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The Kentucky Office of Education Accountability recently wrapped up an investigation centering on actions of a former district employee.
The OEA began the investigation in October 2011 after receiving an anonymous complaint from within the Owen County School District.
According to the OEA's final investigative report, obtained by the News-Herald in a request for public records, Owen County School District Superintendent David Raleigh permitted Leslie Robertson, former district assessment coordinator, to receive her regular salary from the Owen County School District for days she was out of the district, engaged in a private consulting business.
According to the final investigative report by the OEA, Robertson had a 240-day contract with the district but also had a private consulting business providing training to other schools and school districts throughout the state.
According to the report, Robertson said she made up all days or used non-contract days for time she was absent from the district doing her consulting business. Robertson told investigators she worked many more days than her contract required, often working through Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks as well as many Saturdays and Sundays.
According to the report, Robertson said Raleigh authorized her to work on weekends to make up some of the days she was out of the district for her consulting business. The investigation also revealed that Robertson had used non-contract days to conduct professional development for her personal consulting business.
In an interview with OEA investigators, Raleigh confirmed he authorized Robertson to use weekend work to make up for days she was out of the district on her personal consulting business.
Raleigh and Robertson told OEA investigators the district did not suffer any loss of service by Robertson's being out of the district on her personal consulting business because she worked in excess of the 240 days required by her contract.
In a review of Robertson's individual employment contract, the OEA found no stipulations requiring Robertson to complete her duties on a Monday through Friday work week schedule.
However, according to the Owen County School District Board Policy, certified employees are not to accept outside employment or activities that would prevent them from fulfilling regularly assigned school duties and obligations. Employees are not to perform any duties related to an outside job during their regular working hours.
According to the report, the board policy prohibits the kind of activity Robertson was conducting. The report says Robertson's business took her away from her regularly assigned obligations during regular work hours.
According to board policy, no certified employee should leave their job assignment during duty hours without approval from their immediate supervisor.
According to the report, the policy allowed Raleigh the flexibility to permit Robertson to leave during regular work hours to conduct her private consulting business.
Because there is no board policy requiring work hours must be worked on a Monday through Friday, the OEA could not find a violation of district policy.
However, on Oct. 5, 2011 Robertson used two days of fall break on a consulting trip to Laurel County. According to the report, as a 240 day contract employee, Robertson should have utilized a non-contract day because she did not receive regularly scheduled school breaks like fall break. The report says any time taken off for fall break should have been non-contract time and working two days of fall break did not make up the day she was out of the district for her private business.
In an interview Monday, Raleigh said former Owen County School District Superintendent Mark Cleveland had allowed Robertson to use non-contract days for her consulting work. Because Robertson had used the non-contract days for consulting prior to his hiring, Raleigh said he did not see a problem with allowing Robertson to continue using those days for her consulting business.
Raleigh said Robertson's use of non-contract days was no different from another employee using non-contract days for personal use or vacation time.
Robertson, who now works for the Oldham County School District, said she could use the non-contract days however she wanted and the Oct. 5, 2011 consulting date was an oversight on her part.
"I should have taken a non-contract day," Robertson said. "It was an oversight and when OEA brought it to my attention I didn't argue it. They were absolutely right. My job never suffered in Owen County because of those non-contract days."
As a result of the allegations and the OEA investigation, Raleigh said he will no longer allow weekend days to be used in lieu of non-contract days and if an employee needs to be out, they will not be permitted to count those days as a work day.
As for the Oct. 5, 2011 consulting date in Laurel County, Raleigh said it was an oversight and Robertson normally would have taken a non-contract day.
According to the report, Raleigh also permitted Robertson and Owen County School District Finance Officer Sheila Miller to utilize Title I and Title II funds inappropriately.
According to the report, Robertson created a professional development program for the district in 2011 which consisted of several days of professional development which was billed as a "Mini PD Conference."
The conference was held July 25-29, 2011. Door prizes were to be awarded daily at the conclusion of the morning and afternoon sessions.
The door prizes, according to the report, consisted of two iPads, three Dell laptops with cases, two digital cameras, and three document cameras, all purchased with Title I funds.
Under Title I, the district gets federal money earmarked to support the comprehensive district improvement plan (CDIP), the comprehensive school improvement plan (CSIP) and needs assessments.
According to the report, most of the participants in the conference received drawstring bags or a briefcase with the district logo on them, which were also purchased with Title I funds. Smaller items, including charts, books and baskets, were also purchased with Title I funds and given away as door prizes at the conference.
An estimated $4,712 was spent from Title I funds for the purchase of door prizes for the conference.
The investigation also revealed that approximately $1,500 of Title II funds was used to purchase items to be given away during the conference. Items purchased for door prizes included two hard drives, four wireless keyboards with mouse bundles, 10 digital cameras, two laptop cases, 40 SD card readers, 40 SD memory cards, and 30 flash drives.
Title II is federal funding utilized to improve classroom instruction to improve student achievement.
According to the report, Robertson told OEA investigators that the purchases were allowable because the items were to help increase the use of instructional technology.
Robertson told investigators that each prize winner was required to have the item tagged as part of the district's inventory, to use the prize in their classrooms and to submit a statement as to how the prizes were being used in the classrooms.
Robertson also told investigators that if a prize winner left the district or was not using the prize appropriately, they would be required to turn it into the board office and it would be given to another teacher in the district.
Through interviews with prize winners and review of documents obtained in the investigation, the OEA learned that at the time the prizes were won, none of the prize winners were told that the prize had to have an inventory tag and could only be used for school purposes.
According to the report, three months after the conference and on the day of the OEA's visit to the district, an email was sent by Robertson to the prize winners advising them that the prizes were for use in the classroom. She also requested that each prize winner provide her with the serial number from the item won and a short paragraph of how the item was being used in their classroom.
In one response received by Robertson, a teacher said she was using the item at her home. Robertson responded to her that she needed to know how she was using it in her classroom.
Raleigh said on the day of the conference, a sign was hanging near a wheel for drawings that informed participants the prizes were for district use and that two principals were setup nearby to get serial numbers from the prizes for tagging later on.
Raleigh said Robertson had consulted with the Kentucky Department of Education prior to purchasing the door prizes.
Because the items purchased were technology related, Raleigh said he believed the money could be spent on such items because they would improve the quality of instruction within the classroom.
Robertson said the she talked with KDE before setting up the conference and told them about the prizes.
"I wanted to save the district some money and still get teachers the chance to go to a conference," Robertson said. "All of the items given away were connected to the CDIP and CSIP and was approved by a vendor. If the state thought that we were mismanaging funds, Owen County would be paying back a lot of money right now."
According to the report, the OEA concluded that the use of Title I funds to purchase the prizes for the conference was not an allowable expense because neither the comprehensive district improvement plan nor the technology plan documented the need for the purchases or the funding source to be used for the purchase.
The report also says Robertson inappropriately used Title II funds to purchase items to be given away as door prizes.
Also under the second allegation, the report says Robertson authorized a contribution of Title I funds in the amount of $2,000 to the Catalyst of Hope Conference which was sponsored by a non-district agency.
Raleigh said the Catalyst of Hope Conference is like a "parent pep rally" and encourages more parent and community involvement in the school district.
"Under Title I money we have $2,000 a year to spend on parent involvement," Raleigh said. "We had never spent that money before. It had always carried over. So we hosted the conference and the contribution was supposed to be spent on sack lunches for the participants and vendors."
According to the report, the non-district agency used the funds for purchasing give-away prizes.
Raleigh said the contribution was an allowable Title I expenditure, but once he, Robertson and Miller learned of the problem, Miller made changes to reflect that the donated money was from the general fund and not Title I funds.
Although the correction was made, according to the report the donation and the correcting of the errors would require board approval pursuant to state law.
In a summary of the report to the members of the Owen County Board of Education, Raleigh said he was not aware that the correction required board approval.
The OEA also investigated salaries paid to teachers from Title II, Part A ("Teacher Quality") funds from 2010 to 2012.
According to the report, three teachers, an elementary teacher, a high-school mathematics teachers and a high-school chemistry teacher have each been paid from Title II funds.
According to the report, Title II, Part A funds can only be used for class-size reduction. The two high school teachers are the only teachers teaching their particular subject areas, so their positions cannot be considered class-size reductions and Title II, Part A would not be the correct funding source.
Raleigh said he believes Robertson and Miller allocated funds for the positions based on guidance received from the Kentucky Department of Education and federal funding training.
"(Miller) and (Robertson) did exactly what they were advised to do," Raleigh said. "They're very fiscally responsible."
The OEA also investigated Robertson's salary, which part of had been coded as professional development instruction out of Title I funds. The other part of Robertson's salary had been coded as regular instruction. The remainder of her salary should have been coded to other district administrative support, not as regular instruction.
A review of expenses submitted for which Robertson received reimbursement also found several coding errors.
In July 2010, Robertson submitted an invoice for payment in the amount of $58.24, for professional development participants' math lunch at the Smith House Restaurant, which according to the report was reimbursed from Title II funds and coded as supplies.
The investigation also revealed that Robertson submitted requests for travel reimbursement.
On each occasion, the reimbursement from Title II funds was coded to the "superintendent's" travel account.
The occasions included $70.14, which Miller said was mileage to Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative meetings, $26.04, and $202.90 were also mileage to OVEC meetings.
An amount of $789.95 was requested by Robertson for mileage to OVEC, Association of Educational Supervisors, District Assessment Coordinator and Evaluation Training meetings with $227.04 of that coded to the "superintendent's travel account."
According to Miller and Raleigh, the superintendent does not have a travel account for his personal use. The account is designed to cover the entire superintendent's office staff.
According to Raleigh, expenditures reimbursed for meetings that are not allowable expenditures under federal programs are reimbursed to employees through the general fund. The code used for the reimbursement fell within the range of codes for the superintendent's office because she was physically located in the office.
According to the report, on four occasions Robertson submitted requests for meal reimbursement and on each occasion, the reimbursement was paid from Title II Part A funds.
Two of the reimbursements, one on Feb. 11, 2010 for $72.17 at Gibby's in Frankfort and one on July 9, 2010 in the amount of $58.24 were while Cleveland was still superintendent.
The other two, one on Nov. 8, 2010 for $98.40 at Applebee's in Frankfort and one on Jan. 19, 2011 for $36.85 at Longhorn Steakhouse in Frankfort were after Raleigh became superintendent.
According to district board policy, money spent for food while on out-of-district, overnight trips are reimbursed in accordance with procedures developed by the superintendent, when an overnight trip is required.
Because no overnight trips were required on the occasions for meal reimbursement, meal reimbursement should not have been paid.
According to Raleigh, he and Miller are aware that the expenses are not allowable through Title II Part A funds and reimbursement of meals will no longer be an issue.
As a resolution to the findings by the OEA, Raleigh or his "designee" must obtain three hours of training from a Kentucky Department of Education certified trainer on the subject of "allowable use of Title I and Title II funds by a school district" and from a KDE approved trainer, three hours of training on the "complying with the model procurement code."
Proof of completion of the trainings was originally supposed to be provided to the OEA by Aug. 30, but the OEA has given an extension until Sept. 30.
Raleigh said Miller and Owen County School District Assessment Coordinator Danny Osborne have received training in Title I and Raleigh will receive training in Title II.
Miller will complete the three hours of training in model procurement.
Both Raleigh and Robertson said they took full responsibility for the findings in the OEA report.
"This was a witch hunt against me," Robertson said. "It was personal. Whoever filed the complaint was out to get me. I take responsibility for the spending of the money involved and how it was appropriated. Those things are a reflection of me, but none of the mistakes I made cost the district a dime. There was never a decision with money, or otherwise, that I wasn't confident was allowable through my training and collaboration with KDE."
Raleigh he wanted people to know that he took full responsibility.
"We don't intentionally do anything wrong," Raleigh said. "If we're out of compliance or something goes wrong, we take the steps to correct those things. ... Our attorney Jim Crawford looked at the OEA report and he didn't see anything glaring. Some people are saying we broke laws. If that was the case, our attorney would be all over it."
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New London
Steven Mantey, 62, of 45 Sherman St., was charged Saturday with third-degree assault and violation of a protective order.
Fabian Benitez, 34, of 180 Crystal Ave. #2, was charged Saturday with second-degree harassment and violation of a protective order.
Grace E. Beck, 54, of 13 Prindeville Ave., Waterford, was charge Saturday with failure to obey a traffic control signal, driving with a suspended license and driving an unregistered motor vehicle.
Thomas Winston, 26, of 90 North St., was charged Saturday with third-degree strangulation, third-degree assault, second-degree threatening and disorderly conduct.
State Police - Montville
Cory E. Morel, 19, of 8 Gorman Street, Apt. C, Moosup, was charged Feb. 22 in Plainfield with risk of injury to a minor.
Scott Pepka, 41, of 12 South D St., Taftville, was charged Saturday in Lisbon with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to obey a traffic control signal.
Daniel E. Burdick, 39, of 1 Mowry Road, Westerly, was charged Sunday with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.
Jesse Conklin-Chadwick, 32, of 268 Shore Road, was charged Saturday with interfering with a police officer, third-degree assault, evading responsibility, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failure to drive in the proper lane, failure to stop for an emergency vehicle, misuse of plates, failure to have minimum insurance, traveling unreasonably fast, driving an unregistered motor vehicle and driving with a suspended license.
Ronald Loyer, 22, of 188 Hickory Lane, Naugatuck, was charged Saturday with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The state judicial branch website has information on the outcome of criminal and motor vehicle arrests. Go to: http://www.jud2.ct.gov/crdockets/SearchByDefDisp.aspx.
The Big Day 2014
Flat Stanley Contest
Win an iPad mini from Tri-Town Foods
NASCAR is in the news after announcing the National Rifle Association is sponsoring an April 13 race. How do you feel about this?
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subset: commoncrawl


