text string | url string | crawl_date timestamp[ms] | label int64 | id string |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CEDAR FALLS — A text from a friend popped up on Jasmin Newton’s phone mentioning a hands-on art program at the Cedar Falls Public Library. Did she want to go?
“It was impulsive, something cool to do,” Newton said, as she sat with brush in hand, painting on a three inch square canvas – best described as tiny, as in the program’s title, Tiny Art Studio. “I’ve done this painting on a bigger canvas and wanted to see if I can pull it off in a smaller size,” said Newton, who recently graduated from Columbus High School in Waterloo. She was painting a moody scene using a palette of dark paint colors dabbed onto a paper plate.
Joining her at the table were childhood friends Madilynn Eastman and Makayla Jasper, both recent Cedar Falls High School graduates.
“We like hanging out together,” said Newton. “This was something different to do together.”
The friends were among 13 participants in a Tiny Art Studio event, part of the Adult Summer Library Program. An evening session attracted even more artists.
“It’s a studio setting, so there is no teacher. Participants could come and create whatever they wanted on a 3x3 canvas,” said Kelly Stern, the library’s director. “The youth department has always done art projects and we thought what a great opportunity to use the studio for an adult class,”
The art studio is just one of a variety of interesting programs offered so far this summer. Among them are a walking-talking book tour; a virtual author’s visit with Sequoia Nagamatsu, author of “How High We Go in the Dark”; a traveling touch tank with sharks and rays from the National Mississippi River Museum; and a visit with NASA astronaut Raja Chari, who grew up in Cedar Falls. An adult cooking class proved so popular that Stern said the library plans to offer a similar class later this summer.
“The library has become a makerspace, another way to engage at the library. You can meet up with your friends, do something fun and have a chance to indulge your creativity and find your voice,” Stern explained.
The library provided a wide selection of quick-drying acrylic paints, brushes and paper plates for palettes. Melanie Hawkins, an experienced artist and creator, brought her own embellishments to add dimension to her canvas, including tissue wrapping paper, bottle caps, pieces of leather and fabric and much more.
“I wanted to create a mixed media work, so I just went through the house and grabbed this and that to bring along,” said Hawkins, of Cedar Falls. She has taught educational classes at The Hive, a makerspace at the Waterloo Public Library, including paper arts, crocheting and knitting. “I work at John Deere, so this is a way to release my creative energy.”
Mary Engelkes of Parkersburg brought an agate heart for inspiration, joined in the class by her friend Debbie Schmidt of Cedar Falls.
“I like the rich, deep earth tone colors in the heart. This is my first time doing something like this. Usually we get together for coffee but this sounded like it would be fun,” Engelkes said.
Schmidt agreed. “And it’s fun to see what other people are doing.”
Jayne Phelps of Waverly usually works with fabric, not acrylic paints on a canvas.
“I have done some painting and I’ve participated in other library programs. I’ve never seen a canvas this tiny. If I had something in mind to paint to begin with, that would help,” she said, laughing.
The completed 3x3 artworks will be displayed on tiny easels on the first floor at the library.
Upcoming summer programs include Mindfulness for Adults, Monday; Easy Sewing Projects for Adults, July 13; author Linda McCann program, July 17; Smash Journals for Adults, July 18; “Who Ya Laughing at? Minoritized Women in Cartoons” with Reginald Green, July 19; and a summer writing workshop for adults, July 25-31.
For information times and registration as well as dates of other activities, call the library at (319) 273-8643, visit it at 524 Main St., or go to its website at cedarfallslibrary.org.
Zoe Sexton, center, smiles as she and her friends Olivia Slickers, right, and Jenna Borwick paint 3x3 canvases during the Cedar Falls Public Library's Tiny Art Studio program last month. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/cedar-falls-library-summer-series-tiny-art/article_55805dc4-19b3-11ee-ae94-ebe62550dd3b.html | 2023-07-06T10:44:14 | 1 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/cedar-falls-library-summer-series-tiny-art/article_55805dc4-19b3-11ee-ae94-ebe62550dd3b.html |
WATERLOO — A group of mothers are voicing their concerns regarding gun safety in the area and have gone to school boards to speak on the topic.
The Cedar Valley’s chapter of Be SMART was formed at the beginning of the year. A component of Moms Demand Action, which works to implement public safety measures to protect people from gun violence, Be SMART looks to educate people about ways to safely and securely store their firearms.
Jamie Oberheu, the lead of the Cedar Valley chapter, said people involved in the organization educate adults to “know it’s the adults job to keep kids safe from guns.” This involves education about securely storing guns, modeling appropriate behavior, asking about guns in others’ homes, recognizing guns are a pivotal part of child suicide and telling others to simply “be smart.”
She said there are currently seven active members who are parents of children from Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Waverly.
People are also reading…
Oberheu is a second grade teacher at Orange Elementary in Waterloo. She realized she couldn’t continue to sit idly as death tolls of students and teachers continued to climb.
“After the Uvalde school shooting, I realized I needed to do something instead of sitting back waiting for something to happen,” she said about the tragedy that killed 19 students, two teachers and injured 17 more people at a Texas elementary school in 2022.
The data lead for the local group, Ashley Partee, is fairly new to the Cedar Valley after moving from Des Moines.
She relocated to Waterloo after her 15-year-old son and his two friends were murdered in Des Moines in 2020.
According to the Des Moines Register, her son, Thayn Wright, and his friends, Malachi and Devonte Swanks, were killed by three other teens after they robbed Wright and the Swanks of their video game consoles and cell phones.
Emmanuel Totaye and Daishawn Gills were sentenced to life in prison in 2022. Leontreal Jones was sentenced to 25 years in prison for first-degree robbery. Jones reached a plea deal with prosecutors to testify against Totaye and Gills.
Before moving to Waterloo, Partee attended an advocacy day at the state capitol to talk to legislators about gun violence.
Kayla Craig, the communications lead for the group, noted she was a child when the Columbine school shooting happened, in college during the Virginia Tech shooting, pregnant during the Sandy Hook shooting and had children during the Uvalde shooting.
“I wanted to look and see what I can do on an individual level … and encourage people who do have power and voice in a systemic situation to do what we can to keep kids safe and think about kids who can’t come to school boards and advocate for themselves.”
Craig said her daughter is disabled and, in her child’s individualized education program, she and school staff have to plan what to do in case there is a shooter in the school.
“Not every kid is able to hide, or run or keep quiet,” she said. “It’s heartbreaking.”
She believes the first step in preventing such incidences is to limit access to guns.
An analysis from the U.S. Secret Service that looked at targeted school violence states that, in 75% of school violence, the perpetrator had potential access to weapons from the home. The vast majority of those weapons were firearms. Others included explosive devices or bladed weapons.
The women noted earlier this year a student was found with a gun at Central Middle School. In April, The Courier reported that police charged a 14-year-old boy at Central with carrying weapons and carrying weapons on school grounds after school officials discovered a handgun in his backpack.
Craig said the group decided to speak to the Waterloo Board of Education because they believe its members care about their kids, families and community. She said the organization is not partisan and is welcoming.
“It’s easy to get behind that we can keep guns stored safely and keep kids safe because of that,” she said. “It’s a grown-up’s responsibility to do that. Everything can be polarized and a lot of us can find common ground.”
Oberheu said she doesn’t necessarily believe having more guns in schools through additional school resource officers is what will keep schools safe – rather, the most important factor is just keeping firearms out of children’s hands.
Waterloo Community Schools' Athletic Director Dan Huff, who also deals with the district’s safety programs, said SROs provide a layer of safety to the schools.
In June, the board approved the addition of a Waterloo police sergeant to be a liaison between the SROs and the director of at-risk and student services. She will also provide regular visibility at the elementary buildings.
Board member Jesse Knight said his personal thoughts are that each school location should have a dedicated SRO. Along with the new sergeant position, there are six Waterloo officers and one Evansdale officer. The district has 19 preschool through 12th-grade schools, including the Waterloo Career Center.
“I strongly believe that school safety is a good allocation of public tax dollars,” Knight said. “As a community member, I would also support public funds to provide SROs to all public and private schools that reside within the Waterloo Community School District.”
He said anyone attending any school shouldn’t have to worry about their safety.
Huff said apart from SROs, the school has other safety implementations in place such as video cameras, processes for visitors entering the school and active shooter drills. He also said there are safety chairs for each building that assist principals. These are funded positions and they review incidents that may occur.
He also said monthly safety meetings take place.
“We’re always constantly reviewing and seeing how we can improve and, you know, new technology comes out and – if it’s appropriate and we can do it – we certainly give those things very high consideration,” Huff said.
Some ideas that have presented themselves are updating video cameras, installing metal detectors and requiring students to have clear backpacks.
The school district is also receiving almost $1 million from Gov. Kim Reynolds’ School Safety Bureau. Last year, she announced $100 million in school safety funding for public, private and independent schools.
From this, the Iowa Department of Public Safety formed the School Safety Bureau with four primary objectives. Those include providing an emergency radio to every Iowa school, providing active shooter training to schools and places of worship, providing active shooter training to Iowa law enforcement and first responders, and developing and monitoring a threat reporting tool that is accessible via an app, website, and phone.
Huff said the school district has $50,000 per building from the bureau to enhance safety. Nineteen of 20 buildings went through vulnerability tests. The Elk Run Heights location did not receive a test because it is currently unoccupied.
The test looks at safety procedures for how the district responds to tornado warnings, severe weather, fires or active shooters. Huff said the results of those tests are not made public because of the sensitive information.
Each building was scored on entry control; electric systems, such as video surveillance; barriers, such as posts in front of the building to deter people from driving into the building; perimeters, such as fencing; security; lighting; and doors and windows.
“We’ve had some people tell us that we’ve got some really good procedures and policies in place related to student and staff safety and school safety,” Huff said, noting that he will always take help if it is earmarked. “Certainly we’re always reviewing it and, you know, we’re excited about the opportunity to focus the $50,000 per building on enhancing the safety.”
The grant money must be applied for by Dec. 31, 2024.
Huff believes Waterloo Schools has worked hard at providing safe environments for many years.
“We’ve focused on curriculum, we want the highest educational standards,” he said. “We want all that but we … want to create a very, very safe environment – a safe and positive environment for our students to learn and feel good about being there and feel safe.”
This morning's top headlines: Russian revolt fallout; unauthorized vapes; LSU wins CWS
Russian revolt fallout; unauthorized vapes; LSU wins CWS; plus, more morning headlines.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has confirmed that Yevgeny Prigozhin has arrived in Belarus after his short-lived armed mutiny in Russia. The head of the mercenary group Wagner was exiled to Belarus as part of the deal that ended the weekend mutiny. Lukashenko said Tuesday that Prigozhin and some of his troops would be welcome to stay in Belarus for some time at their own expense. Meanwhile the Russian Defense Ministry says preparations are under way for Wagner to hand over its heavy weapons to the Russian military. Russian authorities say they've closed a criminal investigation into the uprising and are pressing no charges against Prigozhin or his troops after the negotiated deal.
FBI and Homeland Security ignored 'massive amount' of intelligence before Jan. 6, Senate report says
A Senate committee's report says the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security downplayed or ignored “a massive amount of intelligence information” before the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S Capitol. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee report being released Tuesday says the agencies failed to warn of violence as some of then-President Donald Trump’s supporters planned the siege openly online. The report by the panel’s majority staff says the intelligence community has not entirely recalibrated to focus on the threats of domestic, rather than international, terrorism. It says government intelligence leaders “could not conceive” the Capitol would be overrun. The FBI and Homeland Security say they've implemented changes.
The number of different e-cigarette devices sold in the U.S. has nearly tripled to over 9,000, despite a three-year effort by the Food and Drug Administration to crack down on kid-friendly flavors. The rise in electronic cigarettes has been almost entirely driven by a wave of cheap, disposable devices imported from China. That's according to sales data obtained by The Associated Press. Most are sold in fruit and candy flavors that can appeal to teenagers. All are technically illegal, but they continue to flow into U.S. ports with little threat of retaliation. The trend underscores the FDA’s inability to control the tumultuous vaping market previously dominated by Juul and other reusable e-cigarettes.
The hush money case against former President Donald Trump appears headed back to a New York state court. A federal judge showed little inclination Tuesday to let Trump move the history-making prosecution to federal court. Trump’s lawyers argue that he was acting in his capacity as president when he hired and paid a personal attorney who orchestrated payouts to squelch allegations of extramarital sex. The payouts are at the heart of Manhattan prosecutors' case against Trump. He pleaded not guilty in state court in April to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide the hush money payouts.
A court appearance has been postponed for a Donald Trump valet charged with helping the ex-president hide classified documents the Justice Department wanted back. A lawyer for valet Walt Nauta told a judge Nauta had been unable to find a Florida-based attorney and was stuck in New Jersey after his flight was canceled. The judge pushed Tuesday’s scheduled arraignment for Nauta back to July 6. Nauta was charged earlier this month alongside Trump in a 38-count indictment filed by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith. The Republican former president pleaded not guilty to 37 counts related to the alleged mishandling of classified documents kept at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
A suspect has been arrested in the weekend killings of a Boston-area husband and wife celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and the woman’s 97-year-old mother. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced Monday evening that police took Christopher Ferguson into custody and charged him the killing of 73-year-old Gilda “Jill” D’Amore after an autopsy revealed she had died from a homicide. Additional charges were expected in the death of her husband, 74-year-old Bruno D’Amore, and mother, 97-year-old Lucia Arpino. The victims and suspect all live in the Boston suburb of Newton. The D'AMores and Arpino were killed in their home. Authorities say it appeared there was no relationship between them and the suspect.
Vice President Kamala Harris has visited the Stonewall Inn national monument to pay tribute to activists at the site of a watershed moment in the gay rights movement.And she is speaking out as state lawmakers around the U.S. have introduced or passed hundreds of bills this year that whittle away at LGBTQ+ rights. The vice president’s surprise visit to Stonewall in New York City on Monday comes just days ahead of the 54th anniversary of the police raid and the rebellion it sparked on June 28, 1969, as patrons and others fought back against officers and against a social order that kept gay life in the shadows.
Prosecutors say they are seeking the death penalty against a man accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students to death late last year. Bryan Kohberger is charged with four counts of murder in connection with the deaths at a rental house near the Moscow, Idaho, university campus last November. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson filed the notice of his intent to seek the death penalty in court on Monday. A not-guilty plea was entered in the case on Kohberger’s behalf earlier this year. A hearing in the case is scheduled for Tuesday. The bodies of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were found on Nov. 13, 2022, at a rental home across the street from the University of Idaho campus.
Five cases of malaria have been detected in the U.S. in the last two months. That marks the first time there’s been local spread in in 20 years. A health alert from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says four cases were detected in Florida and one in Texas. Infected people can suffer fever, chills and flu-like illness. They also can develop severe complications and die if they are not treated. Health officials are warning doctors — especially in southern states — to be aware of the possibility of infection and think about how to access the first-line treatment for severe malaria in the United States.
LSU cranked up its offense a day after it gave up the most runs ever in a College World Series game and won its first national title since 2009 with a 18-4 victory over Florida in the third and deciding game of the finals. LSU staved off elimination three times in bracket play and bounced back from a 24-4 loss in Game 2 to claim its seventh championship. That's second to Southern California's 12. The Tigers wiped out an early 2-0 deficit with a six-run second inning against Jac Caglianone and Cade Fisher.
Connor McDavid has won his third Hart Trophy as NHL MVP after the highest-scoring season by a player in more than a quarter-century. McDavid fell one vote short of unanimous selection. McDavid also won the Ted Lindsay Award as the NHL’s most outstanding player as voted by his peers. The Edmonton Oilers’ captain led the league with 64 goals, 89 assists and 153 points. That’s the most points since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96. One voter out of 196 picked Boston’s David Pastrnak as MVP. San Jose's Erik Karlsson also became a three-time award winner, receiving the Norris Trophy as top defenseman. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/group-focused-on-gun-violence-prevention/article_892d7210-1503-11ee-a193-33a9ecf92f21.html | 2023-07-06T10:44:20 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/education/group-focused-on-gun-violence-prevention/article_892d7210-1503-11ee-a193-33a9ecf92f21.html |
The City Council considered seeking a grant to remove a section of unused railroad track through Cedar Falls neighborhoods and the downtown business district.
CEDAR FALLS — Top officers of Iowa Northern Railway Company and the city are still interested in removing the railroad tracks through town.
They had partnered with Cedar Falls Utilities in putting together a grant application to the Federal Railroad Administration’s new and competitive Railroad Crossing Elimination Program.
“We did not get approved, so we asked for a debriefing to learn more about why we didn’t get it,” said General Manager Bill Magee. “Is it worth applying again? Is there anything we should do differently?”
Close to $10 million would have assisted in paying for the removal of the company’s rarely used infrastructure through the downtown and nearby residential areas.
The tracks are described as making areas through the town unsafe and not allowing the city to utilize them to their fullest potential.
Only one Iowa project, in Davenport, receiving funding. More than $570 million in grants were awarded to 63 projects in 32 states last month from the 209 applications received for the program authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Cedar Falls was not among the 56 of those applications deemed ineligible based on the criteria.
“You learn a lot from those debriefings,” said Magee. “I still think it’s a good application.”
A program spokesperson declined to provide specific reasons, citing application confidently and not wanting to unduly influence the future selection process.
Four more years of funding has been set aside for the program. Magee refrained from saying at this point in time that it will delay the project from happening. According to Magee, work could still get underway next year as part of two to three years of phases of work.
He agreed, though, with the sentiment that the latest news on the grant is a challenge the partners will have to overcome.
“It’s a big project and will affect lots of city streets,” Magee said. “But I still want to push toward that end goal of getting the tracks removed.”
The city sought up to $9.76 million and would have been required to provide a $1.22 million match of the project’s estimated $12.2 million cost. The railroad company also would have paid $1.22 million. Magee believes the cost estimates will hold up and not change significantly.
Approximately 11,642 linear feet of track, or a little more than two miles, runs from near the intersection of Iowa and West First streets, next to McDonalds, through the downtown, to the southern city limits and several hundred feet past Cedar Falls Utilities to an area near a pedestrian trail along the river and Pfeiffer Springs Park off Grand Boulevard.
The project would include a full reconstruction of West Fifth Street between Franklin and State streets, Iowa Street between Second and Third streets as well as other pavement removal and replacement.
Denial of the grant application also did not seem to deter Mayor Rob Green’s feelings that the tracks should be removed. A couple times on his mayoral Facebook page in recent months, he’s emphasized the importance of the project.
“I really want to see those tracks removed and Fifth Street straightened, so that when we reconstruct Fifth, we can make this whole corridor much nicer and business/residential/pedestrian friendly, all the way to Ragged Edge and beyond,” wrote Green on Friday. He was referencing a business located on Bluff Street.
While Cedar Falls failed to land a significant federal grant to fund the track’s removal, city leaders can’t be too upset with the federal government.
Officials received word last week it had been awarded $10 million from another one of the Department of Transportation’s competitive grant programs for the $30 million reconstruction of Main Street.
How wildfires have worsened in recent decades
How wildfires have worsened in recent decades
The number of wildfires is decreasing, but more acres are burning
Wildfire seasons are getting longer
Wildfire suppression costs have risen by billions of dollars
Lightning fires are causing more damage in the West
Traffic crosses over the railroad crossing near Washington Park in Cedar Falls on Thursday. The Cedar Falls City Council is considering a proposal to remove the unused railroad track that runs through downtown. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/government-and-politics/cf-railroad-track-removal-still-priority/article_5c0df5ec-19cd-11ee-b59e-eb35f6795a08.html | 2023-07-06T10:44:26 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/government-and-politics/cf-railroad-track-removal-still-priority/article_5c0df5ec-19cd-11ee-b59e-eb35f6795a08.html |
Second in a series on The Courier’s Eight Over 80 winners.
WATERLOO — Many successful people have a mentor in their life’s story – someone who inspired them, helped them grow and set an example to follow.
David Buck, 80, followed in his father’s footsteps.
“He was my role model. He believed in supporting the community that supported our company. It was important to him, and it was important to me,” Buck said.
Buck retired in 2008 after more than three decades at the helm of Matt Parrott & Sons Co., taking over the company for his late father, Harrington, in 1975. Throughout those years and beyond, Buck and his wife, Ruth, have worked tirelessly in their efforts to support Waterloo and the Cedar Valley.
Now Buck is being honored as one of The Courier’s Eight Over 80 recipients.
People are also reading…
“I’m a very humble man, and I’m honored,” said Buck. “There are lots of role models in this community, lots of examples being set.”
Buck earned a journalism degree at Iowa State University and later served as editor of the Cherokee Daily Times in Cherokee. His resume also includes a stint in the national advertising department of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. in Milwaukee.
After returning to Waterloo and taking over at Matt Parrott & Sons, one of Waterloo’s oldest companies founded in 1868, Buck earned respect in his industry and community, serving as president of the National Office Products Association. He was honored as businessman of the year by the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce and received the Service Above Self award from the Rotary Club, the Mayor’s Lifetime Achievement award, and Junior Achievement Man of the Year.
“As CEO of Matt Parrott & Sons, he fostered an atmosphere of fairness and respect that encouraged long-term employment. He instituted the Matt Parrott Integrity Awards and encouraged staff to volunteer and serve on community boards,” said his wife Ruth.
One of his proudest moments, Buck said, was being honored for his volunteer work by the Iowa State Alumni Association.
Ruth explained in her nomination letter that Buck “mentored a young boy from second grade through high school into the Marine Corps” through Big Brothers Big Sisters. In addition, he was co-founder of the Rotary Club’s Shoe Box Project, which aids poverty-stricken children in rural Nicaragua. He also traveled to India to help immunize children against polio.
Other years, he served on numerous community boards, including the Grout Museum District, Allen Foundation Board, Pathways, Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health Center, and Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra. He is active at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Cedar Falls and served on the vestry board. He also participated in flood relief for the Episcopal diocese in Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, and Galveston, Texas.
Buck served on the steering committee to raise funds for Friendship Village’s Wellspring Living Health Center and now serves as resident council president.
“He has always been a supportive husband and father to our sons, participating in all their extra-curricular activities throughout the years,” Ruth said. Their sons are Sam and Frank, both of Waterloo.
Robert Brown, who also nominated Buck, has known him for 25 years and the pair has served on many boards in the Cedar Valley. He praises Buck for his community involvement, particularly for serving as chairman of the Cedar Valley Trade Show and the tourism and visitors bureau as well as volunteering as a MercyOne caravan driver.
“I would happily recommend Dave for the 8 Over Eighty award,” Brown said.
After retiring in 2008, “I’ve worked on keeping out of trouble,” said Buck, smiling. He’s stepped back from work on boards, preferring to work on his golf game or in the garden along with sharing frequent walks with his wife and their 5-year-old golden retriever, Buddy.
Buck remains proud of his career in service to the community that has given him so much.
“I’ve always believed that if you see things in the community you think should be done, or things that need to be changed, you need to participate. So I did.” | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/retired-ceo-led-by-example-in-community/article_39b3e01e-1136-11ee-97b3-871f67017e55.html | 2023-07-06T10:44:32 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/retired-ceo-led-by-example-in-community/article_39b3e01e-1136-11ee-97b3-871f67017e55.html |
LOCAL
TMLP linemen crack $100K in overtime alone. Here are top 10 highest paid workers in 2022
Daniel Schemer
The Taunton Daily Gazette
TAUNTON — Which TMLP employees made the most in 2022? The Gazette analyzed salary data to get the answer.
The Taunton Municipal Light Plant, which had 156 employees in 2022, is owned by the city of Taunton but operates on a budget independent from the rest of Taunton’s city operations.
More than two-thirds of TMLP's employees, or 105 employees, made more than $100,000 in 2022.
As usual, overtime pay was a key factor in the totals. In fac,t lower ranking employees often make more than executives due to overtime.
The top 10 highest paid TMLP employees in 2022
- James Higgins, working foreman lineman — $283,762 total, including $137,014 overtime.
- Jeffrey G. Leconte, working foreman lineman — $263,868 total, including $118,264 overtime
- Mark Jones, working foreman lineman — $262,950 total, including $117,413 overtime
- Joseph McKenna, lineman — $248,854 total, including $118,464 overtime
- Carl Martin, working foreman lineman — $246,224 total, including $99,735 overtime
- Dennis Perkins, working foreman lineman — $238,597 total, including $92,055 overtime
- Scott Hopkins, working foreman lineman — $234,491 total, including $88,276 overtime
- Jason DaCunha, lineman — $232,960 total, including $86,537 overtime
- Nicholas Hartung, lineman — $227,285 total, including $97,912 overtime
- Israel England, lineman — $224,543 total, including $97,737 overtime
Which Raynham employees made the most?Here are the top 10 highest earners for 2022
Other noteworthy salaries
- General Manager Kimberly Holmes just missed the top 10, coming in at number 11 with earnings of $220,504
- Power Production Manager James Irving was number 19 on the list at $196,506
- Chief Engineer Robert Pepin was number 33 at $175,339 | https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/taunton-municipal-light-plant-ma-highest-paid-workers-overtime-linemen/70339117007/ | 2023-07-06T11:06:22 | 1 | https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/taunton-municipal-light-plant-ma-highest-paid-workers-overtime-linemen/70339117007/ |
Bill Burr, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena.
Burr, 55, a Massachusetts native, has been a renowned comedian for the past 31 years. He is known for his no-holds-barred approach to comedy, tackling everything from politics to pop culture with his irreverent style and sharp wit.
He dropped his latest Netflix comedy special, “Live at Red Rocks,” last July.
Tickets are $102, $132 and $162 for Friday and $102, $132, $142, $162, $179 and $202 for Saturday and are available at ticketmaster.com. The use of cameras, cellphones, recording devices or smart watches will not be permitted. Prior to entering the show, all phones and smart watches will be secured in Yondr pouches.
Ice Cube, 9 p.m. Friday, Ovation Hall, Ocean Casino Resort.
People are also reading…
The hip-hop artist is one of the most crucial in rap history. A razor-sharp lyricist, alternately furious and humorous MC and accomplished producer, Cube laid the foundation for the legacy of one of the most famous rap groups of all time with fellow rappers Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, DJ Yella and MC Ren in NWA.
Cube is known for hits such as “It Was A Good Day,” “You Can Do It” and “Check Yo’ Self” (featuring Das EFX) and performed such singles and more in May in Tucson, Arizona, setlist.fm said.
Tickets are $29, $49, $69 and $109 and are available at ticketmaster.com.
Anthony Jeselnik: “Bones and All” tour, 7 and 10 p.m. Friday, Music Box, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.
Jeselnik, 44, is a standup comedian from Pittsburgh who has been in show business since 2001. His latest Netflix special, “Fire in the Maternity Ward,” was released in 2019.
In reviewing the special, the Minneapolis Star Tribune said Jeselnik is “Andrew Dice Clay with better material.”
Tickets are $65 and $75 and are available at ticketmaster.com.
Straight No Chaser: The Yacht Rock Tour, 8 p.m. Saturday, Sound Waves, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
Sing along to classic hits by Hall & Oates, Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Steely Dan and more.
Tickets are $59, $79 and $99, and are available at ticketmaster.com.
Kathleen Madigan: “Boxed Wine & Tiny Banjos” tour, 9 p.m. Saturday, Music Box, Borgata.
Madigan, a Missouri native, has had a 35-year comedy career. Her sixth stand-up special, “Hunting Bigfoot,” premiered Feb. 21 on Amazon. The new special, recorded at the Paramount Theater in Denver, explored topics including Madigan’s aging parents, interactions with millennials and hunting Bigfoot.
Tickets are $39 and $49 and are available at ticketmaster.com.
The Grass Roots, 9 p.m. Saturday, Showroom, Golden Nugget Atlantic City.
Since their formation in 1965, the Grass Roots have gone on to chart 29 singles, 13 of which went gold, two gold albums and one platinum album. In the entire history of rock ‘n’ roll, only nine bands (including the Beatles) have charted more on Billboard’s Hot 100.
