text string | url string | crawl_date timestamp[ms] | label int64 | id string |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Three people injured in two-vehicle pin-in accident
Christopher Walker
Wichita Falls Times Record News
Wichita Falls police and the fire department responded to a pin-in accident on Iowa Park Road at Ridgeway Drive Friday.
According to WFPD accident investigator Sgt. Paul Newton:
Just before 9 p.m., police and emergency responders went to the scene of a pin-in accident on Iowa Park Road. Three people, two from a dark-colored SUV and one from a white SUV were injured when their vehicles collided. All three were transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
Newton said the cause of the accident is under investigation and they will release new information when it is available. Traffic was diverted while the accident scene was investigated. | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2022/07/23/wichita-falls-police-and-the-fire-department-responded-to-a-pin-in-accident-on-iowa-park-road-at-rid/65380901007/ | 2022-07-23T15:04:30 | 1 | https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2022/07/23/wichita-falls-police-and-the-fire-department-responded-to-a-pin-in-accident-on-iowa-park-road-at-rid/65380901007/ |
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pa. — Ten months after a bus carrying 30 teenagers crashed in Schuylkill County we are learning more details.
That crash happened in September when a charter bus carrying members of the LCBC Church in Lancaster County crashed into a wooded area of Interstate 81, near Hegins.
All 31 passengers and the driver were injured.
Now, investigators say the bus had no defects before the crash, and that the driver, 37-year-old Adam Wright, suffered a medical emergency and lost consciousness right before the crash.
Wright will not face any charges related to the crash in Schuylkill County.
See news happening? Text our Newstip Hotline. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/no-charges-in-schuylkill-county-bus-crash-lcbc-church-lancaster-county-adam-wright-near-hegins/523-c1fc50be-7500-4725-9e6f-1074d4a7d557 | 2022-07-23T15:06:51 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/no-charges-in-schuylkill-county-bus-crash-lcbc-church-lancaster-county-adam-wright-near-hegins/523-c1fc50be-7500-4725-9e6f-1074d4a7d557 |
MODESTO, Calif. — A suspicious death investigation at Best Western is now being investigated as a homicide by the Modesto Police Department.
Police responded to the hotel along West Orangeburg Avenue after staff found a woman dead in one of the rooms.
Few details surrounding the homicide have been released.
No additional details were available.
WATCH ALSO: | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/womans-death-modesto-best-western/103-16acc421-64ef-4bb5-a88c-0cc8c8bbb88e | 2022-07-23T15:06:57 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/womans-death-modesto-best-western/103-16acc421-64ef-4bb5-a88c-0cc8c8bbb88e |
A band of severe thunderstorms and hail overnight in southeast Wisconsin led to a series of power outages plus reports of isolated flooding.
No major damage had been reported by early Saturday, but additional thunderstorms were likely off and on as the forecast called for isolated storms. The National Weather Service has the area under a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 a.m.
We Energies reported more than 30,300 customers were without power during the height of the outages, which likely may have been higher as the storms struck in the immediate pre-dawn hours when many were asleep. Heavy rains followed by hail arrived in Kenosha by 4:40 a.m. and outages were first reported around that time.
Many outages were reported on the north side of Kenosha, including the area around Washington Road and 22nd Avenue. Other outages include the areas of, but not limited to, 38th Street and 6th Avenue, 54th Street and 10th Avenue, 54th Street and 23rd Avenue, 54th Street and 54th Avenue, 40th Street and 28th Avenue, and 45th Street and 45th Avenue.
The outages took out traffic signals along Green Bay Road north of 52nd Avenue, and there were scattered reports of minor accidents.
As of 9:20 a.m. Saturday, We Energies reported there remained 7,129 customers who had reported power outages in Kenosha County yet to be restored and crews were working to repair the outages.
The storms swept east across the county as they developed, including heavy rains around 11 p.m. Friday.
Among the areas hit by the rain was the Country Thunder grounds in Randall, including the campgrounds. There were no immediate reports from the grounds of significant damage or injury.
Photos: Heat wave stretches across US
A worker replaces shingles on a roof Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Oklahoma City, before the heat of the day sets in. Temperatures are expected to be in the triple digits in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Sue Ogrocki
People try to keep cool at the Justa Center, a resource center catering to the older homeless population, as temperatures hit 110-degrees Tuesday, July 19, 2022, in Phoenix. Heat associated deaths in Arizona's largest county appear headed for a record this year with 17 such fatalities reported through the first week of July and another 126 under investigation as a growing number of homeless people live outside as temperatures remain well into the triple digits. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Ross D. Franklin
Edinburg Vela High School marching band members perform during practice at Edinburg Vela High School Wednesday, July,20, 2022 in Edinburg, Texas. (Delcia Lopez/The Monitor via AP)
Delcia Lopez
Yonathan Ghersi, owner of 26 Degrees brewing stops to take a break from cleaning kegs in the heat, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Pompano Beach, Fla. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
Joe Cavaretta
Derell Sevenson of Soul Hibachi and Seafood cooks over a hot grill, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Pompano Beach, Fla. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
Joe Cavaretta
Artist Rosita de Amarin cools down with a chilled mango from her ice chest, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Pompano Beach, Fla. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
Joe Cavaretta
Asa Smith, 7, of Brattleboro, Vt., relaxes in the waters at Old Jelly Mill Falls, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Dummerston, Vt., as temperatures rise into the upper 90s. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)
Kristopher Radder
Sopheya Gutierrez, 6, of Westminster, Vt., rides on the back of her mother, Starr, as they cool down in the West River, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Dummerston, Vt., as temperatures rise into the upper 90s. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)
Kristopher Radder
Kimberly Rodriguez, from Springfield, Mass., goes tubing with her two daughters, Katalina Oyola, 5, and Jerriahnys Oyola, 2, as they cool down in the West River, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Dummerston, Vt., as temperatures rise into the upper 90s. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)
Kristopher Radder
Ducks pass a beachgoer as they float down the American River at Discovery Park in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Once again temperatures in California's capital crossed the 100-degree mark. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Rich Pedroncelli
A woman and youngster wade in the waters of the American River at Discovery Park in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Once again temperatures in California's capital crossed the 100-degree mark. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Rich Pedroncelli
Dylan Schoenfeld, 9, of California, leaps over a fountain while cooling off with his brother Charlie, 5, while on vacation during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Boston. Dangerously high temperatures Thursday threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South as millions of Americans sought comfort from air-conditioners, fire hydrants, fountains and cooling centers. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Charles Krupa
Brent Thurmon, who is currently homeless, is wheeled on 11th Street, just west of Trenton Ave., by friend A.J. McCosar, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. Thurmon had been in a local hospital for dehydration, and was treated and released. He said they gave him an IV and a security guard took him to 11th and Trenton and dropped him off. He was unable to get up or move. McCosar was going to take him to a friend's house where he could recuperate(Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP)
Mike Simons
A girl cools off at a fountain during hot weather at the River Trails Park District Woodland Trails Pool in Mount Prospect, Ill., Thursday, July 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Nam Y. Huh
A woman pushes a stroller during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in New York. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
A man runs during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in New York. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
A man plays tennis during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in New York. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
"It's a volcano!" exclaims 6-year-old Nolan Rought of Madison, Wis. as he uses his shirt to diffuse a fountain at Citygarden in downtown St. Louis on Thursday, July 21, 2022. According to the National Weather Service, the St. Louis region is expected to experience triple-digit temperatures through the weekend with heat index up to 109 expected on Saturday.(Jack Myer/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)
Jack Myer
A child, right, reacts under a plastic rain cover as he walks in the rain with his family during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Manhattan, New York. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
People take shelter from rain during summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in New York. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
A woman uses her phone during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in New York. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
Noah Hurtado, 9, splashes down a water slide during a visit to a sprayground Thursday, July 21, 2022 in Odessa, Texas. The National Weather Service issued a Heat Advisory Thursday for areas of southeast New Mexico, southwest Texas and west Texas. High temperatures between 96 and 98 degrees are expected to last until Monday according to the NWS' extended forecast (Eli Hartman/Odessa American via AP)
Eli Hartman
From left, Arturo Coca, 8, Maricla Coca, 7, and Madalyn Lange, 5, walk through a water feature as they cool off from the heat during a visit to a sprayground Thursday, July 21, 2022 in Odessa, Texas. The National Weather Service issued a Heat Advisory Thursday for areas of southeast New Mexico, southwest Texas and west Texas. High temperatures between 96 and 98 degrees are expected to last until Monday according to the NWS' extended forecast. ((Eli Hartman/Odessa American via AP)
Eli Hartman
A man rests in the park at dusk during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Hoboken, N.J. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
A man rests with his dog as a couple passes by at dusk during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Hoboken, N.J. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
People spend time at the park at dusk during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Hoboken, N.J. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
People spend time at the park at dusk during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Hoboken, N.J. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
A woman cools off at a fountain at the Woodland Trails Pool in Mount Prospect, Ill., on a warm Thursday, July 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Nam Y. Huh
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/power-outages-accompany-storm-storms-hail-early-saturday-crews-working-to-restore-services/article_b0e7b4aa-0a91-11ed-972d-cf4eb618f4a5.html | 2022-07-23T15:10:26 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/power-outages-accompany-storm-storms-hail-early-saturday-crews-working-to-restore-services/article_b0e7b4aa-0a91-11ed-972d-cf4eb618f4a5.html |
DALLAS (KDAF) — Always remember you have to eat your vegetables! Green vegetables are super important to any diet as all vegetables are.
There are many popular greens out there that people love to eat like broccoli, spinach, kale, green beans, and asparagus among others. However, Brussel sprouts have a lot to bring to the table and your plate.
What better time to talk about some good healthy spouts than Saturday, July 23, National Sprout Day! NationalToday says, “National Sprout Day is celebrated every year on July 23. The holiday appreciates Brussels sprouts, spreads awareness about the vegetables’ nutrient content, and aims to encourage more people to eat them.”
We want you to be able to find the best sprouts in town and so we checked out Yelp’s list of the best spots in Dallas to eat this amazing side item to go along with your protein:
- The Porch – Lower Greenville
- Invasion – East Dallas
- Palmer’s Hot Chicken – Lakewood
- Doc B’s Restaurant + Bar
- Haywire – Uptown
- Standard Service – Lower Greenville
- Zatar – Deep Ellum
- Streets Fine Chicken – Oak Lawn
- Yardbird Table & Bar – Uptown
- Hugo’s Invitados – Uptown | https://cw33.com/news/local/got-greens-heres-where-to-eat-the-best-brussel-sprouts-in-dallas/ | 2022-07-23T15:18:37 | 1 | https://cw33.com/news/local/got-greens-heres-where-to-eat-the-best-brussel-sprouts-in-dallas/ |
'We're in a major flood fight': More than 1,500 homes at risk of flooding around Flagstaff
Extensive flood mitigation efforts have been underway since a group of storms caused serious flooding in areas in and around Flagstaff, particularly in neighborhood nearest the burn scars from recent wildfires.
"We're continuing to really focus on getting sandbags produced, getting them into neighborhoods," said Lucinda Andreani, the Coconino County Flood Control District manager.
Right now there are about 15,000 sandbags stockpiled throughout these areas, she said, which include Doney Park, Fernwood, Timberline and Wupatki Trails.
As these neighborhoods recover from last week's floods, serious monsoon activity remains on the horizon.
In a monsoon season that started about a month earlier than usual, a collection of storms expected this weekend into early next week are going to bring with them the most monsoonal moisture the area has seen so far this year, according to Molly Gerhardt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Flagstaff.
Preparations: Arizona National Guard to help fill sandbags in Coconino County after days of flash flooding
With that monsoon activity, the greatest threat is flash flooding, Gerhardt said.
A weather service forecast stated there was a 50% chance of thunderstorms Friday in the Flagstaff area, with storm chances continuing through the weekend and next week.
"While today's thunderstorm activity looks rather scattered, more widespread action is expected beginning this weekend, especially Sunday," the weather service forecast stated. "Storm threats include heavy rain, lightning, hail, gusty winds, and flash flooding."
After last week's floods prompted the City of Flagstaff to issue a shelter in place order for some at-risk areas, the Arizona National Guard was deployed to the area to help with sandbag efforts.
National Guard, prison inmates help with sandbagging efforts
Gov. Doug Ducey issued a declaration of emergency Wednesday to make additional state resources available for response and recovery efforts, according to a statement from the state Governor's Office.
"When Arizona communities are in need, we come together,” Ducey said in the statement. “In the last week, we’ve seen just that. In a community already impacted by wildfires, the monsoon season presents dangerous challenges.
"This fire season has already been extremely active and it’s crucial that our local officials and leaders continue to have the resources they need to respond to the aftermath of heavy rains," the governor continued.
Ducey deployed the National Guard on July 16 to assist with efforts to mitigate the flood threat, such as filling sandbags. Sixty volunteer service members supported this direct request and have since filled 800 pallets, equaling 56,000 sandbags, according to the statement.
Flooding occurred after rain fell on several Coconino County burn scars. The effects were flood waters generated, debris flows triggered, and private property, roadways and drainage systems damaged.
The Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs worked with private sector partners and nonprofits to provide water and food for sandbagging crews.
“When called upon, we volunteered beside our emergency responders and community members,” Maj. Gen. Kerry Muehlenbeck, DEMA director, said in the statement.
Inmates from the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry Wildland Fire and Arizona Healthy Forest Initiative crews at ASPC-Winslow also provided assistance. The crews filled 1,561 pallets which equaled about 93,660 sandbags.
This weekend, the Red Cross is expected to distribute flood cleanup kits to residents and the United Way of Northern Arizona will help with debris removal, according to the governor's statement.
Substantial flood events expected to continue
Based on current models, around 1,500 homes in the area are at risk of flooding, Andreani said.
For every property deemed at high-risk for flooding, a mitigation plan has been designed for that specific location and is available on the Coconino County website.
"Unfortunately with the watersheds unraveling above, we're going to continue, very likely, to see substantial flood events, particularly in those corridors where that's now happening," Andreani said.
"We're in a major flood fight," she said.
In addition to short-term measures to reduce the immediate impact of flooding, the county and the U.S. Forest Service are working together to coordinate restoration projects for watersheds damaged by wildfires as well as preventative forest restoration.
By thinning the overpopulated forest and conducting prescribed burns, the area will be less likely to suffer from a severe wildfire and by extension the extreme post-fire flooding that has become common.
"It doesn't mean you won't still have fires but the catastrophic nature of the fires will be reduced dramatically," Andreani said.
Importantly, these preventative measures will prioritize areas that present the most danger, like the west side of the peaks which have a very high risk for fire as well as post-fire flooding.
"If they burn, they will create catastrophic flooding way beyond anything we're seeing right now through Flagstaff," she said.
Unfortunately, these restoration plans can take years to get off the ground let alone complete.
With heavy rains across much of northern Arizona in the forecast for the coming days, flood mitigation is likely to remain the best option for the foreseeable future.
"We can keep mitigating these floods and trying to work on that and spending millions," she said. "We should be putting our millions into restoration so we don't have to do this."
How do I stay safe?
Coconino County officials offered the following tips online and advised residents to be prepared for the approaching storms and potential flooding threat. They further recommended that residents sign up for emergency alerts and remember to be in READY status for potential emergencies.
- Protect your property from floodwaters and purchase flood insurance.
- Plan for sheltering where you are and for evacuation.
- Evacuate if advised.
- Seek high ground (flash floods) or stay on high ground.
- Avoid walking or driving in floodwaters.
- Depth and velocity are not always obvious; the ground or road may suddenly wash away and hidden dangers may exist; do not attempt to evacuate through flood waters.
- Know how to avoid injury from debris, contaminated water, carbon monoxide poisoning, electrocution, and damaged buildings and infrastructure.
- Seek professional review or inspection of structures and utilities before entering buildings that have been flooded.
Contact northern Arizona reporter Lacey Latch at llatch@gannett.com or on social media @laceylatch. Coverage of northern Arizona on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is funded by the nonprofit Report for America and a grant from the the Vitalyst Health Foundation in association with The Arizona Republic. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/07/23/more-than-1-500-homes-risk-flooding-around-flagstaff/10129728002/ | 2022-07-23T15:21:07 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2022/07/23/more-than-1-500-homes-risk-flooding-around-flagstaff/10129728002/ |
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Detectives are investigating a shooting in the Kerns neighborhood that wounded one man early Saturday after police say entered someone’s house.
Officers responded to a report of a shooting just before 12:15 a.m. Saturday near the corner of Northeast 22nd Avenue and Couch Street. When they arrived, police said they found a man shot and they applied a tourniquet to his arm.
He was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, while officers were helping the man, they received a call from someone who said they were involved. The caller told police they shot the man because he entered their home, PPB said.
Authorities did not release any further details.
An investigation is underway, and police said the caller has been cooperative.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Meghan Burkeen at Meghan.Burkeen@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-2092, or Detective Brian Sims at Brian.Sims@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-2079. | https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/man-injured-in-kerns-neighborhood-shooting/ | 2022-07-23T15:25:20 | 0 | https://www.koin.com/local/multnomah-county/man-injured-in-kerns-neighborhood-shooting/ |
Average daily flows
Snake River at Heise 12,312 cfs
Snake River at Blackfoot 3,406 cfs
Snake River at American Falls 11,019 cfs
Snake River at Milner 0 cfs
Little Wood River near Carey 255 cfs
Jackson Lake is 44% full.
Palisades Reservoir is 64% full.
American Falls Reservoir is 31% full.
Upper Snake River system is at 47% of capacity.
As of July 22. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/average-daily-streamflows/article_9b740f74-09c9-11ed-9f6b-ff8a4b32511e.html | 2022-07-23T15:35:22 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/average-daily-streamflows/article_9b740f74-09c9-11ed-9f6b-ff8a4b32511e.html |
If you happen to be visiting the scenic Snake River at the Twin Falls Visitor Center this week, you may notice that a pre-pandemic fixture is back: Smiling faces standing next to colorful carts featuring a positive message and free Bible-based literature.
Thousands of these carts will be rolling down the streets of communities like Twin Falls all across the world as Jehovah’s Witnesses recommence their global public preaching work some 24 months after putting it on pause due to the pandemic.
“I’m so happy to actually talk face-to-face again. I really missed that,” said Karrin Archer, of Twin Falls, a regular volunteer at the site along with her husband, Tom.
His sentiments were similar. “It’s awesome. It’s really like seeing old friends again in our happy community,” Tom said.
The Christian organization is returning to its public ministry for the first time since March 2020 when all in-person forms of their volunteer work were suspended out of concern for the health and safety of the community.
People are also reading…
In response to the global decision, four Twin Falls congregations are now reopening their cart locations, including those at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, the College of Southern Idaho and various parks around town.
All four Twin Falls congregations will also resume free in-person Bible studies along with personal visits to those who have invited them back to their homes. This comes two months after the organization began gathering at their Kingdom Halls once again for in-person meetings.
“While we understand that the pandemic is not over, we are entering into a phase of learning to live with COVID,” said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses.
“We are sensitive to the risks that still face our communities and our volunteers, which is why we will not resume door-to-door ministry at this time. Each volunteer will make a personal choice as to whether their ministry will remain strictly virtual or whether they are ready to make in-person visits again. We are excited that we all have a choice!”
Mobile displays of Bible-based literature have been part of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ public ministry in the U.S. since 2011.
While “cart witnessing” began in large metropolitan areas around the world, the practice quickly spread to tens of thousands of smaller communities, becoming a fixture in rail and bus stations, airports, harbors and main streets.
In 2015, Witnesses in the Magic Valley began offering a selection of Bible literature in English and Spanish at the carts throughout the week to be accessible to community members and tourists frequenting the area’s natural scenic attractions.
The Archers said they enjoy meeting locals as well as those visiting from around the world.
Tom said that in view of what people have been through during the pandemic, he believes the carts provide a positive effect, adding, “We care for individuals and families in our community.”
“We all need a solid hope for the future, and what we are sharing fills that need,” Karrin said.
To learn more about Jehovah’s Witnesses, their history, beliefs and activities, visit their official website jw.org, featuring content in more than 1,000 languages. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/back-on-the-streets-of-twin-falls-after-pandemic-pause-jehovah-s-witnesses-resume-public/article_2fe1ad38-09e8-11ed-be31-7f60a84511e7.html | 2022-07-23T15:35:28 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/back-on-the-streets-of-twin-falls-after-pandemic-pause-jehovah-s-witnesses-resume-public/article_2fe1ad38-09e8-11ed-be31-7f60a84511e7.html |
BALTIMORE — A Baltimore man has pleaded guilty to charges that he posed as a young girl to induce teenage boys to send him sexually explicit images and videos before he extorted them, a federal prosecutor said.
According to his plea agreement, from at least 2016 through 2021, Walsh created fake online profiles on multiple platforms posing as young girl to make contact with boys between the ages of 12 and 17 and induce them to produce sexually explicit images and videos.
Once Walsh got the images, he extorted the boys into producing more explicit images and videos, threatening to send the earlier images to their friends if they didn’t, the plea agreement said.
Prosecutors said Walsh also uploaded the files to various social media accounts and sold the sexually explicit files to others.
To date, more than 40 boys have been positively identified as victims of Walsh’s conduct, and at least 30 victims’ pictures and videos were sold and/or distributed to others by Walsh.
Walsh is to be sentenced on Nov. 4. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/prosecutor-man-posed-as-young-girl-to-get-explicit-videos/2022/07/23/e8e08a22-0a95-11ed-80b6-43f2bfcc6662_story.html | 2022-07-23T15:35:30 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/prosecutor-man-posed-as-young-girl-to-get-explicit-videos/2022/07/23/e8e08a22-0a95-11ed-80b6-43f2bfcc6662_story.html |
The Idaho Republican Party Convention in Twin Falls last week was apparently quite the wingding.
Found among the “let’s get down to business and draw up a platform” agenda, there was enough to solidify Idaho as one of the most interesting if not most regressive states in the nation, with actions drawing attention from people in various parts of the country. We’ll save that discussion for Sunday.
Then there was “Pizzagate Part Deux.”
This wasn’t the same as the first “Pizzagate” from 2016, falsely claiming emails contained coded messages connecting several high-ranking Democratic Party officials and U.S. restaurants with an alleged human trafficking and child sex ring.
This one was childish. It looks like some Republicans at the state convention had a bit too much time on their hands and decided to do some “punking,” akin to a college frat prank.
People are also reading…
According to a report in the Idaho Capital Sun, individuals not affiliated with GOP Chairman Tom Luna’s campaign for a second term distributed flyers advertising free pizza to local shelters for people facing homelessness, dubbed “Pizza for the hungry,” at a campaign event on Thursday night.
This ran counter to Luna’s event, “Pizza and Patriots,” with his flyers going to all delegates at the convention. Luna reportedly discovered an alternate flyer was distributed to at least one Twin Falls area homeless shelter. It was unknown who distributed the flyers.
It was apparently all part of the “fun” as Rep. Dorothy Moon ran against Luna for the state chairman position, where she was selected on Saturday.
What was the goal of the prank? Making Luna’s event run short of pizza by using the homeless as a part of the game, making Luna look bad among the delegates? It’s a very odd mystery.
The Capital Sun reported Republican campaign staffer Tyler Hurst, who organized the event for Luna, was sitting in the hotel where the event took place and saw a child come up to the front desk and ask if it was the place where they could get pizza for dinner. When he realized what was happening, Hurst told them there was free pizza for everyone and that it was a town hall event. He wanted to save the homeless some embarrassment.
Someone should be embarrassed in this case, and it’s not the homeless who were dragged into the prank as part of a flat-out stupid stunt. It shows no regard or respect for the homeless, already wanting to find an inkling of respect.
We challenge Moon — who said she had no knowledge of the action — to root out those responsible for the prank. The party should make a donation to shelters in the Twin Falls area. An even bigger challenge would be for those party members involved to spend time with the homeless.
That would be quite an eye-opening experience for anyone thinking this was funny. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/idaho-view-gop-delegates-pulled-childish-stunt-at-convention/article_65627b2c-091b-11ed-ab34-8b816ce482b4.html | 2022-07-23T15:35:35 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/idaho-view-gop-delegates-pulled-childish-stunt-at-convention/article_65627b2c-091b-11ed-ab34-8b816ce482b4.html |
A 60-year-old Sheyenne man died when the off-highway vehicle he was driving crashed in the Eddy County town.
The Can-Am Outlander struck a parked commercial vehicle shortly before 2:30 a.m. Saturday, according to the North Dakota Highway Patrol.
The man was thrown from the vehicle. He was taken to a Carrington hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name was not immediately released. | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/sheyenne-man-dies-in-ohv-crash/article_14b34da4-0a8e-11ed-bdbe-2f7cc7d05818.html | 2022-07-23T15:44:27 | 0 | https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/sheyenne-man-dies-in-ohv-crash/article_14b34da4-0a8e-11ed-bdbe-2f7cc7d05818.html |
SAN ANTONIO — A man is dead after being shot in an invasion at an apartment complex Saturday morning, officials say.
San Antonio Police and the San Antonio Fire Department responded to the 16400 block of Henderson Pass for a shooting around 2:15 a.m. When they arrived, they found a man with a gunshot wound to the head.
EMS tried to save the man's life, but the attempts were unsuccessful.
Police said two men wearing masks kicked in the apartment door and shot the man, according to the victim's girlfriend who was allegedly in the apartment during the invasion.
Police detained the girlfriend for further questioning. No other injuries were reported. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/man-killed-invasion-at-apartment-complex-on-the-north-side/273-26a90ebb-d837-407b-85e5-f4c95b3a6f4b | 2022-07-23T15:45:53 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/man-killed-invasion-at-apartment-complex-on-the-north-side/273-26a90ebb-d837-407b-85e5-f4c95b3a6f4b |
SAN ANTONIO — Police are working to figure out who killed two teenagers near downtown early Saturday morning.
San Antonio Police responded to the 1800 block of Schley Avenue for reports of a shooting. When they arrived they found the two teens in a car with gunshot wounds.
Both of the teens were transported to the hospital, but died.
Homicide detectives are going through evidence to figure out what happened. Police says they do not know the motive at this time. | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/two-teens-killed-in-shooting-near-downtown-police-say-news/273-a2b3c861-7d4c-4259-95b4-e203d242725c | 2022-07-23T15:45:59 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/two-teens-killed-in-shooting-near-downtown-police-say-news/273-a2b3c861-7d4c-4259-95b4-e203d242725c |
ATLANTIC CITY — A city man was found shot early Saturday on Central Avenue, police said.
At 2:40 a.m., officers responded to the 1400 block of Central for a report of someone shot. They arrived to find a victim and evidence of gunfire, police said in a news release. The victim, 27, was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
Anyone with more information about the shooting can call police at 609-347-5766 or text tip411 (847411). Begin texts with "ACPD." All texts are anonymous. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/atlantic-city-man-found-shot-saturday-morning/article_0d43eada-0a9b-11ed-a486-b75398e4bb40.html | 2022-07-23T15:57:32 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/atlantic-city-man-found-shot-saturday-morning/article_0d43eada-0a9b-11ed-a486-b75398e4bb40.html |
The Ocean City Nor’easters’ memorably successful season ended with a first-round playoff loss Friday night in Newport News, Virginia.
The Long Island Rough Riders defeated Ocean City 3-1 in the Mid-Atlantic Division playoffs at TowneBank Stadium. The Nor'easters, who compete in League Two of the United Soccer Leagues, finished the season 11-1-4, including the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
“I’m extremely proud of our effort and ability to stay and fight together as a team,” Ocean City coach Kevin Nuss said in a release from the team. “I’m happy I got to be a small part of this team this season.”
Long Island was the first team this year to score more than two goals against the Nor'easters, who set single-season club records with nine goals allowed and a 0.64 goals-against average
“Unfortunately, tonight was not our night. but that is the game, and we aren’t defined by our result tonight,” Nuss said.
Ocean City's MD Myers, from Delran, scored the game's first goal. It came in the 29th minute after the ball hit four Nor'easters in about 15 seconds. Midfielder Jeorgio Kocevski passed to Myers near the left side of the box.
But the Rough Riders, who are the Nor'easters' second-oldest rivalry, dating to 2001, surged ahead in the second half.
“At this point, every opponent is tough, and Long Island was a good opponent,” Nuss said. “We were able to create some tactical problems for them in the first half, but (in the) second half they came out with good energy.”
Matthew Vowinkel headed in the game-tying goal in the 71st minute. The Nor'easters had not allowed a goal since a 2-1 game against West Chester United. Vowinkel's goal broke Ocean City's club record of 499 scoreless minutes.
Long Island went ahead on Justin Weiss' goal in the 85th minute. Ryan Carmichael's stoppage-time goal capped the scoring.
Long Island will face eighth-seeded Vermont Green FC on Sunday. Vermont defeated No. 1 seed and host Lionsbridge FC 2-1 in Friday's second game.
PHOTOS Ocean City Nor'easters beat West Chester United
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account.
The Ocean City Nor'easters' Valtteri Hiilloskorpi, center, competes for the ball during their playoff game against the Long Island Rough Riders on Friday in Newport News, Virginia. The Nor'easters' Jeorgio Kocevski also is pictured. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/noreasters-season-ends-with-3-1-loss-in-first-round-of-mid-atlantic-division-playoffs/article_b6a9a746-0a95-11ed-bc53-4fb31e5eed58.html | 2022-07-23T15:57:38 | 1 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/noreasters-season-ends-with-3-1-loss-in-first-round-of-mid-atlantic-division-playoffs/article_b6a9a746-0a95-11ed-bc53-4fb31e5eed58.html |
Illinois residents have been moving to Northwest Indiana in droves, as is apparent to anyone who sees all the Illinois license plates on the roads.
The Move to Indiana campaign looks to further capitalize on that momentum with a new website and new sponsors. It's an ongoing effort to lure more out-of-state residents and businesses to the Region.
"The new website is basically taking the momentum built off the initial campaign to add new components for Illinois residents and Illinois businesses that would have an interest in relocating," The Times of Northwest Indiana President Tom Schager said. "We just launched the site a couple of weeks ago. We know a lot of people are clamoring to get into Northwest Indiana. We are happy to bring this resource on behalf of our partners. We want to promote growth in all of our communities."
The new website, movetoindiana.com, has a more user-friendly and dramatic design. It also will soon add new features like listings of homes for sale and commercial real estate sites for sale or lease.
People are also reading…
"It's for anyone considering a move to Indiana, though it's primarily focused on the Illinois market," Schager said. "It's a big decision to move, or move your business, across state lines and we want to make it an even more obvious one. We link to a ton of different resources."
The website highlights why Northwest Indiana is great place to live and do business, South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority President and CEO David Uran said.
"We want to showcase Northwest Indiana. A lot of visitors come here and enjoy our hospitality and quality of life," Uran said. "You also have the opportunity to look at Northwest Indiana as a prospective resident or business owner. Anybody on the outside looking in can see great things to do here, what it offers residentially and business opportunities."
The SSCVA, Centier Bank, the cities of Hammond and Whiting, Schillings, Schilling Development, the town of Dyer, Purdue Northwest, NIPSCO and the Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors are among the sponsors.
“NIPSCO is proud to be involved in the effort to share all the positive attributes, new developments and high quality-of-life benefits available to potential future residents and business owners who may be considering making Indiana their new home. From the lakefront to fantastic parks and trails to the strong education system and safe neighborhoods, we believe Northwest Indiana has so much to offer those considering a relocation," said Rick Calinski, NIPSCO director of public affairs and economic development. “We’re honored to provide safe, reliable and affordable natural gas and electric service to customers throughout northern Indiana, and we’re on a path to reducing our carbon footprint and providing cleaner, renewable sources of energy generation to our customers through our Your Energy, Your Future plan. We are well-positioned, with a strong infrastructure and 3000 employees, to deliver essential gas and electric utility services to current customers and new residents and businesses who choose Indiana.”
The campaign touts Northwest Indiana's $35 billion economy, proximity to Chicago and low cost of living and of doing business.
"Purdue University Northwest has been a supporter of this campaign from the beginning because the institution firmly believes in and contributes to the vibrancy of Northwest Indiana," said Kris Falzone, associate vice chancellor of marketing and communications at PNW.
"As a premier metropolitan university, PNW has an economic impact to the region of nearly $746 million in total income, supporting 10,494 jobs. The Move to Indiana campaign will help people, particularly in neighboring states, learn about the many positives to living and working in Northwest Indiana."
The Move to Indiana campaign highlights Northwest Indiana's low taxes, population growth and major employers, including several global companies.
“Over the past few decades, communities across Indiana have welcomed new businesses and residents — adding to our state’s character and charm," Centier Bank Chairman and CEO Mike Schrage said. "Tight-knit communities provide that true hometown feel through engaging and entertaining celebrations that bring neighbors together. With access to national parks, the shores of Lake Michigan, and close proximity to Indianapolis and Chicago, we hope more people will be calling Indiana home. As Indiana’s largest private, family-owned and operated bank since 1895, Centier Bank has assisted many clients who are new to Indiana with hometown banking and financing their dream homes.”
For more information, visit movetoindiana.com. | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/move-to-indiana-campaign-launches-new-website-adds-new-sponsors/article_b0a6c89c-062e-59ef-a7fe-5fd835f19cf5.html | 2022-07-23T15:59:22 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/move-to-indiana-campaign-launches-new-website-adds-new-sponsors/article_b0a6c89c-062e-59ef-a7fe-5fd835f19cf5.html |
AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department said late Friday night that officers were investigating a homicide in southeast Austin. It was officers' third homicide in less than 48 hours.
APD said officials responded to the scene near the 4800 block of Turnstone Drive. That's near Mendez Middle School, near Interstate 35 and Onion Creek.
Police responded to a family disturbance call at the address just after 10 p.m. They found a victim with serious injuries who later died at the scene.
APD is still searching for the suspect.
Officers believe this is an isolated incident and do not think the public is in danger.
This is Austin's 42nd homicide of the year.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/apd-investigating-homicide-southeast-austin/269-5999eed6-96a0-4e97-b0f4-7cf50f88f5b1 | 2022-07-23T16:27:21 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/apd-investigating-homicide-southeast-austin/269-5999eed6-96a0-4e97-b0f4-7cf50f88f5b1 |
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — The dress stuck with judges: Grace Vaughn won the Duck brand's Stuck at Prom 2022 Scholarship Contest!
She will be awarded a $10,000 cash scholarship to fund her future path, according to a news release Wednesday. So, too, will Chidinma Onwuliri of Mississauga, Ontario, for winning Best Tux.
"Each of our contestants had a special story to tell this year, from hoping to empower others with their designs to pushing their artistic abilities to the limit, and they should all be very proud of their Duck Tape® looks," said Ashley Luke, the senior product manager at Shurtape Technologies, LLC, the company that markets the Duck brand in a statement.
"We congratulate Grace, Chidinma and all of our participants for making masterpieces that show the world what can be achieved with some creativity and originality."
The previous version of this story is below.
---
It took 45 rolls of duct tape and 143 hours for Grace Vaughn to construct a floor-length ball gown for the Duck brand Stuck at Prom 2022 National Scholarship Contest.
The Duck brand holds this competition yearly. The winner is offered a $10,000 scholarship prize, and the top five finalists receive $500.
The 17-year-old Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School rising senior began her dress in late March. This is her second year participating in the contest.
"Last year, I made my dress, and I submitted it," Vaughn said. "Even though I didn't win, it was so much fun. So, I decided to do it this year."
She began by sketching out different designs.
"I started making the dress, and my dress and idea completely shifted," Vaughn said. "Sometimes that's how the creative process works. It just completely changes and definitely in a good way."
At a table in her family's living room, Vaughn would spend hours after school and track practice working on the dress.
Yin and Yang inspires Pasco teen's dress made out of duct tape
Three months and several store trips for more duct tape later, her dress was finished, weighing in at 13 pounds.
Her visual inspiration for the design was based on the Yin and Yang theory, which she said represents balance in one's routine. She layered black and white tape to create a fitted bodice and a skirt that resembles layers of petals.
Despite the dress' beauty, Vaughn didn't get to wear it to prom.
"It would be pretty cool, but it's very hard to maneuver in because it's duct tape," she said.
Vaughn enjoyed playing around with fabrics and sewing when she was younger, but the two duct tape dresses she created were her first finished pieces.
However, she hopes to increase her design skills and study fashion at The Savannah College of Art and Design. Winning the contest's scholarship money would be a huge help.
"It definitely means a lot because I want to go into fashion, and getting some money for the school that I want to go to really helps out," Vaughn said.
She finds out the results of the competition on Wednesday, but until then, she's happy with her finalist position.
"I was really excited, and I felt like I was finally getting the recognition that I deserved from the last dress," Vaughn said. "Even if I wouldn't win, I know that my family and friends are really proud of me." | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/grace-vaughn-pasco-county-duct-tape-dress/67-360e025b-920e-456f-8570-2b7d274da5b4 | 2022-07-23T16:27:27 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/grace-vaughn-pasco-county-duct-tape-dress/67-360e025b-920e-456f-8570-2b7d274da5b4 |
AUSTIN, Texas — Two people were taken to the hospital after two separate collisions on Saturday morning.
The first took place around 1:20 a.m. on Ed Bluestein Boulevard near Highway 183. The crash left someone trapped in the car.
Austin-Travis County EMS got them out and transported them to the hospital with serious injuries.
The second collision was just before 2 a.m. on East Riverside Drive and Newning Street. There, someone fell off their scooter and was struck by a car.
They were also taken to the hospital with serious injuries but are expected to be OK.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/overnight-crashes/269-8aea4a6e-ae85-497f-ba88-e700068d6641 | 2022-07-23T16:27:33 | 1 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/overnight-crashes/269-8aea4a6e-ae85-497f-ba88-e700068d6641 |
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) – The Greeneville Police Department has issued an endangered Juvenile BOLO Alert.
GPD requests the community’s assistance locating a male juvenile who ran away from custody on July 22 at around 7 p.m., according to a release from the department.
The release describes the male juvenile as about six feet tall, weighing around 150 pounds with blonde hair. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a blue and white checkered button-down shirt unbuttoned with a white tee shirt underneath, and leg shackles.
GPD says that the juvenile is considered dangerous and anyone who has contact with him should call 911 or your local law enforcement agency.
Click here to subscribe to WJHL’s email newsletters for more stories like this. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/gpd-requesting-assistance-locating-endangered-juvenile-who-ran-away-from-custody/ | 2022-07-23T16:28:32 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/gpd-requesting-assistance-locating-endangered-juvenile-who-ran-away-from-custody/ |
Fort Wayne police are investigating a shooting that left a woman with critical injuries early today.
Officers said they responded to a report of gunfire about 2 a.m. in the 1800 block of Pontiac Street and found the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
She was taken to a hospital in life-threatening condition.
Police said they later learned the shooting happened at the Anthony Boulevard and Oxford Street intersection while the woman was a passenger inside a vehicle at a red light.
Officers believe shots were fired from another vehicle.
The driver with the woman tried to take her to the hospital, but pulled over and called 911, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Fort Wayne Police Department at 260-427-1201, Crime Stoppers at 260-436-7867or use the free “P3 Tips” app. | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/se-fort-wayne-shooting-leaves-1-critical/article_94ee9c94-0a9d-11ed-be94-07d2f3327228.html | 2022-07-23T16:30:27 | 0 | https://www.journalgazette.net/local/police-fire/se-fort-wayne-shooting-leaves-1-critical/article_94ee9c94-0a9d-11ed-be94-07d2f3327228.html |
Our little corner of the Sonoran Desert gets the full David Attenborough treatment in a new BBC nature documentary set to premiere on PBS on July 27.
Tumamoc Hill, Saguaro National Park and Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden all show up in “Desert Worlds,” the fourth episode in “The Green Planet,” a globe-spanning, five-part celebration of plants narrated by Attenborough.
Film crews from BBC Studios’ famed Natural History Unit, makers of the “Planet Earth” series, visited the area numerous times over a three-year period, capturing rare footage of snow falling on saguaros in the Tucson Mountains and a once-in-a-generation wildflower bloom in the massive sand dune fields of Mexico’s Gran Desierto de Altar.
People are also reading…
They were helped along the way by several local experts, including desert ecologist Ben Wilder, who served as academic consultant for the episode.
“It was one of the most rewarding and fun collaborations I’ve ever been a part of,” said Wilder, former director of the University of Arizona’s Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill.
He first met BBC producer and director Paul Williams and assistant producer Lance Featherstone in May 2018, when they came to his office on the hill to discuss the project.
“They asked me, ‘What stories would you like the world to know about the Sonoran Desert?’ I said, ‘Well, I hope you don’t have to go anywhere for the next 20 hours,’” he remembered with a laugh.
The following January, Wilder and fellow local desert ecologists Robert Villa, Trica Oshant Hawkins and Erin Riordan led the BBC crew on a last-minute trip into the Gran Desierto in search of flowers.
Wilder had been tracking the remnants of a hurricane that swept up the Gulf of California and parked itself over the massive dune field near the mouth of the Colorado River. He thought conditions might be right for a rare bloom in the sand.
Williams, the U.K.-based director, was worried about traveling so far without knowing for sure if the flowers would be there or how long they might last.
“Nevertheless, knowing that this could be our only chance to capture such an event, we gathered our equipment in haste and headed to Arizona,” Williams wrote in a story about the making of “Desert Worlds.”
Desert island
Wilder said they reached the middle of the dunes — two hours from the nearest road — just as the bloom was hitting its peak.
“We got out of the car and the perfume smell of sand verbena just knocked us off our feet,” he said.
It ended up being the first new footage shot for the miniseries.
The crew would make several return trips to the site over the next two years, staying four or five nights each time to capture the bloom as it waned and the plants as they dried out and dissolved into seeds.
