff," a USDA representative said of the denial. "The waiver was denied because merit personnel remain a critical part of the SNAP certification and recertification process, including the SNAP interview."
11Alive has put in multiple requests for an interview with DHS Commissioner Candice Broce to discuss ongoing issues with SNAP benefit delays. To date, that request has not been granted. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/snap-benefit-chat-scam-warning/85-d1160f80-c03a-4def-8e22-9349d030faf8 | 2023-06-23T14:48:28 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/snap-benefit-chat-scam-warning/85-d1160f80-c03a-4def-8e22-9349d030faf8 |
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — This summer hunters in Maryland will have to pay more to obtain certain licenses and stamps.
State lawmakers approved the cost increase during this year's General Assembly.
It's the first price hike since 2002.
“Updating our license fees was necessary for the department to continue to offer quality services to Maryland hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Acting Director Karina Stonesifer said. “These funds are essential for managing the state’s wildlife and associated lands that the public can enjoy.”
Under the new fee schedule, a resident regular hunting license will go up to $35 from $24.50, while non-residents will be charged $160 instead of $130.
The State is now also requiring the purchase of a new $10 residential stamp to hunt sika deer. Non-residents have to pay $25.
Prices for apprentice and junior hunting licenses, 3-day non-resident licenses, migratory game bird stamps, and stamps/permits for furbearer-related activities have also been adjusted.
Click here to see all the new changes in pricing. | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/maryland-increases-cost-of-hunting-licensees-stamps | 2023-06-23T14:50:16 | 1 | https://www.wmar2news.com/local/maryland-increases-cost-of-hunting-licensees-stamps |
CLEAR LAKE -- Clear Lake Bank & Trust has added two new employees.
Amy Beenken recently joined CLB&T as controller, located at the Clear Lake location. She is a graduate of Simpson College, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting & Finance. Amy is a certified public accountant and has worked in public accounting for 14 years.
Amy is originally from Algona and relocated to the Clear Lake area in 2018 with her family. She resides in Clear Lake with her husband, Jared, and three children.
Jamie Landers has been hired as director of finance and accounting at CLB&T. Jamie is also a CPA and has nearly 12 years of banking experience, most recently as the manager of financial planning and analysis for another financial institution. Jamie’s expertise is in financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting.
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Jamie, her husband, Ethan, and three children live in Bristow.
Founded in 1934, Clear Lake Bank and Trust Company is a locally owned, full-service bank with four offices in Clear Lake, Garner, and Mason City. | https://globegazette.com/news/local/business/clear-lake-bank-trust-adds-2-new-employees/article_ee3d22f0-1147-11ee-869b-0762e624c591.html | 2023-06-23T14:54:21 | 1 | https://globegazette.com/news/local/business/clear-lake-bank-trust-adds-2-new-employees/article_ee3d22f0-1147-11ee-869b-0762e624c591.html |
Chris Corcoran, who joined First Security Bank & Trust earlier this year as senior ag/commercial lender, has been promoted to ag lending manager.
Originally from Fairbank, Corcoran received a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University where he studied agriculture business and agriculture finance. He has been in community banking for nearly 25 years.
Throughout his career, Corcoran has focused on agricultural and commercial lending, managing bank investments, funding, and operations. He completed the Iowa Bankers Association’s Commercial Lending School and the Iowa School of Banking. He’s also completed several courses offered by Performance Trust University. These were focused on strategic planning and the principles of managing asset and liability decisions across bank balance sheets.
Corcorran and his family have lived in Waverly for the past five years.
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In addition to his career in banking, Corcorran operates a small grain farm and is an active volunteer. He is a board member of Bremer County Pheasants Forever, the treasurer for the Redeemer Lutheran Church’s trust fund, and a volunteer coach for youth sports.
Chris and his wife, Jessica, have three kids -- one in elementary school, one in middle school, and one in high school.
First Security Bank & Trust has locations across North Central Iowa and headquarters in Charles City. Member FDIC. | https://globegazette.com/news/local/first-security-s-chris-corcoran-promoted/article_f9e894f2-0faf-11ee-afaa-87aa3eae7cd2.html | 2023-06-23T14:54:27 | 0 | https://globegazette.com/news/local/first-security-s-chris-corcoran-promoted/article_f9e894f2-0faf-11ee-afaa-87aa3eae7cd2.html |
GREENSBORO — A 26-year-old woman was charged with driving while impaired after a fatal accident Thursday night, Greensboro police said in a news release.
Officers charged Shaquana Adams, who was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries, police said. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening, according to the news release.
Raymond Overton, 39, died at the scene of the accident, which happened shortly before 10 p.m. Thursday in the area of Rehobeth Church Road and Glendale Drive, police said.
Overton was driving a 2016 Toyota Corolla south on Rehobeth Church Road and Adams was driving a 2005 Toyota Corolla west on Glendale Road. Yvette Moss, 56, was driving a 2014 Chevy SUV east on Glendale and was stopped at the light at Rehobeth Church Road, police said.
Police said the cars driven by Overton and Adams collided in the intersection, sending both cars southwest into the path of Moss, who was stopped at the light. All vehicles came to a rest in the southwest corner of the intersection, off the roadway.
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Moss and one front passenger were taken to a local hospital, both with minor injuries, police said.
The Greensboro Police Crash Reconstruction team is investigating.
Authorities ask anyone with information to contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000. Residents can also download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip, or go to P3tips.org to submit a web tip. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/woman-26-charged-in-fatal-crash-thursday-night-in-greensboro-police-say/article_e2375da6-11c7-11ee-86ec-73648f30797d.html | 2023-06-23T15:12:06 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/woman-26-charged-in-fatal-crash-thursday-night-in-greensboro-police-say/article_e2375da6-11c7-11ee-86ec-73648f30797d.html |
GREENSBORO — The North Carolina Zoo has a name for its new baby giraffe: “Fenn.”
The calf is named after the founders of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Julian and Stephanie Fennessy. The foundation works for the preservation of giraffes in the wild.
Giraffes live in sub-Saharan Africa and are considered “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature with about 68,000 in the wild. Threats include loss of habitat, poaching and disease.
Fenn’s mother, Leia, gave birth to him on May 20. His father, Jack, is also one of the zoo’s giraffes.
Giraffe keepers came up with a list of names and the zoo also invited members of the public to vote in an online poll. More than 100,000 votes were cast. Suggestions ranged from Nelson (after South African activist Nelson Mandela) to Mosi (an African name used for “firstborn son”) to Tamu (Swahili for “sweet”). | https://greensboro.com/news/local/nc-zoo-giraffe-calf-fenn-giraffe-conservation-foundation-fennessy/article_f87eef22-1134-11ee-9cb4-579539497425.html | 2023-06-23T15:12:14 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/nc-zoo-giraffe-calf-fenn-giraffe-conservation-foundation-fennessy/article_f87eef22-1134-11ee-9cb4-579539497425.html |
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was ranked the third-best head coach in the NFL in a preseason power ranking by Pro Football Network.
PFN ranked Tomlin third, behind only Kansas City Chiefs head coach and reigning Super Bowl champion head coach Andy Reid, and the man that has won more Lombardi Trophies than anyone else, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
When it comes to what prompted Tomlin’s high ranking, his consistency was at the top of the list.
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PITTSBURGH — Hotels and restaurants weren’t the only city establishments to benefit from Pittsburgh’s recent event-filled weekend with two sold-out Taylor Swift concerts and Juneteenth festivities.
Pittsburgh Regional Transit had its highest weekend ridership since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The #⃣'s are in!@taylorswift13 and Juneteenth events this past weekend helped us see the highest ridership weekend since the start of the pandemic! 😁 pic.twitter.com/esuvr2ErCL
— Pittsburgh Regional Transit (@PGHtransit) June 22, 2023
PRT’s light-rail system ― the “T” ― took an estimated 85,000 people to and from Swift’s concerts at Acrisure Stadium on Friday and Saturday nights, nearly four times the average for a Friday and Saturday.
Several Juneteenth-related events downtown contributed to even more rides unaccounted for in their estimates.
“We knew there would be a lot of demand for public transit this past weekend, and I’m extremely proud of the way our teams stepped up,” said PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman in a news release. “In addition to our employees, I want to thank riders for choosing to use public transit. The crowds this weekend, especially with so many young people, give us a lot of hope for the future of our industry.”
PHOTOS: Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour kicks off in Pittsburgh
On Friday, light rail cars made 60 extra trips in addition to regular service to take an estimated 48,000 people to the show at Acrisure On Saturday, 62 extra trips and regular service took an estimated 37,000 fans to and from the concert.
Bus ridership is up 76% and rail ridership is up 380% compared to May 2020, according to PRT. Overall, ridership is slowly increasing but remains 40% below pre-pandemic levels.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/taylor-swift-concerts-juneteenth-help-give-prt-highest-ridership-numbers-years/WNUIIMDEYFCIFBAK2W4MJ33POA/ | 2023-06-23T15:12:43 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/taylor-swift-concerts-juneteenth-help-give-prt-highest-ridership-numbers-years/WNUIIMDEYFCIFBAK2W4MJ33POA/ |
GATEWAY, Fla. — If your student is going to Gateway High School this fall, they might need some new clothes.
The school is changing its dress code, banning shorts entirely. They mailed a letter to parents who have students attending the school. It stated that students must wear pants or skirts that are at knee length or below.
A spokesperson for the Lee County School District said, “Too many students were violating the school’s dress code last year requiring shorts must be at the knee and taking valuable time away from the classroom. The change is not unusual nor unprecedented as Fort Myers High School has not allowed shorts since the 1990’s.”
Parents of kids who go to Gateway High School said they disapprove of the new rules.
Nitza Morales’s son will be attending the school this year. She said she was shocked to receive the letter in the mail.
Morales said she immediately texted her son.
“He’s like, ‘mom there’s no way I’m gonna wear long pants’. And I’m like, ‘you have to’ and he’s like, ‘I can’t I not’. I’m like, ‘then you’re gonna have to go to a different school’!” Morales said.
She said she feels like the rule is wrong so she created a petition.
“I was nervous about doing it but I think it needs to be addressed because kids should be allowed to wear shorts to school. If girls can wear skirts then why can’t boys wear their shorts?” Morales said. “There’s kids that have autism and sensory issues and stuff so that’s all they wear is shorts so to do this to them…I don’t think it’s fair.”
She hopes the school will reconsider its new dress code policy.
Oak Newbury said it’s way too hot for his son to wear shorts in the Florida heat. He gave his son permission to wear a skirt to school this fall since shorts aren’t allowed.
“I gave him permission to wear a skirt, I don’t know if he will or not but that’s up to him,” Newbury said.
He said he thinks it’s crazy that girls can wear skirts to school but boys aren’t allowed to wear shorts.
“I chose the school because of the dress code that gives the students more individuality. It’s just ridiculous and the hypocrisy and the sexism is just strong with it,” Newbury said.
Tim Schultz is also worried about his child and others. He said wearing pants in this Florida heat could cause problems.
“Being down here from Florida, students who are either walking to school to riding the bus have long walks to the bus stop — it can be unbearable for a lot of them. Perspiration is a real thing and it can cause rashes so students who are wearing pants consistently, especially in the heat…that can cause some problems,” he said. | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/2023/06/23/gateway-high-school-bans-shorts-in-new-dress-code-policy/ | 2023-06-23T15:23:51 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/local/2023/06/23/gateway-high-school-bans-shorts-in-new-dress-code-policy/ |
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) — Former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles’ attorney has asked a judge to consider dismissing the capital murder charge Thursday afternoon.
Defense attorney Mary Turner filed motions to Judge Daniel Pruet for an immunity hearing and to dismiss the charges against her client, stating in her motion that Miles is immune from criminal prosecution “based on a theory of self-defense.”
She said in a previous hearing that Cedric Johnson and others intended to hurt Michael Davis and that Miles felt they were in danger when he gave Davis his pistol.
Turner’s motions aligned with previous arguments she’s made that Johnson fired the first shot that night and Davis was returning fire in self-defense.
Her motions ask Pruet to consider the defense’s arguments and evidence and rule whether Miles is immune from prosecution because of self-defense.
Read the full motion down below: | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/based-on-self-defense-darius-miles-attorney-asks-judge-to-drop-capital-murder-charge/ | 2023-06-23T15:25:30 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/based-on-self-defense-darius-miles-attorney-asks-judge-to-drop-capital-murder-charge/ |
HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT) — Hoover City Schools is looking to the future under the leadership of new school board president and former all-American Alabama football player Kermit Kendrick.
Kendrick is no stranger to the district, now coming up on six years serving on the Hoover City School Board.
Kendrick told CBS 42 he’s always believed if you live in community, you should find a way to contribute to it. He said the school system continues achieving academic success and his overall goal is to keep the district going in a positive direction.
Kendrick said they continue seeing growth in the center and western parts of Hoover and, depending on how much that growth explodes, they could have space problems.
“If that growth continues in this area, we will have to come up with way to make sure that we have capacity,” said Kendrick. “Maybe at some point in the future there could be a third high school in the discussion, although that’s not being talked about right now.”
He said the district is always mindful of capacity type issues, already finding it necessary to alleviate congestion at Hoover High School with their RC3 center.
Kendrick said there are various challenges the school system is preparing to work through, like the possibility of another superintendent search.
Two main issues the district is facing are bus driver and lunchroom personnel shortages. He said they are working to make sure they not only have nutritious food available for their students, but capable hands to prepare it.
He said they want to remove any and all barriers that could threaten learning. That also goes for transportation.
“We don’t want that to be a burden to a child or a barrier to a child or his family,” said Kendrick. “So, we want available buses, capable and competent drivers to be sure that getting to school on time, being prepared to learn is at the top of mind.”
Kendrick said they are currently in the middle of building a brand-new fine arts center at Hoover High School, which they plan to complete by the end of the fall semester. He said the school can look forward to a bigger stage and a lot of capacity.
“So, when we have plays or musical events, the students’ families can sit comfortably,” said Kendrick. “I don’t know exactly what we’re planning to do as far as how we’ll staff that building right now, but I’m hoping that when school is out that there could be concerts in the building.”
Kendrick said this new project will hopefully lead to better opportunities for their fine arts students and school community. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/hoover-city-schools-looks-to-the-future-under-new-leadership/ | 2023-06-23T15:25:37 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/hoover-city-schools-looks-to-the-future-under-new-leadership/ |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — On Friday, Jim Baggett will retire from his position as the head of the archives department after nearly 30 years with the Birmingham Public Library.
“Our archives here in the basement really is a window to the world,” Baggett said, referring to an exhibit he contributed to nearly 20 years ago.
The exhibit was called “Common Bonds.” It featured snapshots of families from around Birmingham to explore race, class and social dynamics. The exhibit did so well that it was taken to Iceland for several months – and Baggett followed.
“I got to go with it and give a talk, which was really just not something you would ever expect to happen,” Baggett said with a chuckle.
Yet, to fully understand Baggett’s longtime love for his job, you would have to go back to the 80s, where it all began.
In 1986, Baggett had just graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) with a bachelor’s degree in history. He was the first in his family to graduate from college.
From there, Baggett decided to go on to pursue his master’s at UAB, too. While there, a professor took the students to visit the archives, which piqued Baggett’s interest.
Nonetheless, Baggett assumed he was still going to be a history professor. For a short period of time, this led him to the University of Mississippi’s PhD program – but ultimately “it wasn’t the right fit,” which sent Baggett back to Alabama. There, he was hired by the Birmingham Public Library.
Baggett began his time there in the Southern History Department before becoming the assistant archivist, training under Marvin Whiting – an archivist and historian himself. When Whiting retired in 1997, Baggett was made head of the Department of Archives and Manuscripts in his place.
“Archives is like any job, there’s mundane things you do,” Baggett said. “But you also get to spend your days with these amazing historic documents and photographs and artifacts. And you get to work with really interesting people.”
The library’s archives “draw researchers from all over the world,” Baggett said; People writing books, publishing articles, making documentary films and building museum exhibits.
“It’s a fascinating way to make a living,” he said. “You get to be involved in a lot of really fascinating and worthwhile projects.”
When asked what the most rewarding part of his job was, Baggett reflected on getting to see projects come to fruition.
“Meeting people who are doing interesting projects, and then seeing their projects come about … and knowing that we played a part in that. We helped make this thing possible,” Baggett said.
A couple of years ago, Baggett and his wife were in Greensboro, North Carolina, the city where the lunch counter sit-ins originated, when they decided to visit the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.
“We were going through the exhibit and there on the wall are these photographs credited to Birmingham Public Library archives,” Baggett said. “It’s very satisfying to know that we played a small role in helping them create this thing people from all over the world benefit from.”
Part of the daily job of an archivist, Baggett said, is to communicate with researchers – whether that be students, professors, documentarians, historians, filmmakers, or a local family wanting to learn about the history of their house.
“People come to the archives every day to do research,” Baggett said. “This archive connects to people’s lives.”