The Grass Roots average more than 100 live performances each year. No original members are left still performing in the group.
The group played in April in Staten Island, New York, and among the songs they were played were their top 10 hits “Midnight Confessions,” “Let’s Live for Today” and “Sooner or Later,” setlist.fm said.
Tickets are $35 and $40 and are available at ticketmaster.com.
The PettyBreakers: The No. 1 Tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 9 p.m. Friday, the Concert Venue, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City.
The PettyBreakers perform such classic rock hits as “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” “American Girl” and “Refugee.”
Tickets are $34.50, $49.50 and $55 and are available at ticketmaster.com.
Rumours: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute 8 p.m. Friday, Sound Waves, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
This tribute band captures the essence of Fleetwood Mac’s sound and style from “Go Your Own Way” to “Dreams,” and all of the band’s greatest hits.
Tickets are $29 and $39 and are available at ticketmaster.com.
Michael Lives Forever, 9 p.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Sound Waves, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
Michael Jackson impersonator Rodrigo Teaser brings his Jackson tribute show to the U.S. for the first time this summer. The string of U.S. tour dates follows the success “Michael Lives Forever” had as it toured around the world in places like Europe, Mexico and South America.
Doors open an hour before showtime. Tickets are $29 and are available at ticketmaster.com.
Disco Inferno, 8 p.m. Sunday, Superstar Theater, Resorts Casino Hotel.
Disco tribute concert features the music of ABBA, the Bee Gees, Gloria Gaynor, Michael Jackson, KC & the Sunshine Band, Donna Summer, Barry White and more.
Tickets are $29 and $39 and are available at ticketmaster.com.
Euphoria Variety Show, 4 p.m. Sunday, Sound Waves, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
Featuring a dynamic cast of talented performers, Euphoria takes patrons on a journey through comedy, dance and music.
Tickets are $29 and are available at ticketmaster.com.
Magical Mystery Doors, 4 p.m. Sunday, Ovation Hall, Ocean Casino Resort.
This tribute act blends the music of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and the Doors to create something new and unique.
Tickets are $29 and are available at ticketmaster.com. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/casinos/atlantic-city-casino-headliners-for-the-weekend-of-july-7/article_2676ee02-19dc-11ee-b6a5-63a19c0d6907.html | 2023-07-06T11:11:25 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/casinos/atlantic-city-casino-headliners-for-the-weekend-of-july-7/article_2676ee02-19dc-11ee-b6a5-63a19c0d6907.html |
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region.
100 years ago
July 6, 1923: Civil War veteran and prominent Gridley citizen Jasper Gilmore has died at his home at age 85. Gilmore married Miss Marry Adelia McClellan on Oct. 22, 1858, in a triple ceremony with her sisters and their soon-to-be-husbands. He enlisted in the Union army in July 1862 and remained in service through the end of the war.
75 years ago
July 6, 1948: Christen Maersk, a native of Randers, Denmark, is visiting Bloomington as the guest of Mrs. Anna Lott and her daughter, Carol. Maersk previously met Miss Lott at the annual International Student Service conference. "In Denmark, everything is rationed," he said, speaking of the differences between America and his homeland. "No colored electric lights or neon sign, no gas for cars, and we have less food now than we did during the war and occupation."
50 years ago
July 6, 1973: The Long Point area centennial committee has completed its program for the celebration set for July 13-15. Events planned during the weekend include a talent show, skydiving exhibition by the Illinois Valley Parachute Club, a Centennial Ball to be held at the firehouse, beard competition to be judged by Miss Illinois and more. Area residents also will stage a pageant — written by a local woman, Mrs. Robert Cook — depicting memorable events in the village's 100 years.
25 years ago
July 6, 1998: Players from the Bloomington-Normal Soccer Club returned from a European soccer tournament amid a patriotic welcome — complete with streamers, balloons and nearly 40 greeters waving to the players. The club advanced to the second round of the Paris Cup, its first international tournament. Of the six games it played, the BNSC won three matches, lost two and tied one.
101 years ago: See vintage Pantagraph ads from 1922
Gerthart's
Union Gas and Electric Co.
Hoover
Dr. J.A. Moore Dentists
Moberly & Klenner
W.P. Garretson
W.H. Roland
Pease's Candy
Thor 32 Electric Washing Machine
The Kaiser's Story of the War
Ike Livingston & Sons
Gossard Corsets
Cat'n Fiddle
'Stolen Moments'
Case Model X
The Johnson Transfer & Fuel Co.
The Pantagraph want ads
Franklin Motor Car Co.
'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'
Calumet Baking Powder
Mayer Livingston & Co. Newsmarket
'The Emperor Jones'
'California Fig Syrup'
Compiled by Pantagraph staff | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/100-years-ago-civil-war-veteran-dies-in-gridley/article_e490617e-1906-11ee-91de-a7aceaad9956.html | 2023-07-06T11:12:46 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/100-years-ago-civil-war-veteran-dies-in-gridley/article_e490617e-1906-11ee-91de-a7aceaad9956.html |
ROANOKE, Va. – Happy Thursday! Grab your morning coffee and check out the Morning Sprint to find out what’s trending.
The digital-only newscast is filled with laughter, smiles and stories you won’t want to miss. You can catch it Monday through Friday at 8 a.m.
Don’t be shy! Be sure to join the conversation as we chat about the news of the day.
Here are some of the stories we discussed:
- More gateless parking could be coming to Roanoke
- How much ice cream do you think you can eat in two minutes? These kids will give you a run for your money
- Let’s celebrate this West Virginia woman’s 105th birthday!
- A flamingo chick now has an adopted family 💗
Here’s how you can have your photos featured during the Morning Sprint.
Here’s where you can watch us:
The Sprint can be watched on our website, YouTube account and wherever you stream WSLS 10 weekdays at 8 a.m.
You can also watch it on our 10 News app. Click here to download if you’re an IOS user and here to download if you have an Android.
Be sure to leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!
Thanks for watching!
Want to know more about the Morning Sprint? Leave us a question using the form below: | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/06/cute-video-flamingo-chick-finds-family-in-new-flock-the-morning-sprint/ | 2023-07-06T11:24:20 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/06/cute-video-flamingo-chick-finds-family-in-new-flock-the-morning-sprint/ |
MARIETTA, Ga. — Times remain tough in the job market if you’re an employer trying to fill many vacancies, including in local government.
Cobb County government, for example, currently has more job vacancies than it did a year ago, despite spending millions of dollars trying to fill them.
And the vacancies are, potentially, a matter of life and death for everyone.
Cobb County’s police, fire and sheriff’s office still have nearly 300 vacancies—and that’s about 20 more unfilled positions than last year.
“It’s just a challenging situation,” Cobb County Communications Director Ross Cavitt said, adding that the Cobb government, as a whole, is losing workers faster than the county can hire them.
According to county numbers provided by Cavitt, last year, out of 4,972 full-time positions in county government, there were 618 vacancies—12% of the full-time positions.
This year, with 5,297 full-time positions, there are even more vacancies, 794; that’s 15% of the full-time positions.
“It tells us we're in a very competitive job market,” Cavitt said, “even though we bumped up how much we pay our employees both on the minimum wage and throughout the ranks, it still has been difficult to get employees to fill those positions.”
It’s been difficult even after the county commission funded $22 million worth of raises and authorized aggressive bonus and incentive programs to recruit and keep employees.
“Especially in the public safety realm, we are picking from a very small potential group of employees," Cavitt said. "It's very competitive. Even with everything the board has done to raise the pay in public safety, we're still struggling to hire enough police officers and firefighters and sheriff's deputies to keep us fully staffed.”
Cavitt said another factor is that public employers such as Cobb County are, as always, competing with private sector employers--a competition that continues to grow more intense, as private sector employers are often able to offer more money to fill their vacancies. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/jobs/cobb-county-vacancies-government-jobs/85-0deff9e6-3d72-4f56-b160-c1ba7a970fb4 | 2023-07-06T11:34:03 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/jobs/cobb-county-vacancies-government-jobs/85-0deff9e6-3d72-4f56-b160-c1ba7a970fb4 |
HARRISBURG, Pa. — City of Harrisburg residents are one step closer to receiving funds from the American Rescue Plan Act after City Council and Mayor Wanda R.D. Williams approved the spending of $31.15 million last night.
They plan to move the funds into Harrisburg's General Fund over the 2023, 2024, and 2025 budget years under a “Revenue Replacement” provision. How much money in each general fund budget will be determined in the near future.
“I am very proud of the work Council has done,” said City Council President Danielle Bowers. “I pray we are maximizing these funds for our residents today and through the future.”
Among the programs approved by City Council on Wednesday include $8 million for affordable housing, $5 million for home repairs, and $1.5 million for ADA-accessible playground equipment. In addition, $1.5 million has been set aside for the demolition of dilapidated and abandoned homes, and a total of $1 million was allocated for lower-income residents to help pay for delinquent trash bills.
City Council passed a number of amendments in the June 27 legislative session to use nearly $3 million of money not previously allocated in Mayor Williams’ initial proposal. Among Council’s adds which were given final approval on Wednesday include spending $1 million on a bridge housing program to address homelessness and short-term housing, $1 million on a youth workforce development internship program, $1 million for a “Community Matters” grant program to help serve underserved communities, and $500,000 on a “Community Connection Hub” to increase workforce development and create job opportunities for adults.
“This is a historic day for the City of Harrisburg,” said Mayor Williams. “I look forward to working with Council and the people of Harrisburg to get this life-altering money into the hands of our residents.”
In all, Mayor Williams and Harrisburg City Council will spend approximately $47,050,000 million of the $47,073,625 million it was given by the U.S. government in 2021.
Bill 5 of 2023, as amended, will head for final approval from Mayor Williams, who has the ability to line-item veto Council’s changes.
A full breakdown of American Rescue Plan spending programs are listed as follows, in order of cost:
- $8 million – Affordable Housing Program
- $8 million – Replacement of South Harrisburg pool
- $5 million – Home repairs, up to $10,000 per unit for low-income residents
- $1.5 million – ADA accessible playground equipment
- $1.5 million – Demolition of dilapidated and abandoned homes
- $1 million – Bridge housing program to address homelessness and short term housing
- $1 million – Community Matters grant program
- $1 million – Payment of delinquent trash bills for low-income residents
- $1 million – Youth workforce development internship program
- $900,000 – Upgraded radio equipment for Harrisburg Bureau of Fire
- $500,000 – Community Connection Hub workforce development training
- $500,000 – Tree removal and pruning for seniors and low-income residents
- $250,000 – Senior citizen programming activities | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/dauphin-county/harrisburg-american-rescue-plan-act-funding-arpa/521-fc5030de-045d-49f1-94de-4c8b1888f089 | 2023-07-06T11:34:17 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/dauphin-county/harrisburg-american-rescue-plan-act-funding-arpa/521-fc5030de-045d-49f1-94de-4c8b1888f089 |
The Richmond-based nonprofit that oversees organ transplantation across the country has threatened to effectively cut off the flow of organs to 63 hospitals as part of a dispute regarding how the system’s data is being used.
It’s the latest in a series of issues for the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which could lose its federal contract this year or next.
UNOS said it will revoke an organ-screening company’s access to its computer network, called DonorNet, if the company ceases using transplant data in a way that does not comply with UNOS rules, The Washington Post reported.
If the company, Buckeye Transplant Services, loses access to the network, 63 transplant centers could stop receiving kidneys, livers and lungs that sick patients need to survive.
People are also reading…
“People would die,” Jared Ackley, the head of Buckeye, told the Post. “It may sound sensational, but people would likely die.”
Buckeye sued UNOS in federal court, seeking an injunction to stop UNOS from cutting off Buckeye’s access to available organs. UNOS has given the company until July 19 to comply.
A lawyer for UNOS told the Post that Buckeye is essentially taking UNOS data and selling it to hospitals.
When an organ donor dies, and his or her organs are suitable for transplant, an organ procurement organization recovers the organs and makes them available for transplant hospitals. Buckeye serves as an intermediary for 63 hospitals, screening the organs’ compatibility with the patients on the waitlist so hospital staffers do not have to.
To achieve this, Buckeye has developed a tool to retrieve data from UNOS computers that it is not entitled to, UNOS said. Once the data is in Buckeye’s hands, UNOS can no longer keep the information secure or make sure it’s being used appropriately.
Buckeye contends that its processes are no different than other organ-screening companies.
If Buckeye is no longer able to screen available organs, transplant hospitals would have to do it themselves, an onerous process of evaluating organs, arranging flights for their transportation and setting up operating rooms. Or they would have to quickly hire a new company to take Buckeye’s place.
UNOS acknowledged that a disruption in the flow of organs could put a strain on hospital staffs.
Two major transplant hospitals in Virginia would be affected, the University of Virginia Medical Center and Inova Fairfax. The Hume-Lee Transplant Center at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System is not involved.
This is the latest problem for UNOS, which could lose all or part of its contract to oversee organ transplantation. The Richmond-based nonprofit is the only organization that has held the federal contract, which was first awarded in 1986.
UNOS has been investigated by the U.S. Senate, which criticized the state of organ transplantation. Roughly one in four kidneys recovered from a dying person never makes it to a needy patient, the head of an organ procurement organization said. One transplant surgeon testified that one kidney arrived smeared with tire marks across its box. Another sat overnight in an airport hangar, untracked.
Others criticized UNOS’ computer network as old and out of date. Another said failing organ procurement organizations are not held to standards. Numerous people said UNOS turned a blind eye to those intent on reforming the organization.
The federal agency that oversees UNOS, the Health Resources Administration, said it will break up the federal contract. | https://richmond.com/news/local/business/health-care/united-network-for-organ-sharing-unos-richmond/article_61fac8a8-1b40-11ee-80e6-73831e8d0aa3.html | 2023-07-06T11:34:17 | 1 | https://richmond.com/news/local/business/health-care/united-network-for-organ-sharing-unos-richmond/article_61fac8a8-1b40-11ee-80e6-73831e8d0aa3.html |
GETTYSBURG, Pa. — Motorcycle fanatics rode into town on Thursday for Gettysburg Bike Week.
Bikes will be packed into the All-Star Family Fun and Events Complex from July 6 until July 9.
This event is the most popular motorcycle rally in eastern Pennsylvania. The three-day event is filled with live music, entertainment and—of course—rides.
But it's not just for biker heads.
Gettysburg Bike Week has something for everyone. This year features biker games, tattoos, a biker-build off, bike show and professional bar entertainment.
People can also check out one of the largest vendor villages and swap meets, the antique bike show and the third annual Jeremy Plank Memorial Ride.
Riders and guests can also take a break from riding and compete in an enormous cornhole tournament throughout the weekend.
For more information and a list of events, click here. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/gettysburg-bike-week-all-star-family-fun-events-complex/521-3ac9c2de-3e09-4ffd-8cee-257eadf6b967 | 2023-07-06T11:34:23 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/gettysburg-bike-week-all-star-family-fun-events-complex/521-3ac9c2de-3e09-4ffd-8cee-257eadf6b967 |
Lighthouse in the storm: How United Way meets Anderson County's needs
In the annual report for the United Way of Anderson, Campbell, Morgan and Scott counties, board chair Ryan Overton called Executive Director Naomi Asher “a lighthouse in the storm” because of her “steadfast leadership and unwavering commitment to our mission.”
The mission focuses on fostering youth development, self-sufficiency (e.g., helping people achieve incomes higher than the costs of living) and improved health and services for Anderson County's senior adults, 38% of whom are living with a disability.
Asher, who is also president of the United Ways of Tennessee, recently described the socioeconomic “storm” in Anderson County and United Way’s successes in bringing light and hope during a class she taught for the Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning (ORICL).
ALICE does live here
In Anderson County, “Sixty percent of the population, or significantly over half of our county, is either barely making it or not making it, and mental health needs are at an all-time high,” Asher said. She noted that 20% of the residents are living in poverty and that 40% have low-wage jobs and often children they struggle to support as the costs of living rise. They are described as ALICE – asset-limited, income-constrained, employed.
Some 23% of the children in Anderson County are living in poverty, and more and more children are battling depression and anxiety, as well as attempting or thinking about suicide, she said.
For every 1,100 county residents, she added, only one mental health counselor is available, and the waiting time for help can be as long as six months. Like nurses and teachers, as the pandemic abated, social workers and mental health support employees left their fields partly because of burnout, and fewer individuals are pursuing mental health support careers, Asher noted.
Another challenge is to reduce drug overdose deaths.
“Anderson County saw an 82% increase in substance misuse-related deaths in 2020 compared to 2019, which saw an 11.9% decline,” she said. “We are still nowhere close to pre-pandemic numbers, but our number for 2022 is lower than the 2020 number.”
United Way programs are making a difference
But the United Way programs she leads are making a difference, she stated. The organization is distributing community grants to 30 agencies and 44 programs using contributions from employees of major donors, including UT Battelle/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Consolidated Nuclear Security/Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, ORNL Federal Credit Union, Centrus and United Cleanup Oak Ridge LLC (UCOR).
She said 24 fund distribution panel volunteers decided which agencies and programs should be financially supported by United Way donations because of their expertise and ability to help the United Way achieve its mission “to unite the community and mobilize resources so every child, individual and family can thrive,” as well as its vision of “a community where every person has an equal chance at a bright future.”
“United Way of Anderson County (UWAC) programs provided almost 1 million healthy meals to children in 2022 in Anderson County,” she said, explaining that the programs strive to address the fact that 13.6% of the children enrolled in a government program are considered overweight or obese. United Way also provides information on where local food pantries are and when they are open, as well as when local churches offer free community meals.
Northern Anderson County
In northern Anderson County, Asher said, children who did not know that French fries come from potatoes grown in the ground or what a tomato plant looks like are being introduced by senior adults to planting and harvesting community gardens and to canning fruits and vegetables.
Asher said she is hopeful that Briceville and some other rural areas in northern Anderson County will soon receive federal infrastructure funding to bring the Internet there.
“Without the Internet you cannot apply for a job or benefits easily,” she said.
As president of the United Ways of Tennessee, Asher told the ORICL class about a new financial literacy tool that enables low-income Tennesseans to find out which of the 17 federally funded assistance programs they qualify for. All they must do is text the word “benefits” to 211-211 or get assistance from the United Way in doing so. The programs available through the Tennessee Department of Human Services are designed to help low-income families cover basic expenses like health care, food and housing.
Helping people find housing
Asher said one big success of UWAC in an emergency was to rapidly find housing for the families displaced when the Applewood Apartments were torn down in Oak Ridge. United Way leaders advocating for the displaced families, found that most qualified for assistance and worked with Tennessee Out-Reach Center for Homeless (TORCH), the Oak Ridge Housing Authority and other agencies to find homes for the families and prevent the children from having to change schools.
To help Anderson County residents acquire the training needed to obtain better-paying jobs, Asher said her office will be housing a “mobility mentor” through the East Tennessee collaborative of the Tennessee Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) workforce development and employment program. The collaborative is run by the United Way of Greater Knoxville.
“The mobility mentor in our office will have access to resources up to $1,600 in cash a month for families needing help so they can move out of poverty,” she said. “The grant allows United Way this year to give families in Anderson and Morgan counties workforce development opportunities and base-level training from Roane State and Pellissippi State community colleges. A grant will be available the following year for Campbell and Scott counties.”
Providing feminine hygiene products, school supplies, food
When Asher and others learned that some older girls in Anderson County were regularly skipping school one week a month, United Way funded the product purchases and distribution of 3,000 feminine hygiene bags. It also placed free feminine hygiene products, laundry detergents in small boxes and other needed items in “blessing boxes” around the county.
Asher told the story of how a blessing box solved problems one day for a mother who could afford only ground beef for her children, but not a detergent to wash their clothes. Also, one of her daughters had just started her period.
In her talk on United Way’s youth development mission, Asher said efforts are made by agencies and schools to ensure that children are not hungry or without school supplies so they can learn. On a side note, she said that when the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter run by the city’s Police Department brought dogs to the Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge, it was observed that some children prefer to read aloud to dogs than people.
Helping senior adults, too
Concerning the self-sufficiency goal for Anderson County residents, she said that a self-sufficient family or individual has employment, permanent housing, food and clean clothing and lives in a safe environment free of sexual assault and domestic violence. Also, a UWAC goal is to provide everyone, including seniors, with access to help if they are homeless, have disabilities or are suffering from substance misuse or elder abuse.
UWAC is focusing on improving the lives of seniors, especially those needing mental and physical health care.
“Anyone struggling with drug misuse or mental health issues should have access to help and support,” she said. “No veterans should ever have to die in their cars alone from preventable diseases.”
UWAC partners with local agencies, government, schools and houses of faith to identify service gaps and then come up with initiatives to bridge them. The most challenging gaps include transportation, affordable housing and access to childcare especially during off hours, Asher said. She added that she would like to have a warehouse center to make sure that all local food pantries have available the healthy foods their visitors need.
UWAC, along with the Anderson County Family Justice Center and Grow Oak Ridge are located in a building at 301 Broadway Ave. in Jackson Square. For more information about UWAC and its partners, visit the www.uwayac.org website or contact Asher at Naomi@uwayac.org or 865-483-8431. | https://www.oakridger.com/story/news/local/2023/07/05/lighthouse-in-the-storm-how-united-way-meets-anderson-countys-needs/70383298007/ | 2023-07-06T11:46:51 | 0 | https://www.oakridger.com/story/news/local/2023/07/05/lighthouse-in-the-storm-how-united-way-meets-anderson-countys-needs/70383298007/ |
BLOOMINGTON — The weather is hot, and so is the Central Illinois music scene.
Artists hailing from the heart of the Prairie State have been stoking streaming platforms with new, original material of several genres.
Here’s a brief roundup of recent releases from in and around the Bloomington-Normal area.
Mario Canon
There’s a Lincoln-based actor, gym owner and hip-hop artist making big waves and dropping tight bars. Mario Canon released his latest music video on Tuesday, titled “Walk It.” Following a familiar surf guitar intro, he pushes out bars so fast, you can tell he’s not even thinking about touching the breaks.
He put out another video, “XXX,” on May 15. In an emailed statement, Canon called it a “Declaration of Independence for me in my music journey.”
“I wanted to break the chains and destroy any box listeners may have had me in,” he explained. Canon added that his producers, Superhoes and VINXIA, were incredible, and Erik Nelson of Eclipse Studios in Normal threw in some love chords on the recording.
Canon, a Springfield native who also starred in the FOX drama television show “Empire,” said he prefers love chords on most of his songs, as live instrumentation always sounds better.
“XXX” will be on his upcoming album “Love Drill,” which Canon said is complete and ready to release this month. Before then, he said he’s putting out a barrage of remixes and a final single push.
Formidable Foe
Bloomington’s Formidable Foe has fired out four singles so far in 2023, and they’re all fire.
Their Kyle Woith was slapping heavy on the bass in the intro of March 31 single “ED,” before the rest of the band hooks listeners in on upbeat grooves and shredding guitar riffs.
They followed up April 20 with “whatitis,” diving down on more mellow tones and wistful lyrics. Direct your ears to the crashing of hi-hats and reverb effects, and you won’t be let down.
The band drops the tempo down for “Future Son,” an anthem geared for those who genuinely feel they’re not from this timeline.
Formidable Foe absolutely floors it in “Crosswalk,” which I falsely assumed was a song of commentary on car culture.
Still, the band is redlining its rock 'n’ roll engine in this song till it’s “got no fuel left to burn.” It was organically composed with no musical forethought, guitarist Nolan Kelly wrote to me in a Facebook message.
He wrote that it “really kind of willed itself into existence in the moment when we were ready to receive it, and the entirety of the song and arrangement was seemingly just there waiting for us from the outset of a jam we were in the middle of.”
Line by line, he said the song is more of an ambiguous idea of crossroads that shouldn’t be taken literally.
The band plans to put out eight more singles each month, Kelly continued. All tracks were recorded by Nelson at the helm of Eclipse Studios, he noted.
NoRobot
Another Bloomington rock band bringing fresh beats this summer is NoRobot. The three-piece act that came out with its debut 2020 album “Begin Transmission” picked its singles game back up late this spring with “My Decline.” That was after they performed a set at Backwoods at Mulberry Mountain, a four-day music festival in Ozark, Arkansas.
NoRobot’s May 25 single moved a grungy yet heartfelt ballad with succinct sci-fi samples glazing over the song’s intro. The band took that vibe even further with its latest single, “Let It Go,” which was released June 23.
Layering in horns over a slick and bluesy guitar solo, NoRobot narrates ending a long-term relationship. Guitarist and vocalist Alex Girard wrote to me in a Facebook message that it was written in 2008 as a “a mantra to try and help remind yourself to get through it and try not to hold onto things you can't change."
“Always easier said than done," he added.
NoRobot is stacking these singles and more up for an album that shares the name of single track “My Decline.” It’s set for release Aug. 25, and was recorded by ToneGood Studio in Urbana. | https://pantagraph.com/life-entertainment/local/music/8-singles-from-central-illinois-artists-worth-a-listen/article_af27dc44-1b6b-11ee-9556-bb538ff29ba1.html | 2023-07-06T11:49:34 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/life-entertainment/local/music/8-singles-from-central-illinois-artists-worth-a-listen/article_af27dc44-1b6b-11ee-9556-bb538ff29ba1.html |
INDIANAPOLIS — IndyGo is hoping a signing bonus will help combat its ongoing driver shortage.
The state's largest public transportation provider is offering a $3,000 sign-on bonus for those who are hired to become a bus driver or mechanic.
(NOTE: The video above is from a previous report on changes to IndyGo bus routes due to a shortage of drivers.)
According to IndyGo, candidates must specifically apply for a coach operator or mechanic position to receive the incentive.
The bonus will be paid starting after the first 90 days of employment in increments of $1,000 quarterly for a total of $3,000, as long as the employee does not have any write-ups.
Click here to apply. The signing bonus offer ends Dec. 31. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/indygo-sign-on-bonus-signing-3000-bus-driver-mechanic-shortage/531-76d56985-5b96-46c4-aa45-5446ead5e7a1 | 2023-07-06T11:54:59 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/indygo-sign-on-bonus-signing-3000-bus-driver-mechanic-shortage/531-76d56985-5b96-46c4-aa45-5446ead5e7a1 |
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/dallas-isd-hosts-summer-cheer-camp/3290631/ | 2023-07-06T11:57:38 | 0 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/something-good/dallas-isd-hosts-summer-cheer-camp/3290631/ |
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Lake County School is looking to fill more than 100 positions for the upcoming school year.
On Wednesday, school officials announced its largest hiring event of the year in hopes of having new employees in place before classes resume on Aug. 10.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Lake County Schools Hiring Day is scheduled for Wednesday, July 12, and will be held in the Mount Dora High School Cafeteria, located at 700 N. Highland Street.
The district is looking to fill 82 teacher vacancies - especially math, science, language arts, elementary and special education teachers.
The district is also looking to fill positions for 19 bus drivers.
Read: Florida residents collect more than $31 million in unclaimed property in June
There are also openings for the following positions:
- Behavioral Analyst, BCBA
- Mechanics
- School Counselors
- Speech Language Pathologists
- School Psychologists
- Teacher Assistants
- Upholster Technician
Read: FBI warns of using AI deepfakes as part of sextortion schemes
Hiring managers from schools and departments across the district will interview potential candidates on the spot between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m., according to a news release.
Participants are asked to register. CLICK HERE to register.
Read: Pet Alliance, Quantum Leap Winery kick off Orlando’s cutest pet photo contest
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/lake-county-schools-set-hold-biggest-hiring-event-year-more-than-100-open-positions/X6CGRVS3LNAZ3LGOBNQN5ACMBY/ | 2023-07-06T12:00:11 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/lake-county-schools-set-hold-biggest-hiring-event-year-more-than-100-open-positions/X6CGRVS3LNAZ3LGOBNQN5ACMBY/ |
Roansy Contreras’ struggles this season continued in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 6-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.