That footage is played forward and backward in the finished episode to show the dunes erupting in purple and white blossoms, then bleaching back to barren sand.
Wilder said some of the long time-lapse shots of blooming sand verbena and evening primrose were actually filmed in a studio greenhouse in Bristol, England, using plants grown from seeds sent from Tucson.
Wilder also guided the crew to Isla San Pedro Mártir, the most remote island in the Gulf of California, where he has been studying a unique relationship between seabirds and saguaro-like cardon cactus for the past 15 years.
He talks about his work on the island in a short “On Location” video that was released along with “Desert Worlds” when the BBC first aired it January.
The mile-and-a-half-wide dome of volcanic rock is home to an unusually dense cactus forest that serves as a nesting ground for tens of thousands of blue-footed and brown boobies.
In return, Wilder said, the birds coat the island in “unlimited fertilizer” that’s too nutrient-rich for most plants but seems to suit the cardons just fine.
Filming on the uninhabited island — about 280 miles southwest of Tucson, as the booby flies — was originally scheduled for March of 2020, but those plans were derailed by the worsening coronavirus pandemic.
Wilder said the crew was about 12 hours from catching a flight to Mexico, and he was packing his car to go meet them, when “everything shut down.”
The production resumed a year later with major COVID restrictions in place, including 10-day quarantines for the filmmakers when they arrived in Mexico and again as they prepared to fly home to the U.K., he said.
Knight in Tucson
The filming in Arizona was much easier to get to but no less exacting.
In the Tucson Mountains north of Gates Pass, the crew erected scaffolding around a crack in the rocks and spent several weeks filming a packrat at night inside its nest as it gathered spine-covered teddy bear cholla buds for food and protection.
At the Desert Botanical Garden, they recorded time-lapses of saguaros expanding and contracting like accordions as they stored and consumed water.
The sped-up footage lasts for about 20 seconds in the finished episode, but it took three years to collect it using remote, solar-powered cameras programmed to shoot one photo every hour.
The garden in Phoenix is also where Attenborough put on a kevlar-lined glove and plunged his hand into a cholla for an on-camera demonstration that still resulted in him getting painfully jabbed with a cactus spine.
The twice-knighted Sir David came to Tucson in November of 2019 to film portions of the episode in the Rincon District of Saguaro National Park and the Tucson Mountains.
During one scene in the park, the then-93-year-old appears to take a stroll through time, as a 1940s black-and-white photograph of a dense saguaro forest dissolves into a present day scene from the same spot, only with far fewer cactuses in view.
As Attenborough explains, the two images document a stark decline in saguaros in this part of the park, but they also reveal the beginnings of a recovery.
Wilder said he was thrilled to get to spend a little time with the world’s best-known nature narrator while he was in Tucson. They say you should never meet your heroes, but Wilder said Attenborough was extremely kind, engaged and interesting to talk to.
The entire crew of filmmakers impressed Wilder with their incredible work ethic, their knowledge of the Sonoran Desert and their approach to storytelling. The plants were always treated as the main characters in the narrative, and every decision the team made seemed to flow from there.
The results blew Wilder away, even when he watched the episode in rough-cut form while it was still in the editing process.
He said the naturalist in him was most excited to see actual footage of how desert plants use the wind to disperse their seeds.
He was also struck by an amazing time-lapse sequence of a saguaro boot being formed, which was cleverly filmed from inside the cactus as it healed around a hole made by a Gila woodpecker.
Even someone who studies arid regions for a living can learn something new from “Desert Worlds,” Wilder said.
“It’s really global in scope,” he said. “It really puts our desert in a global perspective.”
Arizona's National Parks and Monuments
Saguaro National Monument in Tucson was created in 1933, expanded in 1961, and became Saguaro National Park in 1994. There are two units: East…
Fort Bowie was an Army outpost the served as the staging point for the hunt for Apache Indian leader Geronimo. It had a short and bloody histo…
Established in 1937 by Pres. Franklin Roosevelt, Organ Pipe NM in Southwestern Arizona encompasses more than 330,000 acres, much of it wildern…
Chiricahua National Monument near Willcox, Ariz., established in 1924, is a wonderland of standing-up rocks: pinnacles, spires, sheer stone co…
The site protects one of the largest prehistoric structures ever built in North America.
The Franciscans began work on the mission at Tumacacori in 1800, but the bell tower was never finished. President Theodore Roosevelt proclaime…
Under-the-radar and usually not crowded: The three national monuments easily accessible from Flagstaff – Wupatki, Sunset Crater and Walnut Can…
The Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona was designated a national park in 1919. Along with Yellowstone and Yosemite, it is one of the crown jewel…
WATCH: Mule train supplies remote outpost in Saguaro NP
Watch Now: The Douglas Spring Trail east of Tucson
WATCH: Rangers live at Manning Camp atop Saguaro National Park
WATCH: Fort Bowie National Historic Site
WATCH: The beauty of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
WATCH: Chiricahua National Monument
WATCH: Tumacacori, a monumental mission
Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@tucson.com or 573-4283. On Twitter: @RefriedBrean | https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/tucson-experts-helped-bbc-crew-with-desert-episode-of-new-nature-series/article_feaa7112-06bf-11ed-94a1-d310e433bb94.html | 2022-07-23T16:41:34 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/tucson-experts-helped-bbc-crew-with-desert-episode-of-new-nature-series/article_feaa7112-06bf-11ed-94a1-d310e433bb94.html |
Fond du Lac city leaders want community input on plan for Fond du Lac riverfront; meeting set
FOND DU LAC - For anyone that's looked at the riverfront of the downtown area and wondered how it could be spruced up, the city wants to hear your thoughts.
The city will host its first public meeting for the creation of the Riverfront Plan, focusing on the Fond du Lac River East Branch, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. July 28 at Annie's Fountain City Café, 72 S. Main St.
The project would address the aesthetics, activity and infrastructure along the river between East Johnson Street and South Street, as well as develop and improve the riverfront as an aesthetic and recreational amenity, according to Community Development Director Dyann Benson.
The meeting will be open house style, inviting community members to come and go while they also enjoy the Night Market the same night. Leaders will share further information about the project and gather feedback on what to highlight and improve, and what concerns lie within the project's bounds.
For more information, call the Fond du Lac Community Development Department at 920-322-3440.
More:Check out the fun from the Braelon Allen charity softball game in Fond du Lac
More:Fond du Lac Public Library Design Lab offers affordable STEAM programs to engage students’ interests
Contact Daphne Lemke at dlemke@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @daphlemke. | https://www.fdlreporter.com/story/news/local/2022/07/21/city-fond-du-lac-seeks-input-riverfront-plan-july-28/10116643002/ | 2022-07-23T16:41:49 | 0 | https://www.fdlreporter.com/story/news/local/2022/07/21/city-fond-du-lac-seeks-input-riverfront-plan-july-28/10116643002/ |
'It was a blessing to have them come here': Seniors raising grandkids get aid from Phoenix
They were behind on rent and power bills and couldn't figure out which way to turn. But on this one day, the city brought the help to them.
Phoenix sent rental and utility assistance representatives directly to seniors at Grandfamilies Place, an apartment complex in South Mountain Village for disabled seniors and seniors raising their grandkids. The Thursday event was the first of its kind at the complex.
After hearing how difficult it could be for older adults to navigate Phoenix’s mainly virtual assistance programs, Dana Burns, a south Phoenix community leader and the founder of A Permanent Voice Foundation, contacted District 8 Councilmember Carlos Garcia to see what could be done to help seniors handle rising rents.
She ultimately connected with Marchelle Franklin, Human Services Department director.
Burns asked the department to bring emergency assistance programs to the senior living apartment complex itself, since residents were having trouble getting help through the department's website and phone number.
Caseworkers from City of Phoenix Family Services and the City of Phoenix Landlord and Tenant Program, along with the Area Agency on Aging, came to the complex’s clubhouse to help seniors receive assistance to avoid evictions and power their apartments for the next few months.
Human Services Department officials said they are open to supporting more group events like this for vulnerable populations. Though they had done group events in the past, these events were cut back in the COVID-19 pandemic.
'I didn't know what to push'
Earlier this month, Ja Nice Yancy returned home from her sister’s funeral to an eviction notice on her door. She lives at Grandfamilies Place with her 11-year-old grandson, and after helping to pay for her sister’s burial, she had fallen behind on July’s rent and utilities.
“I was begging people for help,” she said. “But everybody I knew, we all had to pitch in to bury my sister.”
She turned to the city’s emergency rental assistance program phone number – 602-534-AIDE – for help.
“It was telling me to press the buttons for different services, to go online," she said. "I didn’t know what to push." Though she called multiple times, she said was unable to reach a person to speak with.
“It was very confusing for seniors,” she said. “It was very overwhelming, and after a while, you just kind of give up.”
Before the Grandfamilies Place event, Burns printed out the necessary paperwork for the residents in advance. Yancy, along with other seniors in the complex, just had to walk over to the clubhouse, fill out the paperwork and wait for their turn.
After meeting with caseworkers in person, Yancy received $808 in rental assistance to pay her past-due rent to avoid eviction for her and her grandson. She also received $480 in utility assistance.
“It was very easy,” Yancy said. “I’m just so happy that I got my rent paid. I could jump over tables and lamps, that’s how good I feel.”
Calling, documenting, uploading: It's a lot
To schedule an appointment to receive emergency rental and utility assistance over the phone, seniors have to call the Human Services Department on Mondays when weekly appointment scheduling opens at 7 a.m.. Appointments for rental assistance often fill up that same day, said Landrow Tsosie, a Human Services Department representative.
In the summer, the appointment slots for utility assistance fill up quickly as well.
Once they have an appointment, seniors must fill out the necessary paperwork and upload a number of documents to qualify for assistance — including gross income statements, financial impact statements, a lease agreement, proof of identity, a current utility bill and a document showing residency in Phoenix.
“One little hiccup, they could possibly be in violation,” Burns said.
The city’s emergency rental assistance program is only available to people experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. On Thursday, caseworkers found that the Grandfamilies Place seniors didn’t qualify for this program.
Instead, the city provided some residents with rental assistance through general purpose funds, a limited funding pool that requires proof of an eviction notice. It only can be used to pay for past-due rent.
Utility assistance for residents was provided through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
After a month of costly car troubles, Grandfamilies Place resident Carol Moore was unable to pay July’s rent. And on Thursday morning, she only had enough money on her power box to pay for a little over a day of electricity, including air conditioning. She had been paying as she could, putting a dollar here and there toward the pay-as-you-go Salt River Project plan. But it wasn’t enough, and her electricity went off for a few hours last week.
On Thursday, she received $320 toward her SRP plan, enough to pay for a little over four months of electricity based on her average daily usage. She received assistance to pay for her late July rent as well.
'It was a blessing to have them come here'
Over the past few months, representatives hosted utility assistance events at senior centers across the city, according to Gabriela Vega, a caseworker with the Phoenix Human Services Department.
“With the elderly or disabled, it’s hard for them to come to us physically or upload the necessary documents,” she said.
Coming directly to the seniors' apartment complex made these assistance programs even more accessible.
“It was a blessing to have them come here,” said Denise Rodgers, 68, a resident of Grandfamilies Place. “We didn’t have to try to get a ride nowhere.”
Rodgers has attempted to get utility assistance in the past through the Human Services phone number, but it has been trial and error, she said. “If you don’t have all of the documents, they put you on the back burner.”
“Today, it made it a lot easier. You didn’t have to fax in nothing,” she said.
Even for the Grandfamilies Place seniors who signed up but were not seen before the event ended at 12:30 p.m., the hard work is already done. Burns, along with representatives from the Human Services Department, made copies of their already-filled-out paperwork and documents and set up telephone appointments for them.
Grandfamilies Place Assistant Manager Mary Foxwell was grateful for the efforts.
“It helps our residents be able to see what resources are out there instead of waiting on the phone and not accomplishing anything,” she said.
Burns is planning to contact Garcia, her Council member, again. She’s hoping to bring this event to other senior living complexes in south Phoenix, including the two other senior living complexes owned by Tanner Properties Inc. – Tanner Manor and Tanner Gardens –and Matthew Henson Apartments, where she's heard residents express a need for it.
“My prayer is that I will be able to touch each senior living facility in this area and bring the city out,” she said. “Grandfamilies was the first.”
Madeleine Parrish covers equity issues for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at madeleine.parrish@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @maddieparrish61. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2022/07/23/phoenix-seniors-raising-grandkids-get-help-rent-power-bills/10123414002/ | 2022-07-23T16:52:11 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2022/07/23/phoenix-seniors-raising-grandkids-get-help-rent-power-bills/10123414002/ |
WASHINGTON — A woman is dead after a single-unit motorcycle crash Friday night in Washington.
According to a news release from Illinois State Police District 8, James A. Webb, 56, of East Peoria, was driving a 2012 black Harley-Davidson motorcycle westbound on Illinois Route 24 near Illinois Route 116 at approximately 10:11 p.m. Friday when he crashed just before the McCluggage Bridge.
His passenger, an adult female, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased on the scene by the Tazewell County coroner, ISP stated. Webb was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Route 24 westbound lanes were closed at approximately 10:17 p.m. for the investigation; all lanes were reopened at approximately 2:15 a.m. Saturday.
Webb was charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, a Class 2 felony, according to ISP.
No further information was available Saturday morning.
Newly constructed houses you can buy in Central Illinois
3 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $410,000
Gorgeous Verkler home on a corner lot in The Grove! Open floorplan split Ranch with 3 bedrooms up and 1 in the basement. Beautiful finishes and design elements throughout including hardwood floors in main living area. Well appointed kitchen with large island, quarts counters, subway tile backsplash and open shelving and additional walk in pantry. Large laundry room and custom drop zone off of service entry. The primary bedroom features a modern tray ceiling and Instagram worth ensuite bath! 2 additional bedrooms upstairs and full bath. In the basement you will find plenty of room to stretch out in the HUGE Family room with tons of light from the view out windows. 4th bedroom, full bath, and tons of storage also located in basement. Out back there is a deck and concrete patio.
3 Bedroom Home in Normal - $379,900
Gorgeous quality ranch house being built by Tarter Construction with high-end material throughout! Main floor features 9' ceilings, open floor with hardwood floors. 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, Great room with 10' trayed ceiling, gorgeous kitchen with quartz countertops and ceramic tile back splash, Primed wainscot in dining room. Master bathroom wall tile, 2 car garages, Certain Teed 50-year shingles, keyless entry pad and remote and more!!! Wonderful location in Normal with easy access to highways, close to elementary school, shopping and businesses.
3 Bedroom Home in Normal - $350,000
"The Aspen Plan" is nearly done in Heather Ridge! This 3 BR/2 BA home has beautiful hard flooring in the kitchen and dining, carpeted family room features vaulted ceilings. Enjoy a stylish tiled shower in the master bath, main floor laundry, good sized bedrooms, and wide open basement which is a great design for future finished space down there should you choose to later. 2x6 exterior construction, LED puck lights for superior energy efficiency and light quality, USB port plugs situated throughout, Wi-Fi programable thermostat, high efficient HVAC, MyQ garage door remote access from smart phones... All modern up to date efficient building quality! Fantastic price for new construction! Photos taken from previous build of similar plan. Finishes will vary and subject to builder's discretionary change and product availability.
4 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $425,000
Beautiful 5 bedroom 3.5 bath home in The Grove on Kickapoo Creek! Great lot with stunning views of sunsets, wildlife & pond & no backyard neighbors! Great walking trail near pond. Inviting 2 story foyer leads to dining room/flex room with walkway into kitchen. Awesome eat-in kitchen with custom cabinets and island opens to dining area and living room with built-ins around gas fireplace. 4 bedrooms up with conveniently located utility room. Master suite features double sinks in private bath and spacious walk-in closet. Finished basement has living room for entertaining, 5th bedroom and 3rd full bath. SS appliances. Hardwood floors. Newer fence. Lots of natural light throughout the house. Priced to sell. Motivated sellers!
3 Bedroom Home in Mackinaw - $229,900
Luxury vinyl floor throughout the main floor of this 3 bedroom 2 bath home. Open kitchen, living and dining area. Fully applianced kitchen with ample counter space, island and soft close cabinets. Master bedroom with walk-in closet and full bath. Office area in lower level has high ceiling and daylight windows. Add floor covering to rec room for complete finish. Rough-in for 3rd bath. Additional lot for more yard space.
3 Bedroom Home in Mackinaw - $399,900
New construction in a beautiful location. Mature trees and large yard. Act fast and you can have some say in materials, color schemes and layout. Cathedral ceilings, open floor plan, walk-out basement and tons of curb appeal. City water, natural gas, Ameren electric. Master suite has a walk-in closet, dual vanities, separate whirlpool tub and walk-in shower. Open kitchen with island to be the heart of this home. Granite counter tops and custom cabinetry. Owner interest.
3 Bedroom Home in Downs - $489,900
You will love the openness and abundance of light in this striking 4 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath modern design with 3 car side load garage. Sitting on a large corner lot with stone and cedar accents, this gem features a 3 story open staircase with hardwood treads and custom steel lateral railing. Spacious kitchen boasts custom cabinetry with island seating, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, tile backsplash and Ruvati workstation sink. Enjoy the convenience of custom built lockers in mudroom off of the garage. Generous master suite features WIC with custom shelving system, 5' x 5' tile shower and dual sink vanity. Large elevated deck overlooking huge backyard is perfect for entertaining. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity! Agent interest.
3 Bedroom Home in Normal - $469,990
*** New Construction *** This 2022 year built, move-in ready, south facing ranch offers a well designed efficient floor plan that includes five bedrooms, three bathrooms, first floor laundry, finished basement with huge living room and mechanical/storage area, a two car garage with extra work space. Walking through the main entrance/foyer enter into a stunning family room with cathedral ceiling that overlooks a beautiful backyard view. The modern and functional kitchen features a shaker style cabinets, Granite countertops, an over-sized island, huge pantry and black stainless-steel appliances. Finally, the impressive spa-like master suite is privately tucked away for you to relax. It includes a master bathroom with a shower, a double-bowl vanity that leads into an enormous walk-in closet. Some other included features, small study desk area, cabinets in laundry, 9' ft first floor ceilings, Luxury vinyl plank flooring in living, Granite vanity tops in bathrooms, Ecobee Wi-Fi thermostat, back up sump pump. Close to district 5 schools, Interstate, entertainment and Shopping.
3 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $375,000
Brand new construction - This attractive 3 bedroom 2 full bathroom (with potential 4th bedroom in basement and plumbing rough in for a half bathroom) is located in the desirable Wittenberg Woods subdivision at Prairie Vista Golf Course. The open floor plan features a large Great room that leads into the dining room and kitchen. The master bedroom, Great room, and dining room are accented by cathedral ceilings and there is a Heat-N-Glo gas log fireplace. The kitchen features a large walk-in pantry and the master bedroom has a walk-in closet and tile shower. The backyard includes a walkout deck. Estimated completion date is the end of July.
3 Bedroom Home in Mackinaw - $229,900
Luxury vinyl floor throughout the main floor of this 3 bedroom 2 bath home. Open kitchen, living and dining area. Fully applianced kitchen withample counter space, island and soft close cabinets. Master bedroom with walk-in closet and full bath. Office area in lower level has high ceiling and daylight windows.Add floor covering to rec room for complete finish. Rough-in for 3rd bath. Additional lot for more yard space.
2 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $339,900
Beautiful brick 3 bedroom - 3 full bath ranch on the golf course. Open floor plan with cathedral ceilings throughout main living area. Great golf course & sunset views from the Florida/Sun room. Third bedroom & full bathroom in finished basement. Laundry hookups on both floors. Very efficient home with Andersen casement low E windows & extra blown insulation. Yard is professionally landscaped with irrigation system. Subdivision features community building with fitness & activity rooms as well as an outdoor pool.
3 Bedroom Home in Carlock - $265,000
Gorgeous new Construction ranch home by Tennis Construction just 8 miles from Rivian! Home features split bedrooms (Master privacy) with oversized Master suite with walk-in shower and walk- closet! Main floor laundry, open concept with family room opening up to kitchen/dining area. Kitchen features an island with Quartz countertops. Unit 5 schools, easy access to interstate and fiber Optic high speed internet offered by Telstar in the subdivision- working from home will not be an issue! New construction home at an affordable price. It won't last long.
3 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $529,900
Beautiful home custom designed and built by Hoffman Ochs in 2019 in Kings Mill Subdivision on 1.34 acres. Interior features 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3 car garage (3rd stall is a tandem bay which gives you tons of extra storage). The kitchen features custom built cabinets to the ceiling, quartz countertops, subway tile backsplash, 6 burner cooktop, double wall oven, built-in microwave, walk-in pantry, and under cabinet lighting. Large master suite features two large walk-in closets, vaulted ceilings, sitting area, and large windows. Master bath gives you quartz countertops with double sinks, 7ft soaker tub, separate shower, water closet, custom built-in shelving, and extra large linen closet. Full finished daylight basement with large family room, full bath, 4th bedroom, and 2 large storage rooms. Custom blind package throughout home was approx. $12k. Landscaping completed last spring was $20k addition. Backyard features covered back porch as well. Kings Mill Subdivision is exactly 2 miles from RIVIAN, 5 minutes from I-74, and 5 minutes from 55 South. Kings Mill features large lots, 2 lakes, and does allow for detached garages or out buildings. This home is located on lot 16 which is the whole side of the street so you never have to worry about who's building next to you. Home shows like new.
3 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $399,900
A great location to build your future home! A gorgeous ranch style house to be built. Architecturally designed and to be finished with quality material currently priced at $419,900. Cathedral ceilings throughout entire main area of house; 9' ceiling on main floor and in the basement. Open floor plan. 2-car garage. Flooring, tile, cabinets have been picked out but the builder would be open to work on the buyer's "Wants and Needs" and price it accordingly. Choose even your style, two story, first floor master, however you like. Lot is extra deep (150 ft) and will allow for look out windows in the basement and No backyard neighbors. Call for more information and meet with the builder and build your dream home!
3 Bedroom Home in Normal - $349,900
Hurry and check out this stunning, modern, split ranch home with 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, oversized 3 car garage (wired for electric charging) and full ready-to-finish basement! Open concept floor plan with 2 x 6 construction, 9' ceiling height, beautiful solid hickory hardwood floors (not engineered), upgraded trim package, and modern light fixtures. Passage doors are solid wood and 36" entryways. This stunner features a beautiful kitchen with white cabinetry, soft close drawers and cabinets, crown molding, quartz countertops, under cabinet lighting, stainless steel appliances, modern backsplash and a huge island with sink and dishwasher- room for a least 3 people to sit and gather. Designated lighted pantry. Attached, nicely sized eat-in kitchen space for dining table with sliding door (interior blinds) access leading out to deck for grilling and entertaining with family and friends. Cozy family room space with good natural lighting. Relaxing master bedroom with hardwood floors. En suite master bathroom - featuring double vanity, tiled shower, and large walk-in closet with closet organization. Two additional nicely sized bedrooms split by an additional full hall bathroom with tiled floor and modern in style. Basement features 9' ceilings with family room, full bath and bedroom/closet already framed and ready to finish! Spacious 3 car garage with an electric vehicle recharging line and smart garage door openers. Additional info: Low E Anderson windows, R50 ceiling insulation, interior walls are also insulated to dampen noise. Upgraded led lighting.
3 Bedroom Home in Normal - $280,000
This almost new construction ranch in Pheasant Ridge is 100% Move-In ready! Enjoy NO backyard neighbors and being tucked nicely away on Bobwhite with a south facing spacious ranch home. This 3BR/2 BA home features vaulted ceilings, Quartz counter tops and Island, open concept great room. Enjoy a stylish tiled shower in the master bath, main floor laundry and a nice covered patio. The unfinished basement allows for you to create the additional living space if you desire.
3 Bedroom Home in Normal - $789,900
Unique custom ranch home is sure to wow even the most discerning owner. From the grand, clean lined windows, large open concept kitchen/dining/great room with 10' ceilings to the 55" custom designed linear fireplace, this home is one of a kind. The walnut kitchen island with waterfall quartz countertop will be a great place to entertain and designed to be extra stunning with custom walnut floating shelves, black SS appliances and a butlers pantry with sink to keep a clean and uncluttered look to your living space. When you're ready to relax head to the primary suite that includes a walk-in closet spacious enough for the best of shoppers, one of a kind 6'x8' zero entry shower with a rain head, hand held shower head and a beautiful hand made teak bench plus a large double vanity for all your storage needs. Fantastic finished basement with all of the details including 9' ceiling, wet bar and defined entertainment space plus a comfortable office space. Enjoy time outside with family and friends on one of the largest new construction lots available in town. You will find a comfortable 12'x8' covered porch and for now, and open view with no homes behind you. All of these details are not just for show. From top to bottom this home was built with quality and energy efficiency in mind. Including 2x6 construction, zip board OSB exterior and a combination of 2" closed cell and fiberglass batt insulation for great efficiency and lower electric bills. Quality and peace of mind are of the utmost priority for Candor construction which can be seen in the attention to detail and thoughtful construction throughout this extraordinary custom home. There are so many other details than we are able to list here. More details in broker remarks. Second slightly smaller similar plan coming on market soon at $759,900 (next door). Ask for me details. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/woman-dead-after-friday-night-motorcycle-crash-in-tazewell-county/article_16c5c7cc-0a9b-11ed-adb4-7be16aaee0c1.html | 2022-07-23T17:00:37 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/accident-and-incident/woman-dead-after-friday-night-motorcycle-crash-in-tazewell-county/article_16c5c7cc-0a9b-11ed-adb4-7be16aaee0c1.html |
BLOOMINGTON — Inside Western Avenue Community Center, Angelique Racki sat down at a table with the free weekly box of fresh produce her family needs.
"I've been on Link a very long time," she sighed, referring to the electronic card that allows qualifying Illinois residents to access federal SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, once commonly known as food stamps.
Racki, founder of BCAI Cultural Arts & Humanities in Bloomington, is among roughly 2 million people in Illinois receiving the assistance. SNAP benefits are awarded based on income, household size and other criteria. Over 25,000 recipients live in McLean and Livingston counties, according to recent state data.
Racki said the government program helps, but she still struggles to get adequate food — nutrition that’s critical for her body.
"On top of it, I'm pregnant," she said.
Like Racki, a significant portion of McLean County’s population struggles with consistent access to enough food to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle. Feeding America, the national food bank network that tracks and analyzes data at state and county levels, estimates that 15,910 residents experienced food insecurity in 2020 — a rate of 9.2% of the population.
A lack of money and other resources, like a reliable vehicle, present obstacles for many, particularly those who live in lower-income areas where full-service grocery stores are farther away. Cheaper, more accessible convenience foods tend to be higher in sugar and fats, making for a diet that can lead to obesity, hypertension, diabetes and other health problems.
In other words, as Racki put it, “just because you’re in poverty, you have to suffer more.”
A patchwork of organizations and nonprofits throughout McLean County is working to combat the problem in various ways: urban gardens, food pantries, meal drop-offs, produce pickups, nonperishable food boxes and donations. Yet even with the literal tons of food that are routinely collected and donated, some families in the Bloomington-Normal area still struggle to put nutritious meals on the table.
And the cost of doing so is only going up. Inflation in the U.S. is at a 40-year high. Gas prices have been surging, with the county average about $4.45 a gallon. Prices for food increased 10.4% over the 12-month period ending in June — the largest increase since February 1981, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"We need everyone to have access to food," said Erin Kennedy, a member of the McLean County Community Health Council's executive steering committee.
She said people need to rethink how they view food insecurity.
"COVID has taught us a really strong lesson," said Kennedy, who is also the manager of the Center for Healthy Lifestyles at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center. "It's not just about 'me,' as an individual; it's about us as a community."
Distance adds challenge
Parts of the Twin Cities are considered a “food desert” — an area where residents don’t have easy access to a supermarket or large grocery store — under standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Roughly a quarter of McLean County adults live more than a mile from a grocery store, or 10 miles in rural areas, according to the health department’s 2020-2022 community health improvement plan.
Sharp disparities exist between different areas of the community. Along a five-mile stretch of Veterans Parkway in east Bloomington, almost a dozen major supermarkets and a few specialty grocers pepper the landscape. The same length of road on Main Street has two, almost three miles apart.
Residents in some parts of the city's west side are at least two miles from a supermarket. The distance represents another obstacle for people who don’t have reliable access to their own vehicles, cannot drive themselves because of disabilities or other factors, or who simply cannot spare the gas money.
“You’re going two miles in either direction to get a tomato, a potato,” said westside resident Candice Byrd.
Byrd was among those receiving a fresh produce box from Western Avenue Community Center on a recent hot summer day. When she doesn’t have a car, she said, she often waits up to an hour for a bus, making it difficult to keep food from spoiling in the heat.
And she cannot take her children along on those trips. "Imagine this 99-degree heat," she said, "and I've got a child."
The westside food desert has long been a focus of concern for community leaders. The West Market Street Council formed in 2018 with a goal of buying the former Fox Plaza West at Howard and West Market streets and bringing a grocery store there. A hundred people gathered on a hot July day in 2020 to celebrate demolition of buildings in the plaza — and what they hoped would be the first step toward the area’s transformation.
But two years later, the effort has stalled and its future remains uncertain. Progress was derailed by debt and legal issues associated with the property as well as the death of its former owner. Foreclosure proceedings led to an auction at the McLean County Law and Justice Center last week, but the plaza didn’t receive a single bid.
Stereotypes and stigma
Some local advocates say the problem is exacerbated by a stigma surrounding the issue of food insecurity — not only from people who may feel reluctant to acknowledge that they need help, but from others who fail to understand the deep-rooted causes.
"There are these stereotypes and these histories, like, 'Oh, it's the west side,'" said Mary Tackett, executive director of the Western Avenue Community Center.
"I think it's easy for people to live in their own little keyhole of a life," she said.
Small-scale farmer Kyan Glenn describes the failure as a systemic one. He regularly donates produce from his Bloomington operation, The Table Farm and Workshop, to local organizations that work to feed the hungry.
"The people that need nutritional food the most are the people who don't have access to it," he said.
Glenn said he “grew up poor,” and as a result, ate a lot of fast food along the way. He feels a personal connection to people experiencing food insecurity.
"You can't blame them, 'Oh, they made their choices.' No," said Glenn, a former youth pastor. "It's not their choice (to live in a food desert)."
The way that people view food assistance can also prevent those who need help from seeking it, advocates say.
"Going to a food bank is not a negative thing," said Kennedy, the county health council member. "It should not be a negative thought process."
She said there is a common misconception that only underserved communities need food banks. In reality, she said, many could use the help to apply their resources on other needs and ultimately improve their quality of life.
"If (people are) struggling to pay rent," she said, "they could save money by going to a food bank, and that money goes to rent or to transportation or to daycare."
Still, people may be hesitant to accept help because "they think they're taking from people who 'really need it,'" said Caleb Phillips, who runs Sunnyside Community Gardens and Food Forest off Illinois Street in Bloomington.
Phillips donates produce to Home Sweet Home Bread for Life Co-op, which allows members to take as much food as they need in exchange for a few hours of volunteer labor. The organization's model is designed to help people "without making them feel degraded or just another number," according to community outreach manager Samantha Williams.
Yet when Phillips took members of his church to the co-op, they balked. "They'd say, 'We're not going to have food that comes out of a food bank,'" he said. "Why?"
Williams said the co-op radically changed its approach seven years ago in an effort to combat exactly that type of stigmatization. Previously, it had operated as a typical food pantry with little to no social interaction; clients would "come in, get a box and leave."
By changing its model to a co-op, the organization created a new dynamic: community. Members can visit twice a month, work for two hours keeping the store clean and shelves stocked, and then they receive a voucher that allows them to take whatever food they need. The interaction has allowed members to form real relationships, she said.
Inflation has driven up membership usage as the cost of everything is increasing. "What's not going up," Williams said, "is the pay rate."
Williams rattled off some members' occupations, including "several teachers, a couple of police officers, social workers: people with regular, full-time jobs." A low estimate for weekly attendance is 40 members, and the collective need is growing.
She gestured to the co-op's line of half-size grocery carts. "At least within the last two to three weeks, no one has taken less that two carts," she said.
Kennedy said the economic ripple effect of the pandemic helped change people's minds.
"COVID has touched everybody’s life in one way or the other," she said. "Part of this is the opportunity to de-stigmatize that food banks are only for a specific part of the population."
There are other factors forcing this rethinking as well.
Tara Ingham, executive director of the Midwest Food Bank, said inflation is hurting everyone, especially those at or near the federal poverty line.
The Bloomington-based nonprofit distributes food to over 2,000 agencies. Rising costs have increased demand by 25% on average, she said.
Food insecurity doesn't discriminate, she said. "A lot of us will find ourselves in that situation."
Need for nutrients
Food insecurity does not refer simply to having access to any food. Health experts have long stressed the importance of making sure that people have access to “nutrient-dense” foods that provide vitamins and minerals without large amounts of added sugars, saturated fat and sodium. In other words: fruits, vegetables, proteins.
The USDA dietary guidelines iterate the important link between a healthy diet and a healthy life. The agency notes that a healthy diet "can help people achieve and maintain good health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases" like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart conditions.
Nutrient-dense foods are especially necessary for people dealing with chronic illnesses, said Staci Coussens, SNAP-Ed educator with the University of Illinois Extension.
"Families who are visiting food pantries (often) have at least one if not more family member in the household who has diabetes, who has hypertension, who has high blood pressure … or heart disease,” she said.
Or, as Glenn put it: "This food in America is killing us."
Yet a 2018 community health survey found that 55% of McLean County adults reported no consumption or low consumption (one to two servings per day) of fruits and vegetables. Multiple factors likely contribute to the issue, including barriers to access.
"Not only is it hard to get affordable groceries, but it's really hard to get fresh produce,” said Kristen Buhrmann, president of the West Bloomington Revitalization Project.
The organization is among a number of nonprofits and advocates, like Glenn, working to try to fill the gaps.
The Western Avenue Community Center and the West Bloomington Revitalization Project partnered this year to provide fresh produce boxes to 48 westside families through a community supported agriculture (CSA) program. Separately, the community center distributes dozens of free food boxes each month through a program funded by the Tinervin Family Foundation.
For Byrd, the fresh produce she gets from the center has brought positive changes in her kids’ diets.
They’re teenagers, she said, and “picky eaters” — but now they have some new favorites. One of their most beloved is the hakurei turnip, a Japanese root vegetable. “They’re so sweet, you could eat it without cooking it,” she said, laughing.
She’s grateful for the program.
"A fresh meal that you can cook for your family without a microwave is a blessing," Byrd said. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/enough-to-eat-how-food-insecurity-affects-thousands-in-bloomington-normal/article_f6c35014-0a06-11ed-89a1-bf6d32b55399.html | 2022-07-23T17:00:43 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/enough-to-eat-how-food-insecurity-affects-thousands-in-bloomington-normal/article_f6c35014-0a06-11ed-89a1-bf6d32b55399.html |
A man was killed by two people who broke into an apartment early Saturday morning on the North Side, San Antonio police reported.
The intruders kicked in the door of an apartment at 16400 Henderson Pass and demanded money from the tenant, according to a San Antonio Police Department preliminary report.
Police said the man was “pistol whipped” and then shot once in the torso. Police found the man dead in the apartment around 2 a.m.
The intruders “fled in an unknown manner and direction” the report states.
megan.rodriguez@express-news.net | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/SAPD-Man-killed-in-North-Side-apartment-by-17324463.php | 2022-07-23T17:06:02 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/SAPD-Man-killed-in-North-Side-apartment-by-17324463.php |
Grace Centers of Hope 80th anniversary celebrated through volunteerism
Among the Grace Centers of Hope residents and volunteers cleaning up out a Pontiac backyard as part of Picking up Pontiac there are many stories of hope and transformation.
Jager Carmos, 26, says he used to be a jailbird until he was forced by the court to enroll in the men's program at Grace. "When I came here, Grace Centers of Hope taught me a different viewpoint to life than I’ve heard from any other rehab or program I’ve ever been into and I fell in love with the place because of the sense of community that’s here."
Now seven years later, Carmos is the volunteer coordinator for Grace. The idea of Picking up Pontiac was a team effort by Carmos and others who wanted to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Grace Centers of Hope with three days of volunteerism, a critical part of what has made Grace the catalyst for so many transformed lives.
"Everything started in one building. Over the course of the 80 years, we have now a career and education center, a day care, a women’s center and then also a men’s program. And that doesn’t just happen over night, it happens with a lot of volunteer work and a lot of help from the community. I like to say that volunteerism is the horsepower that drives a mission like this. Without the volunteers, we’re not gonna go anywhere," says Carmos.
Christa Merritt, 37, takes a break from pulling weeds to talk about her transformation. "I was on the streets for about two years before I finally came to Grace and got my kids back and my life back. Compared to then and now, is like, I could have never possibly imagined that my life could be as good as it is now. I think that staying sober, it’s is not about staying sober, it’s about producing a life to where you’re happy enough that you don’t want to do anything else. And that’s what they (Grace) brought me to."
Over four decades, Grace Centers of Hope CEO Pastor Kent Clark has seen thousands of transformations. "This is the oldest, probably without doubt, the largest shelter in the state of Michigan. And especially that’s true, in doing what we do, putting families together, getting people off of drugs to no cost to them. Ours is not short term deal, you’re here for a year getting your life back together. After a year you move into the village here or earn your rent and become a, hopefully, a productive citizen."
"This is a miracle place. We really see the most amazing things. Even to consider our budget, to raise $8 million with no government funding. I feel like it’s a God miracle. And then to have 10-12 thousand volunteers a year to come out and to come alongside. The American people are the most giving people in the world. We found that to be true, and especially if you give them something to give toward that they know is really gonna be successful and Grace Centers has become that and noted for that."
Following the three days of volunteerism, Grace Gospel Fellowship will host an 80th anniversary event at 11 a.m. and the public is invited to join the celebration. The program will include a presentation of the timeline of Grace Centers of Hope with pictures, stories and videos highlighting the past 80 years. Grace Gospel Fellowship is located at 65 E. Huron St. in Pontiac. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2022/07/23/grace-centers-hope-80th-anniversary-celebrated-through-volunteerism/10131427002/ | 2022-07-23T17:10:54 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2022/07/23/grace-centers-hope-80th-anniversary-celebrated-through-volunteerism/10131427002/ |
UPDATE (July 23, 2022, at 12:53 p.m.): A Sissonville man has been identified after he was killed in a rollover crash on Woodward Drive.
According to the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, a single-vehicle fatal crash happened in the 3600 section of Woodward Drive overnight on Saturday.
The driver, James Edward Wilson, 44, of Sissonville, was the only occupant of the vehicle. He died of his injuries.
The crash was a rollover, and the cause is unknown at this time.
13 News will update this story as more information comes in.
SISSONVILLE, WV (WOWK) — Metro 911 says a fatal crash happened on Woodward Drive in Sissonville. The call came in to dispatchers on Saturday around 2:15 a.m.
Dispatchers say that one person died, and it is not clear at this time if anyone else was in the car.
Responders included the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, Kanawha County EMS and the Sissonville Fire Department.
Woodward Drive is open at this time, according to dispatchers.
This is a developing story. 13 News has reached out to the Sheriff’s Office for more information. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/fatal-crash-on-woodward-drive-in-sissonville/ | 2022-07-23T17:16:40 | 1 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/fatal-crash-on-woodward-drive-in-sissonville/ |
BARBOURSVILLE, WV (WOWK) — Residents and businesses of Barboursville are gradually getting power back after an outage on Saturday morning.
At 10:20 a.m. on Saturday, the Huntington Mall posted on Facebook that they were experiencing an outage and would keep people updated. A short two minutes later, the mall posted it was open after power was restored.
Pet Supplies Plus in Barboursville also posted on Facebook, saying they were not affected by the power outage and will be open.
Around 11:15 a.m., American Electric Power’s (AEP) online outage map showed more than 1,000 total customer outages with 24 outage cases in the Barboursville area. The number of total customer outages went down to 414 by 12 p.m.
By 12:30 p.m., the number of total customer outages was 357 with 26 outage cases in the Barboursville area.
To view AEP’s outage map for the Tri-State, click here. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/huntington-mall-open-after-barboursville-power-outage/ | 2022-07-23T17:16:46 | 0 | https://www.wowktv.com/news/local/huntington-mall-open-after-barboursville-power-outage/ |
Each week The Pantagraph profiles a different community member. Know someone we should talk to? Email blmnews@pantagraph.com.
Position: Pantagraph general assignment reporter. He was an intern this summer before joining the staff full time July 18.
What did you do before joining The Pantagraph?
Jeez, man. What didn’t I do? After high school, I went to college in Wisconsin for theology. That didn’t take. Took some gen ed classes at Heartland Community College and was working odd jobs when I got the itch to just up and leave. So I joined the Navy. There’s a whole story there.
After boot camp, I went to Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California. There I learned Russian and received an associate degree in Russian language. I was stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland, at what was then called Navy Information Operations Command, Maryland. I was there for four years and change before getting out in 2016.
I moved to Chicago and went to the University of Illinois at Chicago. I got a bachelor’s in British literature, which was neat, and then I took graduate courses pursuing a master’s in English education. (I still need to finish that, Doc. Sorry.)
After setting up an interview with the Peace Corps, COVID hit and everything shut down.
I moved in with my brother here in Bloomington and started looking for work. After a while, I figured I’d use the rest of my benefits and go to Illinois State University for journalism. I applied for an internship here at The Pantagraph and, thankfully, was hired on. I am now the general assignment reporter here, and I look forward to working with our community.
You have had a varied career that isn’t typical for a journalist. Why do you want to be a journalist now, and why at The Pantagraph?
