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Steve Lewis/Durango Herald
The Lutheran Lions got some divine intervention, if you ask James Willis.
Willis caught holy fire in the fourth quarter to score 15 of Lutheran's 29 final-frame points, just enough to overcome a 20-2 third-quarter pummelling by the Ignacio High School boys basketball team.
IHS spent the final eight minutes of Saturday's game in the role of hapless Job at Durango High School.
The Lions beat the Bobcats 52-46 in the Class 2A Region 3 championship game to secure a spot in the CHSAA Class 2A Boys Basketball State Championships next week at Massari Arena in Pueblo.
"I'm being completely honest; it was all God," said Willis, who led all scorers with 19 points. "It was all Jesus Christ."
The Bobcats, meanwhile, were left crying "My God, my God, why have you forsaken us?"
Visibly, at least, "God" was the Bobcats' offensive rhythm.
After trailing 21-16 at half, the Bobcats hitched themselves to their own chariot of fire, and the flaming horses were Kelton Richmond and Wyatt Hayes.
Richmond galloped into the third quarter with three consecutive layups, one an alley-oop. He led the Bobcats with 15 total points.
"He pounded the boards a little bit," IHS head coach Chris Valdez said.
Justin Carver hit a 3-pointer, then Hayes charged ahead with two of his own, one from about 25-feet deep.
"It was good just to get momentum going," Hayes said.
Hayes scored 11 and Carver nine, a good portion of them scored in that 20-2 third quarter, which was capped by senior Austin Haire's three-point play.
Ignacio cracked Lutheran's 1-3-1 zone, after struggling some against the Lions' much-superior size in the first two quarters. All of the Lions' players top 6-feet, with five listed at 6-4 or higher.
"They're huge; they're monsters," Valdez said. "And we're not afraid of their height. Their height didn't beat us, their abilities did."
One of which was defensive shape-shifting, from the zone to man-to-man defense.
"They changed their defense," Hayes said. "And we didn't know what to do."
The good Lord giveth, and the good Lord taketh away.
Willis – a 6-1 guard whom Valdez said has the build of a Division I college guard – went to work. He hit a pair of fourth-quarter 3s, mixed up with slicing drives through the lane. He led a 16-0 Lutheran run to start the fourth quarter, which wiped out Ignacio's lead at 37-36 and ended at 39-36.
Josh Clausen added seven more points to finish with 13, and the Lions didn't waver.
"They understand how to win," Vadlez said. "They do it all year, too."
"You've got to win the fourth quarter, if you're going to win games," he said. "We're a 3˝-quarter team right now."
Still, 3˝ quarters got the Bobcats to a 19-6 overall record, their fifth consecutive chance to host the Region 3 tournament and six points from their fourth state tournament berth in five years.
The fact that they're not in that tournament alongside Lutheran is a shame, Lutheran coach Ryan Bredow told Valdez.
In his own words: "Man, this is not just a cliché statement – Ignacio is a very, very tough team," Bredow said.
For his part, Valdez hopes the Lions win it all.


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New documents and audio released Tuesday by the state attorney's office provide more insight into what happened the night investigators say Michael Dunn shot and killed Jordan Davis in a dispute over loud music.
Dunn is charged with murder in the shooting death of the 17-year-old outside a Gate gas station on the Southside in November.
Witness statements from those who were in the SUV in which Davis was killed and from Dunn's girlfriend, who was in the store and talked to Dunn as they were driving off, are included in the nearly 150 pages of documents.
Davis (pictured, right) and his friends were in a red SUV parked at the Gate station when Dunn and his girlfriend pulled into the parking lot and parked beside them, according to the documents. Dunn's girlfriend went into the store to buy wine, according to the documents. Dunn asked the teens to turn the music down, and he made a comment to his girlfriend about how he hated "thug music," according to the documents.
Dunn's girlfriend said that type of comment was common for him, but she said it was totally out of character to confront someone over loud music, according to the documents.
According to the documents, one of the teens in the SUV turned the music down, but Davis told him to turn it back up. Davis was cursing at Dunn and said, "I am tied of people telling me what to do," according to the documents.
DOCUMENT: Discovery materials in Dunn case
AUDIO: Recording near cashier register captures dialogue
(Warning: Contains graphic language)
DOCUMENT: Order denying Dunn bond
DOCUMENT: Affidavit, deposition in Michael Dunn case
AUDIO: 911 calls in Jordan Davis case
IMAGES: Crime scene, evidence photos
One witness heard Dunn say, "You talking to me?" according to the documents, He said Dunn then got his gun from the glove compartment, loaded it and started shooting while sitting in his car, according to the documents. He opened the door, got out, crouched down and kept firing, according to the documents.
Dunn's girlfriend heard the gunfire in the store, went out and yelled, "Michael, what have you done?" according to the evidence materials.
Inside the store, those at the cash register also heard the gunfire.
"Somebody is shooting. Somebody is shooting out of their car. I swear to God. He is shooting. Right here in front of us," one witness said in surveillance audio from the cashier counter.
"The cops are right across the street," another said.
Dunn's girlfriend got in the passenger side of the car, and Dunn drove off to the hotel where they were staying, according to the documents. Witnesses who were in the store got the license plate number for Dunn's car.
Later on, according to the documents, when questioned by police, the girlfriend said during that conversation minutes after the shooting that Dunn never mentioned he thought someone in the SUV had a gun, just that he thought they were getting out of the SUV. He told her he was scared because people were making threats, according to the documents.
The teens in the SUV told police Davis had nothing in his hands.
When police questioned Dunn on the phone at his home in Brevard County before he turned himself in, they said he told them he knew what they were calling about. "I acted in self-defense. The guys were getting out of the truck," Dunn said, according to the documents.
When told he need to go to the nearest Brevard County Sheriff's Office, Dunn said, "This sucks."
Dunn, 46, was denied bond last week and will remain in jail until his trial.
Davis family attorney, John Phillips, spoke out Tuesday about the latest documents released about the night Davis was killed by Michael Dunn.

subset: commoncrawl


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6 Ways to Plan for Your Later Years
Here's a list of the key planning needs for the major decisions that will shape your later years.
Coming to terms with the realities of your later years can be one of the toughest challenges of aging. America is geared to youth and even acknowledging the inevitability of aging may be considered a form of cultural disloyalty.
So let's accept and applaud that 80 can be the new 60, that millions of baby boomers will reinvent themselves during their 60s and 70s, and that stereotypes about being old in America will be tossed out in favor of more positive images of vibrant old age.
[See 10 Bargain Retirement Spots.]
Even so, we will still get old. After all, isn't that the goal of today's enhanced emphasis on taking better care of ourselves? To age successfully, however, we also will need to contemplate important aspects of our later years, up to and including plans for our death.
The Longevity Project, a current book on traits of people who have lived long and successful lives, notes that conscientious people are favored to live long and well. One reason is that they do not leave things to chance. They tackle future needs today. Having plans in place, they are more prepared and less stressed about what their futures may hold. Such an approach does not, of course, guarantee successful aging. But it sure raises the odds.
Here are some of the key planning needs that nearly everyone will face as they age and retire. Some are practical and financial; others are very subjective but no less important. In every case, the sooner you begin to build these plans, the better off you'll be in the future. How many of these life "boxes" have you checked off?
Achieve retirement self-sufficiency. Generating the largest possible retirement income often seems to be the only financial goal of retirement planning. But it's really just a very visible element of a more complex set of calculations, many of which are emotional, not financial. The goal of all this work is to produce self-sufficiency in retirement. We don't want to worry about making ends meet every month, and we certainly don't want to be a burden on our families. Reaching self-sufficiency is a process that should begin well before you turn 65. It often can require some very difficult and perhaps uncomfortable admissions about how much money you will have to live on in retirement. While we're balancing future expenses and income, we're also adjusting our dreams to reflect the reality of our likely future circumstances. It is hard work, but ignoring it doesn't make it easier or lead to better outcomes.
[See 3 Steps to Turn Nest Eggs Into Retiree Income.]
Do worst-case planning. Unless you're really wealthy, there are adverse life events that can devastate your finances. Take suitable precautions. For example, I just bought an additional life insurance policy that will be in force until I'm 80 years old. Its sole purpose is to help my wife (and me) sleep better at night knowing she will have an extra cushion if something happens to me. For the same reason—sleeping well at night—we're also going to strengthen our long-term care insurance, adding to our coverage limits (particularly for in-home care) and also getting what's called a state "partnership" policy. Under this policy, if one of us requires extensive care—most likely for Alzheimer's—we would seek Medicaid coverage after exhausting our insurance policy benefits and, most likely, a good portion of our wealth. If this happened, we would not have to deplete our assets totally to qualify for Medicaid. Instead, we'd be able to shield an amount equal to the total of our private insurance benefit payments. In our case, we are fortunate to be able to afford to divert our current income into these insurance payments. But we're also willing to reduce current consumption to do so. You may have your own worse-case planning to do.
[See Don't Take Life Insurance Payouts for Granted.]
Decide where to live. Most people want to age in place in their homes. If this applies to you, take a careful and hard look around your house and imagine how well it would suit you if you were in a wheelchair. That's the reality you need to consider. Further, is your home in a supportive neighborhood? Once you no longer can drive, how would you get out to shops and doctors' offices? If, instead, you opt for a seniors-only retirement community, what's your geographic preference and why? What kind of community can you afford?
Keep solid records. If you died tomorrow, how hard would it be for your loved ones to get access to your key legal documents (will, trusts, and the like) and financial accounts? Do you even have the basic legal documents drawn up? You should have multiple copies of key documents plus account information (and online access passwords). Increasingly, these are going to be computer files. Keep one set on your home computer, and back it up either on an external hard drive or on a "cloud" computing back-up service. Provide access information to the appropriate family members. Then—and this is much easier said than done—regularly update these files so they are always current.
Consider your legacy. There is no common yardstick to use in measuring the impact we've had on the world during our lives. Most likely, however, you have your own yardstick. What does it tell you? How do you measure up to your own standards? Are there things you still believe you should be doing to satisfy your expectations? Believe me, this is not something you want to wait to do until your final days. Maybe a frank look in the mirror will cause you to make some major changes in your life. Maybe it will reaffirm you've been on the right path all along.
Determine your final wishes. Social scientists who have studied people in their final days report how helpful it is when a person has made the key decisions about the end of their life well in advance. Often, people are not able to make sound decisions as they near death. They often have physical and mental impairments that make such work impossible. Their families may have to make these calls for them, adding a lot of stress to what is already a difficult situation. So, would you like to die at home, in a hospital, or perhaps in a hospice facility (you probably can have hospice at home or in a hospital setting as well)? Have you executed the proper documents providing your spouse or a family member with the authority to make medical decisions should you become incapacitated? Does this person know your preferences for end-of-life care? Do you want to be buried or cremated, or perhaps donate your body to science? Is there a final resting place you have in mind? Who's going to provide an obituary to your hometown newspaper, and what do you want it to say? Setting aside time to make these decisions will hardly rank among your happiest memories. But you will be providing your family an invaluable gift—allowing them to focus on the loving aspects of your life, not the hassles of wondering how you'd like things handled when you die.
[See How to Ensure Your Last Wishes Are Carried Out.]
Twitter: @PhilMoeller