Contreras (3-7) entered the game in the fifth inning with the Pirates up a pair but surrendered four runs in his lone inning of work. J.D. Martinez hit a three run homer and David Peralta followed with a solo shot, giving the Dodgers back-to-back homers and a 6-4 lead.
Bryan Reynolds hit a solo homer in the first inning and Jack Suwinski belted a three-run shot to put the Pirates up 4-0 against Dodgers starter Bobby Miller (5-1).
Read more from our partners at Sports Now Group Pittsburgh.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
TRENDING NOW:
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/contreras-implosion-missed-chances-result-6-4-loss-dodgers/TTR2J46FQRBT7LGZSQUTZH35KY/ | 2023-07-06T12:05:33 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/contreras-implosion-missed-chances-result-6-4-loss-dodgers/TTR2J46FQRBT7LGZSQUTZH35KY/ |
A father who was preparing to walk his eldest daughter down the aisle. An aspiring actor who appeared as an extra in the “Creed” movie franchise. A teenager who tried to help a wounded friend. These are the stories of those killed in the all-too-familiar thrum of another mass shooting.
Five people in a working-class neighborhood of Philadelphia were gunned down Monday in what became the deadliest among a rash of U.S. shootings that occurred around the July Fourth holiday. A gunman in a ski mask and body armor appeared to fire on people at random while they were on the street or in a car, authorities said.
Ralph Moralis, 59; Joseph Wamah Jr., 31; Dymir Stanton, 29; Lashyd Merritt, 21; and DaJuan Brown, 15, were killed in the shooting. Four others, including two 2-year-old boys, were also wounded.
The alleged shooter was arraigned Wednesday on multiple charges including five counts of murder.
The victims’ families remain shattered as they now cope with the feeling of senseless loss.
RALPH MORALIS: THE “GO-TO-GUY”
Ralph Moralis’ daughter was to be married Sunday. But instead of focusing on the joy of her wedding day, she is now planning her father’s funeral, said Karen Gleason, his sister-in-law.
All the joy they had been feeling leading up to the momentous occasion was torn away when Moralis was shot outside the childhood home where he lived. The entire family, including Moralis’ two brothers, have not stopped crying since hearing the news.
“It’s unfathomable,” she said. “It’s so unbelievable that you can’t even go out your front door.”
The 59-year-old had been prepping for weeks on what he would wear, making sure he wouldn’t mess up during his first child’s wedding rehearsal. Moralis was always the one willing to go out of his way to help.
“He was the go-to-guy whether you needed a bike put together for one of the kids or his cousin was saying: ‘I need to get to Florida. Can you drive me?’” she said. “He would do that. He was just there always for family and always willing to help.”
JOSEPH WAMAH JR.: ASPIRING ACTOR WITH DEEP ARTISTIC TALENT
Joseph Wamah Jr. knew acting was his calling. The 31-year-old studied psychology at Chestnut Hill College but he became active in the local Philadelphia acting community, said close friend Terrance Harden. He even got a role as an extra in one of the “Creed” movies, starring Michael B. Jordan.
Harden, who has known Wamah since high school, said the two bonded over their love of filmmaking. Before Wamah was found dead inside a home early Tuesday, Harden had imagined the two would grow old as friends and achieve the level of success that they both wanted for each other.
“With such a great attitude, such a positive outlook on life, it almost seems like good fortune ought to come your way,” he said. “That’s why it was so hard to believe that this could have happened to him.”
Wamah’s twin sister Josephine and another sister, Jasmine, were full of anger Wednesday as they spoke at a news conference of a brother who had a smile and hug for everyone.
“I just still can’t believe that my brother is gone. And I just don’t understand why this happened. He was a kind soul. He was nice to everyone,” Josephine Wamah said.
Wamah also loved to cook — despite having little culinary talent. But his real gift was as an artist, his sisters said.
“He had the worst cooking. We still ate it because he just... he tried. He couldn’t cook, but he could sketch his butt off,” Josephine Wamah said. “It was so detail-oriented and so passionate. It was so rooted and down to earth. It was just spiritual. You could feel this man’s emotions in every brushstroke.”
Josephine Wamah said she plans to find all of her brother’s artwork and share his talent with the world.
“I just don’t understand how someone could just do that to my brother. I really loved him,” she said.
LASHYD MERRITT: A GOOD KID
Lashyd Merritt’s mother told WPVI-TV in Philadelphia that her son was a good kid who loved his family, especially his nieces and nephews. He loved buying them gifts at Christmas.
Marie Merritt said Lashyd Merritt, who would have been 22 in September, was out buying a snack while on a work break Monday.
“I don’t understand why people just — whatever anger they have within themselves— I don’t understand why someone in the neighborhood would have that type of stuff, like guns -- I don’t understand that,” Marie Merritt said. “And you’re just taking good people away,”
She wants the suspected shooter to “rot in jail.” She also is thinking about how her son would feel.
“(My heart) is broken. I feel him saying, ‘Why me?’”
DAJUAN BROWN: KILLED WHILE HELPING A FRIEND
DaJuan Brown’s mother, Nashaya Thomas, told WCAU-TV her teenage son was walking to a store when gunfire started. Brown was helping a 13-year-old friend who had been shot twice in the legs when he was gunned down.
He was someone people couldn’t help but fall in love with.
“He lost his life trying to do a selfless act,” she said, “and that’s how he was when he was here.”
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
TRENDING NOW:
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/father-bride-teen-who-tried-save-friend-among-5-killed-philadelphia-shooting/T5FLU43PIFDXJFLVBFOOPSVMZA/ | 2023-07-06T12:05:39 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/father-bride-teen-who-tried-save-friend-among-5-killed-philadelphia-shooting/T5FLU43PIFDXJFLVBFOOPSVMZA/ |
'A miracle': Palm Coast woman gives birth roadside on her way to Flagler Hospital
Roadside birth underscores the lack of birthing facilities in Palm Coast.
Given her high-risk pregnancy, Isis Davis couldn’t take any chances delivering her first child, so she patiently awaited July 13, the day she was scheduled to be induced.
But the morning of June 25, she started feeling cramps.
Davis called her doula, Tabatha Seppala, and told her about the pain. When Seppala arrived at her house soon after, she knew something was wrong.
A few hours later, Seppala, Davis and Davis' husband, Anthony, found themselves at the intersection of U.S. 1 and State Road 206 with baby Akovi Davis in their hands, in a happy ending to a story that could have ended tragically, Seppala said.
In an interview with The News-Journal, Seppala recounted what happened during the unforgettable day.
Her company, The Doula Network, assigned her to Davis approximately three weeks ago, when the expectant mother was 33 weeks along and requested a doula.
Davis has a “significant health” history, which involves a protein S deficiency related to a blood-clotting disorder, which requires her to be on blood thinners.
Protein S is one of many natural anticoagulants. Its deficiency in the body leads to blood clots forming more easily.
The original plan, Seppala said, was to have Davis induced for labor at Flagler Hospital on July 13.
“Because she is a 30-year-old first-time mother, she already had age as a factor placing her in that high-risk position,” Seppala said. “Then we incorporate her clotting disorder and her being on blood thinners, and it increases her risk of hemorrhage … This story is a miracle.”
Seppala had just visited Davis for the second time June 22 when they reviewed the plans for the baby’s upcoming birth.
“Everything was on course and looking to be that she would deliver when they induced her,” Seppala said.
‘Something out of a movie’
When Seppala first arrived at Davis' home June 25, she didn't think her client was going into labor.
When she entered Davis' bedroom, however, she could tell just by the look on her face that she was in fact in labor.
After the expectant mother started complaining about some contraction pain, Seppala, who also has a birth assistance practice and is studying to be a midwife, said she performed a cervical exam on Davis, at which point she determined the baby’s head was already crowning.
“So I said, ‘We really need to go,’” Seppala said.
The race to Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine (approximately 23 miles away) began and tension was high, she said, when the couple realized their car did not have enough gas for the trip.
Pregnancy care struggle:Pregnant women on Medicaid in Florida wait weeks or months before seeing an obstetrician
Seppala then took Davis in her own car (which is typically prohibited due to liability reasons) and headed toward the hospital.
“At this point, protocol is kind of going out the window,” she said. “I’m recognizing this is a preterm delivery, all of the health factors that are coming into play with this person, and I wanted to make sure she got the best opportunity to get the care she needed.”
They got onto U.S. 1 and made it to a red light at the intersection with State Road 206, about halfway to the hospital, when Davis told her, “I think I need to push.”
“And then her water breaks,” Seppala said.
She pulled over to the shoulder, opened the backseat door, and saw the top of the baby’s head.
Another couple pulled over and offered to help by buying gloves at a nearby store and calling medical services.
When Davis' husband arrived on scene, she made one final push and her baby was born, Seppala said.
“I don’t even know how to describe it,” she said. “It was truly something out of a movie.”
'A microsystem of health':Daytona Beach could soon have a new low-barrier prenatal clinic
Call for childbirth care centers in Palm Coast
After her doula placed the baby into her arms, Davis immediately started feeling better.
“It was a lot of emotion at that moment,” Davis said in an interview. “I was in shock. I was like, ‘I just had him literally on the side of the road.’ I was just dumbfounded that I actually did that.”
A few days later, waiting to be discharged from the hospital, Davis said she was still processing everything.
“I’m just sitting here wowing everything,” Davis said. “I’m in love with him, his little face, his hands.”
Her son, Akovi, was born prematurely at 36 weeks; he was 5 pounds and 19.5 inches long and is doing “OK.”
She thanked Seppala, her husband, and the bystanders who helped them on the street, all without whom she “could not have done it.”
Davis said part of the reason she wanted to share her story is because the only hospitals offering childbirth care near her Palm Coast home are at least 30 minutes away.
The closest labor and delivery services available to those in the Palm Coast area are at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine, Halifax Health's Center for Women-Infant Health in Daytona Beach and AdventHealth Daytona Beach.
She thanked St. Johns County's medical services team for getting to scene as quickly as they did, even though the “difficult” part had already been done.
“That is what I wanted for Palm Coast,” said Davis, who is a lifelong resident of the Flagler County city. “There’s nothing really for (expectant) moms, and I live there. Why do I have to drive 30 to 40 minutes just to have my son, when I am high-risk and a first-time mom not knowing what the heck was going on?”
She said she was “scared the entire time” from the moment she began feeling the contractions to the moment her son was born.
“I would love to see a labor and delivery, or just a birthing center, in Palm Coast for every single woman who wants to have a baby in Palm Coast,” Davis said. “We need that kind of recognition and that kind of service in Palm Coast.”
AdventHealth's second Palm Coast unit is anticipated to open in August, but the hospital does not have plans to add labor and delivery services yet, according to spokeswoman Lindsay Cashio.
The reason behind the decision, Cashio told The News-Journal in an email, has to do with Palm Coast's demographic makeup.
"Over the past decade, Flagler County has experienced an increase in the number of individuals aged 65 and older," Cashio wrote. "Expanding our services to include a labor and delivery unit would require a substantial increase in the number of young people of child-bearing age in Flagler County, as a unit with low patient volumes could compromise the quality of care."
Despite the difficulty, Davis said she has plans to have another child.
“I would love to see a birthing center that can support other women who live in Palm Coast as well.”
Davis and her husband set up a GoFundMe campaign to help them with their son's medical costs. | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/flagler/2023/07/06/palm-coast-woman-gives-birth-roadside-on-her-way-to-flagler-hospital/70361088007/ | 2023-07-06T12:08:47 | 0 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/flagler/2023/07/06/palm-coast-woman-gives-birth-roadside-on-her-way-to-flagler-hospital/70361088007/ |
Lieutenant who jailed toddler under investigation for violating six department policies
The Daytona Beach Shores police lieutenant who said he handcuffed and jailed his 3½-year-old son last October for a potty-training lesson, is facing another professional standards investigation, The News-Journal has learned.
Michael Schoenbrod is under investigation for violating six department policies according to an April 13 memo written by Michael Fowler, Daytona Beach Shores' director of public safety.
Two former Daytona Beach Shores public safety workers who spoke to The News-Journal on the condition that their names not be used said the investigation stems, at least in part, from Schoenbrod's appearance at a 6 a.m. shift briefing on April 7.
Schoenbrod, who as a lieutenant normally does not attend those meetings, spoke critically of other officers who he believed were involved in reporting him to the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the former employees said.
Those former workers, as well as others who have spoken to the News-Journal, described a retaliatory environment as the reason for their hesitancy to speak on the record.
The allegedly violated policies
The policies Schoenbrod allegedly failed to live up to on April 7 include treating other officers and associates with respect and always being courteous, civil, and orderly with each other and the public and refraining from profane or disrespectful language.
Another is avoiding actual or potential conflicts of interest, particularly for superior officers, who must "be objective, fair and above all, devoid of any personal favoritism. If a superior enters into an off-duty relationship or an outside business interest with a subordinate," motives may become "suspect and compromise the integrity of those involved."
And should a conflict of interest arise, "the involved employees shall immediately notify their immediate superior," so action can be taken to eliminate the conflict.
Officers should also not speak rumors or gossip that is detrimental to the department or its members. And "no employee shall engage in conduct on or off-duty which adversely affects the morale or efficiency of the department."
Neither Schoenbrod nor his attorney, Michael Lambert, responded to an emailed request for comment Monday.
Fowler said in an email: " I am precluded from discussing ongoing internal investigations."
Request for memo denied
The News-Journal requested the memo on June 28, but city Clerk Cheri Schwab said it couldn't be released because it was "part of an active investigation." Florida's public records law allows some materials to be withheld from the public until an investigation has concluded.
However, Schwab did provide the memo to Mark Dickinson, an activist who uses the pseudonym James Madison Audits, on April 19. Dickinson shared Schwab's email containing the memo with The News-Journal.
The previous professional standards investigation is related to potty-training punishment.
During an interview with a DCF caseworker last Oct. 27, Schoenbrod said he and the child's mother, Jessica Long, who works as a sergeant with the Daytona Beach Shores public safety department, were having difficulty potty-training their boy.
On Oct. 5, Long brought the child to a holding cell for about three minutes, Schoenbrod can be heard to say on Volusia County Sheriff's Office bodycam footage of the DCF interview. He said he brought the boy back the following day, handcuffing and jailing him for "13 minutes or something like that."
An internal investigation was conducted by Daytona Beach Shores police, but the case's disposition has not been made public. Schwab said the record has been sealed by a judge's order.
Schoenbrod and Long have filed a petition with the Volusia Circuit Court that has also been sealed. The petition names State Attorney R.J. Larizza, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, city of Daytona Beach Shores and Volusia County Sheriff's Office as defendants, but it is not clear what the two officers are seeking.
A July 17 hearing was placed on the calendar last week, but appears to have been cancelled, according to a notice filed by Schoenbrod and Long late Friday. That document states that the two officers have filed the petition on behalf of themselves and a minor child.
Closed Case:Nonprofit asks judge to open records in case involving Daytona Beach Shores officers
Dembinsky Retires:Longtime Daytona Beach Shores police chief steps down after 25 years | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/07/06/daytona-beach-shores-police-conduct-2nd-investigation-into-lieutenant/70378967007/ | 2023-07-06T12:08:53 | 0 | https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/07/06/daytona-beach-shores-police-conduct-2nd-investigation-into-lieutenant/70378967007/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. – A man was found shot to death early Thursday at an Orange County apartment complex, deputies said.
The fatal shooting happened around 2:30 a.m. at the Palmetto At Lakeside apartments in the 4400 block of South Rio Grande Avenue.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called to the area and found the man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim was only identified as a man in his 30s.
Deputies said it’s believed the suspected shooter ran away, but no other details have been released. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/07/06/man-found-shot-to-death-at-palmetto-at-lakeside-apartments-in-orange-county/ | 2023-07-06T12:12:50 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/07/06/man-found-shot-to-death-at-palmetto-at-lakeside-apartments-in-orange-county/ |
A driver struck and killed a woman in North Philadelphia then left the scene of the deadly wreck after stopping briefly, police said.
Responding police officers and medics found a woman in her 30s in the northbound lanes of North Broad Street, near Somerset Street, around 3:30 a.m. Thursday, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.
She had severe trauma to her head, Small said. Medics pronounced her dead at the scene.
"This is a fatal hit-and-run auto accident," Small said. "She was hit by such force that she was launched, knocked out of one of her sneakers."
Get Philly local news, weather forecasts, sports and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia newsletters.
A witness told investigators that a white sedan -- possibly a Toyota -- was going northbound on Broad Street, just past Lehigh Avenue, when the car struck the woman as she crossed the street.
"After striking the female, the white vehicle stopped and pulled over," Small said. "But after a few seconds then pulled off and fled from the scene northbound on Broad Street."
Police found a large piece of plastic near the woman's body that investigators believe is part of the undercarriage of the striking car.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Crash investigators hoped that surveillance video from the area would help them get a better description of the car.
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/eadly-north-hilly-hit-run/3599146/ | 2023-07-06T12:12:56 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/eadly-north-hilly-hit-run/3599146/ |
A father who was preparing to walk his eldest daughter down the aisle. An aspiring actor who appeared as an extra in the “Creed” movie franchise. A teenager who tried to help a wounded friend. These are the stories of those killed in the all-too-familiar thrum of another mass shooting.
Five people in a working-class neighborhood of Philadelphia were gunned down Monday in what became the deadliest among a rash of U.S. shootings that occurred around the July Fourth holiday. A gunman in a ski mask and body armor appeared to fire on people at random while they were on the street or in a car, authorities said.
Ralph Moralis, 59; Joseph Wamah Jr., 31; Dymir Stanton, 29; Lashyd Merritt, 21; and DaJuan Brown, 15, were killed in the shooting. Four others, including two 2-year-old boys, were also wounded by either bullets or shattered glass.
The alleged shooter was arraigned Wednesday on multiple charges including five counts of murder.
Get Philly local news, weather forecasts, sports and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia newsletters.
The victims' families remain shattered as they now cope with the feeling of senseless loss.
Ralph Moralis' daughter was to be married Sunday. But instead of focusing on the joy of her wedding day, she is now planning her father's funeral, said Karen Gleason, his sister-in-law.
All the joy they had been feeling leading up to the momentous occasion was torn away when Moralis was shot outside the childhood home where he lived. The entire family, including Moralis' two brothers, have not stopped crying since hearing the news.
“It’s unfathomable,” she said. “It’s so unbelievable that you can’t even go out your front door.”
The 59-year-old had been prepping for weeks on what he would wear, making sure he wouldn’t mess up during his first child's wedding rehearsal. Moralis was always the one willing to go out of his way to help.
“He was the go-to-guy whether you needed a bike put together for one of the kids or his cousin was saying: ‘I need to get to Florida. Can you drive me?’” she said. “He would do that. He was just there always for family and always willing to help.”
Joseph Wamah Jr. knew acting was his calling. The 31-year-old studied psychology at Chestnut Hill College but he became active in the local Philadelphia acting community, said close friend Terrance Harden. He even got a role as an extra in one of the “Creed” movies, starring Michael B. Jordan.
Harden, who has known Wamah since high school, said the two bonded over their love of filmmaking. Before Wamah was found dead inside a home early Tuesday, Harden had imagined the two would grow old as friends and achieve the level of success that they both wanted for each other.
“With such a great attitude, such a positive outlook on life, it almost seems like good fortune ought to come your way,” he said. “That’s why it was so hard to believe that this could have happened to him.”
Wamah's twin sister Josephine and another sister, Jasmine, were full of anger Wednesday as they spoke at a news conference of a brother who had a smile and hug for everyone.
“I just still can’t believe that my brother is gone. And I just don’t understand why this happened. He was a kind soul. He was nice to everyone,” Josephine Wamah said.
Wamah also loved to cook — despite having little culinary talent. But his real gift was as an artist, his sisters said.
“He had the worst cooking. We still ate it because he just... he tried. He couldn’t cook, but he could sketch his butt off,” Josephine Wamah said. “It was so detail-oriented and so passionate. It was so rooted and down to earth. It was just spiritual. You could feel this man’s emotions in every brushstroke.”
Josephine Wamah said she plans to find all of her brother’s artwork and share his talent with the world.
“I just don’t understand how someone could just do that to my brother. I really loved him,” she said.
Lashyd Merritt's mother told WPVI-TV in Philadelphia that her son was a good kid who loved his family, especially his nieces and nephews. He loved buying them gifts at Christmas.
Marie Merritt said Lashyd Merritt, who would have been 22 in September, was out buying a snack while on a work break Monday.
“I don’t understand why people just — whatever anger they have within themselves— I don’t understand why someone in the neighborhood would have that type of stuff, like guns -- I don’t understand that," Marie Merritt said. “And you’re just taking good people away,”
She wants the suspected shooter to “rot in jail.” She also is thinking about how her son would feel.
“(My heart) is broken. I feel him saying, 'Why me?'”
DaJuan Brown's mother, Nashaya Thomas, told NBC10 her teenage son was walking to a store when gunfire started. Brown was helping a 13-year-old friend who had been shot twice in the legs when he was gunned down.
He was someone people couldn't help but fall in love with.
“He lost his life trying to do a selfless act," she said, "and that’s how he was when he was here.”
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/southwest-philly-mass-shooting-victims/3598967/ | 2023-07-06T12:13:02 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/southwest-philly-mass-shooting-victims/3598967/ |
Skip to content
Main Navigation
Search
Search for:
Weather
Local
Sports
Entertainment
Investigators
Videos
Newsletters
Live TV
Share
Close
Trending
Watch NBC10 24/7 on Streaming Platforms
Wawa Welcome America
First Alert Weather
Phillies baseball
Expand
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/tim-furlong-goes-out-on-a-ledge-for-a-cause/3599190/ | 2023-07-06T12:13:08 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/tim-furlong-goes-out-on-a-ledge-for-a-cause/3599190/ |
Skip to content
Main Navigation
Search
Search for:
Weather
Local
Sports
Entertainment
Investigators
Videos
Newsletters
Live TV
Share
Close
Trending
Watch NBC10 24/7 on Streaming Platforms
Wawa Welcome America
First Alert Weather
Phillies baseball
Expand
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/why-did-you-have-to-do-this-to-my-brother-mass-shooting-victims-families-officials-seek-answers/3599149/ | 2023-07-06T12:13:15 | 1 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/why-did-you-have-to-do-this-to-my-brother-mass-shooting-victims-families-officials-seek-answers/3599149/ |
Skip to content
Main Navigation
Search
Search for:
Weather
Local
Sports
Entertainment
Investigators
Videos
Newsletters
Live TV
Share
Close
Trending
Watch NBC10 24/7 on Streaming Platforms
Wawa Welcome America
First Alert Weather
Phillies baseball
Expand
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/woman-dies-in-hit-and-run-crash/3599157/ | 2023-07-06T12:13:21 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/woman-dies-in-hit-and-run-crash/3599157/ |
July 6 is Fried Chicken Day, so enjoy this all-American favorite. Chicken and waffles for breakfast, anyone?
Play ball! The Kenosha Kingfish are back in action today at Simmons Field, hosting the Madison Mallards. Bonus: It’s Bark in the Park! Bring your canine pals to the ballpark for the 6:35 p.m. game. For tickets, call 262-653-0900 or go to kingfishbaseball.com.
The new Rhythm on the Lake Concert Series continues it summer season of weekly free concerts in Old Settlers Park, 24100 75th St. in Paddock Lake. Concerts are 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, each week through Aug. 17, on the new band shell in the park, overlooking the lake. The group Hot & Dirty performs on June 29. Bring lawn chairs and/or blankets. Concessions will be available for purchase, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages from a pop-up beer garden. For more details, go to parks.kenoshacounty.org.
People are also reading…
Looking for live music tonight? Pat Garrett’s Pick & Pull Songwriter’s Open Mic starts at 8:30 tonight at Union Park Tavern, 4520 Eighth Ave. It’s free, and everyone is welcome.
The Kenosha Public Museum, 5500 First Ave., is hosting the Transparent Watercolor Society’s annual exhibit, showcasing paintings from the top transparent watercolor artists in the country. Admission is free. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. www.KenoshaPublicMuseum.org.
In Racine, the Racine HarborMarket is open 4 to 7 p.m. today in Monument Square, at Main and Sixth streets. The market will feature live music rom Mark Paffrath, plus a beer tent and more than 30 booths. The Racine HarborMarket returns Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. on July 20, and Aug. 3, 17 and 31.
In Milwaukee, the Big Gig is back! Summerfest opens its third (and final) weekend, with Jimmy Buffett headlining the festival tonight. It’s “Senior Fest,” with free admission until 4 p.m. for everyone age 60 and older. For more details about the festival, see our “Road Trips” story in today’s Get Out & About entertainment section. | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-area-events-for-thursday-july-6/article_049cc5e4-1b31-11ee-89e7-33c74b3df671.html | 2023-07-06T12:17:34 | 1 | https://kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-area-events-for-thursday-july-6/article_049cc5e4-1b31-11ee-89e7-33c74b3df671.html |
PHOENIX — A desperate plea for help to find two precious and valuable pieces of jewelry is coming from a woman visiting the Valley.
Cathy Hadam told 12News she was in Arizona for the first time and accidentally forgot her wedding rings in the restroom at Sky Harbor International Airport.
Hadam is hopeful someone will turn in her missing engagement ring and wedding band to the airport's lost and found.
She said after more than four hours of travel from Atlanta, she did what most travelers do when they exit the aircraft.
"I got off the plane and just went to the bathroom," she explained. "I wanted to freshen up and I took my rings off."
However because she was out of her regular routine, she simply forgot to put her yellow sapphire ring and wedding band back on.
"I went to meet my husband at the welcome center and it was about 45 minutes later, we were actually still at the airport and that's when I realized I had forgotten my rings."
The friendliest airport was hoping to help find the jewelry, but Sky Harbor employees scrambled with no luck.
"The worker who was trying to help me, he was doing this on his lunch break which is amazing, and he went back to my gate and had a female worker go in," she added.
Several workers searched the C gates and the restroom but the rings were already gone.
"I filed a report and the lost and found was closed and they said I couldn't call back until today, Wednesday the 5th, so I did, but they haven't turned up yet."
She's optimistic that someone will see the sentiment and return the rings she's worn for 13 years.
Hadam said new rings wouldn't hold the same place in her heart.
"It means something to me, we can always buy a replacement ring, but it's not the same, you know it just isn't, I want that ring," she said.
Anyone with information or anybody that might even have the rings is asked to reach out to 12News with those details at 602-444-1212 or Connect@12news.com
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/woman-loses-wedding-rings-at-sky-harbor/75-891a4668-7cac-40f5-8129-019b55f1ac29 | 2023-07-06T12:29:38 | 0 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/woman-loses-wedding-rings-at-sky-harbor/75-891a4668-7cac-40f5-8129-019b55f1ac29 |
News Tribune, July 6, 1983
- The Superior City Council yesterday arrived at a compromise on bar closing time. The council narrowly voted to prohibit sale of alcohol after 1 a.m. but to allow bars to remain open for another 30 minutes during daylight savings time.
- Gov. Rudy Perpich yesterday approved more than $400,000 in federal grants for landscaping projects in Northeastern Minnesota. The money is part of more than $775,000 in federal Emergency Jobs Act grants made to Minnesota cities, counties and nonprofit organizations.
News Tribune, July 6, 1923
- Work will begin immediately on a new $10,000 clubhouse and grounds for Duluth's Young Old Timers Club, 1931 W. Superior St. The club was organized 12 years ago and has grown from just a few members to over 300.
- The Superior Public Library checked out 202,425 volumes during the 12 months ending on June 30, a decrease of 17,777 from last year. Of the total of books checked out, 105,144 were from the adult department and 97,281 from the juvenile department. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/bygones-100-years-ago-construction-began-on-duluths-young-old-timers-club | 2023-07-06T12:33:47 | 1 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/bygones-100-years-ago-construction-began-on-duluths-young-old-timers-club |
Outdoor warning sirens to be tested soon around Oconee Nuclear Station. What to know.
Duke Energy and county officials will test outdoor warning sirens around Oconee Nuclear Station on Wednesday, July 12 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
The 65 sirens within 10 miles of Oconee Nuclear Station in Seneca will sound for five to 30 seconds, a press release from Duke Energy stated.