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Orientation Team and Information
Congratulations to the 2014 Orientation Leader Team!
Melinda Bellemare Hofius - Coordinator of Orientation
Rebecca Whitley- Orientation Graduate Assistant
Joshua Wright- Student Training Assistant
Ben Turner - Summer Intern
Will Evans - Orientation Practicum Student
Ashlyn Arp- Silver Team Leader
Gayla Bell- Red Team Leader
Kellee Henderson- White Team Leader
Macy Warner - Blue Team Leader
2014 Student Orientation Leaders
Lina Bejarano
Belinda Blay
Lauren Bridges
Annie Broome
Katie Cassarino
Erica Collier
Hannah Cothran
Jasmine Darnaby
Charity Dobbs
Jacque Ebakhaye
Maria Escuela
Stayce Evans
Damola Famodun
Taylor Finleyson
Takeo Garcia
Quinnetra Harris
Jamalyn Hill
Chase Johnson
Javon Jordan-Stroud
Jordan Legree
Brody Lively
Madeline Livingston
Jennifer Morrow
Lauren Mullis
Chan Patterson
Lauren Peet
Vanessa Rape
Brandon Reece
Lindsey Reeves
Nikki Samora
Brett Sauls
Nijah Searls
Zipporah Smith
Shawn Terrell
Betty Thompson
Kerry Tochterman
Breanna Vega
Quinton Washington
2014 Guest Orientation Leaders
Clay Barton
Jessie Beck
Alex Coffey
Jay Dennis
Stacey Gante
Devyn Pritchard
Tyran Ragland
2014 Orientation Resident AssistantsJoshua Scroggins
Marcus Davis
Roger Newell
Olivia McGregor
TaiJohne'a Haywood
Jalia Clay
Orientation selection is complete for the 2014 Summer. Please check back in August for a link to apply for the 2015 team!
We're looking for the best of the best, could that be you?
Please check back here for a link to apply.
Application due date is TBD
Not sure if the position is the right fit for you? Come to one of our 3 interest meetings in Sept. and Oct. Dates are TBD.
Orientation Leader Team Information:
Our team consists of:
36-40 Student Orientation Leaders
8 Parent Orientation Leaders
4 team leaders
What are the expectations of an Orientation Leader?
- Attend and complete all training requirements.
- Training for new OL's will be held every Friday in March.
-All OL's will attend the Training Retreat dates are tbd (usually held in May)
-Live in provided on-campus housing during Orientation Programs and Training
-Learn everything about West Georgia!|
-Participate in every Orientation session including Transitions Orientation (see list of dates below)
-Lead Group discussions about campus policies, procedures, activities, facilities and services.
- Give tours, encourage student participation and commit to getting a little silly.
-Serve as a role model and representative of UWG.
-Additional responsibilities as assigned.
What are the Qualifications to apply?
-A Minimum of a 2.5 cumulative grade point average during time of application and time of employment.
- Lack of honor or judicial offenses – please contact Melinda Bellemare Hofius with any questions 678-839-4734 -Commit to attending all training and orientation program days
-Free from other commitments. Orientation Leaders will NOT be able to take any Maymester or June Courses. Students can take Online courses.
-Must have a positive attitude, relate well with students and parents, and demonstrate a responsible attitude.
What are the benefits of being an Orientation Leader?
- Opportunity to enhance your interpersonal skills, knowledge, confidence, and service to others – it's also great for your resume!
-Housing during training and during 2-day Orientation sessions
-You get paid! $1,700-$1,900 (depending on number of orientation sessions) stipend for the summer to be dispensed in 3 or 4 payments over the summer.
-Meals during all Orientation sessions and leadership retreat are all provided.
-You get UWG Gear! (tshirts, bookbag, umbrellas etc.)
- It's FUN! Seriously, Orientation is tons of FUN!