I’ve always had a thing for writing, and I’m very passionate about doing the right thing. The Peace Corps, for several reasons, is not an option anymore, and I’ve been thinking of finally growing some roots. I’ve always respected The Pantagraph as a community pillar, and I had actually applied a few times to work here. I just never had any journalistic training. What I learned at ISU and their school of communication really helped lay a foundation for me to grow further as a reporter here.
The Navy really honed and focused my moral compass: honor, courage, commitment. And above all else, integrity.
Journalism is important. Journalistic integrity and ethics are apparent in this newsroom. There are a lot of people who distrust the press, and I’d like to work at gaining that trust back.
What kinds of stories do you want to tell here?
That’s kind of a loaded question, I think. Because I don’t want the readers to hear my voice as much as hear the voices of their neighbors. It’s important to remember that we are one community, and what affects one part of town affects the others as well. I want to put those voices in conversation so that, even if the source and the reader have never met, they can somewhat communicate about what’s important to them and their families. Because everyone has a voice, and everyone deserves to be heard.
So I like to focus on community engagement stories and giving a voice to people who haven’t really been heard. It’s a lot of fun to meet everyone and learn about their lives, the things that make them laugh and smile. It opens up a path for empathy.
What hobbies, interests or activities do you enjoy away from work?
I have a lot of hobbies. Some of them are reflected in my tattoos, but that in and of itself is a hobby. I like motorcycling (and wrenching on it), fishing, reading, building models and working in the garage. I’m gardening as well, fruits and veg for the family. But I’m also the cook in the house. It’s my kitchen, don’t let anyone else fool you. That’s my dojo.
What is one thing people don’t know about you that you wish they did?
I don’t know, man. Like, I don’t have a lot of secrets or anything. I really don’t like receiving gifts. It’s weird, I know. I just don’t like it.
Iconic symbols of Bloomington-Normal
Lucca Grill stands the test of time in downtown Bloomington
The venerable Lucca Grill always extends a warm welcome to friends, whether gone a day or a decade. The downtown Bloomington landmark, 116 E. Market St., is long on comfort and short on pretense; hang around long enough and you’ll join an extended family.
The eatery is an octogenarian now, begun in 1936 by immigrant brothers Fred and John Baldini near the end of the Great Depression.
Over time, many superlatives have described its special ambiance: painted tin ceilings, a working dumbwaiter and Lilliputian-sized bathrooms. “A delightful old-time saloon” gushed The New York Times; “one of the most congenial bars ever founded,” fawned The Washington Post.
Its long love affair with Democrats was trumpeted by John Baldini No. 2, revered leader of McLean County’s liberal wing until his 1994 death. The grill dispenses Kennedy half-dollars in change and one manager – John Fitzgerald Koch – is even named for the 35th president.
Oodles of celebrities have walked through the doors but it’s regulars and folks like 46-year employee Lois Durbin who have been vetted with a picture on the wall or a plaque on a barstool or a menu item named in their honor.
That menu’s most-favored meal is the “A La Baldini,” the dime-thin Italian pie with sausage, pepperoni, ham, onions, mushrooms, green peppers and pepperocini.
Slide into a stool along the timeworn mahogany bar and savor some. It’s a family rite of passage.
Watterson Towers is a sight that stands out for miles and miles
You can see Watterson Towers for miles. It’s among the tallest residence halls in the world.
Pretty much everyone in Central Illinois knows the Illinois State University’s scion is the tallest building in Bloomington-Normal and among the tallest buildings outside of Chicago.
It’s also among the most populous, called home each year by about 2,200 students.
Arthur W. Watterson was not a major financial donor to the university, the primary way people and corporations get their names on buildings these days.
Instead, Watterson was a geography professor who died in 1966, a year before construction began on the 28-story building. He had joined the ISU faculty in 1946, after serving in the Office of War Information in Washington and later with the Office of Strategic Services, mostly in Europe, during World War II.
He led the geography department for 15 years, from 1951 to 1966.
Selected in 1961 for the Outstanding Citizen Award by the Normal Chamber of Commerce, he was described as a “tireless worker on the ISU campus, in his church and in his community.”
His name - rescued from relative obscurity - isn’t the only one attached to the residence complex.
The 10 “houses” within the towers are named for the first 10 secretaries of state, some of whom later became president: Thomas Jefferson, Edmund Randolph, Timothy Pickering, John Marshall, James Madison, Robert Smith, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay and Martin Van Buren.
What makes Central Illinois unique can be found in the ground
The stores have plenty of it in bags … top soil, garden soil, potting soil. Any will do in a pinch.
Yet, at our house we want the best for our plants, and we know what that is.
Husband and wife both came from dirt … that is, we grew up on family farms. So each spring, a plea is sent out to a brother and/or brother in-law for dirt.
Not just any dirt. Central Illinois farm dirt.
It is transported in buckets and transferred to pots large and small. The plants take off like crazy, even when mixed with that city-bought soil.
The brother and brother-in-law grow corn and soybeans, just as our dads did. They plant seeds in the darkest, richest, most fertile ground you’ll find … the brother in Logan, McLean and Tazewell counties, the brother in-law in Hancock and Henderson to the west.
They worry about rain or the lack of it. They fret about wind or hail or droughts. They take out their pocket knives and dig in the dirt. All the while, they know there is no better place to raise a crop.
“I would say it’s the fact we have a deeper top soil than a lot of other parts of the country that grow crops,” the brother said. “That probably helps us as much as anything. The top soil is really rich and productive.
“We’re flat here, we have a lot of top soil and our soil drains fairly well, but it also retains water very well. Moisture seems to be readily available to the crop most of the time because it’s not draining away real quickly, yet it is draining.”
So give our dirt a thumb’s up … with a little under the nail, of course.
Normal Theater still lighting up uptown with movie nostalgia
There’s nothing remotely normal about the 80-year-old Normal Theater: the sleek Art Deco/Art Moderne building at 209 North St. remains among Illinois’ handful of surviving, still-functioning single-screen bijous.
It was designed by famed Bloomington architect Arthur F. Moratz and financed to the tune of $100,000 by local lawyer Sylvan Kupfer, who leased the theater to Great States Corp.
The first of Hollywood’s movie legends to visit the Normal’s silver screen: Bing Crosby, whose new musical comedy, “Double or Nothing,” graced the marquee on opening night in 1937.
Crosby remains a Normal fixture thanks to the annual showings of his seasonal classics “White Christmas” and “Holiday Inn.”
Among the Normal’s distinctions: It was the first B-N cinema designed for sound movies and it was equipped with air conditioning, a rarity for 1937.
There was rough sledding ahead as the movie business changed, reaching a nadir in 1985, when its then-owner shoved a wall between the balcony and the main floor to create a cramped twin-screen theater.
The ploy failed and the theater closed in 1991, reduced to seedy second-run, bargain house status.
Salvation and rebirth came via the Town of Normal, which purchased the theater and committed to a meticulous three-year restoration that included a return to its single-screen origins.
The grand re-opening occurred Oct. 7, 1994, with “Singin’ in the Rain.” In the two decades since, the theater has remained an iconic symbol and focal point of uptown renaissance.
ISU, IWU alumni know where to eat when they return to town
When Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan celebrate homecomings in the fall, alumni taste buds immediately start salivating down memory lane.
Time to get a gondola or some thin-crust pizza, that comfort food they loved – and devoured – during their college days at two special places burnt into the brain forever.
Thus, the packed parking lots at Avanti’s in Normal and Tobin’s Pizza in Bloomington when former ISU and IWU students roll into town.
The Avanti’s on Main Street near the ISU campus may have changed some inside since it was opened by Guido and Albert Zeller in 1971. What hasn’t changed is Avanti’s fresh Italian bread, which is prepared and baked in the restaurant’s kitchen and, of course, the trademark “Avanti’s famous gondola” of ham, salami, American cheese and lettuce.
You can get a half gondola, but a whole gondola is usually the way to go for hearty eaters. There are plenty of other options on the menu, but the gondola always is the first remembered.
South from Avanti’s, on Main Street near the IWU campus, sits Tobin’s Pizza, a community staple since 1963 when Jim Tobin opened the doors. It looks almost the same inside as 1963, too, which just adds to its unique charm.
The thin (but not paper thin) crust pizza has remained the same even after Moe and Karen Davis bought the business in 1998. “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it,” said Moe Davis on the 50th anniversary in 2013.
Good thinking — regardless if your college colors are red and white or green and white.
Adlais, Abe & David lead the Twin Cities' political list
Mention the names Stevenson, Lincoln and Davis and three common themes come to mind: politics, lawyers and Bloomington.
Maryland-born David Davis settled in Bloomington in the 1830s, presiding over a judicial circuit where Abraham Lincoln, an up-and-coming lawyer, was building his career.
That’s where Lincoln also crossed paths with Adlai Stevenson I, the first in a succession of Democrat office-holders with the same last name.
So impressed with Lincoln were Davis and several other prominent local leaders that they provided the support Lincoln needed in May 1860 to secure the Republican presidential nomination.
After Lincoln was elected, Davis was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he remained until he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1877.
Stevenson, who had moved to Bloomington with his family when he was 16, later served as vice president under Grover Cleveland and in the U.S. Congress.
The second Stevenson named Adlai (grandson of Adlai I) was governor of Illinois, a presidential candidate and a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. His son, Adlai III, was a U.S. senator and candidate for governor.
The Bloomington home of Adlai II still stands. The David Davis Mansion is a popular state historic site that includes Sarah’s Garden.
A statue of Stevenson II is in the lobby of Central Illinois Regional Airport. A statue of Lincoln, Davis and Pantagraph founder Jesse Fell is in Lincoln Park, directly in front of the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.
Nutty little Bloomington sideshow is now world famous
In a town known for its insurance and higher education, only one name lives in the same famed-name stratosphere of Kleenex, Xerox, Band-aid or Play-Doh.
That’d be Beer Nuts, of course.
They are so famous, people around the world automatically call any nut glazed in a salty sugary mix a Beer Nut.
There’s an irony there, too.
In the beginning, back in 1953 when Russell and Betty Shirk ran a downtown Bloomington restaurant, their claim to fame was their homemade orange juice.
People came from all over to drink it.
That’s when, as an added attraction to make people thirstier, Shirk went into a back room at his restaurant and poured a special glaze onto a baking platter of unskinned Virginia-grown peanuts.
You never heard Norm on “Cheers” clamor for another orange drink.
You don’t see comedienne Sarah Silverman (she’s a Beer Nuts fanatic) jogging in Manhattan and onto the cover of People magazine wearing a Shirk’s Orange cap.
Instead, Beer Nuts – while still low-profile in Bloomington-Normal (when have you EVER seen a Beer Nuts semitrailer truck?) – have catapulted “Shirk” into inexorably lasting Twin City fame.
That was ensured into perpetuity when the harvests of that red-skinned partner to a glass of orange juice led to development of the Russell O. & Betty Shirk Foundation and, in 1994, opening of the $15 million Shirk Center Athletic Complex on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University.
Steak ’n Shake has been right and in sight since 1934
That second apostrophe is about the only thing missing from Steak ’n Shake, the black, white and red restaurant famous for sizzling steakburgers and handdipped shakes.
The chain restaurant, which includes a sit-down dining room and drive-through lanes, was founded in 1934 in the Twin Cities.
Gus Belt opened the first Steak ’n Shake at Main Street and Virginia Avenue (now home to Monical’s Pizza), after he added food to a Shell service station line-up of gasoline, tires and turtleburgers.
A finicky Belt ground the steak by hand, in front of his customers, charging 20 cents and a penny tax for a burger and shake. He didn’t like either item, yet mandated a pickle with every bite — which is why you still get two long slices on each steakburger.
Along the way, he also coined (and trademarked) the term “cheeseburger” and determined the secret to good chili is a hint of cocoa.
He and his wife Edith bought the former Maplewood Country Club property in 1940 and used the land to pasture cows. In 1953, the acreage was platted into Maplewood subdivision, which fronts Jersey Avenue. Belt Avenue is named in his honor.
Belt died in 1954, and Edith ran the chain until 1969. Current owner Biglari Holdings Inc., San Antonio, Texas, has more than 500 Steak ’n Shake restaurants in 27 states.
Steak ’n Shake is memorialized in a collection at McLean County Museum of History, 200 N. Main St., Bloomington, and in an exhibit at the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum, 110 W Howard St., Pontiac.
Festival provides summer fun for Shakespeare fans
One Bloomington-Normal location has been the site of murders, mayhem and mischief, notorious deeds occurring out in the open among plenty of witnesses.
Yet that same spot has seen romances blossom, hosted fantastic celebrations and filled the air with laughter every summer for more than 35 years.
Where — not wherefore — might this location be?
Although “all the world’s a stage,” these acts have taken place on stage at Ewing Manor (Ewing Cultural Center), where the Illinois Shakespeare Festival has become a Twin City summer staple since its debut in 1978.
The first performances took place on a temporary wooden stage built over a tennis court, with about 250 spectators sitting in folding chairs.
Now, the plays are held in a 438-seat open-air theater that debuted in 2000.
The festival, which features at least three plays in a rotation each year, has become nationally recognized among professional Shakespearean actors as a top venue.
The attraction has grown as well, with patrons able to picnic on the grounds and occasionally take in bonus acts performed in the courtyards.
All but three of William Shakespeare’s plays have been produced in the festival’s 37 years, along with other Shakespeare-related works.
If you wish to witness a little murder and mayhem, or perhaps some bard-style romance and laughter, “get thee to” the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.
Miller Park Zoo offers a roaring good time to visitors
“Worldly” and “exotic” are not terms that immediately come rolling off the tongue when most Bloomington-Normal residents describe their neighbors.
However, there’s an enclave on the west side of Bloomington where those attributes are more the norm than the exception among those who call it home.
Since 1891, when the city of Bloomington began allocating funds for the care of animals at Miller Park, the zoo established there has been home to a wide variety of critters from all corners of the globe.
“We’ve had animals from from every continent on earth except for Antarctica,” said Miller Park Zoo Superintendent Jay Tetzloff.
Many of the zoo’s earliest denizens were housed at the Koetthoefer Animal Building, a structure that opened to the public 100 years ago and was designed by renowned Bloomington architect A.L. Pillsbury. The building is still in use today and is a site for daily feedings, a popular attraction of the venerable facility.
The zoo was expanded in 1960 and grew exponentially in the 1990s after the Entrance Building/Education Center opened in 1992.
Culminating with the Tropical Rainforest Exhibit that debuted in 2004, the zoo more than doubled in size in a little over a decade.
The zoo and its foundation currently are working with the city on a long-term expansion plan.
Miller Park Zoo is located at 1020 S. Morris Ave. and is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except for Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Actors’ passion helps bring record-setting play to life
The longest-running “continuously performed” passion play in America is right here in Bloomington.
The American Passion Play, unlike others, dramatizes Jesus’ entire ministry, rather than just events from Passion Week onward. The play is historically accurate, with settings and costumes recreating first-century Galilee. Text is taken from the King James version of the Bible.
“My theory is that we can do more and tell a story better in four hours than churches can in several months,” said Wally Crouch of Normal, who has been business manager for the play for the past 10 years and associated with the play for more than 35.
The play, staged every spring at Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, presents the story of Jesus in 11 performances that begin with the beheading of John the Baptist and end with Christ’s ascension. About 230 characters participate in 56 scenes. The play is directed by J. Garrie Burr and codirected by John Capasso. The actors are non-professionals with a spiritual dedication to their parts.
“It’s the people that make the play special,” Crouch said. “Some have been acting in it for 60 years and we have had several generations of the same families as actors.”
Next season will be the 92nd consecutive season the play has been presented in Bloomington.
“I’ve seen it every year for the past 40 years,” said Heyworth resident Patricia Benson. “Every year, you see something different. But one thing never changes and that is the fact that it is simply amazing.”
When your day is done, Pub II is the place to have fun
When your day is done and the rat race lost or won, you need a place to celebrate or commiserate.
A prime confine to unwind for college students and the work weary has been Pub II, the iconic sports bar and restaurant perched like a 4,000-square-foot fort at 102 N. Linden St., where it has protected free time in Normal the past 43 years.
While other local watering holes have their devotees, none can match the longevity of Pub II, which received one of the first liquor licenses after Normal ended its self-imposed prohibition in 1974.
Pub II further separated from its competitors in 1998 when Playboy magazine named it one of the top 100 college bars in the country. The business drew kudos for affordable food, drink specials and “college bar” atmosphere.
Keeping the red, white and blue bedecked celebrants well fed and thirst-free in front of six big-screen and 25 smaller TVs were many of Pub II’s 50 employees.
Standing sentinel over the jubilation were walls festooned with sports memorabilia honoring ISU and Illinois Wesleyan along with Chicago’s Blackhawks, Bulls, Bears, Cubs and White Sox among others.
On the day this story was first published, June 18, 2014, co-owner Terry Stralow left a thankful voicemail at The Pantagraph. That act of kindness became poignant 10 months later when he died at age 64 in a plane crash with six others returning from the NCAA basketball tournament in Indianapolis.
Stralow's legacy is honored as well as those of Scott Bittner, Andy Butler, Tom Hileman, Jason Jones, Aaron Leetch and Torrey Ward thanks to a campaign called Project 7, which asks everyone to perform seven acts of kindness each April 7.
Three Olympians called Bloomington-Normal home
Doug Collins earned a silver medal in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany.
Many believe to this day he actually earned a gold.
The former Illinois State All-American was a central figure in perhaps the most controversial moment in Olympic history as a member of the United States basketball team.
Collins sank two free throws with three seconds remaining to give the Amercans a 50-49 lead in the gold medal game against the Soviet Union.
The Soviets inbounded the ball and the clock hit zero only to have time put back on the clock after a claim that a timeout had been called. Time ran out again as the Soviets failed to score, but they were given a third chance when it was decided by an international basketball official that a timing error had been made.
On the third attempt, Alexander Belov turned a long pass into a game-winning shot.
Collins and the rest of the U.S. team, who had celebrated victory twice, were devastated and steadfastly refuse to accept the silver medal more than 40 years later. A silver medal that holds considerably better memories belongs to former University High School volleyball star Ogonna Nnamani.
Nnamani, who also enjoyed an All-American career at Stanford, was part of the American women’s volleyball team that competed in Athens, Greece, in 2004 before earning a silver medal in 2008 at Beijing, China.
Bloomington High School also has produced an Olympian in distance runner Christin Wurth-Thomas.
Wurth-Thomas qualified for the 2008 Games in the 1,500-meter run. She finished eighth in a preliminary round race and did not advance to the finals.
Constitution Trail links fitness and fellowship in B-N
Constitution Trail is Bloomington-Normal’s path to fitness, fellowship and fun.
Meandering through neighborhoods and subdivisions and stretching alongside backyards, creeks and parks, the trail stretches for 37 miles from inner-city neighborhoods to the countryside surrounding the Twin Cities.
Older adults take their dogs for a walk, families have a leisurely bike ride, teens practice skateboarding skills, college-age couples jog, overweight people return to exercise and cyclists and runners have fun.
Conversations are common.
Even for people who don’t know each other, there are starters: Was that a groundhog that just ran in front of us? What plant is in that trail-side garden? What’s going on at Connie Link Amphitheatre?
Along the trail, there are benches for people to take a break, shelters for people to chat or for groups to meet. Six signs describe and honor key parts of the U.S. Constitution.
Some people use parts of the trail to commute to work or to head to uptown Normal for an evening on the town.
While the original leg of the trail was provided by the abandoned Illinois Central Gulf Railroad line, the trail now extends well beyond that line and continues to expand.
For the uninitiated and for trail users who want to check out different parts of the trail, go to the Friends of Constitution Trail website — ConstitutionTrail.org — which has a trail map that includes trail heads.
You’ll start with walking. You’ll end with belonging.
Ice cream shops drive memories of summer in B-N
For more than 40 years, two ice cream shops have shaped the summer memories of many Bloomington-Normal children and brought back grown-ups for another sample when they return to the Twin Cities.
Carl’s Ice Cream Factory, 601 W. Locust St., and Gene’s Dairy Delight at 1019 S. Main St., both in Bloomington, serve up not only homemade ice cream, but nostalgia as walk-up neighborhood ice cream stands.
In 2007, Carl’s added a location at 1700 W. College Ave., Normal, that is open year-round, provides indoor seating and a drive-up window.
But spring officially starts in the Twin Cities when Carl’s and Gene’s seasonal stands open. Throughout the summer, crowds congregate there day and night, offering frosty balm to sooth nerves seared by a hot summer day or the incentive to put on walking shoes or ride a bike to reach nirvana.
Family nights out or get-togethers with friends are often capped off there.
Carl’s and Gene’s are the source of treats after a holiday meal or to mark a birthday, anniversary or life’s other significant milestones.
For passing motorists, they prove irresistible.
Candy “googly eyes” served on the ice cream make the shops into a favorite stop for many children.
You may debate which shop has the better ice cream, but there is no doubt that Gene’s and Carl’s are the must-go destinations for ice cream in Bloomington-Normal.
Tourists on Route 66 are still getting their kicks
U.S. 66, recognized across America as an archetype of the early American highway, carved a 2,500-mile path of road from Chicago to Los Angeles, with roadside attractions and marvelous vistas.
It wound through Bloomington-Normal, from its entry in northeast Normal on what is today Pine Street, to Willow, to Main. That’s where it intersected with U.S. 51 and traversed south, wandering out of town on what is today largely Interstate 55.
“It was a way of life and I loved it there,” said Chester Henry, a retired Illinois State Police trooper who for more than 25 years patrolled the “Mother Road” around Bloomington-Normal. Highways then, said Chester, were a much more personal, friendly place and he knew all the great places to dine, sleep and take a break.
To this day, Route 66 remains a point of pride and its legacy continues to grow, even 30 years after the road was decommissioned.
Kicks, a popular pub in Towanda, is devoted to the Route 66 legend. So much so, in fact, it was the destination of El Paso High Class of ‘66 when its class members turned age 66.
The circa-1931 Sprague Super Service Station at 305 E. Pine, Normal, once housed a cafe, gas station and garage. Starting this summer, it has opened as Ryburn Place, a gift shop and information center.
With the assistance of several grants and the town of Normal, the site was rehabbed and restored by town workers and Terri Ryburn, a Route 66 enthusiast and retired Illinois State University administrator.
And at the old McLean County courthouse (today’s McLean County Museum of History) is a “Route 66 Visitors Center” in the basement of the museum. Just look for the bench with Abe Lincoln and walk in the door.
From print to canvas to web, The Pantagraph covers the news
Whether it’s reporting local happenings or national headlines, The Pantagraph has been a main source of news in Central Illinois since the 1800s.
And like many things in the Twin Cities, Jesse Fell was at the newspaper’s forefront, first founding the Bloomington Observer and McLean County Advocate in 1837 and then as editor of the McLean Register, renamed The Pantagraph (from a Greek phrase meaning “write all things”) in 1853.
The newspaper went from a weekly to a daily edition in 1856 and added a direct telegraph wire so that it could publish wire service news.
But getting the news to the public hasn’t been limited to just the printed page.
During the election of 1900 — Democrat William Jennings Bryan and running mate Bloomington’s Adlai E. Stevenson I ran against Republicans William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt — The Pantagraph hung a large canvas on a building across Madison Street and used a stereopticon machine to project running vote totals.
It also announced that at 11 p.m. on election night, it would fire off one rocket for a Bryan victory; two for a McKinley victory.
In 1920, a magnetic player board was mounted on the building so baseball fans could follow every play of the World Series. The board was used until the late 1930s.
Today, The Pantagraph not only delivers a printed paper to doorsteps, but takes advantage of electronic media including a web page, Facebook, Twitter and mobile apps to get news to its thousands of readers.
Special Olympics has its heart in Bloomington-Normal
In a crowded sports market that includes several high schools, two NCAA universities and a handful of professional franchises, one Normal-based organization has spent decades nurturing the state’s most inspirational athletes.
Those athletes take center stage in the Twin Cities each June when Special Olympics Illinois holds the State Summer Games, with more than 4,000 competitors participating in six different sports.
These Summer Games, as with everything Special Olympics does, are embodied best through the agency’s oath: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
By giving people with intellectual disabilities an avenue to grow through competition, Special Olympics helps these athletes achieve a sense of pride and accomplishment while combating intolerance.
Special Olympics began in Illinois with the first competition held at Chicago’s Soldier Field in 1968 and has grown to include 18 programs statewide, providing opportunities for more than 20,000 athletes annually.
The agency’s headquarters moved from the Chicago Park District to the Illinois State University campus in 1977 before opening its own offices on Willow Street in 1989.
Through 180 competitions each year, Special Olympics uses 19 Olympic-type sports to fulfill its stated mission of helping its athletes “develop fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship” — all while inspiring the spectators whose lives are touched by these athletes.
Long medical history in B-N births successful hospitals
Their names have changed over the years as their buildings kept getting bigger and bigger. What hasn’t changed is the mission of Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal and OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington: providing us with the best health care possible.
BroMenn’s history at its current site began when Deaconess Hospital opened May 8, 1896, on eight acres between Bloomington and Normal. The name changed in 1901 after Abram Brokaw, a wealthy plowmaker, made a $10,000 contribution. A nursing school was established at that time.
In 1984, Brokaw Hospital merged with Mennonite Hospital in Bloomington and Eureka Hospital to form BroMenn Healthcare. A major expansion in 1991 turned Brokaw into BroMenn Regional Medical Center; Mennonite became BroMenn Lifecare Center but closed in the late 1990s.
A merger with Oak Brook-based Advocate Health Care in 2010 resulted in Advocate BroMenn Medical Center (and Advocate Eureka Hospital). A 136,000-square-foot addition opened in 2012, giving the facility 221 beds.
St. Joseph’s Hospital was opened in 1880 on Jackson Street in Bloomington. The hospital moved to East Washington Street in 1968 and is now part of OSF HealthCare System. OSF St. Joseph Medical Center is a 149-bed notfor-profit acute care facility and level II trauma center.
OSF St. Joseph was the first hospital in McLean County to offer open heart surgery in 1990. Other “firsts” include successful birth by cesarean section, nuclear medicine, laser surgery, coil embolization and anterior hip surgery.
Historic Castle makes the transition to concert house
What was once a popular downtown Bloomington movie theater, comedy club and even an auto storage facility is now the Twin Cities’ best concert house in the eyes — and ears — of Pantagraph readers.
With its classic marquee prominently illuminating the 200 block of East Washington Street, Bloomington, the landmark Castle Theatre cemented itself as impossible to miss. The venue continues to be a favorite among Twin City area concert-goers, earning -- once again – the title of Best Live Music Venue in the most recent Pantagraph’s Reader’s Choice Awards competition.
And it continues to draw an eclectic assortment of acts since its’s 2010 opening, ranging in the past couple of years from Sevendust and Suzy Bogguss to The Smithereens and The Jayhawks.
And, that trend seems certain to continue.
Built in 1916 by Charles U. Williams, the current Castle not only housed the 1,000-seat theater but also accommodated storage for his adjacent auto dealership, with a freight elevator that carried cars to the upper floors.
But the prospect of the Castle seeing its 100th anniversary seemed highly remote when GKC Theaters shuttered the cinema in 1988. As the building remained dormant through the ‘90s, a plan to make the Castle one of the centerpieces in Bloomington’s cultural district gained momentum.
Following a $1.5 million renovation, the theater reopened in 2003 as a film house featuring couch seating and beer on tap. That incarnation lasted just three years as the Castle was shuttered again, although Clearview Christian Church continued to hold services there.
Insurance industry is Twin Cities’ long-standing crop
Farmers are to thank for two of the Pantagraph-area’s biggest white-collar businesses, and the local insurance industry has grown much like a bumper crop.
State Farm and Country Financial employ thousands of Central Illinois residents. In fact, chances are good to excellent that you either know someone in the industry or are yourself employed in it.
State Farm, which employs about 15,000 people in Bloomington, was founded by G.J. Mecherle in 1922. He was a retired Merna farmer who also sold farm implements, and he wanted to help others like himself.
Mecherle sold insurance for a company in Bloomington and from that experience decided to start his own company down the street. Since then, State Farm has grown to a net worth of $87.6 billion in 2016 and is now No. 33 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies.
Company-wide, State Farm has nearly 70,000 employees. The insurer has hubs in Georgia, Arizona and Texas.
A group of farmers from the Illinois Farm Bureau started Country Financial in 1925 to provide insurance on farm buildings and their contents. Country Financial moved its home office from Chicago to Bloomington in 1960, and it now has about 2,000 employees in the Twin Cities among 5,000 nationwide.
Country Financial serves more than a million households and businesses in 39 states. On Jan. 1, the company grew through a merger with MiddleOak companies, based in Salem, Mass., and Middletown, Conn.
McLean County Museum of History keeps it interesting
The McLean County Museum of History has resided since 1992 in that grand mountain of limestone and marble that is the pillar-festooned McLean County Courthouse, built in 1903.
The museum’s history traces to 1892 when meetings were held to hear presentations on local history. Without solicitation, community members began donating related objects.
By 1904, the collection was big enough to require a curator and the first museum opened on the third floor of the courthouse. It moved to the McBarnes Building in 1922.
The collection had outgrown its confines by 1972 when a fire left the museum homeless for five years.
Today, the 40,000-square foot museum, which preserves nearly 20,000 objects, is nationally accredited, a designation enjoyed by only 3 percent of the nation’s 33,000 museums.
The public has access to more than 15,000 books along with historical papers and images, some of which came from The Pantagraph archives.
This not-for-profit museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday (until 9 p.m. Tuesdays). Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and free for members, students and those under 12.
A frequent award winner, the museum boasts five permanent and two rotating galleries. Among the newest exhibits is one examining Abraham Lincoln's work as an attorney in McLean County and on the Illinois Eighth Judicial Circuit.
The museum, which has 17 paid employees, welcomed more than 27,000 visitors in 2016 on-site and approximately 9,200 off-site.
The 1,200-square foot "Cruisin' With Lincoln on 66" Visitors Center opened on the ground floor in 2015. Outside, a statue of Lincoln makes for a popular photo prop.
Small but mighty Illinois Wesleyan University perseveres
For as long as there has been a City of Bloomington, there has been an Illinois Wesleyan University.
IWU, with an enrollment of 1,771 students in fall 2016, was founded in 1850 by a group of 30 civic and religious leaders, supported by the United Methodist Church. That’s how “Wesleyan” was added to the name “Illinois University.”
Seventy-eight percent of last year’s students enrolled in liberal arts and sciences. The College of Fine Arts, which combined schools of art, music and theater, was established in 1948; the School of Nursing began in 1959 (previously in conjunction with Brokaw School of Nursing).
The central portion of the 80-acre campus was acquired in 1854; the oldest building, Stevenson Hall, was built in 1910. Seventeen buildings have been constructed since World War II. Recent additions include Shirk Center (1994), Center for Natural Science Learning and Research (1995), Harriett Fuller Rust House and refurbished Center for Liberal Arts (1996), Ames Library (2002), Minor Myers, Jr. Welcome Center (2008) and State Farm Hall and The Gates at Wesleyan (2013).
Athletically, IWU has shined in NCAA Division III. The Titans’ 20 athletic teams have won national championships in men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and women’s track and field.
Famous alumni include Ed Rust, Jr., chairman of the board and chief executive officer of State Farm Insurance Cos.; Oscar-nominated actor Richard Jenkins; seven-time NBA All-Star Jack Sikma; and Kansas City Royals broadcaster Denny Matthews.
Veterans Parkway is among nation’s best commutes
In 1999, The Pantagraph surveyed readers to determine the worst thing to happen to Bloomington-Normal in the 20th century.
Thirty-seven percent named Veterans Parkway, the Twin Cities’ eight-mile, six-lane, 22-stoplight mother road.
Mapquest says the trip from southwest Bloomington to northeast Normal takes 13 minutes. A recent trek took a reporter 12.
Twin City history can’t be told without including Veterans Parkway, but why is the tale so often one of derision? After all, the road paved the way for the cornucopia of retail development that, apparently, we can’t do without.
The time sitting at all those red lights can create a level of road rage beyond the evidence of stopwatches. Census data shows B-N drivers have an average commute of just 15.6 minutes compared to the national average of 24.8.
Motorists’ ire also comes from traffic and accidents. BN’s busiest intersection is Veterans and GE Road, with more than 60,650 cars per day. The past decade, most accidents happened at Veterans and College Avenue.
None of this was evident when its predecessor, Beltline Road, opened in 1941 so war munitions could quickly be moved between St. Louis and Chicago.
The “soft” southeast curve was created so traffic could move at speeds up to 100 mph. Federal law mandated the road remain stoplight free.
That edict stood until the 1950s, when businesses began moving east. After several bad accidents, Illinois 9 got a light. When State Farm moved, another light was added. And so it went.
Lake Bloomington more than the city’s water source
The reason for Lake Bloomington’s existence may be to provide water to the city after which it was named, but the 635-acre reservoir also plays a more varied cultural, historical, recreational and environmental role.
Its 18 miles of shoreline include more than 220 residential sites, three camps and parks with picnic and playground areas.
What was once the home of small cabins to which Bloomington-Normal families fled the summer heat now is the host of far fancier and larger year-round residences.
Creation of Lake Bloomington began in early 1929 with the clear-cutting of 40,000 to 50,000 trees in what would become the lake bed. A dam was built to capture the waters of Money Creek and the first water from the project was piped to the city, about 15 miles away, in March 1930.
The lake is popular for boating, fishing and wildlife watching. An important stopover for migrating birds, you could even see a pelican.
One-time Boy Scout facility Camp Heffernan was purchased by Easter Seals Central Illinois in 1989. Renamed Timber Pointe Outdoor Center, the 170-acre site is used primarily for camps for children and adults with disabilities.
The Girl Scouts’ Camp Peairs, located on 88 acres, has a lodge, six cabins that sleep 10 each and areas for platform tents.
East Bay Camp and Retreat has been used by a variety of religious groups since its founding in 1930. The Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church has owned the 40-acre camp since the 1980s.
Quietly famous David Foster Wallace begat ‘Jest’ here
“The greatest novel to finish a century yet” (The New York Times) was largely begun and finished right here in B-N, whether we knew it or not.
Most Twin Citians knew it not.
“Infinite Jest,” by the late David Foster Wallace, was published to dizzying international acclaim in 1996, three years into his nine-year stint as a faculty member of ISU’s Department of English.
The book spills over a daunting 1,079 pages, a chunk of which are devoted to thickly annotated footnotes demanding as much concentration as the main text.
The setting is a near-future North America, with the action shuttling between a junior tennis academy and a nearby substance abuse recovery center (both tied to Wallace’s real-life obsessions).
The conflict turns on a film called “the Entertainment,” which causes anyone who views it to become addicted to its content, completely zoning out of reality, and watching it over and over in a continuous loop.
The film was created by an artist as a way to reach his emotionally stunted son, but eventually becomes the center of a dense espionage/conspiracy scenario.
The reclusive, eccentric Wallace was internationally hailed during his time here, when he dined regularly and unnoticed at Denny’s and Cracker Barrel; and hung with his students at The Coffeehouse and Babbitt’s Books in Normal.
Five years after his departure from ISU for a teaching position at a private California college, Wallace, 46, ended a 25-year battle with depression by hanging himself from the patio of his home.
Long before State Farm, railyards drove growth
While most of Bloomington’s growth in recent years has been primarily fueled by State Farm and focused eastward, it was an industry centered in a west-side neighborhood that once spurred a five-fold increase in the city’s population in the span of a mere decade.
The 1850s arrival of the Illinois Central and the Chicago and Alton railroads is credited with increasing Bloomington’s population from about 1,600 to 8,000 in the late 1800s.
The Illinois Central began running cars into Bloomington in May 1853, followed by the soon-to-be burgeoning presence of the C & A just five months later.
Bloomington would become a vital center in the latter’s efforts to provide faster transportation and shipping throughout the nation.
The company built the Chicago and Alton Railroad Shops two blocks northwest of the corner of Locust and Catherine streets and the facility grew into the city’s largest employer for a span of about a half century.
Workers flocked to the area for jobs at its roundhouse, locomotive repair shop, foundry, paint shop, wheel and axle shop, powerhouse and offices. The operation employed approximately 2,500 on a 50-acre tract of land.
After serving as the industrial heart of Bloomington for the better part of a century, activity at the shops began to wind down in the early 1950s with the automobile becoming America’s most popular mode of transportation and the advent of mass-produced engine parts. The yards were virtually vacant by 1960.
Murals paint history of Twin City education, labor
A pair of murals stand out among the finest works of public art in Bloomington-Normal.
One was designed to pay tribute to the area’s labor movement. It is at the former Laborers Local 362 union hall, 2005 Cabintown Road, Bloomington; the union has relocated its headquarters to Fox Creek Road.
The other, “Development of the State Normal School,” (known today as ISU), hangs in the Normal Post Office in honor of public education and the teaching profession.
The artwork at the union hall was created in the mid-1980s. The oil on canvas that’s featured at the post office was begun by New York artist Albert Pels in 1937 and unveiled in the summer of 1938.
Contrary to popular belief, the Depression-era Works Progress Administration (WPA) had no hand in the Pels mural.
Instead, Pels was commissioned by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Section of Painting and Sculpture to create the mural after his talent was discovered in regional and national competitions.
Pels was paid $630 (equivalent to about $10,000 today) for the work that he completed at the age of 28. The 11- by 4-foot mural was one of two that Pels painted with funding from the Treasury Department. The other hangs in a post office in Wilmington, Del.
The Laborers Local 362 mural was painted by local artist Kari Sandhaas between 1984 and 1986 and depicts local labor history. It spans a 1917 visit by Mary Harris “Mother” Jones in support of striking streetcar workers to the 1978 strike by Normal firefighters.
Wind farms have become staple on Central Illinois land
Yes, we live in farm country here in McLean County, with Bloomington-Normal surrounded by corn and soybean fields. Cattle graze on nearby pastures as well.
Yet, farm country is more than bushels of grain and wellfed livestock. This also is wind farm country, and you don’t have to look far for evidence.
Large white wind turbines dot the landscape to the east and west of Bloomington-Normal, producing electricity with each of Mother Nature’s exhales.
The Twin Groves Wind Farm rises above open fields near Saybrook, Arrowsmith, Ellsworth and other eastern McLean County locales. Constructed from 2007 to February 2008, there are 240 turbines spread over 22,000 acres. Each is 270 feet tall with
They are easily visible from the Twin Cities day or night, their blades glistening in the midday sun and red lights flashing in the night sky.
North and west of Normal we have the White Oak Wind Farm, another energy producer that has helped Illinois rank fourth nationally in installed wind capacity and in the number of utility-scale wind turbines.
McLean County is ideal for wind turbines.
Among Illinois’ largest cities, Bloomington has the highest elevation at 797 feet above sea level. An area near Saybrook is 955.7 feet above sea level, the highest point in America in a line between Canada and New Orleans, La.
So call us farm country. We embrace it. Just be sure to call us wind farm country as well.
Aerialists, circus folk wintered in Bloomington-Normal
In Bloomington-Normal, the circus came to town and never really left.
As a result, the Twin Cities’ three-ring heritage is among the richest in the country, rivaling that of Baraboo, Wis. (birthplace of Ringling Bros. Circus) and Sarasota, Fla. (present-day home of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus).
From the early 1920s to the 1940s, B-N was known as the “Circus Aerialist Capital of the World,” courtesy of the more than 17 world-class trapeze acts who wintered here.
Though that heyday ended around 1950, B-N is is still home to ISU’s Gamma Phi Circus, America’s oldest collegiate circus, founded in 1929 at the peak of local circus mania.
It all began with the first local aerialist, Fred Miltmore, who joined the circus in 1871 and retired by 1900. Along with Miltmore, fellow B-N residents Harry Green, Harry Foreman, Eddie Ward and Charles Waller established their own acts.
Eventually, the Twin Cities became a hotbed of aerialists-turned-trainers, whose students either came here to study or were recruited from the local ranks.
Bloomington’s YMCA was equipped with an aerial rigging, and its directors recruited dozens of local youths to develop their talent.
More training sites mushroomed, including Eddie Ward’s Ward Barn and Circus Park, located in what is now State Farm Park on Bloomington’s south end.
Eventually, roughly 90 percent of America’s top aerialists, including the Flying Wards and the Flying Concellos, called B-N their winter home and training ground.
Evergreen cemetery holds famous links to the past
If Evergreen Memorial Cemetery were a book, it would hold the stories of thousands of McLean County residents dating to the early 1800s.
The 87-acre cemetery on East Miller Street in Bloomington links the culture of past generations with current history.
The service of veterans is recognized with the Avenue of Flags, a collection of about 200 individually mounted flags that include a plaque with the veteran’s information.
The publicly owned cemetery is a resting place for people from all walks of life in the community, including several with famous resumes.
The gravesites of U.S. Vice President Adlai Stevenson I, and Illinois Gov. Adlai Stevenson II, are located at Evergreen.
Illinois Supreme Court Justice and Abraham Lincoln supporter David Davis is buried in the Bloomington cemetery.
Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourne, who set a record for major league pitching that still stands, died in Bloomington in 1897 and is buried there, too.
Evergreen also honors a little girl who died as an infant and was the inspiration for Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz.” Dorothy Gage was the niece of author L. Frank Baum, creator of the successful book and movie. Her death so distressed the family that he changed the name of the character to assuage their grief.
Revolutionary War soldier David Haggard is among the many military burials.
Renowned opera singers Marie Litta, Minnie Salzman and Grace B. Wagner also are at Evergreen.
Diverse acts make BCPA stand out from the crowd
The outward appearance of the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts was not meant to be flashy.
“We don’t want the building to overpower the event or function,” facilities manager David Young said in 2006. “We want the building to stay in the background.”
Yet the BCPA has stood out in other ways, mainly through the more than 500,000 patrons who have attended events there since its opening in 2006.