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Fans of the upcoming film "The Hobbit: the Battle of the Five Armies" were treated to a first-look with the release of a trailer from Warner Bros. Pictures, to co-incide with San Diego's Comic Con. Video: Reuters
Knockanstockan festival in Blessington, Co Wicklow is set to rock the weekend with sunny skies in store. Video: Darragh Bambrick
'Weird Al' Yancovic has been the king of parody for decades, but only with the release of his newest album, 'Mandatory Fun', has he finally hit number one on the Billboard charts. Video: Reuters
The Batman costume that Ben Affleck will wear in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is unveiled at San Diego's Comic-Con. Video: Reuters
The Natural History Museum is putting on special tours this summer which allow vistors to touch the animals on display. Video: Darragh Bambrick
Minister for Tourism Paschal Donohoe unveiled the Molly Malone statue this afternoon, July 18th at her new home in front of the Saint Andrew's Church tourist office, where she will wheel her barrow until 2017.
The epic Irish tale of Cúchulainn and Queen Maeve is reimagined in the hip hop theatre version of The Táin. The production runs at The Milk Market, Limerick, from the 20-25th of July. Video: Daniel O'Connor
US artist Kurt Perschke's sculptural installation is at Spanish Arch in Galway as part of the Galway Arts Festival. Video: Robert Canavan
Dublin-centric prints and textiles have moved beyond tack to beautiful design. Here we speak to Clare Grennan of Irish Design Shop, Rubio of Hang Tough Framing and Kate Ó of RetróEire about this trend of industry as art. Video: Kathleen Harris
Veteran broadcaster Bill O' Herlihy said an emotional farewell to audiences last night following his last programme as anchor of RTÉ's soccer coverage. A tribute video was produced featuring Enda Kenny and Robbie Keane amongst others. Video: RTÉ
As the Galway Arts Festival gets underway, we get a sneak peek as the artists put the finishing touches to the gallery space. Video: Daniel O'Connor
The Galway Fringe Festival is a multidisciplinary Arts Festival encompassing visual art, music, theatre, dance, literature, cabaret, street spectacle and events. IThe festival runs from the 12th - 28th of July. Video: Daniel O'Connor
Enda Walsh's intense new play brings together an all-star cast of Cillian Murphy, Stephen Rea and Mikel Murfi. Are they looking forward to being put under 'tremendous strain' by Walsh? Video: Landmark Productions
In 1974, farmers in the Chiinese province of Shannxi, while digging for a fountain, found the tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi, with a huge, life- size army of naturally crafted teracotta warriors inside. Video: Darragh Bambrick
Anna Carey meets with Dublin teens Lia Cummins, Anna MacNeil, Laura McDunphy and Aoife Mitchell to talk about why John Green's The Fault in Our Stars is so popular among young adults.
A Modern Panarion features contemporary artists whose works resonate with ideas central to the belief system of The Theosophical Society. The exhibition is at Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane until September 7th. Video: Daniel O'Connor
A first World War museum opened at the weekend in Bob's Bar in Durrow, Co Laois, devoted to Jack Moyney, a sergeant in the Irish Guards regiment, who was awarded the British army's highest honour, the Victoria Cross, in 1917. Video: Alan Betson
Aria-singing bananas and more feature in a series of pop-up opera performances around Dublin this weekend, presented by Wide Open Opera as part of the Dublin City Public Art Programme. Video: Darragh Bambrick
Zambia's Barefeet Theatre company and young people from across Ireland danced their way through Temple Bar today, July 3rd as part of a nationwide tour organised by the National Youth Council of Ireland.
A €10 million Claude Monet painting, which was damaged in 2012 when a man allegedly put his hand through it, is back on display at the National Gallery in Dublin after 18 months of extensive conservation work.


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You must earn 10,000 points to post other members' whiteboard
Miss ya on your X thread, drop by !
Hope things are going well salty.
Haven't heard from you in awhile. Missing you on the countdown.
Enjoy your w/e...miss ya !!
drive safely!
Where did you go? Did you quit? Please come back soon! I hope you're doing well! Please come back soon! Have a nice week! Ron
Happy Independence Day !!! got a message for you when you have a moment....
Happy Independence Day !!!
Hope you have a nice 4th weekend...if you get extra rain ..send it our way
Enjoy the 4th!


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CHARLOTTE, N.C. Thousands of people showed up Saturday morning at two Charlotte locations to get credentials for President Barack Obama's nomination acceptance speech.
The line at the West Boulevard location in the City West Commons shopping center snaked around the Jack in the Box on the corner, up Remount Road and down Kimberly Road. Before ticket distribution even began, at least 1,000 people were in line, and the line kept growing.
At 10 a.m., a Democratic National Convention Committee organizer riled up the crowd.
"When I say 'O,' you say 'Bama!' " he shouted, and the crowd responded with enthusiasm.
The committee handed out two credentials per person.
The first two people in line at West Boulevard got there at 9:30 p.m. Friday and camped out in their car. But they said the wait was worth it.
"The tickets are very beautiful," said Sheila Moore, who was first in line and grinned as she held her two tickets. "I'm just so excited, I don't even feel tired. I'm totally rejuvenated."
Betty Wingate was surprised at how early people arrived.
"I was so excited when I got here, I'd knew I'd be first in line," said Betty Wingate, 58, of Charlotte, who arrived around 7 a.m. "No, I wasn't! I was number 250 in line!"
Sharon Himes, decked in a black history month shirt with two Obama inauguration pins and a campaign sticker, cheered with her arms raised as she walked toward the information tables to get credentials.
Himes said getting in line at 4:30 a.m. was worth the wait. "It's such a relief, oh my goodness," she said. "It's truly worth it. I have two tickets in my hand! Bank of America Stadium, here I come!"
Himes, 49, of Charlotte, said crowds and lines won't deter her from participating in the Democratic National Convention the first week of September.
"This is my vacation for the week of the convention," she said. "I'm staying in town, and I'm going to be here every night."
Rayvone Motley, 50, of Charlotte, got in line on Remount Road about 8:40 a.m. Despite the prospect of having to wait for hours, Motley said she was pleased with the line.
"It's awesome, awesome, just to see these supporters out here," she said, adding that she's glad to see all types of people in line. "It's a mixture, just a rainbow of people, and it's beautiful."
Thousands of others are also in line at the location at E. W.T. Harris Boulevard.
Ticket distribution will continue until 8 p.m. Saturday. Any remaining tickets will be handed out starting at 10 a.m. Sunday.


