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Elder Abuse and Neglect: In Search of Solutions
Agnes, 78 years old, lost her husband last year. Because of some physical limitations as a result of arthritis and declining cognitive abilities, Agnes moved in with her 55-year-old daughter, Emily. The situation is difficult for all of them. Sometimes Emily feels as if she's at the end of her rope, caring for her mother, worrying about her college-age son and her husband, who is about to be forced into early retirement. Emily has caught herself calling her mother names and accusing her mother of ruining her life. Recently, she lost her temper and slapped her mother. In addition to feeling frightened and isolated, Agnes feels trapped and worthless.
Like other forms of abuse, elder abuse is a complex problem, and it is easy for people to have misconceptions about it. Many people who hear "elder abuse and neglect" think about older people who live in nursing homes or older relatives who live all alone and never have visitors. But elder abuse is not just a problem of older people living on the margins of our everyday life. It is right in our midst:
Most incidents of elder abuse don't happen in nursing homes and other residential settings. Occasionally, there are shocking reports of staff who abuse residents in their care or of a resident who physically or sexually abuses another resident. Although such abuse does occur, the vast majority of older people living in nursing homes and other residential settings have their physical and emotional needs met without experiencing abuse or neglect.
Most elder abuse and neglect takes place at home. About 95 percent of older people live on their own or with their spouses, children, siblings or other relatives not in institutional settings. When elder abuse happens, family, other household members or paid caregivers are usually the abusers. Although there are extreme cases of elder abuse, often the abuse is subtle, and the distinction between normal interpersonal stress and abuse is not always easy to discern.
There is no single pattern of elder abuse. Sometimes elder abuse is a continuation of long-standing patterns of violence and physical, emotional or financial abuse within the family. More commonly, elder abuse is related to changes in living situations and relationships brought about either by the older person's growing frailty and dependence on others for companionship and for meeting basic needs or by a family member's increased reliance on an older relative for shelter and financial support.
It isn't just older adults who have poor physical health or cognitive impairments who are vulnerable to abuse. Older individuals who are frail, alone or depressed as well as those with a physical disability or mental illness are vulnerable to abuse. Even those who do not have these obvious risk factors can find themselves in abusive situations and relationships. Elder abuse affects older men and women across all socioeconomic groups, cultures, races and ethnicities.
Elder abuse, like other forms of violence, is never an acceptable response to any problem or situation, however stressful. Effective interventions can prevent or stop elder abuse. Increasing awareness among physicians, mental health professionals, home health care workers and others who provide services to older adults and family members can help break patterns of abuse or neglect, and both the person experiencing the abuse and the abuser can receive needed help.
Elder abuse is the infliction of physical, emotional/psychological, sexual or financial harm on an older adult. Elder abuse can also take the form of intentional or unintentional neglect of an older adult by the caregiver.
Physical abuse can range from slapping or shoving to severe beatings and restraining with ropes or chains. When a caregiver or other person uses enough force to cause unnecessary pain or injury, even if the reason is to help the older person, the behavior can be regarded as abusive. Physical abuse can include hitting, beating, pushing, shoving, kicking, pinching, burning or biting. It also includes the inappropriate use of medications and physical restraints and physical punishment of any kind.
Verbal, emotional or psychological abuse can range from name calling or giving the "silent treatment" to intimidating and threatening the individual. When a family member, a caregiver or another person behaves in a way that causes fear, mental anguish or emotional pain or distress, the behavior can be regarded as abusive. Verbal and emotional abuse can include yelling, swearing and making insulting or disrespectful comments. Psychological abuse involves any type of coercive or threatening behavior that sets up a power differential between the older adult and his or her family member or caregiver. It can also include treating the older person like a child and isolating the person from family, friends and regular activities-through force, threats or manipulative behavior.
Sexual abuse can range from sexual exhibition to rape. Sexual abuse can include inappropriate touching, photographing the person in suggestive poses, forcing the person to look at pornography, forcing sexual contact with a third party or any unwanted sexualized behavior. It also includes rape, sodomy or coerced nudity. Sexual abuse is perhaps the most egregious but least reported type of elder abuse.
Financial abuse and exploitation can range from misuse of an older person's funds to embezzlement. Financial exploitation includes fraud, taking money under false pretenses, forgery, forced property transfers, purchasing expensive items with the older person's money without that person's knowledge or permission or denying the older person access to his or her own funds or home. It includes the improper use of legal guardianship arrangements, powers of attorney or conservatorships. It also includes a variety of Internet, telephone and face-to-face scams perpetrated by sales people-or even by so-called friends-for health-related services, home repair services, mortgage companies and financial services.
Caregiver neglect can range from caregiving strategies that withhold appropriate attention from the individual to intentionally failing to meet the physical, social or emotional needs of the older person. Neglect can include failure to provide food, water, clothing, medications and assistance with activities of daily living or help with personal hygiene. If the caregiver is responsible for paying bills for the older person, neglect can also include failure to pay the bills or to manage the older person's money responsibly. Family caregivers may inadvertently neglect their older relatives because of their own lack of knowledge, resources or maturity, although this is a less frequent form of abuse.