The former Scottish Rite Temple was built in 1921 and served as home of the American Passion Play for several decades as well as hosting many concerts, plays and social functions.
As the centerpiece of the City of Bloomington’s Cultural District, the Scottish Rite Temple underwent a $14.5 million renovation and was renamed the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts upon its unveiling.
The BCPA is operating under an original mission of a programming schedule of 15 to 20 percent of its events geared toward minority interests or out of the mainstream art forms.
Among the acts to grace the stage of the 1,200-seat venue are B.B. King, Glen Campbell, comedian Tracy Morgan, the Duke Ellington Orchestra and the Golden Dragon Acrobats.
The BCPA also serves as home for the Pantagraph’s Holiday Spectacular each year in early December.
Bloomington’s Cultural District also features the Creativity Center, Festival Park and the McLean County Arts Center.
Heartland college has expanded beyond imagination
From humble beginnings, Heartland Community College has blossomed into a Central Illinois educational juggernaut.
Born in 1990 with its first location at Normal’s Landmark Mall, Heartland has rocketed to a student population of of just under 5,300 while serving an area from Lincoln to Pontiac in Community College District 540.
The two-year public college began classes at a location in Bloomington’s Towanda Plaza in 1992 before opening its current campus in north Normal in 2000.
Jonathan Astroth was appointed the school’s first president in 1991 and served until 2010 when Allen Goben took over as president. Rob Widmer, longtime vice president of business services, succeeded Goben to become the college’s third president.
Heartland has had a nursing program since 1993, opened a Workforce Development Center in 2004 and dedicated the Astroth Community Education Center and Challenger Learning Center in 2010.
Heartland’s academic departments include Health and Human Services, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and Business and Technology with more than 60 available areas of study.
The college launched an athletic program in 2007 and features teams in baseball, softball and men’s and women’s soccer.
The Hawks’ softball team captured the Junior College Division II national championship in 2009.
Heartland boasts one of the nation’s top junior college sporting venues in the Corn Crib. The Hawks share the facility with the Normal CornBelters of the independent Frontier League.
Illinois State University a big player after humble start
Illinois State University’s 2017 football team has 96 players, 11 of whom play at any one time in a game. Nothing out of line with those numbers, but they do lend perspective regarding the school’s roots.
Enrollment for Illinois State’s first term, in fall 1857, was 43 students. The first commencement ceremony, in 1860, honored a graduating class of 10.
From those humble beginnings has emerged a university of more than 20,000 students that is synonymous with Bloomington-Normal.
Illinois’ oldest public university, ISU has been around as long as the state’s Board of Education, which was formed in 1857 and hired an attorney you may have heard of, Abraham Lincoln, to draw up the legal documents for the school’s funding.
It was founded by Jesse Fell as a training school for teachers under the name Illinois State Normal University, which changed to Illinois State University at Normal in 1964 and to Illinois State University in 1968.
ISU’s enrollment ballooned from 4,469 in 1960 to 17,549 in 1970. Last year, 21,039 students attended, including 18,643 undergraduates.
With the growth came a jump to NCAA Division I status in athletics in the early 1970s and the emergence of one of ISU’s most famous alums, basketball star Doug Collins.
Other well-known alumni include actor John Malkovich, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Donald McHenry and actors/actresses Laurie Metcalf, Gary Cole and Jane Lynch.
They represent a university that is a big, big part of Bloomington-Normal ... no matter how small it all began.
Downtown arena draws headliners, headlines
Out of a dream of drawing superstar performers and winning local sports teams to downtown Bloomington grew the Grossinger Motors Arena, formerly known as U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
The $35.8 million concrete giant that includes the Pepsi Ice Center and adjoining parking deck has created more than its share of entertainment since the 2004 vote by the Bloomington City Council to build the public arena.
The 8,000-seat concert facility has hosted country shows, hockey and cheer-leading competitions, flu shot clinics and religious conventions.
Along with its use for entertainment, the arena has also generated its share of controversy.
The city’s fiscal prudence has been questioned by some in the community who are not convinced that taxpayers reap an adequate award for the ongoing expense of maintaining the structure and paying off building bonds. The city-owned venue ended its 2017 fiscal year in June with a $674,000 operating loss.
Supporters of the arena counter that restaurants, hotels and other businesses benefit from the dollars that visitors spend in the community.
Central Illinois Flying Aces hockey, Bloomington Flex basketball and Bloomington Edge football teams have attracted thousands of fans to the downtown venue, which also has held major charitable events, high school graduations and wedding receptions.
In the coming months, the arena will open its doors for the Sept. 28 Hank William Jr. concert and the December 3 appearance by comedian Jim Gaffigan.
A century ago, another building at that site also was a convention center and stage-play venue.
Needs of children are first, foremost in Twin Cities
Lucy Orme Morgan had a vision to help children in need more than 130 years ago that still is embraced in the Twin Cities today.
Morgan founded the Women’s Industrial Home of McLean County, later known as the Girls’ Industrial Home, then the Lucy Orme Morgan Home. The facility at 403 S. State St., Bloomington, now is home to the Children’s Home + Aid Society of Illinois, which serves low-income McLean County families.
Originally, the Girls’ Industrial Home was open to any woman or girl in need. By 1895, it was devoted mainly to girls and a few boys.
When the need for a boys’ home increased, a separate facility — Victory Hall — was built at 904 Hovey Ave., Normal. The home served more than 700 boys during its heyday.
When numbers started declining in the 1970s as the state shifted from institutional homes to foster homes, Victory Hall began caring for troubled boys. In 1981, the Hovey Avenue home was sold to Illinois State University for a fraternity house. The few remaining Victory Hall boys were moved to a smaller home on East Lincoln Street, Bloomington.
That home closed in June 2003.
Meanwhile, in 1968, the Lucy Orme Morgan Home merged with the Booker T. Washington home, first opened in 1920 to serve black children, to form the Morgan Washington Home. The homes were under the umbrella of the John M. Scott Center, then The Children’s Foundation and now Children’s Home + Aid Society of Illinois.
Vrooman Mansion a monument to opulence, politics
As the story goes, John F. Kennedy was told Julia Scott Vrooman, a wealthy and well-connected Bloomington widow, was willing to donate to his presidential campaign, but he had to come to her home to get the money.
“I think he came to tea,” said Pam Kowalewski, who has owned the Vrooman Mansion, now a bed-and-breakfast, with her husband, Dana, since 2000. She said the story may be a legend, but it illustrates the significance of the opulent Victorian mansion at 701 E. Taylor St., Bloomington, and the family who called it home.
Landowner Matthew T. Scott, who founded Chenoa, bought the then-3-year-old house in 1872, but it didn’t assume its 36-room, three-story final form until a radical expansion in the mid-1890s by Scott’s widow, Julia.
Always in competition with other grande dames of Bloomington society such as Sarah Davis, she created a brick, Romanesque-style edifice once described as looking like the officers’ quarters at West Point.
The home was inherited by the Scotts’ daughter, Julia, whose husband, Carl Vrooman, was assistant secretary of agriculture for President Woodrow Wilson. She hosted such Democratic notables as William Jennings Bryan and Eleanor Roosevelt, and a monument on the wooded, 1.25-acre property marks where Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas supposedly spoke.
Julia Scott Vrooman died in 1981 at age 104. “We don’t consider it to be our home; it’s Julia’s, and we’re just taking care of it,” said Pam Kowalewski.
Meandering creek is the namesake to favorite festival
Twin City residences are filled with treasured, one-of-a-kind objects purchased at the Sugar Creek Arts Festival.
The annual summer festival in Normal has drawn art and music enthusiasts long before downtown became uptown.
Started 34 years ago, Sugar Creek is among the longest lived festivals in the Twin Cities, and it reigns supreme when it comes to local art.
Sugar Creek, as its called, was the Twin Cities’ first-ever juried art fair, started by Kup Tcheng when he was president of Normal’s Downtown Business Association and well-known local artist Fred Mills, who died in 2008.
Named after the stream that passes through both Normal and Bloomington, the festival has morphed from around 30 local artists exhibiting at its premiere to 130 artists and craftsmen who come from all over the country.
The festival, considered a mainstay cultural events, draws out-of-towners as well as community residents.
For two days each July, uptown streets are lined with booths of pottery, jewelry, sculptures, handbags, lawn decorations, photography, paintings, ceramics and glassware.
The offerings range from exquisite, finely crafted jewelry to yard decorations made from old golf clubs and other recycled items.
The often unique objects frequently find a permanent home in a cherished spot of the purchaser.
The hunt for that special piece is half the fun.
It’s the perfect atmosphere to mingle or get lost in the crowds while deciding what to buy.
Fans fork over dough at Twin Cities’ farmers markets
Nothing says summer like a fresh-from-the-dirt tomato, a loaf of homemade bread or a dozen freshly laid eggs from a nearby chicken coop.
With agriculture among the largest economic engines in McLean County, it is not surprising that thousands of Central Illinois residents turn up each week at farmers markets and farm stands to pick up fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, plants, preserves, soap, dairy, crafts and jewelry produced by local farmers.
The markets offer shoppers the unique opportunity to directly interact with the person who grew the vegetables, farmed the land, fed the chickens or created the product.
The largest, the Bloomington Farmers Market, finds its home downtown during the summer months, drawing a crowd every Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to noon.
The market has more than 70 vendors and features kids activities, growing in size like Jack the Beanstalk since the first market in 1974.
Vendors at the Bloomington market now accept LINK cards as payment, allowing families from all income levels to enjoy fresh, local produce.
The Downs Village Market, with regional produce, meat, honey, baked goods, plants, flowers and quality crafts, is open late Wednesday afternoons from June through September.
Gailey Eye Clinic respects its legacy and looks ahead
Gailey Eye Clinic is thriving after 76 years because it doesn’t act its age.
The eye care practice continues to add physicians, procedures and locations, preserving or improving vision for thousands of people throughout Central Illinois.
“We are trying to live up to the standards set by Dr. Watson Gailey and the doctors who followed him,” Dr. Robert Lee once told The Pantagraph.
That’s a tough act to follow.
Gailey already was a leader in ophthalmology when he opened the clinic at 1008 N. Main St., Bloomington, in 1941. Several years later, he opened the Watson Gailey Eye Foundation Eye Bank to preserve tissue for corneal transplants that he performed.
The eye bank, now called Eversight Illinois, is at 301 S. Prospect Road. The clinic expanded several times. In 1977, it became the first downstate clinic to use an argon laser to treat certain eye conditions.
Gailey opened a satellite clinic in 1983 and now has 16 locations throughout Central Illinois, staffed by 14 ophthalmologists, six optometrists and 200 full- and part-time employees.
The expanded and renovated building on Main Street remains the home office. Other Bloomington locations include its outpatient surgery center, Bloomington Eye Institute, 1008 N. Center St., and Gailey Eye Clinic Retina Center, 2501 E. College Ave.
Services include retinal surgery, plastic surgeries of the eye and face, cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, laser vision correction, pediatric ophthalmology, general ophthalmology and laser cataract surgery.
McLean County proud of its fair and the crowds prove it
McLean County loves its county fair.
Just ask any of the 1,200 4-Hers and their families who spend every early August at the county fairgrounds, 2301 W. Market St., Bloomington, showing 4,000 projects ranging from livestock to visual arts to robotics.
Then ask the 40,000 people who attend the fair each year to do everything from watch a horse show to walk a llama around an obstacle course to listen to country music and meet the fair king and queen.
Along the way, they learn a thing or two. Did you know that 97 percent of Illinois farms are family owned?
And don’t forget the carnival rides and fair food. A lemon shake-up and funnel cake, anyone?
McLean County has the largest 4-H fair in Illinois and claims to be the largest 4-H fair in the country. No one has disputed the assertion.
Where else can a cross-section of Central Illinoisans spend a day listening to baa-ing sheep, biting into a corn dog, talking with people with whom they may not normally associate, and watching kings and queens of yesterday, today and tomorrow?
For some families, it goes even deeper. Many former 4-Hers who showed their projects when the fairgrounds were off East Empire Street or even when it was off South Main Street are now 4-H volunteers who help their children or grandchildren or other kids with their cakes or sewing or rockets.
The location of the fair doesn’t matter. The spirit does.
For that, McLean County, here’s your blue ribbon.
Avenue in Normal a humped reminder of another time
In 1906, a timber and metal bridge along what was then Sill Street solved a problem for the Bloomington-Normal community.
Today, the Camelback Bridge on what’s now Virginia Avenue in Normal allows a peek into a bygone era at 10 mph.
The barely-two-cars-wide bridge was built by the Illinois Central Railroad during a fast-paced expansion; its distinctive humped shape allowed steam engines to glide beneath without disrupting activity above.
Ironically, it’s not a camelback bridge, but rather a king post pony truss bridge, the only such functioning one in Illinois. The style refers to the timber triangle that holds the bridge’s weight.
Also conspicuous are supporting wrought iron columns from the Phoenix Iron Co., dating to the 1860s and likely recycled from another structure. It’s one of two bridges in the Land of Lincoln with such supports, also found on the Washington Monument.
A town survey once described the bridge as a “reference point and cultural center of gravity” that was “woven into the very sensibilities of the community.”
Normal bought the bridge and some right-of-way from the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad for $89,000 in 1986. After that, there were years of squabbles over whether the structure — which now canopies the Constitution Trail — should be moved, saved or demolished.
Supporters nominated it for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places and its acceptance in 1997 helped assure it would stay just where it was, a working reminder of a slower time.
Vacuums have storied history in Bloomington-Normal
A staple cleaning tool that is in every household, or at least should be, has a long history in the Twin Cities.
For a period of time, Bloomington was the North American headquarters for The Eureka Co., which became the Electrolux vacuum cleaner company. From the 1940s until 2011, vacuums and other products were manufactured in Bloomington-Normal.
It all started in 1909 as the Eureka Co. in Detroit. By 1927, the company sold one-third of all vacuums in the U.S.
The company merged with Williams Oil-O-Matic, a Bloomington company that made heating and refrigeration equipment in 1945. It then became known as Eureka-Williams Corp.
In 1974, AB Electrolux purchased the company and it became known as The Eureka Co. Over the years, the company had several locations in Bloomington-Normal, including 1201 E. Bell St., Bloomington, and its final headquarters at 807 N. Main St., Bloomington.
Sadly, after decades as a major employer in the community, Electrolux made a clean sweep out of Bloomington-Normal in 2011.
Today, Electrolux sells more than 50 million products to customers in more than 150 markets every year.
Eureka still offers a line of vacuums, including uprights, canisters, sticks, handhelds, home built-in systems, battery-powered vacuums, steam cleaners and home cleaning systems, but the company is now based in Charlotte, N.C.
Eureka is a brand of Electrolux, based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Baby Fold helping children for more than a century
In Bloomington-Normal, The Baby Fold is recognized as helping, for more than a century, many of the community’s most vulnerable children.
Children orphaned, in need of foster care, with mental illness, in need of special education, with behavioral and emotional disabilities — The Baby Fold helps them all.
It has grown from a faith-based orphanage started around the turn of the 20th century to serving more than 1,000 children and families with adoption, foster care, pregnancy counseling and special education needs.
Its residential treatment center was closed in June because it wasn’t getting state support that it was due.
It started when Nancy Mason donated her residence in Normal in 1899 to the Methodist Episcopal Deaconess Society as a home for both active and retired deaconesses.
Deaconesses were trained nurses, educators, evangelists, social workers and administrators who performed mission work. They operated Bloomington Deaconess Hospital from 1897 to 1901.
By 1904, the agency changed its name to N.A. Mason Deaconess Home and School. But people were calling it the “baby fold,” a biblical reference to Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
Four years later, the name changed to Mason Deaconess Home and Baby Fold. It officially became The Baby Fold in 1941.
Today, the agency has Hammitt Elementary School and Hammitt Junior-Senior High School, which offer specialized education for children with behavioral, emotional, learning and pervasive developmental disabilities.
The junior-senior high school, now at 1500 Fort Jesse Road, Normal, is being moved to 612 Oglesby Ave., Normal, where office space is being remodeled into classrooms.
In 2001, the agency began offering international adoptions.
Powwow at Grand Village honors Kickapoo history
Long before there was State Farm, Illinois State University, the city of Bloomington or even the state of Illinois, there was the Grand Village of the Kickapoo.
The large American Indian settlement located near present-day LeRoy was home to between 2,000 and 3,000 Kickapoo when a surveyor passed through the area in 1824.
But the settlement is believed to have been there since at least 1752, when a French explorer/soldier wrote home about the site.
With the loss of buffalo herds on the prairie and tensions from the Black Hawk War in 1832, the village faded away and the tribe fractured, moving to Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Mexico.
In 1998, a Homecoming Powwow took place at the former site of the Grand Village.
The powwow, which attracted about 7,000 people, was hosted by Bill and Doris Emmett, who owned the land at that time, and by Midwest SOARRING (Save Our Ancesters Remains & Resources Indigenous Network Group). The organization educates the public about American Indian cultural issues.
Among the Kickapoo who attended that first homecoming powwow was Margarita Salazar, then 104, who said through an interpreter, “All our grandmothers lived here. …I feel good over it, that I can be around where my ancestors once roamed.”
The one-acre Grand Village of the Kickapoo Park was dedicated during the powwow and buffalo were returned to roam. Powwows have taken place periodically since then. The most recent was Sept. 9 and 10.
Davis mansion was focus of Twin City Victorian era
Just a few blocks east of downtown Bloomington sits a three-story, 36-room Victorian mansion made of yellow brick.
If those walls could talk, oh what stories they could tell.
David Davis Mansion State Historic Site was the residence of Sarah and David Davis, who were at the center of American politics and society. He rode the circuit with Abraham Lincoln, was a U.S. senator and eventually Supreme Court justice from 1862 to 1877.
The house, its garden and five outbuildings remained in the Davis family until 1960, when the buildings and 4.1 acres were donated to the state of Illinois. From 1990 until April 2014, Marcia Young was the site manager.
“It really takes a lot of people working together to keep this going, but we have had a lot of great people helping us out over the years,” she said.
The home is open to the general public from Wednesday through Saturday and hosts several seasonal events. During the winter, the mansion is lavishly decorated for the Christmas holiday. Gaslight tours are offered during December.
Inside the mansion is a collection of mid-19th century decorative arts and technological conveniences, illustrating the life of a prosperous Victorian-era family.
The mansion is located at 1000 Monroe Drive; tours are available every half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
Tours start with a 17-minute video; tours last about 45 minutes.
Third Sunday Market a longtime Twin City tradition
It’s not hard to figure out when the Third Sunday Market is.
For 29 years, the monthly flea market has brought thousands of customers and vendors to the grounds of the Interstate Center in Bloomington on the third Sunday of May through October.
Don and Carol Raycraft started the market in 1988 and continues as a family business. What began as a hobby with just a handful of vendors and a few hundred customers has grown to more than 450 vendors from at least 17 states who want to sell antiques, collectibles or assorted items.
“Collecting is a disease, but it’s better than drinking or womanizing,” said vendor Andy Magnafici of LaSalle.
General manager Mike Raycraft, son of Don and Carol, says the market continues to be a family-oriented business.
“Many of our employees have been here for more than two decades,” he said. “Everyone knows their job and knows it well.”
Many of the vendors have been there just as long.
“We have had customers that have turned into vendors to support their collecting habit,” Raycraft said.
The indoor/outdoor sale features a little bit of everything, from the finest in antique furniture to folk art, vintage advertising, sports memorabilia, antique linens and clothing.
Occasional special shows are scheduled during the fall and winter months as well, Raycraft said.
CIRA, Bloomington-Normal have grown up together
In the 1950s, an Ozark DC-3 made so many stops between Bloomington and St. Louis that an airport leader joked it was faster to drive.
Today the airport has six nonstop destinations — Atlanta, Minneapolis, Chicago, Dallas, Orlando and Tampa. In 2015, it also added a FedEx facility with daily 757 flights handling more than 12 million pounds of cargo annually.
“CIRA is an integral part of the fabric of the Bloomington-Normal community. We actually grew up together,” said Carl Olson, the airport’s executive director.
There was an airfield north of Normal in the late 1920s, but local aviation took off with the opening of Bloomington Municipal Airport in 1934. Commercial passenger service began Nov. 6, 1950, when Ozark Air Lines added the city to the Moline-Peoria-Champaign-Danville-Indianapolis run.
The Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority was established in 1964, a year that saw 8,485 passengers (the number of fliers topped 579,265 in 2011). The 1960s and ‘70s saw a new runway, terminal, control tower and flights to Chicago.
The 1980s and early 1990s added airlines and service to Detroit, but 1996 was the turning point. That’s when the longer Runway 2/20 opened, attracting AirTran Airways’ full-size jet service to Florida and Atlanta, Ga., and necessitating a $40 million terminal project, completed in 2001.
CIRA has weathered airline changes, post-Sept. 11 rules, the Great Recession and swings in passenger numbers, but as former authority board Chairman Neale McCormick said, “It has grown from a ‘hobby’ airport into something Bloomington-Normal can be proud of.”
Beich’s sweet career started in downtown Bloomington
Paul F. Beich made Bloomington a sweeter place.
Beich founded a sugar-coated dynasty that included such timeless confections as Laffy Taffy, Katydids and Golden Clusters. Sweet success started with hard work as an immigrant teen at a downtown Bloomington confectionery begun in 1854 by J.L. Green, a stint as a traveling salesman for a St. Louis candy company, and a return to Bloomington to buy the candy store of his youth.
Beich and a partner convinced candy czar Milton Hershey to move manufacturing for his Lancaster Caramel Co. from Chicago to a vacant buggy factory at Front and Lumber streets. By about 1905, the two partners were gone and Beich was running the Paul F. Beich Candy Co. Soon it had hundreds of employees.
In the 1920s, Beich’s sold chocolate-peanut-marshmallow bars touted as “Whiz – Best nickel candy there iz-z.” Its nutritional survival bars were given to soldiers and astronauts. In 1967, another factory on the city’s southwest side opened; it’s still used today.
Beich’s descendants remained at the helm until the business was sold to Nestle in 1984. Later, Nestle sold the Kathryn Beich fundraising arm.
In June, Nestle said it's considering “strategic options” that could include the sale of its U.S. confectionery business, including its southwest Bloomington factory.
The west-side factory was destroyed in a 2005 fire, shortly before a planned demolition. Afterward, great-grandson David Beich wrote a letter in tribute:
“The building refused to die by the wrecking ball, instead waiting for the right moment in time to display her glory and die a dignified death,” he said.
But melt-in-your-mouth memories live on.
Contact Roger Miller at (309) 820-3233. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_rmiller
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/5-questions-with-d-jack-alkire-new-pantagraph-reporter/article_c70c723e-0889-11ed-bd33-cbbd2a4ccc00.html | 2022-07-23T17:30:57 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/5-questions-with-d-jack-alkire-new-pantagraph-reporter/article_c70c723e-0889-11ed-bd33-cbbd2a4ccc00.html |
A suburban Seattle man has been arrested and accused of threatening to shoot Black customers at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court.
Joey George, 37, is charged with making interstate threats and is scheduled to appear in court Friday afternoon, The Seattle Times reported.
George phoned a Buffalo grocery store twice in July threatening to shoot Black people in the store and ranting about a “race war,” the complaint said.
On May 14, a shooter killed 10 Black people and hurt several others at Tops Friendly Supermarket in Buffalo. A 19-year-old white man with ties to white supremacy has pleaded not guilty to federal hate crime charges.
George did not call the same store but referenced it in his threat, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said George is also being charged in connection with a May call to a restaurant in San Bruno, California, in which he allegedly threatened to shoot Black and Hispanic patrons, and with making other threatening calls to businesses in Maryland, Connecticut and Washington over the last year.
“George allegedly used racial slurs and threats to shoot customers at the businesses because of his racial hatred,” according to Western District of Washington prosecutors.
News
“We cannot tolerate this kind of hate in our community and will not sit by while people seek to terrorize others across our country," said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-accused-of-threatening-to-shoot-black-customers-of-buffalo-grocery-store/3789793/ | 2022-07-23T17:32:26 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-accused-of-threatening-to-shoot-black-customers-of-buffalo-grocery-store/3789793/ |
Two people are dead — one in a shooting, the other a stabbing — in fatal assaults that occurred approximately 20 minutes from each other and a handful of blocks apart in Manhattan overnight, according to the NYPD.
Authorities said 35-year-old James Johnson was gunned down in front of a building on West 124th Street in Harlem around 12:35 a.m. His residence is listed only a block away from where he was shot.
Johnson was found with a gunshot wound to his neck and life-saving efforts were unsuccessful, police said.
Twenty minutes earlier, still in Harlem, police said a 27-year-old man was found with a fatal stab wound to his chest. His identity was being held until family could be notified.
Police said the stabbing victim was picked up outside a building on West 130th Street and rushed to Harlem Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
There have been no arrests in either death, and police have made no indication the two incidents are connected. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/two-dead-found-blocks-and-minutes-apart-in-nyc-overnight-violence/3791817/ | 2022-07-23T17:32:32 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/two-dead-found-blocks-and-minutes-apart-in-nyc-overnight-violence/3791817/ |
The Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City participated in the Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township's summer camp, a joint venture that was aided by current and former state lawmakers.
The Atlantic City club took part in the summer camp the week of July 14, participating in e-games, arcade events, as well as field sports and other summer activities. STEAM exploration was also part of the fun, said Stephanie Koch, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City.
What was unique about the events was how they occurred, Koch said.
Koch said state Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, introduced her to to PAL Executive Director Hector Taverez with the hope that the two organizations, which serve on the island and the mainland, could forge a closer relationship.
Former state Sen. William Gormley, R-Atlantic, who has been investing in the Boys & Girls Club for the past two years, helped by providing for the transportation for the Atlantic City youth to the mainland for a "week of STEAM exploration," Koch said.
People are also reading…
"I know this is just the beginning of working together and creating more opportunities for youth to learn, grow and develop themselves into technology experts,” Koch said. "The Club and the PAL are looking to continue this partnership into the school year, exchanging youth so they can explore other sites and expand their STEAM learning, from Atlantic City to Egg Harbor Township.” | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic-city-egg-harbor-township-youth-compete-in-summer-camp/article_2906d092-0939-11ed-872f-1b84e1e03471.html | 2022-07-23T17:33:07 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/atlantic-city-egg-harbor-township-youth-compete-in-summer-camp/article_2906d092-0939-11ed-872f-1b84e1e03471.html |
Here’s an update of the COVID-19 numbers in the state
New positive cases: 3,225
New deaths: 11
Total positive cases: 2,192,153
Total number of deaths: 31,124
Total vaccine doses administered: 14,131,236
Rate of transmission: 1.08
CASES BY COUNTY
Atlantic: 61,777 cases, 957 deaths, 380,515 doses administered
Cape May: 12,229 cases, 264 deaths, 134,419 doses administered
Cumberland: 36,359 cases, 578 deaths, 186,717 doses administered
People are also reading…
Ocean: 150,179 cases, 2,872 deaths, 703,333 doses administered
Figures as of 1 p.m. July 23
Source: N.J. Department of Health | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/new-jersey-reports-more-than-3-200-new-covid-19-cases-11-new-deaths/article_dfa2a972-0aa9-11ed-bb21-1bd86069e885.html | 2022-07-23T17:33:14 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/new-jersey-reports-more-than-3-200-new-covid-19-cases-11-new-deaths/article_dfa2a972-0aa9-11ed-bb21-1bd86069e885.html |
STONE HARBOR — Citing an increase in the number of complaints regarding people accessing a conservation area, police plan to more strictly enforce the borough's code about access to that area, police said Thursday.
The borough will prohibit people from accessing its beaches, including Stone Harbor Point, via any watercraft, power driven or otherwise, according to a news release.
The regulation does not prohibit the use of watercraft as permitted elsewhere in the borough's code. Operators are free to use the waterways around Stone Harbor Point but are not allowed to access the beach from the water.
Police said there has been an increase in boaters, swimmers and beachgoers at Stone Harbor Point, a bird habitat that's a shorebird migration stopover. The area is subject to a conservation easement and plan to protect the birds that inhabit the area.
People are also reading…
The calls specifically mentioned watercraft that were anchoring or mooring near the shoreline and accessing the beaches from the water, police said.
WILDWOOD — Jitney is canceling its Sunday-through-Thursday island-wide services because of l…
"The Borough’s environmental stewards, who oversee and monitor the wildlife and activity at the point, have communicated that the accessing of the Point beaches from the water is directly disturbing the wildlife sanctuaries and ecosystems that the Borough has long sought to protect," police said.
Police said the borough doesn't plan to restrict the rights of the boating community, beachgoers and those who visit the habitat; it plans to balance those rights with health, safety and environmental concerns. Police added that accessing the beach by way of any watercraft is potentially hazardous and the location of Stone Harbor Point relative to emergency services renders rapid response difficult.
"We appreciate the cooperation and understanding of all impacted as the Borough continues to promote its precious natural resources while protecting the same," police said. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/stone-harbor-cracking-down-on-beach-access-for-watercrafts/article_7b9bb4d2-0a81-11ed-b8c1-fb419077b86e.html | 2022-07-23T17:33:20 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/stone-harbor-cracking-down-on-beach-access-for-watercrafts/article_7b9bb4d2-0a81-11ed-b8c1-fb419077b86e.html |
ARKANSAS, USA — With gains in the broad Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector and in manufacturing, Arkansas’ estimated year-over-year jobs were up 2.75% in June. However, with a slower rate of growth in the labor force, the June jobless rate remained at 3.2%.
The number of employed in Arkansas during June was an estimated 1,311,322, up 35,117 jobs, or 2.75%, compared with June 2021, and above the 1,309,277 in May, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report posted Friday (July 22). The June numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.
Arkansas’ labor force, the number of people eligible to work, in June was 1,354,780, up 1.66% from the 1,332,580 in June 2021, and above the 1,352,042 in May. The state’s labor force participation rate was 57% in June, above the 56.6% in June 2021.
To read more about this story please visit our content partner, Talk Business & Politics.
DOWNLOAD THE 5NEWS APP
DOWNLOAD FOR IPHONE HERE | DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID HERE
HOW TO ADD THE 5NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KFSM in the Channel Store.
For Fire TV, search for "KFSM" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com. | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/arkansas-year-over-year-job-numbers-up-275-june-jobless-rate-remains-32-unemployment-employment/527-7444d121-8a63-4b06-a1fa-a72c8dcd0504 | 2022-07-23T17:38:47 | 0 | https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/arkansas-year-over-year-job-numbers-up-275-june-jobless-rate-remains-32-unemployment-employment/527-7444d121-8a63-4b06-a1fa-a72c8dcd0504 |
Overall sales of food and related items in the Richmond region for the 12 months that ended March 31 came in at $4.26 billion – up from $4.1 billion in the previous period, according to an annual market study by Food World, a Maryland-based grocery industry publication.
“This was kind of a year of holding on, and the holding on turned out to be more positive than a lot of retailers anticipated because they were able to gain greater sales through the inflationary price increases,” said Jeffrey W. Metzger, Food World’s president and publisher.
The 12-month period ending March 31, 2021, was a period of skyrocketing sales due to COVID and the tailwinds that retailers were able to gain from more in-store shopping or delivery without the usual impact of the food service. But last year as school and restaurants opened up more, that pandemic-related spike slowed down.
With no revolutionary market changes, the top 15 retailers in the Richmond region remained the same from the previous year’s report.
Walmart increased its sales and held its spot as the No. 1 grocer in the Richmond area with 16.6% of the market share, virtually unchanged from the previous year’s report. Walmart’s sales of food and food related items was $706.7 million for the 12-month period ending March 31, a $28 million increase from the year prior.
Kroger, the nation’s largest traditional supermarket chain, ranked second in the region again with a 15.1% market share, down from 15.4% in 2021 and 16.2% in 2020. But year-over-year sales grew to $644.8 million, a $5.8 million increase from the prior period.
Kroger and Walmart both have 18 stores in the Richmond region, which includes Richmond, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico New Kent and Powhatan.
Food Lion, which has 49 stores in the region, sold $605.4 million of food and food related items – a year-over increase of $14.5 million. The grocer ranked No. 3 in the Richmond region again.
Wawa and CVS ranked fourth and fifth respectively.
Publix, which entered the Richmond scene in 2017, held its place at No. 6. The Florida-based grocer holds 5.8% of the market with 16 stores in the region.
Publix spokesman Jared Glover said that Publix is “always” looking to grow across the area.
“Our success within the region is truly owed to our associates who are passionate about serving our customers,” Glover said in an email. “As owners, our associates deliver an engaging, personalized experience in a clean and pleasant shopping environment.”
With 396 retailers selling groceries in the region, the Richmond area is over-stored, Metzger said.
There’s “too much bloat,” Metzger said, but he’s not sure that it will cause a collapse.
“What you have is a battle of heavyweight retailers in the market. There’s very few independents left,” he said. “All of these companies are well-financed, and for the most part – really I can say this for just about everybody – that Richmond is not the focus of their entire operation. So if they struggle in Richmond that can be easily offset by many markets where they compete.”
With only seven new stores in the region, there was very little new store movement over the 12-month period. Aldi added one new location, and now has 12 stores in the region. The extreme value discounter is ranked No. 13, with 2.2% of the market share.
Community colleges, which teach about 144,000 students across the state, are following the lead of most state universities, which will keep tuition flat for in-state undergraduates.
“I think retailers were still climbing it out, going through all the COVID iterations and basically just trying to keep up. Retailers just had their noses down, trying to deal with all these issues,” Metzger said. “However, a lot of their challenges and why they kept their nose to the grindstone and didn't do a lot of adventurous stuff, is because of the inability to get product because of supply chain difficulties.”
PHOTOS: 6 easy RVA take-out options for picnics and the pool all summer long | https://richmond.com/business/local/what-retailers-hold-top-spots-in-grocery-sales-in-richmond-region-heres-the-list/article_3ba0870c-f62b-5b4c-b84e-db9021b0af6e.html | 2022-07-23T17:43:05 | 0 | https://richmond.com/business/local/what-retailers-hold-top-spots-in-grocery-sales-in-richmond-region-heres-the-list/article_3ba0870c-f62b-5b4c-b84e-db9021b0af6e.html |
ATLANTA — Atlanta Police said Saturday that two people died in a car crash in the early morning in Vine City.
There was no immediate word on their identities or any details on what caused the crash.
APD said it happened at James P. Brawley Dr. and Orr St. It happened around 1:45 a.m.
"At the scene officers found one occupant deceased and a second occupant in critical condition. The second occupant was taken to the hospital but died of his injuries," a police statement said.
APD's Accident Investigation Unit is "working to determine the cause of the crash" the statement added. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/atlanta-vine-city-car-crash-two-dead/85-d7ccf94b-6290-489a-81bb-fae46e972510 | 2022-07-23T17:48:48 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/atlanta-vine-city-car-crash-two-dead/85-d7ccf94b-6290-489a-81bb-fae46e972510 |
The National Institute of Aging celebrated Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month in June. Throughout the month, NIA aims to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease, highlight scientific advances, and share resources to support research as well as individuals, families, and caregivers affected by the disease. Many pertinent and timely topics can be identified thru a quick Alzheimer’s online search including new research and clinical trials.
A person with the disease may experience other medical problems over time
These problems can cause more confusion and behavior changes. It is important to watch for signs of illness and tell the doctor. A few common medical problems and signs of each are as follows:
- Dehydration Dry mouth, dizziness, hallucinations, rapid heart rate
- Flu and Pneumonia Fever, chills, aches and pains, vomiting.
- Incontinence Problems emptying the bladder, leaking urine, soiled underpants and bedsheets
People are also reading…
It is never too late to start making healthy food choices
Eating right can help you maintain a healthy weight, get the nutrients you need, and lower your risk of chronic disease. A few ways you can make healthier food choices are as follows:
- Eating and drinking each day from different food groups, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy.
- Cutting back on foods and beverages that are high in calories and added sugars, sodium and saturated fats.
- Understanding how many calories you need, based on your level of daily activity and keeping a food diary to track your calorie intake.
- Choosing a variety of foods that are packed with nutrients and low in calories.
- Checking food labels to understand what foods will meet your nutritional needs each day.
Alzheimier’s.gov is an excellent resource for ongoing information including exciting new research.
Day Egusquiza is the president and founder of the Patient Financial Navigator Foundation Inc. — an Idaho-based family foundation. For more information, call 208-423-9036 or go to pfnfinc.com. Do you have a topic for Health Care Buzz? Please share at daylee1@mindspring.com. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/health-care-buzz-alzheimer-s-and-brain-awareness/article_ecedeb54-09c9-11ed-a8c8-2f17d5e16fd2.html | 2022-07-23T18:01:09 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/health-care-buzz-alzheimer-s-and-brain-awareness/article_ecedeb54-09c9-11ed-a8c8-2f17d5e16fd2.html |
Note: District 6 includes Guilford County and part of Forsyth County; District 10 includes all of Yadkin, Surry, Stokes, Rockingham, Lincoln, most of Catawba and Iredell and part of Forsyth counties; District 13 includes all of Davie, Davidson, Rowan, Randolph, Alamance, Caswell, Person and parts of Chatham and Lee and a small section of Iredell counties. These boundaries will change with the new Congress after the 2022 election.
WASHINGTON — Here’s a look at how area members of Congress voted recently.
Along with the week's roll call votes, the Senate also passed the Formula Act to suspend, temporarily, rates of duty on imports of certain infant formula products.
U.S. House
Abortion restrictions: The House has passed the Women's Health Protection Act to bar state and local governments from restricting a range of abortion-related services, including abortion, the provision of telemedicine abortion consultations, and prescribing of abortifacient drugs. The vote on July 15 was 219-210.
People are also reading…
Nays: U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-Denver, 10th District; U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, R-Advance, 13th District
Yeas: U.S. Rep. Kathy Manning, D-Greensboro, 6th District
Abortion and state laws: The House has passed the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act to bar a state's government from penalizing individuals in other states for providing abortion services to women who live in that state, so long as those services are legal in the other states. The vote on July 15 was 223-205.
Nays: McHenry, Budd
Yeas: Manning
Infant formula imports: The House has passed the Formula Act to temporarily suspend, for the remainder of 2022, duties on imports of infant formula food. The vote on July 15 was 421-2.
Yeas: Manning, McHenry, Budd
New NATO members: The House has passed a resolution supporting the possibility of Finland and Sweden soon joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The vote on Monday, July 18, was 394-18.
Yeas: Manning, McHenry, Budd
State marriage laws: The House has passed the Respect for Marriage Act to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and instead federally recognize any marriage authorized under a state's marriage laws, and require states to similarly recognize marriages in other states. The vote on Tuesday, July 19, was 267-157.
Nays: McHenry, Budd
Yeas: Manning
Passing five bills: The House has passed a motion to pass an array of five bills en bloc. The bills dealt with management of historical sites in Maryland and the South, long-distance bike trails, and lighting the Gateway Arch in St. Louis in blue and yellow to show solidarity with Ukraine. The vote on Tuesday, July 19, was 365-57.
Yeas: McHenry, Manning
Nays: Budd
Funding foreign security forces: The House has passed the Advancing Human Rights-Centered International Conservation Act to require the Fish and Wildlife Service to work to avoid providing money, through its conservation grants, to foreign security forces believed to have violated human rights. The vote on Tuesday, July 19, was 379-43.
Yeas: McHenry, Manning
Nays: Budd
National parks: The House has passed the National Park Foundation Reauthorization Act to reauthorize the National Park Foundation through fiscal 2030 and increase its annual funding from $5 million to $15 million. The vote on Tuesday, July 19, was 397-22.
Yeas: Manning, McHenry, Budd
Housing, transportation spending: The House has passed the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act to provide $90.9 billion of fiscal 2023 funding for the various agencies at the Transportation Department and Housing and Urban Development. The vote on Wednesday, July 20, was 220-207.
Nays: McHenry, Budd
Yeas: Manning
Contraceptives: The House has passed the Right to Contraception Act to bar state and local governments from restricting the ability of individuals and health care entities to provide and consume contraceptives, and take contraceptive actions. The vote on Thursday, July 21, was 228-195.
Nays: McHenry, Budd
Yeas: Manning
U.S. Senate
Colorado judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Nina Nin-Yuen Wang to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for Colorado. Wang, a U.S. magistrate judge since 2015, was previously an assistant U.S. attorney for Colorado. The vote on Tuesday, July 19, was 58-36.
Yeas: U.S. Sen. Richard Burr and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, both R-N.C.
Illinois judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Nancy Maldonado to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Maldonado has been a private practice lawyer in Chicago since 2002. The vote on Tuesday, July 19, was 53-45.
Nays: Burr
Yeas: Tillis
Appeals Court judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Julianna Michelle Childs to be a judge on the U.S. Appeals Court for the Washington, D.C., circuit. Since 2010, Childs has been a judge on the U.S. District Court for South Carolina. The vote on Tuesday, July 19, was 64-34.
Yeas: Burr, Tillis
Delaware judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Gregory Brian Williams to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for Delaware. Williams has been a private practice lawyer in Wilmington since 1995, focusing on intellectual property and commercial litigation. The vote on Wednesday, July 20, was 52-43.
Nays: Burr, Tillis
Chile ambassador: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Bernadette Meehan to be the U.S. ambassador to Chile. Meehan had been an executive at the Obama Foundation; previously, she was in the State Department's Foreign Service for more than a decade, including a posting at the U.S. embassy in Colombia. The vote on Wednesday, July 20, was 51-44.
Nays: Burr, Tillis
South Africa ambassador: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Reuben Brigety to be the U.S. ambassador to South Africa. Brigety has been a State Department official in the Obama administration, a mayor in Tennessee, president of the University of the South; and, currently, is an official at the Council on Foreign Relations. The vote on Thursday, July 21, was 55-40.