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Bath sign Springbok Louw
ESPNscrum Staff
July 12, 2011
Louw faces a battle to be included in South Africa's final 30-man squad with the likes of Schalk Burger and Heinrich Brussow vying for a starting spot © Getty Images
Bath have announced the signing of South African flanker Francois Louw on a three-year deal from The Stormers.
The 26-year-old, who is currently part of the Springboks' preliminary Rugby World Cup squad, is set to link up with the Premiership club at the end of the year. If he fails to earn a place in Peter de Villiers' final 30-man squad for the World Cup then he will be on Currie Cup duty with Western Province until the end of October.
The seven-cap Springbok will replace former Bath captain and fellow South African international Luke Watson at The Rec following his decision to return home and join the SA Kings.
Louw hopes to make an impact at the West Country side, but has his sights firmly set on a Springbok jersey in the immediate future. "Whilst I am hopeful of playing my way into the Springbok squad for the forthcoming Tri-Nations and Rugby World Cup, I am very excited to be joining a side with such a prestigious past and exciting future as Bath," Louw said. "I'm looking forward to working hard and competing for a place in the team, in what is a very competitive squad, and helping Bath to become a real force, both in domestic and European competitions."
Bath's director of rugby Sir Ian McGeechan was suitably delighted with his new powerful backrow "Francois is an outstanding player and character who will add to, and complement, the squad at Bath," McGeechan said. "We are all very impressed with his qualities and are looking forward to working closely with him."
Rob Wagner, Managing Director of the Western Province, commented: "Francois has been an integral part of the Stormers and WP squads. A true modern professional, his athleticism and presence on the pitch has been matched by his commitment and passion for team and brand off the field. We wish him all the best at Bath and thank him for his loyalty and time in the Western Province."
Louw will be joined at Bath by fellow new signings England international Dave Attwood, rugby league convert Kyle Eastmond and former Leicester centre Dan Hipkiss. Bath have also reportedly agreed a deal to sign All Blacks fly-half Stephen Donald to replace South African stand-off Butch James.
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
|Live Scores
'We could see the anger in people's eyes ...'
Firdose Moonda talks to Rob Louw about the difficulties of being a South African touring New Zealand at the height of Apartheid
'A game that doesn't hurt's a game wasted'
Huw Richards profiles French forward Walter Spanghero, a man who even rugby's hard men thought was a tough nut
Fitness, vibrant kilts and Sevens
"To be part of the Commonwealth Games, I'd wear anything. I'd wear a clown suit." Tom Hamilton talks to Scotland's Sean Lamont
Scrum Sevens looks back at how rugby has fared in both the early Olympics and the past four Commonwealth Games


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So just starting doing DB upright rows and my right shoulder pops and clicks. There's no pain so im thinking its something that will just work itself out....but is this a sign of rotator cuff weakness?
Up right rows can be dangerous
I would avoid the movement if that is the case. If you feel you need to do them perform the exercise with a dumbbell and use one arm at a time. That will allow you to control the path as to place the shoulders in a better position. The barbell forces a very unnatural path for many people (in that exercise).
AtLarge Nutrition Supplements Get the best supplements and help support Wannabebig!
Yeah i think ill just switch them out with something else. Thanks guys


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July 31, 2014
Republican Presidential hopeful Ron Paul is teaming up with son Rand for what organizers promise will be a "massive" rally at the Texas Capitol.
The national Tea Party Express is sponsoring the event which also features Ted Cruz. Cruz is the tea party darling in a crowded field of Texas GOP candidates vying for their party's nomination to replace retiring Republican U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, has joined his Texas congressman father frequently on the presidential campaign trail.
Texas holds its primary May 29 and the elder Paul drew thousands to another Austin rally at the University of Texas late last month.
He has attracted big crowds on college campuses in many states, but hasn't won any presidential caucuses or primaries.
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Quote:It will have an alarm/security system, but a lot of damage could be done in the meantime.
Quote:Little late, but one more testimonial for BYO.
Quote:Hmmmm. If you built it even/level with the porch you could walk right into it w/o getting out into the elements, have a short run for electrical and use your bedroom as your control/warm room. You could probably follow the pitch of the porch roof and have a sloped rather than gable roof. You could slide it north along the wall of the house. Done nicely it coud have log posts and be stained to match the house. I'm pretty sure Scott has built at least one log cabin Obs. They do make split log siding so you might be able to make it look pretty unobtrusive, he matched my shingles and siding on my Obs to my 70+ year old house almost exactly. If you retire the Obs it could be used for storage, a potting shed or a play house. The parental units would probably be happier if it looked like it belonged there.


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Vermont Mountain Bike Festival – Ascutney Trails 2014
This past weekend was the Annual Vermont Mountain Bike Festival. 2014 marked the second year that the festival was held at the defunct Ascutney Mountain Resort in Brownsville, VT. And we have to say… it is an awesome place for an event like this and a rock'n good time! The event kicks off on


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Detached, Transitional, Craftsman - Cary, NC
Million dollar view overlooking lake & golf course! Best lot in Wake County. Estate home completely remodeled & move in ready. Dramatic ceilings, open design, 1st flr mstr suite w/2 frpl's, huge kit w/Viking appl's, full bsmnt rec rm w/frpl & wet bar opens to covered patio w/in-ground pool & outdoor frpl. 2 laundry rms, office, theatre area, bonus rm could be 7th bdrm, must see!
Data Provided by Triangle MLS, Inc.More Information for this listing


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Oklahoma State University's student union was voted No. 1 in the nation for best digs, according to the Best College Reviews website.
The list takes into account "community," as well as live music options, gaming, study and socialization areas, conference areas and booze availability. Not really on that last one.
No. 2 is Mountainlair at West Virginia University in Morgantown, W.Va., and No. 3 is New Ohio Union at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.


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I voted for G&P overall with my "rational brain" because I can't stand to see them ranked low, barely ahead of teams that just don't have their technical proficiency and versatility. All the bad press they got hurt them but if you can see past that, the insane difficulty level, the sense of two strong personalities and the passion is amazing. But I vote for K&P with my heart because I've never enjoyed a team more than those two!
Note to those who think there shouldn't even be a contest and T&D are the best : 1) how arrogant to impose your tastes! We all come here to debate and you'd deprive us of our fun? And 2) do consider that the rules were different then, and that innovation isn't everything.
I couldn't vote for current skaters because I think we lack perspective on their work, although I expect great things from V&M!


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Fall Welcome Week 2014 kicks off on Sunday, August 24th with NYU Welcome Day and continues on through Friday, August 29th.
Overall, the week boasts over 500 programs that cover a multitude of topics from getting involved and learning about NYU, to staying safe and navigating public transportation. And you won't want to miss our big Marquee Events!
[A complete list of this year's events will be announced in early August!]
Stay up to date with #MarqueeMondays... Every Monday, we will reveal a new Marquee Event on social media. Hmmm... what should we reveal next?
This day complements Residence Hall Move-In with a Parent Welcome and Information Fair. New undergraduate students and their family members are invited to stop by the Kimmel Center for refreshments, information, and to meet representatives from various NYU offices and organizations, and students can pick up their NYU ID. Read more »»
Join President Sexton, fellow new undergraduate students, alumni, and university officials at Madison Square Garden for the Presidential Welcome. Immediately following will be The Reality Show: NYU -- a gritty, funny musical about the lives of NYU students as they experience an array of confounding, confusing, and exciting issues. The Reality Show: NYU is written, performed, and produced by NYU students, and directed by Tisch School of the Arts professor Elizabeth Swados.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Voices of a People offers an innovative approach to highlighting the importance of diversity as an enriching and transformative experience for our incoming freshmen and transfer students. NYU Portraits will illuminate the voices from our communities and history. Through public expression, the visionaries, the rebels, and dissenters from our past, present and future are revealed through powerful and thought-provoking featured performers. Creating a vibrant and colorful evening using the style, energy and aesthetics of Hip-Hop, history comes to life to invigorate our present and inspire a new generation of students seeking knowledge about diversity, social justice, and community service.
Friday, August 29, 2014
A Welcome Week tradition... wrapping up the week with the Ball! Each year is unique, so stay tuned for the big reveal of this year's theme. Get ready to dance the night away at this two floor, two DJ event. This will definitely be a night to remember.


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Do You Like To Sing?
So do we! Singing awakens the soul and refreshes the spirit.
The San Gabriel Valley Choral Company is currently seeking singers for our 2013 season. The San Gabriel Valley Choral Company is looking for those with a passion to sing who want to be part of a dynamic group of people, working together as a team to create incredible music.
Come sing with us!
Basic sight reading skills and/or choral experience is encouraged.
Please contact us for information on auditions and membership requirements. AUDITIONS: JANUARY, 2013 Rehearsals Tuesday evenings – January through June | Monrovia, CA
Founded in 1995 by Dr. Thomas M. Miyake of California State University Los Angeles, the SGVCC is a non-profit choir based in Monrovia. The group's repertoire has included music from the Renaissance period to recent works of the 21st century. Along with more traditional selections, music performed has included avant-garde,
jazz, gospel, Broadway musical revues, and staged productions.
For more information, please contact Chris Breese at (626) 253-7248 or firstname.lastname@example.com
Auditions for the San Gabriel Valley Choral Company 2013 Season
Do You Like To Sing?
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VLS in the News
Week of April 4
April 11, 2011
- Dean Jeff Shields looked at the latest Census patterns in the Upper Valley in Vermont and New Hampshire in a letter to the editor in the Valley News on April 10.
- BusinessGreen cited Mark Cooper's research into the costs of nuclear power in an April 10 story. Cooper is senior research fellow for economic analysis at the Institute for Energy and the Environment.
- In an op-ed in Sentidos Comunes (a Chilean online magazine) on April 10, Alejandro Hernández González '13 discussed the start of campaigning for the 2012 U.S. elections and possible repercussions of a Republican presidential win on America's foreign policy toward Latin America.
- The Cincinnati Enquirer spoke with Professor Michael McCann on April 9 about the prospects for all-time hits leader Pete Rose getting into the baseball Hall of Fame.
- An Associated Press story April 8 about the Law Students for Reproductive Justice's vigil against violence was carried by the Boston Globe and other media.
- In his Sports Illustrated column on April 6 and a CBS Radio Baltimore interview April 7, Professor Michael McCann discussed home run king Barry Bonds' perjury trial.
- Professor Pat Parenteau talked to the Brattleboro Reformer on April 6 and April 8 about the looming federal-state showdown over the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant.
- Carl Ponce '97 discussed the political realities in Peru and Nicaragua in an op-ed in the Latin American Herald Tribune on April 6.
- The Huffington Post talked to Professor Pat Parenteau on April 4 about stalled efforts to improve mine safety laws one year after the accident at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virgina.
- The Los Angeles Times discussed legal issues surrounding the Dodgers' owners with Professor Michael McCann on April 4. The story was picked up by a number of news outlets nationwide.
- In an interview with CNN on April 5 and in his Sports Illustrated column on April 4, Professor Michael McCann discussed the NFL labor dispute.
- The Associated Press spoke withProfessor Michael McCann on April 4 about Barry Bonds' perjury trial. The story was carried by Forbes and more than 165 other news outlets nationwide.
- The Brattleboro Reformer reported April 4 on the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic's effort to get state officials to review Vermont Yankee's water discharge permit.