Public action will not be required.
To test functionality, some sirens may be tested more than once. Testing will be performed in cooperation with emergency officials in Oconee and Pickens counties, who are responsible for sounding the sirens, the press release said.
In the case of a real emergency at the plant requiring the sirens to be sounded, the public would be warned through broadcasted information from local radio and television stations.
To learn more regarding nuclear emergency preparedness and outdoor warning sirens, residents can visit duke-energy.com/NuclearEP.
Nina Tran covers trending topics for the Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/greenville/2023/07/06/outdoor-warning-sirens-test-to-be-run-around-oconee-nuclear-station-public-safety-greenville-news/70386464007/ | 2023-07-06T12:39:39 | 0 | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/greenville/2023/07/06/outdoor-warning-sirens-test-to-be-run-around-oconee-nuclear-station-public-safety-greenville-news/70386464007/ |
Ask Royale: Column on hiatus for July. But keep sending your questions about Greenville.
Thank you for sending in questions for the Ask Royale column. I've enjoyed answering all of them!
Since my column launched I found about how to initiate sidewalk requests, why cameras are installed on traffic lights, who is in charge of removing debris from the Reedy River and so much more.
For the month of July, I'll be taking some vacation and heading to a journalism training. So, there will be a brief hiatus of Ask Royale for July. I still look forward to answering questions from the Greenville and Upstate SC community so don't stop sending them in! I have mostly answered questions pertaining to growth and development in the city and county, but I'm open to other topics as well.
Happy summer and don't forget to Ask Royale!
We want to give our readers the opportunity to have their questions about Greenville County answered. Email your questions to rbonds@gannett.com. | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/greenville/city-people/2023/07/06/ask-royale-column-on-hiatus-keep-sending-questions-about-greenville/70374695007/ | 2023-07-06T12:40:01 | 1 | https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/greenville/city-people/2023/07/06/ask-royale-column-on-hiatus-keep-sending-questions-about-greenville/70374695007/ |
Creating and protecting civic spaces is a vital component of a thriving community. These spaces foster a sense of belonging, a connection with others and a respite from the outside chatter of things that divide us.
There are many such public places in Mason City, but I would like to focus on one. One of the most beautiful in the Midwest is the Rotary Cannonball Gardens and Plaza.
This remarkable preservation and restoration is the work of hundreds of volunteers. But it was the incredible leadership of one person that made it come to life.
Dennis Wilson’s passion, dedication and hard work resulted in the restoration of the last of its kind 1912 Rotary Cannonball 457 Steam Engine and creating the surrounding plaza and gardens.
That is why I issued the following proclamation designating Dennis Wilson Day as part of the 17th annual Rotary Cannon Ball Day this past June 24:
People are also reading…
“From spotless white trim on the jet black steam engine to flower baskets red, pink and white highlighting old fashioned lamp posts. From a shining National Register of Historic Places plaque to a railroad tie trimmed staircase;
From the aroma of fresh pine mulch to an early morning song bird; from the wrought iron fence to the sculpted stone patio. From the “John Skipper Memorial Bench” to the cobblestone sidewalk framing “The Academy”;
From a mother rocking her baby to an anonymous man at sunrise lovingly tending flowers. Beauty such as this takes our breath away. We honor those who dedicate themselves to it.”
Built in 1912, this last remaining Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway Steam Locomotive has been restored to reflect its appearance in the late 1920s. Surrounded by the Cannonball Gardens, the site also features a relaxing landscape of flowers, terraces and patios. The educational plaza tells stories of Mason City’s incredible railroad history.
Since 2005, the “Friends of the 457” have hosted more than 150,000 visitors to the locomotive in Mason City’s East Park. Tours are available May through October on Saturday & Sunday from 1-5 pm and other times by appointment. Tour information is available at: friendsofthe457.org.
The best way we can thank Dennis Wilson and all of the volunteers who help is by committing ourselves today and every day to following the example he has set and not limiting ourselves and our community to small dreams.
It is appropriately adjacent to a new Mason City gathering place, the High Line Trail on the abandoned Union Pacific Railroad line, the very tracks that the old locomotive rambled over 100 years ago. Mason City’s new “Park in the Sky” is part of a larger regional trails plan that will connect Mason City residents and visitors to areas of interest and activities around the city as well as nearby parks and natural areas, including Lime Creek Conservation Area and Nature Center.
It is sure to boost the already phenomenal amount of tourism the Cannonball Gardens is drawing.
Bill Schickel is the Mayor of Mason City, Iowa. | https://globegazette.com/news/local/schickel-dennis-willson-volunteers-deserve-our-thanks/article_ca04a858-1b66-11ee-887d-3384cf275b1a.html | 2023-07-06T12:43:42 | 0 | https://globegazette.com/news/local/schickel-dennis-willson-volunteers-deserve-our-thanks/article_ca04a858-1b66-11ee-887d-3384cf275b1a.html |
Average daily flows
Snake River at Jackson 290 cfs
Snake River at Palisades 11,553 cfs
Snake River at Heise 12,226 cfs
Snake River at Blackfoot 2,305 cfs
Snake River at American Falls 14,581 cfs
Snake River at Milner 3,004 cfs
Little Wood River near Carey 228 cfs
Jackson Lake is 88% full.
Palisades Reservoir is 98% full.
American Falls Reservoir is 78% full.
Upper Snake River system is at 87% of capacity.
As of July 5 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/average-daily-streamflows/article_d1c67890-1b8a-11ee-b77f-97149a254edc.html | 2023-07-06T12:45:44 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/average-daily-streamflows/article_d1c67890-1b8a-11ee-b77f-97149a254edc.html |
HAGERMAN — Garin Brit Yost, 72, passed away June 24, 2023, at his home in Hagerman, Idaho, due to complications of diabetes.
A celebration of Garin’s life will be held at Wilson’s Club on State Street in Hagerman on Sunday, July 9, 2023 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Condolences, memories and photos can be shared with the family by following the obituary link at www.demarayfuneralservice.com. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/obituaries/funeral-notices/garin-brit-yost/article_c8d6a73a-df43-5640-af66-fbddd31401a2.html | 2023-07-06T12:45:50 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/obituaries/funeral-notices/garin-brit-yost/article_c8d6a73a-df43-5640-af66-fbddd31401a2.html |
The Dayton Air Show is fast approaching, and show leaders continue to refine traffic and parking plans in an effort to avoid the traffic hassles that tormented last year’s show, when some 80,000 visitors over the course of a July weekend snarled Interstate 75 traffic in both directions.
The CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show Presented by Kroger will be July 22 and 23. Show officials continue to build a new access point off Northwoods Boulevard and Engle Road to direct traffic into the main general admissions parking lot off North Dixie Drive.
And they are asking show visitors once again to arrive early.
There is only so much anyone can do to alleviate traffic snarls, said Scott Buchanan, chairman of the U.S. Air and Trade Show, the non-profit organization that produces the show.
With the flying portion of the show starting at about noon both Saturday and Sunday — weather permitting — too often visitors will arrive at about 10 a.m. or 10:30 a.m.
Show organizers are advising visitors to come earlier.
“Most air shows in the country had the same issues we had, some much worse,” Buchanan said in a new interview. “You can only squeeze so many cars in a certain period of time. We want to push getting here early.”
Ticket sales have been brisk for the coming show. While last year’s show brought in about 80,000 visitors, the 2021 show, hampered by poor weather and quickly changing post-pandemic organization, attendance was closer to just 50,000.
Show leaders have made a couple of big changes to parking and traffic control for the 49th Dayton Air Show.
First, the show has shifted to pre-paid parking. General admission parking will not be sold at the event.
Second, the show is having an unpaved three-lane access road built to accommodate traffic coming off the Northwoods exits from Interstate 75.
The new access road will start just off the intersection of Northwoods and Engle Road, just west of the I-75 ramps. Traffic coming off the I-75-Northwoods exit from both directions will be pointed to that access road.
Tickets and parking purchases may be found at daytonairshow.com.
The show is also changing how southbound surface street traffic off the interstate is directed to general admissions parking.
If you’re driving south from Tipp City or Miami County on North Dixie toward the airport, you will be directed to Falls Creek Drive, then right on Northwoods, and from there to the new parking access road.
Kevin Franklin, the show’s executive director, said that plan was created with Vandalia police.
“It brings you down into Kroger (at 780 Northwoods Blvd.), and then turning right onto Northwoods, to come back across the Interstate (75) to get into the parking lot,” Franklin said.
All interstate traffic, from north and south, will continue to egress at the Northwoods exit, being directed to dedicated lanes to general admissions parking.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/dayton-air-show-leaders-to-avoid-traffic-headaches-arrive-early/BQCOBMBZ5FAOLKK4DYGQ47EEL4/ | 2023-07-06T12:50:28 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/dayton-air-show-leaders-to-avoid-traffic-headaches-arrive-early/BQCOBMBZ5FAOLKK4DYGQ47EEL4/ |
XENIA — A local jeweler who has been very involved in Bellbrook-Sugarcreek school board and school levy elections in recent years has been charged with illegal voting and tampering with records related to the November 2022 election.
John Stafford, 65, who owns Stafford’s Diamonds near the Dayton Mall, was indicted on two felony counts of illegal voting and tampering with records, and one misdemeanor count of failing to provide notification of a change of address.
According to the indictment, filed in Greene County Common Pleas Court on June 16, Stafford is charged with voting in Greene County, where he was not “a legally qualified elector,” and tampering with evidence.
The Ohio Attorney General’s office is serving as special prosecutor for the case, per the indictment. A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s office said that most voter fraud cases are referred to their agency from the Ohio Secretary of State’s office and prosecuted by local agencies. A small percentage of voter fraud cases, including this case, are referred from local law enforcement, and prosecuted by the state.
The Ohio Secretary of State’s Office last October referred 75 suspected voter fraud cases to the Ohio AG and county prosecutors, totaling 630 in the last four years.
The Greene County court records tied to the case that were posted online early Wednesday listed a non-Greene County address for Stafford. Later Wednesday, the case was fully removed from Greene County’s Courtview website, due to its confidential nature, a spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office said.
The indictment obtained by the Dayton Daily News has Stafford’s address redacted.
Stafford declined to comment Wednesday.
Stafford is also the plaintiff in an ongoing federal lawsuit against the Sugarcreek Police Dept., WHIO-TV, and several other defendants related to a May 2021 incident in which Stafford was cited for aggravated menacing. Those charges against Stafford were later dismissed.
Stafford’s lawsuit says the defendants “both individually and/or as part of a conspiracy” violated Stafford’s rights to due process and improperly withheld evidence related to the incident in which police at the time accused Stafford of threatening golfers at Sugar Valley Golf Club with a firearm.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/john-stafford-charged-with-illegal-voting-in-greene-county/IVKJC5M6LZEWLNHOLCC4H63SWM/ | 2023-07-06T12:50:34 | 0 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/john-stafford-charged-with-illegal-voting-in-greene-county/IVKJC5M6LZEWLNHOLCC4H63SWM/ |
Cleveland Clinic Mercy ICU nurse paints murals at hospital to bring smiles to patients
Holidays, special requests depicted on patients' windows
- Kara Ball paints murals on the glass doors in the ICU at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital.
- Ball is a self-taught artist.
- Many ideas for ICU murals come from patients, families and Ball's coworkers.
CANTON − Any time a hospital patient is placed in an intensive care unit, it's serious.
To make their stay a little more bearable, Kara Ball, an ICU nurse at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital, uses her artistic talents to create murals on patients' doors.
A self-taught artist, Ball has been painting the murals in the ICU for about a year-and-a-half — whenever she has some downtime on her shift.
The paintings, which are done on the glass doors of the rooms, depict holidays, various animals and scenery, many of which are requested by patients or their families and even coworkers.
"I started my nursing career in the NICU (neonatal intensive care) for the first eight years, and we'd paint what we were doing that day on our whiteboards," she said. "A couple of years ago, I posted on Facebook a picture I'd done. My coworkers suggested I do the same for the adults."
Kara Ball: 'It's been therapeutic for me.'
To get her started, a coworker in the ICU bought her a set of dry-erase markers in January 2022.
"I've been doing it ever since then," she said. "I get a lot of support from my coworkers, and it's been therapeutic for me."
After transitioning to chalk because the dry-erase markers ran out of ink too quickly, Ball did some research and moved to acrylic paint.
She's gotten "thank you cards" from families who appreciated the murals.
There are some special stories behind many of the pieces. A mural of an elephant was the result of a request by a man from Virginia whose wife had fallen ill here.
"They didn't have any family here," Ball said. "He told me she loved elephants, that she collected them and gave them away to special people in her life."
Ball said that after the patient woke up, she requested photos of the mural, which she posted on social media.
A portrait of a happy golden retriever was painted for a patient who missed his own dogs.
Ball, who only took an art class in high school, said she completed the painting in about 30 minutes.
"He really wanted to see his dogs," she said.
A smiling Ball said one of the most difficult requests she's fielded from co-workers was a mural celebrating the University of Michigan's football win over Ohio State.
ICU nurse manager Laura Miller is one of Ball's biggest fans.
"I think it's amazing," she said. "She brings great joy to our patients, their families and caregivers."
Miller said the murals generate "joy and hope," adding with a laugh that she puts in requests for the spaces which are closest to her office.
"I especially like the ones that focus on the spiritual side," she said.
The story behind the mural at Room No. 3
She also shared a special story behind a mural she painted on Door No. 3.
"She was a very sweet elderly lady," she said. "She went from 'full code' to comfort care. She knew she was not going to be leaving the ICU. She asked me to paint her a scenic path. She said, 'I know I'm not leaving this room. I want to envision that final walk to Jesus.'"
Another memorable mural, Ball said, was a painting she did of the Grinch for a fellow nurse whose husband was a patient, and who went by the nickname "Grinch."
Ball did the mural, and when Easter came, she added bunny ears on the Grinch.
"Unfortunately, he passed, but we did not want to take it down," she said. "We kept it and changed it according to the seasons."
Ball said she's grateful that people enjoy the murals, and for the support of the staff.
"I'm very blessed with the amount of support I get from Laura and my co-workers," she said. "I really do enjoy it."
Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com.
On Twitter: @cgoshayREP | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/07/06/kara-ball-icu-nurse-at-cleveland-clinic-mercy-hospital-paints-murals/70368468007/ | 2023-07-06T13:01:40 | 0 | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2023/07/06/kara-ball-icu-nurse-at-cleveland-clinic-mercy-hospital-paints-murals/70368468007/ |
GREENSBORO — Police are investigating an aggravated assault overnight that left a man with a "life-threatening" injury.
Officers responded at 1:18 a.m. to the 2100 block of White Street and located the man, according to a news release from the Greensboro Police Department.
No information was immediately available about how the man was injured.
Police closed White Street between Nealtown Road and Partnership Court while conducting their investigation.
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.com to submit a web tip. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-courts/police-man-found-seriously-injured-early-thursday-on-white-street-in-greensboro/article_4e316c32-1bef-11ee-9bc7-4339e8f3c314.html | 2023-07-06T13:03:33 | 0 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/crime-courts/police-man-found-seriously-injured-early-thursday-on-white-street-in-greensboro/article_4e316c32-1bef-11ee-9bc7-4339e8f3c314.html |
GREENSBORO — Guilford County’s health department will offer immunization clinics starting Monday for Guilford County Schools students going into 7th and 12th grades.
Parents are asked to bring their child’s insurance card and immunization records, if available.
Under state law, prior to starting seventh grade, students must get the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine and the MCV (meningococcal conjugate vaccine). Before starting 12th grade, students must receive a second dose of the MCV.
That second dose for rising seniors has been required since the 2020-21 school year, according to the state’s website.
Immunization clinics will be held at the following health department locations:
High Point: 501 East Green Drive, High Point, NC 27260
People are also reading…
Greensboro: 1100 E. Wendover Ave., Greensboro, NC 27405
Clinics will be held at both locations on the following schedule:
Mondays 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (July 10, July 17 and July 24).
Wednesdays, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (July 12, July 19, and July 26).
Appointments may be scheduled by phone at (336) 641-3245. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/education/guilford-county-schools-7th-12th-mcv-tdap-guilford-county-division-of-public-health/article_47dcc4b2-1b59-11ee-8179-f36dd94d7133.html | 2023-07-06T13:03:35 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/education/guilford-county-schools-7th-12th-mcv-tdap-guilford-county-division-of-public-health/article_47dcc4b2-1b59-11ee-8179-f36dd94d7133.html |
Check out these top stories and more in The Times and nwi.com.
Man in critical condition after being pulled from Lake Michigan, Region officials say: https://bit.ly/3pJW5ND
Car returns to Hobart parade 108 years later: https://bit.ly/3CZYNBB
Stay connected with all your Region News at www.nwi.com.
Video provided in partnership with The Times, JEDtv and WJOB. Sponsored by Strack & Van Til. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/219-news-now-man-in-critical-condition-after-being-pulled-from-lake-michigan-officials-say/article_c056e69e-1bf3-11ee-8ce7-dfca0d08ac1c.html | 2023-07-06T13:08:29 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/219-news-now-man-in-critical-condition-after-being-pulled-from-lake-michigan-officials-say/article_c056e69e-1bf3-11ee-8ce7-dfca0d08ac1c.html |
EAST CHICAGO — The city’s school board terminated School Superintendent Javier Abrego after complaints his administration had failed on many levels.
The board decided 3-2 Monday to remove Abrego as chief executive of the public-school corporation of 250 teachers and 3,400 students.
The district stands impaired by troubled finances, declining enrollment, poor graduation rates and math and English test scores failing to meet state and federal standards.
School Board Trustees Vanessa Hernandez-Orange and Diane Smith ripped the superintendent for failing to communicate with them and other staff members who were in the cross hairs of a reorganization.
People are also reading…
“You are moving us backwards. It’s hurting our children,” Smith protested.
School Board Trustee Patti Jo Gibson-King, remained largely silent, but joined Hernandez-Orange and Smith in voting Abrego out.
Board members Jesse Gomez and Joel Rodriguez voted against his termination.
Abrego could only smile as the audience, who had roundly denounced him throughout the meeting, broke into cheers after the vote, as recorded by a video of the meeting.
The board voted unanimously to appoint Marlon Mitchell, the school’s human-resources director, as the interim boss until the board could meet again to start searching for a more permanent replacement.
Gomez said Wednesday he has had his own issues with Abrego and moved, without other board members’ support, to fire him at earlier meetings.
He said he voted no Monday to avoid a public spectacle and because it is uncertain where the governing board goes from here. “We’ve had 11 superintendents since the school board members became elected offices (in 2013,” he said.
Abrego was entering the second year of a three-year contract he received in 2022 with an annual base salary of $150,000 that was set to increase by 5 percent this school year.
Abrego offered a defense of his administration, saying he had been in education for 50 years, much of it in East Chicago, and specialized in turning around failing school districts in Arizona and Colorado in two to three years.
“I grew up here. I tried to elevate our schools. I came out of retirement to help the School City of East Chicago.
“When I got here, there was no strategic plan in place. At one school where we have 239 students, only 1 percent – two students passed a math performance test. “That was unacceptable.
He said he and the rest of the staff have been working with students who were on track to fail graduation (about one third of the total class) and the board would see improved results later this year.
Neither Abrego nor Mitchell could be reached Wednesday for comment.
Mitchell, who attended Monday’s meeting complained during a public comment section that Abrego hadn’t consulted with him about a reorganization that failed to increase his responsibilities in the district as he would have wished.
Mitchell told the audience before the vote to name him interim superintendent, and that he would do whatever he is assigned to do within the district to make it a success. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/east-chicago/abrego-is-out-as-ec-school-superintendent-after-only-one-year/article_61818022-1b83-11ee-bef5-2b8c74069713.html | 2023-07-06T13:08:35 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/east-chicago/abrego-is-out-as-ec-school-superintendent-after-only-one-year/article_61818022-1b83-11ee-bef5-2b8c74069713.html |
CHESTERTON — A 17-year-old boy is facing criminal consequences after he spray painted a sign outside of the town's municipal complex Jun. 20 with a derogatory message toward members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The teenager, from Portage, is being charged with a delinquency count of criminal mischief, Chesterton police Chief Tim Richardson said. Additional enhancements, which are extra penalties that add potential prison time onto a criminal charge, will be determined at the discretion of the judge who is on the case.
The phrase "kill all (homophobic slur)" was spray painted on the sign outside the complex at 1490 Broadway Ave. A street department worker arrived at work around 6:30 a.m. and found the message.
Richardson said community assistance led them to the suspect.
“Numerous tips from the public eventually steered investigators in the right direction,” Richardson noted. “Those investigators, in turn, made solving this case a top priority for the department and the entire community, especially for those personally affected by the disheartening and vile graffiti."
Once the suspect was identified, detectives used technology to track the suspect's movements, Richardson said.
Chesterton's town council recognized June as Pride Month upon request from a community member June 26.
"I asked everyone not to let this crime define our community but to define it instead by the events which followed," Richardson said. "An outpouring of support for the LBGTQ+ community, the public’s diligence in contacting the CPD with tips, the assistance of advocacy organizations in advising us on ways to navigate the vandalism, and the professionalism of our officers. Solving this case was in all respects a community effort and I thank everyone involved.”
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into LaPorte County Jail
Foreman Rick Wheeler repaints the town's municipal complex sign after it was vandalized June 20. A city official said it could be replaced outside as early as Thursday. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/duneland/chesterton/duneland-chesterton-police-public-safety/article_4887659a-1b9d-11ee-9c20-efda82580d43.html | 2023-07-06T13:08:41 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/duneland/chesterton/duneland-chesterton-police-public-safety/article_4887659a-1b9d-11ee-9c20-efda82580d43.html |
RED LION, Pa. — After being postponed and moving venues for an anticipated large crowd, a special meeting for the rezoning of the former Red Lion Country Club will invite the public for comments on the plan to turn the property into a large housing development.
On April 11, York Township leaders were served a federal injunction, as several township residents ramped up their efforts to protect the 60 acres of land that used to house the Red Lion Country Club. It’s currently owned by the Red Lion School District and is for sale with a pending buyer.
According to the court filing, Maloney contends the land is a federally protected wetland. The land houses a pair of bald eagles, two endangered bat species (the little brown bat and Indiana bat) and the endangered short-eared owl.
The filing also alleges the Red Lion School District and York Township were aware the land was protected for several years and that the school district is trying to quietly sell off the property.
“This should be a nature preserve," said Maloney. "That’s what it was intended for, it was intended for the community.”
The injunction would stop rezoning changes for the property, allowing a federal judge to commission a study of the endangered species on the land. Maloney says the process to complete the study could last several years.
“They have to do a census of the animals and the census takes place year-round, and that takes up to five years," said Maloney.
He adds the injunction is just the beginning and that he will continue to fight against the destruction of the property.
“We’re in this to provide for the community; we’re in this to provide a legacy that the community can enjoy for generations to come," said Maloney.
The meeting is set to take place at the Dallastown Middle School Auditorium at 6 p.m. tonight. According to the York Township website, anyone who is interested in the case is allowed to come. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/former-red-lion-country-club-rezoning-meeting-public-comment/521-40553bd6-1294-4537-9e66-629f04644342 | 2023-07-06T13:09:03 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/former-red-lion-country-club-rezoning-meeting-public-comment/521-40553bd6-1294-4537-9e66-629f04644342 |
Disc golf is a fundamentally underappreciated sport. It's not just a few teenagers tossing Frisbees around. For starters, those aren't Frisbees, they're specialized discs: drivers, mid-ranges, putters and everything in between. There are disc golfers of all ages, from kindergartners through 80-year-olds.
As it happens, your humble author was the 2007 Grandmaster Amateur Champion of Texas. But I have a fair amount to be humble about. Allow me to break my title down for you: "Grandmaster" means I was over 50 at the time; "Amateur" means they gave me a bunch of new discs, but zero money; and "Champion" means I beat those other four guys! But leaving this, my favorite (and almost only truthful) joke, aside ...
The real deal
... is fast approaching Flagstaff, because one of the premier disc golf tournaments in the whole dang world for 2023 will take place right here this coming weekend! Nine hundred professional and amateur disc golfers — some of them among the highest rated in the world — will duke it out for 32 divisional titles, separated by gender and age groupings, over five days in the PDGA (Professional Disc Golfers Association) Masters Disc Golf World Championship.
People are also reading…
If you haven't spent time watching disc golf up close and personal, this will be your best chance to enjoy spectating. You will see some of the finest disc golfers in each respective age bracket, and you will witness a number of disc golf's "longest arms": athletes whose drives sail for amazing distances. It's one of those things you have to see to believe.
Tourney rounds will be played at six different Flagstaff courses over five days, beginning Tuesday, July 11. Little America has popped up two temporary (but which someday may become permanent) courses, the "long course" and the "crew course." These are between their main building and Herold Ranch Road. Other Flagstaff courses featured in the tourney are the permanent courses at Fort Tuthill County Park, Thorpe Park and McPherson Park, plus the main course on the Northern Arizona University campus.
Spectating will be free at the three park courses and at NAU. At the two Little America courses, spectator passes can be purchased for $10 per person. That's not simply to help reimburse Little America for converting its property into temporary courses, but also because a goodly percentage of the highest-rated disc golfers will be competing there, plus the two courses Little America offer very attractive viewing and backdrops for photography.
Thank-yous
Our local Flagstaff Disc Golf Club is the official host of the tournament; its members performed much of the course preparation and on-site work that made this tournament possible. Numerous local businesses are sponsoring the tournament: Peace Surplus, Twin Arrows Casino/Resort, Flagstaff Subaru, Snow Mountain River, Kahtoola, Nackard Pepsi and Discover Flagstaff. Without the financial and logistical support provided by these local businesses, the World Championship would likely be taking place in some far-distant corner of the globe.
And special kudos go once more to Little America, which will serve as headquarters for the tournament and host the tournament banquet on the evening of July 11. Little America will also host an amazing art fair on Saturday, July 15, featuring works by more than 30 of northern Arizona's premier artists. You needn't be a disc golfer to come and enjoy the art.
Please support and reward our local businesses and artists!
A piece of the action?
And finally, if you'd like an inside view of the 2023 Masters World Championships, the PDGA is asking for volunteers to assist with player check-ins, spotting and other roles. You can access the volunteer application page online via pdga.com/2023mastersworlds, and then selecting the "Volunteer" link to sign up. Support your local World Championships!
Alternatively, perhaps you'd like to buy a piece of the action? On Wednesday, July 12, there will be a "Fly Mart" at Little America from 6 to 9 p.m. Hosted by Kahtoola, Flagstaff's premier outdoor equipment design and manufacturer, all of the major disc golf gear manufacturers will be selling discs, disc bags, etc. from their booths, including many items unique to Flagstaff's Masters World Championships.
Bill Wade, a Flagstaff Roving Ranger for 15 years, is a retired geologist, professor and longtime disc golfer. His sons are avid disc golfers as well, and participants in the upcoming tournament.
The NPS/USFS Roving Rangers volunteer through a unique agreement between the Flagstaff Area National Monuments and the Coconino National Forest to provide ranger-guided walks and campground talks in the Flagstaff area.
Submit questions for the Ask a Ranger weekly column to askaranger@gmail.com. | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/ask-a-ranger-masters-disc-golf-world-championships-in-flagstaff-next-week/article_2af50382-1ab9-11ee-a7ca-6736b89fe59a.html | 2023-07-06T13:18:12 | 0 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/ask-a-ranger-masters-disc-golf-world-championships-in-flagstaff-next-week/article_2af50382-1ab9-11ee-a7ca-6736b89fe59a.html |
Flagstaff Junior Academy (FJA) is coming close to finding a new location for its middle school, which will be moving in time for the 2024-2025 school year.
The school's offer on a property with vacant land was accepted on the morning of Friday, June 30. FJA will now be working with architects, engineers and the city to create a modular middle school campus on the site.