To collect material, Baggett and other archivists will identify who has material, evaluate if it’s appropriate for their collection and negotiate with the owner to see if they have an interest in donating. He said he realizes “that’s asking a lot of somebody;” Baggett knows an important part of his job is building trust with the community.
“We’re the archives for the city, so some things come to us automatically,” Baggett said. “But most things – the family papers we have, the church, synagogue records, club records, photo collections – all have been donated to us.”
Once material is acquired, the archivists prepare it in a way that makes it ready for researchers to use. Baggett boasted of the archives’ “incredible” civil rights collection that Whiting established, a newer environmental history collection, collections on Alabama women’s history, Alabama Jewish history, immigrant communities and what he said is, at this time, the largest collection of LGBTQ history in Alabama.
“To be successful, it has to always grow,” Baggett said. “And I think we – within the resources we have available to us – have been very successful at growing these archives in a lot of different directions.”
In addition to his archival work, Baggett has edited three books, authored multiple magazine and newspaper articles, written several peer-reviewed articles and authored two books, amidst other written and spoken accomplishments.
For his work, Baggett has been given several awards. These include an award from the Alabama Historical Association, two awards from the American Library Association, the 2021 “Outstanding MLIS Alumni” award from the University of Alabama and most recently one named after his predecessor, the Marvin Yeomans Whiting Award from the Society of Alabama Archivists.
Wayne Flynt, longtime Southern historian and University Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at Auburn University, recalled one of his favorite interactions with Baggett.
The two had first met when Flynt was at Samford University – where he taught for over a decade – but did not hit it off until a reader’s conference brought them together. The conference provided them plenty of breaks, Flynt said, wherein the two began to chat and eventually ended up sharing their meals together.
“I very clearly remember a conversation with him where he spoke about public libraries and what their function is,” Flynt said.
Like Baggett, Flynt’s parents had never attended college. The Carnegie Library in Anniston, Alabama, was Flynt’s “intro to the world,” as he had no books at home. For kids like him, the public library was a “dream factory,” Flynt said.
“I told him… ‘We’ve forgotten what it was like before there were opportunities to read books on every corner,’” he said.
As they shared meals that day, Flynt perceived Baggett as someone who was quiet, thoughtful and efficient.
“Quiet in a sense that he doesn’t try to dominate conversation,” Flynt said. “He listens rather than trying to dominate with a monologue.”
During their conversation, Flynt said that Baggett described what both of them were living: a “futuristic vision” where kids with little means came to the library, dove into its depths and emerged authors and orators for those very libraries.
“I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to build here,” Baggett said of the archives at the library. “And that’s not me, that’s me working with literally hundreds of people, thousands of people over the years.”
As he looks at his upcoming retirement, Baggett said he is looking forward to having time to work on a few writing projects of his own and tackle a stack of books he’s been storing up. Baggett said he and his wife, who is also retired, look forward to spending some down time at their house on Little River in Mentone, Alabama.
“I’m looking forward to just kind of being for a while,” he said, with what sounded like a smile on the other end of the phone. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/jim-baggett-head-archivist-for-nearly-30-years-retires-from-birmingham-public-library/ | 2023-06-23T15:25:43 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/jim-baggett-head-archivist-for-nearly-30-years-retires-from-birmingham-public-library/ |
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) — The Tuscaloosa Police Department responded to two calls Thursday night reporting that the same pedestrian had been struck twice by cars in Tuscaloosa.
At 10:37 p.m., the first driver called to report that she had hit a man while driving north on Hackberry Lane. Later, a second driver called to report that he had struck the same victim.
A TPD unit responded to the location on Hackberry Lane near Black Bear’s Way due to the severity of the victim’s injuries. Until shortly after 2 a.m., the road was closed while the team conducted an on-site investigation.
The injured Tuscaloosa resident, 24, was taken to DCH Regional Medical Center Friday morning. The pedestrian was later transferred to UAB Hospital for treatment. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/pedestrian-hit-twice-by-cars-in-tuscaloosa-thursday-night/ | 2023-06-23T15:25:49 | 0 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/pedestrian-hit-twice-by-cars-in-tuscaloosa-thursday-night/ |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — A non-profit organization that provides reproductive health resources to residents of the Deep South is holding a rally on the anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade this Saturday.
The “F*** Your Abortion Ban” rally will be held at Birmingham’s Linn Park starting at 11 a.m. and is hosted by the Yellowhammer Fund, a reproductive justice organization that provides Deep South residents with healthcare items related to preventing pregnancy.
Jenice Fountain, executive director of the Yellowhammer Fund, says the event will highlight the work the organization does across the board.
“What we want to do is talk to the community about reproductive health needs, the current state of the abortion landscape in Alabama while also giving out resources like emergency contraceptives, our safer sex kits and just cultivate a space to speak about reproductive health now that we don’t have access to abortion,” Fountain said.
Additionally, the rally will kick off the organization’s “Repro Raven Summer Bus Tour,” a supply distribution bus that will provide reproductive health items such as emergency contraceptives, period products, diapers and more to residents throughout five Alabama cities.
“We think that a lot of people disregard Alabama as kind of a ‘lost cause’ in the South,” Fountain said. “So with this bus tour so we’re gonna go to the more rural areas in Alabama to give out resources, have conversations and let people know where they can reach out to about what they need in terms of their reproductive health.”
The namesake of the “Repro Raven” is former operations manager Mia Raven, who died on April 6 of this year.
“[Raven] and her husband actually found the bus for us and got it ready, but she passed before she could see it running,” Fountain said. “There is no abortion access that doesn’t have Mia’s footprint on in some way in the state.”
While many reproductive health organizations have pivoted to providing ways for Southerners to receive abortions in states without bans, Fountain says Yellowhammer Fund’s focus has been on helping those who can’t travel outside of Alabama.
“I think that’s what people kind of fail to realize, like it’s not any safer in [Alabama] to give birth than it is to terminate a pregnancy, especially if you’re BIPOC,” she said. “So one of the major things we do is recognizing who’s going to get left out, how do we advocate for them and how do we teach them to advocate for themselves?”
To Fountain, talking frankly about abortion rights erases the stigma attached to the procedure and other facets of reproductive healthcare.
“There’s a lot of people in the state that won’t even say abortion or it’s talked about as if it’s this taboo thing and that really adds to the stigma,” she said. “We have to have safe spaces for people to talk about their experiences around their healthcare and their bodily autonomy and I think that if it has to be us, it has to be us.”
Those interested in donating funds or healthcare items to the Yellowhammer Fund can visit the organization’s website or email info@yellowhammerfund.com. | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/reproductive-rights-rally-planned-in-birmingham-on-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade-being-overturned/ | 2023-06-23T15:25:55 | 1 | https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/reproductive-rights-rally-planned-in-birmingham-on-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade-being-overturned/ |
How Civilian Conservation Corps pumped much needed cash into Sussex County
“In practically every case, Delaware boys are enjoying the camp life and have so expressed themselves to their commanding officers,” the Milford Chronicle reported on Sept. 15, 1933.
At the time, 453 Delaware men, with 65 from Sussex County, were working in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the overwhelming majority of the enlistees were sending money home to help diminish the hardships of the Great Depression. The CCC had been launched with incredible speed, which would put today’s Congress to shame.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was sworn in as president of the United States on March 4, 1933, and he immediately proposed the creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps as a means of providing jobs for unemployed young men who would be put to work on soil erosion, flood control and other conservation projects.
Acting with unprecedented speed, the enabling legislation flew through Congress; and 37 days after Roosevelt took the oath of office, the first enlistee was enrolled in the CCC.
In November, the Delaware Coast News reported, “The Lewes camp has most buildings framed, 50 per cent having side walls already erected, part of them with roofs and the remaining 50 per cent skeleton framework in place.” When the first contingent of 25 enrollees arrived at Lewes, the buildings were unfinished, and the men were temporarily housed in tents.
Most members of the CCC were young men, but there were also some older recruits. According to the Milford Chronicle, “Any veteran of the World War, Spanish-American War, Philippine Insurrection and Boxer Rebellion, who is physically able to do ordinary manual labor in a work camp, is eligible for enrollment” for the Veterans’ Contingent of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Eventually, 2,650 CCC camps that employed nearly 600,000 enlistees were established nationwide. The camps were staffed by army officers who used their military experience to organize and control the thousands of young men who joined the CCC.
When the enlistees reported for duty, they were divided into companies of 50 men. After the men were given a physical, they were served an Army mess kit meal of beans, pickles, bread, coffee and butter.
In addition to a camp at Lewes, the CCC established two camps near Georgetown and at other locations in Delaware. In addition to providing work, educational programs established by the CCC taught 40,000 enlistees how to read and write.
Working in the Civilian Conservation Corps provided desperately needed income for the enlistees, and they were required to send a portion of their pay to their families. At a time when money was so scarce in southern Delaware that many residents were reduced to bartering for goods and services, the Corps pumped an estimated $5,000 a month into the economy of Sussex County.
Many of the men were sent to the marshes to dig drainage ditches as a way of combating the Delaware coast’s incessant mosquito problem. Although these ditches may have had unforeseen ecological consequences, they are credited with a significant reduction of southern Delaware’s mosquito population.
The improving economy and the beginning of World War II ended the need to find employment for young men. The Civilian Conservation Corps was phased out of existence almost as quickly as it was created.
Principal sources
Milford Chronicle, Sept. 15, 1933.
Delaware Cost News, Nov. 11, 1933; June 6, 1934.
The New Deal Comes to Delaware, Delaware Public Archives, https://archivesfiles.delaware.gov/lesson-plans/12-the-new-deal-comes-to-delaware/12-01-the-new-deal-comes-to-delaware.pdf.
CCC Brief History, https://ccclegacy.org/CCC_Brief_History.html
. | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/delaware/2023/06/23/how-civilian-conservation-corps-pumped-much-needed-cash-into-sussex/70337593007/ | 2023-06-23T15:27:07 | 1 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/delaware/2023/06/23/how-civilian-conservation-corps-pumped-much-needed-cash-into-sussex/70337593007/ |
Sugar Planet opening fifth Ocean City location, with innovative plan for employee housing
Year after year, the resort town of Ocean City has struggled to provide enough housing for its seasonal workers. This strain, a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, has contributed to the hospitality industry's unceasing drastic staff shortages.
But now, Sugar Planet opens today with both a huge selection of candy and a new way to tackle that problem.
Employee housing is directly tied to the economy of Ocean City. Hence, town officials and local businesses are continuously striving to provide ample and affordable accommodations to all present-day and incoming seasonal employees.
“Ocean City, as everyone knows, is a tourist economy and we need summer employees," Glenn Irwin, former executive director of the Ocean City Development Corp., previously told Delmarva Now. "In order to get those employees, we need to provide affordable places where they can be housed.”
Here's how Sugar Planet is approaching the issue as it opens its doors to the resort town.
Ocean City's Sugar Planet supplying more than candy
Ocean City's former Hatland store, located on 81st Street, is now home to Sugar Planet, one Ocean City business committed to providing each of its employees with a bed upon which to lay their head. The two-story, mixed-use building spent much of the spring and early summer season being renovated to include both a candy shop and employee housing.
The company, previously known as Sugar Kingdom, has since rebranded the chain of candy stores to Sugar Planet and already has locations on 2nd, 4th, 45th and 120th streets in Ocean City.
The store's new site — with its official grand opening set for Friday, June 23, inspections pending — is to be comprised of a nearly 4,000-square-foot candy shop on the first floor, as well as a 3,000-square-foot dormitory-style employee housing area complete with seven bedrooms, two bathrooms, a washing machine, kitchen, dining and living area on the second floor.
"Housing has gotten pretty scarce and sometimes unaffordable," said Cecilia Sibony, a partner at Sugar Planet.
EMPLOYEE HOUSING:As Ocean City workers struggle to find housing, why the fallout hurts tourist economy
Sugar Planet aims to combat the ongoing housing issue by offering its employees affordable housing directly.
"We plan this as a part of our new construction so that we can be competitive, bring in the best employees, and also offer them really enticing conditions so that they come work for us and stay with us for a long time," Sibony said.
Sugar Planet also operates another site comprised of a candy shop on the first floor and employee housing on the second on 120th Street.
"I think that's a fantastic situation," Zachary Bankart, executive director of the OCDC, said of Sugar Planet's employee housing options. "As a general idea, I love employers supplying housing for their employees. It's a natural fit in a seasonal town like we have here."
At the peak of the summer season, Sugar Planet hires and retains about 15 employees at its 120th Street location, Sibony said. The candy store expects to have about 12 employees at its new 81st Street location, she added.
"We are still hiring. It is an ongoing process," Sibony said. "There's vacancy in the housing upstairs as well."
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Potential new employees can call 410-250-8200 to inquire about the housing above Sugar Planet.
"What we really try to create is a candy playground for kids and families to come and hang out for an hour," Sibony said. "It really is a unique experience in town, and we'd really love for people to come and check us out."
According to Sibony, to celebrate the store's official grand opening, Sugar Planet is giving away one free bag of candy to its first twenty customers.
J-1 students: 'The lifeblood of Ocean City'
Ocean City requires about 12,000 seasonal workers annually, relying heavily on high school and college students and J-1 foreign student workers. J-1 students fill about 4,000-5,000 summer positions, according to 2019 data from InterExchange, a nonprofit international exchange organization.
J-1 students had been all but absent in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, Delmarva Now previously reported. For this reason, many businesses were left short-staffed and feeling overwhelmed.
Like many other Ocean City businesses, Sugar Planet relies heavily on J-1 student workers, especially during the hectic summer season.
"I honestly think that they're kind of the lifeblood of Ocean City because there's just not enough local residents to support so much tourism in this area," Sibony shared. "Without them, I honestly don't know how we'd do it."
BUSINESS:Ocean Pines welcomes new ice cream shop, Taylor's BBQ reopens | What's Going There
Ocean City Town Council members voted June 13 to approve employee housing code amendments with significant changes to the tier system, which defines what particular type of workforce housing projects are allowed in certain zoning districts.
The tier system's resident capacity now includes 16 or fewer people for tier 1, 17-60 for tier 2 and 61 or more for tier 3.
Through the employee housing code, town officials hope to incentivize private developers to build more housing facilities throughout the resort town. Doing so would lead to more housing options available for seasonal workers, including J-1 students.
"The workforce housing shortage is obviously an issue for Ocean City as a whole. Where we stand right now, we cannot house the amount of seasonal employees we need to run the town," Bankart said. "We are hoping that this new ordinance that was just passed will allow private developers to come in and start to fill that void."
OCEAN CITY:What's new in Ocean City 2023: 2 Bull on the Beach Boardwalk spots, 'Sugar Kingdom,' more
Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com. | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/06/23/ocean-citys-sugar-planet-gets-innovative-with-employee-housing/70160408007/ | 2023-06-23T15:27:12 | 0 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/06/23/ocean-citys-sugar-planet-gets-innovative-with-employee-housing/70160408007/ |
Coast Guard joins search after truck goes overboard on Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
The U.S. Coast Guard has stepped up search efforts for the driver after a tractor-trailer went into the water Thursday from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
The Coast Guard joined other agencies in the effort after watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Virginia command center were notified at about 2 p.m. that the truck with trailer attached went over the rail with at least one person inside roughly one mile from Chic’s Beach.
“This is a concentrated joint search effort consisting of multiple rescue crews, search aircraft and boats,” said Chief Warrant Officer Dan Butierries, Coast Guard Sector Virginia search and rescue mission coordinator. “We are committed to searching by land and sea throughout the night and into the morning,” he said.
Multiple agencies are searching, including Coast Guard Station Little Creek, Coast Guard Cutter Sailfish, Coast Guard Cutter Seahawk, Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, Virginia Beach Police, Virginia Beach Fire Department, Virginia Beach EMS and Virginia Marine Resource Commission.
Plans are being made to recover the tractor-trailer Friday.
THE ORIGINAL STORY:Tractor-trailer goes overboard on Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
What we know about the incident
The single vehicle accident occurred Thursday at about 1:50 p.m. on a northbound lane on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, resulting in the truck going overboard.
The vehicle involved is a tractor-trailer, and the truck went overboard on the west side of the northbound span between Virginia Beach and the southernmost island on Thursday, June 22, 2023.
The facility has sustained guardrail and curb damage, and CBBT maintenance crews are responding to make emergency repairs.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is a four-lane, 20-mile-long vehicular toll crossing of the lower Chesapeake Bay. The facility provides the only direct link between Hampton Roads, Virginia and the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Authority is investigating the accident.
SWIM TO HONOR CRASH VICTIM:'Why don't we do this for him?' Crash victim Erik Mezick to be honored with 18-mile bay swim
SUIT OVER CBBT CRASH:Widow sues Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel over trucker's death in 2017 plunge | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2023/06/23/coast-guard-in-search-for-driver-after-tractor-trailer-goes-overboard/70349978007/ | 2023-06-23T15:27:14 | 0 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2023/06/23/coast-guard-in-search-for-driver-after-tractor-trailer-goes-overboard/70349978007/ |
Salisbury driver dies in Virginia crash after exiting vehicle on roadway
A Salisbury man died in a fatal crash that occurred Thursday evening on Interstate 64 westbound east of the city of Newport news.