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Provide Erdheim-Chester Disease research funding/support and patient support.
The ECD Global Alliance supports patients, and their loved ones, affected by Erdheim-Chester Disease, an extremely rare and debilitating disorder. Little is known about this disease, it can take years to receive a proper diagnosis and there are no scientifically proven treatments.
Erdheim-Chester Disease can affect many different organs of the body. It is characterized by excessive production and accumulation of specific cells whose normal function is to fight infections. These cells, called histiocytes, accumulate in the loose connective tissue of the body. As a result this tissue becomes, dense, thickened and fibrotic. Multiple different organs can be affected. Unless successful treatment can be found, organ failure can result.
The organization is focused on providing support to all those affected by ECD, promoting research relative to ECD, raising awareness of ECD and sharing ECD educational material. For more information, please see www.erdheim-chester.org.
Thank you to everyone who helped the ECD Global Alliance meet their 2012 Donation Challenge. We are very pleased to announce that through your generous donations the organization was able to turn $60K into $120K to support all those who are affected by Erdheim-Chester Disease! Thank you to all the generous donors who made this possible. Let's see if we can raise even more funds to support patients and researchers in 2013!
We thank you for your support.
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After 2003's Damnation introduced a seemingly kinder, gentler Opeth to the world, you might've thought Mikael Akerfeldt and Co. had gone soft. Well, if so, you would've thought wrong, because Opeth aren't just back to metal with the new Ghost Reveries, they're better at it than ever before. While I was a huge fan of theirs a few years ago, my interest had sort of wanted recently, even if I do still think they've released some great albums (most notably Still Life and Damnation). Here, though, they achieve a level of focus and intensity unprecedented in their catalogue. Ghost Reveries is, simply put, their most original, interesting, and brilliant album.
Ghost Reveries is also Opeth's most aggressively proggy release to date-I don't know about anyone else, but listening to this album I was struck by thoughts of Nevermore, Arch Enemy, Isis, and the Mars Volta, even though Opeth don't actually sound like any of those bands-and therefore can take several listens to adequately get your head around. Not that your time won't be well spent, though, as Ghost Reveries is a remarkable leap forward for a band that had already been long since marked as innovators. Opeth have been known since their beginnings for their wide range of emotions and their extensive alternation of sounds, but on previous albums the dynamics tended to be of a HEAVY-light-HEAVY-light-HEAVY variety that got rather comfortable after a while. Here, though, everything is integrated much more seamlessly, exploring a stylistic range that takes Opeth well beyond the status of "that band that mixes death metal, folk, and prog rock."
Opeth do still mix styles with abandon on Ghost Reveries, but the patterns are varied considerably more this time around, with multiple sonic shifts per song, some of which can take a while to pinpoint. As a result, Ghost Reveries is a lot less predictable than what came before it-listening to albums like Still Life and Blackwater Park, I could settle into a heavier or lighter passage secure in the knowledge that it would probably continue for a while, but that's not so here. As tradeoffs go it's a worthy one-there's a lot more of a sturm and drang effect here; the death vocals hit harder for their sparser distribution; and the instrumental passages give you a lot more to chew on. Not to mention, the band's compositional style is just a lot more interesting here, with tighter songwriting highlighted by inceasingly intricate riff structures and guitar harmonies and some azz-kicking solos. For the first time, I can safely say that every second of an Opeth album is made to count.
The first two tracks-Ghost of Perdition, The Baying of the Hounds-are somewhat prototypical Opeth epics, but even then some changes are evident. Even during the heavier parts, there's more of a melodic metal approach, with Mikael's clean vocals (previously used almost exclusively for soft passages) making frequent appearances. Still, these tracks exemplify the band's traditional balance of viciousness and majesty, effortlessly incorporating bowel-shaking growls, gorgeous guitar melodies, and dizzyingly technical instrumental interludes while sweeping keyboard textures, gentle atmospherics, and screaming solos weave their way in and out of the mix. And it may just be my new stereo talking, but I don't recall the bass work being as prominent or interesting on previous albums as it is on this one.
Beneath the Mire, while superficially not that different from the two songs that come before it, is still probably the most rabidly experimental thing on here, shifting mood and tone every minute or so, interspersing head-banging metal with gorgeous vocal melodies and emotionally charged guitar leads, and closing with a bizarre, free-jazzy instrumental passage that wouldn't sound out of place on a Meshuggah CD. And although it sounds a lot different, the first all-nice track Atonement continues in the same vein. In sharp contrast to the pleasant but often lightweight tunes that generally provided a break from all the heaviness in the past, Atonement is a hypnotic, densely layered ambient piece driven by Eastern-accented guitar work, subtle keyboard flourishes, and even some hand drums and piano (never thought I'd hear that combination on an Opeth album). Another classic, the Grand Conjuration, steadily builds tension with some hushed, eerie melodies and foreboding clean vocals before releasing it with flurries of death vox, crazy Meshuggah-style polyrhythms (there's that name again), and ghostly keyboards. For its part, Isolation Years is a pretty nice closer; Akerfeldt's vocals get a little too close to the top of his register for my tastes, but the purty guitar leads and tricky drumming make the song register just enough.
Alright, I'm too bored and full of caffeine to write a suitable closing to this review now, so I'll just leave you with this: if you like Opeth, get this album. It's their best one yet, and easily among my prestigious personal top 5 of the year thus far.


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Richard L. Koehler, of Crescent Park Manor, Crescent View Avenue, Riverside, East Providence, died peacefully on May 23, 2013. He was 79.
Born in Providence, a son of the late Clifford L. and Dorothea M. (O'Brien) Koehler, he lived in Riverside for 55 years.
Koehler was a petroleum pipe fitter for 20 years. He was a Marine Corps veteran, serving during the Korean Conflict. His funeral and burial will be private. Click here for the complete obituary.


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Bryan P. Cavanaugh, Esquire
Resigning to access funds from a 401(k) account does not constitute resignation for good cause. Timothy Schweitzer v. Sinak Plumbing and Division of Employment Security, No. 96337 (Mo. App., E.D., November 8, 2011), Romines, J.
Schweitzer worked as a plumber for Sinak for twenty-five years. One day, he told the office manager he was resigning because he needed to access funds from his 401(k). Schweitzer filed for unemployment benefits two days later and cited several alleged incidents of harassment from Sinak's owner. The deputy awarded him benefits on the basis that Schweitzer quit for good cause. The appeals tribunal affirmed. The commission reversed and concluded Schweitzer did not quit for good cause.
Held: Affirmed. The commission had found that Schweitzer resigned because he wanted to access funds from his 401(k), and not because of harassment from Sinak's owner. The court was bound to accept this fact. Given that, the issue is whether Schweitzer's resignation for that reason constituted good cause, which is a question of law. "Good cause" typically involves some type of harassment, inappropriate comments, or other objectionable behavior on the part of the employer. "Resigning for the purpose of accessing funds from a 401K account is not reasonable for the purposes of good cause because it is a personal motivation over which the employer has no control." Therefore, Schweitzer's resignation was not for good cause, and he was not entitled to unemployment benefits.
Equitable tolling may apply to deadlines for applying for benefits under the federal Trade Act. Staci Adams v. Division of Employment Security, No. 95820 (Mo. App. E.D., November 22, 2011), Cohen, J.
Adams was laid off from her job working at a Chrysler plant. She sought benefits under the federal Trade Act of 1974, 19 U.S.C. §§ 2271, et seq. Eligibility for Trade Act benefits requires a group of workers, their union, or their employer to file a petition with the United States Department of Labor stating that the loss of their employment is due to either competition from imports or a shift in production to another country. The commission denied her application for benefits under the Trade Act because she filed her application after the deadline to do so. Adams appealed, arguing the commission erred in failing to apply equitable tolling to the deadlines under the Trade Act.
Held: Reversed and remanded for a new hearing. A litigant seeking equitable tolling must establish (1) he has been pursuing his rights diligently, and (2) some extraordinary circumstances stood in his way. Here, the court found both of those elements were met. The court also identified a recent U.S. Department of Labor guidance letter that specifically allowed for the possibility of equitable tolling in circumstances such as Adams'. Therefore, the court remanded the case to the commission for further findings of fact and conclusions of law on the issue of the propriety of the application of equitable tolling to Adams' failure to request a training waiver by the statutory deadline.
Restrictive covenant with a two-year restriction and a 50-mile radius held not per se unreasonable. Whelan Security Company v. Charles Kennebrew, Sr. and W. Landon Morgan, No. 96394 (Mo. App. E.D., November 29, 2011), Ahrens, J.
Kennebrew and Morgan were employees of Whelan. Kennebrew's employment agreement contained non-competition and non-solicitation of employees and customers restrictions. The temporal restriction was for two years after employment, and the non-compete geographical restriction was a 50-mile radius of any location where Kennebrew had provided services or arranged for Whelan to do so. Kennebrew worked as Director of Quality Assurance, and was responsible for various areas of operations and client development. Kennebrew resigned in August 2009.
Morgan, whose employment agreement with Whelan contained similar restrictive covenants as Kennebrew's, oversaw the Tennessee operations and was responsible for operations and sales. He resigned in December 2008.
Whelan filed a petition for injunctive and monetary relief, alleging unlawful solicitation and competition by Kennebrew and Morgan. Both sides moved for summary judgment, and the trial court granted a judgment in Kennebrew's and Morgan's favor. It ruled: "the employment agreements at issue in this case, as written, are overbroad, not reasonable as to time and space and are therefore not valid." Whelan appealed.
Held: Reversed. The court of appeals found the restrictive covenants reasonable as written. The temporal restriction of two years is reasonable under Missouri law. The non-solicitation of customers restriction is reasonable even without a geographic restriction. As for the non-solicitation of employees restriction, Morgan's one-year restriction is presumptively reasonable under § 431.202 RSMo. Kennebrew's two-year restriction is not presumptively unreasonable. The court remanded this issue to the trial court to consider the reasonableness of the two-year restriction on the solicitation of customers, and reminded the trial court it could "blue pencil" that two-year restriction if it found it too long.
As for the non-compete restriction for two years and within a 50-mile radius of every location where the defendant had worked, the court of appeals concluded neither the temporal nor geographic scope was per se unreasonable.
Therefore, nothing in the non-compete and non-solicitation agreements was per se unreasonable and unenforceable as a matter of law. The appropriate inquiry for the trial court is whether the temporal and spatial restrictions on non-competition are reasonable under the particular circumstances of the case and serve the employer's legitimate interests.
The court of appeals remanded the case for a determination of whether the restrictive covenants were reasonable under the circumstances and, if so, for a determination of damages. The court of appeals refused to apply any equitable tolling to extend the length of the temporal restrictions.
Comments? Suggestions? Click here to contact us
Paid for by The Missouri Bar Sebrina Barrett, Executive Director PO Box 119 Jefferson City, MO 65102