While FJA owns its elementary school location, it has been leasing the former Flagstaff Middle School for its middle school (also called the Bonito Campus) for over a decade. Middle school at FJA is grades five through eight -- which in the most recent school year totals about 200 students combined.
While the school has been looking for a new location since it first moved into the former Flagstaff Middle School in the 2012-2013 school year, it has been ramping up its search since this winter.
People are also reading…
In February, Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) amended its lease with FJA as it is now using the middle school building’s location as the site for the construction of the new Marshall Elementary. FJA middle-schoolers will still attend school in the FMS building this coming school year, which will be the school’s last at its Bonito Campus.
“Were excited to finally have a home,” said FJA assistant director Kristin Patterson. “It’s been wonderful to have that space through FUSD and that's been a great facility for us for many years, but I think we're ready to be able to have a place where we can really establish our own community, and hoping that fits the aesthetics of our school and the style of our school even better than that other space did.”
“It’s been a good home for us,” FJA Executive Director Carissa Morrison said of the FMS building. “ ... It’s been a good arrangement. We knew it was going to end, so now we are looking at it as an opportunity to secure property ... and have our own spot, our own home that really belongs to us.”
The search is making progress, Morrison said. FJA made the offer on the vacant lot on the Thursday the week prior to the June 30 acceptance.
Because the property is open space, FJA plans to work with the Charter Schools Development Corporation to install modular units similar to the way the Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy’s campus is currently arranged. And FJA will be in a lease-to-own situation rather than the yearly lease at the current building, allowing for a more permanent setting for its middle school.
The project architect will be the Phoenix-based company APMI Architecture. APMI also conducted a needs assessment with FJA during the winter -- including focus groups with school staff -- to determine priorities for the new school.
Priorities for the new site were access to outdoor spaces and trails, with a “seamless transition” between in and outdoor spaces, as were “intentional spaces for collaboration and mindfulness.”
The primary goal at this point, Morrison said, is to have a school site ready for FJA middle-schoolers to attend by the start of the 2024-2025 school year.
Once the new site is found and the middle school has relocated, FJA is planning to increase enrollment at the school, going from 45-50 students at each grade level to about 75.
“There’s so much going on for middle school students, and that small environment and small class size is really nice,” Morrison said. “ ... Our students here, they all know each other and their teachers and the staff all know them and have strong relationships with them -- which is great. We want to keep that but we will expand just ever so slightly.”
Morrison added: “We’ll still be pretty tiny in the grand scheme of things, but we’ll expand just a little bit."
Two for one?
Another option the school is considering, though it depends on a variety of factors and would take a phased approach, is eventually combining the elementary and middle schools into a single campus.
While there’s enough space to do so on the plot FJA is currently considering, Morrison said the decision to combine the campuses “would have to make sense.”
“There’s no rush; we’re happy,” she said. “I love the elementary campus, but it might make sense down the line to have a unified campus, because our school does do a lot across grade range.”
She added: “There’s just so much opportunity for that cross-age connection that it would be cool if we were all on the same campus,” she said. “One of the benefits would be more of that. ... It’s not for sure, but if the space, the land would accommodate it and we can do it, there are some benefits there.” | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/education/flagstaff-junior-academy-continues-search-for-new-middle-school-location/article_eb317654-15cc-11ee-87c6-c7cfb364b4a0.html | 2023-07-06T13:18:19 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/education/flagstaff-junior-academy-continues-search-for-new-middle-school-location/article_eb317654-15cc-11ee-87c6-c7cfb364b4a0.html |
For many people, the Coconino County Fair brings up memories of fair food, animals, rides and lots of fun. For others, it’s a competition and a chance to bring home a blue ribbon and bragging rights for prize-worthy vegetables and flowers. Now is the time to start planning and planting.
The Agriculture & Horticulture Building and the Floriculture Building at the county fair showcase the best of Coconino County growers. Ribbons are awarded for the best tomatoes, most beautiful dahlia, largest squash and even the freakiest looking vegetable.
Every time I’m in the horticulture or floriculture buildings, I’ll hear someone say “My roses look better than that. I should have entered.” So how about entering those beauties in the 2023 fair?! This is a great opportunity for you, as a home grower, to show our community what can be grown in Coconino County.
People are also reading…
Here are some tips for competing for a blue ribbon.
Get a copy of the Fair Book, then read and follow the rules. The book is available online at: https://www.coconinocountyfair.com/entries. Everything you need to know about entering is in it. You can print paper entry forms or enter online.
Make a list of each class you have an entry for. You may not know what will look great in your garden in late August, but you can enter everything you might want to show. If your vegetables or flowers don’t produce as well as you expected, you won’t be obligated to show them.
Make sure you enter your flowers and vegetables in the right class. Your entries will be judged compared to other entries in the class. And there is only one entry per person per class, but there are lots of classes.
If the class states ‘any other variety named,’ you must include the variety name on your entry form. So, keep those plants tags in a place where you can find them come August.
Follow the rules. The Fair Book states how many, what size, and how each item should be presented. It’s hard if you have four of the best-looking tomatoes but the fair book says you need to enter five. If you don’t have enough, it’s better to pass on entering them and enjoy eating them instead. And if the fair book says that small marigolds should be less than 1 ½” in size, measure before you enter. Judges carry a ruler and will measure and disqualify if necessary.
Consistency is something judges are looking for. When a class requires multiple zinnias or peppers, make sure that everything is around the same size, same maturity, and same quality.
Select entries that are blemish-, insect- and disease-free. You want to enter flowers, fruits, or vegetables that you would not only buy in the store or at the farmers’ market, but also eat.
Bigger is not always better except for the largest squash or pumpkin. If that radish is large and woody, would you buy it at the market? If not, it isn’t likely a great entry. Maybe try the largest radish category instead.
Don’t wait until the last minute to complete the entry process. We all know the internet is great until things crash and then it’s not. Give yourself a little extra time. This also gives the fair folks the opportunity to answer your questions about entries.
If you get hit with a late August hailstorm and your prized dahlias are trashed, you don’t have to enter them. Maybe we should have a new category called ‘Best bedraggled flowers and vegetables that survived the hail.’
Don’t forget the deadlines. Entry forms are due for Floriculture and Agriculture & Horticulture on Friday, August 18. Ag & Hort entries are received at the Ag & Hort Building on Wednesday, August 30 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For Floriculture, it’s the following day, August 31, from 2 to 6 p.m. And volunteers are needed. Email Fair@coconino.az.gov if you can help. You’ll receive two one-day passes for each 4-hour volunteer shift.
The Coconino County Fair is held every Labor Day Weekend. This year it’s September 1 through 4 at Fort Tuthill County Park. Exhibitors showing five or more entries in one department will receive a single one-day free admission to the fair.
Fair entries don’t end with vegetables and flowers. Fruit, eggs, and herbs are also included, and then there are the food entries. Maybe someone will ask me to judge the desserts this year! | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/gardening-etcetera-plan-now-for-entries-to-the-coconino-county-fair/article_eda18f1c-1aba-11ee-844b-db996ec9524a.html | 2023-07-06T13:18:25 | 1 | https://azdailysun.com/news/local/gardening-etcetera-plan-now-for-entries-to-the-coconino-county-fair/article_eda18f1c-1aba-11ee-844b-db996ec9524a.html |
LONDON — (AP) Meta has unveiled an app called Threads to rival Twitter, targeting users looking for an alternative to the social media platform owned — and frequently changed — by Elon Musk.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Threads is billed as a text-based version of Meta’s photo-sharing app Instagram that the company says provides “a new, separate space for real-time updates and public conversations.”
It went live late Wednesday in Apple and Google Android app stores, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg saying 10 million people had signed up in the first seven hours. There were some early glitches, including Zuckerberg’s posts — or Threads as they’re dubbed — not loading in several places including the United Kingdom, India and Lebanon. But his replies to other users did appear.
Read: Powerball: Jackpot soars to $590 million
Threads launched in more than 100 countries — including the U.S., Britain, Australia, Canada and Japan — and has already drawn celebrity users like chef Gordon Ramsay, pop star Shakira and actor Jack Black as well as accounts from Airbnb, Guinness World Records, Netflix, Vogue magazine and other media outlets.
The Twitter-like microblogging experience suggests that Meta Platforms has been gearing up to directly challenge the platform after Musk’s tumultuous ownership has resulted in a series of unpopular changes that have turned off users and advertisers.
Zuckerberg said in some early replies on Threads that he’s focused on making the app “a friendly place,” which will “ultimately be the key to its success.”
“That’s one reason why Twitter never succeeded as much as I think it should have, and we want to do it differently,” he wrote.
Read: Powerball: Florida store sells $1 million second-tier prize in Wednesday’s drawing
On Threads, there are buttons to like, repost, reply to or quote a thread, and users see the number of likes and replies that a post has received.
Posts are limited to 500 characters, which is more than Twitter’s 280-character threshold, and can include links, photos and videos up to five minutes long.
Despite that, Meta said its “vision is that Threads will be a new app more focused on text and dialogue, modeled after what Instagram has done for photo and video.”
Instagram users will be able to log in with their existing usernames and follow the same accounts on the new app. New users will have to set up an Instagram account.
Meta emphasized measures to keep users safe, including enforcing Instagram’s community guidelines and providing tools to control who can mention or reply to users.
Read: Evermore Orlando Resort celebrates topping off centerpiece lagoon
Meta’s new offering, however, has raised data privacy concerns.
Threads could collect a wide range of personal information, including health, financial, contacts, browsing and search history, location data, purchases and “sensitive info,” according to its data privacy disclosure on the App Store.
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey pointed it out in a snarky tweet saying, “All your Threads are belong to us” that included a screenshot of the disclosure. Musk replied “yeah.”
One place Threads won’t be rolled out is in the European Union, which has strict data privacy rules.
Meta has informed Ireland’s Data Privacy Commission that it has no plans yet to launch Threads in the 27-nation bloc, commission spokesman Graham Doyle said. The Irish watchdog is Meta’s main privacy regulator for the EU because the company’s regional headquarters is based in Dublin.
The company is working on rolling the app out to more countries but pointed to regulatory uncertainty for its decision to hold off on a European launch.
Read: Central Florida’s Welcome Center hosting puppy cuddle, adoption event
Analysts said its success is far from guaranteed, citing Meta’s track record of starting standalone apps that were later shut down. Also in question is whether it’s the right move for Meta, which announced tens of thousands of layoffs over the past year amid a tech industry slowdown.
Zuckerberg also has been focusing on the metaverse, investing tens of billions of dollars in the virtual reality concept.
Meta risks “spreading itself too thin,” said Mike Proulx, a research director at Forrester, a global market research company. “Meta is banking on a moment in time amidst peak Twitter frustration. However, this window of opportunity is already flooded with Twitter alternatives including Bluesky, Mastodon, Spill, Post.News and Hive, which are all competing for Twitter’s market share.”
Even so, Threads could be a fresh headache for Musk, who acquired Twitter last year for $44 billion.
He’s made a series of changes that have triggered backlash, the latest being daily limits on the number of tweets people can view to try to stop unauthorized scraping of potentially valuable data. He also is now requiring paid verification for users to access the online dashboard TweetDeck.
Read: Protesters disrupt Wimbledon match, toss orange confetti, jigsaw pieces on court
Musk’s rivalry with Zuckerberg could end up spilling over into real life. In an online exchange the two tech billionaires seemingly agreed to a cage match face-off, though it’s unclear if they will actually make it to the ring.
Amid the Threads launch, Musk responded to a tweet showing a screenshot of him saying he deleted Instagram in 2018 because it was “weak sauce.”
“It is infinitely preferable to be attacked by strangers on Twitter, than indulge in the false happiness of hide-the-pain Instagram,” he said.
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/meta-takes-aim-twitter-with-launch-rival-app-threads/APWJDWQ475E7VNLQS646BJKDQA/ | 2023-07-06T13:32:20 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/meta-takes-aim-twitter-with-launch-rival-app-threads/APWJDWQ475E7VNLQS646BJKDQA/ |
ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Health is holding seven hiring events in July.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
The first hiring event will be held at Orlando Health Horizon West Hospital, 17000 Porter Road Winter Garden, on Thursday, July 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Read: Lake County Schools set to hold biggest hiring event of the year, more than 100 open positions
You can find the link here if you want to see the complete list of events and registration.
Some of the positions Orlando Health is looking to recruit include the following:
- Registered Nurses
- Nursing Assistants
- Certified Nursing Assistants
- Certified Medical Assistants
- Respiratory Therapists
- Radiology Techs
- CT Techs
- Pharmacy Techs
- Medical Lab Scientists
- Paramedics
- In-patient Physical Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Mental Health Therapist
- Central Supply Technicians
- Food and Nutrition
- Patient Access / Registration
- Security
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/orlando-health-will-hold-multiple-july-hiring-events-locations-across-central-florida/BIEJUC4X3BHPPDXOWVT5IQUD7U/ | 2023-07-06T13:32:41 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/orlando-health-will-hold-multiple-july-hiring-events-locations-across-central-florida/BIEJUC4X3BHPPDXOWVT5IQUD7U/ |
New student exhibit opening downtown
BLOOMINGTON — A pastel painting student exhibition, “Creating in Community,” will open at the Mandy Roeing Fine Art Studio and Gallery from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 7.
The exhibit will run through July 27. Light refreshements will be served during the opening reception on First Friday.
The exhibit features artists from beginner to advanced, spanning six decades in age. The exhibit shows how they grew and came together through creativity and comraderies, and brought together by a love of the pastel medium.
The Mandy Roeing Fine Art Studio and Gallery is located at 105 W. Monroe St., Suite A, and opened last fall. Roeing has taught pastel painting at various locations in Bloomington-Normal for the past six years.
Some students in her class already had prior experience working with soft pastels, but most of them became interested after taking her Intro to Pastel Painting class.
Visit roeingarts.com for more information.
‘New Plays from the Heartland’ July 14-16
NORMAL — Heartland Theatre Company will present “New Plays from the Heartland” July 14-16.
A free open forum on play-writing will take place on Thursday, July 13, with guest playwright Melda Beaty. She will present a one-hour talk and conduct a master class with the three winning playwrights. She will also be the final judge on the competition and be at the reception following the first show on Friday.
The winning plays include “Oldies But Goodies” by Terri Ryburn of Normal, directed by George Jackson featuring Diane Walker and Elaine Hill; “Flow” by Marjorie Williamson, of St. Louis, directed by John D. Poling and featuring Dave Krostal, Kayla Jo Pulliam Mendoza and Lisa M. Howard; and Five Views of David Hockney’s “The Arrival of Spring Normandy, 2020” by Amy Crider of Chicago, directed by Kevin Yale Vernon and featuring Devon and Rhys Lovell.
All of the staged readings will take place at 2 p.m. and a donation of $5 is encouraged for admission.
Email boxoffice@heartlandtheatre.org or visit heartlandtheatre.org to book a reservation.
This event was made possible by the Town of Normal Harmon Arts Grant.
Heartland Theatre Company is located at 1110 Douglas St., One Normal Plaza, in the Community Activity Center, Normal. | https://pantagraph.com/life-entertainment/local/arts-in-brief-new-student-exhibit-opens-in-downtown-friday/article_04d9bb66-15f0-11ee-a75e-8f89cb9cff17.html | 2023-07-06T13:33:57 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/life-entertainment/local/arts-in-brief-new-student-exhibit-opens-in-downtown-friday/article_04d9bb66-15f0-11ee-a75e-8f89cb9cff17.html |
The jackpot for the Wednesday Powerball drawing was $546 million, but there were no grand prize winners, sending the top prize soaring to $590 million.
The winning numbers drawn were 68-17-24-62-48 with a red Powerball number of 23. The Power Play multiplier was 2X.
While no players won the jackpot, two players in Pennsylvania matched four out of five numbers and the Powerball, winning $50,000 each, while one player matched four out of five numbers, the Powerball and the Power Play to win $100,000.
The next drawing will be Saturday, which can be seen exclusively on Channel 11 News at 11 p.m.
For more information, visit palottery.com.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
TRENDING NOW:
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/no-jackpot-winners-wednesdays-powerball-few-players-pa-score-big-prizes/KRLUL6PYS5FHDDOMZDJSXO2ZCQ/ | 2023-07-06T13:35:42 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/no-jackpot-winners-wednesdays-powerball-few-players-pa-score-big-prizes/KRLUL6PYS5FHDDOMZDJSXO2ZCQ/ |
Is Cumberland Avenue construction affecting river otters in Third Creek?
Major projects along Cumberland Avenue are changing the environment of the Strip as we know it, but they also might be harming the environment for river otters and other critters that call Third Creek home.
While walking alongside Third Creek in May, Dr. Chad Hellwinckel noticed sediment clouding the water near the Publix on University Commons Way.
This wasn't a new sight for the research associate professor, who works in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
More specifically, he works at nearby Morgan Hall and walks along the creek often. Hellwinckel has noticed clouded water for the past few years, particularly since construction on the Strip evolved to high-rises and parking garages.
"It seems like every facility they build ... it's guaranteed there's going to be massive discharge of sediment into the stream," Hellwinckel said. "Once they do it, the damage is done."
How does the sediment get into Third Creek?
When a developer begins a project, they first need to dig a foundation. A lot of water is used in doing so, which creates a lot of mud. The mud goes to a retention pond to sit while the dirt settles, Hellwinckel said.
In this case, once the dirt has settled, the water is filtered and dumped into Third Creek. But if the water isn't properly filtered and disposed of, sediment discharges happen.
Environmental impact felt by wildlife, Knoxville residents
As discharges have become more frequent, Hellwinckel said he has seen wildlife activity decrease − notably, fewer river otters swimming in the water.
"I've been seeing [fewer] large fish in the creek," Hellwinckel said. "And so I think that's why the river otters aren't coming around. They're not getting enough fish anymore."
How does sediment impact the wildlife in a creek?
Dr. Andrea Ludwig, an associate professor of biosystems engineering and soil science at UT, said it all has to do with the fine particles in the sediment, which is made of clay and silt.
Clay is a charged particle, which Ludwig said allows it to attract other harmful substances into the water, adding to pollution. Cloudy water also absorbs more heat and typically has lower oxygen levels, making it increasingly more difficult for wildlife to live and thrive.
"That fine sediment can settle down into into the habitat of the stream where many of our aquatic species need to find space to breed, to find food, to live," Ludwig said. "Their habitat is very much impaired."
But the sediment in Third Creek affects more than just wildlife. It impacts Knoxville residents as well.
Ludwig said having cloudy water makes the creek less desirable for swimming, wading or simply looking at. It effectively diminishes a great community amenity.
"It's pretty obvious that we would rather recreate in clean, clear water versus turbid water," Ludwig said. "But just from a very practical standpoint of getting water to our tap, since we draw our drinking water from our surface waters, it's much easier and cheaper for us to bring clean water up to drinking water standard versus if we have dirtier water."
Tracing recent sediment back to Cumberland Avenue
Hellwinckel said he frequently reports discharges to the city, which takes care of the problem in a timely manner.
While sediment discharges have been happening for some time, the city shared with Knox News the most recent issue was traced back to the HUB apartment project on Cumberland Avenue.
City of Knoxville Engineering Planning Chief Chris Howley told Knox News via email the department was notified of the discharge three times between June 2 and 7.
The city issued a violation notice to the contractor, Juneau Construction Company, on June 6. Howley said Juneau performed some cleaning activities the following day and began improving its sediment controls.
"Since that time they have changed and upgraded their sediment controls, which should help manage this issue." Howley said. "(The) engineering staff will continue to evaluate the site with regard to their sediment management."
If you see cloudy water, report it to the city of Knoxville
If you see cloudy, polluted water in any waterway, Ludwig encourages reporting it to the city.
Howley said the best way to report issues is by contacting 3-1-1, the city's customer service line, which will notify the proper personnel.
Silas Sloan is the growth and development reporter. Emailsilas.sloan@knoxnews.com. Twitter@silasloan. Instagram@knox.growth. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe. | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/sediment-knoxville-construction-cumberland-avenue-strip-changes-third-creek-wildlife/70337034007/ | 2023-07-06T13:43:50 | 1 | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/sediment-knoxville-construction-cumberland-avenue-strip-changes-third-creek-wildlife/70337034007/ |
BEAVERTON, Ore. — A Beaverton family continues to grieve the loss of their father after he fell nearly 200 feet to his death from a hiking trail at Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge Saturday afternoon.
Gerardo Hernandez- Rodriguez, 41, was hiking on the trail beyond the Benson Bridge near the first switchback when he stumbled and fell down an embankment.
Hernandez- Rodriguez had planned to visit the coast with his family over the Fourth of July holiday. And in October, he planned to marry his long-term relationship partner and mother of his children.
But on Saturday the 41-year-old's life was cut short after falling to his death.
"We see my little brother, running toward us, like crying and panicking," Hernandez-Rodriguez’s daughter Mayra Hernandez said.
Multnomah County Sheriff’s officials said alcohol likely played a factor in the fall. But in an email, officials said they couldn’t determine his blood alcohol level because that would require a toxicology report. They stated deputies determined alcohol was a factor based on statements that Hernandez-Rodriguez had drank heavily Friday night and Saturday morning.
But his family thinks he may have suffered a heart attack or cardiac arrest.
"My brother told me like, 'I tried to save him, I really tried to save him but I couldn't," Hernandez said.
She said heart medicine pills were found in her father’s backpack after his death. His family didn’t know he had heart issues.
"He never wanted to worry us."
Now, Hernandez said the family is trying to distract the younger kids from realizing their father is gone.
"We're trying to distract them right now,” Hernandez said. “My little sister's the one who's asking for him and we keep on saying he's at work. But he's not. And I wish he was at work right now."
Hernandez-Rodriguez was a chef at Si Señor Family Mexican Restaurant and the head of household.
If you’d like to help with funeral costs, there is a GoFundMe page Hernandez created for the family. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/beaverton-family-grieves-father-fell-death-multnomah-falls-hike/283-ba8ce2cc-3b9e-4f6d-b0ac-6a0cf8285cd5 | 2023-07-06T13:44:00 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/beaverton-family-grieves-father-fell-death-multnomah-falls-hike/283-ba8ce2cc-3b9e-4f6d-b0ac-6a0cf8285cd5 |
SAN ANTONIO — Firefghters worked to extinguish a fire at a wine shop on the north side of town early Thursday.
SAFD responded to reports of a structure fire at JS Fine Wine & Spirits along West Rhapsody Drive near West Avenue around 4 a.m.
Officials say the fire originated in the back side of the building in a storage area. A spokesman for SAFD said the building is what firefighters say is a very "dangerous building" in which to battle a blaze inside. The windows were boarded up windows with bars on them, making it difficult to gain access to fight th efire.
Firefighters found heavy smoke when they arrived, and said they had trouble getting access to inside the building to battle the blaze. They ended up bringing in a ladder truck to fight the fire from above, officials say.
The showroom of the business just suffered smoke damage, but the back store room was heavily damaged.
No estimate on the amount of damges caused by the fire were provided. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
This is a developing story.
Learn more about KENS 5:
Since going on the air in 1950, KENS 5 has strived to be the best, most trusted news and entertainment source for generations of San Antonians.
KENS 5 has brought numerous firsts to South Texas television, including being the first local station with a helicopter, the first with its own Doppler radar and the first to air a local morning news program.
Over the years, KENS 5 has worked to transform local news. Our cameras have been the lens bringing history into local viewers' homes. We're proud of our legacy as we serve San Antonians today.
Today, KENS 5 continues to set the standard in local broadcasting and is recognized by its peers for excellence and innovation. The KENS 5 News team focuses on stories that really matter to our community.
You can find KENS 5 in more places than ever before, including KENS5.com, the KENS 5 app, the KENS 5 YouTube channel, KENS 5's Roku and Fire TV apps, and across social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more!
Want to get in touch with someone at KENS 5? You can send a message using our Contacts page or email one of our team members. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/fire-at-wine-shop-difficult-to-battle-safd-says-firefighters-san-antonio-texas-blaze-fire-liquor/273-002a244e-df80-439b-b353-d4cd136d2da1 | 2023-07-06T13:44:06 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/fire-at-wine-shop-difficult-to-battle-safd-says-firefighters-san-antonio-texas-blaze-fire-liquor/273-002a244e-df80-439b-b353-d4cd136d2da1 |
PASADENA, Texas — A neighbor told KHOU 11 News that the mother of Rudy Farias was spotted near her house early Thursday the day after new allegations surfaced.
The neighbor said Janie Santana was seen leaving her house just after midnight. That's when the neighbor said he called 911.
There has been a police presence in the neighborhood ever since. The Houston Police Department is expected to update the investigation at 11 a.m.
Stream the press conference in the player above, on the KHOU 11 YouTube channel, or KHOU 11+ on Roku and FireTV.
This all comes after activist Quanell X, who spoke on behalf of Farias, said the man told him that he had been locked up, drugged, and tortured for years by his own mother.
HPD has not confirmed these new allegations and no charges have been filed.
RUDY FARIAS TIMELINE: Man found alive 8 years after he disappeared reportedly 'not doing well'
Santana agreed to speak to KHOU 11 on Wednesday to give her side of the story but after the new allegations were made, she sped away from our cameras.
Farias's aunt who's been worried about her nephew did speak though after Quannel X held a press conference Wednesday saying Farias hasn’t really been missing for eight years like initially reported.
He's claiming Farias was sexually and physically abused by his own mother, according to the man.
“I’ve never seen Rudy since the day he went missing,” Sylvia Lopez, his aunt, said.
She said she's even traveled out of state with Santana to help look for him.
“She had me out there in California thinking that they had found somebody that looked like Rudy in California," Lopez said. "And I went all the way with her." | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/rudy-rudolph-farias-mother/285-ae8dd435-9c8a-4f69-88e7-b7fe87033547 | 2023-07-06T13:44:12 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/rudy-rudolph-farias-mother/285-ae8dd435-9c8a-4f69-88e7-b7fe87033547 |
TAVARES, Fla. – A 72-year-old man was found dead Wednesday afternoon in a Tavares lake after a witness spotted a boat on some rocks near a ramp, officials said.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers responded to a call from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office about a boating accident on Lake Harris near the Hickory Point boat ramp.
Officials said a witness observed an unoccupied boat on the rocks next to the boat ramp. The witness then spotted a body facedown in the water and called 911, officials said.
According to authorities, the victim’s wife was notified and confirmed no one else was on the boat.
No other details have been released. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/07/06/body-of-72-year-old-man-found-in-tavares-lake/ | 2023-07-06T13:44:25 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/07/06/body-of-72-year-old-man-found-in-tavares-lake/ |
Commissioners spend $193,000 in ARP money on advice from Innovation Connector
MUNCIE, Ind. − Delaware County Commissioners approved $193,000 in American Rescue Plan money to local businesses in the county Monday at the recommendation of The Innovation Connector.
The Innovation Connector, a nonprofit assisting businesses and entrepreneurs in East Central Indiana, was asked to make recommendations for the spending of $250,000 in business grants for the county.
Ted Baker, executive director and CEO for the Connector, told commissioners that the grants are still open for applications. The recommendations were determined by a committee at the Connector.
Which Muncie businesses received grants?
The recommendations included grants for:
∎Arrowhead Plastics in Eaton. It asked and received a $49,000 grant. The company makes thermoformed plastic products.
∎Yesterday's Tree in Gaston. The company asked for and received a $49,000 grant. Baker said the furniture manufacturer plans to use the grant to add equipment to its factory.
∎Pinson manufacturing in Albany. The machining and metal fabricating manufacturer that moved from Illinois to Albany in 2021 asked for and received a grant for $45,000.
∎Albany Hardware Store asked for and received a $25,000 grant for the traditional community hardware retailer.
∎Just Quilts in Albany. It asked for and received a $15,000 grant. The company does edge-to-edge quilting for customers on State Street in Albany.
∎Recovery Café in Muncie. It asked for $49,000 and received $10,000. The nonprofit organization is located in Commonway Church on Charles Street. It helps people overcome addiction and mental health problems.