Preliminary investigations reveal that the driver of a 2012 Honda Pilot pulling a trailer, 70-year-old Henry Lloyd Appleby of Salisbury, stopped his vehicle partially in the left lane of travel. Appleby exited the vehicle and walked around, and stood at the rear passenger side of the trailer, which was in the left travel lane.
The driver of a 2023 Hyundai Elantra, 21-year-old Nathan Webb Marquis, of Chesterfield, Virginia, was traveling in the left lane of travel when he struck Appleby and the trailer, causing the Hyundai to overturn several times before coming to rest in the travel lane.
Appleby was transported to Riverside Regional Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the Hyundai, Marquis and his passenger were transported with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Speed nor impairment are contributing factors in the crash, police said.
TRACTOR-TRAILER GOES OVERBOARD:Tractor-trailer goes overboard on Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
More on a Va pedestrian fatalityPedestrian dies in Saturday night crash on Virginia Eastern Shore | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2023/06/23/salisbury-driver-dies-in-virginia-crash-after-exiting-car-on-roadway/70350102007/ | 2023-06-23T15:27:15 | 1 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2023/06/23/salisbury-driver-dies-in-virginia-crash-after-exiting-car-on-roadway/70350102007/ |
Jerome County commissioners have hired legal counsel to help them navigate the situation of the county’s prosecuting attorney facing felony charges in Oregon.
Members of the Jerome law firm Williams Meservy & Larsen met with commissioners for more than an hour Tuesday to discuss legal questions after prosecutor Christopher Bradley Calbo was charged June 5 with a pair of felonies after an alleged domestic dispute during a trip to the Oregon Coast. He was released from jail June 13.
Commissioner Ben Crouch said commissioners have been in communication with Calbo but don’t know where he is.
“I believe he’s in Idaho, but not exactly where,” Crouch said.
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Commissioners had hoped to meet with Calbo to discuss his intentions, but that apparently won’t happen this week. The last communication commissioners received from Calbo, Commissioner Charlie Howell said, was a text message stating he would be absent for an unspecified amount of time.
Despite no time being set, Crouch said he is confident that at one point the commissioners will meet with Calbo. Crouch said it was his opinion that Calbo was trying to sort out the situation and decide what to do.
He said Calbo has assured commissioners that he would do what is best for the county.
It is an unusual situation that commissioners find themselves in, Crouch said. Usually, they depend on the prosecuting attorney for legal advice, but that won’t happen this time because of Calbo’s situation.
Howell said the county has sought advice from the Idaho Attorney General’s office, but the office has provided limited help, so commissioners sought out the law firm, which charges $250 per hour for its work in researching answers to questions the county has.
The situation is awkward because both the commissioners and Calbo hold elected office.
“There is only so much commissioners can do,” Crouch said.
Getting the situation resolved is going to take time, he said.
Howell said that commissioners mean no ill-will toward Calbo.
“We wish him the best,” he said.
Calbo is facing felony charges including coercion and strangulation, and he is facing misdemeanor 4th degree assault and menacing charges from an incident in Lincoln City, Oregon. A police report shows that a woman accused him of physically assaulting her, and a grand jury indicted Calbo on the charges.
The indictment reads that Calbo placed the woman “in fear of imminent serious physical injury.”
Calbo’s next court hearing is set for Aug. 14.
Because of Calbo’s extended absence, commissioners are seeking to hire another deputy prosecutor to help the prosecutor’s office with its caseload.
“We want to take care of the prosecutor’s office,” Howell said. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/jerome-county-hires-law-firm-to-help-in-calbo-situation/article_0c5947b0-114c-11ee-8d27-bb26844e0cc6.html | 2023-06-23T15:28:48 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/jerome-county-hires-law-firm-to-help-in-calbo-situation/article_0c5947b0-114c-11ee-8d27-bb26844e0cc6.html |
Ten people were rescued from a three-alarm row home fire Wednesday on Belfield Avenue, city officials said. Video by Atlantic City Fire Chief Scott Evans.
ATLANTIC CITY — A Pleasantville woman has been charged with starting a three-alarm fire that destroyed row homes and displaced residents on Belfield Avenue on Thursday, police said.
Monica Parish, 48, was charged with aggravated arson. She was sent to the Atlantic County jail.
Ten people were rescued from the burning building in the 1500 block of Belfield Avenue on Wednesday. Three were treated at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus.
An update on their condition was not released Friday.
Witnesses told police they saw Parish use an "accelerant" on several porches to start the fire.
An unknown person told security at the Atlantic County Office Building on Atlantic Avenue on Thursday that Parish was inside the building.
ATLANTIC CITY — Ten people were rescued from a three-alarm row home fire Wednesday on Belfie…
Mayor Marty Small Sr. thanked first responders and law enforcement when police announced the charges.
"Without hesitation, the men and women of the Atlantic City Fire Department and Atlantic City Police Department ran into that burning building and saved lives, then they were able to quickly figure out the cause," Small said in a statement.
Fire Chief Scott Evans said the fire response was unlike any he has seen in his 36 years of firefighting.
"I could not be prouder of our firefighters, who immediately switched gears into rescue mode, and went right into action in what was a challenging situation," Evans said in a statement. "The Atlantic City Police Department also deserves all the credit in the world for their valiant efforts, as do all our first responders."
Police Sgt. Matthew Cocuzza and fire Capt. Stephen Kohler led the investigation.
The New Jersey Division of Fire Safety assisted, providing a dog trained in accelerant detection, police said.
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ABSECON — Rev. Father Perry Cherubini, president of Holy Spirit High School, will be stepping down from his role at the end of the month, school officials said on Friday.
Cherubini has been president of the Catholic school on New Road since 2008, according to a story by the Catholic Star Herald on his retirement .
In announcing Cherubini's departure, school officials thanked him for his service, particularly for "his loyalty and his wisdom."
"He has been a mentor and friend to our faculty, staff and students, and we pray for his continued blessings during this next phase of his life," Holy Spirit wrote on its Facebook page Friday.
School officials did not elaborate on the process of selecting the institution's next president.
Cherubini first arrived at Holy Spirit as a religion teacher in the late 1990s, leaving in 2001 to become vice principal at Gloucester Catholic High School in Gloucester City, the Star Herald reported.
He became the pastor at St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Catholic Church on Mill Road in the city in 2006 before returning to Holy Spirit, the Star Herald said.
He is currently the pastor at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Sea Isle City.
Holy Spirit High School has been in the city since the 1860s, having moved there from its former location on Massachusetts Avenue in Atlantic City.
PHOTOS Holy Spirit High School 100th anniversary Mass
The school choir participates in the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Sean Finan, a senior, helped celebrate the mass recognizing Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Jennifer and Daniel Arcentales,of Absecon, wore the school colors, during the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Sean Finan, a senior, helped celebrate the mass recognizing Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Reverend Perry Cherubini, President of the Holy Spirit High School, leads the mass celebrating the school’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Reverend Perry Cherubini, center, President of the Holy Spirit High School, leads the mass celebrating the school’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Rev. Ted Heintzelman was in the first freshman class at the high school’s present location and helped celebrate the mass for Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Reverend Perry Cherubini, center, President of the Holy Spirit High School, leads the mass celebrating the school’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Attendees pray during the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Students assisted in the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Holy Spirit High School, in Absecon, celebrated a mass for the 100th anniversary of the school, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Reverend Perry Cherubini, President of the Holy Spirit High School, leads the mass celebrating the school’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
The Rev. Perry Cherubini, center, leads the Mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial on Sunday in Absecon. “I’ve seen us go through a lot of challenges,” Cherubini said. “But we’re still here, and we’re still strong.”
VERNON OGRODNEK PHOTOS, FOR THE PRESS
Kathy Buckman Revelle, a member of the class of 1968 who now lives in Galloway Township, shows her class ring during the centennial celebration. “I have so many good memories,” she said.
VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS
Former students and family of students were among the many that attended the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Reverend Perry Cherubini, President of the Holy Spirit High School, leads the mass celebrating the school’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Former students and family of students were among the many that attended the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
The Holy Spirit High School choir participates in the Mass celebrating the Absecon school's centennial on Sunday.
VERNON OGRODNEK Photos, FOR THE PRESS
Reverend Perry Cherubini, center, President of the Holy Spirit High School, leads the mass celebrating the school’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Generations of alumni and current and former teachers came for the celebration.
VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
Scenes from the mass celebrating Holy Spirit High School’s centennial, in Absecon, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022. (VERNON OGRODNEK, FOR THE PRESS)
VERNON OGRODNEK FOR THE PRESS
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Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/holyspirit-absecon-school-president/article_b0be9102-11ce-11ee-82ea-5fb163ff550d.html | 2023-06-23T15:29:49 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/holyspirit-absecon-school-president/article_b0be9102-11ce-11ee-82ea-5fb163ff550d.html |
LONGPORT — The borough is looking to improve traffic, pedestrian and bicycling safety along Amherst and Sunset avenues.
On Wednesday, the borough moved to submit a grant application to the New Jersey Department of Transportation's Safe Streets to Transit Program for an East Bayfront Traffic Calming Improvements project.
"We do have a concept plan for the whole stretch of Amherst and Sunset down to Ventnor Avenue," municipal engineer Ed Dennis said.
The plan was originally developed two years ago, said Dennis. He added the project would keep Amherst a two-way street. In 2021, the borough had planned to make Amherst one way.
The borough is exploring the idea of adding raised crosswalks for the entire corridor, something it is already moving forward with on Amherst, along with speed tables, funded by $45,000 from the Atlantic County Improvement Authority's Community Development Block Grant program.
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Speed tables — raised, striped portions of a road intended to lower speeds — may also be placed throughout the east bayfront area, but the borough wants to see how successful they are on Amherst before they move forward, Dennis said.
BRIGANTINE — Andrea Sullivan describes the weekend on 20th Street in the city island as “Mia…
"These are different traffic calming concepts — very conceptual. Nothing set in stone, but we do have enough there to convey the concept to the DOT to generate a cost estimate to get funding," Dennis said.
Longport has been formulating traffic calming improvements on Amherst and Sunset for about two years.
But 32nd Street resident Bob English said the borough should consider including Winchester Avenue.
"The reason I say that is, living in the neighborhood, my sense is that there's more speeding that goes along Winchester than there is on either Amherst or Sunset," said English, who hoped it wasn't too late for the borough to consider the idea of the expansion. "When you think about it, starting at Washington Avenue on Amherst, you hit stop signs at Coolidge and 33rd, 32nd and Sunset, 32nd and Monmouth, and then Winchester. Starting at Washington Avenue in Margate, it's a straight shot right to Sunset and Winchester. I can tell you, since I go on a walk every day, it seems like there's a lot faster traffic going towards the bridge than I've ever seen on Amherst and all of that."
Dennis said if the grant application is successful, the borough will move forward with meetings to get public input on what it should do to calm bayfront traffic. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/longport-traffic-calming-improvements-east-bayfront/article_54f6070c-1114-11ee-82b0-3fe2275e0019.html | 2023-06-23T15:29:51 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/longport-traffic-calming-improvements-east-bayfront/article_54f6070c-1114-11ee-82b0-3fe2275e0019.html |
LOWER TOWNSHIP — Police are implementing parking and traffic changes for the Fourth of July.
Vehicles will be barred from street parking on Beach Drive and Shore Road beginning at 8 a.m., lasting until about 11 p.m., when the event is expected to end, police said Friday in a news release.
In anticipation of large amounts of pedestrians, vehicle and biking traffic will be restricted from Town Bank Road to Lincoln Boulevard in North Cape May from 3 p.m. until the event's conclusion, police said.
David C. Douglas Memorial Park, near the Cape May - Lewes Ferry terminal, will be closed on July 3 and will reopen the following day.
Washington Boulevard's last block, from Atlantic Avenue to Beach Drive, will also be a no-parking zone from 10 a.m. July 2 until July 4, accommodating workers setting up and breaking down amusement rides. Vendors and rides are expected to stay in the area until 10 p.m. on July 4. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/lower-township-july-traffic-parking/article_dfe8829c-11c6-11ee-a6b2-93485cfbabc8.html | 2023-06-23T15:29:51 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/lower-township-july-traffic-parking/article_dfe8829c-11c6-11ee-a6b2-93485cfbabc8.html |
PLEASANTVILLE — The Board of Education ratified a new contract with its school-bus drivers last week.
The agreement came as officials from Teamsters Local No. 331, which represented the drivers and bus aides in negotiations, spoke about the need to attract and retain drivers in the midst of a tightening labor market.
After the ratification, which occurred in the middle of a three-hour June 13 meeting of the school board, union officials in attendance celebrated the new contract.
Teamsters Local No. 331 President Marcus King reflected positively on the negotiations with Pleasantville Public Schools and said he was satisfied with the terms the union achieved for bus drivers. The agreement, King said, had won overwhelming support in a vote of union rank and file, describing it as “a fair contract.”
“This was an improvement tonight,” King said just before the vote on the contract. “I’m very satisfied with what happened, probably one of the best negotiations I’ve had in the three contracts I’ve negotiated (with Pleasantville).”
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“I believe the drivers received what they were entitled to,” added Teamsters Local 331 Secretary Treasurer Abi Ortiz.
Thomas Henshaw, a labor negotiator for the school district, felt similarly positive about talks.
“Negotiations went really well with the Teamsters,” Henshaw said.
In the run up to the ratification vote, union officials had expressed anxiety about pay. Shop stewards at Pleasantville said stagnant wages were leaving Pleasantville uncompetitive in the labor market for drivers, as neighboring school districts and private busing companies hike pay. At a school board meeting in May, they warned that a failure to keep pace with the market could see the district experience staffing shortages.
King has framed negotiations in Pleasantville in the context of broader, structural issues in the busing market.
A historically tight labor market and a shortage of drivers, King said, have caused wage hikes. He added school districts and bus companies now have to contend with new federal regulations in the labor market.
In February 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration enacted new regulations requiring driving candidates to obtain their commercial driver's licenses from a nationally certified organization, something that has further disrupted the supply of drivers. King added that private companies were often in a position to pay for their applicants trainings, a luxury not available to school districts
“It’s going to be harder for the school to have a system where people will be coming along,” King said. “They’re going to hire people now who (already) have a CDL…there’s no feeder program for the school board.”
Henshaw said finding a way to retain bus staff was a priority of the school district as well. The school board had voted to retain Henshaw for talks with the Teamsters at a rate of $100 per hour and on June 13 authorized Henshaw to work an additional 25 hours at a rate of $100 per hour for negotiations with the Teamsters.
“The two major factors for us during negotiations on both sides was retainage of employees, because it’s hard to get people today to come with a CDL license and everything, so if you lose an employee, it’s very hard to replace,” Henshaw said.
King said that at the meeting there was a particular need to add more full-time drivers to the district, so they could better manage their workload and give more consistency to their schedules. The prominence of part-time drivers, King said, often leaves the relatively smaller fleet of the full-time drivers to handle after-school and other non-regular assignments in the school district. He had previously said that the part-time drivers do not collect the benefits that their full-time counterparts enjoy and so were particularly vulnerable to being poached away by a private-sector offer. Of the 27 total bus drivers at Pleasantville, King said 18 drove part time.
“When you look at it, some of the driving work they have to sub out to some of these private companies, because we don’t have enough drivers,” King said. “Not that the school district did anything wrong…it’s just the marketplace and there’s more driving needed.”
The structural problems faced by Pleasantville were on display at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year at South Jersey school districts, including neighboring Egg Harbor Township, citing a bus-driver shortfall. An Integrity official said just before the start of the school year that his company was running about 10 bus drivers short from his typical workforce of 150 to 170. He said the company needed to raise pay significantly to draw new drivers but was getting fewer than two applicants per job advertisement.
The school board ratified the contract the same night it hired Marilyn Martinez as the school district’s new superintendent – a move that residents and board officials have said they hope arrests the continual turnover in school leadership. King said the turnover had complicated negotiations, although he did credit Board of Education President Doris Rowell for her equanimity during talks with the Teamsters. He said the arguments that erupted on the board about the superintendent-search process before the ratification vote had him was reminiscent of past negotiations.
“It’s been a little difficult, because, there’s been no consistency,” King said after the June 13 meeting. “I guess that the community and the school itself is going to have to deal with that.”
A report from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics published in May 2022 found the average hourly wage for elementary and secondary school bus drivers was $19.45.
The current collective bargaining agreement scheduled $1-per-hour pay increases on July 1 of 2020, 2021 and 2022 and runs through the end of June. The new contract runs from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026. Details about pay were not included on the version of the contract available on the district website. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/pleasantville-school-board-ratifies-bus-driver-contract/article_5eb4fd90-1144-11ee-81e0-9b186cc62b3c.html | 2023-06-23T15:29:57 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/pleasantville-school-board-ratifies-bus-driver-contract/article_5eb4fd90-1144-11ee-81e0-9b186cc62b3c.html |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Fire crews battled a fire at a home in south Wichita on Friday. It started just after 9 a.m. in the 5900 block of S. Midland St.