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Smock says cohabitation does not reduce odds of marriage
Smock cited in story on how low marriage rates may exacerbate marriage-status economic inequality
Frey says low turnover in House members related to lack of voter turnout among moderates
Susan Murphy named Distinguished University Professor
Sarah Burgard and former PSC trainee Jennifer Ailshire win ASA award for paper
James Jackson to be appointed to NSF's National Science Board
ISR's program in Society, Population, and Environment (SPE) focuses on social change and social issues worldwide.
PSC Brown Bags will return in the fall
Jeffrey Morenoff, Director
Jennifer S. Barber, Associate Director, Director of Graduate Training
U-M Researchers
Off-Campus Researchers
Training Faculty
Postdoctoral Fellows
Predoc Trainees
Media Contacts
Honors and Awards . In the News
Population Studies Center
University of Michigan
426 Thompson St., PO Box 1248
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-1248


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The Walking Dead: Episode 1 - A New Day Review
Review Score
The Walking Dead: Episode 1 - A New Day
- PSU Review Score
- 9.0
- Avg. user review score:
- 0.0
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A New Day proves to be Telltale Games' best outing in the adventure genre in recent memory--if not, ever. This is episodic gaming done right, and just like The Walking Dead TV show, we can't wait for the next episode.
We like
- Very 'human' cast of characters
- Story is engaging, characters evolve nicely
- Great cell-shaded art keeps the game super stylized and pretty
We dislike
- Slight audio/visual hiccups
See PSU's review on Metacritic & GameRankings
[Editor's note: We realize that Episode 1 – A New Day was released in April. We received review code a little late, and held this review to coincide with the launch of Episode 2. Look for Episode 2's review tomorrow!]
The Walking Dead: Episode 1- A New Day is Telltale Games' best outing in the adventure genre in recent memory—if not, ever. Regardless of if you're a fan of Robert Kirkman's comic book series, which serves as the basis for Telltale's series, there's still a lot to take away from A New Day. If, however, you dislike zombies, a gripping narrative, Heavy Rain-like story progression, and the fact that you'll be doing way more talking than shooting, then you might as well stop reading this review right now.
A New Day is the first of five episodes in the pipeline for the PlayStation Network. Players take control of Lee Everett, a man with a mysteriously troubled past. The episode starts with Lee being taken to prison. A hitch-hiking zombie bails him out of his sentence by introducing him—and the officer driving the car—to the end of the world.
This introduction does a great job of opening up one of the game's biggest mysteries: what did Lee Everett do so wrong that he's being brought to jail? If you play your cards right, you'll have a little more information by the end of the episode. As usual, I'll veer away from spoilers in my review, but I'll have you know that Lee's past makes him a deeper, more interesting character than your average 'run-and-gun' game protagonist.
The characters and story will keep you coming back and engaged with The Walking Dead's episodes. Sorry, but if you came into this expecting anything more than engaging conversations, tough decisions, and downright gnarly consequences, you'll be disappointed. But, if you came into this expecting (and wanting) all that, then you'll be pleasantly surprised when the action takes center stage. Trust me; there are times when heat-of-the-moment decisions mean everything, and you'll most probably end up second guessing yourself on responses you've chosen in certain conversations.
The Walking Dead game is defined by its story progression and character arcs. You choose your next move, how much your co-survivors know about you, who you choose to save in life-and-death situations, and which members of your group to befriend. But with the good comes the bad; you can't make everyone happy. You'll end up downright pissing some of your allies off, which will indirectly change the outcome of how the episode plays out. Story is everything in this game, and if I haven't hammered my point home yet, let me make it simple: the tones, language, and moral grey areas brought forth by this narrative are a cut above most other games, at least in terms of maturity. I ended up legitimately caring for some characters –especially Clementine, a little girl you save at the beginning—and even regretting some of the things I said or chose. Games don't often enough punish you for being an idiot, something The Walking Dead does in spades.
Gameplay is where The Walking Dead will be hit-or-miss for most people. In most situations, you move Lee around with the left analog stick while aiming your reticle across the environment with your right stick. At times, aiming your reticle might seem a little slow, but this is most probably designed that way in order to add to the high level of tension. Exploring environments takes some getting used to as well, but luckily, Telltale gives you the option to toggle a feature that subtly highlights objects and people you can interact with in the world with a white dot. The face buttons are used to select dialogue options during conversations, as well as selecting objects/people to interact with. For example, you can press the X button to speak to someone, or press Square to hand them an object. Other than that, all that's really left are QTE sequences. I wasn't kidding when I said that you'll be doing more talking than shooting.
For example, at one point in the episode, a huge argument takes place ... (continued on next page)
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In the past, the business world favored the aggressive "Type A" personality. But in these unsettled times, being courteous and thoughtful has proven to be a more effective way to win clients and customers and influence others. The competitive advantage depends on your ability to use your emotional intelligence and social graces to take your career to the next level.In POISED FOR SUCCESS, Jacqueline Whitmore states that good business etiquette is important, but she also knows that there is more to becoming invaluable at work than simply mastering good behavior. In order to be poised for success, you must cultivate what Jacqueline calls the four "P" qualities: Presence, Polish, Professionalism, and Passion. These include how to:
-Package yourself for success by refining your personal brand-Nurture professional relationships with flair-Master the five ways to make yourself more memorable-Learn the seven unwritten rules of workplace etiquette
Whitmore, using her 15 years of experience as a protocol and etiquette expert, will arm you with the skills to become more self-aware, more confident and comfortable in your own skin, and better able to communicate with others in a credible, authentic manner.
Sign up to receive information about new books, author events, and special offers.
Download excerpt
Praise for POISED FOR SUCCESS"In Poised for Success, Jacqueline Whitmore explores the what, why, and how of being ready for and attaining success in practical and inspiring terms. It's a must-read for all those looking to get ahead!" --Marshall Goldsmith, author of the New York Times bestsellers, MOJO and What Got You Here Won't Get You There"Jacqueline Whitmore's book is not only informative (do you know what bespoke suits, cuillères, or barrel cuffs are?) it is heartfelt and entertaining. Jacqueline presents important concepts in a pragmatic and gracious way (read chapter 8), and balances it all with a tone that makes you want to meet for coffee." --Terri Morrison, coauthor of Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: the Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More Than Sixty Countries"The #1 must-read book for anyone seeking the easy path to success and emotional prosperity. Poised for Success is exploding with so many powerful takeaways that my highlighter ran out of ink! Jacqueline Whitmore is the business world's best-kept secret!" --Janine Driver, author of The New York Times bestseller, You Say More Than You Think: A 7-Day Plan For Using the New Body Language to Get What You Want"Trust this book, live this book, treasure this book." --P.M. Forni, professor, Johns Hopkins University and author of the bestselling book Choosing Civility"Why read Jacqueline Whitmore's Poised for Success? Because you want to do the very most and the very best with the time and the life you have. Because we all need direction and inspiration to achieve that. And because in these pages – in plain but powerful language – is the way to get there. Read it and see change. Read it and be changed." --Simon T. Bailey, brillionaire and author of Release Your Brilliance"Jacqueline Whitmore's wisdom is simple, straightforward, and incredibly effective. Poised for Success will change your attitude and outlook on doing business with others while helping you become more successful. Relevant, inspiring, wise, and practical — this is truly a MUST read!" --Andrea R. Nierenberg, coauthor of Networking for the College Students (and Recent Graduates)"For those of us fashion clods who need help getting ready for prime time, there is the amazing Jacqueline Whitmore. Poised for Success is a style makeover from the outside in." --Fawn Germer, global leadership speaker and bestselling author of Hard Won Wisdom and Mustang Sallies"Read Poised for Success to discover exactly what poise is and how you can develop it. With this understanding you're able to present your best, connect from the heart, achieve high-touch in a world of high-tech, strengthen your business relationships, and achieve your greatest success." --Larina Kase, PsyD, MBA, author of Clients, Clients and More Clients, and coauthor of The New York Times bestseller The Confident Speaker
"Jacqueline Whitmore's Poised for Success helps business people be their best at work and in their personal lives. The insights and practical advice she brings to our modern day manner dilemmas are priceless." --Karen Leland, bestselling author of Public Speaking in an Instant: 60 Ways to Stand Up and Be Heard
JACQUELINE WHITMORE is an internationally recognized etiquette expert and the founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach. Her extensive client base includes the U.S. Department of Defense, Booz Allen Hamilton, Office Depot, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Deloitte, Merrill Lynch, Ernst & Young, Bloomingdale's, Sprint, and Burger King Corporation, among others.
Jacqueline is a popular guest on radio and television and her etiquette advice has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Real Simple, Fortune, and O: The Oprah Magazine. Jacqueline and her husband, Brian Gleason, live in Florida.
Jacqueline Whitmore