Baker told commissioners that businesses helped in the county were important to the overall community "and what happens in smaller communities."
The federal ARP funding was provided to help businesses and communities overcome the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the Monday meeting, commissioners were introduced to Kiley Erwin, the new 4-H and Youth Development specialist for the county extension service.
Erwin reported that the county now has 351 regular 4-H members, and the 4-H fair will start at the fairgrounds on Monday, July 10.
It was also announced that the county will replace the bridge on Delaware County Road 650-E over Campbell Creek at an estimated cost of $651,000. | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/arp-help-granted-to-small-town-businesses-in-the-county/70383858007/ | 2023-07-06T13:47:25 | 0 | https://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/arp-help-granted-to-small-town-businesses-in-the-county/70383858007/ |
FORT WORTH, Texas — Firefighters in Fort Worth have put out a multi-alarm fire at a warehouse containing swimming pool products.
The fire was reported at about 3 a.m. on Thursday, July 6, at Flamin' Finishes Swimming Pool Coatings on Cantrell Sansom Road.
Fire Battalion Chief Aaron Gilmore told WFAA there was a heavy fire from the back of the warehouse.
The fire department issued two alarms to bring more manpower for the fire due to the heat and the pool chemicals. Chief Gilmore said it took about 20 to 30 minutes for the fire to be put out.
The Fort Worth Fire Department (FWFD) said one home nearby was evacuated due to possible hazardous chemicals in the air.
Shortly after 6:30 a.m., MedStar told WFAA that one person was taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation in connection to this fire.
Other local news: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fort-worth-tx-evacuations-swimming-pool-warehouse-fire-thursday-july-3-2023/287-7e24b64b-eb46-4c31-aa26-e144b8ae8660 | 2023-07-06T13:56:33 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fort-worth-tx-evacuations-swimming-pool-warehouse-fire-thursday-july-3-2023/287-7e24b64b-eb46-4c31-aa26-e144b8ae8660 |
HIGHLAND VILLAGE, Texas — Dive crews were searching for a 19-year-old who went under water while swimming with friends and did not resurface.
The Highland Village Fire Department said it and Lewisville Fire Department were searching for the teen, who is from Dallas, at Copperas Branch Park in Highland Village. The Highland Village Fire Department said it was notified about a possible drowning at approximately 4:15 p.m. on July 5.
At approximately 9:12 p.m. on July 5, officials said the Lewisville Fire dive team was not able to recover the 19-year-old, and their efforts would continue Thursday, July 6.
This is the third drowning at Lewisville Lake in three straight days.
On Monday, July 3, another 19-year-old teen died after drowning at Lewisville Lake while swimming in the public beach area of Lake Park. Dive teams pulled him from the water later that day and he was transferred to Medical City Lewisville Hospital with CPR in progress for possible life-saving measures. Online records showed the victim was later pronounced dead.
On Tuesday, July 4, a man in his 40s was part of a group that rented a pontoon boat and was out swimming in the lake. Dive crews were unable to locate him on Tuesday, but recovered his body late Wednesday evening, officials told WFAA.
More Texas headlines: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/lewisville-lake-drowning-teen-copperas-branch-park-highland-village/287-f97016f3-65e7-45ef-bbc8-cd2ec94ebb03 | 2023-07-06T13:56:34 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/lewisville-lake-drowning-teen-copperas-branch-park-highland-village/287-f97016f3-65e7-45ef-bbc8-cd2ec94ebb03 |
PLANO, Texas — The Plano Police Department is offering a reminder to residents about Texas' "Safe Haven Law" after a newborn baby was abandoned at a local business on Wednesday afternoon.
Police said they received a call around 2 p.m. on July 5 about an abandoned infant wrapped in a towel at a business in the 600 block of North Central Expressway in Plano.
According to police, callers stated that two people left the child there and those two said that the baby had just been delivered hours before.
The child was transported by Plano Fire-Rescue to a hospital in Dallas and is in good condition, according to police.
Police said they've identified the mother and father of the baby and are conducting an investigation.
Further details were not immediately released.
Plano police also wanted to remind residents about the "Safe Haven Law," aka the "Baby Moses Law," which is a safe and legal option for parents unable to care for their newborn baby
According to the law, parents are able to leave their unharmed newborn baby (60 days or younger) at any hospital, fire station or emergency medical services station in Texas. The baby must be handed to an employee who works at one of the listed locations.
Parents who leave their unharmed newborn under the "Safe Haven Law" will not be prosecuted for abandonment or neglect, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
"If new parents find themselves unable to properly care for their newborn, remember that there is no shame in asking for help and that taking steps to ensure the well-being of the child should always be the top priority," Plano police said in a statement. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/plano-police-safe-haven-law-newborn-baby-abandoned-local-business/287-194db92c-4ea0-4d1c-8edf-acabc50f61c5 | 2023-07-06T13:56:34 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/plano-police-safe-haven-law-newborn-baby-abandoned-local-business/287-194db92c-4ea0-4d1c-8edf-acabc50f61c5 |
Be ready to wait if you are travelling by train between Philadelphia and New York Thursday.
On Thursday morning, Amtrak warned of stopped trains and limited service due to overhead wire issues near Metropark, while NJ Transit suspended service.
Amtrak suspended all trains between Philly's 30th Street Station and NYC's Penn Station and only offered limited service from NYC to Philly, the rail carrier said as of 9 a.m.
Get Tri-state area news and weather forecasts to your inbox. Sign up for NBC New York newsletters.
Keystone trains are only operating between Philly and Harrisburg.
NJ Transit said it suspended service in both directions between Trenton and Metropark and that the North Jersey Coast Line would be delayed. Rail tickets were "being cross honored on NJT bus and private carriers," the transit agency said.
Local
No word yet on when train service will resume to normal.
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/amtrak-nyc-philly-nj-transit/4482230/ | 2023-07-06T14:05:25 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/amtrak-nyc-philly-nj-transit/4482230/ |
Two Episcopalian churches in Wyoming, along with private donors, have paid down $2.2 million dollars worth of medical debt through a nonprofit for people living below the poverty line in Wyoming and Montana.
Christ Episcopal Church in Cody and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Casper partnered together and recruited help from an online giving page to erase all the debt that RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit that buys medical debt for pennies on the dollar, could buy in Wyoming and its northern neighbor. For $10,000, the debt is gone; the Cody church gave $5,000, St. Mark’s gave $2,500 and private donors also gave $2,500.
In Natrona County alone, around $373,306.36 was abolished for 52 people. Whether all of those people whose debt was paid for live in Natrona County is a different question, Walt Tanner, lifelong member of St. Mark’s and secretary for the vestry, the church’s board of directors, said. Since people often come to Banner Wyoming Medical Health Center from other counties, it’s most likely just what the hospital sold to the nonprofit.
People are also reading…
It was the county with the highest number of people in Wyoming who had their debts paid. Laramie County was second with 49 people with a total of $104,482.466. Cascade County had the highest number of people in Montana – 431 with a total of $497,944.91.
The idea started with Allen Doyle, who works for the Wyoming Service Corps, an arm of the Episcopal Service Corps, as their director. The nonprofit approached Doyle two years ago and told him that they wanted to work with him, but they didn’t have any medical debt to pay off in Wyoming or Montana at the time. At least, none that they had bought.
The idea was tabled until February of this year, when the nonprofit reached out again – this time with enough medical debt to start a campaign, Doyle said. Christ Episcopal in Cody raised their portion, and St. Mark’s and the private donors filled in the rest.
The nonprofit sent out letters to each debtor saying that their debt was abolished on May 16. Due to HIPAA, none of the entities that raised money can know who exactly had their debts paid, and Doyle said that no one has reached out.
But that’s not really why they did it in the first place, he said.
“It felt like a really cost effective way of helping our neighbors and just reminding them that they’re loved, and that we care, and that no one should be making decisions on whether you eat or you pay your medical bill.”
They also had some “really intentional” conversations about what neighboring state to focus on since Wyoming didn’t have enough medical debt, Doyle noted. In the end, Montana made the most sense since many in Cody go across the state line for various resources.
Tanner heard about efforts to pay off medical debts from other Episcopal churches around the country. He talked to the nonprofit before he talked to Doyle, though, and they told him that there was no debt in Wyoming that could be paid off.
“I was like, ‘Well, that’s kind of weird.’ And then I hear from Allen like, the next day, who’s saying, ‘We got this’ and I was like, I just talked to them,” he said. “They said they had nothing. He was like, ‘Well, yeah, that’s because we reserved it.’
“I was like, ‘Cool. Let’s do this.’”
Doyle recalled it this way:
“He (Tanner) just said something along the lines of, ‘Hey, now, we want to do something like that. That’s awesome.’ And then next thing you know we had a check from their mission outreach committee.”
St. Marks had been “discussing it inside the church informally for several months,” Tanner said.
“One of the missions that I’ve learned in this church, through my life here, has been that how we treat the least among us, the most vulnerable among us, is the most important thing, right? Because that’s how Christ feels that we treat him.
“So there were people who needed to have the dignity of being able to say, Yeah, I got sick, I had to go to the doctor and not have threatening phone calls coming in and papers being delivered. And they’re just people, they got sick, they needed some help.”
Doyle echoed those sentiments.
“One thing that really inspired me personally … was just kind of the idea of the Jubilee Years in the Christian Old Testament in the Hebrew Bible, where our spiritual ancestors just literally forgave each other’s debts as a part of existing in community,” he told the Star-Tribune. “And then just thinking about the life of Jesus, healing the sick and comforting the afflicted. And this is our way of participating in that in a really small way.
“There’s so much more to be done, but if one family can go to sleep knowing that that debt isn’t looming over them, and that people care and love them, then it’s worth it.” | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/wyoming-churches-partner-to-pay-off-medical-debt/article_798ea9ca-16be-11ee-a58f-5f587c6f87f8.html | 2023-07-06T14:13:07 | 1 | https://trib.com/news/local/casper/wyoming-churches-partner-to-pay-off-medical-debt/article_798ea9ca-16be-11ee-a58f-5f587c6f87f8.html |
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Fulton County officials reported Wednesday that it's actively working to tackle the discharge of partially treated wastewater, which has led to heightened levels of E. coli in the Chattahoochee River.
After receiving reports of increased E. coli levels near the Big Creek facility, Fulton County said it conducted tests to verify the situation. Collaborating with contractors and staff, an investigation focused on a comprehensive review of the facility's infrastructure and processes.
The investigation revealed no structural issues at the Big Creek facility. Instead, officials said the root cause was identified as an imbalance in the biological processes employed to treat wastewater. These processes rely on a balance between "good" and "bad" organisms. In this case, insufficient levels of the beneficial organisms resulted in the proliferation of harmful bacteria, including E. coli.
To rectify the situation, the county government said starting on July 3; it began introducing 12 truckloads of "good" microorganisms per day into the treatment plant. This reintroduction of beneficial microorganisms aims to restore the biological process and reestablish a healthy microbial balance within the facility.
The county said the ongoing testing conducted since the implementation of this measure shows promising results, with improvements observed in the number and variety of microorganisms. Fulton County added that indicators also suggest that the reintroduction of microorganisms is proving effective in restoring the biological balance at the plant.
In addition to reintroducing beneficial microorganisms, Fulton County said it has introduced additional UV treatment processes to enhance disinfection and further address the presence of E. coli. To mitigate the impact of the discharge, approximately 5 million gallons of wastewater are being diverted to Cobb County's Sutton Water Reclamation Plant.
Fulton County has reported the issue to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and supports the decision of the National Park Service to extend the partial closure of the Chattahoochee River until the matter is fully resolved. And open lines of communication have been established with the cities of Roswell and Sandy Springs.
It is important to note that the county claims that the current situation does not impact the safety of the drinking water in Fulton County or the surrounding communities. The county remains committed to providing regular updates as efforts continue to restore normal conditions and ensure the long-term health of the Chattahoochee River ecosystem. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/e-coli-fulton-county-chattahoochee-river-clean-up-sewage-discharge-big-creek/85-f75d2937-3952-4f74-8669-690db29c0ef1 | 2023-07-06T14:16:12 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/e-coli-fulton-county-chattahoochee-river-clean-up-sewage-discharge-big-creek/85-f75d2937-3952-4f74-8669-690db29c0ef1 |
NEWNAN, Ga. — A shooting was reported at a manufacturing facility in Newnan on Thursday morning, with police saying a suspect has been apprehended and there is "no threat to the community."
It happened at the Global Powertrain facility on Dart Road.
The Newnan Police Department posted on Facebook: "Attention!!!!! The suspect involved in the shooting at Global Powertrain has been apprehended. There is no threat to the community."
According to a release by the Coweta County Sheriff's Office, an employee was shot by an "unknown person."
That employee was taken to a hospital in Atlanta; their condition is unknown. It was not clear if there was any relationship between the suspected shooter and the victim.
The sheriff's office said deputies responded shortly after 8 a.m. after a call reporting the shooting. The call reported the shooter was barricaded somewhere in the building, and when deputies arrived they "moved to clear the building while secondary units responding to the area set up a perimeter."
They received reports the shooter "may have fled the scene on a motorcycle," and a short while later Newnan Police reported seeing a motorcycle matching the description and that the driver "had ditched the motorcycle and fled on foot." The driver was taken into custody.
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
Also download the 11Alive News app and sign up to receive alerts for the latest on this story and other breaking news in Atlanta and north Georgia. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/newnan-georgia-global-powertrain-shooting-suspect-apprehended/85-4367617c-bbbc-4f2c-afad-10f72a8ede72 | 2023-07-06T14:16:18 | 1 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/newnan-georgia-global-powertrain-shooting-suspect-apprehended/85-4367617c-bbbc-4f2c-afad-10f72a8ede72 |
STONE HARBOR — A lineup of longboarders jockey for waves off 110th Street on a sunny morning, while beachgoers wheel overladen wagons, making their way across the beach and over a large steel pipe.
On this early July morning, that pipe is quiet, but most of the time, 24 hours a day, a rush of water and sand flows through as part of a $37.7 million beach building project.
As the summer of 2023 warms up, that project is winding down, the latest in a decades-long effort to keep sand on the beaches of New Jersey.
According to Steve Rochette with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Philadelphia District, the Stone Harbor and Avalon beach project is set to be completed by mid-July, although there will still be some ancillary crossover and fencing work to take place after that.
Rochette described it as minor and “not very impactful for the use of the beach.”
People are also reading…
As for the ongoing project, which requires a block of the beach to be shut down to visitors at a time while the sand is shaped and distributed, beachgoers appear to have grown accustomed to the climb over the long pipe, with mounds of sand forming crossovers at regular intervals.
Since Cape May’s first federal beach replenishment project more than 30 years ago, federal projects building beaches using sand dredged from offshore shoals have become commonplace in New Jersey. Stone Harbor and Avalon, which share a barrier island, had another beachfill completed in 2017.
In most instances, the cost is divided between the federal government, the state and the municipality. So far, the total bill for all that sand is close to $1.5 billion. While some have balked at the numbers, and groups like the Surfrider Foundation have questioned the long-term viability of using sand to keep barrier islands from moving, supporters of beach replenishment say it is vital for the tourism economy and for storm protection.
ATLANTIC CITY — “I went to work, and should have stayed home,” said Dorris Aultman, 76, of A…
Protection of lives and property is the stated reason the Army Corps builds beaches. For Avalon and Stone Harbor, those wide beaches and dunes protect homes and properties with an assessed value of close to $15 billion.
“It’s key to everything Avalon holds dear,” said Jamie McDermott, Avalon’s Borough Council president, describing the impact of the beach project completed there this year as enormous.
He said he recalls walking with his father as a boy along the beach and touching the uprights of the Townsends Inlet Bridge before turning around.
Today, where he once walked is underwater, and the north end of Avalon along the inlet is protected by a stone seawall. He praised the work of the Army Corps and the contractor, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock.
The project reached Stone Harbor in early June, with the arrival of the dredge Texas.
The borough has posted regular updates on the progress of the work, the most recent indicating the beaches were closed from 117th Street through 121st Street as of July 6.
Ocean City also received additional sand last winter, with more expected to be added to the south end of the city this fall, as part of a project that will include Sea Isle City and the Strathmere section of Upper Township.
In Strathmere, several beach walkways in the north end remain closed because of erosion, but officials were able to open the path at the Beach Patrol headquarters at Williams Avenue to pedestrians.
The quaint, 174-year-old East Point Lighthouse commands a dazzling view of the confluence of…
At a recent Township Committee meeting, Upper Township Mayor Jay Newman cautioned beachgoers to stay clear of the edges of the dunes, both above and below, where erosion has cut 10-foot cliffs into the sides.
He said the dunes could collapse without warning and that it can be extremely dangerous, even deadly, to be caught under a pile of sand.
Township officials say the planned beach replenishment project is badly needed, but that visitors will have to make due with the smaller beaches available this summer. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/37-7m-stone-harbor-beach-project-nears-completion/article_3bd019b2-1b81-11ee-87be-f395114ef42c.html | 2023-07-06T14:18:16 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/37-7m-stone-harbor-beach-project-nears-completion/article_3bd019b2-1b81-11ee-87be-f395114ef42c.html |
Every year, the Dayton Daily News, Journal-News and Springfield News-Sun obtain public employee pay data for state employees and local government employees in our region and analyze them as part of our Payroll Project.
This includes a searchable database of public employees who made at least $50,000 in 2022. Search the data here.
Here are some key data points about state employees in the Payroll Project data:
- The 18 highest paid state employees last year all worked for the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Most were psychiatrists. Their pay ranged from $335,909 to $478,217.
- The highest paid state employee last year was psychiatrist Florence V. Kimbo with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. He earned $478,217, of which $192,635.24 was for overtime.
- Overtime jumped $30 million last year for state employees. Overtime totaled $193,249,045 in 2022, compared to $163,329,493 in 2021. There were 268 state employees paid at least $50,000 in overtime compensation.
- There were 584 state of Ohio employees paid more than $150,000 in 2022. The average gross pay for all employees working for the state of Ohio was $64,940 in 2022, an increase from $62,234 in 2021.
- Ohio had 48,845 total employees last year paid any amount, a number that has steadily decreased from 52,238 in 2016.
- Total payroll for the state of Ohio was $3.7 billion in 2022. This includes a 3% general wage increase for bargaining unit and bargaining unit-exempt employees that was received July 1, 2022. This is an increase of approximately 3.53% from 2021 total payroll.
About the Author | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/payroll-project-state-employee-overtime-up-30m-in-2022-top-earners-paid-over-400k/NP4XSG5HLJCMJOZAU737B2U4HM/ | 2023-07-06T14:21:48 | 1 | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/payroll-project-state-employee-overtime-up-30m-in-2022-top-earners-paid-over-400k/NP4XSG5HLJCMJOZAU737B2U4HM/ |
AMHERST COUNTY, Va. – Two deputies are hurt after a man led them on a chase in Amherst County on Wednesday, according to the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities received a call for a domestic disturbance near Ragland Road in Madison Heights.
When deputies arrived at the scene, they found a woman they said had been assaulted. She identified Shaquille Malik Thompson, 29, as the suspect.
Thompson then ran away into the woods, deputies said. Law enforcement later discovered Thompson had outstanding warrants out of Amherst and Campbell counties.
When deputies tried to approach Thompson, he ran and led deputies on a chase. He was ultimately taken into custody after running into deputies in the roadway of Route 210.
Two deputies received treatment from EMS for non-life-threatening injuries and were treated and released. Thompson was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital where he was also treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released. The victim turned down medical care at the scene.
Thompson has been charged with the following:
- Failure to appear (Amherst County & Campbell County)
- Domestic assault and battery
- Obstruction/resisting/fleeing
Thompson is being held at the Amherst County Adult Detention Center. | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/06/two-deputies-hurt-after-man-leads-law-enforcement-on-chase-before-arrest-in-amherst-county/ | 2023-07-06T14:27:07 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/07/06/two-deputies-hurt-after-man-leads-law-enforcement-on-chase-before-arrest-in-amherst-county/ |
Coast Guard rescues five people from stranded pontoon boat in Chincoteague Bay
The United States Coast Guard assisted a disabled boat with five people aboard just after midnight Wednesday, July 5, near Mosquito Creek in Chincoteague Bay.
Coast Guard Sector Virginia watchstanders received a notification that a 21-foot pontoon boat reportedly suffered an engine casualty and needed assistance, said the Coast Guard in a news release. A Coast Guard Station Chincoteague 27-foot Shallow Water Special Purpose Craft boat crew launched to assist the boaters, who were disabled in an area difficult to navigate.
“Our crew was able to get on scene with the pontoon, assess the operational picture and prevent the situation from deteriorating into something more severe,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Conor Bennett, Station Chincoteague officer-in-charge. “The Coast Guard recommends boaters take free boating safety courses, which are valuable to boaters of all experience levels. These courses cover a variety of topics like proper safety gear to have, boating traffic rules and how to handle maritime emergencies just to name a few. The courses are available through multiple organizations throughout the nation, such as the Coast Guard Auxiliary.”
According to the release, the station crew brought the boaters to their nearby campground with no reported injuries.
CHINCOTEAGUE:Beebe Ranch, home to Misty of Chincoteague, gets its savior as museum completes purchase
CHESAPEAKE BAY:Oyster harvest rebounds in Bay and its waters, and here's what's driving recovery
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/2023/07/05/coast-guard-rescues-five-people-from-stranded-boat-in-chincoteague-bay/70385138007/ | 2023-07-06T14:27:18 | 0 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/07/05/coast-guard-rescues-five-people-from-stranded-boat-in-chincoteague-bay/70385138007/ |
Meet the teen Chincoteague ponies champion who led in making them Virginia's official pony
Sophia Gallivan has been riding horses for as long as she can remember. In fact, she was told her very first ride took place when she was still in her mother’s womb.
“I think (my mom) actually rode a horse pregnant with me,” said Gallivan, a 17-year-old student at Broadwater Academy in Exmore.
It was Gallivan's longstanding passion for horses and the horse industry that led her to become an advocate for the bill that has been passed into law to make the Chincoteague Pony the official state pony of the Commonwealth of Virginia as of Saturday, July 1.
Growing up on a horse
Gallivan began riding horses when she was about 5 years old, fostering her riding skills on her horse, Beamer. It wasn’t until she grew older that she then began to compete.
Today, Gallivan competes in the discipline of eventing, which is comprised of three phases: dressage, show jumping and cross country. The high school student is also a member of the Chincoteague Pony Drill Team, led by Kendy Allen, as well as being a 4-H Virginia Horse Ambassador.
“I really enjoy it,” she said.
Gallivan rides a Chincoteague pony, Misty’s Red Dawn, for drill team. Misty’s Red Dawn has a lot of energy and is very curious, she shared. The descendant of Misty is a flashy red chestnut with four white socks and a blaze down her face.
MORE:Beebe Ranch, home to Misty of Chincoteague, gets its savior as museum completes purchase
CHINCOTEAGUE PONIES:Buy a Chincoteague pony at special auction and help save Beebe Ranch
“She is very, very spirited. She’s a more difficult ride, but it makes it more validating when you have a great ride on her. She’s a little greener, which means she’s younger. But she’s amazing. I give her so much credit for inspiring me," Gallivan said.
Misty’s Red Dawn, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Misty of Chincoteague and Morning Glory's second foal, deeply inspired Gallivan to advocate for the Chincoteague Pony.
Since becoming a member of the drill team, Gallivan has participated in numerous events during the Chincoteague Island Pony Swim Week, when hordes of onlookers make the trek to rekindle, reconnect, and recharge with family and friends during the island’s traditional celebration.
“It’s such a wholesome, but historic thing for Virginia,” Gallivan said of the historic event.
“That group, the Chincoteague Pony Drill Team, really inspired me,” she added. “It was so eye-opening, as a drill team member, to be in the streets of Chincoteague with our Chincoteague ponies and our coach.”
Gallivan said her parents are her biggest supporters. Her father was the first person to truly believe in her, later encouraging her to take action after realizing the Chincoteague Pony was not getting the recognition it deserved.
She was most honored by the support of the First Lady of the United States, Jill Biden.
“I had a really strong feeling that she would be in support of this,” Gallivan said. “Interacting with her was amazing.”
PONIES:Did Chincoteague ponies come from a Spanish shipwreck? Centuries-old tooth adds to legend
Most, if not all, Virginia legislators were also very supportive of the cause, she said.
“In the back of my head, I had a little bit of hesitation. I had to be prepared for them to be like, ‘Oh, it’s just some silly pony.’ But everyone was just in full support, and I felt so respected,” she shared.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin officially signed off on bills making the official pony designation official on March 27, Delmarva Now previously reported. Sen. Lynwood Lewis' bill SB1478 passed unanimously while a companion bill — HB 1951 — cleared the House of Delegates with a 93-7 vote during the 2023 General Assembly session.
According to the State Symbols USA website, Virginia is now the 18th state in the country to have an equine member as its state symbol.
Horses take center stage in Virginia
Vice President of Strategic Planning for the Virginia Equine Alliance Jill Byrne can attest to Gallivan’s passion and conviction.
“Her knowledge of how to grab onto something that she believes in strongly and then focus on being able to promote that, not only with her passion but with facts and data, is quite an amazing accomplishment,” she said of Gallivan.
The purpose of the Virginia Equine Alliance is to sustain, promote and expand the horse breeding and horse racing industries in the Commonwealth of Virginia, according to the nonprofit’s website.
“The horse is at the center of it all,” Byrne said.
PONY SWIM 2022:Chincoteague Pony Swim 2022 returns to full glory. 'It gives you chills'
The non-profit also seeks to support legislation, regulations and rules beneficial to the breeders, owners and trainers of horses in Virginia.
“The Virginia Equine Alliance is a strong voice and supporter within the legislature in Virginia. But (Gallivan) gets all the credit for this one,” Byrne said.
As a rising high school senior, Gallivan’s dream school is the University of Virginia. She is looking to ride collegiately but is unsure if she will pursue a career in the horse industry. However, the recent opportunity to work closely with her state legislators has also sparked an interest in politics and law, she said.
CHINCOTEAGUE PONIES:Three Chincoteague herd foals die ahead of 2023 Pony Penning
MORE:Assateague, Chincoteague parks get big boosts with federal funds. Here's what's in works.
Virginia will always be considered home for Gallivan.
“I always want to keep horses in my life,” she said. “I would love to stay in Virginia, too.”
To other youth looking to pursue their passions and make a difference in the world, Gallivan says, simply, “Go for it.”
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/2023/07/06/descendent-of-misty-of-chincoteague-inspires-teen-to-be-pony-advocate/70362061007/ | 2023-07-06T14:27:24 | 1 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/07/06/descendent-of-misty-of-chincoteague-inspires-teen-to-be-pony-advocate/70362061007/ |
Parsonsburg man dies in fatal golf cart accident in Mardela Springs
A Parsonsburg man died after suffering a severe head injury in a fatal golf cart accident in Mardela Springs this past weekend.
Chris James Ehinger, 38, of Parsonsburg, died in a golf cart accident that took place at Schoolhouse Road, west of Sharpton Road in Mardela Springs. On July 1 at 10:59 p.m., Wicomico County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a reported accident involving a golf cart that was being operated on the roadway. Upon arrival, the deputies learned that Ehinger, the operator of the golf cart, attempted to exit the cart before it came to a complete stop, and tripped while exiting.
It was at this point that Ehinger fell backwards and struck his head on the pavement, which caused a severe head injury. EMS was summoned to the scene, but Ehinger was pronounced dead as a result of his injury.
More:14-year-old dies, six others injured in Salisbury mass shooting at block party
More:What's ahead for Salisbury Police Department after retirement of Chief Barbarba Duncan? | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/07/06/parsonsburg-man-dies-in-fatal-golf-cart-accident-in-mardela-springs/70385350007/ | 2023-07-06T14:27:30 | 1 | https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2023/07/06/parsonsburg-man-dies-in-fatal-golf-cart-accident-in-mardela-springs/70385350007/ |
DALLAS — Representatives from American Airlines and DFW International Airport issued statements in response to a video making rounds on social media.