A photo from the scene shows fire damage to a carport and a home.
KSN News has a crew gathering more information on the fire. Look for updates on KSN.com and on KSN News. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/crews-battle-house-fire-in-south-wichita-2/ | 2023-06-23T15:33:09 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/crews-battle-house-fire-in-south-wichita-2/ |
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The Salvation Army and Evergy are giving away hundreds of free fans next week to older adults, individuals with disabilities, and those without access to air conditioning who cannot afford a fan.
Fan distribution is Tuesday, June 27, at the Downtown Koch Center, 350 North Market, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fans will be available to Sedgwick County residents only while supplies last.
Recipients must provide ID for everyone in the household and proof of address, such as a utility bill.
Temperatures next week are expected to climb into the 90s and could reach 100 degrees, according to the KSN Storm Track 3 Weather team. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/families-in-need-can-get-a-free-fan-next-week-thanks-to-evergy-and-the-salvation-army/ | 2023-06-23T15:33:15 | 0 | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/families-in-need-can-get-a-free-fan-next-week-thanks-to-evergy-and-the-salvation-army/ |
A familiar sight will be returning for the Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade on July 2 after more than a decade tucked away in a Downtown garage.
Some Downtown residents may have already spotted the curiosity; the Forty and Eight Voiture 410’s parade locomotive, a dark blue and gold trimmed steam train built on a 1937 Nash Lafayette vehicle frame.
The historic vehicle was originally built in the 1940s by Voiture 410, Kenosha’s branch of the veterans and nonprofit organization Forty and Eight. For decades, it was a regular of events and parades across both Kenosha County and the United States.
Jackson, Michigan, Cleveland, Ohio, Niagara Falls, for years the locomotive made its way across America. Dave Lyons, a key figure in the vehicle’s restoration and the son of former Forty and Eight national president William Lyons, recalled its storied past.
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“It’s been to Atlanta, Louisville, Kansas City, Omaha … how much room do you have in this story?” Lyons said, laughing.
In 2011, the locomotive was parked in a garage Downtown where it sat for over a decade, gathering dust. Jim Schmidt, president of Voiture 410, said that interest in returning the locomotive to its former glory began more than a year ago.
“Our membership had started to fade, and then when I put the word out that we would probably sell this, a bunch of veterans stepped forward to revitalize the group,” Schmidt said.
What followed was several months, and many hundreds of man-hours, of work to restore the locomotive. Paul Ciarelli, correspondent for Voiture 410, said Chief Engineer Tim Green was the driving force behind physically restoring the locomotive, which was in poor condition after 12 years in a garage.
“The wheels were falling off,” Ciarelli said.
Work was extensive. They flushed out the radiator and gas tank, took out the air compressors, completely rebuilt the carburetor and installed an electronic sound system. While it won’t be travelling across America anymore, it’s ready to take to Kenosha’s streets once again.
Despite the extent of the work, much of the vehicle is original, and it still sports the old City of Kenosha emblem. That respect to the history was important to the members.
“There’s a lot of memories that go back to when we knew all the guys, the older World War II veterans, that started this. They brought us into this,” Ciarelli said.
For Lyons, who can still recall his father sitting in the driver’s seat, whether driving cross-country to veterans conventions or at local parades, the connection is personal.
“I’m proud, very proud,” Lyons said. “I sit there now and it brings tears to my eyes. All the times my dad was in there … they had a lot of fun.”
In honor of his father, Lyons will be driving the locomotive at the upcoming Civic Veterans Parade.
Long history
The story behind the Forty and Eight locomotive and its design dates back to World War I, and the French army box cars used to transport troops and supplies. Train cars could hold 40 men or eight horses, which became the origin for the name of the veterans and nonprofit organization Forty and Eight.
Years after the war, France donated 48 of these boxcars to America laden with gifts, one for each state at the time. The Voiture 410 parade vehicle is designed to resemble a train locomotive, harkening back to that long history.
The parade locomotive will also be used to help raise funds for nursing program scholarships, a major focus of the national Forty and Eight organization.
More information about Kenosha’s Forty and Eight, the parade locomotive and more can be found at sewivets.org/Voiture410/. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/historic-kenosha-parade-locomotive-restored-returning-after-12-years/article_702a13c2-112a-11ee-bc9e-3703c2787837.html | 2023-06-23T15:39:45 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/historic-kenosha-parade-locomotive-restored-returning-after-12-years/article_702a13c2-112a-11ee-bc9e-3703c2787837.html |
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — If you’ve been interested in paddleboarding but don’t have the equipment, Flagler County has a solution for you.
The county is now offering paddleboard equipment rentals at three county parks: Herschel King, Bings Landing, and River to Sea Preserve.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
The kiosks, operated by a company called PADL out of Key Biscayne, each have four boards, paddles, and life preservers available to rent.
“Residents are seeking more access to the water, and we are always looking for ways to add amenities to our parks facilities,” said County Administrator Heidi Petito.
VIDEO: Flagler County to receive millions in funds for dune restoration project
The cost to rent the boards from the self-serve kiosks is typically $25 per hour.
Renters must be 18 years old to ride the paddleboards and the hours are sunrise, to sunset or 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. as weather permits.
You can click here to visit the company’s website, which provides information about how to download its app as well as how-to videos about “How to PADL” – renting, riding, and ending the rental.
Read: Flagler County School Board decides against proposal to arm teachers, staff on campus
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/get-paddling-flagler-county-offering-paddleboard-rentals-3-parks/IF24EANJZ5ELJJFF7HO5OA4VWI/ | 2023-06-23T15:39:50 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/get-paddling-flagler-county-offering-paddleboard-rentals-3-parks/IF24EANJZ5ELJJFF7HO5OA4VWI/ |
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — June is Men’s Health Month, and to mark the occasion the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County is hosting a Men’s Wellness Summit for men and boys.
Organizers said the event is open to all ages and will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the health department, located at 400 W. Airport Blvd. in Sanford.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
There will be a panel discussion about important men’s health topics as well as health screenings, immunizations, and health and wellness resources. Free haircuts and lunch will also be available.
DOH-Seminole encourages men to talk to their health-care provider about:
Read: Local hospital systems work with UCF to tackle nursing shortage
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are risk factors for heart disease
- Prostate, colorectal, and skin cancers
- HIV and sexually transmitted infections
You can click here or call 407-920-6226 to register.
Read: ‘Inclusion and Diversity: Orange County expands ESOL Pilot Program for I-Drive employees
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/happening-saturday-seminole-county-hosting-mens-wellness-summit/AIHKEXA7JBDDTBV3WUYH6KSJUM/ | 2023-06-23T15:39:52 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/happening-saturday-seminole-county-hosting-mens-wellness-summit/AIHKEXA7JBDDTBV3WUYH6KSJUM/ |
ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Board of Animal Health is encouraging dog owners to visit their veterinarian and get their pets vaccinated against the highly contagious canine influenza virus after a recent outbreak of the disease in the state.
Canine influenza is a respiratory disease that can spread rapidly. Dogs often exhibit a cough, low-grade fever, tiredness, disinterest in food, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. Vaccination helps reduce the severity and duration of these symptoms if a dog becomes infected. Any dog showing signs of canine influenza, vaccinated or not, should be isolated from other dogs for 30 days.
There have been four confirmed and nearly 200 suspected cases in the state in recent weeks, including five in St. Louis County. Vaccine manufacturers are starting to fulfill orders for Twin Cities veterinary clinics where Minnesota’s outbreak has had the greatest impact. However, some clinics may still not have adequate supply due to vaccine shortages.
Dog owners who send their dogs to day care, attend community dog events, visit dog parks, or regularly interact with dogs outside their immediate household, such as hunting training and field trials, are highly encouraged to talk to their vet about vaccinating their pet and other ways to reduce the risk of canine influenza.
“Vaccination is a crucial part of responsible pet ownership. Talk to your veterinarian about your animal’s vaccine needs and make sure they’re being met to keep your companion healthy,” said Dr. Veronica Bartsch, senior veterinarian in charge of companion animals for the board.
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Vaccinating dogs against canine influenza helps safeguard their individual health and well-being and that of the greater canine community. Puppies, elderly dogs and those with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to severe complications secondary to canine influenza. Vaccination offers crucial protection for these vulnerable individuals.
The disease can occasionally be severe in dogs and may even result in pneumonia or death. No human infections with canine influenza have ever been reported.
Dog owners can find resources and view outbreak case counts at bah.state.mn.us/dogs-cats/#canine-influenza. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/minnesota-urges-dog-owners-to-vaccinate-pets-against-canine-influenza | 2023-06-23T15:42:50 | 1 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/minnesota-urges-dog-owners-to-vaccinate-pets-against-canine-influenza |
Harmful algae are blooming in Arizona lakes. Here's how to spot them and stay safe
Harmful algae were reported this month at Tonto National Forest, and park rangers are advising people visiting lakes to avoid contact with the water, as it could be poisonous.
Here's what you need to know and how to stay safe.
What are harmful algae?
According to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, algae are a normal part of aquatic ecosystems and can be found in all types of water. But when these microscopic organisms grow out of control, which is called a "bloom," they can release a toxic substance that can cause serious illnesses and can even be deadly in rare cases.
The two most common algal blooms in Arizona are blue-green and golden algae. Blue-green algal blooms produce toxins or poisons that can make people and pets sick upon contact with the water, and they can be particularly dangerous for children, according to the Tonto National Forest.
A bloom of golden algae can kill fish populations, according to ADEQ, but experts don't know with certainty if it is harmful to humans or other animals. However, the department advised people to not ingest the water or eat fish that were in water impacted by a golden algae bloom.
Where are algae blooms in Arizona?
This summer, blue-green algal blooms have been spotted at Tonto National Forest and Bartlett Reservoir Lake in Cave Creek, but you can easily identify if the water has an algal bloom by the way it looks.
According to the ADEQ, water with harmful blue-green algae can have the following appearance:
- Look like pea soup or spilled green paint
- Discolor or leave streaks in the water
- Be surface scum, mats or films
- Appear as green dots or globs floating below the surface
How do I stay safe?
The department advised people to stay away from algae and scum in the water and to be particularly aware of keeping children and pets away from the shore, where algae can also accumulate.
The national forest also advised people to never drink or use the water for cooking, and if you're unsure whether the water contains an algal bloom or not, stay out and do not touch the water. Boating and fishing are acceptable, according to the forest, but ingesting or being in contact with the water can be harmful.
Harmful algae in Florida:Algae bloom prompts Army Corps to close beach along Florida's Caloosahatchee River
The ADEQ asked the public to report possible harmful algal blooms. If you see one around Arizona, you can contact the local land owner or manager of the waterbody, file a report through the Arizona Water Watch mobile app or contact the department at truitt.rebecca@azdeq.gov.
Fish kills and golden algae blooms can be reported to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/06/23/harmful-algae-blooms-in-arizona-how-to-spot-them-and-stay-safe/70348441007/ | 2023-06-23T15:49:36 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/06/23/harmful-algae-blooms-in-arizona-how-to-spot-them-and-stay-safe/70348441007/ |
Plan ahead: These Phoenix area freeways will be closed this weekend
The Arizona Department of Transportation released its list of upcoming improvement projects around the Valley, which will cause closures to several Phoenix-area freeways this weekend.
Notable closures will be seen along stretches of Interstate 17 and U.S. 60.
ADOT advised drivers to allow for extra time and plan alternate routes. Drivers should be prepared to slow down and merge safely when venturing through work zones.
Travel and roadway conditions can be checked at az511.gov.
Eastbound US 60 closed between I-10 and Loop 101
Details: Eastbound U.S. 60 (Superstition Freeway) will be closed between Interstate 10 and Loop 101 (Price Freeway) for a pavement improvement project.
The I-10 ramps to eastbound U.S. 60 will be closed.
When: 9 p.m. Friday, June 23 to 5 a.m. Monday, June 26.
Alternate Routes: Eastbound Loop 202 (Santan Freeway) to northbound Loop 101. Baseline or Broadway roads can also be used to travel past the closure.
Southbound I-17 closed between Loop 101 and Thunderbird Road
Details: Southbound Interstate 17 will be closed between Loop 101 and Thunderbird Road for a pavement improvement project.
The following ramps will be closed:
- Loop 101 ramps to southbound I-17
- Southbound I-17 ramps at Pinnacle Peak and Deer Valley roads as well as Rose Garden Lane
When: 9 p.m. Friday, June 23 to 5 a.m. Monday, June 26.
Alternate Routes: Eastbound Loop 101 to southbound State Route 51. Southbound I-17 drivers can exit ahead of the closure and use southbound 19th Avenue.
Northbound University Drive ramp to SR 143 closed
Details: The northbound University Drive ramp to State Route 143 will be closed.
When: 10 p.m. Friday, June 23 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 24.
Alternate Routes: Westbound I-10 drivers can exit at 24th Street to reach Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Drivers can continue on westbound I-10 to access Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway).
Westbound I-10 ramp to SR 143 closed
Details: The westbound Interstate 10 ramp to State Route 143 will be closed as part of the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project.
When: 10 p.m. Friday, June 23 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 24. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-traffic/2023/06/23/phoenix-area-freeways-closed-this-weekend/70348350007/ | 2023-06-23T15:49:50 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-traffic/2023/06/23/phoenix-area-freeways-closed-this-weekend/70348350007/ |
County Attorney Rachel Mitchell reduces case backlog, but challenges remain
The Maricopa County attorney says she has more than halved the case backlog she inherited when taking office last year, but challenges remain, mostly caused by staffing levels and workloads.
When County Attorney Rachel Mitchell took office in spring 2022, more than 10,400 felony and misdemeanor cases submitted by law enforcement were waiting to be reviewed. As of May 2023, the County Attorney's Office reported 3,976 felony submittals and 528 misdemeanor submittals pending review, for a total of 4,504 backlogged cases.
The backlog, which grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, has left victims and the potentially accused in limbo.
Law enforcement agencies conduct investigations and refer recommended charges to the County Attorney's Office. There, prosecutors decide what charges to file in court, if any.
When someone arrested and held in jail, the County Attorney's Office must file charges within 48 hours of an initial court appearance. In cases involving a person who is not arrested, state law does not establish a deadline for prosecutors to issue a charging decision. State law caps the statute of limitations on most felonies at seven years, and at one year for most misdemeanors.
That is where the County Attorney's Office ran into trouble during the lockdown.
Under former County Attorney Allister Adel, the office was forced to drop 180 criminal cases in 2022 after it neglected to file charges for more than a year. The misdemeanor cases included drunken driving, domestic violence, assaults and criminal damage. Most were referred by the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office in 2020.
Her successor, Mitchell, promised during the 2022 election campaign to fix that problem. In an interview with The Arizona Republic, she said her goal by the end of this year is to review the majority of cases within 90 days.
Mitchell said low staffing was the main reason for the backlog. On taking office, she said there was a nearly 20% staff vacancy rate, which her administration has cut to 6%.
She said the unresolved backlogged cases run the gamut of crimes, including drug possession, car theft and sexual assault. Jennifer Liewer, Mitchell's chief of staff, said there was no pattern to the problem.
"It was all types of cases from across the office. The whole process had a backlog. To pinpoint certain crimes would be confusing," Liewer told The Republic.
Mitchell said, for example, 800 aggravated DUI cases had been reviewed and charging decisions were made but not filed in court. Mitchell said during the pandemic, the County Attorney's Office was not able to enter all the cases into the court system because the courts were backlogged, too.
“These are people who are potentially getting behind the wheel while impaired, so we worked with the clerk's office and we started feeding them in week by week last summer," Liewer said.
Liewer said after a case from the backlog is charged, court officials send certified mail to the last known address of defendant with a summons.
Jennifer Rock, an attorney manager at the Maricopa County Public Defender's Office, said one recurring issue has been faulty address information. People move frequently. The County Attorney's Office is not being diligent enough in the search for current address information when issuing a summons, Rock said, which results in more warrants being issued because people don't respond to the summons.
"The summons has really stale information about the defendant's location, and so then they're getting arrested," Rock said.
"It's not our default to seek a warrant," Mitchell said. "In these cases, even if they do go to a warrant, the defendant can still petition the court to revisit the bond, and the courts could look at those circumstances, like if a person had moved to a new address."
"Issuance of a summons is the preferred method initially, but if people are unlocatable, a warrant may be issued," Liewer said.
A lapse in time can also make it more difficult for defendants and prosecutors to conduct interviews and verify information. For victims, delayed charges lead to delayed judgments, which could involve delayed restitution, and the backlog delays victims' sense of justice and closure.
Liewer said MCAO is continuing to make headway at reducing the case backlog, but it is challenging, as staff continue to receive new referrals from police agencies every year. In the past 12 months, Liewer said more than 55,000 total submittals, including felonies, misdemeanors, and juvenile cases, came into the County Attorney's Office for review.