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Z Puppets Rosenschnoz - Monkey Mind Pirates
Posted at: 08/21/2013 8:15 AM
| Updated at: 08/21/2013 9:04 AM
Z Puppets Rosenschnoz is touted as the world's only puppet, rock, yoga adventure!
Z Puppets tours their family friendly comedy across the country. Monkey Mind Pirates will be shown at the Z Puppets performance at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Duluth on August 23 at 7:00 PM.
Monkey Mind Pirates is a show that Z Puppets created to help people find their calm in a stressful and unruly world. Through yoga, catchy, original songs, and inventive story telling, Z Puppets wants children and adults alike to tame the Monkey Mind Pirates in their own life and calm the stormy seas of their thoughts.
This event is sponsored by Down Up North, a support network for families with individuals with Down Syndrome, and is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Tickets are available at the door by freewill donation. All proceeds go to Down Up North. For more information, visit the Z Puppets website or Facebook page.
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Ground Zero with Clyde Lewis 11:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Call in to Ground Zero at 1-888-673-3700
Call in to Ground Zero at 1-888-673-3700
So excited for the new season to FINALLY begin...it feels like forever!!Read More »
Love that Jimmy Fallon is bringing all of his classic Late Night bits with him to The Tonight Show. YouTube Description: Water Wars ...Read More »
If you're a fan of The Sing-Off, you're already familiar with this group. Pentatonix won season three of the show back in 2011. Sinc...Read More »
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Here's a sneak peak at the new reality show coming to OWN staring Lindsay Lohan. Will you be watching? I imagine it to one of ...Read More »
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Photo Credit: Video Clip You know Ellen would make sure he got his tip! She even added a 'little' extra. Just another reason we lo...Read More »