Nays: Burr, Tillis
Veterans health: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Shereef Elnahal to be the Department of Veterans Affairs' undersecretary for health. For three years, Elnahal has been the CEO of University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey; previously, he was that state's health commissioner and, from 2016 to 2018, a Veterans Health Administration official. The vote on Thursday, July 21, was 66-23.
Yeas: Burr
Not voting: Tillis | https://greensboro.com/news/local/how-the-local-n-c-delegation-to-congress-voted-recently/article_8d0726f8-09e0-11ed-82cf-17bba2455d6e.html | 2022-07-23T18:14:42 | 1 | https://greensboro.com/news/local/how-the-local-n-c-delegation-to-congress-voted-recently/article_8d0726f8-09e0-11ed-82cf-17bba2455d6e.html |
The Coos County Fair & Rodeo will return to Myrtle Point with five days of fun activities planned beginning Tuesday.
The fair will include a variety of exciting and fun events ranging from youth livestock shows to days of carnival with everything in between.
While the days are filled with contests and activities, the big crowds come to Myrtle Point at night. As the sun goes down each day, the activities really heat up.
The annual rodeo runs Friday and Saturday, showcasing some of the best rodeo stars in the nation in events such as bull riding, roping and barrel racing.
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, country music will fill the fairgrounds. Josh Gracin will be on stage Tuesday, Mark Willis will take the stage Thursday and Colt Ford will headline the event Thursday. All three concerts begin at 7 p.m.
Gracin grew up listening to country music before catapulting to fame while auditioning for American Idol. Gracin, who was an active duty Marine at the time, finished fourth in the second season. After finishing his military service, Gracin released his first album. He has had three top-5 singles.
Willis has been a country star since 1996 and has had seven singles reach the top 10 in the charts, including "19 Somethin," which reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. He has been releasing music and touring for decades. In 2019, Willis become the 218th member of the Grand Ole Opry.
More of a newcomer to the industry, Ford has become one of the biggest names in country music with five consecutive top 10 debuts in the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart. He has sold over 3 million albums with his unique country rap combination.
His latest album, Keys to the Country, is very personal to him.
“Listen to these tracks…you’ll know exactly who I am,” he said. “Colt Ford is about God, family, friends, and America. I’m just a guy who loves life. I love people. I love knowing I could make a difference in somebody else’s life with a song. I hope you walk away with a smile on your face. I poured my heart and soul into this one. This ain’t a hobby. It’s life. The fans are the reason I’m here. I’m going to keep doing it for them. I feel like the luckiest man on planet earth, so I’m not stopping.”
Tickets to the Coos County Fair cost $8 Tuesday and Wednesday and $10 from Thursday through Saturday. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online through the county fair website. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/coos-county-fair-kicks-off-next-week/article_fbec7722-08a4-11ed-b50d-a32445f7dcc6.html | 2022-07-23T18:14:51 | 1 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/coos-county-fair-kicks-off-next-week/article_fbec7722-08a4-11ed-b50d-a32445f7dcc6.html |
The second week of the Oregon Coast Music Festival begins with a noon concert in the gardens of Shore Acres Park, Saturday July 23. Three OCMA orchestra concerts in Marshfield Auditorium, lectures and educational programs are scheduled throughout the week. Come celebrate the return to live musical performances.
Brass, Reeds, Strings and Songs at Shore Acres State Park @ noon, Saturday, July 23.
“Aaron Johnson meets the Shaymus Hanlin Quartet” provides the first ever play together of two talented Bay Area raised artists. The concert will be held in the gardens of Shore Acres Park, and the Friends of Shore Acres are sponsors and hosts for the event.
Aaron Johnson, based in New York base , returns to the Bay Area to synergize a musical interaction with Shaymus Hanlin and the Hanlin Quartet. Johnson demonstrates his mastery of saxophone, clarinet and flute in a lineup of musical selections. He is a favorite of our Festival, having performed this past May at a special concert at SWOCC with his Quartet.
Shaymus Hanlin, vocals, grew up with the American Songbook in his heart. With a modern touch on an old school sound, Hanlin brings class, nostalgia, and excitement to audiences wherever he goes. Having been introduced to the music festival circuit at a young age with the Oregon Coast Lab Band, and Bay City Swing, he has many friends and mentors in the music business. Shaymus brings his quartet that includes, Liam Hathaway, Bass, Michael Rodenkirch, percussion, and Kiran Raphael keyboard. .
The event is free, but parking in the park is $5.
Lunch, Listen and Learn programs at noon Monday, July 25; Wednesday, July 27; & Friday, July 29 in the Coos Bay Public Library
Associate Conductor Adam Stern brings fresh and entertaining insight to the music and composers that are featured in the three-orchestra programs. These noontime events provide an opportunity for interactive discussions that help everyone learn about the artists, the musical world and other related topics. Bring a lunch with you and the library staff provides additional refreshments.
Stern has been leading the Seattle Philharmonic since 2003 and has worked to elevate compositions from a range of composers including many heretofore underappreciated. In 2015, Stern was appointed as Music Director of the Sammamish Symphony and as OCMA Associate Conductor/Pops Conductor. His influence has resulted in an expanded repertoire and thoughtful, well-programed concerts.
We welcome Adam back to Coos Bay for our 44th Season
Orchestra Concert I “An Evening at the Theater” celebrates the return of Maestro James Paul and the OCMA Festival Orchestra, Tuesday, July 26 @ 7:30 pm in Marshfield High School Auditorium.
Maestro James Paul, widely acclaimed as one of North America’s most distinguished conductors returns enthusiastically to Coos Bay to lead our Festival Orchestra with a selection of compositions to delight all audiences.
A native of Oregon, Maestro Paul studied at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Among his many honors, he was awarded the Serge Koussevitsky Memorial Conducting Prize at Tanglewood and named to the Comite d’Honneur at the Cercle Paul Paray in Paris. Maestro Paul is a dedicated supporter of our festival and he his efforts are evident in the wealth of outstanding musicians that come to play under his direction.
The program selected for the first concert includes the Overture from “La gazza ladra” (The Thieving Magpie) by Gioachino Rossini, and suites from the opera “Carmen” by Georges Bizet. After intermission, two works by Felix Mendelssohn are featured: “Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage” and “War March of the Priests”.
Showcasing OCMA Musicians! The Pops Concert on July 28 features the “Odessey Overture” by Contrabassonist Nicole Buetti.
The Pops will feature the South Coast Premiere performance of the “Odessey Overture,” written by OCMA’s Contrabassonist Nicole Buetti. The piece is dedicated to Buetti’s father, who instilled in her a love for science, Star Trek, and Star Wars. Nicole is an active music educator, performer and award-winning composer, with nearly 400-recorded musical works in a wide variety of genres. She has composed extensively for chamber ensembles and large ensembles of various configurations, as well as children’s music and music for media. She has been honored for her film score work at the Wild Rose International Film Fest, Dodge Grant Association, and Telly Awards Association.
We are arranging a special opportunity for the community to meet Nicole as part of the Library Listen and Learn seminars on Wednesday July 27, beginning at noon. Her series “Meet the Instruments of the Orchestra” is a full YouTube program series and was recognized in 2022 as the Best Homeschool Curriculum & Products on the Planet! https://www.inaworldmusic.net/meet-the-instruments.html.
POPS Concert Theme “In the Startled Ear of Night..” conducted and developed by Adam Stern is a whole day opportunity to learn and enjoy music.
The morning of the concert at 10 am, Thursday July 28 in Marshfield High School Auditorium we will invite interested students to watch the rehearsal and have an opportunity to meet some of the musicians at the end of the session. Those attending the concert in the morning will be provided special tickets to attend the evening performance.
The Pops theme is illustrated by a number of selections made by Conductor Stern ranging from “The House of Frankenstein” and “Creature from the Black Lagoon” by Han Salter; the “Flight of the Bumble Bee” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Among the other selections are theme from Hitchcock’s film “Vertigo” written by Bernard Herrmann. Included in the program is the South Coast premiere of Nicole Buetti’s “Odessey Overture” and a solo violin by Concertmaster Ron Blessinger in the performance of “Danse macabre” by Camille Saint-Saëns.
The Festival Finale highlights “20th Century Masterworks” on Saturday, July 30 @ 7:30 pm, Marshfield High School Auditorium
Maestro James Paul selected engaging works for the concluding concert under the theme of “20th Century Masterworks.” He begins the program with the “Overture, Aotearoa (Land of the Long White Cloud)” by Douglas Lilburn, followed by Jean Sibelius “Symphony No 6 in d Op.104.” After intermission, the orchestra will play Maurice Ravel’s “Pavane for a Dead Princess.” The Pavane was first written for piano solo and later arranged for orchestra and has remained a highly popular work. The concert concludes with Symphonic Metamorphoses of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber by Paul Hindemith. This delightful work will provide a fine and satisfying conclusion for the 2022 festival. | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/oregon-coast-music-season-continues/article_62e63cf4-08a2-11ed-8855-7f66a9adb24c.html | 2022-07-23T18:14:57 | 0 | https://theworldlink.com/news/local/oregon-coast-music-season-continues/article_62e63cf4-08a2-11ed-8855-7f66a9adb24c.html |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Savannah Martinborough said she'd never seen someone so far underwater until her 7-year-old nephew Massiah Browne told her there was a kid at the bottom of the pool at WestLake Apartments in Sacramento.
Massiah said he first spotted the toddler stranded in the water on Tuesday and went to Savannah for help — that's when she told her nephew to pull the kid out of the water.
"He grabbed his arm and came back up with him," Savannah told ABC10.
Adults with CPR training then rushed in to save the toddler as the Sacramento Fire Department provided medical assistance.
The 3-year-old was breathing normally by the time he was transported to a hospital.
Swimming already for half his life, Massiah says he doesn't consider himself a hero for helping save the toddler.
"But my mom does," he said.
Massiah said you can follow his family on Instagram, @thebrownebrothers. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/7-year-old-saves-toddler-from-potentially-drowning/103-701baece-4df5-4351-b599-00f42d9dc582 | 2022-07-23T18:24:40 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/7-year-old-saves-toddler-from-potentially-drowning/103-701baece-4df5-4351-b599-00f42d9dc582 |
SEBRING, Fla. — Two pets died during a house fire in Sebring early Saturday morning, according to Highlands County Fire Rescue.
In a statement, fire investigators said the home was a total loss and all residents were okay.
The cause of the fire is still unknown. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/highlandscounty/house-fire-sebring-highlands-county-animals-pets/67-b78f5f7e-d7fa-437b-a48f-ef496de3ba89 | 2022-07-23T18:24:47 | 0 | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/highlandscounty/house-fire-sebring-highlands-county-animals-pets/67-b78f5f7e-d7fa-437b-a48f-ef496de3ba89 |
Shower and thunderstorm activity is expected to increase this weekend for southeastern Arizona, bringing heavier rainfall amounts and risks of flash flooding.
Due to a push of moisture this weekend, Tucson is expected to see temperatures drop and thunderstorm chances increase, the NWS said. The storms will also be capable of dangerous lightening, damaging wind, flash flooding and blowing dust, NWS said.
According to the NWS, there are also better chances of overnight activity once we get into a moister environment as opposed to just our typical afternoon storms.
Heavy rain in Tucson isn’t expected to stop after this weekend. The NWS predicts that rain activity will continue into the early parts of next week as well.
Photos: 2022 Monsoon season around Tucson
Monsoon 2022
Monsoon 2022
Monsoon
Monsoon, 2022
Sand bags
Canyon del Oro Wash
Monsoon, 2022
Monsoon, 2022
monsoon 2022
Monsoon, 2022
Monsoon, 2022
Jamie Donnelly covers breaking news for the Arizona Daily Star. Contact her via e-mail at jdonnelly@tucson.com | https://tucson.com/news/local/increased-thunderstorm-chances-in-tucson-this-weekend/article_62f474d0-0aa6-11ed-b55b-bf2e83bc0c75.html | 2022-07-23T18:28:40 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/increased-thunderstorm-chances-in-tucson-this-weekend/article_62f474d0-0aa6-11ed-b55b-bf2e83bc0c75.html |
The Friends of the Pima County Library sold a book featuring sketches of cats for $11,000, making it the largest one item sale they have made in their 50-year history.
A Book of Cats by Lèonard Tsuguharu Foujita is making its way to a gallery in Paris after selling for $11,000, Jeanette Cowles, the Ebay manager for Friends of the Pima County Library said. Cowles had originally started the Ebay account in 2020 when they couldn’t do their in-person book sales due to COVID-19.
Cowles said her husband found the book, which was numbered and signed by the artist, in the Friends of the Pima County Library store with $5 written on it. He told Cowles that not every book numbered and signed by the author is worth something, but she should take a look at it for Ebay.
People are also reading…
Once Cowles researched the book, she saw it selling online for as much as $66,000. They originally listed the book for $33,000, but reduced the price every month by 20% since it wasn’t selling. Finally, they received an email from a gallery owner in Paris who wanted to buy the book for $11,000.
“We never expected to sell it honestly,” Cowles said. “I figured you know; it'll sit there for a year and maybe I'll sell for $1,000 somewhere down the line. So, when we sold for $11,000 I about fell off my chair.”
The vintage books the Friends of the Pima County Library sell on Ebay typically go anywhere from $50 to now $11,000, Cowles said.
The purchase was so surprising, one worker thought the offer was spam mail.
“My executive director’s assistant actually got the email and thought it was spam,” Cowles said. “She walked into my office and said, I have a guy who says he wants to buy a cat book for $11,000. Is that spam?”
Everybody at the Friends of the Pima County Library is “ecstatic” about the purchase, Cowles said. Since the purchase, Cowles said that everyday she has somebody come in who wants to hear the story about the cat book.
Since taking over the Ebay account, Cowles has made it her goal to bring in $120,000 a year, which is $10,000 a month. Last year, they brought just under $90,000, so with this big purchase, Cowles believes they should be on track to reach their goal this year.
All the money earned from Ebay and monthly sales gets donated to the Pima County library system to help support and fund library programs and services.
Jamie Donnelly covers breaking news for the Arizona Daily Star. Contact her via e-mail at jdonnelly@tucson.com | https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/book-about-cats-fetches-11-000-for-tucson-library-boosters/article_66534294-0a99-11ed-abfe-1f6f9aafc461.html | 2022-07-23T18:28:46 | 1 | https://tucson.com/news/local/subscriber/book-about-cats-fetches-11-000-for-tucson-library-boosters/article_66534294-0a99-11ed-abfe-1f6f9aafc461.html |
LULING, Texas — In Washington, D.C., this week, lawmakers are working to try and get wrongfully detained Americans out of foreign countries.
President Joe Biden signed an executive order to sanction criminals, terrorists and government officials who hold Americans captive abroad, and the U.S. Senate approved a resolution calling for Brittney Griner's release. The WNBA star has been a Russian prisoner for 155 days on marijuana charges.
While her case has been very high profile, there's another case involving a Texas businessman that most have never heard about. Mark Swidan has been held in a Chinese prison for almost 10 years. His mother fears that she won't live long enough to see her son come home.
In the small town of Luling, Texas, a mother's love never wavers. Inside her tiny apartment, Katherine Swidan lives surrounded by memories of happier times with her youngest son, Mark.
"I remember him at five or six years old. If he heard the national anthem in the game or something, he was the first one to stand up," she said. "He's a fantastic photographer, artist, he designs homes, he designs jewelry."
She slowly went through all of Mark's things that's she's kept, all while waiting for him to come home.
"I had to keep his clothes," she said. "These are his golfing hats, photography equipment like lenses and things."
It's been almost 10 years since Katherine Swidan has seen her son in person.
The last time the Chinese government let her speak to Mark Swidan was a 5-minute phone conversation in 2018.
"I don't even remember what I said. I just remember hearing his voice," she said.
She treasures a large box filled with old artwork and letters Mark Swidan was allowed to send home. It also holds letters she's gotten from lawmakers, the U.S. Ambassador to China and the State Department.
"This is from Sen. [John] Cornyn in 2017, and I can't get a hold of him now, so I just gave up on him," she said, adding that she's tired of waiting in vain for the government to help her son.
In 2012, Mark Swidan was in China on a business trip, buying flooring and fixtures. He was arrested and detained after officials accused him of buying and selling drugs. Mark Swidan lost his fiancée, his freedom and could possibly lose his life.
"He's never confessed through all the torture, the starvation," Katherine Swidan said.
A Chinese court gave Mark Swidan the death penalty. And while that's been delayed, his torturous detention continues.
"I'm already 72. I cannot ... I cannot die without seeing his face again," Katherine Swidan said with tears in her eyes. "I don't want his legacy to be just a box of stuff. And if he does come back and I'm not here, I want him to know that I ... I did everything I could possibly do."
Swidan isn't alone. A mural unveiled in D.C. this week displays Mark's face, along with 17 other Americans who are currently being held by foreign governments.
There's no official figure for how many Americans are being held overseas, but human rights groups estimate there are at least 60 US citizens being wrongfully detained in about 18 countries around the world.
Attorney Jason I. Poblete is president of the Global Liberty Alliance, which helps defend people whose fundamental rights are violated by authoritarian governments.
"When you travel around the world and you're caught in a legal system that's not the best, in some cases substandard, these things can happen," he said. "And then there's this big shock: Is America coming to help me? Well, guess what? They're not. In most cases, it takes a while."
Poblete said the torture Mark Swidan is going through locked away in a Chinese prison is truly inhumane.
"This man has not slept in a dark room in almost 10 years, they have not turned the lights off," he said. "He has been kept in a very small cell. He has been forced and subjected to extreme psychological pressure and pains."
Poblete hopes that as more and more people hear about the Swidans' case, the wheels of justice will start to turn faster, and his case will be made a priority.
"In Mark's case, it's frankly baffling why this man has been in that facility for almost 10 years ... the U.S. government has failed Mr. Sweden," he said.
Right now, all Katherine Swidan can do is worry and wait, and she continues to pray someone will step forward and do what they can to bring her son home before it's too late.
"The worst-case scenario is that people in the government just ignore what I'm saying, and they keep having meetings, meetings, meetings, and then Mark dies in the interim," she said. "You know, I don't know everything that goes on secretly in the government. I don't want to know. I just want Mark to come home."
Earlier this month, Katherine Swidan received a letter from Nicholas Burns, the U.S. Ambassador to China. In it, he wrote that getting Mark Swidan released is a "top priority" to the Embassy, the State Department and the White House. He also wrote that embassy officials recently tried to visit the prison where Mark Swidan is being held but were denied due to COVID-19 protocols.
KVUE reached out to Sen. John Cornyn's office about Mark Swidan's case as well. A spokesperson told us, "Senator Cornyn's office made contact with federal agencies on his behalf and shared those updates with his family. Sen. Cornyn's office is committed to working with all Texans in need of assistance."
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/mark-swidan-china-prison/269-ae03d41a-f398-46ff-b92e-002829bd0c16 | 2022-07-23T18:31:27 | 0 | https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/mark-swidan-china-prison/269-ae03d41a-f398-46ff-b92e-002829bd0c16 |
Man fatally shot in northwest Phoenix
Police have detained an individual for questioning in the Saturday shooting death of a man in northwest Phoenix.
Police were called sometime after 1:56 a.m. about shots being fired near West Indian School Road and North 51st Avenue and found a man in his early 20s with gunshot wounds to his body.
In Phoenix:Family holds vigil for teen killed in a drive-by shooting
The man was taken to a local hospital where he died, according to Phoenix Police.
Officers on scene detained a man "who may be related to the incident," read a statement from Phoenix Police. Homicide detectives responded and took over the investigation.
Trump, Pence in Arizona:Dueling appearances as primary election nears
No other injuries were reported and the investigation remains ongoing, the police department noted in a Saturday morning press release.
Police did not identify the victim.
Reach breaking news reporter Jose R. Gonzalez at jose.gonzalez@gannett.com or on Twitter @jrgzztx.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2022/07/23/person-detained-questioning-mans-fatal-phoenix-shooting/10135034002/ | 2022-07-23T18:32:15 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2022/07/23/person-detained-questioning-mans-fatal-phoenix-shooting/10135034002/ |
5-year-old drowns in Phoenix apartment complex pool, police investigating
The Friday afternoon death of a young boy at a Phoenix apartment complex pool is being investigated by police detectives.
'Tragedies can be prevented':Phoenix fire officials speak out about drowning dangers
Firefighters performed CPR on the 5-year-old boy, taking over from a bystander at the apartment in the area of 30th Street and Osborn Road. The child was pulled from the pool before emergency personnel responded to a 1:30 p.m. call, according to Phoenix Police.
The boy was taken to a local hospital where he died, according to the police department. Phoenix detectives proceeded to investigate the incident, the agency added.
Headed to water to beat the heat?Experts say to follow these rules to avoid drowning
"The details of how the child got into the pool and the circumstances surrounding the drowning remain under investigation," read a statement from Phoenix Police.
Police did not provide an estimated time for how long the boy was in the pool.
Reach breaking news reporter Jose R. Gonzalez at jose.gonzalez@gannett.com or on Twitter @jrgzztx.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2022/07/23/police-investigate-drowning-5-year-old-phoenix-apartment-pool/10134898002/ | 2022-07-23T18:32:18 | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2022/07/23/police-investigate-drowning-5-year-old-phoenix-apartment-pool/10134898002/ |
The project received three bids, one from G.E. Marshall Inc. for about $2.9 million, one from Austgen Equipment Inc. for about $2.3 million and one from Dyer Construction Company Inc. for about $3.2 million.
All three bids will be reviewed by both the legal department and a team of engineers before going back to the Board of Works for acceptance. On Wednesday, the board passed a motion approving the bid from Austgen, as the apparent low bidder, pending staff and legal review.
First unveiled in 2017, the Sauerman Woods project involves the creation of a stormwater retention lake, complete with fish and paddle boats, pickleball courts and a skate park.
The first phase of the project would involve the excavation of the three-acre lake, construction of the necessary stormwater lines and the removal of the existing pool and pool house. During a June Tuesday Talks, Mayor Pete Land said work on the first phase could start as soon as the end of August or the start of September.
The second phase of the project will include building the pickleball courts at the former pool location and relocating the existing sand volleyball courts. The second phase would also include construction of a skate park near the Sparta Dome in the Crown Point Sportsplex.
Additional parking will also be created during the second phase. The added spots will provide overflow parking for the sportsplex.
The third phase, creating a four-leg roundabout at U.S. 231 and 113th Avenue, will likely start in 2024, Land has said.
One leg of the roundabout will serve as the main entrance to the park; the existing entrance on east South Street will be gated off.
The city has also partnered with Friends of the Military to create a walking path around the lake area with tribute walls detailing the conflicts of World War I and World War II as part of the 10.5-mile Veterans Memorial Trail.
The Crown Point Board of Works opened proposals for the first phase of the Sauerman Woods Park stormwater retention project. The three-phase project includes removing the current pool and pool house. | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/crown-point/crown-point-opens-bids-for-stormwater-retention-project-planned-for-sauerman-woods/article_c7a535f1-e42a-51ca-a563-2f0b6e18473c.html | 2022-07-23T18:33:46 | 0 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/crown-point/crown-point-opens-bids-for-stormwater-retention-project-planned-for-sauerman-woods/article_c7a535f1-e42a-51ca-a563-2f0b6e18473c.html |
Michael Sander has a long history with Kids From Wisconsin — which he enjoys sharing with his hometown.
As the troupe’s executive director, Sander was happy to bring the group back to Kenosha in 2021 for a free performance on the band shell.
And, as a 1994 St. Joseph Catholic Academy graduate and a past Kids performer himself, he was especially thrilled.
It worked out so well last summer, the troupe is back for another free Kenosha performance, this afternoon in Pennoyer Park.
“I have a passion for this group,” Sander said of Kids, which has been performing summer music revues throughout Wisconsin since 1969. He was a member in 1994 and ‘95.
Growing up in Kenosha, Sander “always wanted to join the Kids. After seeing them perform, I wanted to be up on that stage myself.”
People are also reading…
He had mentors here: the late Kurt Chalgren, the longtime choir director at Tremper High School, was also a longtime director of Kids From Wisconsin, and Bradford High School theater teacher Holly Stanfield is a former Kid herself, Sander said.
“She was my introduction to musical theater,” he said of Stanfield. “Kenosha has such a rich history in music and theater.”
Though Kids From Wisconsin has many ties to Kenosha, before the 2021 show, the group hadn’t performed here since July 2016.
“I want to get more Kenosha area kids involved in the group,” Sander said, “and show them how great this organization is.”
The show
This year’s Kids From Wisconsin production is called “Big Bang Boom.”
The show highlights “eclectic fads, explosive dance crazes, artists and bands that have burst forth onto the music scene and into our psyche.”
This production covers “British invasions, Swedish bands, Motown, Swing dance and Disney — just some of the influences that have ignited today’s music genres.”
Tour organizers describe the show as “a high-powered, two-hour Vegas style production.”
Sander has been the group’s executive director for two years and said taking over during a global pandemic wasn’t easy.
“We didn’t do any performances in 2020,” he explained, “so we sat back and looked at our organization as a whole and came up with different ideas for events and community outreach. We started a Music with My Friends program for grades three to eight in Milwaukee Public Schools, to reach kids who don’t have access to music. That makes us more of a year-round program, and hopefully we can touch more kids’ lives.” | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/kids-from-wisconsin-performing-july-24-on-kenoshas-band-shell/article_43042ae6-09ff-11ed-8fdb-734a788f4b46.html | 2022-07-23T18:34:44 | 1 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/kids-from-wisconsin-performing-july-24-on-kenoshas-band-shell/article_43042ae6-09ff-11ed-8fdb-734a788f4b46.html |
A band of severe thunderstorms and hail overnight in southeast Wisconsin led to a series of power outages plus reports of isolated flooding.
The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department and local police departments indicated the storms created short-term issues but no major damages were reported Saturday.
We Energies reported more than 30,300 customers were without power during the height of the outages, which likely may have been higher as the storms struck in the immediate pre-dawn hours when many were asleep. Heavy rains followed by hail arrived in Kenosha by 4:40 a.m. and outages were first reported around that time.
Many outages were reported on the north side of Kenosha, including the area around Washington Road and 22nd Avenue. Other outages include the areas of, but not limited to, 38th Street and 6th Avenue, 54th Street and 10th Avenue, 54th Street and 23rd Avenue, 54th Street and 54th Avenue, 40th Street and 28th Avenue, and 45th Street and 45th Avenue.
The outages took out traffic signals at some intersections along Green Bay Road north of 52nd Avenue, and there were scattered reports of minor accidents.
As of Saturday afternoon, We Energies reported there remained 3,570 customers who had reported power outages in Kenosha County yet to be restored and crews were working to repair the outages.
A series of thunderstorms swept east across the county as they developed, including heavy rains around 11 p.m. Friday.
Among the areas hit by the rain was the Country Thunder grounds in Randall, including the campgrounds.
Officials from Country Thunder said the rain hit after all of Friday night's performances concluded. Heading into Saturday's performances, officials from Country Thunder said they would be monitoring the weather, but didn't anticipate any problems.
Photos: Heat wave stretches across US
A worker replaces shingles on a roof Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Oklahoma City, before the heat of the day sets in. Temperatures are expected to be in the triple digits in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Sue Ogrocki
People try to keep cool at the Justa Center, a resource center catering to the older homeless population, as temperatures hit 110-degrees Tuesday, July 19, 2022, in Phoenix. Heat associated deaths in Arizona's largest county appear headed for a record this year with 17 such fatalities reported through the first week of July and another 126 under investigation as a growing number of homeless people live outside as temperatures remain well into the triple digits. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Ross D. Franklin
Edinburg Vela High School marching band members perform during practice at Edinburg Vela High School Wednesday, July,20, 2022 in Edinburg, Texas. (Delcia Lopez/The Monitor via AP)
Delcia Lopez
Yonathan Ghersi, owner of 26 Degrees brewing stops to take a break from cleaning kegs in the heat, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Pompano Beach, Fla. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
Joe Cavaretta
Derell Sevenson of Soul Hibachi and Seafood cooks over a hot grill, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Pompano Beach, Fla. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
Joe Cavaretta
Artist Rosita de Amarin cools down with a chilled mango from her ice chest, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Pompano Beach, Fla. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP)
Joe Cavaretta
Asa Smith, 7, of Brattleboro, Vt., relaxes in the waters at Old Jelly Mill Falls, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Dummerston, Vt., as temperatures rise into the upper 90s. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)
Kristopher Radder
Sopheya Gutierrez, 6, of Westminster, Vt., rides on the back of her mother, Starr, as they cool down in the West River, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Dummerston, Vt., as temperatures rise into the upper 90s. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)
Kristopher Radder
Kimberly Rodriguez, from Springfield, Mass., goes tubing with her two daughters, Katalina Oyola, 5, and Jerriahnys Oyola, 2, as they cool down in the West River, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, in Dummerston, Vt., as temperatures rise into the upper 90s. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)
Kristopher Radder
Ducks pass a beachgoer as they float down the American River at Discovery Park in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Once again temperatures in California's capital crossed the 100-degree mark. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Rich Pedroncelli
A woman and youngster wade in the waters of the American River at Discovery Park in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Once again temperatures in California's capital crossed the 100-degree mark. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Rich Pedroncelli
Dylan Schoenfeld, 9, of California, leaps over a fountain while cooling off with his brother Charlie, 5, while on vacation during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Boston. Dangerously high temperatures Thursday threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South as millions of Americans sought comfort from air-conditioners, fire hydrants, fountains and cooling centers. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Charles Krupa
Brent Thurmon, who is currently homeless, is wheeled on 11th Street, just west of Trenton Ave., by friend A.J. McCosar, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. Thurmon had been in a local hospital for dehydration, and was treated and released. He said they gave him an IV and a security guard took him to 11th and Trenton and dropped him off. He was unable to get up or move. McCosar was going to take him to a friend's house where he could recuperate(Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP)
Mike Simons
A girl cools off at a fountain during hot weather at the River Trails Park District Woodland Trails Pool in Mount Prospect, Ill., Thursday, July 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Nam Y. Huh
A woman pushes a stroller during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in New York. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
A man runs during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in New York. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
A man plays tennis during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in New York. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
"It's a volcano!" exclaims 6-year-old Nolan Rought of Madison, Wis. as he uses his shirt to diffuse a fountain at Citygarden in downtown St. Louis on Thursday, July 21, 2022. According to the National Weather Service, the St. Louis region is expected to experience triple-digit temperatures through the weekend with heat index up to 109 expected on Saturday.(Jack Myer/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)
Jack Myer
A child, right, reacts under a plastic rain cover as he walks in the rain with his family during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Manhattan, New York. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
People take shelter from rain during summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in New York. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
A woman uses her phone during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in New York. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
Noah Hurtado, 9, splashes down a water slide during a visit to a sprayground Thursday, July 21, 2022 in Odessa, Texas. The National Weather Service issued a Heat Advisory Thursday for areas of southeast New Mexico, southwest Texas and west Texas. High temperatures between 96 and 98 degrees are expected to last until Monday according to the NWS' extended forecast (Eli Hartman/Odessa American via AP)
Eli Hartman
From left, Arturo Coca, 8, Maricla Coca, 7, and Madalyn Lange, 5, walk through a water feature as they cool off from the heat during a visit to a sprayground Thursday, July 21, 2022 in Odessa, Texas. The National Weather Service issued a Heat Advisory Thursday for areas of southeast New Mexico, southwest Texas and west Texas. High temperatures between 96 and 98 degrees are expected to last until Monday according to the NWS' extended forecast. ((Eli Hartman/Odessa American via AP)
Eli Hartman
A man rests in the park at dusk during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Hoboken, N.J. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
A man rests with his dog as a couple passes by at dusk during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Hoboken, N.J. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
People spend time at the park at dusk during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Hoboken, N.J. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
People spend time at the park at dusk during a summer heat wave, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Hoboken, N.J. Dangerously high temperatures threatened much of the Northeast and Deep South on Thursday, as huge swaths of the country sweltered under a heat wave that could continue for days and send temperatures soaring in places like Boston, Little Rock and Virginia Beach. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Andres Kudacki
A woman cools off at a fountain at the Woodland Trails Pool in Mount Prospect, Ill., on a warm Thursday, July 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Nam Y. Huh
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/update-power-outages-fewer-after-strong-storms-hail-early-saturday/article_b0e7b4aa-0a91-11ed-972d-cf4eb618f4a5.html | 2022-07-23T18:34:50 | 0 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/update-power-outages-fewer-after-strong-storms-hail-early-saturday/article_b0e7b4aa-0a91-11ed-972d-cf4eb618f4a5.html |
RICHMOND, Va. — Bodycam videos, police reports and other materials connected to the city of Richmond’s aggressive response to protesters in June 2020 have been made public through the Library of Virginia.
Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd ahead of an 8 p.m. curfew. The department later apologized and said the use of tear gas was unwarranted. A few days later, the city’s police chief resigned.
Thomas H. Roberts, a lawyer for some of the plaintiffs, said the archive will allow the public to judge for themselves how police responded.
Members of the public will be able to contribute their own footage of what occurred to the archive. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/database-details-richmond-police-response-to-2020-protests/2022/07/23/1c007760-0aae-11ed-80b6-43f2bfcc6662_story.html | 2022-07-23T18:38:00 | 1 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/database-details-richmond-police-response-to-2020-protests/2022/07/23/1c007760-0aae-11ed-80b6-43f2bfcc6662_story.html |
Thousands cheer on One Knoxville to club's first soccer playoff victory
No sound was more welcome than the referee's whistle for both the players on the field and the approximately 2,000 fans in attendance for One Knoxville’s playoff quarterfinal at West High School.
After 120 minutes of soccer, the hosts had finally defeated previously unbeaten Texas United (9-1-5), 4-2, for a place in the USL League Two’s Southern Conference semifinals, which will be played at the same venue Sunday night.
“We need to be better,” said head coach Mark McKeever afterward. “We are better. We clawed it back, did it dirty, did it the hard way. But, at the end of the day, we did it.”
One Knoxville SC (12-2-1) never trailed.
But the game was still a roller coaster ride for the hosts, which watched as top-seeded Nona FC were upset 2-1 by West Virginia United, seeded last in the Southern Conference, in the night’s early game. The fact that One Knoxville had claimed its division title, is hosting quarter- and semifinals at home, and was ranked third in the 114-team league for least goals received in its first season did not matter. There are no bad teams come playoff time.
After a scoreless first half, One Knoxville found a breakthrough in the 51st minute as captain James Thomas struck a free kick from 25-yards-out past the goalie. It was the right wingback’s first goal of the season, and the fourth time in the last six games that Texas United had fallen behind.
But the team – one of only four in the USL League Two that carried an undefeated regular season record into the postseason – responded less than 60 seconds later through forward Emil Jaaskelainen, who took advantage of a defensive mistake to chip the ball past goalkeeper Ryan Troutman into the back of the net.
Thomas stepped up again in the 85th minute. After a long dribbling sequence, left-sided wingback Moses Mensah backheeled the ball to the Englishman just outside the penalty box. Thomas hit a one-time shot high and into the top far corner of the net, a potential Goal of the Year candidate.
But again the euphoria was short-lived. In the 90th minute, Texas United forward Hector Remero snuck in between the two center-backs and headed an inch-perfect cross past Troutman to even the score at 2-2 and force overtime.
“We've talked about emotional stability from the day that we got into playoffs,” McKeever said. “And I felt as though we stayed emotionally stable. We never got rocked by the equalizer, and we should’ve been rocked. But we went in and did it again. We stayed stable.”
After 90 minutes, One Knoxville had the bulk of both possession and attacking threat, with 13 shots to Texas United’s four. And in the first 15-minute overtime period they began to impose themselves again. In the 97th minute, leading goal scorer Stephen Afrifa, who had missed once and hit the post after coming on as a substitute in the second half, broke the deadlock for the third time, taking down a long throw-in from fellow substitute Alex Abril and finishing from inside the penalty box.
“It was a big feeling of relief, if I’m being honest,” Afrifa said. “After the first two, I got the third chance and I couldn't let that slip again.”
Abril put the game away for good in the 117th minute, sprinting more than 50 yards to chase down a deflection, beat his defender, and score the night’s final goal before running into the corner to celebrate with a group of fans.
The 4-2 victory means One Knoxville will face West Virginia United at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The winner will advance to the Southern Conference Championship next Friday against the victor from the other regional semifinal between Asheville City and North Carolina Fusion.
While one of the benefits of hosting was the reduced travel time – Texas United had traveled 13 hours to Knoxville—the biggest differentiator for the players may have been the home support, spurred on by the team’s supporter’s group, The Scruffs, who waved flags, played drums, and sang throughout the game, even as the time ticked past 10 p.m.
“The crowd really piped up, really got behind us. And we were feeling it,” said Thomas, who last year captained the Des Moines Menace to the USL League Two national title.
“But I am asking one thing of them, and that's to come out Sunday night. We’re going to need them. We're playing against good teams. We've got a good West Virginia side on Sunday. So we need those fans to get behind us because they were absolutely electric tonight.”
Brian Gabriel Canever is a soccer writer and co-host of the Knox Soccer Podcast. | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/local/2022/07/23/thousands-cheer-one-knoxville-clubs-first-soccer-playoff-victory-over-texas-united/10134635002/ | 2022-07-23T18:42:56 | 1 | https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/local/2022/07/23/thousands-cheer-one-knoxville-clubs-first-soccer-playoff-victory-over-texas-united/10134635002/ |
A heat wave occurs when temperatures reach 90 degrees or above for three or more consecutive days. We're doing a double this week as 90-degree days will reach six in a row by Sunday. On Thursday, it was the hottest day of 2022 so far, topping out at 97 degrees in the late afternoon. It's going to get even hotter this weekend.
Temperatures this high for this long can lead to major health issues if precautions aren't taken, especially for people with high risk medical conditions. Here's a rundown of ways to stay cool amid such smothering conditions.
Why Take Precaution?
Heat contributes to a large number of deaths across the United States. The elderly and children are the most at risk to overheat. People with heart conditions or other chronic illnesses are also at risk.
Heat stroke is common and can be deadly. The following are warnings signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Never leave children in a car, unattended under any circumstance. According to Dr. Julia DeJoseph of Delaware Valley Community Health, children’s bodies are smaller and heat can’t pass through their bodies as easy as adults.
Cars can get extremely hot in a matter of minutes which can and cause death.
Hydrate
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Drinking lots of water is key to keeping your body cooled down. The CDC recommends drinking more water than usual during a heatwave. Water is the only recommended drink, AVOID ALCOHOL.
Find a Cool Location
If possible, limit your outdoor activities as they will give you more exposure to what can be dangerous heat.
If you can, stay in a cool home, work in a cool space, or visit one of the city's cooling centers. Some of the city's cooling centers are Free Libraries of Philadelphia which have extended hours throughout excessive heat warnings.
Take advantage of pools, and spray grounds. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day the City of Philadelphia turns on its spray grounds 7 days per week. To find a spray ground or pool close to you visit the city’s parks and recreation department site.
Working Outside?
- Bring cool water and pack frozen water bottle so they can thaw throughout the day
- Use wet wash cloth with cool water that to cool body temperature.
No Central Cooling System?
- Open the windows to let fresh air circulate.
- DO NOT rely on just a fan to keep you cool. If you’re using a fan open the windows, allow fresh air to circulate. According to the City of Philadelphia brick row homes with black roof-tops absorb heat which can cause the temperature inside to be equal to the temperature outside if the window is closed.
How to Dress?
If possible, wear fabrics that allow easy air flow around your body.
Need Help Paying Electric Bill?
Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey all have payment assistance programs.
See an unhoused person in need of shelter?
Call the City of Philadelphia's homeless outreach line: 215-232-1984
Have Pets?
- DO NOT leave pets outside unattended for long periods of time
- Ensure they have a shaded cool space
- Try to walk them in shaded areas as hot surfaces like concrete, metal, pavement, and asphalt can burn their foot-pads
Follow the ACCT requirements during excessive heat. Owners can face a $500 fine if they do not follow ACCT Philly requirements.
If you see an animal who does not have adequate water, shade, and shelter during extreme weather call 267-385-3800 or file a complaint online. | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/how-to-beat-the-heat-during-a-heat-wave/3306447/ | 2022-07-23T18:55:18 | 0 | https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/how-to-beat-the-heat-during-a-heat-wave/3306447/ |
The city of Meridian approved an increased cap on the amount companies can charge an individual to remove a boot from their car.
The previous cap was $100 but has now been raised to $150. The last time the car fees were updated was 2019. Allen Sparhawk of Deep Six Security Services requested the increase because of rising costs for his business.
“I never thought in a million years that we would be where we’re at today with the cost of anything,” Sparhawk said at a council meeting Tuesday night. “That’s back when I was paying people $10 an hour for a part-time job. Now I’m forced to pay $15 an hour or I have no employees whatsoever.”
Inflation rose 9.1% in June nationally. Adjusted for inflation, workers’ hourly wages fell 1% during the month and are down 3.6% from last year, CNBC reported.
The city of Boise also adopted new and increased fees after a public hearing where no one commented.
Any new fees or fee increases over 5% are required to go through a public hearing, Budget Manager Eric Bilimoria said.
“Generally, the fees or the fee increases that are proposed are to keep up with the cost of providing services,” Bilimoria said. “Absent those fee increases, we would need to find a way to support those fee-related services from other revenue streams.”
There are several fee increases proposed for the Parks and Recreation Department, he said. Plus, there’s a 5% increase for planning fees and “various adjustments” for parking, licenses and animal fees.
“Most of them are just barely above 5%,” Boise City Council President Elaine Clegg said. “With the cost of things increasing as they are, it seemed very much in line with those cost increases.”