"We're never not going to have a backlog, but we want to reduce it so things can be done in a reasonable amount of time," Liewer said. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/06/23/maricopa-county-attorney-cuts-pandemic-era-case-backlog-in-half/70304404007/ | 2023-06-23T15:49:56 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/06/23/maricopa-county-attorney-cuts-pandemic-era-case-backlog-in-half/70304404007/ |
LEASES
Commonwealth Commercial Partners LLC report the following transactions:
• Mosiac Group LLC leased 9,095 square feet at 11551 Nuckols Road in Henrico.
CBRE reports the following transactions:
• Sands Anderson expanded by 4,929 square feet (total leased area of 39,683 square feet) at 919 E. Main St. in Richmond.
• Pavion Corp. leased 15,976 square feet at 10402 Lakeridge Parkway in Hanover.
Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer reports the following transactions:
• Panera LLC leased 3,800 square feet of retail space at Cosby Village Square, 15428 Hull Street Road, in Chesterfield.
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• Vivo Infusion leased 2,106 square feet of retail space at Nuckols Place, 5400 Wyndham Forest Drive, in Henrico.
• European Wax Center leased 2,101 square feet of retail space at Hancock Village Shopping Center, 14640 Hancock Village Drive, in Chesterfield.
Porter Realty Co. Inc. reports the following transactions:
• SP Auto dba Paul MacHenry & Co. leased 12,000 square feet of warehouse space at 1401 Carter Creek Road in Richmond.
• Top Tier Solar Solutions LLC leased 13,500 square feet of warehouse space at 8197 Euclid Court in Prince William .
• Lovebird Events dba Glint Events leased 752 square feet of office space at 1806 Chantilly St. in Henrico.
• Garney Construction leased 1,200 square feet of office space at 1800 Osborne Road in Chesterfield.
Taylor Long Properties Commercial Real Estate reports the following transactions:
• A-Plus Roofing leased 3,779 square feet located at 7605 W. Broad St. in Richmond.
• Root Modern Dentistry PLLC leased 2,500 square feet at 250-278 N. Washington Highway in Ashland.
• GPC Aerospace LLC leased 710 square feet at 4201 Dominion Blvd. in Glen Allen.
• Brittany Patton (Vape Store) leased 2,904 square feet at 2053 S. Crater Road in Petersburg.
• BFT (Body Fit Training) leased 2,787 square feet at Carytown Exchange, 3517 Ellwood Ave., in Richmond.
• StretchLab leased 1,800 square feet at Westchester Commons, 15615 WC Commons Way, in Midlothian.
• New Moon Therapy leased 840 square feet at 8601 Mayland Drive, Suite B, in Richmond.
SALES
CBRE reports the following transaction:
• Compass Counseling purchased 12,618 square feet at 13000 Rivers Bend Blvd. in Chester for $1,275,000 from Metis Real Estate Holdings. Eric Williford represented the buyer.
One South Commercial reports the following transactions :
• Andrew William Oxrenreiter purchased a 2,142-square-foot duplex for $650,000 at 207 N. Stafford Ave. Justin Sledd of One South Commercial represented the seller.
• Capek Properties LLC purchased 4,700 square feet for $375,000 at 1921 E. Washington St., Petersburg. Ken Campbell represented the seller; Isaac Weintz represented the buyer.
Porter Realty Co. Inc. reports the following transactions:
• Metro Modern LLC sold 1919-1921 W. Cary St. (2,065 square feet) in Richmond to SBS Holdings LLC for $480,000. Wilson Flohr represented the seller.
• Envelopes Only Inc. sold 133 Roxbury Industrial Center (32,000 square feet) in Charles City to SAAR Investments LLC for $2,225,000. Wilson Flohr and Cliff Porter represented the seller.
• Shriji Swami LLC sold 1.54 acres at 6601 Atmore Drive in Richmond to Manuel A. Tejada for $275,000. Byron Holmes represented the seller.
Taylor Long Properties Commercial Real Estate reports the following transactions:
• 3966 Anderson Hwy LLC (William Lane) purchased a 2,540-square-foot building on 1.93 acres at 3966 Anderson Highway in Powhatan for $475,000 from DONLO LLC (Don & Lois Roebuck). Tyler Schleinkofer and Ellen Long represented the seller.
• Clearr Vission Properties LLC (Derwin Hickman) purchased an 11,000-square-foot building on 0.68 acre at 6421 Rigsby Road in Richmond for $1,300,000 from Rigsby Partners LLC. Ellen Long and Rebecca von Meister represented the buyer.
Historical homes you can own in the Richmond area
3 Bedroom Home in King George - $2,190,000
Nanzatico- 18th century estate home built in 1765 sits within its own private bay, ensconced by a giant tulip poplar, boxwoods, and magnolias. Upon entering the main house you are met with a breathtaking view of the bay. Believed to have been the work of master builder William Buckland, Nanzatico has 70+ acres with original, historic, outbuildings including the perfect guest cottage with bedroom, full bath, kitchen and stone fireplace. There is also a 2 bay car garage and workshop. The main house offers 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 1 half bath, a grand dining room, drawing room and living room. The woodworking and craftsmanship throughout are exceptional. Soaring ceilings, 6' mantles with large fireplaces, carved wooden cornices and classic archways. A piece of history within your own secluded, protected and private bay. Surrounded by wildlife, river views and tranquility only 15 minutes to King George and 1.5 hours from busy D.C.
2 Bedroom Home in Powhatan - $1,500,000
This Farm is What Dreams are Made of! Stunningly Beautiful Open Pastures and Mature Hardwood Trees in Eastern Powhatan less than Two Miles from the Chesterfield Line! Over 2000 feet Of Road Frontage! The Property is Bordered On One Side By the babbling Butterwood Creek and then Actually Has Some Frontage on The Appomattox River! The Farm House Has a Huge Florida Room and Screened porch with Cool Summer Breezes from The Shaded Rear Yard! There is a Barn/Garage and two pole sheds. This Property Would Make A Great Family Compound! The 35 Acres Of Fields are Currently Being cut for Hay. House being sold "as is".
4 Bedroom Home in Blackstone - $349,900
This historic property has 5 parcels totaling approximately 1.88 acres with an All American 3,355 sq. ft. colonial home built in 1903. Looking out from the front porch is a wooded land area directly across from the home and in the back of the house is a separate guest house suite. This lovely house has 4 bedrooms with an additional room for a possible 5th bedroom and 3 bathrooms. Features included in the home are french doors, chandeliers, bulls eye molding, mantles, hardwood floors, and 2 built in china cabinets. The house offers plenty of space with a 1/2 wrapped around large front porch, a small screened-in back porch, and large back yard for family gatherings, entertaining friends, and hosting special events. The separate guest house suite is located behind the home on a fenced in pecan grove. It can also serve as 2 separate apartments or an Airbnb which is highly in demand for the needs of the state department of FASTC. Has sheds. Located 45 minutes to Petersburg and hour to Richmond.
3 Bedroom Home in Richmond - $90,000
Conveniently located with 10 min travel time to Downtown RVA!
3 Bedroom Home in Prince George - $150,000
Calling all investors! Cash Only Sale. Old farm house desperately wanting to be brought back to it's original splendor on 5 Acres on a dead end road in Prince George County. Another 30 Acres with a pond is also for sale right beside the property. State maintained road. House being sold As-Is. Well is not deep enough for todays standards and will need a new well. Septic drain field may be on adjacent property owners are working to resolve.
4 Bedroom Home in Richmond - $364,900
Welcome to this historically charming home located in Northside Place! The home boasts a beautiful kitchen with white maple cabinets that feature dovetail drawers and doors that soft close. Granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, a farmhouse sink & an island. There's a laundry room w/utility sink. The home also features a downstairs bedroom/office/study with an en suite. There are three bedrooms on the second floor to include the primary bedroom with en suite and walk-in closet. The backyard has a privacy fence. Located within minutes to interstates, downtown, shopping, bike trail, MCV & VCU.
4 Bedroom Home in Tappahannock - $290,000
Fabulous move-in ready historic gem at Tappahannock, in a neighborhood of lovely homes dating back to the Colonial and Victorian era. Serene natural light fills each room! Hardwood floors & original fireplace mantels. 2 full baths with stand-alone vintage tubs / showers. Built in 1910 by the Phillips family, this home has been well cared for with heat pump, central air, bright white interior, a wonderful front porch with a park like setting and a spacious back yard. Previously renovated to include additional living quarters on the second floor, this property is currently used as a single-family dwelling w/ private 2nd Fl Suite. The wall between the first floor Living Room and the side hall could be opened to access staircase to 2nd Floor. So much charm and potential here! Towering ancient trees, figs, peonies, iris and a host of other heirloom trees, shrubs and flowers. Garden interest all year long. Enjoy leisurely walks to the Rappahannock River, special events, NN Burger, cocktails on the patio at the Essex Inn, restaurants and more. Some Photos have been virtually staged. A Must See!
2 Bedroom Home in Petersburg - $299,950
Welcome to 218 High Street...a beautiful colonial in historic Petersburg! An owner/investor's delight...this property has already been respectfully preserved with tons of its original architectural features! On the main level off the entryway, a large living room, an oversized eat-in kitchen perfect for entertaining and a half bath that has been roughed in awaiting completion. The basement hosts a large bedroom, bathroom, a laundry area and large roughed-in space for an additional bedroom all with a separate entrance leading to a spacious, private courtyard! The second level has a large bedroom with a fireplace and a full bath! This house is a must see!
3 Bedroom Home in Richmond - $249,900
Beautiful 1921 Ginter Park Home. Wide front porch on a shaded street. Large detached garage and off-street parking. Three bedrooms, office, large open kitchen, hardwood floors, full unfinished basement. Property being sold as is. Inspection for informational purposes only.
8 Bedroom Home in Colonial Heights - $309,500
This is a home to be appreciated by a lover of history and antiques. The living room is huge with curved corners and Corinthian Columns. It has both a wrap around porch and a screened back porch. It even has a screened balcony on the second floor attached to two of the bedrooms. Both central air conditioning and heating were just added in April of this year. The plumbing to all the bathrooms was completely replaced in February of this year. The lovely iron radiators and claw foot tubs remain as a reminder of the home’s rich history. As with homes of that era it has a huge eat in kitchen. It needs remodeling but the structure of this home is solid. The 8 bedrooms could be remodeled to craft two en suite bedrooms with a screened in balcony to walk out on to over look the garden. Some of the other bedrooms would make an excellent office and there is even enough room for a billiards room while maintaining a dining room, living room and office. The yard is large enough for both a tennis court and a pool!
2 Bedroom Home in Richmond - $399,950
Built in 1915 renovated in 2005. New Roof in 2018~New Central AC in 2021~Walking distance to VCU, Restaurants, Entertainment and Shopping~ Two tiled full Bathrooms~ Condo is currently rented as a 4 bedroom ~ Decorative non working fireplace with Mantels~ All appliances convey~ Alarm System~ Basement for extra Storage~ 1 off street parking in back~ There are only 2 condos in this building~ Built in pantry~ New windows~
5 Bedroom Home in Stony Creek - $375,000
Warm and welcoming are the words that will come to mind as you walk up the sidewalk to this lovely, 2 story brick Colonial. Situated on a 1-acre lot, this 3614 sq ft home offers 5 bedrooms, 2 of which are primary bedrooms, and 3.1 baths! The first floor of the home features a formal living room with new vinyl plank flooring, a family room with hardwood flooring, built-in shelving, and a room off of it ideal for an office, a formal dining room with vinyl plank flooring and built-in cabinets and hutch, a beautiful kitchen with vinyl plank flooring, new S/S appliances, pantry, and a closet, as well as a spacious eat-in area, a laundry room with new vinyl plank flooring, AND a 1st-floor primary bedroom with new vinyl plank flooring, walk-in closet, and an attached bathroom. On the second level, you will find the additional primary bedroom, with wall-to-wall carpet, a walk-in closet, and direct access to a full bath. The additional upstairs 3 bedrooms have wall-to-wall carpet, one which also has a walk-in closet. The entire home has been freshly painted throughout! Too many improvements and upgrades to list here, so PLEASE CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR ADDITIONAL PROPERTY INFO!
4 Bedroom Home in Blackstone - $649,000
Majestic colonial in the heart of Blackstone sits on more than 1 acre in grand style. With 2,000 sq foot back deck for entertaining or the shaded front porch perfect for relaxing, this home is an exquisite example of modern style blended with classic and original details from the early 1900’s. The first floor opens to a grand entrance with a formal living room on the left and an informal den on the right that leads to a formal bright dining room. Follow the dining room into a custom kitchen with center island and lots of storage. A small office, laundry room, and large reading room are to the rear of the house followed by a main bedroom with full en-suite bath that completes the first floor. The second floor has 2 bedrooms with full bath between them as well as a large full apartment including full kitchen, living area, bedroom, bathroom, and separate entrance via the metal circular stairs. The third level has a large open room great for recreation or storage with an adjacent full bath. Finally, there is an oversized garage currently in use as a 1200 sf workshop and a separate storage shed in the back.
6 Bedroom Home in St Stephens Church - $1,200,000
Once in a great while a property comes along that offers not only comfortable living but a fabulously functional Equestrian Facility, Historic Main House, and Guest House, which has its own unique and wonderful story to tell. Sited amid a vast pastoral landscape, Traveller’s Rest Farm has stood the test of time, welcoming travelers, family and friends throughout the ages. The original portion of the Guest House (circa 1760) was a stopping point for George Washington between Mt. Vernon and Williamsburg and still welcomes guests today as a successful Airbnb. The Manor House features two stories over a high English Basement. It was constructed around 1860, of stucco on brick, featuring a side hall plan. Original pine floors, moldings, staircases and mantels remain intact. The 12’+ ceilings, in the Main House and large windows set the stage with beautiful ambient light and breathtaking views in every direction. Fully stocked farm pond with its own beautifully sited barn is the perfect vantage point for enjoying early morning sunrises. A wonderful oasis and historic treasure with so much to offer. Easy drive to Richmond, Williamsburg, and Fredericksburg.
4 Bedroom Home in Mechanicsville - $795,000
Outstanding Investment Opportunity. 1.84 Acres that fronts Pole Green Road between I 295 and Bell Creek Rd. Hanover County Planning and Zoning has currently designated this Parcel and Adjoining Parcels for rezoning as Mixed Use, depending on Buyers needs. This is a Fast growing Commercial Area. Property is located across from the new ABC Warehouse and Sheets. Currently rented, this property features a 2 story colonial with partial unfinished basement, 2339 Sq. Ft, 4 Bedrooms , 2 Baths . additional out buildings. House and out buildings sold "As Is" Inspections for informational purposes only.
4 Bedroom Home in Hopewell - $104,999
Spacious cash flowing property perfect for an investor looking in the area.
3 Bedroom Home in Petersburg - $115,000
In the center of everything! Centre Hill Court is an historic district unto itself. Situated around the Centre Hill Mansion museum. The area has been the sight of several movie shootings and historic events. This property sits on a key corner below the mansion and has skyline views of the City and the river. It is in need of total renovation and has been partially gutted. Building materials inside are available to help with the job. The third floor (walk-up attic) is ready to add two additional bedrooms and one bath if necessary. This house has a major presence in a neighborhood of many restoration projects. This is a must-see for any historic renovation fans.
3 Bedroom Home in Mineral - $185,000
Amazing investment opportunity!! Over 4 acres in the historic town of Mineral. Endless options for improvement! The original home and trailer are on separate septic systems. Can fix and flip and or use as new construction or development! The homes are occupied by tenants, so please be courteous while visiting the site.
4 Bedroom Home in Hopewell - $124,900
What a great find! Get seller financing on this cute home! It is the perfect deal to buy and fix/rent out or to fix and flip for a nice profit! With 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and 1,492 square feet, this home has lots of nice features including an enclosed front porch, vinyl siding and windows, and fenced yard. Recent comps in the area suggest $235K+ after rehab. This home needs repairs, TLC, and being sold “as-is”. For investors, this home will make a great investment property and should cash flow very well while building wealth! As your agent about the owner financing!
4 Bedroom Home in Blackstone - $140,000
A HUGE HOUSE WITH 2,432 SQUARE FEET UNDER $200,000: This two story home sits on a quiet road within walking distance to downtown Blackstone. It boasts 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms and an option for a 4th bedroom and additional study, sitting on 0.63 acre. You will find an enormous open and bright kitchen, dining room, living room and family room. There is also an option for a first floor primary suite. All appliances convey as well with the home to include a new washer and dryer. All electrical has been redone as of October 2022. What else could you possibly need?
4 Bedroom Home in Providence Forge - $135,000
NEW PRICE!! CALLING ALL INVESTORS or make this New Kent County home your own with your own flooring and paint colors!! Partially renovated ranch style home in the Windsor Shades neighborhood with easy access to I-64, convenient to Richmond, Williamsburg, and Virginia Beach. Sub-flooring and drywall with floor installation and painting buyer's responsibility. New vinyl siding, roof 3 years old, kitchen and baths updated, brick fireplace in living room. As-Is, Seller will not make any repairs or inspections, including termite, well, and septic. Turning on power for any inspections is the Buyer's responsibility.