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Most people with three sons, 12 grandchildren and three great grandchildren would slow down and take time for themselves, but Tzipora Steinmetz finds ways to make time for others.
About six years ago, after retiring from teaching, Steinmetz saw an ad calling for volunteers to work for the nursing home and rehabilitation pavilion at .
Since then she has made volunteering there on Tuesdays an important part of her life.
"It gives me a sense of satisfaction," Steinmetz said.
At United Hebrew, Steinmetz volunteers for the gift shop where she not only helps the residents at the nursing home and rehabilitation pavilion find gifts for the holidays, but she also is noted for creating a bright spot in the lives of everyone who walks into the shop.
As a woman who is about the age of the residents, she says that they often appreciate having someone to talk with about the old times. She speaks fondly of the moments when she and a resident burst into songs from the past.
Linda Forman, vice president of community relations at United Hebrew, said the organization is lucky to have a volunteer like Steinmetz.
"She is kind and so helpful to our residents in the nursing home gift shop," Forman said. "Her smile is a delight to all."
Steinmetz says that she considers volunteering for older people a "mitzvah"—a good deed—and that she gets just as much out of it as she gives.
A year ago her husband, Rabbi Sol Steinmetz, fell ill in a nursing home and she had to put volunteering aside. Her generous spirit, once again, led her to take care of others.
After her husband passed, she found that going back to volunteering was "very helpful" in getting through the mourning process and had since "filled a void."
"There was a need for them and there was a need on my part too to be involved in something worth while," Steinmetz said.


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12/06/2012 Elgin Elgin senior Kristin Tayag (34) drives to the net down low during the home game against Streamwood on Thursday, December 6, 2012. Streamwood defeated Elgin 56-39. | Michael Jarecki ~ For Sun-Times Media
With holiday basketball tournaments just ended, Elgin schools are about to start it up all over again.
Elgin basketball coach Nick Bumbales pushed for the first girls tournament featuring all city schools and the initial Elgin City Classic is set to begin Tuesday with a somewhat unique format.
"I just wanted to give a little spotlight to girls basketball in Elgin and felt this was a good way to do it — and also to create some competition between schools and creates some camaraderie," Bumbales said. "I wanted to bring the spotlight to the city itself."
Initially, the idea was to have all six schools and play four games but St. Edward declined the invitation.
As a result, they decided upon a round-robin format but the twist is that every school will host one night of the tournament.
"It's a nice thing because the girls get out and see what's going on at each school, see the facilities," Bumbales said. "I know we've never been over to Harvest Christian and have heard they have a nice facility."
The four-game slate would have been ideal because each team would have avoided one game against one opponent.
"We already play Larkin a couple times and sometimes more in regionals, so we wouldn't have played them, but we're happy with the way this works out," Bumbales said.
The tournament begins at Larkin with Harvest Christian playing Westminster Christian at 5:45, followed by Elgin against Larkin at 7:15. The next night at Elgin Academy, Larkin faces Westminster at 5 p.m. and Elgin plays Harvest Christian at 6:30. On Jan. 11 at Harvest Christian, Elgin Academy plays Westminster at 5:30 and Elgin plays Harvest Christian at 7. On Jan. 15 at Westminster, Larkin and Elgin Academy play at 5:30 and Elgin and Westminster at 7. Elgin hosts the final night on Jan. 18, with Larkin facing Harvest Christian at 5:45 and Elgin playing Elgin Academy at 7:15.
Westminster Christian has to be considered the favorite in the tournament based on a 10-4 record. The Warriors' last game was a 62-21 rout of Harvest Christian, which is without star Sydney Doby due to a knee injury.
Elgin (4-13) halted an 11-game losing streak against Jacobs (50-47) in the Wheaton North tournament.
"Any win is a good win, and we had only three wins the past three years in the program so to have four wins on the season right now is a step in the right direction," Bumbales said. "We're fundamentally a little better and more competitive."
The scoring of Maggie Powers and Kristin Tayag has been a plus for Elgin, while Tamara Milosevic had 17 rebounds in the win over Jacobs. Elgin also is benefiting from improved play by 5-foot-10 sophomore forward Abby Pierre-Louis.
"She's a tremendous athlete and her skills on the court are getting better," Bumbales said. "We're a young team still — 14 of the 16 are underclassmen — and the thinking I have here is that we'll have them two or three years on varsity to develop.
"We're struggling against pressure and with our shooting, so we've got to pick those up."
Larkin (1-14) will be hoping to end a seven-game losing streak when it opens the tourney against Elgin. The Maroons were the only team Larkin beat, 53-47 on Dec. 4.
Royals coach Ruben Flores has scouted the teams in the tournament and likes how his team matches up against them.
"We've been off since Dec. 20 so we've been working on fundamentals a lot and getting basic offense and defense down and I expect our execution is going to look better," he said.
The Royals are looking for someone to complement the scoring of Quixmia Washington (13 ppg).
"She's a great point guard for us, but really she's a No. 2 guard," Flores said. "We need somebody else to get the ball up the floor and work others into the offense."
Post-tourney slate
Holiday tournaments did little to change the scenery in area conference play, but Huntley came away with some momentum after a surprising opening-round 34-32 loss to Conant at the Mundelein tournament. The Red Raiders got another chance to play Conant later in the tournament and won 43-39. In the process, they've built momentum with three straight wins.
After starting with two wins in the tourney, Streamwood dropped back-to-back games to Vernon Hills and Libertyville and the Sabres take their first losing streak of the season.
"We've got to do a little bit better job of taking care of the ball," Streamwood coach George Rosner said. "When we do, we've got enough scorers and people who can do a lot of damage."
The Sabres have a break until Jan. 11 when they resume Upstate Eight River play against St. Charles North.
St. Charles East (10-7) and Hampshire (5-10) are among the hottest teams in the area beyond Burlington Central and Huntley. The Whip-Purs have won five out of six after an 0-9 start, and completed the Lisle tournament with three straight wins over Reed-Custer, Timothy Christian and Westmont. East won the consolation title at the Wheaton North tournament.
Burlington Central (13-2) gets one of its most difficult tasks to date Saturday night with a road game at Kaneland (8-4). It's a part of Kaneland's "Pack the Place" day (4 p.m.) and a possible postseason preview because both teams are in the same regional at Burlington Central.
Tag(s): St. Charles East Hampshire Top News


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Re: 14 *Confuzed*
December 18 2007 at 5:29 PM
Response to
Re: 14 *Confuzed*
I've never heard of anyone as young taking WU. But let me explain a thing or two. WU contains phytoestrogens, plant estrogens, which are a lot weaker than our own bodies' estrogen. In an adult, they increase the overall hormone actions because they add to our own estrogen's actions. But 14 is the age at which you're supposed to be growing and developing really fast, your hormones are at their highest, so if you take plant hormones now, they may compete with your own hormones, taking their place and actually diuminish the overall hormone actions in your body, thus stunting your growth and development, and not only your breasts, but your whole reproductive system and even your brain. You're not done growing, breasts aren't done developing till 18 in most girls and they still grow till after 20 at many.
PS - For my personal taste, 34B is the perfect size (on a slim body).
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Walkable German Roller Coaster Gives Pedestrians All The Twists And Turns Without The Adrenaline
Tiger and Turtle – Magic Mountain is a roller coaster for people who hate roller coasters. It's completely walkable, with 249 steps along a 220-meter track in the shape of a roller coaster.
The unique design gives pedestrians the roller coaster experience without straps, motors, high speeds or any unwanted adrenaline. But it keeps the curvy layout, fun atmosphere and amazing views.
Created by Heike Mutter and Ulrich Genth, the installation sits in a park in Duisburg, Germany. The coaster itself stands 21 meters tall atop a 33-meter high artificial hill, giving "riders" the best views of the surrounding park.
The finished product used 120 tons of galvanized steel, and LED lights illuminate the twists and turns at night.
Genth explained the installation's name, stating, "The roller coaster stands for acceleration and high speed of a tiger but the visitor has to explore it step by step like a turtle."
Mutter added, "The sculpture is an optical experience even from far away and yet it can be walked on via the steps."