Carolyn Komatsoulis covers Boise, Meridian and Ada County. Contact her at 208-465-8107 and follow her on Twitter @CKomatsoulis. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/boise-meridian-discuss-raising-fees/article_14b3121f-9137-5e65-8fff-d8a947989a78.html | 2022-07-23T18:59:04 | 1 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/boise-meridian-discuss-raising-fees/article_14b3121f-9137-5e65-8fff-d8a947989a78.html |
Originally published July 21 onKTVB.COM.More than 20 years ago, Gene and Sandy Ralston started helping dive recovery teams find the bodies of people who drowned.
The Ralstons use something called side-scan sonar. Unlike some others, their sonar is towable, which means they can search waters as deep as 850 feet, Gene Ralston said.
This is the Kuna couple’s second time helping the Ada County Sheriff’s Office in the last 12 years. Detective Hyrum Jones said the Ralstons are an invaluable resource, especially considering the sheriff’s office does not own a towable sonar.
Ada County’s sonar is mounted to their boat and cannot see as far, he said.
“They’re a great tool to have,” Jones said. “We’re just blessed to have them living in our county.”
The Ralstons’ boat, while now outfitted with state-of-the-art technology, was originally bought for sediment samplings along the Lower Snake and Columbia rivers, Gene Ralston said. The couple are retired scientists with degrees in biology, zoology and biochemistry.
The couple soon changed course after helping with a recovery search in Oregon. After convincing Sandy to purchase a sonar of their own, Gene said they never looked back.
“It helps to even the odds,” Gene Ralston said. “It allows you to search water deeper than divers can dive. It creates images of obstructions on the bottom as well, and that helps keep divers safe.”
The Ralstons now assist dive recovery teams all across the country. Jones said it is not something to take advantage of. After the couple begins their second retirement, the sheriff’s office wants to be prepared.
“We know Gene is a great resource, but we also know that Gene is not going to be in the business forever,” Jones said. “As a sheriff’s office, we are looking and starting to do our research about buying equipment that can help us achieve our mission even be able to do recoveries and searching.”
Until the 16-year-old boy at Lucky Peak is found, teams will continue to search. The Sheriff’s Office said the pipeline camp area will be closed as searches are in progress.
As for Gene and Sandy, they are heading to Washington state next week in hopes of finding another drowning victim and bringing closure to grieving families. | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-couple-helps-dive-recover-teams-find-drowning-victims-around-the-country/article_e6d40eb6-6fbd-560a-9229-c52e635124b8.html | 2022-07-23T18:59:05 | 0 | https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-couple-helps-dive-recover-teams-find-drowning-victims-around-the-country/article_e6d40eb6-6fbd-560a-9229-c52e635124b8.html |
A group of parents and teachers celebrated a victory in court Friday after a Manhattan judge issued a temporary restraining order that blocked New York City's school budget cuts.
The group has been protesting the New York City Council's most recent budget, arguing that it was passed in June without approval by the city's Department of Education. A lawsuit filed Monday sought to stop school budget cuts to the tune of $215 million.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Lyle Frank granted the temporary order on Friday, preventing such reductions and holding school funding at the same levels as last year.
“We continue to believe that the cuts are causing irreparable harm to students and teachers. We hope to win this case on the merits, as the cuts were enacted in a manner that clearly violates state law,” said Laura Barbieri, the attorney representing four parents and teacher plaintiffs.
New York City can submit arguments against the restraining order by Monday, before a hearing in the case is scheduled for August 4.
The mayor's office has not responded to requests for comment.
Funding cuts to the city's schools come on the heels of a massive enrollment drop citywide, at a time when federal stimulus dollars are gone.
News
Many of the city council members who voted in favor of next year's fiscal budget have seen joined the rallying cries of parents and teachers in opposition of the cuts. A majority of its members signed a letter earlier this month calling on Mayor Eric Adams to restore funding. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nyc-school-budget-cuts-on-hold-after-parents-teachers-file-lawsuit/3791827/ | 2022-07-23T19:03:44 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nyc-school-budget-cuts-on-hold-after-parents-teachers-file-lawsuit/3791827/ |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As the Oak Fire continues to burn threatening thousands of structures near Mariposa County's Yosemite National Park, crews from the Sacramento region are responding to help protect homes and contain the inferno.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District has sent a strike team unit to the Oak Fire while the Stockton Fire Department has deployed a battalion chief, the agencies confirmed to ABC10 Saturday.
The Cosumnes Fire Department, Amador Fire Protection District and Merced Fire Department have sent Office of Emergency Services engines to the fire, according to social media posts.
RELATED: Oak Fire burning near Yosemite destroys buildings, grows overnight | Maps, Evacuations, Updates
The Alameda County Fire Department and Cal Fire's Santa Clara Unit, which service portions of western San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties, have also joined the list of local agencies sending resources to the fire in Mariposa County.
The Alameda County Fire Department sent a fire engine to the wildfire, according to a Tweet Friday night. Cal Fire's Santa Clara Unit has sent a strike team, the unit also said in a Tweet Friday.
As the local crews were being sent to the wildfire, public officials secured funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support response to the Oak Fire.
Saturday morning, the California Governor's Office announced that the state had secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant. The grant will allow local, state and tribal agencies that are responding to the Oak Fire to apply for 75% reimbursement of eligible fire suppression costs.
With the wildfire burning nearly 110 miles away from Sacramento, wind shifts could bring smoke into the foothill regions Sunday.
According to ABC10 Meteorologist Devin Trubey, winds are expected to be around 10 miles per hour out of the north and northeast around the fire for much of the day Saturday.
Those winds however, are expected to shift Sunday morning bringing in a breeze from the south which has the potential to push wildfire smoke on Sunday into the communities of Arnold, Sonora, Murphys, Jackson, Auburn and Grass Valley.
Smoke Forecast Map:
Watch More from ABC10: Saving Mariposa Grove Redwood Sequoia trees amid Yosemite wildfire | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/sacramento-metro-stockton-fire-oak-fire/103-fd35f298-b397-4fd7-8614-ad90c005115a | 2022-07-23T19:03:56 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/sacramento-metro-stockton-fire-oak-fire/103-fd35f298-b397-4fd7-8614-ad90c005115a |
WAWONA, Calif. — The Oak Fire raging in Mariposa County has destroyed structures, grown in size and forced more evacuation orders just one night after igniting, Cal Fire officials said in an update Saturday morning.
The wildfire, burning west of Yosemite National Park sits at 6,555 acres in size with 0% containment as of Saturday morning.
So far, 10 structures have been destroyed, 5 have been damaged and nearly 2,000 others remain threatened as the firefight enters its second day.
The Oak Fire started Friday at Highway 140 and Carstens Road near the Mariposa County community of Midpines. According to Cal Fire, the cause of the inferno is under investigation.
Nearly 400 firefighters from agencies across the region have responded to the fire.
The Oak Fire sparked just as firefighters made significant progress against a wildfire that began in Yosemite National Park and burned into the Sierra National Forest.
The Washburn Fire was 79% contained Friday after burning about 7.5 square miles (19.4 square kilometers) of forest.
The fire broke out July 7 and forced the closure of the southern entrance to Yosemite and evacuation of the community of Wawona as it burned on the edge of Mariposa Grove, home to hundreds of giant sequoias.
Wawona Road is tentatively set to reopen on Saturday, according to the park website.
Road closures for the Oak Fire, however, remain in place Saturday. An evacuation center has been set up by the American Red Cross at Mariposa Elementary School at 5044 Jones Street Mariposa, CA.
Evacuation shelters for animals have opened at the Mariposa County SPCA at 5599 Highway 49, Mariposa Elementary School at 5044 Jones Street and at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds at 5007 Fairgrounds Road.
EVACUATIONS:
An evacuation map for Mariposa County is available below.
STAY INFORMED:
FIRE MAP:
This map from the National Interagency Fire Center shows fire activity (this may take a few seconds to load):
AERIEL VIEWS OF THE OAK FIRE:
Aerial video provided by ABC7.
WILDFIRE PREPS:
According to Cal Fire, the 2021 fire season started earlier than previous years, but also ended earlier, as well. January 2021 saw just under 1,200 acres burned from nearly 300 wildfires. Fires picked up in the summer when the Dixie Fire burned in five Northern California counties — Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Lassen and Tehama. The Dixie Fire started on July 13 and wasn't contained until Oct. 25, burning nearly 1 million acres. It has since become the second-largest wildfire in state history and the largest non-complex fire.
Overall, 2.5 million acres were burned in 2021 from 8,835 wildfires. Over 3,600 structures were destroyed and 3 people were killed.
If you live in a wildfire-prone zone, Cal Fire suggests creating a defensible space around your home. Defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation and other debris are completely cleared. At least 100 feet is recommended.
The Department of Homeland Security suggests assembling an emergency kit that has important documents, N95 respirator masks, and supplies to grab with you if you’re forced to leave at a moment’s notice. The agency also suggests signing up for local warning system notifications and knowing your community’s evacuation plans best to prepare yourself and your family in cases of wildfires.
Some counties use Nixle alerts to update residents on severe weather, wildfires, and other news. To sign up, visit www.nixle.com or text your zip code to 888777 to start receiving alerts.
PG&E customers can also subscribe to alerts via text, email, or phone call. If you're a PG&E customer, visit the Profile & Alerts section of your account to register.
What questions do you have about the latest wildfires? If you're impacted by the wildfires, what would you like to know? Text the ABC10 team at (91) 321-3310.
Watch More from ABC10: Saving Mariposa Grove Redwood Sequoia trees amid Yosemite wildfire | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/wildfire/oak-fire-maps-evacuation-update/103-4dd38082-0c6b-401e-8c80-c8b235c700da | 2022-07-23T19:04:02 | 1 | https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/wildfire/oak-fire-maps-evacuation-update/103-4dd38082-0c6b-401e-8c80-c8b235c700da |
AUSTIN, Texas — Walnut Creek Pool opened on Saturday, July 23. It will be open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. through Aug. 13.
Beginning Aug. 14, hours will change to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The pool, located at 12138 North Lamar Blvd., will be closed on Thursdays.
The reopening comes in wake of lifeguard shortages this summer. Now, Austin Parks and Recreation says it has 578 lifeguards ready to work. The department continues to hire and train lifeguards to operate summer pools.
Pay ranges from $16 to $19 an hour depending on experience and certifications. Staff get bonuses, paid sick leave, a free bus pass and flexible scheduling. Information on becoming a lifeguard is available at lifeguardaustin.com.
For a complete listing of pool schedules, visit austintexas.gov/pools.
PEOPLE ARE ALSO READING: | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/walnut-creek-pool-reopening/269-9d40b448-79a4-46e4-bd2a-29ff09ad3595 | 2022-07-23T19:11:34 | 0 | https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/walnut-creek-pool-reopening/269-9d40b448-79a4-46e4-bd2a-29ff09ad3595 |
Heritage Behavioral Health Center held a dodgeball tournament to "Knock out Stigma" about mental health Friday night at Clinton High School.
D. Jack Alkire
Heritage Behavioral Health Center held a dodgeball tournament to "Knock out Stigma" about mental health Friday night at Clinton High School.
D. Jack Alkire
Matt Koeppel left, athletic director at Clinton High School, served as head referee for the "Knocking out Stigma" dodgeball tournament put on by Heritage Behavioral Health Center Friday night at Clinton High School.
D. Jack Alkire
Heritage Behavioral Health Center held a dodgeball tournament to "Knock out Stigma" about mental health Friday night at Clinton High School.
D. Jack Alkire
Heritage Behavioral Health Center held a dodgeball tournament to "Knock out Stigma" about mental health Friday night at Clinton High School.
D. Jack Alkire
Heritage Behavioral Health Center held a dodgeball tournament to "Knock out Stigma" about mental health Friday night at Clinton High School.
D. Jack Alkire
Heritage Behavioral Health Center held a dodgeball tournament to "Knock out Stigma" about mental health Friday night at Clinton High School.
D. Jack Alkire
Heritage Behavioral Health Center held a dodgeball tournament to "Knock out Stigma" about mental health Friday night at Clinton High School. Their message was "it's OK not to be OK."
D. Jack Alkire
Heritage Behavioral Health Center held a dodgeball tournament to "Knock out Stigma" about mental health Friday night at Clinton High School.
D. Jack Alkire
Heritage Behavioral Health Center held a dodgeball tournament to "Knock out Stigma" about mental health Friday night at Clinton High School.
D. Jack Alkire
Heritage Behavioral Health Center held a dodgeball tournament to "Knock out Stigma" about mental health Friday night at Clinton High School. Teams shook hands after each match.
D. Jack Alkire
Heritage Behavioral Health Center held a dodgeball tournament to "Knock out Stigma" about mental health Friday night at Clinton High School. More than 100 community members showed up to play and watch.
D. Jack Alkire
Matt Koeppel, right, athletic director at Clinton High School, served as head referee for the "Knocking out Stigma" dodgeball tournament put on by Heritage Behavioral Health Center Friday night at Clinton High School.
D. Jack Alkire
Heritage Behavioral Health Center held a dodgeball tournament to "Knock out Stigma" about mental health Friday night at Clinton High School.
CLINTON — Mental health stigma knocked out in classic high school fashion: dodgeball.
More than 100 people of all ages joined Heritage Behavioral Health Center on Friday night in Clinton High School's gym for a tournament, snacks and prizes.
Jessica Smiley is a licensed clinical social worker at Heritage and organized the contest. She said the goal was a conversation around mental health.
"We decided to create an event in which folks can get together, have fun together and have an opportunity to casually address mental health," she said. "Really, kind of normalize conversations around it."
Tania Diaz, chief clinical officer at Heritage, said their goal was "knocking out stigma, trying to get people to realize it's OK not to be OK." She was taken aback by the turnout at the event.
"Stunned," she said, smiling. "So happy."
While many think of dodgeball with inflatable rubber balls, bullies, bruises and welts, the tournament was nothing short of supportive and friendly.
Smiley said replacing the traditional rubber balls with soft foam ones was important.
"Safety first," she said, shaking her finger. Smiley said those old toys "traumatized" her.
Matt Koeppel, the athletic director at Clinton High School, was head referee for the tournament. He said the contest was a good chance for the community to rally around the students. He added that school staff and students have a good relationship, but it was also important to get students' families involved.
Diaz said that community relationship is strong: "We have really been partnering with the school district. ... We feel really welcome in the community."
One team, the Underdodgers, was made up of high schoolers and recent graduates. Brylan McHood said he had seen students being bullied because of their mental health, but school is supposed to be "a fun place" for students. He said he was glad to be part of the tournament.
Smiley said, "(We) love to see the community get together in this way."
There were prizes for the top three finishers — gift cards for movies, tickets to Splash Cove in Decatur and coffee vouchers — but the winners were not known at the time of publishing.
Photos: Clinton gathers to knock out mental health stigma with dodgeball
"We've tried to be very clear on, any changes we make structurally regarding the business won't be affecting the (Normal) plant," Rivian Automotive CEO RJ Scaringe told WMBD-TV this week.
Heritage Behavioral Health Center held a dodgeball tournament to "Knock out Stigma" about mental health Friday night at Clinton High School. Jessica Smiley, center, organized the event and was glad for the community support.
Matt Koeppel left, athletic director at Clinton High School, served as head referee for the "Knocking out Stigma" dodgeball tournament put on by Heritage Behavioral Health Center Friday night at Clinton High School.
Heritage Behavioral Health Center held a dodgeball tournament to "Knock out Stigma" about mental health Friday night at Clinton High School. Their message was "it's OK not to be OK."
Heritage Behavioral Health Center held a dodgeball tournament to "Knock out Stigma" about mental health Friday night at Clinton High School. Teams shook hands after each match.
Heritage Behavioral Health Center held a dodgeball tournament to "Knock out Stigma" about mental health Friday night at Clinton High School. More than 100 community members showed up to play and watch.
Matt Koeppel (pointing), athletic director at Clinton High School, served as head referee for the "Knocking out Stigma" dodgeball tournament put on by Heritage Behavioral Health Center Friday night at Clinton High School.
Matt Koeppel, right, athletic director at Clinton High School, served as head referee for the "Knocking out Stigma" dodgeball tournament put on by Heritage Behavioral Health Center Friday night at Clinton High School. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/clinton-gathers-to-knock-out-mental-health-stigma-with-dodgeball/article_4f03fccc-0a27-11ed-86a4-bf91880a3be5.html | 2022-07-23T19:11:56 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/clinton-gathers-to-knock-out-mental-health-stigma-with-dodgeball/article_4f03fccc-0a27-11ed-86a4-bf91880a3be5.html |
BLOOMINGTON — The Bloomington-Normal NAACP Youth Council will mark its first anniversary by showing a documentary on the experiences of two of the first Black professors at Illinois State University.
“Their history in the Bloomington-Normal community is quite meaningful,” Youth Council President Bradley Ross Jackson said.
The documentary, now in its production phase, will feature an interview done by Youth Council members with Charles and Jeanne Morris, who started as professors at ISU in the 1960s.
A public viewing of the film will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at the McLean County Museum of History.
“It’s nice to have a record of their history,” said Youth Council Vice President Myles Manns.
He said the interview and making the documentary have been an experience he will never forget.
One story the professors shared was about buying a house for use by Black ISU students who had been denied housing opportunities, including on campus, Ross Jackson said.
The Youth Council worked with a professional photographer to film the interview. Each member who participated was able to ask two questions to the Morrises. Ross Jackson said he asked for their thoughts on the supermarket shooting in Buffalo, New York, in May, where the shooter specifically targeted Black people.
“They also taught us how they overcame awful situations back then and played a large role in the civil rights movement (locally),” Ross Jackson said.
The couple retired in 1995, an ISU news article from 2021 said. Charles Morris was a math professor, vice president of administrative services and eventually vice chancellor for academic and student affairs with the Illinois Board of Regents, the former governing body for ISU.
Jeanne Morris was a professor of curriculum and instruction, including helping create ISU’s early childhood education bachelor’s degree program.
Since their retirement, the couple have created an Educational Equity Endowment Fund to support historically marginalized groups at ISU. They have stayed in the area and have received other recognition for their work, including being named History Makers by the McLean County Museum of History in 2017.
One of the main things Ross Jackson took from the interview was the extent of the impact racism had on the lives of Black people then, and its continued impact today.
The documentary showing next month will also help mark the Youth Council’s first year in existence. The group has around 42 members, Ross Jackson said. He will be a junior at Normal Community High School this coming school year, while Manns will be a freshman at Normal West High School.
“We’re so thankful that we were able to get one started (here),” Bloomington-Normal NAACP President Linda Foster said of the Youth Council.
The group is open to anyone younger than 18, regardless of race, and annual dues are $10. Ross Jackson said he has found the group a great way to build leadership skills and confidence. It also helps address problems in society and gets youth involved in advocating for racial justice, he said.
“Individuals that feel you don’t have a voice, this allows that to happen with support of adults,” Foster said.
Other events the group has done include talks at schools and other community organizations, distributing Thanksgiving meals, grocery giveaways, creating COVID-19 safety kits, tutoring and walking in parades, Ross Jackson said.
“I just wanted to be sure to give back to our community even more,” he said.
More information about the local NAACP chapter, including the Youth Council, can be found at bnnaccp.org.
Historical homes you can own in the Central Illinois area
4 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $187,000
Character is EVERYTHING and this home definitely will not disappoint. As soon as you arrive the massive stone covered porch says welcome. Main level has so many features in addition to all of the hardwood flooring, crown molding, period mill work and more. Oversized living room with wood burning fireplace as well as a flex space nook for your office, reading, game time needs. The large dining room is truly a focal point. Updated kitchen with all appliances remaining, pantry and more opens up to the fully fenced in back yard. The second level hosts 4 bedrooms, full bath and upper level attic access. Detached OVERSIZED garage provides for so much additional storage. Fully fenced in back yard with driveway gate. Conveniently located close to all that Downtown Bloomington has to offer including the summer farmers market, concerts on the square, restaurants, shopping and so much more. Additional updates include: HVAC - 2011, Updated plumbing including tankless water heater - 2011, Updated electrical - 2019, Roof - 2016. As if that wasn't enough the sellers are also providing a 1 year home warranty for buyer peace of mind.
4 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $145,900
Wow! So much new here with an inviting open floor plan! 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, eat-in kitchen with a breakfast bar, formal dining room & a living room with a contemporary electric fireplace.The 1st floor offers bedroom #1, a full bath and laundry with trendy sliding barn doors! The 2nd floor has 3 bedrooms up and a huge full bath! Every inch of the space is used here with a cozy nook under the steps for lounging, reading or an office space. ALL NEW paint, flooring, window coverings, updated baths, countertop & contemporary lighting. The kitchen has all stainless steel appliances, with a French door style refrigerator and a brand new dishwasher. There is a separate entryway and a 5X14 porch off the kitchen that leads to the backyard, which is completely fenced with 2 gates. ALSO in the backyard is a 21x10 deck with a built-in bench, a huge 30x20 patio AND a 8x8 L-shaped grill and bar area with a concrete countertop! The cement driveway has space for 3 vehicles and there's a 12x10 storage shed for additional storage. Notice the great curb appeal with a stone area added for flowers! Look fo the USB port by the breakfast bar! Newer double pane windows too! (This house went pending on day 2 on the market and is now back on the market due to financial fall through from the buyer.)
4 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $204,500
Remodeled 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home close to everything! Two block walk to Fell Park and just across Fell from IWU Shirk Center, Carle BroMenn Hospital. Rough-in in basement for full bath. 2021 roof and ac install Newer with in last 7 years windows, furnace and, baths and kitchen. Large deck on the front of the home and another overlooks the Large back yard and Patio off the 30 x 21 extra large 2-car garage. Can put 2 cars in and have a large shop.
4 Bedroom Home in Normal - $269,900
Historic home with many recent updates in Old North Normal. The main level has original hardwood flooring in excellent condition, french doors, 10' ceilings, modern lighting, and new window treatments. The entire home is bright and open with many large windows. Basement has recently been finished and has a bathroom with a shower. Third floor is finished with plenty of space for storage, bedroom, or game room. All 4 bedrooms on the second floor are larger than you would expect for a home this age. All closets are walk-in and have recently been remodeled with high-end hardware. There is plenty of outdoor space with a patio in front and back, with a new deck off the rear door. The detached two car garage has electric vehicle charging and a carport. Furniture is negotiable. Updates since 2021: basement remodel, window treatments throughout, rear deck, many lighting upgrades, built-in closets, electric vehicle 14-50 plug, sump pump w. backup, carpeting upstairs Updates since 2016: many windows, fresh paint inside and out, central A/C and heat, electric, plumbing, water heater, and roof.
4 Bedroom Home in Normal - $169,900
1.5 Story home ready for its new owners! This home provides 4 bedrooms (main floor bedroom and 3 bedrooms upstairs on second level)! Each floor provides a full bath, too! Features also include charming "old home" characteristics like exposed brick and delicate woodworking. Beautiful hardwood floors throughout most of the first and second floors. Awesome oversized 2 car detached garage. (Shared driveway is owned by Unit 5 and the owner has easement rights to it.). Updates include: Furnace 2000, AC 2022, Electric Water Heater. Schedule your showing today!
5 Bedroom Home in Downs - $375,000
Sitting on over an acre, this classic farmhouse with modern accents just minutes from Moraine View State Park in the desired Tri-Valley school district is sure to impress! The new siding currently being installed is just the latest in a number of updates to this rural gem. Take in all the fresh country air on the wraparound front porch before heading inside to discover charming character and beautiful original details throughout. In the front living room, you'll appreciate the gorgeous hardwood flooring, coffered ceiling, and large window letting all the light stream in. The hardwoods continue through the large cased opening into the spacious family room, complete with bay window and updated lighting. Find great entertaining space in the breakfast nook which could also be used as main floor bedroom or head into the expansive kitchen/dining room to find a large island with seating and rustic brick accent, updated light fixtures, beautiful backsplash, granite countertops, and stainless appliances. A convenient drop-zone with storage, laundry room, and full bathroom complete the main level. Your private retreat awaits upstairs where you'll discover the primary bedroom with a large walk-in closet and updated full bath. Three additional bedrooms with great storage space, including one with a built-in loft bed, share the third full bathroom. Keep all your tools and toys organized out in the 24x50 barn or play in the large, fenced backyard. All brand new siding in 2022 plus many updates in the last several years including electrical, plumbing, flooring, HVAC, water heater, cabinets, windows, doors, metal roof, gutters, and more! Check out this remarkable find today!
5 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $975,000
This is your chance to own a one of a kind, elegant and custom built Bloomington Country Club golf course and lake view home that is proudly situated on a just under 1 acre lot. From the moment you walk inside you are surrounded by character, quality, and inclusion. Enjoy entertaining and dining in the massive 39x42 great room with solid hardwood beams, exposed woodwork, pool and golf course views, pool access, full kitchen with multiple refrigerators, freezer, additional ice machine, dishwasher, double oven, Jenn-Air cook-top and a massive limestone entertaining counter. Large floor to ceiling stone hearth with digital remote gas fireplace. This addition was designed by well known architect Francois & Associates and built by AJS Construction with the full sized pool and deck designed and installed by Barrington Pools. Interior design throughout this home uniquely crafted by Laurie Wallace Interior Designs. From the Great Room you are welcomed by the skylighted atrium with slate tile flooring, full bath, changing space and laundry for guests. This space is perfect for those entering and exiting from the pool and patio. Stunning library with additional golf course views and large gas fireplace also opens up to an exterior patio. You and your guests will enjoy relax time in the formal sitting room with exterior screened in patio which overlooks the stunning West facing views. Kitchen 2 is packed full of features including Jenn-Air appliances and Sub Zero refrigerator/freezer. Private breakfast dining room is conveniently located right off of kitchen 2 and opens into the formal dining room. Beautiful terra-cotta flooring and custom painted walls through out these 3 spaces. Within the turret of this home you are blown away by the spiral staircase taking you to the 2nd floor. Note the hand painted artwork within the turret ceiling. The 2nd floor boasts a primary suite with en-suite that includes a jetted deep soak tub, separate shower, and dual sink vanity. Additionally you will enjoy the massive 18x12 walk-in closet with prep vanity and arial views of the entire course and lake. Guest rooms abound with 3 currently used for sleeping and a 4th that is used as a workout room with adjoining office/flex space and laundry. 2 additional full baths provide for plenty of prep space for your guests. The basement level is finished and packed with amenities. From the full family room to the wine cellar/wet-bar, spa sized steam room and powder room, the lower level will be enjoyed by all. As if that was not enough you have a 3rd kitchen that is primarily used for prep and food storage when hosting larger functions. Additional storage for all of your needs throughout the multiple lower level storage rooms. More storage is available and easily accessible in the walk up attic space. The slate stone roof and exposed brick with an abundance of professionally maintained landscaping truly make this home stand out as a show stopper from the curb. Slate stone bordered circle drive with exposed aggregate flatwork provide parking and access to the attached 3-car heated garage and detached 2-car garage with 4 garage doors, 2 opening directly to the golf course. Perfect for your private golf cart storage. This is a once in a lifetime chance to own a home of this magnitude on coveted Country Club Dr.
5 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $450,000
Built in 1897 & the Winner of the 2001 Old House Society Historical Home Award! Character, Charm & Quality radiate in every sq ft of this 5 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath gem! Located in Bloomington's coveted Elmo neighborhood across from Bloomington Country Club on a HUGE fenced lot! Stunning outdoor living area- an entertainer's dream with a gorgeous enclosed courtyard that flows from the sprawling front porch and offers a deck with pergola, patio and even a natural gas line run for a grill! The yard is an oasis with lush professional landscaping, plenty of green space and a beautiful koi pond with granite water spill bowls! The home itself, as noted, is award winning... and rightfully so! With beamed ceilings, french doors, refinished hardwood floors, period millwork, double pane windows, built-ins GALORE and all the charm and character one would hope to find in a home of this magnitude! The Chef's Kitchen is spacious and offers a built-in booth with custom table, Corian counters, Prairie Woodwork Amish Hickory cabinets with all the bells and whistles (pull-out shelving, cutting boards, a HUGE pantry cabinet & more)! The kitchen also has glass backsplash, tile flooring, a cabinet faced sub-zero fridge, two dishwashers, two ovens, a desk & a gas range cooktop. The main level is also home to the Front Family Room with a lovely working fireplace, a Living Room with a so many windows that it feels like a sunroom, a Formal Dining with a built in wood hutch and a sunken Den with a soaring ceiling and a fireplace flanked by built-in shelving. Dual staircases lead to the second floor, which is home to 4 bedrooms and a full bath with a jetted tub. The THIRD floor is the amazing Master Suite featuring a full bath with tiled shower and skylight, dual walk-in closets and window seats! Oversized 2-car garage and brick driveway with room for 3 cars. SOME of the many recent updates include: Roof 2018. 3rd Floor Bath Remodel 2019. Deck & Courtyard Remodel & Fence 2020. 3rd Floor Bathroom Remodel 2019. A must see home in a PRIME LOCATION that is priced to sell!
4 Bedroom Home in Normal - $387,000
Now is your chance to own this one-of-a-kind, historic John Gregory house in Normal sitting on nearly a one acre lot. This iconic home is "the oldest and most scrupulous piece of architectural restoration within the town of Normal, the finest Italianate-styled structure in Normal & one of the best in Central Illinois," according to the town and an Old House Society Historic Preservation award recipient. Attention to detail and the timeless efforts to restore the home by the current Sellers can be seen from the basement all the way to the tippy top of the cupola showcasing stunning 360 views of the town that is heated, insulated and air conditioned. Hardwood floors throughout that have been restored, cedar closets, built-ins, unique architecture, wood stove and fireplaces throughout. Entryway features 100-year old salvaged oak flooring and one-of-a-kind spiral walnut staircase. Attention to detail is an understatement: barn beams w/ mortise and tenon joints in the heated garage, 1" hickory on the walls along with historic ceiling tiles in kitchen. Parlor features lawyer bookcases, fireplace and access to your private flagstone patio and wrap-around porch. Upstairs you will find 4 bedrooms including a room featuring a library ladder w/ built-ins, master bedroom, spacious service quarters that feature a fireplace and full bath that has access to the separate stairwell. *NEW* 2020 water heater , *NEW* 2019 top-of-the-line, high efficiency furnace and heat pump for upstairs, *NEW* 2019 professionally sealed dry lock basement. *NEW* 2018 full-blown insulation and cedar siding along with foam insulation in attic. *NEW* 2020 water softener and osmosis system. *NEW 2017 exterior paint*, *NEW* 5" inch gutters added. ALL appliances to stay! Additional updates throughout include restoring 1900's wallpaper, water pressure pump added, Rich Murray (Bartonville) installed custom granite countertops w/ antique kitchen light fixtures, Anderson windows in cupola, and extended driveway and topcoated in 2021. Garage floor was professionally coated by TSR. Outside features a few private gardens, professionally landscaped and maintained along with rubber mulch and mature trees. Enjoy your morning cup of coffee or evening glass of wine while watching the sunrises and sunsets. The 18 Douglas fir trees provide year-round greenery along with the dianthus, rhododendrons, groundcover, rising sun redbud, two cherry trees, forsythia and hostas provide color all summer long. All plants are established and do well on their own. Maintenance is minimal. Unit 5 schools! Close to Illinois State University, stadiums, Uptown Normal, highways, shopping and more. Make this house of a lifetime yours today!
4 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $119,900
Don't miss this well cared for home. 6 ft privacy fence added. 2 car detached garage and a storage shed that remains. Lovely covered front porch. The attic is partially finished with ceiling, walls and floor coverings. Some recent updates include: New siding 2010, Roof (tear off) July 2020. Fresh paint entry of house 4/2021, Furnace and central air under 12 years old. Plumbing and electrical updated in 2009. Water heater installed 2019. Remodeled bathroom 2020. It was being rented for $1400. Tons of space.
5 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $580,000
For the Old House lover, this is one of the most unique and spectacular homes in Bloomington Normal. This Arthur Pillsbury home was built in 1906 and has been home to the current owners for the past 35 years. They have cared for, maintained and made improvements to have it in excellent condition. 1st and 2nd floors are finished and the 3rd floor has 500 sq. ft. finished. The basement is unfinished but offers unlimited potential to include plumbing for a bathroom, (the current owners have never used it, and thus is provided as is). The home sits on double lot with a 3-car garage. Interior features are truly unique as you would expect in a 115 year old home. Major updates include a 2015 tear off and replaced roof, a Kitchen remodel in 2005, Boiler system replaced in 2017, new AC in 2018 which is only vented to 2nd and 3rd floors, exterior painting in 2018, front porch redone in 2012, Bathrooms remodeled with Limestone, Granite, and Marble, heated floors, updated electrical, and SO MUCH MORE! The home offers tremendous flexibility in usage with several rooms allowing individual preferences. Owners are downsizing and thus much of the truly special and unique furniture pieces are negotiable. Too much to describe, please come visit to see for yourself.
4 Bedroom Home in Towanda - $219,900
4 bedrooms 2 baths on 1.44 acres with many updates throughout. Perfectly located right in the middle of nothing and everything at the same time. Country living with no neighbors, but just minutes away from different townS including Bloomington/Normal. Beautiful views on all sides of the property. Newer laminate and tile flooring throughout. Mostly all newer paint. Kitchen has updated countertop and sink. Machine shed has newer poured concrete and has been divided into two separate areas. One is completely insulated and has a heater that keeps up all winter. This part has been turned into a gym but can be used for so many other ideas as well. The other part is perfect for storing any extra toys, storage, lawn equipment, etc. New well in 2016. Generator included. Stamped concrete patio perfect for entertaining or relaxing and taking in the peace and quiet. Beautifully landscaped. 1.44 acres holds an asparagus patch, garden, grapevine, apple tree and different gorgeous flowers however, it's open to your imagination. Is priced to sell and will be sold AS IS. Enclosed porch is currently being used as a 5th bedroom. Possibilities are endless.
4 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $149,900
Check out this move in ready home. There has been lots of exterior and interior painting completed. The second-floor bath has been remodeled with a walk-in shower. New carpet has been installed in several rooms. This home still has some original woodwork and lots of character. Great central location in Bloomington. This large home is ready for a family to move in and enjoy it!
4 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $389,900
Amazing 4 bedroom 3 bathroom Pool home in Founders Grove! Love living at Glacier Point, this wonderful property has all the things you need to have the best Summer ever. Inside there are so many updates that you need to read the 3 page list, and when you step outside you truly have it all, fantastic pool, great seating areas, beautiful landscaping, and of course one of the best locations in town. This is the one you've been waiting for.
4 Bedroom Home in Danvers - $145,000
Nice 4 bedroom home just mins from Blm-Nl. Detached 2-c heated garage, fenced yard, wood fire pit/grill on patio, lovely backyard, plumbing & elect updated, 2 furnaces, 2 A/C's, priced to sell.
4 Bedroom Home in Downs - $125,000
4 Bedroom Home in Downs - $79,900
Tons of Potential with this 4-bedroom home in Coveted Tri-Valley School District. Home is located in unincorporated village of Holder just 10 minutes from East side of Bloomington with Downs address and schools. House needs a little TLC but mostly cosmetic, home has vinyl replacement windows, homes siding needs painted as well as some other repairs. Great opportunity for some sweat equity in an owner-occupied home or investment property.
5 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $300,000
Beautiful Historic home on Franklin Square near downtown Bloomington. 2019 Completely New Roof, New copper piping throughout the whole house, new appliances, new light fixtures, 2020 completely remodeled main floor bathroom, master bath, second playroom on the main floor, new 75 gal Water Heater, all electrical is updated, new flooring in back entryway, landscaping 2021 new HVAC system, new floor in mudroom, remodeled second upstairs bathroom, new sidewalks to the garage and house off the driveway, freshly painted. Huge attic ready to be finished or makes for great storage. Do not miss out on this one!
4 Bedroom Home in Gridley - $214,900
4 Bedroom home w/ Tons of Character and Very Well Maintained! There are also 2 full bathrooms and 2 half bathrooms. Original hardwood floors are throughout the home. The main floor bedroom has original knotty pine panels & a half bath & a dressing area. There is a very private bonus bedroom suite w/ a half bath above the garage area. Living and dining rooms have very high ceilings and crown molding. Wood burning brick fireplace is in living room. There is tons of extra storage in the eaves of the upstairs bedrooms, and one has a cedar closet. The finished breezeway, great for office area or library or toy room, etc. There are built-in shelves in 2 bedrooms and a convenient laundry chute that is on all levels. The lot has a lot of trees & is a very large, double lot on a corner. Great location within walking distance to the school. Move-in Ready!
4 Bedroom Home in Lexington - $222,000
Well loved and wonderfully maintained two story home on a corner lot in Lexington! Enter through the solid cherry front door into the large foyer with original hardwood floors. Main floor with 9ft ceilings and two large living spaces creates a light and airy feel. Main floor living possible with bedroom, bonus room, full bath and laundry on one floor! MUST SEE kitchen with 18" porcelain tile flooring with quartz lock grout. Slow close cabinetry to ceiling with solid quartz countertops (no seams). No detail was left unnoticed with under-mount lighting and hidden electrical outlets. Additional storage in separate pantry nook and additional wine/coffee bar make this kitchen the IDEAL set up for entertaining. Eat-in kitchen space with ventless fireplace creates great ambiance and space to gather. Screened-in porch is perfect for outdoor dining on summer nights or enjoy evenings on the fenced back patio! Second floor features 3 additional bedrooms, full bathroom and walk in closet with great storage. Exterior updates include vinyl siding with new insulation added at install, soffit and gutters, garage doors, main level wiring, plumbing and drywall. Conveniently located behind the public library and in walking distance to shops and restaurants. Schedule your showing today!
4 Bedroom Home in Normal - $170,000
ATTENTION ALL INVESTORS! First time on the market since the mid 1970s making this a rare opportunity to own 2 "iconic" homes used as ISU student rentals for over 3 decades. Located right on the edge of ISU campus making for a very short commute for students. Each home offers 4 bedrooms and 1 bath. Each home has a licensed special use variance permit allowing more than 2 unrelated occupants. Must be sold together with 421 W. Vernon. Don't miss your chance to own a piece of ISU "history."
4 Bedroom Home in Normal - $170,000
ATTENTION ALL INVESTORS! First time on the market since the mid 1970s making this a rare opportunity to own 2 "iconic" homes used as ISU student rentals for over 3 decades. Located right on the edge of ISU campus making for a very short commute for students. Each home offers 4 bedrooms and 1 bath. Each home has a licensed special use variance permit allowing more than 2 unrelated occupants. Must be sold together with 423 W. Vernon. Don't miss your chance to own a piece of ISU "history."
5 Bedroom Home in Leroy - $199,900
Completely updated- this two story home with 5 Beds 2 full baths on large corner lot is sure to impress! Functional layout with living room opens to kitchen for nice flow between spaces. Spacious kitchen with granite countertop and breakfast bar provides eat-in kitchen space. Main floor living with laundry hookup and master suite featuring double vanity with tiled shower! Two additional bedrooms and full bathroom on main level with two additional bedrooms and storage space on second floor. Enjoy mornings on the front porch or evenings on the back deck with new sidewalks leading to oversized 2 car garage with storage above! Updates over the past 2 years include windows, siding, insulation, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, water heater, garage doors, openers, exterior light fixtures, kitchen cabinets, granite countertops, tiled backsplash, stainless steel appliances, new flooring, bathrooms, paint, and 100 amp electrical added in garage. Don't miss your opportunity to own this updated home in LeRoy.
4 Bedroom Home in Chenoa - $399,900
This opportunity does not present itself very often. This rare 10 acre partially wooded piece of land with farmhouse and multiple outbuildings is ready for its first new owner in 100 years! Updates galore. As soon as you drive up the half mile lane you feel the peace and serenity of no neighbors and views as far as the eye can see. Original woodwork (and hardwood flooring under carpeted areas) which cannot be found anymore is stunning. Casual living room, formal living room and separate dining room in addition to an eat-in kitchen and dual stair access to the second floor provide for over 1000 sq/ft of main floor living space. 4 bedrooms and 1.5 baths. Primary bedroom also features a side dressing room with a 30 sq/ft walk-in closet. Full basement which houses the water heater (new in 2021), boiler with transferrable warranty (new in 2021), and access to updated plumbing (new in 2021). Septic system has been fully replaced with a value of over 25k, new in 2021. The attic space is accessed by stair and provides for massive amounts of storage. As if that was not enough the well and pressure tank system have also been replaced and installed new in 2021. If you are looking for more storage space, the multiple out buildings are sure to satisfy your needs. Outbuilding 1 is a whopping 30x55, heated and has a 12ft tall overhead door for access. Outbuilding 2 is 48x75 with gravel flooring for heavy equipment use and provides a 16ft tall by 27ft wide access. Outbuilding 3 is 21x30. There is also an additional outbuilding located next to the remaining grain storage bins. 2-car detached garage. The wooded area within the parcel has several walking trails cut within and is abundant with multiple variations of greenery. The lane to the home which leads to the circle drive is included within the parcel survey completing the land package for this fantastic property. A short 29 minute drive to Rivian Motors or the Central IL Regional Airport. An even shorter 4 minute drive to Chenoa, IL and only 12 minutes to Lexington, IL.