5 Bedroom Home in Petersburg - $335,000
Welcome to this large Petersburg home located in the Walnut Hills community. The House and garage sit on 2 lots both included in this transaction. The large front porch adds so much character to the exterior look of the home. Upon entering the home the open foyer and office area welcome you. On the first floor there is a large primary bedroom as well as a guest bedroom den with new carpet and the brick fireplace is flanked with built-in shelves. The Kitchen has newly painted cabinets and tile floor. Off of the kitchen is a 10X16 screend porch looking out into a large backyard that is partically fenced in. Upstairs you will find 3 additional bedrooms as well as 2 flex areas. Outback there is a 2.5 car detached garage that is connected to a seperate electrial panel from the home. Parking is off street in the back of the home. The home has been updated throughout with new paint and carpet and is move-in ready. You won't want to miss out on the opportunity to see this home in person. The location is only 7 minutes from Ft. Lee and 25 minutes to downtown. The home is offered "AS IS" and inspections are informational only. Home Warranty included. Schedule a showing today.
2 Bedroom Home in Blackstone - $72,000
2 bedroom bungalow in town. Wood floors. Great price for a fix and flip or keep it as a rental. Needs work.
3 Bedroom Home in Richmond - $220,000
Welcome Home to 17 E Blake Lane over 1200 sq. ft. with basement. Needs a little TLC to make this your dream home. Detach garage and off street parking. There is a lot of potential in this home and will be a great home for it's next owner. Great for an investor or someone looking for a small project. HOME SOLD AS IS WHERE IS.
3 Bedroom Home in Crewe - $99,900
3 BEDROOMS 2 BATH IN THE HEART OF NOTTOWAY COUNTY . THIS HOME STILL NEEDS SOME WORK BUT HAS GREAT POTENTIAL. PAVED DRIVEWAY AND CARPORT . FENCED IN BACK YARD . LESS THAN 10 MIN FROM BURKVILLE TRAIN STATION , WALKING DISTANCE TO CREWE COUNTRY CLUB . CASH OFFERS ONLY
3 Bedroom Home in Manquin - $324,950
4 Bedroom Home in Hopewell - $199,000
You are almost home! Come view this beautiful 4 bedroom, 2 bath home in the highly favorable river front neighborhood of Historic City Point. This home recently had electrical, plumbing and HVAC upgrades with all inspections from Hopewell City passed. Bring your vision for the furnishes and make this house into your home. Home is selling "AS-IS" Seller is a Licensed Real Estate Agent
4 Bedroom Home in Petersburg - $65,000
Historic fixer-upper! What you see is what you get - this is zoned multi-family, so fix it up as a duplex and rent out both, renovate it to live in a large Colonial home, fix it up and flip it, the choice is yours! This property definitely needs TLC and will not qualify for traditional financing. Motivated seller!
5 Bedroom Home in Petersburg - $234,999
VA Assumable Loan @2.65%. Homeowners state that original hardwood floors are under carpet and LVP throughout house. This beautiful 3 bed, 2.5 bath home is located in Petersburg's Historic District and situated on a corner lot in the heart of Walnut Hill! The 1st level of the home features a foyer w/chandelier & LVP flooring throughout, half bath, Livingroom w/ C/FAN & gas FP, large formal dining room, kitchen w/ plenty of white cabinetry, recessed lighting, GRAN C/TOPS & SS APPL, storage closet, laundry room & 9X7 walk-in pantry area. The 2nd level offers a Primary bedroom w/ C/FAN, carpet & 12X7 ATT BA w/ C/ TILES, tub/shower combo & single vanity w/ storage. Two additional bedrooms w/ C/FANS, carpet & ample closet space, linen closet and hall full bath w/ C/TILES, tub/shower combo & single vanity w/storage complete the space. There is an additional room off of the 3rd bedroom that can be used as an Office, Sitting Room, Nursery or 4th Bedroom. This home boasts NEWER roof, HVAC and hot water heater 2019, LVP throughout 1st floor and carpet throughout 2nd floor, large fenced in backyard great for pets or entertaining friends and family.
3 Bedroom Home in Disputanta - $85,000
Calling all Investors! This 3 bedroom, 1 bath home sits on 1.002 Acres in Prince George. Eat-in Kitchen, nicely sized bedrooms. Good potential. This house is sold strictly As-Is, Where-Is. CASH SALE ONLY!
4 Bedroom Home in Colonial Heights - $50,000
Investor Special! Property needs Renovation. It has been vacant for several years, some fire damage from stove fire & water damage where the fire was put out. The property has a nice lot with 125 ft road frontage. Property is being SOLD AS-IS and may not qualify for traditional financing, may need a rehab loan or cash. Inspections are for buyer's information purpose ONLY. Utilities will NOT be turned on by the seller.
2 Bedroom Home in Dinwiddie - $120,000
Cape cod style home nestled on an open 5 acre lot. Investor special! Plenty of living space with nice stone/brick fireplaces. Property is being sold as-is. Cash only. Seller will not turn on utilities. THERE IS A 48 HOUR RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL
5 Bedroom Home in Petersburg - $97,500
BACK ON MARKET NO FAULT OF THE SELLER! Positive Cash-Flow Potential. Historical Renovation Plans for the Duplex have already been approved by the Historical Society.
3 Bedroom Home in Richmond - $335,000
THE ONLY HOUSE IN ALL OF CHIMBORAZO PRICED UNDER $340K!! Great opportunity to renovate a charming fixer-upper, AMAZING location on the hill near The Hill Cafe! Only $196 PER SQUARE FOOT!! Close to Chimborazo and Church Hill neighborhoods. Just minutes from some of the city's most popular eateries, including Grandstaff and Stein, Proper Pie Company, Lulu's and the Boathouse Restaurant. Enjoy the outdoors at nearby Chimborazo Park and Libby Hill Park, or take a stroll to the Clay Street Market for fresh produce. Chimborazo Park offers 30 acres of national and local park, access to walking trails, mountain bike trails, dog park, playgrounds, and breathtaking panoramic view of the city. The home boasts 12-foot ceilings and hardwood floors throughout most of the interior, with ceramic tile in the kitchen and bathrooms. The kitchen is equipped with a gas stove, while the living room features a fireplace with a stunning mantle and dentil crown molding. With its prime location and endless potential, this property is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to put their own personal touch on a home in one of Richmond's most sought-after neighborhoods!
2 Bedroom Home in Louisa - $198,000
PRICE REDUCED! 3 Separate lots being sold together as one. Keep the whole 2.4 acres of land and home to yourself or use the others lots for investment or income properties. There is a bonus room that can be used as an office, third bedroom or sitting room, a separate laundry room where there is access to the small cellar, kitchen with granite, a full dining room, bathroom, living room and two bedrooms off to the left before reaching the front door where you will find yourself wanting to sit a moment on the full front porch and watch the yard. Plenty of storage with two exterior sheds. House has a metal roof, newer well & alternative septic system within the past 5 years while it was being used as a rental. You could own your own home for less than you pay in monthly rent! Conveniently located just outside of the town of Louisa and only 14 miles to Zions Crossroads. Property location qualifies for rural zero down loans, contact us today to schedule your showing. FHA Appraisal came in at 210k 1/17/23 that shows some items that need to be repaired and sellers are willing to negotiate these items. Septic Inspection, WDI Inspection and Water Quality Testing were all done in January.
3 Bedroom Home in Dunnsville - $795,000
This waterfront home is situated on 3.3 acres with sand beach, pier and 300'+ of frontage on the Rappahannock. The view is both long and wide. Improvements include a 2 car detached garage as well as a 30' X 50' metal pole building with lean-to and car port. The home features a large sunroom facing the River and a porch wrapping around on one side of the house. The eat in kitchen opens to a family room and on to the sunroom offering a wonderful river view from the minute you step in the back door. The kitchen features custom hickory cabinetry and new laminate flooring. A laundry/pantry/office adjoins the kitchen. There are spacious formal living and dining rooms with hardwood flooring and a fireplace in the living room. The first floor primary bedroom is spacious with ample closet space and a remodeded bath with low threshold shower. The 2 upstairs bedrooms are large enough to accommdate all the grandkids. This home has undergone serveral renovations and offers comfortable year round living only 1 hour from Richmond. You can work from home with Breezeline high speed internet.
3 Bedroom Home in Richmond - $850,000
Designer's own home! Beautifully renovated 3 bedroom 2/2 bath Fan townhouse on a great block. The current owners renovated everything in 2016! First floor has fenced front brick patio with beautiful flowering hydrangeas, covered front porch, Foyer with chandelier, Living Room with bay window and chandelier, Dining Room with fireplace and chandelier, Beautiful Family Room with bay window and chandelier, Stunning new (in 2016) Kitchen with beautiful granite, beautiful backsplash, 6 burner plus griddle gas stove, huge amount of counter and cabinet space, Sub-Zero fridge, renovated Powder Room, Bar/Butler's Pantry with glass front cabinets and wine fridge, large pantry, and large back deck. Second floor has huge Primary Suite with beautiful Primary Bath with huge marble shower and dual vanities and 2 custom walk-in closets, 2 additional bedrooms, renovated Hall Bath, and front loading washer and dryer. Renovations in 2016 included: New Roof, new HVAC, new Kitchen and baths, new Master Suite, removal of spiral staircase and more. Huge basement (1385 s ft) that is heated and cooled- great storage and office space. Off-street parking. Don't miss this opportunity for a beautiful Fan home!
3 Bedroom Home in Hopewell - $184,900
Welcome HOME! This lovely one story is close to Fort Lee and features 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom & just over 1,000 sq ft. Upon entry is the bright family room that flows into the dining area. The beautiful kitchen features granite countertops, tile backsplash & ample cabinet space! Just off the kitchen is a large utility room. Many upgrades & other features include vinyl window, refinished hardwood floors, dimensional roof, detached shed, fully fenced in yard & large attic space!
2 Bedroom Home in Hopewell - $129,000
Move in Ready Two Bedroom Home waiting for a new home owner or investor! This open ranch plan offers newly refinished hardwood floors in family room, living room, and both bedrooms; white kitchen cabinets; 2022 Anderson vinyl double pane windows; washer/drier; and stove. Fenced in rear yard. Enjoy evenings sitting on your front porch in the evenings. Ready to view now.
4 Bedroom Home in Crewe - $349,900
This stately colonial revival features all of the classic upscale accents that you desire in a fine home. Recently reconditioned, this four bedroom, two and a half bath home is in "like new" condition and ready for you. Step into the foyer and immediately notice the beautiful pegged oak flooring, crown moulding and robust woodwork found throughout the home. Through the double doors you will find a grand living room with a gorgeous fireplace with artisan-crafted mantlepiece and hearth. Continue through the french doors on to the airy sunporch filled with natural light. Prepare your favorite meals in the new kitchen and enjoy them in spacious formal dining room. The den is a great place to relax by the cozy gas fire logs and the office space will be quite useful. Take the oak staircase to the upper floor when you will find four rather large bedrooms and two full baths. Each bedroom is attached to one of the bathrooms with is a very unique feature. The primary bedroom has an attached auxiliary room which would make a perfect nursery, sitting room or large walk-in closet. Its location is superb on a street with numerous other nice homes. Routes 360 and 460 are just minutes away! AS IS.
2 Bedroom Home in Rice - $225,000
Welcome to 3500 E Broad Rock! This custom 2 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath home is full of character and charm. There are two well-sized front and rear covered porches. The large backyard is fully fenced and ready for customizing. Once inside you are greeted by a cozy fireplace in the living room, which is open to the formal dining room. The Kitchen boasts granite countertops, stainless steel Whirlpool appliances, and an abundance of cabinets for storage. Right off the kitchen sits the half bath. Upstairs features 2 bedrooms plus an additional room that could be used for an office/ study area. The Primary bedroom features an ensuite bath with dual vanity and a glass enclosed shower. An additional full bath and stackable washer and dryer complete the second floor.
3 Bedroom Home in Petersburg - $25,000
AWESOME FIND!! This attractive rancher awaits the PERFECT BUYER. It currently features 2 bedrooms and 1 full bath. Renovations or a complete rebuild are ideal. Neighborhood sales in the area have been great.
4 Bedroom Home in Mineral - $2,295,000
This picturesque 100+ acre farm includes the original home, 2 bedroom guest house, lake with cabin, pond, barn, and more! The historic main home, originally built in 1892, is loaded with original character, including lovely pine floors, yet is wonderfully renovated for modern living and entertaining. With stunning curb appeal, spectacular views throughout, and graciously proportioned rooms, this property is exceptional. The kitchen features an oversized island, granite, gas cooking, top of the line appliances, fireplace, and adjoins the great room. This comfortable space features walls of windows, an eating area, and leads to the covered terrace. There is a formal dining room for entertaining and a cozy living room for relaxing. The enviable 1st floor owners’ suite is truly luxurious and captures more amazing views. Upstairs, there are 3 additional bedrooms, each with private en-suite bathroom and dressing room. There is so much flexibility in this home for living and working, including the 1st floor office, and the wine room, rec room, and den in the basement. Do not miss this gorgeous property with more than 6,600 sq ft of living space in the primary home alone!
6 Bedroom Home in Richmond - $1,700,000
Oldest structure in the Hermitage Road Historical District 1870's Queen Anne Style Home with separate Carriage House. Absolutely Stunning Home! Melara Interiors has totally renovated this Beautiful home with some modern finishes while maintaining the historical character and charm. Fireplaces in almost every room. All original hardwood flooring, staircase and beautiful windows. Large kitchen features custom cabinets, 6 burner gas stove with hood, 8' island, recessed lighting and more. Laundry room with tile Pet wash Spa, wall cabinets, drop zone and shelving. Wait until you see this amazing dining room with a wet bar, 2 wine coolers, a large bay window and hardwood floors. Primary bedroom with spa like bathroom, soaking tub with large shower double vanity and walk in closet. Lovely library/study with bookcases. A nice flex room with lots of possibilities. Bedroom, Fitness, playroom etc. 3 large bedrooms w/ceiling fans. CARRIAGE HOUSE WOW! Great for guests or in-law suite. Living room 21x21, Eat in kitchen, space for stackable washer and dryer, bathroom with tile shower and bedroom. Nothing has been left untouched in this Beautiful home and Carriage House!
2 Bedroom Home in Crewe - $40,000
Calling all investor. Who wants to do a fixer upper this is the one. This house has good bones just need some TLC, Cash offer only. Want pass FHA or VA. Sold As is
3 Bedroom Home in Richmond - $249,950
Three bedroom, 1.5 bath Colonial in transitioning Chestnut Hills area of Highland Park. Quick to downtown, northside, east end. Downstairs is living room, dining room, kitchen with some upgrades, half bath and utility area. Upstairs are three bedrooms with office/nursery off front master, as well as full bath in hall. Basement is not finished and has some mechanicals, but can be decent storage space or art/work space. Out back is off-street parking and graveled alley way. Out front is large porch with overhand roof for shady relaxing during the day, or watching it rain from your porch.
5 Bedroom Home in Richmond - $799,950
Take a dive into the rich history of this 1920s luxury condo in the City of Richmond! Full of light & overlooking historic Monroe Park, this 4B, 4Ba unit is one of a kind. With a private entry & a spacious private terrace off the courtyard, this Prestwould condo stands out. Upon entering, you’ll notice the abundance of natural light, high ceilings & architectural details. The 1st fl offers a grand entry, expansive living room w multiple seating areas, family/media room that is also perfect for entertaining, & can also be used as a 1st fl master. Elegant dining w access to private terrace will make this "real cook’s" kitchen one to remember. The pass-thru provides additional bar & lounge space for transitioning between cooking to cocktails to dinner. Stairs or elevator take you to the 2nd fl with 3 full baths & 4 bedrooms - each w a beautiful park/city or courtyard view! Walk out your front door and you’re steps away from VCU, parks, museums, theaters, restaurants, shops & MORE! Quick & easy access to air & rail transportation – 20 mins to RIC Intl. Airport & 10 mins to Main Street Station. Pet friendly & parking is never a hassle, as this unit comes w a dedicated parking spot.
5 Bedroom Home in Richmond - $1,300,000
Experience the perfect combination of history and modern luxury at the Turner-Turpin House, located in the picturesque St Johns Historic District. This 1840 Greek Revival home, expanded in 1854, provides peace and quiet in a historic setting while being conveniently close to St Johns and Libbie Park and other top amenities. With a spacious Center Hallway, 4 bedrooms, an office, 3.5 baths, including a lovely Primary suite with a spacious bath, this house boasts its historical charm with its original heart of pine floors, intricate moldings, pocket doors, 6 fireplaces, and other exquisite details. Cook in style in the kitchen with its marble countertops and take in the elegance of the formal dining room or enjoy a relaxing moment in the cozy library. The breakfast nook overlooking the backyard is also a charming place to start the day. The in-law suite provides extra privacy for guests with 2 bedrooms, a bath, and separate street and garden entrances. Take in stunning winter views from the double porch or unwind in the professionally landscaped backyard featuring two entertainment patios, a fire pit, irrigation, landscape lighting, and off-street parking for two vehicles.