Madeline is 70 and suffers from congestive heart failure. She lives alone, and home health nurses and nurses' aides come in daily to provide nursing care and personal assistance. She depends on the home health agency's personal assistant to help her with the routine tasks around the house and to provide interaction with someone from the outside world. At first, the assistant was sweet to Madeline, but lately, the assistant has started ignoring Madeline's requests, snapping at her and bumping into her with the vacuum cleaner or dusting brush while cleaning. Madeline thinks the assistant is bumping her on purpose, but she does not know for sure, and she is afraid to confront her.
Sometimes older adults harm themselves through self-neglect (e.g., not eating, not going to the doctor for needed care), compulsive hoarding or alcohol or drug abuse. In this pamphlet, the focus is on elder abuse perpetrated by others. However, one of the most difficult problems family members face is achieving a balance between respecting an older adult's autonomy and intervening before self-neglect becomes dangerous.
Older adults who show signs of dementia may become abusive as part of the disease process. The object of the abuse may be another adult for example, a family caregiver, professional caregivers or other individuals with whom the person interacts. The abuse may take the form of hitting or gripping another person to the extent of causing bruises or creating hazards such as setting furniture on fire. Although abusive behavior by the older adult may be explained by changes in his or her cognitive abilities or triggered by an abusive response by a caregiver, it is still unacceptable.
Abuse comes in many guises, but the net effect is the same. Abuse creates potentially dangerous situations and feelings of worthlessness, and it isolates the older person from people who can help.
Many of the symptoms listed here may be the result of disease conditions or medications. The appearance of these symptoms should prompt further investigations to determine and remedy the cause. Cues that cannot be explained medically may signal elder abuse.
Physical abuse
Bruises or grip marks around the arms or neck
Rope marks or welts on the wrists and/or ankles
Repeated unexplained injuries
Dismissive attitude or statements about injuries
Refusal to go to same emergency department for repeated injuries
Verbal/emotional/psychological abuse
Uncommunicative and unresponsive
Unreasonably fearful or suspicious
Lack of interest in social contacts
Evasive or isolated
Unexplained or uncharacteristic changes in behavior
Sexual abuse
Unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding
Torn or bloody underwear
Bruised breasts or buttocks
Venereal diseases or vaginal infections
Financial abuse or exploitation
Life circumstances don't match what is known about the individual's financial assets
Large withdrawals from bank accounts, accounts that have been switched; unusual ATM activity
Signatures on checks don't match the older person's signature
Caregiver neglect
Lack of basic hygiene, adequate food and water, or clean and appropriate clothing
Sunken eyes or loss of weight
Person with dementia left unsupervised
Untreated pressure bedsores
Lack of medical aids (glasses, walker, teeth, hearing aid, medications)
There is no one explanation for elder abuse and neglect. Elder abuse is a complex problem that can stem from multiple causes, such as family stressors, caregiving stress and societal and cultural issues.
Family stressors that may contribute to elder abuse include discord created by a pattern or history of violent interactions within the family, lifestyle adjustments and accommodations to living in a multigenerational household, and social isolation.
Intergenerational and marital violence can persist into old age and become factors in elder abuse. In some instances, elder abuse is simply a continuation of abuse that has been occurring in the family over many years. If a woman has been abused during a 50-year marriage, she is not likely to report abuse when she is very old and in poor health.
Sometimes, a woman who has been abused for years may turn her rage on her husband when his health fails. If there has been a history of violence in the family, an adult child may take the opportunity to "turn the tables" on the abusing parent by withholding nourishment or overmedicating the parent. But that doesn't have to be the case — many adult children who were badly treated by their parents become attentive helpers and caregivers.
When an older parent who is frail or who has physical or cognitive limitations moves into a family member's home, the lifestyle adjustments and accommodations can be staggering, and the associated stress can lead to elder abuse.
In some instances, the financial burdens of multigenerational households or living in overcrowded quarters can lead to stress that can trigger elder abuse. Such a situation can be especially difficult when the adult child has no financial resources other than those of the aging parent.
Sometimes there may be marital stress between an older couple when they must share a home with their adult children. Or, the new living arrangements could cause tension between an adult child and his or her spouse. When problems and stress mount, the potential for abuse or neglect increases.
Social isolation can provide a clue that a family may be in trouble, and it can also be a risk factor for abuse. Social isolation can be a strategy for keeping abuse secret, or it can be a result of the stresses of caring for a dependent older family member. Isolation is dangerous because it cuts off family members from outside help and support they need to cope with the stresses of caregiving. Isolation also makes it harder for outsiders to see and intervene in a volatile or abusive situation to protect the older person and to offer help to the abuser.