4 Bedroom Home in Bloomington - $384,600
Located in historic Founders Grove you will find this secluded oasis on a large fenced double corner lot that boasts an all brick 1.5 story gem. This 4 bed, 2.5 bath home just screams character and pride of ownership. From the all natural oak hardwood trim and flooring to the completely updated kitchen/baths, enclosed porches, spacious basement with built in storage and large room dedicated to working out. Multi zoned HVAC, dual laundry areas, irrigation, updated mechanicals throughout are only a few of the highlights. The entire upper level is dedicated to a spacious master suite with unbelievable bath suite and other spaces suitable for media, office, or sitting area. Once you exit the rear entry you will take a deep breath to take in the many scents when you see the oversized patio which is highlighted by a water feature and pergola. Then venture out to the spacious completely fenced yard that is lovingly filled with hostas, lilacs, planting beds, and many more species of beautiful plants. And to keep this looking good there is an irrigation system throughout. Don't wait to make the call to have a chance at your very own paradise. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/naacp-youth-council-creates-documentary-on-former-isu-professors/article_3907fc0e-06d8-11ed-8126-33d9e0af4764.html | 2022-07-23T19:12:02 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/education/naacp-youth-council-creates-documentary-on-former-isu-professors/article_3907fc0e-06d8-11ed-8126-33d9e0af4764.html |
INDIANAPOLIS — At four people were injured, two seriously, in a motorcycle crash along I-70 on Indianapolis' west side Saturday afternoon.
The crash involving four motorcycles happened around 2 p.m. on I-70 westbound at the 75 mile marker, just south of Minnesota Street.
Indiana State Police confirmed that two people were seriously injured and another two were also transported to Indianapolis hospitals. Crash reconstruction teams were responding to the scene of the incident.
ISP confirmed those injured were part of an organized motorcycle ride.
Multiple lanes of I-70 were blocked Saturday afternoon as police investigated the incident.
This is a breaking story and will be updated. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/4-injured-2-seriously-in-i-70-motorcycle-crash-on-indys-west-side-indianapolis/531-c74a60d0-2e06-4691-816e-acb1cf2c90a1 | 2022-07-23T19:18:32 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/4-injured-2-seriously-in-i-70-motorcycle-crash-on-indys-west-side-indianapolis/531-c74a60d0-2e06-4691-816e-acb1cf2c90a1 |
INDIANAPOLIS — Strong to severe storms moved through central Indiana on Saturday resulting in power outages and damage across the area, including in Hamilton County where a travel advisory was temporarily put in place due to numerous downed trees and power lines.
Several central and north central Indiana counties were under severe thunderstorm watches on Saturday morning, which were followed by flash flood watches.
In the aftermath of the storms, thousands were without power. That includes 2,000 people in Indianapolis, about 1,500 near Marion and another 1,500 near Muncie.
Stay Weather Aware by keeping an eye on the live radar below and following along with the live blog.
Live Radar:
Storm Blog:
1:53 p.m. - Duke Energy is reporting about 1,000 people are without power in and around Kokomo. In total, Duke Energy has about 2,800 customers without power.
AES is reporting a little more than 1,500 outages in and around Indianapolis.
Indiana Michigan Power is reporting a total of 16,726 outages in Indiana. Grant County has 6,584 customer outages, Delaware County has about 2,300 and Blackford has just short of 2,200.
1:42 p.m. - Storms in north central Indiana may drift southward.
1:21 p.m. - Viewers are sharing photos and videos from this morning's storms and the damage they left behind.
GALLERY: Storms push through central Indiana on Saturday, July 23, 2022
1 p.m. - Hail and gusty winds of 50+ mph winds move into White County.
12:59 p.m. - The Hamilton County travel advisory has been lifted.
12:43 p.m. - Storms and a gusty front brought damaging winds to central Indiana that resulted in thousands being without power.
12:32 p.m. - Strong storms are moving into White County.
12:21 p.m. - Temperatures are going to climb this afternoon.
12 p.m. - Radar estimates almost 5" of rain has fallen in Benton County this morning.
11:31 a.m. - A viewer shared a photo with meteorologist Sean Ash of a shelf cloud on the south side of Indianapolis.
10:27 a.m. - A shelf cloud was captured by a viewer in Hamilton County
10:11 a.m. - Hamilton County is under a Travel Advisory, with reports of numerous trees and power lines downed.
10:01 a.m. - Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Wayne, Henry and Randolph counties. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/storms-central-indiana-saturday-july-23-2022/531-0302c078-e96c-4d05-8087-36bd01dd1ec6 | 2022-07-23T19:18:38 | 0 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/storms-central-indiana-saturday-july-23-2022/531-0302c078-e96c-4d05-8087-36bd01dd1ec6 |
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — A 37-year-old Harrisburg man is dead after crashing his vehicle into a tractor-trailer, state police said.
Caleb Flick drove his Volkswagen Jetta into the back of a tractor-trailer on I-81 southbound near mile marker 77 on Friday night in West Hanover Township, according to police.
The 56-year-old tractor-trailer driver from Columbus, Ohio, was not injured in the crash, police said.
State police are investigating the crash. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/dauphin-county/harrisburg-man-dies-crash-involving-tractor-trailer-caleb-flick/521-2f6e2e1e-ff77-496d-8bf5-fc551cae2426 | 2022-07-23T19:18:44 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/dauphin-county/harrisburg-man-dies-crash-involving-tractor-trailer-caleb-flick/521-2f6e2e1e-ff77-496d-8bf5-fc551cae2426 |
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate
What happened to the Lower Seguin School House that was donated to Lakeview College. When the original schoolteacher died, the school house located off of Lower Seguin was moved to the college. Now it is missing. Along with the school house, they purchased a wood-burned picture of the school house that they paid $500 for. Where did these historical items go?
— Cynthia Alexander
In 1966, NASA launched five Gemini missions into space, doctors performed the first implantation of a partial mechanical heart, the Doors released their first album including “Light My Fire” … and the Lower Valley School, founded in 1877, closed at the end of the school year, following a community vote of 24-13 in favor of consolidation with the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District.
The rural school was founded in 1877 to serve families of the primarily German settlement first known as Valley Post Office “in the region now occupied by McQueeney, Marion, Cibolo (and) Schertz … along the banks of the Cibolo Creek,” according to the history published in the program for a 1987 Lower Valley School Reunion. As Lower Valley, the school community was “five miles southwest of Marion in western Guadalupe County” as identified in its Handbook of Texas entry.
Settled between 1850 and 1870, the area had the requisite cotton gin, general store and church to make it a community, with a livery stable, blacksmith, sawmill, grist mill and stagecoach stop. The Valley Post Office settlement suffered a setback when it was bypassed by the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio railroad, but it was still a “thriving and prosperous community because of the various types of farming, ranching, businesses and trading centers,” says the reunion program. Because the mail was to be delivered by rail, Valley Post Office was discontinued, and the community took the name of Lower Valley.
On ExpressNews.com: Purpose of San Pedro Avenue’s ‘extra’ right of way a puzzle
Its first public school was established in 1877 as Lower Valley School No. 37, its number under the community school system. In 1901, with a switch to the district school system, it became Lower Valley School No. 33, as it was known from then onward.
The school’s first teacher was August Schmitz, a German immigrant who stayed until 1891, eventually earning a top salary of $234.20 per school session. Most known teachers from then on had German-sounding names, as listed in the reunion program. Many of them were former students who came back to teach. Husband-and-wife teams or other members of the same family (sisters, mothers and daughters) appear often, as the school grew and a single teacher would no longer suffice.
The last of these teaching twosomes was a couple — Maxine and Lutrell Watts — arrived in 1941. They came from McMahan, near Lockhart, only 55 miles from Lower Valley, but there was some culture shock. “The first two or three months were hard to cope with,” Lutrell Watts said in a statement collected by Northeast Lakeview College, available online at the Portal to Texas History. “We knew very few people and could not speak or understand the German language.” Finally, he says, “we were accepted into the Lower Valley Community.” Their one-year teaching contract stretched to cover 25 years at the two-room schoolhouse, where Maxine Watts taught first through fifth grades in one room, and her husband taught sixth through eighth grades in the other. The couple lived in the “teacherage,” a separate residence for teachers on school property.
Most small rural schools already had been consolidated with larger districts, starting in the late 1940s. The school “and a few scattered houses” were all that was left of the once thriving community in 1946, says the Handbook of Texas. So by 1966, when Lower Valley School was consolidated with the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD, it can be assumed enrollment was seriously dwindling.
The decommissioned school was sold to the Wattses, who both were given jobs at Schertz Elementary School, where they remained until their retirement in 1980. With a combined total of 87 years teaching in the area, they were given an unexpected honor. Called to a school board meeting — “What had we done?” Lutrell Watts remembered asking himself in his statement — they were told that a new elementary school would be named after them. The Maxine and Lutrell Watts Elementary School opened in 1999 in Cibolo.
By the mid-1980s, says the Handbook, “there was no evidence of the (Lower Valley) community on county highway maps.” The Wattses stayed on in the former teacherage and retained the ex-school property until the end of their lives — 2003 for Lutrell and 2007 for Maxine. The old schoolhouse was used for storage, he said in the 1987 reunion program: “It is just like we left it in 1966, except it is full of junk. Anything we didn’t throw away or use is deposited in the school … You may be disappointed when you see inside … After 21 years of little upkeep inside, anything will look bad, (but) the outside looks fine.”
One of their heirs, former student Larry Baumann, arranged to donate the schoolhouse to Northeast Lakeview College in Universal City, a then-new addition to the Alamo Colleges District. An Express-News story, Aug. 11, 2007, says Baumann’s intention was that the 130-year-old building be “renovated and turned into a living history museum and field trip destination for school children.”
It was moved in February 2008 to the college campus. For several years, there were college and community efforts to raise money for a restoration that would ready the old schoolhouse to return to community service.
Costs for the project, however, turned out to be prohibitive.
At a Dec. 12, 2017, meeting of the Alamo Colleges District board of trustees, a decision to “transfer the contents of the Lower Valley School original building to Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD” was approved. Meeting notes supplied by a college spokeswoman note that “all donors who previously provided monetary support … will be contacted and given the option of receiving the unused portion … or redesignating the unused funds to scholarships for students in (the college’s) service area. The Lower Valley schoolhouse’s legacy will continue in the communities where the school began and the former students and their families now live.”
The building is no longer on campus, but there is a street named Lower Valley Road, “named for the first public school to serve the Lower Valley community (that) consolidated with today’s Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD, one of the ISDs that (Northeast Lakeview) serves, according to the Alamo Colleges website, www.alamo.edu. There is also a “tribute space” in the college library to commemorate the school and to display “a few unique artifacts” from the former school.
The school district “was identified as a good fit to receive the contents of the schoolhouse” because of its historical link to the Lower Valley community. The wood-burned picture was “part of the contents relocated to SCUCISD.”
Alumni and others with schoolhouse memories and photographs to share may contact this column.
historycolumn@yahoo.com | Twitter: @sahistorycolumn | Facebook: SanAntoniohistorycolumn | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Texas-historical-school-Cibolo-German-17324602.php | 2022-07-23T19:38:13 | 1 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Texas-historical-school-Cibolo-German-17324602.php |
WAWONA, Calif. — The Oak Fire raging in Mariposa County has destroyed structures, grown in size and forced more evacuation orders just one night after igniting, Cal Fire officials said in an update Saturday morning.
The wildfire, burning west of Yosemite National Park sits at 6,555 acres in size with 0% containment as of Saturday morning.
So far, 10 structures have been destroyed, 5 have been damaged and nearly 2,000 others remain threatened as the firefight enters its second day.
The Oak Fire started Friday at Highway 140 and Carstens Road near the Mariposa County community of Midpines. According to Cal Fire, the cause of the inferno is under investigation.
Nearly 400 firefighters from agencies across the region have responded to the fire.
The Oak Fire sparked just as firefighters made significant progress against a wildfire that began in Yosemite National Park and burned into the Sierra National Forest.
The Washburn Fire was 79% contained Friday after burning about 7.5 square miles (19.4 square kilometers) of forest.
The fire broke out July 7 and forced the closure of the southern entrance to Yosemite and evacuation of the community of Wawona as it burned on the edge of Mariposa Grove, home to hundreds of giant sequoias.
Wawona Road is tentatively set to reopen on Saturday, according to the park website.
Road closures for the Oak Fire, however, remain in place Saturday. An evacuation center has been set up by the American Red Cross at Mariposa Elementary School at 5044 Jones Street Mariposa, CA.
Evacuation shelters for animals have opened at the Mariposa County SPCA at 5599 Highway 49, Mariposa Elementary School at 5044 Jones Street and at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds at 5007 Fairgrounds Road.
EVACUATIONS:
An evacuation map for Mariposa County is available below.
STAY INFORMED:
FIRE MAP:
This map from the National Interagency Fire Center shows fire activity (this may take a few seconds to load):
AERIEL VIEWS OF THE OAK FIRE:
Aerial video provided by ABC7.
WILDFIRE PREPS:
According to Cal Fire, the 2021 fire season started earlier than previous years, but also ended earlier, as well. January 2021 saw just under 1,200 acres burned from nearly 300 wildfires. Fires picked up in the summer when the Dixie Fire burned in five Northern California counties — Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Lassen and Tehama. The Dixie Fire started on July 13 and wasn't contained until Oct. 25, burning nearly 1 million acres. It has since become the second-largest wildfire in state history and the largest non-complex fire.
Overall, 2.5 million acres were burned in 2021 from 8,835 wildfires. Over 3,600 structures were destroyed and 3 people were killed.
If you live in a wildfire-prone zone, Cal Fire suggests creating a defensible space around your home. Defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation and other debris are completely cleared. At least 100 feet is recommended.
The Department of Homeland Security suggests assembling an emergency kit that has important documents, N95 respirator masks, and supplies to grab with you if you’re forced to leave at a moment’s notice. The agency also suggests signing up for local warning system notifications and knowing your community’s evacuation plans best to prepare yourself and your family in cases of wildfires.
Some counties use Nixle alerts to update residents on severe weather, wildfires, and other news. To sign up, visit www.nixle.com or text your zip code to 888777 to start receiving alerts.
PG&E customers can also subscribe to alerts via text, email, or phone call. If you're a PG&E customer, visit the Profile & Alerts section of your account to register.
What questions do you have about the latest wildfires? If you're impacted by the wildfires, what would you like to know? Text the ABC10 team at (91) 321-3310.
Watch More from ABC10: Saving Mariposa Grove Redwood Sequoia trees amid Yosemite wildfire | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/wildfire/oak-fire-maps-evacuation-update/103-4dd38082-0c6b-401e-8c80-c8b235c700da | 2022-07-23T19:39:14 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/wildfire/oak-fire-maps-evacuation-update/103-4dd38082-0c6b-401e-8c80-c8b235c700da |
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – Main Street in Kingsport was filled with a variety of cars Saturday for the Fun Fest car show.
The event, which has been hosted by the Daniel Boone Car Club for many years, featured dozens of cars and trucks, old and new. Hundreds of guests stopped by to check out some of the rides.
“We have a variety of different cars here anywhere from – there’s a ’29 Packard over there, we have the history on that car, all the way through to newer cars, there’s a guy over there – he’s got like a 1992 Honda Prelude, all cars are welcome here today. And so we have classics and we have newer cars and everything is always welcome at our show here for Fun Fest,” said Dave Williams of the Daniel Boone Car Club.
Williams said that they hope events like this will inspire younger people to join car clubs and keep the tradition of car shows alive.
The club is already planning to have another show at the Allendale Mansion on Spet. 18, registration is $15 and all cars are welcome. | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/photos-hundreds-turn-out-for-fun-fest-car-show/ | 2022-07-23T20:11:13 | 0 | https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/photos-hundreds-turn-out-for-fun-fest-car-show/ |
In the first days after closure of the Tucson Unified School District desegregation court case, district administrators are still reviewing the final court order and how they are to proceed in efforts for equity and equality.
But at least one thing seems clear from Tuesday's court order: Full control and authority are returned to the district and its elected governing board.
Board member Ravi Shah said Friday he anticipates the governing board will now be able to make decisions without seeking court approval.
“That will be a huge benefit because we can really do what’s best for our community and our students,” Shah said, adding that the court didn’t share the same familiarity that the governing board has with the TUSD community.
TUSD spokeswoman Karla Escamilla said district officials were not granting interviews about the desegregation case, pending their legal department’s full review of the court order.
People are also reading…
U.S. District Court Judge David C. Bury issued the order on Tuesday, July 19, granting TUSD unitary status, meaning the district had eliminated the vestiges of past discrimination.
That order, which brought the case to a close on July 20, wrapped up the decades-long court case that stemmed from two class-action lawsuits filed in 1974 by a Black family and a Mexican American family that accused TUSD of segregation.
The two lawsuits were later consolidated and, in 1978, the court found that discriminatory segregation existed in the district. That put TUSD under judicial supervision, in which the court had to approve any action that could potentially impact students.
Sylvia Campoy, a representative for the Latino plaintiffs, declined to comment Friday as she had yet to discuss the latest court order with the plaintiffs and legal counsel. An attorney and a representative for the African American plaintiffs could not be reached for comment.
Post-unitary status plan
Adelita Grijalva, who has served as a board member during the most recent 20 years of the 48-year-old lawsuit, said the judicial supervision included actions like approving yearly budgets, creating new employee positions, and implementing or dismantling programs.
“The district deserved to be put under the court order,” she said, adding that there were clear signs of discrimination against Black and Latino students.
Still, she noted it was frustrating to have to seek permission for nearly every action taken by the board.
Both Grivalva and Shah said the district has come a long way to ensure all actions represent the best interests of the community.
“Our leadership is so different. We have a governing board that’s elected by our community that truly reflects our community,” Shah said.
“I think this is the most diverse governing board we’ve ever had at TUSD in terms of racial background, LGBTQ background, economic background, and that really makes a difference,” he said.
During the 2021-2022 school year, TUSD served just under 46,400 students. Of those, about 64% were Hispanic students and nearly 7% were African American.
Moving forward, as required by the court, the district must follow a post-unitary status plan, in which it details how the district plans to ensure continued equity and equality for the students it serves.
While Shah wasn’t able to provide specific details of that plan, he said the community can expect more information about the desegregation efforts and details of that plan to be discussed at an upcoming TUSD governing board meeting.
“The work of addressing disparities continues. This is a work that the governing board is going to be doing, regardless of whether there’s court supervision or not,” Shah said.
Have any questions or news tips about K-12 education in Southern Arizona? Contact reporter Genesis Lara at glara@tucson.com | https://tucson.com/news/local/education/tusd-board-gains-full-control-as-desegregation-case-closes/article_ad713bfe-094a-11ed-b733-efeb6e5f3561.html | 2022-07-23T20:12:59 | 0 | https://tucson.com/news/local/education/tusd-board-gains-full-control-as-desegregation-case-closes/article_ad713bfe-094a-11ed-b733-efeb6e5f3561.html |
WATERLOO — A Waterloo woman was found not guilty Friday of child endangerment for an incident at a child care facility in 2020.
Police alleged that Tammy Barrett, a teacher at Tri-County Head Start, assaulted a 3-year-old along with an assistant teacher. According to police, a video recording showed Barrett drag the child out of the classroom door.
Barrett's trial lasted three days. The jury deliberated for an hour and 45 minutes before delivering its verdict.
Jenilee Schnell, an assistant teacher involved in the same case, pleaded guilty in March to child endangerment, an aggravated misdemeanor. Police said Schnell assaulted the 3-year-old by grabbing, pushing and holding the child to the ground several times. Police also allege Schnell laid on the child and put her arm on the back of the child’s neck.
At trial, defense attorneys entered a picture of the child’s injury into evidence. A hatch-marked bruise was above the child’s ear. Police said they determined the cause of the mark was from the child being pushed down onto a cot.
The defense said the specific cot was not in Barrett’s room and, therefore, DNA testing could not be performed on the cot.
Bowles full of blues: Celebrating Cedar Valley blues guitarist Eddie Bowles
Three Cedar Falls family members died Friday at Maquoketa Caves State Park in apparent homicides, with a fourth person dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/waterloo-woman-found-not-guilty-in-child-endangerment-case/article_8c4a1c30-ee22-5b2e-816b-4f88e5a73e04.html | 2022-07-23T20:13:40 | 0 | https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/waterloo-woman-found-not-guilty-in-child-endangerment-case/article_8c4a1c30-ee22-5b2e-816b-4f88e5a73e04.html |
TWIN FALLS — It’s a game almost anyone can play. Thousands of people already are.
A contest is underway that sends southern Idahoans into the outdoors hunting for a rock worth $500. It’s called the Rocky Mountain Flooring Rock Rescue, and the flooring company has been doing it for seven years.
One year, the rock was at Diamondfield Jacks, another time at Hagerman Fossil Beds. Yet another time, it was at the Downtown Commons right in the middle of Twin Falls.
A new clue is posted at 5 p.m. every Friday on Rocky Mountain Flooring’s Facebook page, and owner Brent Compton said Friday's clue might go a long way to steer hunters in the direction of the rock, painted with the company’s logo.
People are also reading…
“Usually at about the third clue, people start catching on,” he said.
He started the hunt as a way to bring people together.
“I want to get everyone involved,” Compton said. He’s been successful with that goal, as feedback indicates thousands of people have joined in hunts, including families.
Where's that rock
As of Saturday afternoon, the rock was still in hiding, the company told the Times-News.
“There are a lot of people looking for it,” Compton said.
One of those people is Monica Nalley of Twin Falls.
“We got super close last year but (were) too late,” Nalley said.
If she happens to win, she'd like to take a vacation.
“My friend and I want to go on a girls’ trip without our husbands to Vegas that we earned!” she said.
In addition to the $500 cash prize — or $800 in flooring products — the winner will also receive a certificate good for a stay at a Las Vegas hotel.
Only one person knows the location of the rock, that being the person in charge of company advertising.
“I told her not to tell me because I might slip up and accidentally tell someone,” Compton joked.
The rock is located on public land, in a place that is accessible where people don’t have to put themselves in harm's way.
“You won’t have to climb a rock wall or anything,” Compton said. The rock can be hidden anywhere in Magic Valley.
Keeping an open mind might be one of the best ways to discover the rock’s location.
“When you read a clue, you might think it means one thing," he said, "but it actually means another.” | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/rock-rescue-sends-people-hunting-for-500-prize/article_fb14bbda-0a1f-11ed-9a9e-83a72c941c0e.html | 2022-07-23T20:14:13 | 0 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/rock-rescue-sends-people-hunting-for-500-prize/article_fb14bbda-0a1f-11ed-9a9e-83a72c941c0e.html |
TWIN FALLS — From popcorn to cupcakes, bacon wrapped hot dogs to tacos, City Park was a cornucopia of tasty treats on Friday.
Food trucks lined the sidewalk near the band shell, offering a variety of options for customers.
The Arts and Eats Food Truck Fest included nine different food vendors, live music and multiple artist booths for customers to peruse and just one portion of the Magic Valley Arts Council's Art in the Park event.
Milo's Munchies, one of the food vendors at the event, offered a variety of hot dogs and sausages for patrons to enjoy.
"I love the idea of quick, cheap, munchie-type food," owner Milo Rey said.
This is Milo Munchies first year in business and Rey is already looking for a permanent location for his business. He hopes to open shop by the end of the month. | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/watch-now-arts-and-eats-food-truck-fest-satisfies-art-in-the-park-crowd/article_0a0b91a8-09fe-11ed-b4aa-dffb2c4c7753.html | 2022-07-23T20:14:19 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/watch-now-arts-and-eats-food-truck-fest-satisfies-art-in-the-park-crowd/article_0a0b91a8-09fe-11ed-b4aa-dffb2c4c7753.html |
OAKLEY — As artist Cloyd Bedke hung a donated watercolor collection of six streetscape paintings on Thursday at the local historical museum — he reflected on his life growing up in the small town.
“The paintings belong here,” Bedke said.
For Bedke, an Oakley native who now lives with his wife, Kathy Bedke, near San Diego, memories of days gone past flooded his mind.
“I remember, on Saturday nights, there would be 50 to 70 people right there,” he said as he pointed to a softly colored rendition of a building captured in a moment in time.
Bedke, 85, painted many of the works over the years when he returned to visit Oakley.
“They call this hometown painting,” he said.
He purposefully chose the week of the town's pioneer celebration to bring the collection to the Oakley Valley Historical Museum.
People are also reading…
“We only take Oakley-related items at the museum so these fit in perfectly,” museum board member Marge Woodhouse said.
Bedke started his career in advertising and later owned his own advertising firm.
“I worked for a Chicago ad agency and I would still be there if the weather wasn’t worse than it is here at Goose Creek,” Bedke said.
He later started his own agency in San Diego.
In 1996 he decided to pursue his passion for creating fine art.
"Cloyd is so versatile," his sister-in-law Marty Bedke said, who stopped by the museum to say hello to him.
He’s worked in several mediums and the subjects include religious works to western themes.
The paintings of the people and places in Oakley reflect his roots, Kathy Bedke said.
He has done art shows all around the country and his art is all around the world, she said. He also has taught many classes and even has some of his art on puzzles.
Bedke grew up on an Oakley cattle ranch and began sketching the cowboys from the area at the age of 12 or 13.
“My dad (Jesse Bedke) was a big encourager of my art,” he said.
Bedke donated the collection “because I want to pay something back," he said. "It’s all I have to give anymore. It’s all I have, my time, skill and feeling.”
His compensation comes when someone stands in front of one of his paintings and it makes them feel the way he did when he painted it.
“That’s what an artist works for,” he said, “how it reads to people.” | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/watch-now-oakley-native-donates-streetscape-paintings-to-museum/article_edd26b20-09d9-11ed-8bbf-5bfa01439705.html | 2022-07-23T20:14:26 | 1 | https://magicvalley.com/news/local/watch-now-oakley-native-donates-streetscape-paintings-to-museum/article_edd26b20-09d9-11ed-8bbf-5bfa01439705.html |
The Kimbell Art Museum announces its 2022-23 exhibition schedule that will feature landmark exhibitions organized by Kimbell and Maya masterpieces organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The exhibition will be presented in conjunction with the museum's 50th anniversary year, which commences Oct. 4, 2022 and extends through October 2023.
Upcoming exhibitions:
Murrillo: From Heaven to Earth celebrates the paintings of one of the most renowned painters of the Spanish Golden age: Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1617-1682). The exhibition explores themes of youth and age, comedy, romance and seduction, faith and charity, landscape, portraiture and modern realism.
Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art depicts moments in the life cycle of the gods, from their birth to their transformations as blossoming flowers or fearsome creatures.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Bonnard's Worlds explores the sensory realms of experience that fueled the painter's creative practice - from the most public spaces to the most private.
Exhibitions like The Language of Beauty in African Art, SLAY: Artemisia Gentileschi and Kehinde Wiley, and Selections from the Permanent Collection are open to view now.
For the full list of the exhibition art and more information on tickets, click here. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/kimbell-art-museum-announces-2023-23-exhibition-schedule/3018268/ | 2022-07-23T20:21:06 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/kimbell-art-museum-announces-2023-23-exhibition-schedule/3018268/ |
Bedford Police said a suspected drunk driver is dead after leading police on a chase into Dallas and shooting at officers on the freeway. Police said an officer returned fire after the suspect shot at officers.
In a written statement, Bedford Police said that just before 2 a.m. on Saturday, an officer attempted to pull over a suspected drunk driver accused of speeding on Highway 183.
Instead of stopping, police said the driver began shooting at the officer. The chase then led into Dallas near the 2200 block of N. Stemmons Freeway, I-35E, where the driver came to a stop.
"When the driver finally stopped, he exited his vehicle and began firing at officers again, striking police vehicles, other vehicles in the area, and an innocent bystander nearby with complete disregard for anyone in the area," said Bedford Police in a written statement.
The Dallas County Sheriff's Office said traffic deputies who, "were conducting a routine check" heard gunshots during the chase on I-35.
In a written statement, DSO said the deputies realized the Bedford officer, "was pursing the chase lone. As DSO entered the freeway, the suspect vehicle came to a stop in the middle of the freeway. Both deputies began to park their vehicles to conduct a felony stop."
The sheriff's office goes on to say the suspect got out of the vehicle and began shooting at the deputies and Bedford Police officer.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
"One deputy’s squad car took a round in the middle of the windshield. The suspect firing his gun resulted in a civilian driver behind the DSO squad car being shot in the shoulder. This victim was transported to Parkland Hospital in critical condition," said the sheriff's office.
DSO said before the deputies could get out of their car, the Bedford officer returned fire, hitting the suspect who died at the scene.
The Dallas Police Department, who will be conducting the investigation, said in a statement that officers assisted in the pursuit involving Bedford Police and Dallas County Sheriff deputies.
DPD said there was a passenger inside the suspect's car who exited the vehicle and surrendered to police.
No officers were injured during the chase and shooting.
Police said the Dallas County District Attorney's Office is also involved in the investigation.
The shooting, which happened in 2300 block of N. Stemmons Freeway, near the Medical District, led to major delays for hours because investigators shut down the highway. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/suspect-killed-and-bystander-injured-in-overnight-chase-shootout-on-stemmons-freeway/3030111/ | 2022-07-23T20:21:12 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/suspect-killed-and-bystander-injured-in-overnight-chase-shootout-on-stemmons-freeway/3030111/ |
The Children's Aquarium at Fair Park is welcoming a new resident.
A Giant Pacific Octopus (GPO) is making its public debut beginning Thursday July 21 and Friday July 22.
The Octopus is a young 15-pound female that has yet to be named. The Aquarium's Instagram and Facebook pages will post a naming poll on Thursday.
What to know about Giant Pacific Octopuses
Giant Pacific Octopuses are intelligent and active. They are solitary creatures that can change color to blend in with their environment.
Because of their intelligence, GPOs are given a variety of enrichment opportunities including games and puzzles. They are the largest species of Octopus.
Summer fun
The Aquarium is open from 9a.m. to 5p.m. The attraction is free for children under two, $9.95 for ages 3 to 12, and $13.95 for anyone age 13 and up. Parking is free directly in front of the Aquarium.
Find the Children's Aquarium Dallas online at the Aquarium's website. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/giant-octopus-joins-the-childrens-aquarium-family/3019610/ | 2022-07-23T20:21:18 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/giant-octopus-joins-the-childrens-aquarium-family/3019610/ |
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Best Friends Lifesaving Center (BFLC) has partnered with over 550 animal shelters and rescue partners nationwide for an adoption campaign. This campaign is in an effort to encourage people to adopt pets from local shelters.
Eight Arkansas shelters and Best Friends Lifesaving Center will be participating in the campaign this weekend from July 22 to July 24.
Fees will be waived at BFLC this weekend for all pets. Pets will be fixed, vaccinated or microchipped, and ready to go home.
Here is a list of local animal shelters that will be participating:
- Best Friends Lifesaving Center: 210 Prairie Lane, Bentonville
- Cabot Animal Support Services, 2951 S 1st St., Cabot
- Columbia County Animal Protection Society, Inc., 510 W Columbia St, Magnolia
- Community Cats Global, Jacksonville
- Fort Smith Animal Haven, Fort Smith
- Friends of Kitties & Kanines, Fort Smith
- Paws & Claws Pet Shelter, 2075 Madison 6555, Huntsville
- Pit Ridge Rescue, 921 Rader Rd Rogers
- Shoal Bay Animal Haven, 392 N Highway 197
According to data released by Best Friends, U.S. shelters saw an 8.1 percent increase in animal intakes that pet adoptions couldn’t keep pace with, in 2021.
Shelters are continuing to fill up this summer exceeding capacities.
"Following the immense success of our National Adoption Weekend in May, which resulted in 4,529 lives saved, we couldn’t wait to have a second National Adoption Weekend as soon as possible,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. “The summer months, and July in particular, is one of the highest intake months for animal shelters in America so we really encourage anyone who’s looking for a pet to adopt now.”
Best Friends cites many benefits to adopting a pet, including:
- A One Stop (Adoption) Shop: Most pets that you adopt from a shelter will come vaccinated, microchipped and spayed or neutered which saves you the time and cost of having to do it yourself, like when you purchase a pet.
- You Gain a Lifetime Partner in Your Pets Life: Shelters and animal welfare organizations care about your new family member and will be there to help you throughout the life of the pet with helpful resources and information.
- You are Saving At Least Two Lives: When you adopt you are saving the life of the pet you adopt and opening a spot at a shelter or rescue for a new animal in need of a forever home.
Best Friends says there are currently considerably more pets at risk of being killed in shelters than at this time last year. This is due to recent problems such as staffing shortages, limited shelter hours, decreased volunteers, and reduced adoption events.
“The sad truth is that there is a shelter crisis going on and when shelters get overcrowded and pets aren’t adopted quickly enough, lives are on the line,” Castle added. “If you’re not able to commit to adoption, ask your local shelter or rescue if you can foster a pet instead. Doing so will still make a tremendous impact in saving lives.”
For more information or to find a local shelter, click here.
DOWNLOAD THE 5NEWS APP
DOWNLOAD FOR IPHONE HERE | DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID HERE
HOW TO ADD THE 5NEWS APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KFSM in the Channel Store.
For Fire TV, search for "KFSM" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com. | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/arkansas-animal-rescues-to-host-free-pet-adoption-this-weekend/527-5e0c4d9c-7481-4d8b-9f3e-6a115833a6cc | 2022-07-23T20:34:57 | 1 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/arkansas-animal-rescues-to-host-free-pet-adoption-this-weekend/527-5e0c4d9c-7481-4d8b-9f3e-6a115833a6cc |
A reward of $10,000 is being offered by the city's correction officers' union after one of its members was shot outside a Queens nightclub early Saturday.
Police said the off-duty officer had exited the Astoria establishment around 4:40 a.m. and was moving toward is vehicle on Steinway Street when he was approached by an armed robber.
"We believe the officer was targeted for jewelry he was wearing at the time," Benny Boscio, the union president, said.
The man's chain was stolen and he was shot in the thigh, police said. He was taken to Elmhurst Hospital for treatment.
The NYPD said the suspect fled northbound on Steinway Street in a black Nissan Ultima.
"The COBA is offering a $10,000 reward for any information that can help lead to the arrest and conviction of the officer’s assailants. We encourage the public to call 1-800-577-TIPS," Boscio said. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/nyc-union-offers-10k-reward-after-off-duty-correction-officer-shot-in-leg-ny-only/3791886/ | 2022-07-23T20:35:00 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/nyc-union-offers-10k-reward-after-off-duty-correction-officer-shot-in-leg-ny-only/3791886/ |
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Monarch butterflies are now considered an endangered species. If you're looking to help, Richland County Urban Horticulture Agent Jackie Jordan says anyone can help.
"If a homeowner wants to do something about it, they don’t have to put in a huge garden," Jordan said. "It’s a matter of just a few plants."
First on the list is milkweed. This serves as a host for larvae. In other words, monarchs can lay eggs on this plant. The baby caterpillars can then eat the plant.
Milkweed belongs to the Asclepias genus. There are multiple different species, some of which produce blooms.
"Monarch butterflies and several other species of butterflies - but mostly monarchs - only use milkweed and Asclepias as their larval host plant," gardener Clay Parker said. "So when they're going to reproduce and lay eggs, they have to find milkweed. They can’t go to a magnolia tree or an oak tree or a hibiscus tree…they have to find milkweed."
Parker said he started growing milkweed about six years ago. Now, he grows more than he needs and gives it out to community members in hopes the butterfly population will benefit.
"We thought, 'Hey, everybody should do this! It's great. Monarchs are in peril, so what can we do?" Parker said.
He said helping meant getting milkweed into any hands - and home gardens - he could.
"Now that monarch butterflies are officially endangered and disappearing, anyone can help," he said.
Milkweed is not the only thing they need. They also need open-facing flowers like marigolds and zinnias, Jordan says.
These flowers should bloom through multiple seasons, according to Jordan.
"We need a successional bloom. So early spring, mid-spring, late spring. Early summer, mid-summer, late summer. Early fall, mid-fall, so there's always a source of food for them," she said.
A key thing to keep in mind is how you maintain these flowers. Jordan says spraying them with certain pesticides can actually do more harm than good.
Her advice is to find a targeted pesticide that only impacts the specie you're trying to eliminate.
"Clemson has the Home and Garden Information Center. You can call up, you can always talk to an agent, we can help you identify the problem and make sure that we give you controls that have the narrowest scope and the least amount of impact so you're not harming those beneficials," Jordan said.
So why do we need monarch butterflies?
Jordan says it's because they're important pollinators.
"Pollinators are key to us surviving, for us to have food and flowers because they're so important in that pollination process," she said. "The scariest thing to imagine is what you could buy in a grocery store if there were no pollinators. You'd be limited to, like, oranges and corn."
Arlene Marturano is the Director of the South Carolina Garden-Based Learning Network. She brought some milkweed seeds to WLTX and planted them in Gandy's Garden.
Marturano brought three different types of seeds, although she said there are many to choose from.
"There are 20 in South Carolina, however, these are the most popular and easy to get in the marketplace," she said about the seeds she brought.
If you're interested in following along with our milkweed growth and learning more about planting, you can join the WLTX Gandy's Gardeners Facebook group.
RELATED: July in Gandy's Garden at WLTX | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/residents-help-endangered-monarch-butterflies-milkweed/101-5004c264-6128-4768-a990-9f04803adb23 | 2022-07-23T20:35:03 | 0 | https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/residents-help-endangered-monarch-butterflies-milkweed/101-5004c264-6128-4768-a990-9f04803adb23 |
Shark sightings off Rockaway Beach have temporarily closed swimming access Saturday afternoon, on the fifth day of an unrelenting heatwave in New York City.
New Yorkers hoping to catch relief from the heat with an afternoon swim will have to wait until parks officials deem it safe to re-enter the waters following "shark sightings in the area."
The boardwalk and concessions remain open while swimming is suspended. There was no ETA on when the beach would fully reopen.
Sharks are becoming a regular sight for New Yorkers.
There have been at least five people bitten by sharks at Long Island beaches since the start of the summer, but none of the victims have been badly injured.
With more sightings and attacks reported, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has ordered stepped-up patrols on some of the South Shore's most popular stretches of sand. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/rockaway-beach-closed-to-swimming-after-saturday-shark-sightings/3791889/ | 2022-07-23T20:35:07 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/rockaway-beach-closed-to-swimming-after-saturday-shark-sightings/3791889/ |
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore. — A brazen biker was tracked down by the Washington County Sheriff's Office air support unit Friday morning after several commuters reported the motorcyclist driving recklessly at more than 100 miles per hour down Highway 26 in the Hillsboro area.
Over the previous few days, law enforcement received several complaints about a reckless driver on a dark motorcycle speeding and weaving in and out of traffic during the early morning hours.
Officers witnessed a motorcycle rider going more than 124 mph at one point, but decided not to pursue due to the excessive speeds and public safety concerns.
"Once law enforcement was pretty sure where the person was going or the area they were going, they set up a proactive mission to see if they could catch him driving using our airplane," explained Detective Shannon Wilde. "It's much safer than trying to follow a motorcycle that’s going 120 miles an hour."
Friday morning, airborne investigators focused their attention on Highway 26 in an attempt to spot and track the motorcyclist. Just before 5:30 a.m., a deputy in the air noticed a black motorcycle traveling westbound down the highway; darting around cars, lane splitting and going over 100 mph.
The plane followed the driver to a parking garage near Northeast Dawson Creek Drive and Shute Road, at the Intel campus. As he was getting off the bike, deputies arrested Alex Gerkin, 23, of Vancouver, and charged him with reckless driving and driving under the influence of intoxicants.
"It is definitely concerning anytime you have somebody who is driving like that in our community consistently," said Wilde. "Clearly this guy was driving that way to and from wherever he was going everyday, and we can’t have somebody doing that."
There have been no reported injuries related to these incidents. Investigators are asking the public to contact the Sheriff's Office if they witnessed and captured video of the motorcycle rider. | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/highway-26-motorcycle-rider-speeding-reckless-hillsboro/283-a398e47a-9ad4-41e2-b7cc-e6159f09d7d4 | 2022-07-23T20:35:37 | 1 | https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/highway-26-motorcycle-rider-speeding-reckless-hillsboro/283-a398e47a-9ad4-41e2-b7cc-e6159f09d7d4 |
Michelle Unkle, of Stone Harbor, with Cowdog Tie Dye, helps Cara Toolan, 4, of Aston, Pennsylvania, make a shirt Saturday at the Cape May County 4-H Fair.
JOHN RUSSO, Staff Writer
Brandon O'Keefe, of Levittown, Pennsylvania, holds Landon Rodriguez, 2, as they check out the horses Saturday at the fair. Also pictured are Brittany Rodriguez and Joseph O'Keefe, 10.
JOHN RUSSO, Staff Writer
Ron, 38, and Nicole Kessler, 37, of Mays Landing, run the East Coast Axes mobile ax-throwing game at the fair.
JOHN RUSSO, Staff Writer
Ozzy Ozbun relaxes in the shade of a tree. He is owned by the Dougherty family of the Villas section of Lower Township.
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — The Cape May County 4-H Foundation learned this weekend that absence makes the heart grow fonder.
The county 4-H Fair, held Thursday to Saturday, returned for the first time since 2019. The fair was in full force Saturday, with more than twice the vendors than 2019, new musical acts, plenty of food and the return of kid-friendly amusement rides.
Lisa McVey, a 4-H chairperson, was thrilled with the success of this year's fair.
But this wasn't necessarily a return of the 4-H Fair. It was the start of a new chapter, she said.
Thursday and Friday were packed in the evening, seeing several thousand each night, according to 4-H Program Coordinator Linda Horner. Saturday was expected to see much of the same crowds.
"We needed to breathe life back into this again," said McVey, who has been in her current position since 2018.
This year's theme was Christmas in July. The horse stalls were decked out with Christmas decorations, and there was a Santa Claus in shorts meeting fair-goers. Saturday was also Western themed, with horse shows throughout the day.
There were more than 60 vendors signed up this year, selling items from jams and sauces to crafts and toys. Fair-goers could get their faces painted and make tie-dyed shirts. Several food booths were sprinkled throughout the fairgrounds, offering everything from barbecue and seafood to water ice and slushies.