1 Bedroom Home in Crewe - $265,000
The value of this property lies in the large deposits of granite. The property features a large creek and two natural water springs. Just within 1 mile from granite mining operations this would be an investors dream. Flip the house and parcel off the granite or sell the mineral rights. The house was built in 1913 and has no well or septic and is served by an outhouse. Part wooded, part cleared. Great for hunting!!!
4 Bedroom Home in Richmond - $556,950
Extraordinary Renovation!! New and Fresh throughout, including the finished basement with kitchenette (sump pump installed). Duel fuel heat source (gas & electric) downstairs, new stucco, windows, heat, roof and appliances. 2 gas fireplaces, yes 2, (1 in the master bd), 36' kitchen cabinets, custom kitchen island, Quartz countertops, hardwood flooring throughout, state of the art baths and a completely fenced property. The front full porch and rear deck are PVC and composite, with LED lighting and a fan on the front porch for those warm summer evenings. Stamp concrete walkways, front & rear, as well as stamped concrete parking pad. Finished garage with remote opener and pedestrian door. $2500. CC Paid Renovations all around this area, don't miss out
4 Bedroom Home in Chesterfield - $349,999
Must See! BEAUTIFULLY RENOVATED & REMODELED COUNTRY FARMHOUSE! The Large Covered Front Porch is Perfect for Welcoming & Entertaining Guests. NEW A/C & HEATING! NEW PLUMBING! NEW ELECTRICAL! NEW WINDOWS! NEW FLOORS! 5 Year ROOF WARRANTY! All NEW KITCHEN APPLIANCES including New Side by Side Refrigerator/Freezer with Water & Ice in the Door, New Stove, New Built In Microwave & New Dishwasher, Granite Counters, & Tile Backsplash, Deep Undermount Sink, Industrial Pull-Down Faucet, & Statement Black Hardware. 1st Floor Primary Bedroom with Walk In Closet & Private Ensuite with Double Sink Vanity & Luxurious Walk-In Oversized Shower. Stylish Barn Doors on both the Walk In Closet and the Primary Bathroom. Completely Finished Walk Up Attic/Game Room. Ample Parking for Multiple Vehicles, Boats, & Trailers. Garage/Workshop with Workbench & Storage Shelves. Large, Private Back Yard. Convenient Location, just off 288. Shopping, Restaurants & Food Lion are less than a mile away. No HOA + Owner Financing!
3 Bedroom Home in Waverly - $285,000
Welcome to our charming 1904 home. She’s a showstopper with all the modern conveniences. She has amazing original wainscoting and hardwood floors, along with woodwork and crown molding.Master bedroom is on the main level . Open living room and dining room with woodburning fireplace.Updated kitchen with pantry, new appliances, and a pass-through to the dining room . Off the kitchen is the cutest laundry room you’ve ever seen with washer and dryer that convey.The beautiful office leads out to a screen porch to have a cup of coffee or glass of wine. A gardeners delight awaits you in the backyard. Shed or workshop plus a two car garage. Let’s go back inside . As we ascend the stairs, we are greeted by a muted, sunflower wallpaper, professionally installed, and windows to view the backyard and light up the hallway. There are two large bedrooms and tons of storage. A fully remodeled bathroom with a walk-in linen closet. Don’t miss the opportunity to see this beautiful home New improvements: Roof and gutters 2021 Windows and door 2022 Exterior and interior, painting 2021 Electrical and plumbing 2022 Landscaping
3 Bedroom Home in Richmond - $915,000
Timelessly renovated in 2022! Large front porch with garden, steps away from iconic Monument Ave & Meadow Park. The home is walking distance to Whole Foods, dining, shops & museums. Enter this tradional Fan design w/ living room, dining and family spaces. The new kitchen has upper end cabinetry, quality stainless appliances, quartz counters, farm sink, sunny windows & opens onto patio. Large updated powder room main lvl, new washer/dryer. Upstairs a big, cheerful master w/walk in closet, huge en suite master bath w/claw foot soaking tub, seperate shower, double vanity. Third large bedroom boosts a sunroom room w/ 1930-40's era vintage industrial windows! Renovated hall bath w/ charming original tub all reglazed! Additional updates include new upstairs windows, plumbing, electrical, wood floors, light fixtures, recessed lighting, interior/exterior painting, fencing, landscaping, parking space, ( can be enlarged for two!) There is even an EV charging Station installed. Dual system HVAC replaced in recent years. Six original fireplaces, refurbished mantels, additional basement storage/workshop area.
3 Bedroom Home in Richmond - $1,099,000
Want to live in the Historic Fan District but don’t want the maintenance of a 100+ year old home? Look no further than 1415 Park Avenue! Over the past 2 years this builder spared no detail or expense taking this home back to the original brick walls and then rebuilding the home with an open floor plan. All systems, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roof, walls, windows, insulation, drywall … etc. have all been replaced with state of the art systems. Walls separating entry hall, front room and dining room were structurally removed to provide the perfect open floor plan. Beautiful bay window with rounded glass windows provides a glimpse into the homes original architecture and views of Park Avenue homes. The chef’s kitchen is at the center of the home with quartz countertops, center island with seating. Off the back of the home is the powder room and family room. Primary suite is at front of the home with walk-in closet with custom cabinetry. Primary bath has dual vanity, separate WC and frameless glass shower. 2 additional bedrooms, hall bath and laundry complete second floor. Brick patio out back with awning and off street parking for one car. See attached builder specifications. | https://richmond.com/news/local/business/real-estate/commercial-real-estate-highlights-panera-leases-space-on-hull-street-road/article_5db97f7c-110f-11ee-8c6f-5b670def4152.html | 2023-06-23T15:50:46 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/business/real-estate/commercial-real-estate-highlights-panera-leases-space-on-hull-street-road/article_5db97f7c-110f-11ee-8c6f-5b670def4152.html |
Franciscan Health and RUSH are expanding their partnership to bring more acclaimed Chicago healthcare services to Northwest Indiana.
Rush University System for Health or RUSH is now providing vascular surgery options at the Franciscan Health Munster campus.
RUSH vascular surgeon Michele Richard will now see patients and do surgeries in Munster. She will work with Franciscan Physician Network interventional cardiologists like Michael Nicholas, Wisam Martini and Tariq Hameed.
“We are thrilled to be able to expand our collaborative efforts with our partners at RUSH to provide more vascular surgery options for our patients in Northwest Indiana,” Franciscan Health Munster President and CEO Dean Mazzoni said. “Franciscan Alliance is dedicated to providing compassionate care in a community setting. We are looking forward to more exciting announcements in the near future regarding our partnership with RUSH and our plans to continue to provide access to the highest quality healthcare in Northwest Indiana.”
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Franciscan and RUSH already have been partnering on cancer and neuroscience since September. RUSH specialists at oncology, neurology and neurosurgery treat patients at Franciscan Health campuses in Northwest Indiana, for instance helping treat stroke patients at Franciscan emergency rooms.
Since last year, RUSH has brought its nationally recognized thoracic surgeons to the Franciscan Health Munster and Dyer campuses. RUSH also helps Franciscan Health with advisory services to help Franciscan Health Olympia Fields in graduate medical education and physician recruitment, letting trainees take part in educational activities like RUSH grand rounds.
“We are enthusiastic about the expansion of our partnership with Franciscan,” said Dr. Paul Casey, senior vice president, chief medical officer and interim president, RUSH Faculty Practice Group. “Dr. Richard will provide the highest quality, world-class vascular surgery care, treating complex cases closer to where patients live.”
Richard is now seeing patients at RUSH at Franciscan Health Munster, 701 Superior Drive, Suite O, in Munster.
To make an appointment or for more information, call 312-563-2762.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Maple + Bacon, deli and Divalicious Desserts Bakery & Cafe opening
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NWI Business Ins and Outs: Pierogi stand, Brown Skin Coffee and Alpha Family Resale opening; Ixxa and Dan's Pierogies updating | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/franciscan-health-and-rush-now-partnering-on-vascular-surgery/article_6cd40bd0-1083-11ee-bef3-6fb7902906b1.html | 2023-06-23T15:58:57 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/franciscan-health-and-rush-now-partnering-on-vascular-surgery/article_6cd40bd0-1083-11ee-bef3-6fb7902906b1.html |
The Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte took part in a summit to address substance use and mental health issues in Hoosier Schools.
The foundation that aims to help LaPorte County residents be healthy and well attended the state's first Youth Emerging Stronger or YES! Summit in Noblesville to discuss evidence-based drug prevention and mental health support in K-12 schools.
The Indiana Department of Education, Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation and North Central Health Services, Inc. organized the summit. More than 300 Indiana school leaders, health care providers and educational stakeholders took part.
Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte President and CEO Maria Fruth and Special Projects Manager Mary Wellnitz attended to discuss mental health support and prevention programs.
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The foundation for instance launched the Partners in Prevention grant initiative in 2019 to help LaPorte County schools pursue proven substance use prevention programs. It's helped 13,000 students in 11 school systems over the last three years.
The LaPorte Community School Corporation, Michigan City Area Schools, New Prairie United School Corporation, Queen of All Saints School, St. John’s Lutheran School, South Central Community School Corporation and Tri-Township Consolidated School Corporation went to the summit to learn about similar programs.
Michigan City Area Schools superintendent Barbara Eason-Watkins spoke at the summit on how the school district is "collecting and using data for continuous improvement of their school-based prevention and mental health initiatives and programs, as well as demonstrating student impact to maintain stakeholder buy-in."
The hope is to help the almost 40% of Hoosier middle and high school students who reported feeling sad or hopeless daily for two weeks or more, often leading them to drink alcohol or use drugs.
For more information, visit https://yessummit.today/.
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Maple + Bacon, deli and Divalicious Desserts Bakery & Cafe opening
Open
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Coming soon
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219 News Now 6/16/23
NWI Business Ins and Outs: Pierogi stand, Brown Skin Coffee and Alpha Family Resale opening; Ixxa and Dan's Pierogies updating | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/healthcare-foundation-of-laporte-takes-part-in-drug-and-mental-health-summit/article_461dbd0e-1085-11ee-9002-03a155e7832e.html | 2023-06-23T15:58:59 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/healthcare-foundation-of-laporte-takes-part-in-drug-and-mental-health-summit/article_461dbd0e-1085-11ee-9002-03a155e7832e.html |
GARY — On Saturday the "This is Gary" Fest will return, celebrating the Steel City for the second year in a row.
Hosted by Joslyn Kelly, owner of J's Breakfast Club, the festival was created as a way to honor Gary's rich history while imagining its future.
The free event will take place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the newly-constructed J's Breakfast Club, located 2601 Broadway. There will be vendors, food, music, a gospel choir, line dancing, face painting, a bounce house, comedians, historical presentations and more.
"Gary deserves celebration every day," Kelly said in a news release. "This is Gary Fest is one of many ways that we will continue to honor our city, its history and the great people who love this amazing place we call home."
Kelly opened J's Breakfast Club in 2015. The southern-style restaurant began as a small takeout spot on Grant Street, as business began to boom, Kelly realized she needed more space. She began offering dine-in services and started leasing a building at 3669 Broadway.
The restaurant eventually outgrew the leased location and Kelly set her sights on building a new restaurant. Located right off the Borman Expressway, work on the 3,000-square-foot building was completed at the start of the year. In the news release, Kelly said the This is Gary Fest will be a great way to introduce residents to the new space.
The inaugural This is Gary Fest, held last June, spanned five days. Each day revolved around a different theme: during the Youth Empowerment Day teens learned about different career paths, during the Be The Change Day volunteer groups conducted cleanups, during the Heritage Day local historians lead a bus tour of land marks and during the Vision Ball community trailblazers were honored with awards. The celebration culminated with a gospel concert.
This is Gary goes beyond just an annual festival.
Kelly has created a nonprofit called "This is Gary" in an effort to transform the entire corridor that leads into downtown Gary. Kelly envisions a brick walkway called "Victory Way" that would stretch from 25th Avenue to the highway. The path would feature benches, native plants and a heart-shaped sculpture crafted out of steel.
Residents and businesses can sponsor bricks by purchasing them from the Victory Way store at thisisgaryvw.com/vision.
Kelly has been steadily buying land parcels along Broadway; eventually she would like to see other small businesses fill the area.
LaTrice L. Edwards talks to students about being make-up artists in the TV and film industry Wednesday at the This is Gary event at the Gary Area Career Center.
Melvin Alexander, 13, works on his origami ninja star as he talks about the several careers for which he shows an interest.
John J. Watkins, The Times
Cameran Battley talks to students about cosmetology and other related fields Wednesday at the This is Gary event at the Gary Area Career Center.
John J. Watkins, The Times
McKenya Smith talks to students about social entrepreneurship Wednesday at the This is Gary event at the Gary Area Career Center.
John J. Watkins, The Times
Amplias Starks, 16, outlines her hand as part of an exercise Wednesday as part of Youth Empowerment Day.
John J. Watkins, The Times
Toccara Steele, left, and Natalie Bonner give a presentation on writing Wednesday at the This is Gary event at the Gary Area Career Center.
John J. Watkins, The Times
LaTrice L. Edwards talks to students about being make-up artists in the TV and film industry Wednesday at the This is Gary event at the Gary Area Career Center.
John J. Watkins, The Times
A group of girls make their way to the next station Wednesday at the This is Gary event at the Gary Area Career Center.
Joslyn Kelly, the owner of J's Breakfast Club, is organizing This is Gary Fest event. The fest will take place on Saturday and will feature music, food, vendors, presentations on Gary History and activities for children. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/gary-festival-js-breakfast-club-celebration-history/article_3d05dd96-1102-11ee-b6bf-23b925e99320.html | 2023-06-23T15:59:05 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/gary-festival-js-breakfast-club-celebration-history/article_3d05dd96-1102-11ee-b6bf-23b925e99320.html |
LAPORTE — Northwest Indiana has a special place in Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch’s heart. “You’ve just got an incredible area up here,” she said.
“It is going to lead Indiana in growth in the future because of the quality of life that you have,” Crouch told the LaPorte County Association of Realtors at a Thursday luncheon. “Kudos to you for doing your part.”
Crouch offered a familiar list of economic accolades, including a AAA credit rating, the nation’s leader in advanced manufacturing, No. 1 in the Midwest and No. 6 in the state for business environment. That wasn’t always the case.
“When I was in local government, the state was not in a very good financial position,” she said.
Over the past 18 years, she said, the situation has turned around.
“The next chapter in Indiana history is about quality of life,” she said.
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“It used to be that people followed businesses. Today business is following people. People are choosing to live where you have quality of life,” she said.
The federal infrastructure bill will mean an additional $500 million to $600 million for Indiana, she guesstimated. Indiana is already offering Community Crossings grants of up to $1 million for local governments to pave roads, and the Next Level Trails grants have helped build the Marquette Greenway and other trails in the Region.
Maggie McShane, senior vice president of government affairs for the Indiana Association of Realtors, asked her LaPorte County constituents if the Double Track NWI project, aimed at cutting South Shore Line travel time to about an hour between Chicago and Michigan City, is having its intended effect on real estate here. “I hear all of you saying, ‘Heck yeah!’” she summarized after hearing their remarks.
Improving quality of life means more than just investing in physical improvements, however.
“It’s about how we care for each other in the community,” Crouch said.
That’s especially important to her because some members of her family have struggled with anxiety and depression.
They’re not alone.
Since COVID-19 began, there has been a 20% increase in anxiety and depression, Crouch said. Among young people, the increase is 60%. “We know we have to do something,” she said.
The state put $100 million toward staffing the 988 suicide hotline, she said. In addition, Senate Enrolled Act 4, authored by state Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, is offering millions of dollars to counties for improving physical and mental health. Crouch noted Indiana ranks near the bottom nationally for health outcomes. “We have horrible health outcomes compared to this country.”
Crouch, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor next year, said she hopes the state will reimagine state government, realigning the approximately 100 agencies and creating navigators to help Hoosiers figure out how to find the answers they need to interact with their government.
“We have to make government more user-friendly,” she said. “We have to figure out how to better connect people to their government.”
Crouch attended not just to speak to the Realtors but also to listen to their concerns and ideas.
“What can the state do to make your jobs easier in terms of putting people into homes?” she asked.
“There’s not enough contractors” to get existing homes fixed up on a timely basis, one Realtor said.
Another asked about state assistance to get high-speed internet available to more homes. “We’re the missing middle,” one Realtor said.
One Realtor said some Illinois residents are converting their secondary homes in Northwest Indiana into full-time residences. Others noted that Illinois buyers are contributing to the short supply of housing in the area.
Crouch outlined a variety of state initiatives, including from agencies she leads, to address their concerns. She encouraged the Realtors to push their local officials and state legislators to work toward additional solutions.