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Bob Smiley- I say the wrong thing - Comedy Videos
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Speech on House of Lords reform - 26 June 2012
Here is a copy of the speech I gave today to the Electoral Reform Society on House of Lords Reform.
On Wednesday 27th April 1994 I was driving into the House of Commons with tears streaming down my face as I listened to Archbishop Desmond Tutu interviewed live on the radio literally singing with joy after he had finally exercised the right to vote in a free election for the first time in his life after 63 years of waiting.
Only recently we have all been watching with baited breath as the Arab spring topples demagogues and dictators in the Middle East and we are all hoping that Burma may finally be on the long road to democratic freedom after so many years of vicious repression.
But I can't have been the only one who was struck by the incongruity of Aung San Suu Kyi's inspiring address to us last Thursday being responded to by the Lords speaker. Who with all due respect to her as an individual, went on to extol the virtues of democracy whilst presiding over the entirely unelected House of Lords. It really is about time that this affront to democratic practice in the UK was finally dealt with.
The Crucial Role of Politics
That is my starting point for considering what will be the big constitutional question of this Parliamentary session, House of Lords reform.
I do not believe that Lords reform alone will solve the big democratic challenge that we face here in the UK. That is the disengagement, apathy and cynicism which is such a noticeable feature in our society at the moment. Ours is not the only advanced democracy where this is an issue but I believe that we must tackle this anti politics mood.
I believe passionately that politics can transform lives and rebuild our society. But the corrosive cynicism of the anti politics age we live in is hard to overcome. However we cannot achieve progressive advances without daring to dream that it is possible to transform the way things are done or to change the existing power structure. We must acknowledge that a deep respect for democratic politics is the key to any legitimate transformation in society and any empowering of people who are seeking a greater voice and a greater influence in the decisions which affect their everyday lives.
As Aung San Suu Kyi said so well last Thursday:
"Politics does not exist above us or below us but as an essential part of our lives"
House of Lords reform
I am a whole-hearted supporter of a wholly elected second chamber. For the simple reason that in twenty first century Britain the House of Lords as currently constituted represents power without accountability. In a democracy it simply should not be possible to legislate without having first being elected.
This simple affront to democratic principle must be dealt with and there is no time like the present.
Every argument I have heard for the status quo runs up against the fact that the British people are shut out of the House of Lords. And each large new influx of coalition peers makes the ever more bloated House even more unsustainable. It is now 800 in size and rising. This is especially true as the size of the Commons is being reduced to its lowest level since the Great Reform Act of 1832 despite the UK's growing population. This is being done ostensibly to cut the cost of politics but it is really about power. The reality is there is an increase in the power of the unelected and the unaccountable coalition supporters at the expense of the elected. The Lords as it is now constituted is plainly absurd and unsustainable.
That does not mean the Opposition should just meekly sign up to whatever Conservative Liberal Democrat compromise the coalition has stitched together in the secrecy of the Cabinet room.
The outstanding Lords reform issues
I was elected on a manifesto promising a referendum on House of Lords reform. This is why the Prime Minister's argument that a referendum is not needed because reform featured in all three party election manifestos is so disingenuous. I have yet to hear a convincing argument why the British people should be deprived of a say over such an important constitutional reform as this one. If you can have referendums on elected mayors and devolution to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the UK Parliamentary electoral system and every tiny adjustment to the European Treaties, then it does not strike me as immediately obvious why there should not be a referendum on Lords reform.
It is also clear to us in the Labour Party that it is important to safeguard the supremacy of the Commons after any reform. Unless the issue of the powers and privileges of the two Houses in relation to each other and the conventions covering the way they interact are dealt with explicitly, there remains a strong possibility of Parliamentary gridlock post reform. A mere statement about the supremacy of the Commons in Clause 2 will not be sufficient for this purpose. Even as we speak the Salisbury conventions are crumbling away before our eyes and on previous experience we can expect that they will be much more disregarded when there is a Labour majority in the Commons than when there is a Conservative one. So this issue has to be effectively dealt with in the primary legislation. We cannot behave as if the Parliament Acts never existed.
Then there is the question of the electoral system to be used for the elections to the new second chamber which I am certain will be the subject of much learned debate here.
The Government seems to prefer regional elections on an STV system whereas Labour favours an open list PR approach. Whilst you may all be swooning at the thought of dusting down the d'hont formulae I'm not certain its obscurantist intricacies are the key to reviving interest in electoral politics. We will explore the chances of change during the passage of the Bill.
It goes without saying that we favour a chamber which is wholly elected rather than the 80% currently on offer from the Government. And that of course raises the question of the Bishops an their presence in the House which ought to be debated too.
I might just say that election is an absolute key democratic principle to be gained by reform but what kind of mandate does a fifteen year term really give to a new member of the second chamber? How legitimate is it when it extends so far past the fixed five year terms in the Commons?
I am also surprised by the government's timetable for Lords reform. Given that over the last 100 years the only reform to the House or Lords was the last Labour government removal of hereditary peers (Which the Conservatives voted against) you might ask what the harm is in waiting another 12 years for the reforms to be fully implemented? But if the government's timetable is adhered to, a child beginning their primary school education at 5 this year when they first vote at 18, will be voting in the first election when there is a wholly reformed House of Lords. This reform is currently scheduled to take almost as long as High Speed two to become a reality. If a democratic Lords is a good thing in 2025 might it not be a good thing a little sooner than that?
Lords reform is not enough
For me, Lords reform is long long overdue but, as I said in my opening remarks I do not believe that it will address the political crisis we face. I would not underplay the profound impact that big constitutional change has on the way we do government.
The last Labour government's decision to devolve power to Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and directly elected mayors, most notably in London, has had a profound, and beneficial impact, on the way we do governance in the UK.
Nor do I think moving to the alternative vote in the Commons, which I voted for and still support, would necessarily resolve the challenge our democratic system faces. The crisis is not about process it is about outcome. Turnout in elections across the United Kingdom does not seem to indicate that one particular voting system is more successful than any other at getting people to vote. The malaise is more profound.
Voter turnout has sunk depressingly low. The proportion of young people voting has also been in decline. The challenge we face is how to deal with this.
But are people today less political? We make a mistake to think participation in elections is a measure of how much people care about politics. People do care. They simply don't think the political process, if it impinges on their consciousness at all, offers them a solution.
So While Lords reform is unfinished business and business we must get on with, it is only a small part of the answer to the more profound problems we face.
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EAST ST. LOUIS — When Michael Cook was sworn in as a county judge in 2007 he already had a "user's relationship" with a Belleville drug dealer who would become his main heroin supplier, a former drug user turned informant told an FBI agent.
The informant stated in a sworn affidavit to have witnessed Cook on hundreds of occasions abusing heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and a variety of prescription painkillers. Cook served as the "drug court" judge.
Another informant, a drug dealer about to plead guilty to federal charges, told the FBI agent that he expected a lighter sentence in a state felony DUI case where Cook was the judge in return for providing Cook with OxyContin, sometimes known as "synthetic heroin."
That FBI agent, Julie Neiger, swore in affidavits that based on these statements and other evidence, there was probable cause for a federal judge to issue a search warrant for the then-sitting St. Clair County circuit judge's house, track his whereabouts though a GPS on his truck and cellphone, and look at his personal cellphone records.
These formerly sealed documents were filed in April and May but were unsealed in December. Cook pleaded guilty in November to heroin possession and a federal weapons charge.
The weapons charge involved being a heroin user while in possession of firearms. According to an FBI affidavit, Cook checked the box for "no" when asked on a state Firearms Owner Identification Card application, "are you addicted to narcotics?" The card was issued in 2009.
The details listed in the search warrant affidavits go far beyond what had been publicly known about the courthouse drug scandal, which saw another judge, Joe Christ, die of cocaine toxicity. They contain statements made to the FBI by confidential informants, details about police surveillance of Cook months before his arrest and statements shedding new light on the extent and duration of his drug use.
After his arrest, Cook, 43, was released on a no-cash bond and entered drug rehabilitation. He awaits sentencing Jan. 17. The prosecution and defense agreed on an 18-month sentence but the judge could reduce or increase that.
Efforts to reach Cook for comment were unsuccessful. His lead attorney, J. William Lucco of Edwardsville, did not respond to a request for comment.
The lead prosecutor in the case, U.S. Attorney Steve Wigginton, said, "Due to an ongoing investigation, I cannot comment."
The affidavits weave a complicated account of the state and federal investigations that ultimately led to Cook's arrest on May 22 outside the Belleville home of his longtime friend and now-convicted heroin supplier, Sean McGilvery.
The documents include a record of McGilvery's cellphone calls and show there were more than 2,000 phone calls in one year between McGilvery and Cook.
OxyContin conspiracy
The FBI does not comment on cases, but agents may have first heard about Cook's drug involvement in August 2011 during a federal investigation that involved a defendant named Justin D. Cahill. Cahill was charged with conspiracy to distribute stolen OxyContin. Cahill told federal agents that a person he had known for years -- an uncharged alleged drug supplier -- told him he had arranged for Cahill's pending fourth DUI charge in state court to be assigned to Cook.
The Belleville News-Democrat does not name people connected to criminal investigations who are not charged.
"During the pending judicial proceedings, Judge Cook would shuffle Cahill's paperwork to the bottom of the stack," the affidavit stated.
Cahill told agents that he believed that by supplying more OxyContin pills for Cook, he would get less jail time for his felony DUIs.
St. Clair County Court records showed that in February 2011 Cook sentenced Cahill to three months jail time and probation for Cahill's fourth DUI offense, which was charged as a felony.
Cahill told the federal agents that he delivered OxyContin and cocaine with the alleged drug supplier for years and had accompanied him on numerous occasions to the home of James Fogarty, a former St. Clair County probation officer. Fogarty has pleaded guilty to cocaine distribution charges in connection with the courthouse drug scandal and has admitted selling cocaine to Cook.
Cahill also told FBI agents that he went on several occasions in 2010 with the unnamed witness to Fogarty's house and saw several white males. The drug dealer referred to the men as "officials" but later identified two of the men to Cahill as "Judge Cook" and "Christ." Joe Christ was a friend of Cook's and an assistant state's attorney at the time. Christ died of a cocaine overdose in March 2013 in a hunting cabin owned by the Cook's parents shortly after being named an associate judge.
An informant, described only as "Cooperating Individual No. 1" or "CI1," saw Cook using many types of drugs: heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and the prescription drugs OxyContin, Percocet, Darvoset, Vicodin and Xanax, which he crushed and mixed with heroin and then snorted, according to the documents.
CI1 was an admitted former drug user who was not charged, paid or under investigation, according to FBI agent Neiger.
This informant told agents that in the summer of 2012, a week before a planned Hawaii vacation, Cook had 12 grams of heroin. While on the trip, Cook met a "dirty doctor" who prescribed Percocet to Cook, the informant told agents.
"CI1 told agents that a plumber, who for a time supplied Cook with heroin from McGilvery, gave Cook a key to his home,'' according to Neiger's affidavit. The judge went there four times a week to use drugs, the document states.
According to a 2013 search warrant affidavit, "Judge Cook and McGilvery have had a 'user's relationship' for the past eight years."
Cook became a judge on March 2, 2007.
Numerous calls
From the cellphone records, the FBI learned that twice on March 8 and once on the morning of March 9, 2013, a call was placed from McGilvery's cellphone to Cook's cellphone. Cook was at his family's hunting cabin in Pike County, Ill., with Christ. The two men attended a hunting banquet that Saturday night.
Sometime that night or the next morning, Christ collapsed in the bathroom. Cook called 911 about 6 p.m. Sunday to say he had just discovered his friend unconscious. Christ, 49, was declared dead at the scene and after an autopsy was ruled to have died from acute cocaine toxicity.
The cellphone records also showed that on separate occasions just before and after contact with FBI agents, McGilvery's phone was in contact with cellphones registered to Christ and Cook, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit stated there were "numerous" calls between Christ's phone and McGilvery's phone on Jan. 20. This was the day before a state search warrant was executed at 20 Kassing Drive in Fairview Heights. That warrant was signed by a judge on Jan. 19. The address on the warrant was the home of two more players in the drug scandal, Deborah Perkins, 66, and her son, Douglas Oliver, 47.
Court documents do not detail what was discussed in the phone conversations.
St. Clair County State's Attorney Brendan Kelly confirmed the state investigation of Cook began after the execution of the search warrant at 20 Kassing Drive.
McGilvery arrived at 20 Kassing Drive on Jan. 21 while federal agents searched the home. McGilvery declined to talk to agents, saying he wanted to first talk to a lawyer. Phone records once again showed numerous contacts between Christ's phone and McGilvery's phone on Jan. 29.
On March 4, while he was being interviewed this time by federal and state investigators, McGilvery was again asked whether he would cooperate with detectives. He told interrogators that he would like to but had been told by an attorney that he should not. The attorney was not identified.
Within minutes of ending the March 4 interview, according to an affidavit, McGilvery called the cellphone listed to Cook.
Heroin house
Federal and state agents who arrived on Jan. 21 to search the house on 20 Kassing Drive, where Perkins and Oliver were arrested, were responding to repeated reports of heroin activity at the house, law enforcement officials would later say. In the spring and summer of 2012, two women died after overdosing on heroin at the house.
Perkins, an admitted heroin addict and seller, told agents that beginning in 2008, she and McGilvery began going to Chicago once a week to buy heroin. She told agents that she made more than 20 trips there with McGilvery, buying up to 25 grams per trip. She described her relationship with McGilvery as "business partners," but told agents the two parted ways between September 2008 and April 2009.
Perkins told agents that in 2009 she began to travel alone to Chicago to buy heroin, but that on two occasions, McGilvery went with her. The two would pool their money, buying between 25 and 100 grams of heroin. Between Thanksgiving of 2011 and the day of her arrest on Jan. 21, 2013, Perkins said McGilvery would give her between $2,500 and $5,000 every two weeks to buy heroin.
Perkins told FBI agents she didn't know McGilvery's customers, but knew he was selling heroin to a "professional person" who worked at the St. Clair County Building.
Perkins once told McGilvery to talk to "his boy" at the courthouse for a status on Perkins' concealment of a homicidal death charge that was pending, the affidavit stated. McGilvery told Perkins that "his boy" told him that St. Clair County "had so many murders ... that it did not have enough money to try them all and that Perkins did not have to worry."
Douglas Oliver, Perkins' son, was also charged with concealing a death. He too asked McGilvery about his charges, according to an affidavit. Oliver later told federal agents that he believed McGilvery was "talking to someone" in the prosecutor's office as well as with other courthouse officials.
"McGilvery told Oliver not to worry about his case because it was only a 'probationable' matter and that Oliver would not be looking at serving a lot of time," the affidavit stated.
In her interview with federal agents, Perkins said she and McGilvery went to a house in Belleville in the summer of 2011 to make a delivery of heroin to a "white male in his 40s." Perkins told agents that the house had a swimming pool in the back. Cook has a pool in the backyard of his home, Neiger wrote in the affidavit.
Christ's death
While the federal investigation of Cook was underway, Pike County Sheriff and Coroner Paul Petty was investigating Christ's death at the hunting cabin near Pleasant Hill belonging to Cook's parents. Cook's father Bruce Cook, is a prominent attorney in Belleville.
During Christ's autopsy, a vial of cocaine dropped out of his clothing. Within a few days, Petty met with Cook over lunch at a restaurant in the Calhoun County village of Hardin. Petty didn't talk about the vial, he has said, but intended to just get a reading on Cook.
The two men met again a few days later on March 15, the day of Christ's funeral, at a Belleville restaurant. This time, Cook admitted to Petty that he used cocaine the day before Christ's death, the affidavit stated. Cook told the sheriff that his drug use started after the death of his sister, Susannah Marison, in 2010 from a brain tumor.
Cook said Christ pulled the cocaine out as the two men drove the 100 miles from Belleville to Pike County, according to Neiger's affidavit.
"What sins Joe committed, he paid for with his life, there's nothing else that needs to be said about that, except prayers for his family," Kelly said.
Tracking Cook
Federal agents received a search warrant on April 11 that allowed them to track Cook's movements by a Global Positioning System connected to his cellphone.
FBI agents determined from the cellphone tracking device that McGilvery was home when Cook was at McGilvery's house on nine occasions between April 13 and May 2, the affidavit stated.
Cook was also under surveillance by federal drug agents.
The affidavit stated that Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Joe Beliveau and other state drug agents, at the request of federal agents, were watching Cook, conducting physical surveillance of him on April 16, 19, 23 and 25. During that surveillance, Cook went to McGilvery's house on North 38th Street in Belleville, walked in a side door and stayed for between three and 29 minutes each time.
After visiting McGilvery's house on one occasion, agents tailed Cook, "... to his place of employment -- the St. Clair County Courthouse in Belleville," the affidavit stated.
Contact reporter George Pawlaczyk at email@example.com or 618-239-2625. Contact reporter Beth Hundsdorfer at email@example.com or 618-239-2570.