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As election results roll in today many people will be looking to their phones and other devices to keep connected.
There are many ways to stay up to date and active in the election, even after voters leave the polls, of course all that is needed is your phone.
Take a look. Many apps will keep voters connected all day long. Into Now allows you to interact with others while you are watching the election tonight. For those voters who are really politically savvy there is an app called Congress Plus. This app helps voters learn about every member of the Senate and House of Representatives, plus the app gives you a look at voting records and other legislative activity.
There is even an app for those who love to discuss politics, the Settle It app lets voters settle whatever political arguments they may have.
Also do not forget Tucson News Now's app, it will keep you up to date on the latest results throughout the day.
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Quote of the Day: "I put off/dread calling people in general. Everything should be done online by this time!" –Female, 30, FL
In a continued effort to draw back the teen consumers they've lost, Abercrombie & Fitch's logo will "be dead" in U.S. stores by 2015. Globally, the Abercrombie and Hollister logos and names will still be used on designs, but will be phased out here where the brand knows it is no longer considered a status symbol. Abercrombie's sales continue to fall, and the retailer is making efforts to appeal to a different youth mentality by removing references to "Ivy League heritage," making the brand "totally accessible," and toning down the club-like atmosphere in-store. (BuzzFeed)
Following heartbreaking stories of the death of toddlers forgotten by their parents in hot cars, automakers made claims that they would be working on new technology to help prevent the tragedies. But years later that technology has not been produced, so parents and teens are developing it instead. Independent entrepreneurs are working on a slew of solutions for baby on board tech that would stop hot-car deaths, including car seat sensors, smartphone apps, and low-tech solutions. Many are seeking backing on crowdfunding sites to make their products a reality. (Washington Post)
Ck one was an iconic '90s product, but the brand has kept up with the youth market in order to stay relevant with a new generation. The fragrance, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, relies on social media platforms, including Snapchat andTumblr, to attract Millennials and stay engaged. When creating their latest TV ad, they invited all participating talent to take behind-the-scenes pictures, selfies, and video, which were then used to "seed" the new campaign on social. The Snapchat campaign has "seen more than 1 million views in just a month and a half." (Mediapost)
Just a few years ago, Hollywood was incredulous that YouTube was anything more than a collection of amateur vloggers, and certainly most didn't believe that it would change the traditional entertainment world. But now, YouTube has become a "Hollywood hit factory" for teen entertainment. Smaller companies that realized the platform's potential early have grown massively, big studios are snapping up YouTube studios to get in on the action, and programming is in the midst of "rapid consolidation." Our social media trend tracker shows that as of March 2014, YouTube has become the number one platform teens use, with 89% telling us they use the video site compared to 80% who say they use Facebook. (Businessweek)
Earlier this summer, a report that fewer teens were interested in getting summer jobs than ever before had older generations rolling their eyes at the slacker youth who "don't want to work." But new research indicates that it might not just be that lazy kids these days want to spend their summers taking selfies: It could be that teen jobs don't pay off the way they used to. Millennials with summer jobs don't see the future wage increase that teens in the '70s and '80s did. (Vox)
Every day we deliver Millennial insights to your inbox, but every quarter, we look at some of the larger trends happening within the generation—and why they matter to brands. Our Gold subscribers have access to the Ypulse Quarterly report, an in-the-know guide to Millennials that synthesizes the major trends and stats we've seen over the last quarter of the year. We take a close look at the "why behind the what" and provide in-action examples and supportive data, along with implications for you to take away. (Ypulse)


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Kristen Bell and Michael B. Jordan Co-Host the Academy's Scientific and Technical Awards
Honoring those who help keep us able to stay invested in a story on the big screen, Kristen Bell and Michael B. Jordan hosted the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Scientific and Technical Awards on Saturday (February 15).
The "House of Lies" star looked gorgeous in a one-shoulder black gown which exposed a bit of her midriff while her handsome co-host wore a black on black suit with no tie.
At the ceremony, two Oscars were given: The Gordon E. Sawyer Award to Peter W. Anderson for his work on 3-D technology and an Academy Award of Merit to the owners and operators of film-processing labs.
Posting a pic from the event, Kristen tweeted, "Just finished hosting the #SciTechAwards w/that stud muffin @michaelb4jordan. No need to feel sorry for me!"
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Modifications To A 400 hp Cat Engine
Posted 28 January 2013 - 10:04 PM
My previous coach had a 275 Cummins which pulled hills just as well if not better than the Cat and got 9 mpg on a 6000 mi trip.
Yes, the previous coach was lighter. My Cat gets 6.5 mpg on a 6000 mi trip.
Also will I have to go to a Cat dealer to have anything done to the engine?
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Posted 28 January 2013 - 10:42 PM
Were the two coaches the same weight? Heavier is slower (with same HP) and takes more fuel. Physics is physics
Were they the same HP (producing more HP does require more fuel)?
Were they both compliant with the same emissions standards? Comparing a per-emissions to post-emissions engine?
But, to answer your question, I would start by checking your air filter minder. If air flow is restricted, HP and MPG will suffer on any diesel. Said another way, you can't feed any diesel too much air.
Also, on a hot day with less than 1/4 tank of fuel, check fuel temperature. If more than 10 degrees F more than ambient temperature, consider a fuel cooler (I have used transmission coolers) in the fuel return line from engine to fuel tank. Just make sure you cover it in the winter! But, it is those long hard pulls in the summer that often elicit those "I need more power" issues.
Also, as Caterpillar recommends, be sure to have the initial valve adjustment around 30,000 miles. Valves well out of adjustment affects MPG and HP.
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Dianne and Brett Wolfe
1997 Safari Sahara 3540
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Posted 29 January 2013 - 01:08 AM
Are you driving them the same ?
Was the coach new or a couple years old when you purchased it. Filters, injector pump setup, ECM program, Transmission style and software setup, CAC size, tappet settings, Turbo set up and boost, plus air flow through the engine all come into play.
One could go through the system and get a good shop to check things out to see where you could gain some mileage, no single item will get allot of mpg.
The other is a complete Re-power. replacing the engine with a Detroit 550 and all its required Radiator and CAC changes plus and Allison 4000 transmission might work real good. A friend had this setup installed in his coach and its on its first run. Getting about 18 mpg and all the power one could ever use on a 45ft. coach / 50,000 lbs or so, but at a price.
Note received later this AM, MPG is now 20+. Running the Grapevine at 75 mph.
Re-power also requires the use of DEF fluid. Your current set up is Pre. 07 or 2010 EPA. a lot less involved then to meet the new standards.
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Posted 29 January 2013 - 10:20 AM
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Posted 29 January 2013 - 11:48 AM
Close with out looking up the exact specks.
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Posted 29 January 2013 - 02:11 PM
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Posted 30 January 2013 - 06:09 PM
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They may be half way across the world, but teachers in North Tama and Rome are finding ways to help each other.
The partnership is between the American Overseas School of Rome and North Tama in Traer.
The former elementary principal at North Tama, Steve Foster, is now the principal at American Overseas School of Rome. He was able to connect the two schools.
Tuesday, teachers in Traer had the chance to Skype half way across the world and share ideas with the AOSR teachers.
Four of the North Tama teachers have been there for a few days now. They are in the classroom sharing their teaching ideas from North Tama as well as getting ideas to take back home.
Two year ago, elementary counselor Teresa Keefe O'Meara went to Rome to train their staff in conflict management.
She says it's great to keep this connection with the school and it's interesting to find out how similar the students are.
"Kids universally and globally are so similar. Children are children. What they are interested in, how they act, those type of things the little bit of difference is of course because of the vast amount of different languages, cultures, countries that are representative at American Overseas of Rome," Keefe O'Meara.
The four teachers from North Tama in Rome will spend 10 days there. They had to be accepted through a application process. When they get back they will share their findings to the rest of the teaching staff and school board.
The goal is to one day have students spend time in Rome.


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Military & Veterans' Resources at WSU
Washington State University offers academic and financial support for military members and their families serving in the state of Washington and around the world. Whether you're active duty, guard/reserve, a veteran, or interested in entering the military while pursuing your education, WSU has programs to meet your needs.
Veteran-friendly Environment
For two consecutive years, WSU has ranked among the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the nation that are doing the most to embrace America's veterans as students, according to the magazine G.I. Jobs.
WSU Also:
- Is certified to receive the GI Bill and the Post 9/11 GI Bill
- Participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program
- Is a Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Member
In addition to the above, WSU MBA online is listed in the Defense Activities for Non-Traditional Education support (DANTES) Catalog of Nationally Accredited Distance Learning Programs.