A TikTok user posted a video of another passenger walking to the front of plane during what appeared to be an outburst. It is not clear what led to the outburst.
Towards the end of the video, the passenger pointed to the back of the plane and said someone was "not real."
American Airlines said in a statement that the plane, flight 1009, which was headed from DFW Airport to Orlando, returned to its gate due to the woman's outburst.
"The flight was met at the gate by local law enforcement and the customer was removed from the flight," American Airlines said in a statement. "Safety and security are our top priorities, and we thank our customers for their understanding and our team members for their professionalism in managing a difficult situation."
DFW Airport also issued a statement, confirming they responded to a disturbance aboard a flight at Terminal A.
"The passenger deplaned the aircraft at the request of the airline and left the airport without incident," the statement reads. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/airline-plane-passenger-video-that-is-not-real-update/287-aeff1d62-dbb8-455e-9c5a-ee609c04756b | 2023-07-06T14:31:48 | 0 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/airline-plane-passenger-video-that-is-not-real-update/287-aeff1d62-dbb8-455e-9c5a-ee609c04756b |
PASADENA, Texas — A neighbor told KHOU 11 News he spotted the mother of Rudy Farias her house early Thursday the day after new allegations surfaced.
The neighbor said Janie Santana was seen leaving her house in Pasadena just after midnight. That's when the neighbor said he called 911.
There has been a police presence in the neighborhood ever since. The Houston Police Department is expected to give an update on the investigation at 11 a.m.
Stream the press conference in the player above, on the KHOU 11 YouTube channel, or KHOU 11+ on Roku and FireTV.
This all comes after activist Quanell X, who spoke on behalf of Farias, said the man told him he had been locked up, drugged, and tortured for years by his own mother.
HPD has not confirmed these new allegations and no charges have been filed.
RUDY FARIAS TIMELINE: Man found alive 8 years after he disappeared reportedly 'not doing well'
Santana agreed to speak to KHOU 11 on Wednesday to give her side of the story but after the new allegations were made, she sped away from our cameras.
Farias' aunt who's been worried about her nephew spoke after Quannel X held a press conference Wednesday saying Farias hasn’t really been missing for eight years like initially reported.
He's claiming Farias told him he was sexually and physically abused by his own mother.
“I’ve never seen Rudy since the day he went missing,” his aunt Sylvia Lopez said.
She said she's even traveled out of state with Santana to help look for him.
“She had me out there in California thinking that they had found somebody that looked like Rudy in California," Lopez said. "And I went all the way with her." | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/rudy-rudolph-farias-mother/285-ae8dd435-9c8a-4f69-88e7-b7fe87033547 | 2023-07-06T14:31:54 | 0 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/rudy-rudolph-farias-mother/285-ae8dd435-9c8a-4f69-88e7-b7fe87033547 |
UW-led team of astrophysicists identifies invisible ‘ghost particles’ in Milky Way using AI
Astrophysicists have long predicted that the Milky Way is a source of ghostly particles called neutrinos, but haven’t been able to detect them.
Until now.
In a new study led by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a massive detector at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory finally caught a glimpse of high-energy neutrinos being emitted from within the Milky Way.
Even though they’re one of the most abundant particles in the universe, neutrinos weren't discovered until 1956. To this day, they are difficult to find because they’re subatomic, invisible, weigh almost nothing, have no charge, and rarely interact with matter. Hence, the nickname “ghost particle.”
Neutrinos are produced when atoms collide or decay, and they're everywhere. About 100 trillion pass through the human body each second unnoticed. Most come from the sun or the Earth’s atmosphere and have low energy.
High-energy neutrinos that originate from outside of the solar system have energy millions of times higher than those produced in our solar system or by particle accelerators in research labs. Scientists hypothesize that those neutrinos come from violent astronomical sources, such as supernovas (exploding stars) or black holes, but the exact source is still a mystery.
The team of scientists, consisting of 350 people from 58 institutions worldwide, previously observed neutrinos in two other galaxies powered by giant black holes, but never the Milky Way.
More:From Wisconsin to the South Pole, here's a look back at IceCube's beginnings
“What we expected to detect first were sources in our own galaxy because these are nearby,” explained Francis Halzen, the principal investigator of IceCube and a professor at UW-Madison. “That didn’t happen. ...We have been looking for 10 years for sources in our own galaxy.”
What finally “did the trick,” he said, was analyzing the data using artificial intelligence (AI).
IceCube looks for high-energy neutrinos in the cosmos
The IceCube detector was designed to search for high-energy neutrinos and identify their source. The device is buried in 8,000 feet of ice at the South Pole and uses 5,160 sensors. IceCube cannot observe neutrinos directly. Rather, it detects the rare occasion when ghost particles interact with the surrounding ice.
Halzen said, “About one in a million will crash into the nucleus of an atom in the ice, and then it will make a nuclear reaction that makes a splash of light.”
That light is called Cherenkov radiation. Sensors in the detector measure the light patterns, and researchers can reconstruct the direction of a neutrino’s path and calculate its energy.
Because neutrinos seldom interact with other matter, the particles they found traveled to Earth in a straight line.
AI led to the observation of neutrinos from the Milky Way
For the newly published study, the researchers analyzed 10 years’ worth of data and picked out specific “cascade events,” which occur when neutrinos interact with the ice in a way that deposits their energy in an almost spherical blob of light.
AI, specifically the use of machine learning and convolutional neural networks, was critical for analyzing the light in several ways.
According to Ke Fang, an assistant professor at UW-Madison involved in IceCube, AI expanded the current study’s sample size to 20 times what was used in previous studies.
Halzen added: “We wouldn’t be here without neural networks. In the past, we have often been limited by computing time. Reconstructing patterns of light takes a lot of computing time, but when you do it with neural nets, they’re so fast, it’s not an issue.”
“Nowadays, many people are afraid of AI, and some even claim that AI should be stopped,” said Manfred Bayer, president of TU Dortmund University in Germany, in a webinar promoting the work in the study. “I’m only afraid of stupid AI. Clever machine learning can give us many new and exciting results. Today, we celebrate one of these results.”
A second, stronger IceCube is on the way
This is the first time scientists have visualized Earth’s home galaxy using particles.
“We have only ever looked at the universe with light, from radio waves to gamma rays, but always light,” said Halzen. “We are now seeing neutrinos … and hope to discover some new particle physics.”
More:UW-Madison scientists expand effort to solve mysteries of universe inside South Pole ice
To better detect neutrinos here and in other galaxies, the IceCube Collaboration is building a second, stronger detector. Funding and a design have been approved.
"We understand the ice so well now, and the techniques have improved," said Halzen. "To do high precision measurements, we need a detector that's ten times bigger, but with the same number of light sensors we have now."
The upgrade and should be completed in 2026. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/icecube-neutrino-observatory-detects-ghost-particle-neutrinos-in-milky-way-using-ai/70370962007/ | 2023-07-06T14:32:12 | 0 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2023/07/06/icecube-neutrino-observatory-detects-ghost-particle-neutrinos-in-milky-way-using-ai/70370962007/ |
Another tribe in Wisconsin looking to enter cannabis business
Another tribal nation in Wisconsin is looking for a way to get into the cannabis business to diversify revenue, despite it still being illegal in the state.
The Sokaogon Chippewa Community, or Mole Lake Band of Ojibwe, in Forest County recently partnered with the Wisconsin-based national organization Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association, which seeks to help Indigenous entrepreneurs and entities enter the cannabis industry.
“With the plant's healing medicinal properties and the economic opportunities that the industry provides, we’re optimistic about the impacts on our community,” Robert Van Zile, chairman of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community, said in a statement. “With ICIA in our corner, we’re poised to take a strategic and phased approach to entering this emerging industry."
It’s no surprise that Van Zile would be leading his tribe toward the cannabis industry. As a speaker at this year’s State of the Tribes Address in Madison, he urged lawmakers to legalize cannabis in the state.
He told the Green Bay Press-Gazette that the Hannahville Potawatomi Tribe, about 100 miles east of Mole Lake in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, earns about 90% of its $5 million annual cannabis business from Wisconsin residents.
Van Zile said Wisconsin is losing tens of millions dollars to surrounding states where cannabis is legal, including Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota.
He blames the Wisconsin Tavern League and its lobbyists for holding up a cannabis bill out of concerns that many customers would prefer cannabis over alcohol and hurt business at bars.
The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association was launched by Rob Pero last year as a way for him to give back to tribal communities to show how a business in cannabis can be done.
The ICIA would create a “safe space” for interested tribal citizens and organizations to talk to each other to explore what can be done legally in Wisconsin and elsewhere, Pero said.
In 2021, Pero became the first Native American to launch an independently owned CBD and hemp business in Wisconsin.
Earlier this year, officials with Pero’s tribe, the Bad River Ojibwe, announced it was pursuing a retail cannabis business on their reservation in northern Wisconsin.
The tribe posted a job application for a legal consultant to assist the tribe with opening the business, noting that cannabis wasn't yet legal in Wisconsin.
Yet, tribes are sovereign nations and it's unclear legally how far tribes can take their potential cannabis business in Wisconsin.
“Each tribe has its own constitution for what they can do, so it’s all really nuanced and on a case-by-case basis,” Pero said. “Can tribes utilize sovereignty in Wisconsin and go legal on reservations (with potent THC products including marijuana)? We can’t say, right now.”
The Mole Lake Ojibwe Nation is the first tribe to join the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association.
“We’re so excited to welcome the Sokaogon Chippewa Community to our growing organization," Pero said. "Tribal cannabis is in a unique position within the national hemp and cannabis industry. ... Ahead of federal cannabis legalization, we’re using our sovereignty to take a leadership position in the industry and penetrate markets before anyone else can.”
Frank Vaisvilas is a former Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2023/07/06/mole-lake-ojibwe-joins-tribes-looking-to-sell-cannabis-in-wisconsin/70384910007/ | 2023-07-06T14:32:18 | 0 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2023/07/06/mole-lake-ojibwe-joins-tribes-looking-to-sell-cannabis-in-wisconsin/70384910007/ |
Fire investigators in Fort Wayne are determining the cause of a blaze that damaged an office building at a mobile home park early today.
Crews said they arrived at the Village of North Oak, 6000 North Oak Blvd., about 3:15 a.m. and found flames destroying the exterior and spreading to the attic area of the one-story structure.
Firefighters ventilated the roof and used an interior staircase to continue battling the blaze, which was under control in about 20 minutes.
There were no occupants and no one was injured. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/fire-damages-office-at-fort-wayne-mobile-home-park/article_c0a39e74-1be6-11ee-bfd0-6b08385c9cef.html | 2023-07-06T14:38:03 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/fire-damages-office-at-fort-wayne-mobile-home-park/article_c0a39e74-1be6-11ee-bfd0-6b08385c9cef.html |
A 26-year-old Fort Wayne man will spend 18 years in prison for raping and molesting his girlfriend's children after facing an up to 179-year sentence for his nine original charges.
Aine Noh was charged in January with two counts of rape, three counts of child molesting, child exploitation, possession of child pornography, voyeurism and sexual battery.
Allen Superior Court Judge Fran Gull accepted a plea agreement today that allowed Noh to plead guilty to two felonies, rape and child molesting, for an 18-year sentence.
Allen Superior Court Magistrate Samuel Keirns accepted the agreement in June, despite rejecting the deal in May after Noh would not admit raping one minor and molesting another.
In May, Noh told Keirns that the two victims, the teenage and pre-teen daughters of a woman he was dating, wanted to have sex with him. However, Noh admitted filming one of the assaults without permission.
At that time, Keirns said he would not accept the agreement because the defendant did not provide a factual basis for the assaults.
“I didn’t hear a factual basis for rape,” Keirns said, “I heard it for consensual sex.” | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/fort-wayne-man-charged-with-9-sex-crimes-gets-18-years-in-plea-deal/article_dd236c3e-1b8a-11ee-b93f-e7b65edccf2e.html | 2023-07-06T14:38:09 | 1 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/fort-wayne-man-charged-with-9-sex-crimes-gets-18-years-in-plea-deal/article_dd236c3e-1b8a-11ee-b93f-e7b65edccf2e.html |
A Fort Wayne man was sentenced to 215 years in prison for the murders of three men in 2018.
A jury found in May 30-year-old Jacquail Belcher guilty of shooting and killing Dernail Brown, 26; DeShaun Richards, 25; and Breondon Pinkston, 28. Jurors also found that prosecutors made their case for a sentencing enhancement for using a gun.
Belcher received the maximum sentence for each charge. Allen Superior Court Judge Fran Gull ordered the sentences to be served consecutively.
Prosecutors charged Belcher in January for the murders of three men from the backseat of a car on June 28, 2018. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/fort-wayne-man-sentenced-to-215-years-for-2018-triple-homicide/article_003d18e4-1b88-11ee-8c57-1f67c2719d46.html | 2023-07-06T14:38:15 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/fort-wayne-man-sentenced-to-215-years-for-2018-triple-homicide/article_003d18e4-1b88-11ee-8c57-1f67c2719d46.html |
The city of Fort Wayne issued the following Thursday, July 6, 2023:
When it rains, the 100-year-old combined sewers in older parts of Fort Wayne can overflow, resulting in the discharge of a combination of stormwater (rain or snowmelt) and untreated sewage into CSO impacted waterways within the Great Lakes Basin. Today's forecast indicates a strong possibility that overflows will occur or have started to occur within the past four (4) hours. The overflow may be continuing. The approximate times when the overflow started and stops will be summarized within seven (7) days in a supplemental notice available on the City's website at www.cityoffortwayne.org/cso-notification.html.
Consumption of or direct contact with sewage-contaminated water could make you sick. Signs are posted along affected waterways in Fort Wayne to identify the locations of combined sewer overflow points and areas where contact with water could be hazardous to your health. These locations, and waterbodies potentially impacted, may also be found by clicking the following link: www.cityoffortwayne.org/cso-notification.html.
During and after a combined sewer overflow event, individuals should avoid direct contact with water in any of the waterways that are potentially impacted by CSOs as shown on the map found at www.cityoffortwayne.org/cso-notification.html.
In addition, City Utilities encourages the public to take the following precautions:
• Avoid direct contact with CSO-impacted streams during and for three days (72 hours) after a rain event and for 72 hours after receiving a CSO notification.
• Alter recreational activities to avoid direct contact with CSO-impacted water.
• If contact does occur with CSO-impacted water, wash your hands immediately, especially prior to eating.
• Use a waterless hand sanitizer at outings that occur near CSO-impacted streams.
Every Wednesday City Utilities will post information at the following location giving details of any CSO discharge events that have happened in the previous seven (7) days:
www.cityoffortwayne.org/cso-notification.html.
Clean water is a priority for the City of Fort Wayne. City Utilities is implementing a variety of projects to improve waterways and reduce CSO discharges. The long-term costs to control CSOs in Fort Wayne will likely exceed $250 million. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/verbatim-combined-sewer-overflow-warning/article_14dacd5e-1bed-11ee-bcd4-8f1eee5dfb81.html | 2023-07-06T14:38:21 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/verbatim-combined-sewer-overflow-warning/article_14dacd5e-1bed-11ee-bcd4-8f1eee5dfb81.html |
Two female cheetah cubs arrived last month at the Lincoln Children's Zoo.
Courtesy photo
One of the two female cheetah cubs is shown at Lincoln Children's Zoo. The cubs, which arrived last month, will be available for public viewing for the first time on Tuesday.
Courtesy photo
The two female cheetah cubs were 6 weeks old when they arrived at the Lincoln Children's Zoo last month.
Courtesy photo
One of the two female cheetah cubs at Lincoln Children's Zoo.
The Lincoln Children’s Zoo has announced the arrival of two new furry friends.
Two female cheetah cubs were born at Wildlife Safari in Oregon on May 8 and arrived in Lincoln on June 19 at 6 weeks old.
After their birth, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Cheetah Species Survival Plan chose the Lincoln zoo as the perfect fit to become ambassadors for their species. As ambassadors, the cubs will help educate the public about wildlife conservation.
“We are excited to welcome these cubs to Lincoln Children’s Zoo and to our ambassador team,” said Evan Killeen, Lincoln Children’s Zoo CEO. “Ambassador animals are very important; they’re a great way to get people excited and engaged about vulnerable species such as cheetahs, conservation and wildlife in general.”
The two cubs are currently behind the scenes adjusting to their new surroundings, but the public will be able to see them starting Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Cheetah Chase Theater. Following the cubs’ initial appearance, guests will be able to see them daily at the theater as they become acclimated and trained for the cheetah run.
“Training the cheetah cubs to participate in the cheetah run is very enriching for them as it would be natural for their mom in the wild to be teaching them how to chase and catch prey,” said Lissa McCaffree, the zoo’s general curator.
The cheetah run is one of the many animal spectacles at the zoo where the cheetahs run a lap reaching speeds of 35 to 40 mph.
The cubs currently don’t have names, and the zookeepers identify them by their size and difference in color. The Lincoln Children’s Zoo Facebook page will provide updates on the cubs and allow a future opportunity for name suggestions.
Cheetahs are a vulnerable species and face a high risk of extinction. There are fewer than 7,100 of them in the wild, and their numbers continue to decline.
Photos: Cheetahs prepare for first show at Lincoln Children's Zoo
Cheetah run
Cheetah run
Cheetah run
Cheetah run
Cheetah run
Cheetah run
Cheetah run
Cheetah run
Cheetah run
Cheetah run
Cheetah run
Cheetah run
Cheetah run
Cheetah run
Cheetah run
Wild Safari Theater
Wild Safari Theater
Wild Safari Theater
Wild Safari Theater
Wild Safari Theater
Wild Safari Theater
Photos: Cheetahs prepare for first show at Lincoln Children's Zoo
One of the two female cheetah cubs is shown at Lincoln Children's Zoo. The cubs, which arrived last month, will be available for public viewing for the first time on Tuesday. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/cheetah-cubs-arrive-at-lincoln-childrens-zoo/article_ad208c98-1b75-11ee-90f1-733261ca5637.html | 2023-07-06T14:39:06 | 1 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/cheetah-cubs-arrive-at-lincoln-childrens-zoo/article_ad208c98-1b75-11ee-90f1-733261ca5637.html |
A Mexican restaurant in Lincoln has been charged with the unlawful employment of people who weren't authorized to work in the United States.
Abram Morales, the president of El Rincon LLC, which does business as Las Margaritas, appeared in U.S. District Court last week on behalf of the business and pleaded guilty.
Magistrate Judge Cheryl R. Zwart fined the business $37,000 and imposed a sentence of a year of supervision.
According to the plea agreement, El Rincon LLC hired nine individuals to work at Las Margaritas Restaurant, knowing they weren't authorized to work in the country legally.
Federal prosecutors said El Rincon LLC continued to employ the workers until Nov. 8, 2018, when Homeland Security investigators discovered them during the execution of a search warrant at Las Margaritas restaurant.
People are also reading…
This morning's top headlines: July 4 celebrations, violence; hot dog contest; Wimbledon update
July 4 celebrations, violence; hot dog contest; Wimbledon update; and more morning headlines:
Revelers across the nation braved heat and heavy downpours to take part in Fourth of July activities Tuesday, celebrating the nation’s founding with parades, fireworks and hot dog eating contests at a time of lingering political divisions. In Boston, revelers dodged raindrops to nab a coveted space on the grassy oval directly in front of the Hatch Shell along the Charles River ahead of the traditional Boston Pops July Fourth concert and fireworks display. In another longstanding July Fourth celebration, fans crowded to watch Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in the Coney Island section of New York City.
Eating superstar Joey “Jaws” Chestnut shook off a rain delay and gobbled his way to another win at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest. Chestnut downed 62 franks and buns in 10 minutes for a double-digit victory over his nearest competitor, who ate 49. It was Chestnut's 16th win. In the women's division, defending champion Miki Sudo forced down 39 1/2 hot dogs and buns to claim her ninth title. The women's contest went off on schedule but stormy weather moved over New York City's Coney Island delayed the men's competition for about two hours. The annual contest drew competitors from a handful of countries around the world.
A 40-year-old killed one man in a house before fatally shooting four others on the streets of a Philadelphia neighborhood, then surrendering along with a rifle, a pistol, extra magazines, a police scanner and a bulletproof vest, police said. A 2-year-old boy and a 13-year-old were also wounded in the Monday night violence that made the working-class area of Kingsessing the site of the nation’s worst violence around the July 4 holiday. The shooter fired at police in a pursuit for several blocks, and when they caught up, the suspect surrendered in an alley, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said at a news conference. The shooter had no connection to the victims before the shooting, she said.
Assistant Chief Leslie Parsons of the Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement on Twitter that nine people were shot and wounded, including two juveniles, while sitting outside enjoying the July Fourth holiday. Parsons said that shortly before 1 a.m. police responded to a report of a shooting on Meade Street in the northeastern quadrant of the U.S. capital. Upon their arrival officers discovered multiple shooting victims. Parsons said a dark colored SUV was seen driving through the neighborhood, stopped and then shot at the victims, who have not been identified. None of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made.
A judge on Tuesday prohibited several federal agencies and officials of the Biden administration from working with social media companies about “protected speech,” a decision called “a blow to censorship” by one of the Republican officials whose lawsuit prompted the ruling. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty of Louisiana granted the injunction in response to a 2022 lawsuit alleging that the government overstepped in its efforts to convince social media companies to address postings that could result in vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic or affect elections. A White House official says the administration “has promoted responsible actions to protect public health, safety, and security.”
As Israel ends 2-day West Bank offensive, Palestinian residents emerge to scenes of vast destruction
Palestinian residents of the Jenin refugee camp encountered scenes of widespread destruction as they emerged from their homes and returned from nearby shelters following the most intense Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank in nearly two decades. The two-day offensive destroyed the camp’s narrow roads and alleyways, sent thousands of people fleeing their homes and killed 12 Palestinians. One Israeli soldier was also killed. While Israel claimed the operation inflicted a tough blow on the militants, it remained unclear whether there would be any lasting effect on reducing more than a year of Israeli-Palestinian violence. The offensive also further weakened the Palestinian Authority, which already had little control in the camp to begin with.
President Joe Biden will be hosting Sweden’s prime minister at the White House on Wednesday in a show of solidarity as the United States presses for the Nordic nation’s entry into NATO. This comes a week before the alliance's summit. The White House says Biden and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will discuss their growing security cooperation and reaffirm their view that Sweden should join NATO as soon as possible. They'll also talk about the war in Ukraine and matters involving China. Sweden and neighbor Finland ended their longstanding policy of military nonalignment after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Both applied for NATO membership.
The Texas gunman who killed 23 people in a racist 2019 attack at a Walmart has returned to federal court for sentencing. Patrick Crusius is facing multiple life sentences after pleading guilty to one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history. Investigators say Crusius posted an online screed before the shooting about an “Hispanic invasion of Texas." The sentencing phase that started Wednesday draws to a close one of the U.S. government's biggest hate crime cases. It could last several days. Crusius could still face the death penalty if convicted in a separate state case.
It was Scotland on parade. Bagpipes, kilts, drums and a Shetland pony named Corporal Cruachan IV marched down Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to honor King Charles III. Two months after his lavish coronation at Westminster Abbey in London, Scotland hosted its own event Wednesday to mark the new monarch’s accession to the throne. While Charles and Queen Camilla weren’t crowned a second time at St. Giles’ Cathedral, the new king was presented with the Honors of Scotland — the crown, scepter and sword of state. The Stone of Destiny, an important symbol of Scottish identity, was moved to the cathedral for the festivities.
Heading into the fourth day of Wimbledon, some first-round matches are yet to even start after more rain showers interrupted play. There's quite a backlog of postponed and suspended matches at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament, causing a headache for scheduling officials and players alike. While some select players like Novak Djokovic and women's No. 1 Iga Swiatek have made it into the third round, seven first-round matches have yet to even start after three straight days of rain interruptions. Many others have yet to finish. Former U.S. Open finalist Alexander Zverev is among the players yet to step onto the court. He will be first up on No. 1 Court on Thursday. | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/hiring-unauthorized-workers-lincoln-restaurant-fined/article_d5f3018a-1b4a-11ee-a75d-27c1081e4b92.html | 2023-07-06T14:39:12 | 0 | https://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-courts/hiring-unauthorized-workers-lincoln-restaurant-fined/article_d5f3018a-1b4a-11ee-a75d-27c1081e4b92.html |
1 dead in Ypsilanti Twp. stabbing, suspect in standoff with police
A 44-year-old man is dead and his suspected killer has barricaded himself in a Ypsilanti Township apartment with a gun, the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies were called early Thursday morning to a location in the 2000 block of International Drive for a report of a stabbing. Officials said they are investigating and it's not clear what led up to the stabbing.
The sheriff's office said the suspect is a 27-year-old man and he continues to hold police at bay. They also said they confirmed that he is armed. Earlier Thursday, police said he barricaded himself and another person in a nearby apartment.
Officials said at about 10 a.m. that the second person who was in the apartment with the suspect has been evacuated to safety.
Neighbors have been evacuated and police ask everyone to avoid the area.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @CharlesERamirez | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/07/06/1-dead-in-ypsilanti-twp-stabbing-suspect-in-standoff-with-police/70386402007/ | 2023-07-06T14:42:04 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/07/06/1-dead-in-ypsilanti-twp-stabbing-suspect-in-standoff-with-police/70386402007/ |
State to Great Lakes property owners: Time to remove temporary sandbags
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has requested residents who live along the Great Lakes to remove sandbags they placed on the shorelines in 2020.
The request is in response to concerns of deteriorating sandbags, the agency said in a statement Wednesday.
Deteriorating sandbags have the possibility of leaving behind plastic materials along the shoreline, said Hugh McDiarmid, communications manager for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.
"The sand isn't an issue, it's mostly the plastic bags material that that the burlap is infused with," McDiarmid said. "Once that breaks down, you put plastic material like microplastics on the beaches and in the water and that's what we're trying to avoid."
Microplastics have been found in fish and birds throughout the Great Lakes.
In 2020, the state environmental department issued temporary permits for the sandbags for homeowners to prevent erosion of their lakefront property amid high water levels on Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie and Superior.
"There was significant property damage that the people were desperate to protect themselves and that's why we relaxed the rules and expedited the permitting process," McDiarmid said Wednesday about the 2020 temporary sandbags permits.
Residents who installed sandbags under the EGLE permits are required to remove the sandbags when the water falls below the ordinary high-water mark.
McDiarmid said water levels in Lakes Michigan, Huron, St. Clair and Erie have sustained water levels below their high-water marks. Residents along Lake Superior can continue to keep their sandbags in place as the Lake Superior water levels are still higher than normal, according to the state environmental agency.
"There were about 450 temporary permits that were issued back in 2020 and we want to communicate with all those property owners, the lakes are down to normal levels again. If you haven't removed your sandbags, you're required to, and we have some guidance on how to do that," he said.
Sandbags can be cut open, dumped and stripped of the burlap plastic material to prevent the plastic lining from littering the shoreline, McDiarmid said.
Property owners on Lakes Michigan, Huron, St. Clair and Erie who installed sandbags under a state permit or without a permit, can expect to be contacted regarding sandbag removal in the next upcoming weeks.
slewis@detroitnews.com | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/07/06/michigan-enivornmental-agency-great-lakes-property-owners-time-to-remove-temporary-sandbags/70384482007/ | 2023-07-06T14:42:10 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/07/06/michigan-enivornmental-agency-great-lakes-property-owners-time-to-remove-temporary-sandbags/70384482007/ |
Monroe County KOA campground permanently closes lake after latest drowning
A private campground in southern Monroe County permanently closed the swimming lake on its property on Wednesday, one week after a fatal drowning, and is offering refunds to guests who are interested in canceling their reservations through September.
The Monroe County/Toledo North KOA Holiday on Tunnicliffe Road in Petersburg announced the closure on its website and social media channels. While at least three drownings, two fatal, have occured at the campground in the last few years, an official reason for the lake's closure, however, was unclear.