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Rockford™ and Crystal™, heroes of First Star Software's Boulder Dash®, one of the greatest classic video games, get their bits and bytes together to make their Next Gen-Debut. Back in the 80's, when hairstyles were wild and music was electronic, Boulder Dash® won our hearts. The creative and frantic gameplay mix required both our reflexes and brains to avoid murderous rock slides of Boulders and get our hands on those precious Diamonds in those original 20 fun-filled Caves infested by Fireflies, Butterflies and Amoebas. Now, our childhood heroes appear for the first time on Xbox 360 in Boulder Dash® - XL™! Leaving the essence of what we all love about Rockford's classic quest for Diamonds intact, this all new Next Gen-Style Boulder Dash® includes 5 exciting Game Modes (over 150 caves), 4 beautiful worlds, new Gameplay Elements, Monsters and more Diamonds to snatch than ever before!
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It's Day 8.
While Morristown remains in the "Recovery Phase" after Hurricane Sandy came through last week, another storm looms, which now is expected to not only bring strong winds, but also rain and then several inches of snow Wednesday night into Thursday.
Meanwhile, about 18 percent of Morristown remained out of power as of Tuesday morning. And that's not counting those who lost power when a garbage truck caught low-hanging power lines at Washington and Mills streets during rush hour. Which was only one of two incidents involving vehicles running into utility poles Tuesday morning.
Yes, it has been a trying time for Morristown.
But, Mayor Tim Dougherty said at a Tuesday afternoon press conference, "this storm has devastated the entire state. I would think JCP&L is stretched very thin. We're trying to be patient."
Patient, but not pushovers. While the mayor again said he does not want to play "Monday Morning Quarterback" regarding JCP&L's response to the storm, he did say a meeting with everyone involved to discuss how things could be improved was likely when, finally, everything calms down.
Unfortunately, calm is not in the forecast.
With a Nor'Easter predicted to arrived sometime Wednesday packing sustained winds near 30 miles-per-hour, and potentially gusts up to 45—as well as rain and snow—Dougherty asked residents to give as much patience as they may have left. "This is very wearing and frustrating for us all. We are doing everything we can," he said.
That has included what he called "constant pressure" on JCP&L, including phone calls to the utility from Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Sen. Richard Codey.
Dougherty asked if the utility, with all the work needed to be done across the state, is not spreading themselves a little too thin. But, "they have told us it would take seven-to-10 days. This is Day 8," he said. "We're just not seeing enough activity to get this closed out."
In the meantime, the mayor reminded those still without power that Mennen Arena in Morris Township remains open as a pet-friendly shelter and that people in need of going there could reach out to the town for transportation. The town's Office of Emergency Management also remains open on a 24-hour basis for the duration of this recovery phase, Morristown Police Capt. Steven Sarinelli said.
In addition, several churches in the area are now pooling resources to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, which has served at least dinner since last week. Donations are welcome and needed, Dougherty said. Finally, Calvary Baptist Church is now accepting donations of warm winter coats, he said.
With storms, power outages, and accidents causing more power outages, the mayor said, "We're constantly battling different fronts. We're working on getting everybody's power back."
And, hopefully, nothing will prevent that power from going out again, at least for the time being. "I don't know what this next storm is going to give us," Dougherty said.


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Nikolai Volkoff
Real Name
Josip Peruzovic
Date of Birth
October 14, 1947
Place of Birth
With a lot of fans going on social media and proclaiming the death of his company, MVP has become quite vocal in defense of TNA. The former United States Heavyweight Champion has been telling people that the company will continue to churn through. He is under the belief that a new television deal will be worked out before the end of the year.
August 1, 2014
While a lot of fans bashed TNA for paying big bucks to Hulk Hogan over the years, his true value is coming out as Dixie Carter is having some trouble trying to secure a new television deal for Impact Wrestling. Hogan's name value helped open a lot of doors in business for the company, and his absence has made it a bit harder to sell networks on their product.
July 29, 2014
Rumors are floating around right now that Vince McMahon would be interested in purchasing the TNA library to add to his WWE Network. It could simply just be all speculation right now, as the company has been focused on cutting back their spending because of how much money has been lost over the last several months. Obviously, no negotiations have taken place since Dixie Carter is still trying to find a new television deal for Impact Wrestling.
July 29, 2014
Since rumors broke out about Spike TV canceling Impact Wrestling, TNA officials had to react quickly to prevent their performers from panicking. Dixie Carter and her staff sent out emails to the wrestlers to let them know that the rumors were not true. She reiterated to the crew that negotiations were still ongoing with the network, and the show should remain on television.
July 29, 2014
Rumors are floating around that WWE really does not have all their plans in place for that new stable featuring Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston and Big E Langston. Several names, including R Truth, Titus ONeil and Mark Henry, have been mentioned as possible candidates to join the group, but none of that has been solidified. For the time being, the trio will continue to be vague on television.
July 29, 2014
"If it's true that Spike TV doesn't renew their deal with TNA, it's a double edged sword, in my opinion. They were and are atrociously bad at advertising the show whatsoever. I never used to see us advertised except maybe an hour before Impact Wrestling started. Not acceptable. The most annoying part when I was still wrestling there was I'd see Bellator constantly advertised, and we were doing better numbers at the time. Hell, even Manswers got better public relations by the network than we did. The bad side of the sword is that it obviously takes a ton of TNA's revenue away that they counted on to pay the wrestlers. For the company's future, I think the further they get the hell away from Spike, the better the company will be. That's just my opinion obviously." - Matt Morgan on the rumors that Spike TV is canceling their television deal with TNA
July 28, 2014
It looks like WWE will be utilizing the relationship between Cameron and her boyfriend a bit more during the next season of Total Divas. The belief is that something drastic will happen, where the couple will either break up or do a wedding. The heel turn and split from Naomi Knight was designed to put more attention into her character on the reality television show next season.
July 28, 2014
In a landscape changing bit of news, it is now being reported by TMZ that Spike TV officials have informed TNA that they will not be renewing their television for Impact Wrestling, which means that Dixie Carter and company are now scrambling to find a new home. People in the industry know that without a national television deal, it is hard for a company to maintain and grow.
July 28, 2014
Vince McMahon has another big headache to deal with, as his company is being hit with a class action lawsuit. The claim is that WWE purposely misled investors about their ability to secure a much better television deal with the network than the contract that they eventually signed. The promise of a bigger television deal was reportedly the reason why a lot of investors sank money into WWE, causing their stocks to soar to record levels.
July 26, 2014
In an attempt to get as much out of his name value as possible, WWE has been utilizing Ric Flair during live events as a special guest referee. The hope is that his appearance will help convince some fans to attend the show. As of right now, he has been booked on a couple of shows throughout the summer in this particular role. No word yet on what WWE plans on doing with him on television, though.
July 26, 2014
On Monday Night Raw this week, Xavier Woods, who is only used sporadically on television by WWE, made a surprising appearance after a tag team match featuring Curtis Axel, Ryback, Kofi Kingston and Big E Langston. He cut a quick promo about how Kingston and Langston cannot get very far in WWE by being nice guys. This is the start of the long rumored stable, which has already been compared to the Nation of Domination by fans online.
July 22, 2014
Since the company has been releasing people left and right due to the budget cuts, there is some understandable paranoia backstage in WWE nowadays. Recently, people were under the impression that Road Dogg had been released because he was not around for a couple of the television taping. However, it turned out to be a false alarm, as the former Intercontinental Champion was simply on vacation.
July 21, 2014
Rumors are floating around that there is more to the story of Summer Rae and Layla El teaming up than what WWE tells us on television. Many are saying that the move was in response to Velvet Sky and Angelina Love being back together in TNA. Management wanted to reunite LayCool, but since Michelle McCool was not interested in making a full time return, they opted to go with Summer Rae, as the two of them share a physical resemblance.
July 19, 2014
Triple H might be downplaying his arrival to the developmental program, but Kenta Kobayashi is far from a regular new performer joining WWE. Internally, he is being viewed as a major marketing asset as the company is hoping to expand its reaches in Japan. A television network has already agreed to air WWE NXT since Kobayashi will be featured on those shows. The Japanese star is also set to help promote the WWE Network when it expands overseas.
July 17, 2014
While there has been some pessimism on Global Force Wrestling being able to secure a television deal due to the decline of WWE lately, Jeff Jarrett is reportedly in negotiations with two cable companies right now. It is being said that one of the networks has never carried professional wrestling before, so it is pretty impressive that Jarrett was able to convince them to give it a try.
July 16, 2014
In a sign that management might have forgiven her, Emma was not only given a match on WWE Main Event this week, but she was also given a victory over Cameron, who recently did a heel turn. Rumors floated around that the company was not going to be utilizing her on television after she was arrested for shoplifting, but it looks like WWE is attempting to avoid further attention to the incident by going about as usual.
July 16, 2014
Now that Jeff Jarrett has revealed that a new announcement for Global Force Wrestling is coming soon, speculations have arisen that it will be about a potential television deal that the TNA founder has been working on. While it is unlikely to be on a big network, securing a national TV deal would put GFW ahead of a lot of other wrestling companies.
July 11, 2014
For those of you that do not know, Big Show has been off the road and filming a WWE Studios film called Vendetta. The former world heavyweight champion is expected to be done with that movie in a couple of weeks, as WWE has already advertised him for live events in August. Big Show should also be returning to television around the same time as well.
July 11, 2014
Even though the company quickly rehired her, Emma might actually still be in hot water with WWE. The diva was not spotted backstage at Monday Night Raw or Smackdown this week. The belief is that the company has sent her home for the time being. Many believe that it will be quite some time before Emma is allowed back on television.
July 10, 2014
The big brawl between Naomi Knight and Cameron that you witnessed on Monday Night Raw this week was indeed the big breakup that has been teased over the last couple of weeks by WWE. As many already know, this story was set up for the sake of Total Divas, as producers wanted more dramatic stories for the reality television show. Since it is involved with another network, the belief is that WWE will get behind the story and put some emphasis on it.
July 9, 2014
In 1967, Nikolai Volkoff was on the weightlifting team for Yugoslavia. While competing in a tournament in Austria, he decided to defect to Canada. While there, he decided to become a professional wrestler, and he lucked out by winding up with Stu Hart, who agreed to train him.
February 11, 2014
During the mid 1980s, Nikolai Volkoff made his return to WWE after stints in the AWA and Mid South. Upon his return, someone came up with the idea to have him sing the Russian national anthem to generate heel heat, as the United States was at odds with the country.
January 1, 2014
Former WWE star Nikolai Volkov and former NWA star Bobby Fulton were forced to wrestle on a mat at an independent wrestling show in a small town in Ohio recently, as promoters were unable to secure a ring for them to work on.
November 17, 2013
In a really quick flag match at Wrestlemania 2, Corporal Kirchner was able to defeat Nikolai Volkoff after interference from Freddie Blassie backfired.
April 7, 1986