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LITTLE ROCK, AR (News release) - The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department will provide drivers in the state with up to the minute travel information during the wintry weather in Arkansas.
IDriveArkansas.com provides information on current traffic flow, icy road conditions, and construction zones. It also features a weather radar overlay. Be sure to click on the Snowflake icon for wintry travel information. We urge drivers to visit the site before attempting to drive.
Motorists can also get information including construction zone lane closures by following the Arkansas State Highway & Transportation Department on Twitter @AHTD.
AHTD will also provide a phone number that drivers can call to get a recorded message outlining wintry weather travel information. It's (501) 569-2374 or 1-800-245-1672.
Travel is not recommended during wintry weather events. However, if you must drive, here are a few safety tips.
Driving safely on icy roads
- Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy or wet roads.
- Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
- Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
- Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
- Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
- Keep your lights and windshield clean.
- Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
- Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
- Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.
If your rear wheels skid
- Take your foot off the accelerator.
- Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
- If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
- If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
- If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse. This is normal.
If your front wheels skid
- Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but don't try to steer immediately.
- As the wheels skid sideways, they will slow the vehicle and traction will return. As it does, steer in the direction you want to go. Then put the transmission in "drive" or release the clutch, and accelerate gently.
If you get stuck
- Do not spin your wheels. This will only dig you in deeper.
- Turn your wheels from side to side a few times to push snow out of the way.
- Use a light touch on the gas, to ease your car out.
- Use a shovel to clear snow away from the wheels and the underside of the car.
- Pour sand, kitty litter, gravel or salt in the path of the wheels, to help get traction.
- Try rocking the vehicle. (Check your owner's manual first — it can damage the transmission on some vehicles.) Shift from forward to reverse, and back again. Each time you're in gear, give a light touch on the gas until the vehicle gets going.
Source: National Safety Council
Copyright 2013 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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The Detroit Lions will be sending a fifth-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft back to Jacksonville in return for wide receiver Mike Thomas, according to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora. Thomas has 13 receptions for 80 yards this season, and has had his playing time reduced in an already struggling Jaguars offense.
SB Nation's Lions blog, Pride of Detroit, seems somewhat confused by the trade, as wide receiver depth is something the Lions already had with Titus Young and Ryan Broyles. However, despite his struggles, they seem hopeful that a change of scenery for Thomas will help get him back to producing regularly.
SB Nation's Jaguars blog, Big Cat Country, is pretty happy to see the team get something in return for Thomas, who they seem to think was in danger of getting cut at the end of the season anyway. Thomas signed a five-year, $19 million contract with $9 million guaranteed last season, and has struggled to produce since.


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Oops!! The event you are looking for is expired. Check Live Events!
Lego Master Builder
at Barnes & NobleSat Sep 28
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842 Sunrise Highway
Tel: 631-206-0198
Date & Time11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Sat, Sep 28, 2013
Cost: Free Event
Bring your young Lego fans where they can master the art of building while creating a robot from Lego Master Building Academy.
Please call the store at 631.206.0198 or see a bookseller to register for the event space is limited. Age 8 and up.
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New data on economic impact released to bolster caseRead More »
Plastic display screens could project images of skyRead More »
- Emirates is to expand commercial ties and explore further areas of cooperation with Nigerian carrier Arik Air. »
- New routes to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cologne and increased frequencies on 24 other services are being added ... »
- Abta has warned of major changes to most Atol-holders' businesses and said time is running out to respond. ... »
- Average salaries for new travel jobs dipped by 2.64% in July to £24,635 but still increased by 0.30% ... »
- Former STA Travel business development director Ian Swain has joined lifestyle concierge business Ten Group ... »
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Editor's Comment
Big data can't beat an agent's instinct, writes Lucy Huxley
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Adara to map out its data
Travel specialist targeted marketing platform Adara is to offer clients a travel map to show them what its data tells them about what travellers are booking.


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Top 10
- Water Equals You
- by Sandra Verley
People around the world are concerned about water. Water Equals You will not only connect the dots between what has transpired and what we believe is water, but the author will also introduce you to the next era of drinking water. She shows you how people around the globe are coping with pollution and its results. She shares with her readers what to look for in this new era of ionized water technologies. You will learn that ionized technologies have long surpassed all others world-wide. She warns the public, commercial entities and Health Boards of the dangers lurking in this new industry with some less credible copycats in the era of water ionization and pollution.
Hydration is key to health. Who would have thought that something so simple as water would become such an amazing revolution and be the actual key to most people's good health?
Sandi Verley opens the eyes of her readers to the importance pH plays in regards to the human body as she highlights the myths created pertaining to water. She shares with you the relevance of living water in your body and most importantly, your bodies' inability to effectively communicate without it. Water Equals You has been written based on life after massive pollution vs. education written before pollution, and based on the new era of ionized water. She will show you and those you love what to look for in ionized technologies.
- An Introduction to Natural Beekeeping for Gardeners
- by Philip Chandler
This audio book is read by the author and is intended as a primer about bees and natural beekeeping, especially for those with an interest in gardening.
Chapter 1
Before considering 'keeping' bees, we take a look at their world, their lifecycle and how we can work with them to achieve a mutually beneficial relationship.
Chapter 2
We consider the relationship between bees and flowering plants and their importance for pollination. We will also look at the type of beehives recommended for 'natural beekeeping', and consider ways in which you can take sensible precautions when locating hives and handling bees.
Chapter 3
We will examine how a top bar beehive works, and how best to use it to supervise bees, while minimizing our interference in their lives. We will also consider how to obtain bees and persuade them to live in the hives we provide them.
Chapter 4
Having introduced bees to their new home, we look at hive management and how to provide optimum conditions in which they can thrive, while learning as much as possible about their natural behaviour with a view to improving our understanding of them.
The autor's web site is at www.biobees.com
Philip Chandler is author of The Barefoot Beekeeper, also available from www.offthebookshelf.com
- The Barefoot Beekeeper
- by Philip Chandler
A revolutionary book about sustainable, chemical-free, 'natural' beekeeping.
The Barefoot Beekeeper challenges 'modern' beekeeping practices and proposes a new approach, which is accessible to almost everyone - even people with disabilities and mobility problems.
The author strips away all complications, showing how you can make everything you need yourself, even using recycled materials and simple hand tools: you do not need to buy any additional equipment at all.
Free support via the author's web site and forum at www.biobees.com
Some of the unsolicited feedback about this book:
"After reading The Barefoot Beekeeper I knew immediately I had found what I had been thinking about and searching for for years. It inspired me to immediately build several Top Bar hives and change my manner of keeping bees. ...read as much as you can about bees and beekeeping but do buy this one and follow it's suggested path." N, Spain
"...the best book out there as far as I'm concerned for those interested in pursuing sustainable beekeeping." MH, USA
"...a very helpful primer and a VERY inspiring discussion of sustainable beekeeping." CS
"...as an argument for sustainable beekeeping, the writing is unparalleled." G, UK
"In over 50 years of practical beekeeping, and with a large library of bee books, I have not previously come across such enlightenment, vision and commonsense in our Craft. Good for you, Phil- I believe you have changed the direction of beekeeping." DE, Devon
"I think this site is the best I have found to date. It is blowing the myth on beekeeping. We are going to build the TBH this weekend. To think I nearly blew a fortune on a National beehive. Its not about robbing every drop of honey from their hive. " D, Norfolk


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2 posts tagged "Nary Manivong"
Nary Manivong's Fall Kickstart-------
NAHM, the shirtdress-focused label by Nary Manivong and Alexandria Hilfiger, may have shuttered last season. But that didn't stop Manivong from forging ahead, as he's relaunched his namesake collection for Fall 2013. "It's about going back to who I am and what I'm all about," the self-taught Laotian designer (who is the subject of the documentary Dressed) told Style.com during a preview of the new range. The line focuses on clean, wearable silhouettes and includes standouts like a grass-green tank dress, which was cut from a slick coated tweed and styled with a matching T-shirt, as well as a slim suit with cropped "petal" pants. (Actually, Manivong showed our top picks in a range of colors, and we just happened to gravitate toward the emerald options.)
Now that Manivong is flying solo again, he has a renewed focus on his customer. "She's smart, she's confident, she's independent. She's a girl who's going to wear what she wants, and she's got the power in her hands," he said. Still, self-financing an independent label isn't cheap, so Manivong got resourceful and did what many young entrepreneurs have done: started a Kickstarter campaign. He's aiming to reach $25,000 by March 7. Judging by the 150 supporters who turned out for his Kickstarter launch event, we'd say he's got a good shot.
What's In A NAHM?-------
No surprise to hear that the garment trade is in Ally Hilfiger's blood. But while, she says, she'd always kept being a designer in the back of her mind, for years it went no further. "The front of my mind was thinking, I want to be my own person, I want to do my own thing. I don't want to be categorized as being in the same business [as] my parents," Hilfiger said by phone from her Garment District studio. "I did many different things"—styling and acting and the ubiquitous foray into reality TV among them—"and it helped me grow independently as a business person. But it's in my blood to be in this business. I feel like I've been in school for this for my whole life."
When fashion did come calling, she started by consulting on her father Tommy's collections. "I definitely rolled up my sleeves and got my hands quite dirty," she assures us. Her graduation comes this season with NAMH, the new line she's debuting with designer Nary Manivong. (NAMH is Nary Ally Manivong Hilfiger; Manivong's namesake collection is being put on hold to focus on the new venture.) The collection is based on the shirtdress (like the one at left)—"taking the classic and twisting it," Hilfiger says, turning out versions in wools, silks, and specialty fabrics. "I really believe in perfecting the art of these shirtdresses. They're so wearable, for so many types of women." Designed, patterned, and produced in New York, they'll debut at the line's presentation during New York fashion week. And while there are probably some skeptics out there waiting to be convinced, proving naysayers wrong is another family trait. Let's not forget there were more than a few people asking "Tommy who?" when that infamous mid-eighties Times Square billboard put the future mogul's then unfamiliar name up there with Calvin, Ralph, and Perry Ellis.