"While all other campground amenities and activities will remain open, we understand this may impact our guests," the campground said in a statement on Facebook. "Therefore, we're offering full refunds to guests who want to cancel their reservation between July 5 and September 4, 2023."
The closure comes one week following the death of Anthony Lavelle Shores Jr., 18, of Pickerington, Ohio, who drowned in the lake. Shores, according to authorities, was recovered from the water by staff and guests, but was pronounced deceased after medics performed life-saving measures.
In July 2022, Detroiter Jaylen Christopher Hill, 15, was recovered from the reservoir by dive team members of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, after the teenager was reported missing for about 20 minutes. He was later pronounced dead at a Toledo hospital, officials said.
In June 2021, sheriff deputies responded to reports of a possible drowning in the pond and found the victim within minutes, who was later transported to ProMedica Toledo Hospital in Ohio, authorities reported.
The KOA campground is located about 56 miles southwest of Detroit.
A call to inquire of the lake's closure on the campground Thursday morning was not immediately returned. Other details were not released.
jaimery@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @wordsbyjakkar | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/07/06/monroe-county-koa-campground-toledo-permanently-closes-lake-after-latest-drowning-petersburg-toledo/70386578007/ | 2023-07-06T14:42:16 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/07/06/monroe-county-koa-campground-toledo-permanently-closes-lake-after-latest-drowning-petersburg-toledo/70386578007/ |
Fatal shooting of Roscommon County man by police under investigation
Michigan State Police are investigating the death of a northern Michigan man who was shot Wednesday by a police officer in Roscommon County, officials said.
They said the deceased has been identified as Barry Eugene Phillips, 53, of Prudenville. The community is located on Houghton Lake and about 185 miles northwest of Detroit.
According to authorities, a Denton Township Police officer and a Roscommon County Sheriff's deputy were called at about 10:42 p.m. Wednesday to a home in Prudenville for a wellness check.
They arrived and found Phillips outside of his residence and armed with a gun. The two officers tried to convince Phillips to drop the weapon, but he went into his home and retrieved a long gun, officials said.
Police said Phillips then pointed the rifle at the police before the township officer fired his weapon and struck the man.
Investigators said the two officers rendered life-saving measures until medics took Phillips to a hospital in West Branch where he was pronounced dead.
Michigan State Police are investigating the shooting at the request of the Denton Township Police Department.
Officials said the police officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, according to the department's policy.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @CharlesERamirez | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/07/06/state-police-investigating-officer-involved-shooting-in-roscommon-co/70386867007/ | 2023-07-06T14:42:22 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/07/06/state-police-investigating-officer-involved-shooting-in-roscommon-co/70386867007/ |
Starbucks workers 'Strike for Pride' against decor restrictions, corporate pushes back
One of the nation's most recognizable coffee brands is in a cup of hot water once again.
Workers at Iowa City’s Starbucks location went on strike Friday, June 30, in step with a week-long, nationwide effort by the Starbucks Workers United union to protest the company’s labor practices and policies. The union alleges Starbucks forbade the display of pride decorations and flags in its stores during LGBTQ+ Pride Month throughout June.
More than 150 locations participated in the Starbucks Workers United’s Strike for Pride event, according to the union’s website.
The Seattle-based coffee giant refuted the claims in a statement provided to the Press-Citizen on Wednesday, saying the union used fearmongering to build more support for their efforts.
Employees at Iowa City's Starbucks location voted unanimously in May to unionize, becoming the first location in the state to do so.
Employees 'frustrated' with company restrictions
Abigail Scheppmann has worked as a barista for Starbucks since 2019 and has been at the Iowa City location for a year and a half. She said last week's strike opposed Starbucks' nationwide policy which restricted stores from displaying Pride decorations.
“We were told that this year we wouldn't be able to put up any pride decorations [and] even just a little flag wasn’t allowed," Scheppmann said. "Which is weird because in the past we've been able to decorate and celebrate our community,”
The Iowa City location continues to sell Pride-themed cups and other merchandise, which Scheppmann said was “interesting” given the messages provided to her and her fellow employees.
She said many of Starbucks’ workers are members of the LGBTQ+ community, and their frustrations led to Friday’s strike.
Local protests part of a larger national campaign
The Workers United Union organized various protests across the nation, alleging that Starbucks had attempted “to silence” workers in the LGBTQ+ community. Employees at two Starbucks locations in Madison, Wisconsin, also confirmed to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that management had asked workers to remove pride decorations from their stores.
Videos posted to the union’s TikTok account also allegedly show Pride flags being removed at locations and a customer returning their drink after seeing a Pride flag being taken down.
Starbucks Workers United claimed reasoning for removing Pride decorations and flags has been inconsistent between stores, saying that not all customers feel represented under the “umbrella of pride” or that the decorations would interfere with the general consistency across all Starbucks locations.
“The decor was a show of pride of identity and defiance of bigotry,” Matt Cartwright, an employee at the company’s Madison location, said in a statement released by Starbucks Workers United. “In the same way Starbucks rejects Democracy by suppressing its workers from organizing, it has betrayed and turned its back on queer workers, putting cowardice and greed over partners.”
Starbucks says 'no change' has been made to company policies
Starbucks' policy has not changed regarding the display of Pride decorations within its stores, the company said in a statement provided to the Press-Citizen.
“We continue to encourage our store leaders to celebrate with their communities, including for U.S. Pride month in June, as we always have,” Laxman Narasimhan, the Starbucks CEO, said in the statement.
The company said it did not pull any Pride merchandise from stores and has not altered its policies regarding the celebration of Pride Month. "Any allegations that these policies have been altered within some locations are being taken seriously within the company," the statement read.
In mid-June, Starbucks’ Vice President for Partner Affairs May Jensen wrote to union president Lynne Fox, chastising the union for spreading misinformation regarding a ban on Pride displays in all Starbucks stores.
“It is disgraceful that Workers United would take a month of celebration, reflection, self-esteem, self-worth, and yes – PRIDE – that means so much to so many of our 235,000 partners across the country and use it to fearmonger and sow division and hate,” Jensen wrote. “It is willfully and recklessly false to claim that Starbucks is anything other than a fully supportive ally of this community that makes up a significant part of our workforce.”
Jensen also wrote that "fearmongering" is being used as a tactic by Workers United to drum up support for unionization rather than making true claims about events at Starbucks locations.
The company also refuted claims that they have not engaged in faithful bargaining, saying that Workers United had only responded “to 25% of the more than 450 bargaining sessions Starbucks has proposed for individual stores.”
No alterations will be made to the company’s gender-affirming care coverage, the company also said in the statement. The additional coverage was introduced in 2013 and expanded in 2018 to include hair transplants, breast augmentation and other procedures. Workers United has claimed those rights would be under attack without a collective bargaining agreement.
More:Downtown Iowa City Starbucks employees make history as first store in Iowa to unionize
Continued staffing issues also fuel protest
Since the Iowa City store unionized in May, workers have seen their hours cut, Scheppmann said, though she said it is impossible to tell whether the two are related. Business at the downtown store slows during the summer when University of Iowa students are away, Scheppmann said. However, she still feels necessary staffing has fallen short.
“We've been to the point on many days where we have so few people working that it's just almost impossible to get done everything that we need to get done and still be on our feet at the end of the day,” Scheppmann said.
Starbucks refuses to enter contract negotiations with the worker’s union, Scheppmann said, instead attempting to bargain on a store-to-store basis. A notion that also influenced Friday’s demonstration.
“I think it just came out of this building anger that we're not allowed to celebrate our community, or even show them support,” Scheppmann said. “It's really inspiring to see how many stores are willing to come together and say, ‘We're not going to let anyone tell us that we can’t support our community.’”
Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached atrhansen@press-citizen.com or on Twitter @ryanhansen01. | https://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/local/2023/07/05/iowa-city-starbucks-workers-strike-for-pride-company-says-policy-remains-the-same/70383415007/ | 2023-07-06T14:43:33 | 0 | https://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/local/2023/07/05/iowa-city-starbucks-workers-strike-for-pride-company-says-policy-remains-the-same/70383415007/ |
Start your engines! Boyne Thunder's powerboats roar into town this weekend
BOYNE CITY — Boyne Thunder's crowd-pleasing speed boats will be on point this weekend, July 7-8, for the 20th annual powerboat poker run, hosted by Boyne City Main Street.
The 150-mile poker run route winds its way through Lake Charlevoix, through Charlevoix's Round Lake, out to Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay, then all the way up to Little Traverse Bay, Harbor Springs, and back to Boyne City for the finish.
During the run, each boat makes its way to five checkpoints along the route to pick up a sealed envelope containing a single playing card. At the Saturday evening party, the cards are played and the crew holding the best poker hand is the winner.
The event draws in large crowds every year who are eager to see and hear the powerful boats zipping by.
According to organizers, participants will have several chances to see the boats in action across Northern Michigan on July 8.
The day's schedule includes:
- Start in Boyne City at around 10:15 a.m. for parade laps.
- Elk Rapids is the first card stop.
- North Port is the second stop for cards.
- Participants head to Charlevoix for lunch, then return to the run after 1:30 p.m.
- Bay Harbor is the third stop for cards.
- Harbor Springs is the fourth card stop.
- Horton Bay is the final stop.
- Poker hands are turned in back in Boyne City.
Subscribe:Check out our latest offers and read the local news that matters to you
There are several other events scheduled throughout the weekend surrounding the poker run.
On Friday, boats and cars will be on display during the Stroll the Streets street party in downtown Boyne City. From 6-9 p.m., there will be music, entertainment, dining, shopping, a car show and boat displays.
Boyne Thunder serves as a fundraiser for Camp Quality and Challenge Mountain.
More information can be found at boynethunder.com.
— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231)675-0099 or adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com. Follow her on Twitter, @adoylenews | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/entertainment/local/2023/07/06/20th-annual-boyne-thunder-poker-run-returns-this-weekend/70382836007/ | 2023-07-06T14:44:14 | 0 | https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/entertainment/local/2023/07/06/20th-annual-boyne-thunder-poker-run-returns-this-weekend/70382836007/ |
WASHINGTON, USA —
Air quality improving in western Washington after being unhealthy a day after 4th of July
Air quality is slowly improving in western Washington after reaching unhealthy levels, one day after the area held its Independence Day celebrations.
Measurements showed air quality in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties ranging from "unhealthy" to "hazardous" Wednesday morning. By Wednesday afternoon, air quality was "moderate" or "good."
The poor air quality is a combination of smoke from existing Canadian wildfires, numerous brush fires sparked across western Washington and fireworks on Tuesday. These conditions were made worse by light winds overnight that failed to disperse the smoke. Read more
Fire crews throughout western Washington had a busy Fourth of July, responding to dozens of brush fires in the last 24 hours.
Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue responded to approximately 90 calls between three of its battalions. That included damage to at least three structures. Read more
The man suspected of stabbing another man to death with a kitchen knife in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood on July 4 is being held on $2 million bail.
The court found probable cause for first-degree murder, according to the King County Prosecutor's Office.
The suspect has not been formally charged and waived his right to appear in court on the afternoon of July 5. Read more
The man suspected of a deadly shooting at the Gorge campground in June pled not guilty to five charges against him in court Wednesday.
James M. Kelly, 26, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, and one count of first-degree assault domestic violence. He is suspected of shooting at the campground, where two people were killed and four other people were injured. Read more
A left hook and a right hook from Manny Dunham is how he welcomes people into his boxing gym in Ballard.
It's a welcome into his home at Nomad Boxing.
Dunham is a former boxer, who's now a coach.
He has a group of 20 regulars who want to become fighters. Lucky for them, they've come to the right place. They're learning from someone who's been fighting his whole life.
"Oh I'll shed blood before I shed tears," Dunham said. Read more | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/5-things-to-know-thursday-july-2023/281-56c162fe-fcb0-44d0-8a0d-411a19fa79a6 | 2023-07-06T14:47:54 | 1 | https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/5-things-to-know-thursday-july-2023/281-56c162fe-fcb0-44d0-8a0d-411a19fa79a6 |
Mesa General Hospital demolished for 180-unit apartment complex
Mesa General Hospital, the birthplace of countless Mesa residents, was demolished earlier this year to make way for an apartment development along Mesa and University drives.
Mesa Drive Apartments is a $40 million investment on a parcel of land that has been dormant for many years.
Mesa Drive Apartments will be at 515 N. Mesa Drive on a 6-acre property with 180 units. It will have four three-story buildings with units ranging from a studio to two bedrooms.
The complex will also include a fitness center, pool, dog park and green space in the courtyard.
The project's developers are one step closer to breaking ground after the city’s planning and zoning board recommended rezoning the property to separate the north and south sides of the parcel.
The hospital was closed in 2008 and remained vacant for many years until AZ MED CAP, LLC, acquired the land two years ago. The property owner also invested another $2.2 million to bring up to code the acute health care medical center KPC Promise Hospital of Phoenix, which sits on the north side of the property.
Paul Alessio, the project developer, said the property owners tried to salvage the building and seek medical uses for it but there wasn’t any interest due to its decay. The city encouraged Alessio to demolish the building to solve issues with blight, bring the surrounding buildings up to code and connect with residents for feedback on the project, Alessio said.
Councilmember Mark Freeman, who represents the area, connected the developer with residents to make sure they received feedback and before they went “all in” with the project. It’s a prominent piece of land in the city that many nearby residents are invested in how the area would be developed, Freeman said.
After multiple neighborhood meetings, Alessio said he’s confident the project will be a good fit for the area. "We knew when we demolished Mesa General Hospital that a lot of really good memories were going to go with it," he said.
What's planned:State land in Mesa sells for almost $38M; as many as 525 houses proposed for the site
A spark for future development
Freeman told The Arizona Republic he thinks the project will set a template for future infill development in the area.
“You’re going to see developers come in and ask what they can do to "urbanize and create some density," he said. Freeman is hopeful this project will spark development and enhance the area. He said he looks forward to seeing the project break ground and provide “closure” for residents who have been anxious to see movement at the property.
David Montague is one of those residents who gave developers feedback on how to integrate the apartment complex into the neighborhood.
He said he knew a lot of people who either worked at the hospital or received care there and was sad to see the hospital torn down. However, over the past years, the neighbors were concerned with vandalism and homeless encampments at the shuttered hospital, so Montague was in favor of seeing the area redeveloped.
He said the residents didn’t want the apartments to be walled off from the rest of the neighborhood but rather encourage an open atmosphere. It’s not unusual for residents to gather and have taco Tuesdays or other events. Montague said he wants residents living at the complex to be a part of those events.
Alessio, the developer, said he plans to bring the rezoning vote to the City Council in August. He’s hopeful they will break ground by the end of the year and begin leasing within 18 months, barring any issues with construction.
What it means for flyers:Phoenix is ending its Mesa Gateway airport partnership
Reporter Maritza Dominguez covers Mesa and Gilbert and can be reached at maritza.dominguez@arizonarepublic.com or 480-271-0646. Follow her on Twitter @maritzacdom. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2023/07/06/developers-demolished-aging-mesa-general-hospital-to-build-apartments/70375030007/ | 2023-07-06T14:51:33 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2023/07/06/developers-demolished-aging-mesa-general-hospital-to-build-apartments/70375030007/ |
Trial begins in Phoenix for Michael Turney, accused of murdering stepdaughter
Opening statements for the trial of a man suspected of murdering his 17-year-old stepdaughter more than two decades ago will begin Thursday morning in Maricopa County Superior Court in downtown Phoenix.
Michael Turney faces charges of second-degree murder and is accused of killing his stepdaughter, Alissa Turney, who has been missing since 2001. Her body was never found.
According to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Alissa Turney was last seen by her boyfriend at Paradise Valley High School. She told him her stepfather was picking her up.
Michael Turney told police he picked Alissa up from school but she later ran away, and authorities determined at the time there was no foul play involved.
In 2008, after Phoenix police reopened an investigation into Alissa Turney's disappearance, a search of Michael Turney's home found several firearms, high-powered rifles, and homemade explosives. Michael Turney was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison in 2010 for possession of pipe bombs but was released in 2017.
Alissa Turney's case regained notoriety in recent years largely thanks to the efforts of her younger sister, Sarah Turney. Sarah Turney built a website called "Justice for Alissa" that explained her sister's disappearance through blog posts, YouTube and TikTok videos and podcasts.
What to know:Arizona man faces murder charge in 2001 death of stepdaughter
Sarah Turney lauded the news of her father’s arrest on Twitter in 2020 shortly after the news broke.
"I'm shaking and I'm crying. We did it you guys," she posted. "He's been arrested. Omg thank you. #justiceforalissa Never give up hope that you can get justice. It took almost 20 years, but we did it."
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office declined to comment on an open case, and the public defender for Michael Turney could not be reached for comment.
The jury was selected in June.
After Thursday's opening, the trial will resume on July 10. It is scheduled to last for the next two weeks.
Republic reporters Perry Vandell and Lauren Castle contributed to this article. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/07/06/murder-trial-begins-in-phoenix-for-michael-turney-accused-of-killing-stepdaughter-alissa-turney/70385421007/ | 2023-07-06T14:51:39 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/07/06/murder-trial-begins-in-phoenix-for-michael-turney-accused-of-killing-stepdaughter-alissa-turney/70385421007/ |
Here is your Duluth News Tribune Minute podcast for Thursday, July 6, 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
Apple Podcasts
,
Spotify
or
Google Podcasts
. | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/listen-klobuchar-visits-duluth-to-announce-lakewalk-funds | 2023-07-06T14:53:06 | 0 | https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/local/listen-klobuchar-visits-duluth-to-announce-lakewalk-funds |
LEBANON, Va. (WJHL) — The Old Mill property, which formerly housed Curklins restaurant in Lebanon, Virginia, is ready for a new tenant according to owner Matthew Lindamood.
On June 10, property managers confirmed to News Channel 11 that the restaurant known as ‘Curklins’ had permanently closed and all operations seized.
Lindamood stated the building is in “wonderful condition” and “turnkey ready.” Added bonuses include all-new equipment still under warranty, speaker systems, a point-of-sale system and roughly $250,000 of new equipment needed to run a restaurant.
The full listing can be found here. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/curklins-lebanon-building-up-for-sale/ | 2023-07-06T14:55:43 | 1 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/curklins-lebanon-building-up-for-sale/ |
Q: Is there a roadkill removal service?
A: “For wildlife that have been killed on the roadside, either the county highway department or the Idaho Department of Fish and Game are authorized to remove the carcass,” said Dr. Scott Leibsle, state veterinarian with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. “For anything other than wildlife (dogs, cats, livestock), the county highway department would be responsible.”
Kenney Spencer of the Twin Falls Highway District, however, said there is no roadkill service in his area.
"As far as we know here at IDFG there is not a removal service that picks up roadkill," Idaho Fish and Game said. Both the Idaho Transportation Department and Fish and Game remove roadkill when it's a safety hazard on roads.
Darling International Inc., an approved rendering facility in Idaho, did not respond to the Times-News' request for comment.
People are also reading…
Have a question? Just ask and we’ll find an answer for you. Email your question to Kimberly Williams-Brackett at timesnewscuriousmind@gmail.com with “Curious Mind” in the subject line. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/no-roadkill-service-in-the-magic-valley/article_6d0a762e-1b6f-11ee-9692-3f7c6f3aca25.html | 2023-07-06T14:55:43 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/no-roadkill-service-in-the-magic-valley/article_6d0a762e-1b6f-11ee-9692-3f7c6f3aca25.html |
JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) – Every year, David Crockett Athletics raises money for their programs through an annual race.
The Pioneer Pride 5K and Glow Run is loved by students, staff and community members alike and it returns on Saturday, August 12.
The race will begin at 8 a.m. at the high school and conclude downtown with not only the gratification of crossing the finish line but also, a block party.
The cost to participate is $20 for students and $25 for adults.
If you’d like to sign up, click here.
Josh Kite and Mark Jennings with David Crockett Athletics sat down with our Good Morning Tri-Cities time to talk about the race and how to get involved. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/david-crockett-high-school-hosting-pioneer-pride-5k-glow-run/ | 2023-07-06T14:55:49 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/david-crockett-high-school-hosting-pioneer-pride-5k-glow-run/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. — Police are investigating a rollover crash involving two vehicles that killed two people and left two others injured in the Lents neighborhood of Southeast Portland Wednesday evening.
Officers responded to the crash around 9:40 p.m. at Southeast Foster Road and Southeast 96th Avenue, which is at the on-ramp from Southeast Foster Road to northbound Interstate 205. When the officers arrived, they found two people dead and two others were taken to the hospital. Police have not identified the two people who died and have not released details about the medical condition of the two others who were hospitalized.
Police have also not released any other information about what led up to the crash. The Portland Police Traffic Division's Major Crash Team is investigating.
Southeast Foster Road and Southeast Woodstock Boulevard between 94th Avenue and 101st Avenue were closed for several hours during the investigation, but have since reopened. The off-ramp from northbound I-205 was open, but at the time, drivers could only go west on Foster Road.
Portland police asks anyone with information about the deadly crash to send an email to crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, addressed "attn:Traffic Division" and reference case number 23-176928.
This is a developing story and it may be updated when more information becomes available.
VIDEO PLAYLIST: KGW Headlines on Demand
Download the KGW News app: Download for iPhone here | Download for Android here
Stream newscasts for free on KGW+ on Roku and Amazon Fire: How to add app to your device here
See a typo in this article? Email web@kgw.com for corrections | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/southeast-portland-rollover-crash/283-5614dee3-b292-4f85-b53b-826cdbc739c4 | 2023-07-06T15:01:48 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/southeast-portland-rollover-crash/283-5614dee3-b292-4f85-b53b-826cdbc739c4 |
ORLANDO, Fla. — 41,000 pounds of illegal drugs were sent to homes throughout Florida.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
9 Investigates where those deadly deliveries are being sent down to the ZIP codes at 5 p.m. Thursday on Channel 9 Eyewitness News.
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.
Read: Sheriff: 12 family members arrested in Winter Haven drug trafficking ring
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/illegal-drugs-mailed-homes-are-they-your-neighborhood/W4J7AKVF35HX3CQPIKJQAMNXZY/ | 2023-07-06T15:03:50 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/illegal-drugs-mailed-homes-are-they-your-neighborhood/W4J7AKVF35HX3CQPIKJQAMNXZY/ |
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Volusia County deputies helped rescue a stranded manatee from Ponce Inlet beach on Wednesday.
The sheriff’s office said two deputies helped Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Volusia County Marine Mammal Stranding Team to help rescue the manatee.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Deputies said the manatee was transported to the Sea World Rehabilitation Center.
You can see the video of the rescue above.
Read: Manatee deaths in Florida decline but starvation concerns remain high
Officials remind the public not to touch a stranded animal. Instead, you’re asked to contact the FWC wildlife alert hotline at 888-404-3922.
Yesterday, deputies Oldham and Warner joined @MyFWC, @VolusiaBeach & the @CountyOfVolusia Marine Mammal Stranding Team to carry a stranded manatee off the beach in Ponce Inlet. pic.twitter.com/XNfHows5NW
— Volusia Sheriff (@VolusiaSheriff) July 6, 2023
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/stranded-manatee-rescued-ponce-inlet-beach/LPVAM6CVGVBAVAHEC7OU5IYRFY/ | 2023-07-06T15:03:56 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/local/stranded-manatee-rescued-ponce-inlet-beach/LPVAM6CVGVBAVAHEC7OU5IYRFY/ |
LINCOLN -- A head on collision on Main Street in Lincoln last night at about 9:23 PM, led to two arrests and the confiscation of drugs and a large amount of weapons.
According to the Lincoln Police Department Facebook page, two vehicles and four men were involved.
Arrests were reportedly made due to the large amount of weapons as well as drugs found on the persons of two of the men involved in the wreck.
There was no indication in the press release of how the wreck occurred.
26-year-old Justin Peters was the driver of one vehicle, and 35-year-old Christopher Mitchell was the driver of the second, with the other two men identifying as 44-year-old Matthew Vandine and 64-year-old Robert Rider.
Mitchell was found to have three sets of bail conditions with two of the conditions stating he was not allowed to use or posses dangerous weapons or firearms, which meant that police could search him. He was arrested and charged with violating conditions of release. Police also learned at this time that Vandine was a felon.
Upon searching one of the vehicles involved, Officer Winslow located: a loaded Glock 40 caliber handgun, various types of ammo, a large knife, two black ski masks, speed loaders for a revolver, a loaded revolver, zip tie style handcuffs, a drug kit with glass pipes and a tourniquet, three notebooks with multiple pages of notes referring to tactical gear, GPS, maps and tactical clothing. Additionally, a loaded 12 gauge shotgun with a tactical flashlight mounted to the barrel, one set of metal handcuffs, brass knuckles and a small knife was located inside the vehicle.
During this search, Vandine was found to be in possession of a plastic bag which reportedly contained approximately 23 grams of a grayish powder, and when asked he stated he didn't know what it was, but figured it was heroin or a mix with fentanyl. His wallet also contained $643 in cash, and a small plastic bag containing 2 grams of what is suspected to be methamphetamine.
Vandine was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of schedule W drugs.
The incident is still under investigation and additional charges are expected.
Upon request for comment this morning, the arresting officer deferred comment to the chief, who was not in at the time. | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/head-on-collision-in-lincoln-leads-to-large-weapons-and-drug-bust/article_d2c5c37a-1c09-11ee-857f-cf07951959b4.html | 2023-07-06T15:06:37 | 0 | https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/head-on-collision-in-lincoln-leads-to-large-weapons-and-drug-bust/article_d2c5c37a-1c09-11ee-857f-cf07951959b4.html |
The Pavilion at Star Lake has issued a traffic alert for the Eric Church concert Saturday.
Dead & Company, the first concert of the season at the Washington County venue on June 5, was sold out and turned into a traffic nightmare, with traffic backed up for hours.
Heavy traffic is expected again for Church’s “Outsiders Revival Tour.” Parking lots open at 3 p.m. and gates open at 5:30 p.m. The show starts at 7 p.m.
For more information, click here.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
TRENDING NOW:
©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/star-lake-issues-high-traffic-alert-eric-church-concert/6JSENBDH4VD7FN7DOAJWDCFJOA/ | 2023-07-06T15:06:40 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/star-lake-issues-high-traffic-alert-eric-church-concert/6JSENBDH4VD7FN7DOAJWDCFJOA/ |
MELBOURNE, Fla. – A 37-year-old man died Wednesday after being shot by his girlfriend days earlier, according to the Melbourne Police Department.
The shooting happened just before 3 a.m. on June 25 on Cedar Drive.
According to Melbourne police, the woman told officers that her boyfriend attacked her and tried to rip a necklace off her neck.
She then grabbed a gun and shot him before he ran away, police said.
The man called 911 to report that he’d been shot, and he later became unresponsive, according to authorities. The 37-year-old was taken to a hospital and later died, officials said.
[TRENDING: Become a News 6 Insider]
Police said the woman’s name was not being released due to Marsy’s Law.
An investigation is ongoing.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/07/06/man-dies-days-after-being-shot-by-girlfriend-in-melbourne-police-say/ | 2023-07-06T15:15:15 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/07/06/man-dies-days-after-being-shot-by-girlfriend-in-melbourne-police-say/ |
FANCY GAP, Va. — An earthquake rattled an area near the border of North Carolina and Virginia this morning.
The 2.6 magnitude earthquake was reported 3.9 miles north of Fancy Gap, Virginia. That's 65 miles northwest of Greensboro.
The earthquake was reported at 5:50 a.m., according to the report from the U.S. Geological Survey.
In North Carolina, people reported feeling the earthquake in Winston-Salem and Sherrills Ford.
There were no immediate reports of damage associated with the earthquake. | https://greensboro.com/news/local/earthquake-north-carolina-virginia-fancy-gap/article_c394b458-1bf8-11ee-84dc-2739f58535b1.html | 2023-07-06T15:19:47 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/earthquake-north-carolina-virginia-fancy-gap/article_c394b458-1bf8-11ee-84dc-2739f58535b1.html |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.