The state gave away $500 million in READI grants, with housing the biggest need identified, she said. “The $500 million that the state invested is going to attract $9 billion to $10 billion in private investment,” she said.
Another $500 million has been set aside for READI grants in the next biennial budget. “I suspect that housing will be a big part of it again,” she said.
Crouch said local and county officials will need to work together to find solutions.
“No man is an island, and no county can stand alone either,” McShane said. “You have to push your local county officials to reach across the county line.”
Newly listed homes for sale in the Northwest Indiana area
3 Bedroom Home in Crown Point - $369,995
*PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION*. Our new ONYX plan offers 3 bedrooms/with optional 4th and 3 bathrooms.This plans is open concept with Great Room that flows into the Breakfast Room/ Kitchen. Main floor also offers a flex room that can be an office/den or main floor bedroom with a closet.The 2nd floor offers a large BEDROOM SUITE with a large closet and ATTACHED Bath. There are 2 other bedrooms on floor with a loft or make it your 4th bedroom, and an additional bathroom. Plan comes with partial basement with optional full. Located in Winfield, GRAND RIDGE offers city water, Crown Point schools and just minutes to Interstate 65. Many lots to choose from. Some lots may have a lot premium.
4 Bedroom Home in Crown Point - $384,995
**PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION** The Jasmine, a 4 Bedroom 2 story. The main level features open concept into living room. The formal dining can be enclosed for an office/den. You will love the Mud room and large walk in closet coming in from the garage. The upper level features a LOFT and 4 BEDROOMS. Laundry room upstairs also. The photos/tour is a representation of the model and can show upgrades.. Located in Winfield, Grand Ridge offers city water, Crown Point schools and just minutes to Interstate 65. Many lots to choose from. Some lots may have a lot premium.
3 Bedroom Home in Crown Point - $342,995
Check out the SIENNA PLAN... A 2 STORY with 3 BEDROOMS, 2 BATH AND A UPPER LEVEL LOFT. Open concept main level. Partial basement with LAUNDRY LOCATED ON UPPER LEVEL WITH BEDROOMS!! LOCATED IN WINFIELD NEWEST NEIGHBORHOOD GRAND RIDGE. Award winning CROWN POINT SCHOOLS!! Great functional floor plan at a GREAT PRICE!!! 90%+ HIGH EFFICIENCY FURNACE, HIGH EFFICIENCY WATER HEATER just to mention a few of the standard features. **PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION** PHOTO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANOTHER HOME IN NEIGHBORHOOD.
2 Bedroom Home in Crown Point - $333,995
The Lavender is a 1525 square feet 2 bedroom RANCH with den or make it a 3 bdrm. Also, can add a second bathroom.OPEN CONCEPT floor plan boasts a great room which is open to the kitchen. Master suite with walk-in closet. Main floor laundry. LOCATED IN WINFIELD NEWEST NEIGHBORHOOD GRAND RIDGE. Award winning CROWN POINT SCHOOLS!! Great functional floor plan at a GREAT PRICE!!! 90%+ HIGH EFFICIENCY FURNACE, HIGH EFFICIENCY WATER HEATER just to mention a few of the standard features. **PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION*
3 Bedroom Home in Crown Point - $372,995
You are going to love this floor plan! The Sapphire is a 2 STORY with 3 BEDROOMS, 2 1/2 BATH AND A UPPER LEVEL LOFT. This is an impressive, functional floor plan at a GREAT PRICE!!! Beautiful, open concept main level. LAUNDRY CONVIENENTLY LOCATED ON THE UPPER LEVEL WITH BEDROOMS!! THIS HOME IS LOCATED IN WINFIELD'S NEWEST NEIGHBORHOOD, GRAND RIDGE. Winfield offers award winning CROWN POINT SCHOOLS!! 90%+ HIGH EFFICIENCY FURNACE, HIGH EFFICIENCY WATER HEATER just to mention a few of the standard features. **PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION** PHOTO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANOTHER HOME IN NEIGHBORHOOD.
4 Bedroom Home in St. John - $799,000
This stunning 4 bedroom 3 1/2 bathroom house on a premium lot in The Preserves in St. John is complete and ready for you to make it home. The detail when you walk through the doors will amaze you. There is an expanded kitchen and great room with a spectacular two story fire place. Office with 6 panel glass doors can also be used for formal dining with a pocket door to the kitchen. Tons of cabinets and counter space with a walk in pantry with a beverage refrigerator. Main floor primary bedroom has cathedral ceilings, luxurious bathroom, and custom walk in closet. Laundry, mud room, and half bath round out the main level. Upstairs you'll find a second primary bedroom with full en suite and walk in closet as well and two additional bedrooms and full bathroom. Second floor laundry is already equipped with a washer and dryer! Full unfinished basement with 9 foot ceilings, egress window and rough in. The huge covered patio off the kitchen allows for the entertaining to continue outside!
3 Bedroom Home in St. John - $399,900
BUILDERS MODEL! RANCH luxury paired villas in the Gates of St. John! ALL BRICK villas come STANDARD w/ upgraded finishes & high quality features. 1838 sq.ft. w/ FULL BASEMENT has roughed in plumbing for future finishing. Open concept floor plan includes cathedral ceilings, fireplace, granite counters, stainless appliances & beautiful but durable luxury vinyl plank flooring. Enjoy your morning beverage in the place that sure to become the favored, the fabulous SUNROOM- also standard! Rest well knowing that from the ground up attention to detail has been incorporated into the construction, like the concrete block party wall that separates the units providing superior fireproofing & soundproofing. Energy efficient Pella windows, electric in conduit, high efficiency furnace w/humidifier & lifetime architecture shingles are just some of the standard features you'll pay extra for elsewhere. Age restricted community. This BUILDERS MODEL WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE in 2024
4 Bedroom Home in St. John - $879,900
PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION |Build the Blake layout in St. John's highly sought after Preserve Subdivision on Lot 459 overlooking the serene pond. This 4 bed, 3.5 bath 2-Story with 3 car finished garage boasts quality & custom finishes that can be found throughout the 3200+sq.ft. HOME! + Enjoy future expansion with the 1543 unfinished sq.ft. basement. Main level includes Formal D.R., Office, Open Concept Living, Dining, & Kitchen, 1/2 bath, mudroom w/built-in lockers. Kitchen features soft-close cabinetry, quartz C.T.'s, tile backsplash, oversized island w/2 sided overhang, large walk-in pantry, & S/S appliances. The Primary boasts spacious walk-in closet & spa like bath including custom tile shower & soaking tub. 3 addt'l bdrs, 2 FULL baths w/ceramic tile surround in shower & finished laundry room conclude the UPPER level. Custom trim package, gas fireplace, covered porch, pond view lot in a cul-de-sac! Photos represent a previously built Blake layout!
2 Bedroom Home in Munster - $485,000
SIGNIFICANT CONCESSIONS AVAILABLE.FOR A SHORT TIME. 10Yr Graduated Real Estate Tax Abatement, save thousands of dollars (requirements) Beautiful 4 story elevator building in Centennial Village, Walkable, Lifestyle Center for a unique living experience. UNIT.just completed 2023 *2 bedroom suites, 2.5 bath, Centennial Park unit (C) * 1779 Sq Ft *This unit has 3 open sides with views in 3 directions. Underground heated Garage space is sold separately, $28,960, includes a secure storage area, *9' ceilings *Quality finishes; solid wood cabinets, slow close doors & drawers, granite, brand appliances, 3 patio doors that open for fresh air, *In unit laundry * secured doors and security cameras though out the building* Resident patio with grills, tables and firepit *Located next to the 200+ acre, Centennial Park. Enjoy the park's events, golf, bike ride the regional trail network & enjoy the water features, art & gardens. MONTHLY HOA DUES $311.46 NO PETS/SMOKING BUILDING
2 Bedroom Home in Munster - $465,000
SIGNIFICANT CONCESSIONS AVAILABLE.FOR A SHORT TIME. Beautiful 4 story, elevator building in Centennial Village, a Walkable, Lifestyle Center. UNIT just completed 2023 *2 bedroom, 2 bath *9 'ceilings *Kitchen Island *Quality finishes; custom cabinets, slow close doors & drawers, Brand appliances *Primary bedroom has a walk in closet, double sinks in the bath, tiled shower *Spacious second bath *In unit laundry* Patio doors that open for fresh air * located on the curve of the building overlooking the circle drive, views of Centennial Park *Single Garage space is sold separately,$28,960, includes a secure storage area *10 yr Real Estate tax abatement, Save Thousands of dollars (restrictions) * Secured doors & cameras *Resident's patio with grills, firepit * Solid Commercial grade construction *Located next to the 200 + acre Park which has events, golf, bike ride the regional trail & enjoy the water features, art & gardens. MONTHLY HOA DUES ARE $302.45 NO PETS/SMOKING | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/suzanne-crouch-nwi-realtor-laporte/article_8aa61ab8-1150-11ee-9a51-0f59aca63403.html | 2023-06-23T15:59:15 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/suzanne-crouch-nwi-realtor-laporte/article_8aa61ab8-1150-11ee-9a51-0f59aca63403.html |
JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) — Tupelo Fire Chief Kelly Elliott has been named the executive director of the Mississippi State Fire Academy, announced Friday.
Elliott and his family will relocate to Jackson.
He was named the Tupelo fire chief in spring 2022.
“I am sincerely grateful for the unwavering support from the Mayor, Council, and exceptional fire department members throughout my time here,” Elliott said of Tupelo. “It has been an absolute honor serving alongside TFD members who are some of the most dedicated individuals, prioritizing the safety and well-being of our community day in and day out. Thank you for allowing me the privilege to be part of this remarkable team. Moving forward it would be an understatement to say I am truly humbled and excited to continue advancing Fire/EMS services for all Mississippians under the charge of Commissioner Chaney.”
Tupelo Mayor Todd Jordan said, “It is bittersweet that we are announcing Fire Chief Kelly Elliott will be leaving the City of Tupelo to become the Executive Director of the Mississippi Fire Academy. Chief Elliott has shown tremendous leadership and vision for our fire department for the past 16 months. He has started and finished programs that will continue to elevate our department. We wish Chief Elliott much success in his new position.”
He begins his new job on July 1 and replaces Terry Wages who is retiring.
The City of Tupelo has not yet announced an interim. | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/tupelo-fire-chief-named-director-of-mississippi-state-fire-academy/article_f3491b44-11da-11ee-a1dd-cf978b3bbbf5.html | 2023-06-23T15:59:26 | 0 | https://www.wtva.com/news/local/tupelo-fire-chief-named-director-of-mississippi-state-fire-academy/article_f3491b44-11da-11ee-a1dd-cf978b3bbbf5.html |
Peoria mayor delves into prosperity, pensions, crime, housing at 'State of the City' speech
Growing Peoria as a hub for business development and innovation was the major theme during Peoria Mayor Rita Ali's "State of the City" address.
Ali, who gave her third state of the city as mayor, used her stage Thursday evening at Luthy Botanical Gardens at Glen Oak Park to liken Peoria to a flower ready to bloom. In this case, Peoria's blooming would be an influx of development coming to the city.
Ali cited the city's effort to get passenger rail, its smart city initiative, manufacturing and healthcare industry as foreseeable drivers of Peoria's growth.
"Peoria is well-positioned for growth and prosperity," Ali said in her opening remarks.
Peoria could use surplus money to pay pensions
Ali said on Thursday night the city will explore using surplus revenue from 2023's general fund to help pay the city's public safety pension obligations, which continue to grow every year.
In 2021, the city council voted to end the city's public safety pension fee, leaving a roughly $2 million hole in how the city could help pay for public safety pensions.
At the time, the council voted to use surplus money from the 2021 budget to cover the pension gap in 2022 and 2023. Moving forward, at least for the next couple of years, it appears Peoria will stick to that script.
City Manager Patrick Urich said the surplus should be able to cover the pension payment for at least three and maybe even four years. Peoria's public safety pension obligation is $360 million between now and 2040.
More:Peoria initiative could help new businesses with 'olive branch'
Money secured for housing projects
Two Peoria housing projects were selected to receive state funding to be built in South Peoria and near Downtown Peoria.
A $15 million, 50-unit housing development is planned near St. Anne's church in South Peoria. A 55-unit, $24 million housing project is planned for the old Methodist College housing building at 415 St. Marks Court.
The Illinois Housing Development Authority selected both projects to receive special state tax credits, Ali said. Peoria and Chicago are the only two cities in the state to have multiple projects selected. There were 18 projects statewide chosen.
"We are very excited about these opportunities for residents," Ali said.
More:Can Peoria thrive as a hub for innovation? The promising signs and a familiar challenge
Police will continue to target gun crimes
The Peoria Police Department will continue to make targeting gun crimes and auto crimes a priority, Ali said in her address.
Ali praised Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria for lowering gun violence in 2022 compared to 2021 but added more still needed to be done, and is being done, to curb rising gun violence in 2023.
Shootings have risen 27% in Peoria in 2023 compared to 2022. Likewise, motor vehicle theft is up 67%.
Ali said programs approved by the city council and adopted by police such as a federal and local gun crimes task force and a state and local auto crimes task force, were key moves in combating crime.
"Our police are using technologies like Shotspotter and license plate readers to more efficiently deploy our resources and more quickly and effectively respond to police incidents," Ali said. "The result is we are getting more chronic offenders off of the street." | https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/peoria-mayor-focuses-on-pensions-crime-housing-during-annual-speech/70348932007/ | 2023-06-23T16:00:15 | 0 | https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/local/2023/06/23/peoria-mayor-focuses-on-pensions-crime-housing-during-annual-speech/70348932007/ |
TROY — A Miami County judge said Friday she won’t order immediate demolition of the downtown Tavern building, instead ordering repairs to a wall that was called “in imminent danger of collapse” and saying an independent building expert will be appointed.
Common Pleas Judge Stacy Wall wrote in a court entry that she will appoint an independent structural engineer to review the structure at 112-118 W. Main St. in Troy due to conflicting reports submitted in the case.
Damaged in a January 2020 tornado, the building owned by 116 West Main has been the focus of litigation and public controversy centered on whether it can be saved. Portions of the building date to the mid-1800s, and historic preservation advocates want to preserve it. The building owners have expressed a desire to demolish the building. They once had plans for a boutique hotel on the site, but that idea is now uncertain.
On June 16, county prosecutors sought an order requiring immediate removal of the building after it was termed an imminent danger by Rob England, county chief building official, and Troy Fire Chief Matthew Simmons. The focus was the north wall facing Main Street, just west of Troy’s Public Square.
“The court will not order immediate demolition of the Tavern Building … the court has significant concerns about the reliability and selectivity of the opinions the county offers as support,” Wall wrote in Friday’s ruling. “Mr. England has altered his opinion four times since December 2021.”
Wall noted England is not a structural engineer and relies on opinions of experts. England cited an opinion by Michael Bruns, an engineer, but opposing opinions have been provided by experts for the city and Evil Empire, representing nearby building owners in the litigation. Wall also said Simmons did not provide a rationale as to why removal was the only option.
Wall said there had been no measurement of the north wall and questioned how someone then could state its separation from the building had gotten worse.
“If the situation is as dire as the county asserts, it is difficult to believe the condition was not relayed to the city, which welcomed and encouraged thousands of people to walk on Main Street in front of the Tavern Building during the recent Strawberry Festival,” Wall said.
The county also did not warn the adjacent building owners of danger of the building falling, she said.
The following was ordered by the judge:
- 116 West Main is to abate unsafe conditions after consulting with England and Simmons on shoring up the brick north wall “so that it is no longer in ‘imminent danger of collapse.’ ” The deadline for the work is on or before July 7.
- The court will appoint an independent expert witness, to be paid by all parties to the litigation. “The current slate of expert witnesses has not been helpful to the court to clarify the salient issues and present a clear portrayal of the Tavern Building’s status. Instead, the experts generally have presented opinions favorable to the party that retained them. Although that is not unusual and has not always been the case here, the court believes it would benefit from appointment of an independent expert witness.”
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/judge-denies-request-for-demolition-of-troy-tavern-requires-repairs-in-2-weeks/ZX3VWRCTIZFQFNY3BLVXIQ33EU/ | 2023-06-23T16:03:44 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/judge-denies-request-for-demolition-of-troy-tavern-requires-repairs-in-2-weeks/ZX3VWRCTIZFQFNY3BLVXIQ33EU/ |
WATERLOO — Authorities retrieved a stolen vehicle that had been submerged in a lake Thursday.
The vehicle was reported stolen Thursday morning from a home at 1147 Cornwall Ave.
Around 5:40 p.m. Thursday, a passerby noticed the roof of the vehicle protruding from Singing Bird Lake in the 1600 block of Ansborough Avenue. Police and crews with Waterloo Fire Rescue responded to the call and found the vehicle was empty.
No arrests have been made in connection with the theft.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Waterloo Police Department at (319) 291-4340 or Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers at 855-300-TIPS (8477).
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