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The Detroit Lions are heavy underdogs entering the NFC Wild Card game against the New Orleans Saints but apparently no one told them that. The Lions came out on their first drive and drove 80 yards in 4:02. Matthew Stafford completed 5-of-6 passes for 70 yards and Detroit looked like they were the 10-point favorites.
The Lions started things off quickly on their first drive. Seven yard run by Kevin Smith. 22 yard pass to Calvin Johnson. Eight yard end around by Titus Young. Stafford continued hitting Johnson and Young quickly moving into the red zone before capitalizing with a touchdown pass to the tight end. Johnson and Young combined for 60 yards on the drive.
It's early but the Lions have the lead over the Saints, 7-0.
The Saints are heavy favorites in this game by anyone you ask and probably for good reason -- they haven't lost at home all year and they're currently riding an eight game winning streak. That said, this Lions offense is one of the few teams that can have a shot at matching the Saints explosiveness offensively.
Check out the complete 2012 NFL playoffs schedule. For more on the Saints and their trip to the playoffs, check out SB Nation's Canal Street Chronicles. For more on the Lions and their first playoff appearance in over a decade visit Pride of Detroit.


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Lakeland, FL (Sports Network) - Miguel Cabrera belted a two-run homer and plated a third run with a groundout, as the Detroit Tigers posted a 4-1 Grapefruit League victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Tigers finished with only three hits, including an RBI triple by Jeff Kobernus. Detroit starter Drew Smyly tossed three no-hit innings.
Pittsburgh starter Jeanmar Gomez was tagged for four runs on three hits and walked three in his three-inning outing.
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The Background
Lots of discussion recently has revolved around us attempting to acquire additional first round picks in this year's draft. The vast majority of the conversation has revolved around swapping Gortat or Dudley for a lottery or near lottery pick. There has also been discussion about picking up the Dallas pick, but as that situation is entirely unpredictable, I'm not going to deal with it.
In general, the propositions, in my opinion, overvalue our assets. That being said, I do think Gortat and Dudley have trade value for picks, in particular middle of the draft picks. But, in order to advocate for this, I thought it would be worthwhile to look into how players picked here fair in the NBA.
Mid Draft Picks
Since Gortat and Dudley aren't really worth a lottery pick in and of themselves, some people might write off moving them. However, I got to thinking, while they might not be worth a lottery pick, they are surely worth a middle of the draft pick. That got me thinking, what is the real worth of a middle of the draft pick? It is widely debated, with some viewing them as kind of worthless (the Suns used to sell theirs) and others seeing them as the keys to building continuous winners (the Spurs).
First off, I needed to define what I was identifying as a middle of the draft pick. To some degree, I think of the draft as divided up into three parts: picks 1-19, filled with the most direct to the NBA talent; picks 20-40, filled with more developmental prospects or less surefire picks; and picks 41-60, where you take long-shots and hope for the best. Middle of the draft picks, then, will be considered those picks in the 20-40 range.
Then I needed to define success. I decided to go with a career MPG criteria. This is probably the most objective way to think about success, because it leaves defining success up to the teams. The more minutes a player gets, which is totally determined by the team, the more successful that player can be seen to be.
I established 4 categories, based on career mpg: 25+ mpg (equates roughly to starter); 18-25 mpg (equates roughly to rotation player); 10-18 mpg (equates roughly to bench player); and Bust.
Bust is a unique category, and requires a little bit of explanation. First, and most simply, a player is considered a bust if they never averaged a career mpg above 10. Second, however, a player is considered a bust if they are no longer in the league at this point in time. Considering I only went back to 2007, I think it is fair to consider a player who is no longer in the league a bust. Finally, because bust has two characteristics, it is possible to be a player who falls into one of the other categories and is still considered a bust. A prime candidate would be someone like Jordan Farmer (drafted in 2006, so not in the sample). He averaged around 20 mpg, which would put him squarely in the rotation player category. However, he hasn't played in the league since 2011, and is therefore considered a bust.
I also collected data on age of prospects, whether they were international players, whether they played at a small school, and how many of the years since their draft year they played in the NBA (at least 20 games).
The Results
25+ mpg
18-25 mpg
10-18 mpg
Median yrs played/since draft
As the chart shows, results are somewhat mixed. The best draft for middle of the draft picks was undeniably 2008, where 18/22 picks ended up having career MPG totals of 10 mpg or better. 2010 seems to have been a particularly bad draft: despite being seen as a relatively strong draft, players taken after pick 19 have fared poorly, with more than half the guys taken between 20-40 having played only 1 real season with an NBA team and 14 guys busting out, or about 2/3 of those drafted. Now, it is still somewhat early, and some of those guys may come back, but it isn't encouraging.
The greater trend, however, is that these picks have a fairly strong tendency to develop into serviceable rotation players. Of the 105 players in the sample, 45 have ended up as either starters or key rotation players.
Some key points not found in the chart:
- International players in this range are slightly less likely to bust than American players. There were 21 international players taking: 8 were taken and played immediately, with a 50/50 split between busts/not busts; 13 were taken and stashed for various amounts of time, with 7 busting and 6 not busting.
- Small School guys don't seem to be any more or less likely to bust than guys from larger schools. In total, there were 22 guys taken from small schools, 12 of whom busted.
- There does not seem to be any correlation between busting and age on draft day, though drafting players at 18-19 seems to have paid large dividends (only one bust, Daniel Orton, out of 7 players). After that, it actually seems that being older pays higher dividends, with 19/33 players aged 22 avoiding the bust label, the highest percentage after 19. As both upperclassmen and international players (most of whom are drafted at age 22) usually come out at 22, this seems to indicate they are the safest picks in this range.
The Argument
So, what does this mean? My main argument is that, rather than holding onto Gortat and Dudley if we cannot get a lottery pick for them, we should be active in trying to move them for some of these middle of the Draft-type picks. There are a few different logical pathways to this conclusion:
- Gortat and Dudley, in combination with the #5, Dragic and Scola, may win too many games for us to have a strong shot at a top 3 pick next year. Gortat and Dudley in particular had down years this season, and if they return to form, it could spell the difference between a 27 win season and a 32 or 35 win season, which could be the difference between finishing 4th in the lottery or finishing 8th. Getting rid of them heightens our chances at a high lottery selection next season.
- Gortat and Dudley at this point are role players. The numbers above seem to indicate that the middle of the draft has a fairly good record of producing role players. The #5 and next year's first should be the key star pieces for this team going forward, along with Dragic. However, you still need young role players, as well. So trading our slightly older role players for a few opportunities to develop younger role players seems like potentially a risk worth taking. It could potentially shorten the rebuild time.
- Guys in the 31-40 range come with non-guaranteed contracts. That means that, potentially, we could take a few guys in that range and, if neither pans out, we are not on the hook for any salary after this season. In the meantime, they combined are fairly cheap. Given the roughly 50/50 development chance with picks in this range, if we could acquire another on top of our 30, the chances are fairly good that at least one will develop into a serviceable rotation player.
But who do the Suns target in this range? There are a few possibilities:
- #24 (NYK): The Knicks are in something of a pickle. They need both a solid backup center, and a solid player to back up Amar'e at the PF. They have limited cap space, however, and only one draft pick. An interesting trade would be to swap Scola and the 30 for the 24 and Scola. Obviously, this trade couldn't happen until after the Draft, and so there would have to be coordination in the drafting, but it is an interesting possibility. It works out for both parties (we move up a little and dump Scola, while the Knicks dump the oft-hurt Camby and pick up a player at a position of need), and the money works out perfectly.
- #29 and #32 (OKC): You could trade either Dudley or Gortat to OKC, as they have a potential need in both spots. Trading Gortat would require us to take back Perkins. Thus a trade like that would likely have to include Perkins, the 29, the 32, and perhaps Perry Jones. That seems far-fetched, but feasible. More promising might be trading Dudley. The Thunder are in something of a sticky situation, as Thabo Sefolosha is entering the final year of his contract, and they actually cannot re-sign him unless he comes back for the veteran's minimum, the salary cap increases, or they amnesty Perkins. Dudley, with his contract through 2015, helps them extend that problem, and gives them insurance if Jeremy Lamb does not pan out. A trade of Dudley and the 57th for Sefolosha, DeAndre Liggins (unguaranteed cap ballast, though we could keep him) the 29th and the 32nd could be interesting and beneficial to both parties. Dudley is probably a wash with Sefolosha with his better offensive production.
- #31 and #33 (CLE): The Cavaliers have a ton of picks, including two in the top 20. What they are lacking is veteran leadership and a starting caliber SF. Alonzo Gee isn't cutting it. A trade of Jared Dudley for the 31st, 33rd and Alonzo Gee would be get the Cavs the benefit of a veteran, starting caliber wing to pair more effectively with Kyrie Irving. Gee only has this upcoming year on his contract, so he could be kept or waved. At the same time, since 31 and 33 are non-guaranteed, this gives us the added benefit of being able to cut the players after the season if they aren't working out.
- #39, #40 or #45 (POR): Portland has a lot of bench needs, as they are particularly weak. If we were lucky, they might be willing to take on Beasley or potentially Shannon Brown for one of those picks. However, more realistically, swapping 'Kieff for one of these picks, or 'Kieff and #57 for two of these, seems doable, and beneficial to both sides. 'Kieff is a solid bench big for them, while we get some additional young assets that might better fit Horny's system.
- #17 and #18 (ATL): While not technically in the range I discussed, this is an intriguing place for movement. It seems likely Atlanta is going to pursue a re-tooling rather than a full rebuild. Even if they are intent on pursuing Dwight and CP3, they will still be in need of a starting caliber wing. They could trade one of these picks and John Jenkins (#23 from last season) for Dudley, which wouldn't really hurt their chances for signing the two big targets and would shore up their roster, with a core of Lou Williams, Dudley and Horford to pair with Dwight and CP3.
So, I think there are some interesting possibilities for moving into this range. While it might not be the lottery, it should still be okay. The numbers seem to indicate that about half of the players taken in this range will end up as significant rotation players, the kind of young role players to surround the #5, next year's lottery and Dragic with to help them succeed in the future.