One of the biggest features this year was the return of carnival rides for kids. McVey said this was the first time in probably at least 10 years they had rides. That was a big draw.
McVey said an agreement ended between the 4-H and a previous rides company, which had a poor reputation, more than 10 years ago, and they hadn't found a new company until recently.
"We finally were able to get a hold of Johnson's Fun Factory and Amusements (in Camden), and they're family-run, family-oriented and just down to earth, very reasonable, $20 wristbands and unlimited rides."
McVey said the foundation's members, longtime ones and new, put forth a great effort to make the 2022 show a special one.
UPPER TOWNSHIP — In the large barn at Misty Meadows Sheep Dairy, most of the 10 lambs walk t…
One of the newer members, Jason Couse, helped with the scheduling of entertainment. Local music artists like John Wood, of Linwood, and Terry Lee Goffee, who brought his Johnny Cash tribute, performed Friday.
Couse, who became a foundation director last October and whose children are in the 4-H, said it was tough figuring out how to bring in a high level of entertainment on a tight budget, an after effect of the COVID-19 pandemic with which the foundation is still dealing.
"We have plans that we're working on. We want to make this a tradition, make this a fair that future kids will bring their kids back to," he said.
Michele Hubmaster, of West Cape May, remembers coming to the Cape May 4-H Fair when she was a child in the early 1980s. Her four children came to the fair Friday.
She was there this weekend with her business, Cape May Dips, Sticks & Gifts, which sells sauces, jams, salsas and more.
"It's pretty much the same," said Hubmaster, 51, "but you know what I noticed? There are a lot more families and a lot more events. Before it was just horses and cows. Now they have dogs and a little girl was telling me about the fishing club. It's expanded a lot, and I didn't know about that, and it's pretty nice."
For more than 20 years, Tom Curyto’s voice beckoned vacationers traversing boardwalks in Wil…
Eric Toolan, 42, of Aston, Pennsylvania, brought his wife, Adria, and their two girls, Cara 4, and Penelope, 2, to the fair for the first time. Cara was busy making her own tie-dyed shirt at the Cowdog Tie Dye table, based out of Stone Harbor.
The Toolans, who have a summer home in the North Cape May section of Lower Township, planned to do some of the amusement rides as well.
"They loved (the horses), and of course, they want one now," Eric Toolan said.
Ron, 38, and Nicole Kessler, of Mays Landing, are in the first year of owning East Coast Axes, a mobile ax-throwing game they bring to festivals and fairs like this. They were both impressed with the 4-H Fair and have plans to return in the future.
"We've been to a couple other 4-H fairs and things like that, and this has been, I think, the best and most fun," said Nicole Kessler, 37.
I graduated from Rowan University in 2011 where I studied journalism. I covered local high school and college sports at the South Jersey Times and Vineland Daily Journal. I have been a sports reporter with The Press since July 2013
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account.
1 of 4
Michelle Unkle, of Stone Harbor, with Cowdog Tie Dye, helps Cara Toolan, 4, of Aston, Pennsylvania, make a shirt Saturday at the Cape May County 4-H Fair.
Brandon O'Keefe, of Levittown, Pennsylvania, holds Landon Rodriguez, 2, as they check out the horses Saturday at the fair. Also pictured are Brittany Rodriguez and Joseph O'Keefe, 10. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/cape-may-county-4-h-fair-makes-triumphant-post-covid-return/article_5dd58a72-0aae-11ed-83e0-7357973009d7.html | 2022-07-23T20:39:58 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/cape-may-county-4-h-fair-makes-triumphant-post-covid-return/article_5dd58a72-0aae-11ed-83e0-7357973009d7.html |
ATLANTIC CITY — Kevion Luo, Jameel Epps, Rafael Ortiz and Sean Casiao tired to reach the main draw of the 2022 Association of Volleyball Professionals Tour Series on Friday.
All four local players lost in the Atlantic City Open's qualifying rounds for the pro event but were able to keep competing by entering the AVP adult amateur division Saturday at the Albany Avenue beach.
That division's matches were played on 20 courts alongside the main tournament, which had eight courts and featured former Olympians and professionals.
"It was a fun experience to (play in his first professional tournament)," said Luo, a 2018 Egg Harbor Township High School graduate. "I got my butt kicked, but it was a fun experience to do that. It was against two Florida pros, so it doesn't really matter. It was a fun time. As long as I had fun, it's all good."
Casiao is a Little Egg Harbor Township resident and a Pinelands Regional graduate.
Epps, of Absecon, and Ortiz, of Pleasantville, are teammates. Epps is a 2008 ACIT graduate, while Ortiz is a 2018 Pleasantville graduate. Epps, 32, played basketball and volleyball at Pleasantville because ACIT did not have many teams while he was a student there.
Epps later helped coach volleyball at Pleasantville, which is how he met Ortiz, who played baseball as a Greyhounds freshman but left the team after seeing Epps serve a ball.
"I wanted to do that," Ortiz said.
Atlantic City is the seventh stop of 16 on this year's AVP Tour, which consists of three series — Gold, Pro and Tour. More than 200 players began the pro competition, 24 teams each in the men's and women's draws. Fourteen men's teams and 14 women's teams arrived here with automatic bids based on their AVP rankings. Two men's and two women's teams got in as wild cards. Eight men's and eight women's teams advanced out of Friday's qualifiers to make the pro tournament, which is double-elimination and will end Sunday.
"It was amazing," Ortiz said. "To me, it was an eye opener. It was my first (professional) qualifier. I have been playing beach (volleyball) for many years but never in a qualifying tournament. It was a learning experience. It did not turn out the way we wanted it to, but it was amazing."
Epps recalled when Ortiz was in high school. Epps approached Pleasantville coaches Jim Bucko and Tim Newkirk and told them Ortiz was going to "be the future." Ortiz had more than 100 kills and digs as a senior and has continued to improve in the years since, Epps said.
"He has made so much progress from then to now," Epps said. "He will only continue to grow. I thank God for everything — for giving us the opportunity to play volleyball at a high level, and do it healthy and safely, out here."
This is Epps' third professional tournament.
"Playing in the AVP volleyball tournament was just a blast," said Epps, who also played for the Stockton University men's club team in 2012-13.. "Just representing the locals and high school that are around here, it was really great. It is just nice to come out here and compete against high-level players and compete with my best friend and protégé. That is what makes it fun. We played really, really hard and really, really good. But we just did not get the result we wanted."
A great day on the beach
Casiao played with the Southern Ocean Volleyball Club, where most of the Southern Regional standouts come from. He played volleyball as a high school junior and senior but not for the Southern Regional team. In 2018, Casiao's friends told him about the beach volleyball courts in Ventnor, and he was hooked on the sport.
"It's not as hot as (Friday), yet," Casiao said Saturday morning. "It has definitely been great volleyball. I love the volleyball atmosphere. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming, honestly. If you need something, someone is always there to help you out no matter what."
This was Casiao's first taste of a professional tournament, but he has competed in at least 50 other tournaments.
"It was a great experience," Casiao said. "I would definitely want to play again."
Luo also learned to love beach volleyball through a friend and has played a lot at the Ventnor courts. EHT did not have a boys volleyball team when he was there. Luo, who recently graduated from Rutgers-New Brunswick, called volleyball his hobby.
"It's a great day on the beach, meeting new people and just having a great time," said Luo, who has played in beach volleyball tournaments for three years.
Back in September
The entire event expects to bring 3,000 attendees, 1,624 room nights and $1.6 million in economic impact, the Atlantic City Sports Commission said. The city will host a Pro Series event on Sept. 16-18. This is the third straight year the AVP has had tournaments here. AVP also hosted the Junior Nationals here this past week.
“Atlantic City is a home to beach volleyball on the East Coast, which is why it’s on our tour not one time but two times,” AVP competition director John King said. “Atlantic City is a great beach and has great hospitality."
The AVP women's championship is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Sunday, the men's title match at 4:30. The event's prize purse is $50,000 ($25,00 for each division split among the top nine places). The adult amateur divisions' prize purse was $2,500, split among the men's and women's brackets. The division was open to anyone, not just those who lost Friday.
"It has been electric," King added. "Count on the AVP being in Atlantic City for many years to come."
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account.
1 of 7
Sean Casiao, of Little Egg Harbor Township, dives to keep the ball in play during the AVP's Atlantic City Open on the Albany Avenue beach Saturday. | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/local-players-get-taste-of-professional-beach-volleyball-at-avps-atlantic-city-open/article_3d3ec980-0aaa-11ed-aef9-031255f33199.html | 2022-07-23T20:40:04 | 0 | https://pressofatlanticcity.com/sports/local/local-players-get-taste-of-professional-beach-volleyball-at-avps-atlantic-city-open/article_3d3ec980-0aaa-11ed-aef9-031255f33199.html |
Ann Arbor Art Fair brings out thousands
Hundreds of thousands flocked to Ann Arbor in search of the perfect pair of earrings, unique paintings and funky finds at the annual Art Fair that was back at full-scale this year.
White tents lined roadways with State Street at the center of the bustle on Saturday. This art fair is one of three that’s nationally recognized and award-winning. Artisans from across the country come here over the three-day period to show and sell art.
“We come every year,” said Jennifer Greenman of Fort Wayne, Indiana, who was sitting with her mother, Anita Ellert, also of Fort Wayne. “We like to look at all the different pieces of art.”
The mother-daughter duo took a tour bus from Fort Wayne to enjoy a day at the Art Fair on Saturday. They picked up some fun fashion earrings and were off to look for more.
“We love all the unique jewelry here … stuff you can’t get anywhere else,” Greeman said.
Greg and Madalon Blaszczyk of Romeo came down to see Chicago-based artist Francisco Marin's fine art booth. They know Marin and were taken by his photo art, especially his “Double Happiness” yellow and orange print that they decided to purchase on Saturday.
"The colors are stunning," Madalon said.
Michigan-based artist Lora Garcelon of Howell has been coming to the fair to sell her paintings for four years, but she also likes to come to see what other painters are showing.
"The quality of the art here is extremely good," she said. "There's a lot of very good painters and since I'm a painter I like to look at other painters."
Garcelon's paintings are inspired by life, she says, and feature ballerinas, cats and wildlife.
"Everything I paint is something I've experienced," she said. "Something I've seen."
She met her sales goal this year despite inflation pushing consumers to curb some spending.
"I think a lot of people are happy to be shopping at an art fair again," she said.
Jewelry artist Terry Ross from New York who makes modern, statement jewelry that's often inspired by flowers was excited to come to this year's fair after debuting here last year, but sales weren't great for her and she's not planning to make a return in 2023.
"I did really well last year," she said. "This year, it's very, very slow, I'd hate to say it. I think last year everyone was excited about getting out. They had their stimulus checks, they were ready to buy. This year I think people are a lot more cautious."
But Kate Seiler, another jewelry artist from Ann Arbor, did well this year with sales of her North Croft gemstone necklaces, earrings and bracelets. This is her second year coming after making her Art Fair debut in 2019 and this year has been "a lot better."
"I don't know if people are just ready to spend money because they haven't able to come to Art Fair for a few years," she said.
Seiler grew up going to the Art Fair and knew she wanted to sell her jewelry here one day.
"I always thought it would be cool to do Art Fair," she said. "That was always kind of my goal. It's just really fun. We love the other artists .. It's a sense of camaraderie. We all are in it together."
khall@detroitnews.com
Twitter:@bykaleahall | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/07/23/ann-arbor-art-fair-back-full-scale-year/10135421002/ | 2022-07-23T20:44:16 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/07/23/ann-arbor-art-fair-back-full-scale-year/10135421002/ |
BLOOMINGTON — To some antiquarians of rare and ornate doorknobs, escutcheons and locks, their collections are “functional sculptures.”
That includes Liz Gordon, who said she got into dealing the antique fixtures 40 years ago. She said she met a man in a Chicago alley who had a musty warehouse floor full of architectural junk.
Gordon said the man wanted to get out of the business and sell it all. And for $3,500, she bought in.
The Los Angeles woman was one of at least 20 members with the Antique Doorknob Collectors of America who attended the club’s 42nd convention Friday and Saturday at the Doubletree Hotel in Bloomington.
According to club president Paul Woodfin, their members convened to buy, sell and trade items after traveling in from all parts of the country. He came from Austin, Texas, and others were from New York, Oregon, Kansas, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Woodfin said they’re a very social organization that dines together and toured the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington. Earlier in the week, they made a visit to historic sites in Peoria. Part of why they chose the Twin Cities for this year’s event is because of its history and location, he said.
Woodfin said around 40% of their members live in the Midwest, adding they have a few members who live in Central Illinois.
Two of their members present Saturday were from McLean County, including Laura Walden, of Lexington. She said everyone in the club is super helpful.
Walden said she sold a lot over the weekend. Only a few items remained on her table Saturday morning, including lavish door hinges made in the 1880s by Bradford Lock Works, of Connecticut.
“Reproductions today are garbage,” she noted. But for her original, Walden said the casting is incredible and crisp.
Sometimes, tracking down the origin of an old hardware item can be a challenge. On the back of the display case for the Bradford hinges reads a vague encryption: “Removed from a building that was over 90-years-old when it was torn down in 1972.” No town or street address is noted.
The club’s founding member, Loretta Nemec, 88, of Naperville, said she’s been collecting hardware since she was 12 years old. A black doorknob for her home in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago first caught her eye.
Now, she boasts rarities in her collection, like doorknobs made from hemacite. That’s a material made from animal blood, sawdust and shellac.
Nemec explained that 19th century butchers were pouring blood into the sewers and attracting rats. She said the government wanted to stop that, so the waste products were molded into doorknobs and buttons.
What Nemec enjoys most about collecting old hardware is their history and beauty.
“No one appreciates the beauty of the years gone by,” she said.
Andy Streenz was another member there, also representing Bill's Key & Lock Shop in Bloomington. Streenz is Bill's son.
He said they specialize in antique lock repair, and preserving historical hardware is a priority. He worked on the Vrooman Mansion’s room locks, so each guest could be provided a working skeleton key.
Steenz said the locking mechanisms fascinate him because they’re almost two-dimensional. Open them up, and he said you can see what every piece does and how it works together.
“It's all very logical,” he said.
Gordon said she has over a million items her collection. When relocating her operation to California years ago, she said she filled 50 50-gallon barrel drums with them.
Her clients include interior designers, contractors, architects, people restoring their homes and locksmiths.
While only a portion of her stock made it to the Twin Cities this weekend, one special piece included a door handle and escutcheon (the plate that surrounds the doorknob mechanism) from the Chicago Stock Exchange building. Gordon priced it at $900.
She said no matter where you travel through the world, you’re going to find special hardware.
The ADCA is offering scholarships to students in fields of study related to historical preservation in architecture or design, and historic restoration and trades. For more information, visit www.antiquedoorknobs.org/scholarships.html
Photos: Efforts to combat food insecurity in Bloomington-Normal
Midwest Food Bank in Normal
Midwest Food Bank in Normal
Bread for Life Co-op
Bread for Life Co-op
Bread for Life Co-op
Bread for Life Co-op
Western Avenue Community Center
Western Avenue Community Center
West Bloomington Revitalization Project
Sunnyside Community Garden
Veggie Oasis
The Table
Veggie Oasis
Midwest Food Bank
Midwest Food Bank
Midwest Food Bank
Midwest Food Bank
Midwest Food Bank
Midwest Food Bank
Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest
Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest
Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest
Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest
Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest
Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest
Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest
Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest
Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest
Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest
Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison
Brendan Denison is our breaking news reporter. Denison was a digital content producer for WCIA-TV in Champaign and a reporter for The Commercial-News in Danville. He can be reached at (309) 820-3238 and bdenison@pantagraph.com.
More than 100 people of all ages joined Heritage Behavioral Health Center on Friday night in Clinton High School's gym for a tournament, snacks and prizes.
How many people in Bloomington-Normal worry about getting enough to eat — let alone access to healthy food? This is the first part of a series exploring the issue of food insecurity in our community.
Loretta Nemec, of Naperville, inspects items on display by fellow members of the Antique Doorknob Collectors of America at a Saturday convention in Bloomington.
An old doorknob with an engraved figure of a dog was just one of several ornate items displayed Saturday at the Antique Doorknob Collectors of America's convention in Bloomington.
Paul Woodfin, of Austin, Texas, holds up a doorknob from the Fisher building in Chicago while attending the Antique Doorknob Collectors of America convention Saturday in Bloomington.
A fish is engraved into this doorknob that originated from the historic Fisher building in Chicago. This was one of many items displayed at the Antique Doorknob Collectors Convention in Bloomington.
Antique doorknobs of many different materials, including glass, hemacite and metals, are shown in this photo taken Saturday at the Doorknob Collectors of America convention in Bloomington. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/antique-doorknob-convention-in-bloomington-turns-heads-of-history-buffs/article_1258ec00-0ab4-11ed-b044-2723056be1c6.html | 2022-07-23T20:49:35 | 0 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/antique-doorknob-convention-in-bloomington-turns-heads-of-history-buffs/article_1258ec00-0ab4-11ed-b044-2723056be1c6.html |
DECATUR — The Macon County History Museum will host a program on two Central Illinois topics at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7. The event is free and will last about an hour.
Tom Emery, a historical researcher from Carlinville, will spend part of the hour discussing his 2020 work, "Abraham Lincoln and the Heritage of Illinois State University." He will use the rest of the time to talk about Enoch Gastman, a figure in the early educational history of Decatur.
Gastman, the first student in the history of Illinois State University, spent 47 years as a teacher and principal in Decatur and was revered locally and across the state and nation, Emery explained in a news release. He will cover many aspects of Gastman’s professional and personal life, highlighting the challenges Gastman had to overcome.
Next, Emery's 288-page book details how Lincoln served as attorney to the state Board of Education, which oversaw ISU in its earliest days, and how he wrote the guaranty to secure funding for the university. In doing so, Lincoln ensured the university would be located in Bloomington-Normal.
Many of the early financial backers of ISU were Lincoln’s allies and friends in Bloomington-Normal, the news release continued. Lincoln was close to some of the early ISU faculty as well as several members of the early boards of education.
Emery collaborated with Carl Kasten, a 1966 ISU graduate and former chair of the university’s board of trustees, who conceived the project. Kasten is expected to be in attendance with Emery at the discussion.
The Macon County History Museum is at 5580 N. Fork Road in Decatur. For more information, call 217-422-4919 or email info@mchsdecatur.org.
My country, 'tis of thee: Music by and about America and Americans
Illinois issued 149 new recreational marijuana dispensary licenses Friday, marking a long-awaited advancement in the state’s efforts to expand and diversity the industry.
The Illinois economy added 18,800 jobs during June as the unemployment rate fell to 4.5%, the lowest it has been since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the state continues to lag behind the rest of the country in its recovery. | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/macon-county-museum-plans-talk-on-lincoln-illinois-state-university/article_ed056dde-0aa4-11ed-9407-3350c2e823af.html | 2022-07-23T20:49:41 | 1 | https://pantagraph.com/news/local/history/macon-county-museum-plans-talk-on-lincoln-illinois-state-university/article_ed056dde-0aa4-11ed-9407-3350c2e823af.html |
PORTLAND, Ore. (PORTLAND TRIBUNE) — Ann Lininger, the Clackamas County Circuit Court judge who presided over the ongoing case regarding access to Oswego Lake, has been disqualified from the proceedings due to communications she had with the plaintiffs when she served on the Oregon Legislature in 2014.
Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Tom Ryan issued the disqualification ruling during a hearing Tuesday, July 19, stating that while Lininger did not commit a due process violation, her contact with Mark Kramer and Todd Prager — when they seemed to have discussed potential legislation related to lake access — in 2014 while she was the House District 38 representative amounted to brief participation in the issue. Oregon law states that a judge cannot preside over a case if they had participated personally as a public official in the matter at hand.
The push to have Lininger disqualified — made by lawyers from the Lake Oswego Corporation and the city of Lake Oswego — led to the delay of the second phase of the trial, which will focus on whether the city’s policies preventing access from its facilities are reasonable. In the first phase, Lininger had determined that the lake was navigable at the time of statehood and subject to Public Trust Doctrine, therefore opening up the possibility that it would become publicly accessible. However, Lininger’s assistant told the Review last week that a hearing over the status of the first phase of the trial might take place if Lininger were to be disqualified.
Jeff Ward, Lake Corporation general manager, said the corporation has not decided what it will do following the decision. The city’s policy is not to discuss ongoing litigation.
Kramer and Prager initially filed a lawsuit in 2012 regarding the city’s policies barring lake access, thus leading to a 10-year saga. The circuit court and Oregon Court of Appeals previously ruled in favor of the Lake Corporation, while the Oregon Supreme Court remanded the case back to the circuit court in 2019.
During a previous hearing Lininger declined to recuse herself, saying that she had disclosed during a pretrial hearing that she had discussed the lake issue with people on all sides and that it’s part of the normal duties of being an elected official to meet with constituents. Lininger had not sponsored legislation following conversations with the plaintiffs, but had referred them to other legislators who might be sympathetic to their cause. No legislation ended up being introduced.
Nadia Dahab, representing the plaintiffs, argued during the hearing that the fact that Lininger did not sponsor a bill that Kramer and Prager had pushed meant that she was not a participant.
The Lake Corporation and the city disagreed, saying that Lininger had met personally with Kramer and Prager, received documents and responded favorably to the conversation.
The city and the Lake Corporation had felt she should have disclosed prior to the trial that she had met with the plaintiffs as a legislator.
“Had they disclosed that, we wouldn’t be here today,” a lawyer representing the city said at the hearing.
In the end, Ryan sided with the city and the Lake Corporation.
Prior to the hearing, the judge presiding over the motion to disqualify had shifted twice. First, Judge Michael Wetzel removed himself after he had apparently had conversations with Lininger about the case in recent weeks, and Judge Beth Allen was nixed as well after a request from the Lake Corporation.
A date for subsequent proceedings in the trial has not been set.
Portland Tribune and its parent, Pamplin Media Group, are KOIN 6 News partners. | https://www.koin.com/local/clackamas-county/judge-disqualified-from-oswego-lake-case-ruling-in-doubt/ | 2022-07-23T20:52:29 | 1 | https://www.koin.com/local/clackamas-county/judge-disqualified-from-oswego-lake-case-ruling-in-doubt/ |
HAMMOND — An Indiana State Police trooper was pinned against a concrete barrier wall along Interstate 80/94 after a North Carolina driver crashed into multiple vehicles early Saturday morning, according to ISP.
About 2 a.m. Saturday, state troopers and the Hammond Fire Department were investigating a suspicious incident on I-80/94, just West of Calumet Avenue, when a white 2016 Dodge Charger traveling eastbound hit a Hammond firetruck and a black 2009 Subaru. According to ISP, the Subaru spun out of control, hitting a black 2012 Dodge Journey that was parked on the right shoulder of the road. The Journey hit state trooper William Carlson and pinned him against a concrete barrier wall.
Carlson was able to free himself and was taken to Munster Community Hospital for treatment. ISP said he has been released.
The driver of the white Dodge Charger, 23-year-old Bryan K. Smith, tried to run away from the scene, leaving a seriously injured 23-year-old woman from Chicago Heights, Illinois, in the Dodge Charger. A civilian who was working nearby blocked Smith with his car. According to ISP, another civilian exited his truck, drew a handgun on Smith and told him to stop.
Lady A cancels Porter County Fair show
WATCH NOW: 3 in custody after brawl in water park, police say
UPDATE: Waterpark melee suspects identified, photos released
UPDATE: Porter County 2-year-old dies after shooting himself; investigation underway, officials say
Porter County 2-year-old injured in self-inflicted shooting, police say
Babysitter convicted of neglect in infant's death 6 years ago
Woman admits she killed boyfriend by intentionally hitting him with SUV
Region lottery winner could end up big loser
Region man dies following motorcycle crash, officials say
Region woman shot dead in car while driving, police say
Children found alone at Portage hotel; dad charged with neglect, police say
Defendant gunned down man after arranging marijuana purchase, police say
Crown Point HS teacher accused of sexual relationship with student, faces felony charges
Michigan City woman shot dead in car identified
Merrillville to host job fair for many employers, including new Domino's plant
Smith complied and State Trooper Ryan Parent arrested him.
The female passenger in the Dodge Charger was flown to Advocate Christ Medical Center for treatment. ISP said her current condition is unknown.
Smith was taken to Munster Community Hospital for minor injuries and is now being held at the Lake County Jail.
No other injuries were reported. ISP said a Glock .45 handgun was found inside the Dodge Charger.
Gallery: Recent arrests booked into LaPorte County Jail
Preston Walker
Arrest Date: July 18, 2022
Arresting Agency: LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
Offense Description: Theft
Class: Felony
Age: 32
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Terry Britney
Arrest Date: July 18, 2022
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Offense Description: Battery
Class: Misdemeanor
Age: 52
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Dominique Diaz
Arrest Date: July 18, 2022
Arresting Agency: LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
Offense Description: Criminal Confinement; Intimidation
Class: Felonies
Age: 18
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Robert Payne
Arrest Date: July 18, 2022
Arresting Agency: LaPorte Police Department
Offense Description: Criminal Recklessness
Class: Felony
Age: 31
Residence: LaPorte, IN
Matthew Schutz
Arrest Date: July 18, 2022
Arresting Agency: LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
Offense Description: Domestic Battery
Class: Felony
Age: 38
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Antwan Fowler
Arrest Date: July 17, 2022
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Offense Description: Battery
Class: Misdemeanor
Age: 23
Residence: Michigan City, IN
John Floyd III
Arrest Date: July 16, 2022
Arresting Agency: Long Beach Police Department
Offense Description: Failure to Appear
Class: Felony
Age: 42
Residence: LaPorte, IN
Christian Delvalle
Arrest Date: July 16, 2022
Arresting Agency: LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
Offense Description: Possession of a Stolen firearm
Class: Felony
Age: 22
Residence: Gary, IN
Carl Barrett
Arrest Date: July 17, 2022
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Offense Description: Resisting Law Enforcement
Class: Felony
Age: 23
Residence: Chicago, IL
Rodger Thompson
Arrest Date: July 16, 2022
Arresting Agency: LaPorte Police Department
Offense Description: Failure to Return to Lawful Detention; Failure to Appear
Class: Felonies
Age: 41
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Brad Hudgins
Arrest Date: July 16, 2022
Arresting Agency: LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
Offense Description: OWI; Operating a Vehicle as an Habitual Traffic Violator; Possession of a Controlied Substance
Class: Felonies
Age: 36
Residence: LaPorte, IN
Xuan Logan II
Arrest Date: July 16, 2022
Arresting Agency: LaPorte Police Department; Other
Offense Description: Domestic Battery; Battery Against a Public Safety Officer; Possession of Methamphetamine
Class: Felonies
Age: 26
Residence: LaPorte, IN
Matthew King
Arrest Date: July 14, 2022
Arresting Agency: Other
Offense Description: Failure to Return to Lawful Detention
Class: Felony
Age: 41
Residence: LaPorte, IN
Maria Carrillo-Macias
Arrest Date: July 16, 2022
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Offense Description: Failure to Appear; OWI
Class: Felony; Misdemeanor
Age: 45
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Deborah Bickel
Arrest Date: July 14, 2022
Arresting Agency: LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
Offense Description: Possession of Methamphetamine
Class: Felony
Age: 60
Residence: Mishawaka, IN
Christopher Ownby
Arrest Date: July 14, 2022
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Offense Description: Failure to Appear
Class: Felony
Age: 40
Residence: Lake Village, IN
Kaleisha Washington
Arrest Date: July 14, 2022
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Offense Description: Failure to Appear
Class: Felony
Age: 21
Residence: Chicago, IL
William Sobolewski
Arrest Date: July 14, 2022
Arresting Agency: LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
Offense Description: Possession of Methamphetamine
Class: Felony
Age: 45
Residence: Mishawaka, IN
Melissa Radcliff
Arrest Date: July 13, 2022
Arresting Agency: Trail Creek Police Department
Offense Description: Battery
Class: Misdemeanor
Age: 49
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Oshei Gerron
Arrest Date: July 13, 2022
Arresting Agency: Indiana State Police
Offense Description: OWI
Class: Misdemeanor
Age: 28
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Joshua Garus
Arrest Date: July 13, 2022
Arresting Agency: LaPorte Police Department
Offense Description: Possession of a Narcotic Drug
Class: Felony
Age: 33
Residence: LaPorte, IN
Jewlius Jackson
Arrest Date: July 13, 2022
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Offense Description: Kidnapping; Criminal Confinement; Battery
Class: Felonies
Age: 31
Residence: Hammond, IN
Ashley Fearing
Arrest Date: July 13, 2022
Arresting Agency: LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
Offense Description: Battery on a Person Less than 14 years old
Class: Felony
Age: 35
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Landon Bowerson
Arrest Date: July 13, 2022
Arresting Agency: Kingsford Heights Police Department
Offense Description: Battery; Battery in the Presence of a Child
Class: Felonies
Age: 18
Residence: Kingsford Heights, IN
Javon West
Arrest Date: July 13, 2022
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Offense Description: Domestic Battery
Class: Felony
Age: 24
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Robert Stiffler
Arrest Date: July 13, 2022
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Offense Description: Residential Entry
Class: Felony
Age: 28
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Leonard King
Arrest Date: July 13, 2022
Arresting Agency: LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
Offense Description: Possession of a Narcotic Drug
Class: Felony
Age: 20
Residence: South Bend, IN
Melvin Dowdell
Arrest Date: July 12, 2022
Arresting Agency: LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
Offense Description: Failure to Appear
Class: Felony
Age: 27
Residence: LaPorte, IN
Perry Hurley Jr.
Arrest Date: July 13, 2022
Arresting Agency: LaPorte Police Department
Offense Description: Auto Theft
Class: Felony
Age: 40
Residence: Westville, IN
Mondez Hurst
Arrest Date: July 11, 2022
Arresting Agency: Indiana State Police
Offense Description: Auto Theft
Class: Felony
Age: 18
Residence: Calumet City, IL
Michael Hawthorne
Arrest Date: July 11, 2022
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Offense Description: Criminal gang intimidation; Criminal Recklessness
Class: Felonies
Age: 21
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Dante Sellers II
Arrest Date: July 11, 2022
Arresting Agency: Michigan City Police Department
Offense Description: Criminal gang intimidation; Assisting a Criminal
Class: Felonies
Age: 22
Residence: Michigan City, IN
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox! | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/hammond/north-carolina-man-attempts-to-flee-after-causing-crash-that-pinned-state-trooper-against-concrete/article_43f96e7c-1825-546c-b639-38fc5ba79fa0.html | 2022-07-23T20:54:31 | 1 | https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/hammond/north-carolina-man-attempts-to-flee-after-causing-crash-that-pinned-state-trooper-against-concrete/article_43f96e7c-1825-546c-b639-38fc5ba79fa0.html |
BANKS COUNTY, Ga. — A community is now rallying behind a man who has given his all to them.
Banks County investigator Dennis Elrod has been a pillar in his community for more than 30 years.
They say he can solve a crime by just making a single phone call.
Recently, investigator Elrod was diagnosed with Leukemia and is undergoing treatment at Emory Hospital.
Now, the small but mighty Banks County community is coming together to raise money for investigator Elrod and his family with a GoFundMe page and BBQ plates.
11Alive caught up with Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed who said he's touched by the outpouring of support for one of his brothers in blue.
"It's very refreshing to know they still love law enforcement," Speed said. "There's a lot of people out there who still appreciate the job we do every day and they're showing by what they're offering by investigator Elrod."
The new fundraiser page is hoping to raise $25,000 for the Elrod family.
The Banks County community is also holding a BBQ fundraiser for investigator Elrod on Saturday, Aug. 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m at Hudson Lodge #294 at 1364 Hospital Road in Commerce, Georgia.
Click here to learn more about the fundraiser and how to help. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/bbq-fundraiser-banks-county-sheriff-dennis-elrod/85-754dc93c-2cde-486b-97c4-0cc573d8165f | 2022-07-23T21:00:12 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/bbq-fundraiser-banks-county-sheriff-dennis-elrod/85-754dc93c-2cde-486b-97c4-0cc573d8165f |
CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A Mattie's Call has been issued for a missing 84-year-old man with dementia in Clayton County.
According to the Clayton County Police Department, Lester Glass was last seen around 8 p.m. Friday at the 8300-block of Winston Way in Jonesboro.
Glass is described as 5-feet 11-inches tall, 180 pounds, has brown eyes and a bald head.
He was last seen wearing a blue and white button-up shirt, blue jeans, grey with red and white New Balance shoes and a Veterans hat.
Authorities said Glass may be walking or may be in a 2008 red Chevrolet Trailblazer with the license plate number: BEF6104. Clayton County Police said Glass has been diagnosed with dementia and is unable to care for himself.
If you see Glass or have any information about his whereabouts, call 911 or the Clayton County Police Department at (770) 477-3648. | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/missing-in-georgia/matties-call-issued-84-year-old-lester-glass-clayton-county/85-7bd495a2-2ca3-4f3d-a49a-c97e20720f0d | 2022-07-23T21:00:12 | 0 | https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/missing-in-georgia/matties-call-issued-84-year-old-lester-glass-clayton-county/85-7bd495a2-2ca3-4f3d-a49a-c97e20720f0d |
Suspects flee after shootout at Tempe Walmart
Jose R. Gonzalez
Arizona Republic
A shooting at a Tempe Walmart Supercenter parking lot on Saturday morning ended with suspects fleeing before police arrived.
An altercation between two people at the retailer's 1380 W. Elliot Rd. location escalated with both firing rounds at each other. Tempe Police responded to the incident at approximately 9:31 a.m., but not before the pair fled, according to agency spokesperson Officer Robert Lopez.
There were no reported injuries, according to Lopez.
No description of the shooters was immediately available.
Reach breaking news reporter Jose R. Gonzalez at jose.gonzalez@gannett.com or on Twitter @jrgzztx.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2022/07/23/tempe-walmart-shootout-suspects-flee/10135409002/ | 2022-07-23T21:08:54 | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2022/07/23/tempe-walmart-shootout-suspects-flee/10135409002/ |
BETHESDA, Md. — A wealthy stock trader has been released from prison early after he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a man he’d hired to dig tunnels under his home.
His release was not unexpected; he had already been incarcerated for about three years and was already eligible for parole when the judge imposed his 5-year sentence in March.
Beckwitt, who had a paranoid fear about a North Korean nuclear attack, hired Khafra to dig tunnels that would connect his home to a bunker. Firefighters found Khafra’s body in the basement of Beckwitt’s home.
Prosecutors said the extreme hoarding conditions in the home prevented him from escaping. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/stock-trader-released-from-prison-after-tunnel-fire-sentence/2022/07/23/593e9b04-0aca-11ed-80b6-43f2bfcc6662_story.html | 2022-07-23T21:40:45 | 0 | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/stock-trader-released-from-prison-after-tunnel-fire-sentence/2022/07/23/593e9b04-0aca-11ed-80b6-43f2bfcc6662_story.html |
INDIANAPOLIS — Central Indiana police agencies are preparing for a busy week ahead, with lawmakers starting the special session on Monday.
Already, GOP senators have shared details about three bills for this upcoming session. One of those bills would ban most abortions in the state, except for in cases of rape, incest and the life of the mother.
It's a plan that Vice President Kamala Harris opposes. She'll travel to Indianapolis on Monday to meet with state leaders and discuss reproductive rights.
She's expected to lead a reproductive rights roundtable.
Also on Monday, public testimony begins at 1 p.m.
Unlike other states with trigger laws in place, Indiana's plan for how it'll proceed forward with abortion is still up in the air, after the Supreme Court's landmark ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.
In the weeks that followed, protests have been held across the country, including right here in Indianapolis.
With that in mind, state police are preparing for a tense week ahead.
Groups on both sides of the debate are planning to protest. Planned Parenthood is organizing a demonstration Monday and Indiana Right To Life is hosting a rally Tuesday.
State police and other agencies said between the protests and the vice president's visit, they're adding extra safety measures to make sure everything will remain peaceful. | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/indiana-state-police-plan-extra-safety-measures-for-special-session-beginning-monday/531-4cb8b4a4-0281-41ca-965c-54404b81d697 | 2022-07-23T21:45:06 | 1 | https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/indiana-state-police-plan-extra-safety-measures-for-special-session-beginning-monday/531-4cb8b4a4-0281-41ca-965c-54404b81d697 |
The Commemorative Air Force AirPower History Tour — a national tour featuring historic World War II aircraft — stopped at the Kenosha Regional Airport this week and drew hundreds of spectators.
The rare aircraft arrived at the local airport, 9894 52nd St., on Wednesday and remained here over the weekend.
The event included cockpit tours and airplane rides available to the public. Attending aircraft included the B-29 Superfortress FIFI, the B-24 Liberator Diamond Lil, the T-6 Texan and a Boeing Stearman.
The B-29/B-24 Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force brings together the aircraft, pilots and crews from more than 70 CAF units across the country to create the AirPower Squadron. The organization describes it as “an ever-changing assortment of military aircraft touring together to bring the sights, sounds and smells of World War II aviation history to audiences across the United States.”
People are also reading…
Tour leader Pam Pedron said such events also help descendants of WWII-era soldiers or aircraft maintenance workers better understand what their grandparents experienced.
“It’s really touching,” Pedron said. “A lot of people will buy rides, because we takes riders on these aircraft, and they want to sit in the seat where their loved one sat in- like a gunner or navigator or radio operator (seat). It brings tears to my eyes and they get vert teary, too. It’s really an experience.”
The tours also educate young people about those who served and sacrificed during WWII.
“Our motto is to educate, inspire and honor those from WWII,” Pedron said.
Florence Klappa, 102, of Kenosha, got to touch the B-29 named “FIFI” during the AirPower History Tour on Saturday. Klappa’s late husband, Roger, performed engine maintenance on the plane made at the end of WWII and returned to active duty in 1953. He flew on the plane countless times and never flew again after his last flight on FIFI. This was the first time Klappa saw the plane in person.
“I got close enough to touch it,” Klappa said, adding “you have no idea” how it felt to be so close to the aircraft.
Klappa’s great-great-grandson Collin Jacobson was also in attendance. The boy wore a “Top Gun” t-shirt and brought a toy fighter plane with him. He wants to be a pilot when he grows up.
“I want to be a fighter pilot,” he said, adding it’s “pretty cool” his great-great grandfather worked on FIFI. | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/watch-now-commemorative-air-force-airpower-history-tour-stops-at-kenosha-airport/article_a0163156-0ab9-11ed-ad88-0b1641eeae92.html | 2022-07-23T21:50:56 | 1 | https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/watch-now-commemorative-air-force-airpower-history-tour-stops-at-kenosha-airport/article_a0163156-0ab9-11ed-ad88-0b1641eeae92.html |
DALLAS — Dallas firefighters responded to a 3-alarm fire at an apartment complex on Remond Drive Saturday afternoon.
A Dallas Fire-Rescue Department spokesperson said fire-rescue units were dispatched at 12:35 p.m. to a structure fire at an apartment complex at 2948 Remond Drive in southwest Dallas.
When they got there, officials say firefighters saw fire coming from the front of an apartment building on the first and second floors.
Three people were reported still inside, and firefighters were able to rescue them all. They were were taken to a hospital for evaluation due to smoke exposure and fire conditions inside the building.
As of 2:35 p.m., the Fire-Rescue Department has shifted their focus to putting out the fire since it reached the attic space of the building. All suppression efforts have moved to the building's exterior with command calling for additional manpower.
Officials say the cause of the fire will be listed as undetermined. | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-fire-apartment-complex-remond-drive-north-westmoreland-road-three-alarm-july-23-2022/287-6e8954f3-9ecb-499f-b1a8-61224adc69f8 | 2022-07-23T21:58:11 | 1 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-fire-apartment-complex-remond-drive-north-westmoreland-road-three-alarm-july-23-2022/287-6e8954f3-9ecb-499f-b1a8-61224adc69f8 |
BLUE RIDGE, Texas — Collin County officials report one person was killed and another seriously injured in a structure fire Saturday morning.
The Blue Ridge Fire Department, Westminster Fire Department and Collin County Sheriff's Office all responded to the structure fire around 6:45 a.m. Saturday morning, officials said.
Upon arrival, first responders found the residence entirely engulfed in flames.
Officials added that they found a 55-year-old woman who was seriously injured. She was taken to Medical Center of McKinney, where she's expected to survive.
Firefighters worked for hours to contain the fire, officials say, but the home was destroyed.
One person was found dead inside who investigators believe died in the fire. The Collin County Medical Examiner and investigators are working to identify them.
The Collin County Fire Marshal's Office is leading the investigation into the cause of the fire.
Other local news: | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/house-fire-blue-ridge-texas-collin-county-woman-injured-victim-found-dead/287-fd72dc06-9613-46d3-a091-a4afa8d80ae6 | 2022-07-23T21:58:17 | 0 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/house-fire-blue-ridge-texas-collin-county-woman-injured-victim-found-dead/287-fd72dc06-9613-46d3-a091-a4afa8d80ae6 |
A driver led White Settlement officers in a vehicle pursuit Saturday, ending a suspect's arrest, officials confirm to NBC 5.
The pursuit began at 2:40 Saturday afternoon when WSPD officers attempted to stop a driver who was running multiple stop signs and according to officials, was driving recklessly, endangering the public. Officers later found out the driver was part of a disturbance in the neighborhood prior to the pursuit.
The pursuit ended with the suspect arrested for evading arrest and detention. There were no injuries to the suspect, officers or the public. | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/white-settlement-vehicle-pursuit-ends-in-arrest/3030175/ | 2022-07-23T22:05:18 | 1 | https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/white-settlement-vehicle-pursuit-ends-in-arrest/3030175/ |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.