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PTST Program Admission Requirements
PTST Program Minimum Qualifications
The Physical Therapist Assistant Technology Program is a selective admissions program. All applicants must provide evidence that they meet the minimum qualifications to be considered for a seat in the class beginning in the fall each year. Applicants who fail to provide evidence of having the minimum qualifications will not be considered for admission. Having the minimum qualifications does not guarantee acceptance into the PTST Program. All application materials must be submitted by May 1st.
1. A Kent State University student
a. Apply to Kent State University at East Liverpool at http://www.kent.edu/admissions/apply/index.cfm
b. Pay the required fees
c. Request Official Transcripts from high school and any previous college experience.
d. Complete the KSU admissions assessment process: STAR Assessment
2. Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 from the most recent academic experience of 12 credit hours or more.
3. Essential Academic Preparation with a grade of "C" or better
a. High School or college level algebra (demonstrated by Math 10023)
b. High School or college level biology (demonstrated with any course from the Biology Department)
c. High School or college level physics (demonstrated with any course from the Physics Department)
d. Complete all developmental coursework prescribed by the STAR Assessment
4. Submit the PTST Program Application
a. Accepted between March 1st and May 1st annually.
b. Submit online or in paper format sent to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program department at East Liverpool.
c. Include the required essay.
5. Two (2) Observation Recommendation and Verification Forms (Total 40 hours)
a. Minimum of 20 hours of Inpatient and a minimum of 20 hours of outpatient observation experience
b. Signed by licensed PT or PTA
c. Faxed directly from the PT clinic to the PTST Program at KSU at 330-382-7564
d. Observation experiences must be completed within 30 months of the program start date (Fall Semester).


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With a few controversial Clarkstown items happening recently and Supervisor Alex Gromack on the list of guest speakers, more than 60 people filled the seats at Thursday's Nanuet Civic Association meeting.
Many were interested in what Gromack had to say about the on school tax bills and the new Highway Department's , which pays $75,000 a year. Frank Sparaco, a Rockland County legislator, was hired for this position by Highway Superintendent Wayne Ballard.
Unfortunately there was not enough time left for many questions from the public so Gromack said that he will return for a later civic meeting to answer the public's questions.
"Orangetown is looking at a 15 percent tax hike … they're trying to manage as best as they can, but the numbers aren't working," said Gromack. "In the town of Clarkstown, we've done some things that have structurally changed government. The last three years, we had a 1.6 percent tax hike, 2011 we had 0 (percent tax hike) and 2012, a 0 (percent tax hike). How did we do it? We reduced our workforce by 15 percent, we consolidated offices … we didn't rehire (people for certain positions) … Just the other day, we consolidated the town garages … over the next six years, that will be a million-dollar savings."
He added that these tactics have allowed him and the Clarkstown town board to avoid high tax hikes.
"We need to talk about where we are as a town and a county because that is a fundamental. We are being poorly treated by the county executive," said Gromack, adding that he and the town board are going to fight Vanderhoef's policies that hurt towns and schools, but the fight comes at a price.
"We're going to fight it, but there's going to be some pain in fighting it," he said. "(Orangetown Supervisor) Andy Stewart is looking at a 15 percent tax hike. I don't believe we're going to be anywhere near that … For this year, we're getting a $2 million bill from Scott Vanderhoef that we never had to pay before," such as towns contributing to Rockland Community College and taking over some of the costs of monitoring mosquito trappings, which is a county responsibility.
Gromack said that decisions made by County Executive Scott Vanderhoef are hurting the towns, which led to Clarkstown's addition of the 1 percent surcharge as a processing fee to collect school taxes.
Gromack said that the town had been able to collect the taxes without charging a fee for many years and were happy to to do so. In comparison, "Ramapo collected a fee for over 20 years, Haverstraw for 15 years, Orangetown did it last year. We never had to do it, but when the county executive gave us a $2 million bill this year … we said, something's got to give … so yes, we had to do an assessment to help balance the books. The sad part is, if we collect $1.5 million (from the surcharge) … that money's going to go right back to Scott Vanderhoef."
Gromack added that Legislators Ed Day and Chris Carey are two that fight for the towns on the legislature. He also suggested that the civic association invite Clarkstown Town Assessor Cathy Conklin to their next monthly meeting as a guest speaker.
The second concern many had at the meeting was Sparaco's new part-time position. Unfortunately, Ballard was not present due to a scheduling conflict.
Gromack responded that the appointment was something he and the town board had no control over.
"The appointment of the people in the Highway Department under New York State Law is an appointment solely by the superintendent of highways," he said. "Mr. Ballard said he will come and will explain it."
Related Patch Articles:


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CLARENCE, MO. — Police in Shelby County, Mo. are investigating a bank robbery that occurred Thursday afternoon in the city of Clarence, Mo., according to a KTVO report posted by Monisha Bruner on Jan. 17.
Cody Allen Barber, 26, of Moulton, was arrested for first degree robbery.
According to a news release, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Shelby County Sheriff's Department responded to the report of a bank robbery at Community State Bank in Clarence, Mo. The initial reports say the suspect, a white male, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, had entered the bank with a handgun and demanded money. The man fled the area on foot with an undetermined amount of money.
A short time later, a witness saw a man matching the suspect's description get into a blue Pontiac parked in a nearby parking lot and drive away. This witness then followed the vehicle out of Clarence and onto Shelby County roads all while advising the police.
Officers located the Pontiac abandoned on a county road about 1.5 miles northeast of Clarence. Law enforcement set up a search perimeter and uitlized a patrol aircraft according to the news release.
At about 2:50 p.m. patrol canine unit found Barber and he was taken into custody. Barber is being held in the Shelby County Jail awaiting the issuance of a warrant.
Barber has an active felony case in Appanoose County. He is facing one count of forgery and one count of trafficking in stolen weapons, both class D felonies for alleged crimes committed in December of 2012.