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Welcome to the COMMplexity website hosted by the Department of Communication at North Dakota State University. The COMMplexity site supports the study of complexity in organizational communication and provides insights into how we study complexity in today's organizations, how we teach ourselves to appreciate the organization as a complex communicative phenomenon, and how we practice complexity management in organizations. Come explore our site and join our work. Just send us a note at the contact link below. We are happy to have you with us.
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Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil; add rice. Boil until rice is al dente, 30 to 35 minutes. Drain and rinse well with cold water; drain again.
In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium. Add eggs; season with salt and pepper and cook until set, 1 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let cool; roll up and thinly slice crosswise.
In same skillet, heat remaining tablespoon oil over medium-high. Add mushrooms, garlic, ginger, and red-pepper flakes; season with salt. Cook, tossing frequently, until shiitakes are tender, 2 to 4 minutes. Add rice, eggs, edamame, scallions, lime juice, and soy sauce. Cook, tossing, until rice is heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.
I made this spur of the moment for some dinner guests. I was worried as I never made it before. I did not have scallions or lime juice. However I used some lemon juice I had on hand. It was a hit! Everyone liked it! I used dehydrated [filtered word]akes that i rehydrated. Next time i want to use fresh mushrooms for that meaty texture!
I meant to say, the book called for rice vinegar in place of the lime juice. Worked very well.
I also saw this recipe in Martha's cookbook, Fresh Flavor Fast, but it called for sliced snow peas in place of the edamame. So, I made it with both. And it was delicious! Also, my rice vinegar was seasoned, and it was also totally fine.
Delicious! I used cremini mushrooms, peas and thaimati rice instead. Both me and my husband enjoyed it! It's good, healthy and easy to make!


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The 25 Best Films of 2013: A Video Countdown
30 Gloriously Defaced Movie Posters
The 50 Greatest Last Shots in Film History
Every Movie Poster that Saul Bass Ever Made
When Movie Franchises Change Directors
Eric D. Snider April 30, 2009
The Twilight franchise is only one film old and already there are personnel changes. Director Catherine Hardwicke was replaced by Chris Weitz for the first sequel, New Moon, and now it's just been announced that part three, Eclipse, will have yet another director. His name is David Slade, and he's actually a good fit: His last film was 30 Days of Night, which was about vampires, and his film before that was Hard Candy, which was about a teenage girl being stalked and preyed upon by a much older man. Combine the two of those and you've basically got Twilight.
It remains to be seen whether the behind-the-scenes shuffling will affect the quality of the Twilight films. In the meantime, let's look at history to see what we can learn about changing horses midstream.
src="http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/6/7/4/1/7381476.jpg" alt="George Lucas" width="78" height="78" align="left" hspace="6"/>George Lucas wrote and directed the original Star Wars himself, and of course it was great. But for The Empire Strikes Back, he turned the helm over to Irvin Kershner — and the result was the film that many people consider the best of the franchise. When Lucas returned to direct the prequels, well, he shouldn't have.
The Harry Potter series began with Chris Columbus' two serviceable but so-so entries. It wasn't until Alfonso Cuaron came onboard for Prisoner of Azkaban that the films became distinct works of cinematic art (as opposed to marketing tools, which is what Columbus' efforts felt like). Mike Newell and David Yates have continued to make the stories their own, and they've done it without alienating the fans or drastically altering the basic material.
src="http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/1/8/9/2/21022981-21022982-minithumbnail.jpg" alt="Brett Ratner" width="78" height="78" align="left" hspace="6"/>Not that it needed sequels anyway, but if The Silence of the Lambs was going to have follow-ups, they should have been made by someone other than Ridley Scott and Brett Ratner. Admittedly, the source material on these sequels was weak to begin with. But if they couldn't get Jonathan Demme to return for Hannibal (and Jodie Foster to reprise her role as Clarice), then they should have thought long and hard about whether to proceed. And the less said about the awful prequel, Hannibal Rising, the better.
Tim Burton's Batman was a marvel. His follow-up disappointed some fans, but they didn't know what true disappointment was until they saw Joel Schumacher's subsequent two entries. His last one, in particular, 1997′s Batman & Robin, remains one of the worst crimes ever perpetrated against humanity. It's unlikely any director could have maintained Burton's unique style — which means the smart choice, if Burton didn't want to continue, would have been to reboot the franchise altogether. That's exactly what Christopher Nolan did, and so far the results have been favorable, to put it mildly.
src="http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/2/3/6/5/17025632-17025633-minithumbnail.jpg" alt="Sam Raimi" width="78" height="78" align="left" hspace="6"/>When Sam Raimi made Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2, he broke box-office records and set new standards of excellence for the superhero genre. When he made Spider-Man 3, he baffled millions. How could the guy responsible for those two outstanding action films have made this? Maybe he got complacent. Maybe he suffered a blow to the head. Who knows?
src="http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/0/0/9/5/12625900-17835823-minithumbnail.jpg" alt="Peter Jackson" width="78" height="78" align="left" hspace="6"/>Peter Jackson. The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He shot them all at once, like one big 12-hour movie, and it shows. They feel like they were cut from the same cloth. This is the way to make a trilogy.
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Eric D. Snider (website) probably wouldn't be in a stream in the first place, let alone change horses there.
Categories: No CategoriesTags: Harry potter, Lord of the rings, The twilight saga
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News: 50 Cent Faces The Cold Hard Facts: "I'll Never Sell 13 Million Records Again" [Video]
Friday, May 10, 2013 7:25PM
G-Unit's 50 Cent recently talked about his expansive hip-hop career and why despite shattering music records with 2003's Get Rich or Die Tryin', he doubts ever being able to reach those same heights again.
While Fif has eliminated himself from breaking enormous records in the future, he also said there is little to no chance any other artist will either.
"News flash, I'll never sell 13 million records again. I'll never sell 10 million records again. I don't think anybody's gonna do it. It's a different business. It's a different thing and I'm cool with that," Fif said in an interview. "I'm making music because I love it and it's why I'm here. There's nothing that can actually compare when it's right. What it feels like when it's right. When the music is just dead right and it's like 'woo' that energy that's there...that's some special kind of high that you get addicted to and you'll chase it for the rest of your actual career." (Hard Knock TV)
Fif's official studio debut shattered music records when it dropped a decade ago.
"By the time Get Rich finally streeted on February 6, 2003,50 Cent had become the most discussed figure in the music industry, and bootlegged or not, his initial sales figures reflected this (a record-breaking 872,000 units moved in five days, the best-selling debut album since SoundScan started its tracking system in May 1991), as did his omnipresence in the media. Late in the year, following another round of popular hits, "21 Questions" (which charted number one on the Hot 100) and "P.I.M.P." (number three), 50 Cent made his group debut with G-Unit, Beg for Mercy. (All Music)
Last month, Bad Boy Records rapper French Montana cited Lil Wayne as proof of the record industry's sales hurting.
Do you think Excuse My French will be well received from the onset or will it be a slow burn? I don't know how it is but it doesn't matter what it sells. It'll still be a slower burn because of the way the game is. I mean, look at Lil Wayne who went from selling a million [for Tha Carter III] the first week to selling 200,000 [for I Am Not A Human Being II]. I feel like the game's not the same. It's not the art. You just got to have a good product. The only thing that's gonna sell is good product. (MTV Hive)
Recently, 50 Cent spoke on his biggest failure as a music executive.
"Yeah, I've had projects that I shouldn't have even involved myself in very much," Fif said in an interview when asked if he has ever had a failure. "[I still] got involved in it and they weren't very big and they weren't very publicly noted. It was just small investments. [Did I learn from that?] Yeah, absolutely. I'm [a] pretty tough [businessman], I like to think so. I think my aura from the actual music gives me and advantage." ("Larry King Now")
Check out 50 Cent's interview:


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New bus services for town (From Echo)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting ECHONEWS to 80360, or email us »
New bus services for town
2:26pm Monday 28th April 2008 in News By Geoff Percival
TWO new bus services in Southend are due to be launched next month.
The Number 6 bus, operated by Rochford-based Stephensons, will run hourly on a Sunday from Garon Park to the town centre via Hamstel Road and Southchurch Road. There is currently no service on a Sunday for the area.
Arriva also plans to start a new Number 17 service from the town centre to Tesco, in Prince Avenue, via the Cliffs Pavilion and Hamlet Court Road.
The service will run every hour on a Thursday for a six-month period to gauge the demand.
Both of these services are due to start in mid-May.
Anna Waite, Southend councillor responsible for transport, said: "Many residents of St Luke's and Southchurch wards feel very cut off on Sundays and this will be a really great help to them.
"I am really pleased Stephensons have decided to run this Sunday service.
"It's great to see our investment being recognised and responded to by the bus operators."
Mrs Waite said she was pleased at how the council and bus operators had worked together.
She said: "We have invested heavily in bus infrastructure over recent years and it is now paying off.
"Working together has to be the way forward to improve services and facilities."


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