When an older adult's care needs increase or go beyond the types of help family members typically provide, their relatives may find themselves in an unfamiliar situation and not know how to offer proper care and support. Family members may unintentionally fail to ensure that the older adult has adequate and appropriate food, clothing, medical care, supervision or social stimulation. A caregiver's nonwillful failure to provide care and support because of his or her lack of understanding or lack of skills is abusive behavior that can threaten the safety and well-being of the older adult.
Although the overwhelming majority of family caregivers provide appropriate care and a supportive environment for their older relatives, caregiving creates stresses that affect both caregivers and care recipients and these stresses may trigger potentially harmful caregiver behaviors that place dependent elders at risk for abuse.
A caregiver's personal problems — for example, caregiver stress, mental or emotional illness, addiction to alcohol or other drugs, job loss or other personal crises, financial dependency on the older person and a tendency to use violence to solve problems—can lead to the abuse of a frail older person. Sometimes the older person in need of care may be physically abusive to the caregiver, especially when the older person has Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia.
Caregiver stress is a significant risk factor for abuse and neglect. When the demands of daily care for an older person are thrust onto caregivers who have not been given training or information about how to balance the needs of the older person with their own needs, they frequently experience intense frustration and anger that can lead to a range of abusive behaviors.
The risk of elder abuse becomes even greater when the caregiver is responsible for an older person who is sick or physically or mentally impaired. Caregivers in such stressful situations often feel trapped and hopeless and are unaware of available resources and assistance. If they have no skills for managing difficult behaviors, caregivers can find themselves using physical force. Particularly when there is a lack of resources, neglectful situations can arise.
Sometimes the caregiver's own self-image as a "dutiful child" may compound the problem by causing the caregiver to feel that the older person deserves and wants only his or her care and that considering respite or residential care is a betrayal of the older person's trust.
Dependency is a contributing factor in elder abuse. When the caregiver is dependent financially on an impaired older person, there may be financial exploitation or abuse. When the reverse is true and the impaired older person is completely dependent on the caregiver, the caregiver may experience resentment that leads to abusive behavior.
James is a financially secure 85-year-old man who has been healthy and active until the last year. He has finally agreed to allow his oldest son, Tom, to help him manage his daily affairs. Tom now believes his father "owes him" more of his money than his brother and two sisters are entitled to. He talks his father into giving him power of attorney for his bank accounts "as a convenience" and then writes himself large checks that he tells himself are for "expenses." Soon Tom has come up with excuses to transfer a significant portion of his father's investment holdings into his name. James has no energy to oversee his finances and is totally trusting that his son has his best interests at heart.
The emotional and psychological problems of caregivers can put them at risk for abusing an older person in their care. Drug and alcohol abuse is strongly associated with elder abuse. Thus, a caregiver who is addicted to drugs or alcohol is more likely to become an abuser than one who does not have these problems. Indeed, caregiving can lead to greater use of alcohol as a way of managing stress. Also, a caregiver with an emotional or personality disorder may be unable to control his or her impulses when feeling angry or resentful of the older person.
Certain societal attitudes may contribute to violence against older people and make it easier for abuse to continue without detection or intervention. These factors include the devaluation of and lack of respect for older adults and society's belief that what goes on in the home is a private, "family matter."
When older people are regarded as insignificant, society fails to recognize the importance of assuring dignified, supportive and nonabusive life circumstances for every older person. The idea that what happens at home is private can be a major factor in keeping an older person locked in an abusive or neglectful situation. Those outside the family who observe or suspect abuse or neglect may fail to intervene because they believe "it's a family problem and none of my business" or because they are afraid they are misinterpreting a private quarrel. Shame and embarrassment often make it difficult for older persons to reveal abuse. They don't want others to know that such events occur in their families.
Certain cultural values, beliefs and traditions influence family dynamics, intergenerational relationships and ways in which families define their roles and responsibilities and respond to daily challenges. These differences make some situations difficult to distinguish from abuse or neglect. Older individuals who are ethnic minorities, particularly recent immigrants, may face language barriers and financial or emotional dependence that influence their ability or willingness to report abuse.
Although definitions of abuse may vary across diverse cultural, ethnic and religious communities, it is important not to ignore signs of abuse by attributing the behaviors to cultural differences. For example, some cultures do not honor the basic rights of women, and older women in these cultures may not realize they are being abused. They probably would not call for help outside the family and may not even know that help is available.
Persons working with older people in potentially abusive situations need to be sensitive to cultural differences and intervene accordingly. Formulating culturally sensitive prevention and intervention efforts requires an understanding of roles and responsibilities within the family and help-seeking behaviors.
The first and most important step toward preventing elder abuse is to recognize that no one — of whatever age — should be subjected to violent, abusive, humiliating or neglectful behavior. In addition to promoting this social attitude, we can take positive steps such as educating people about elder abuse, increasing the availability of respite care, promoting increased social contact and support for families with dependent older adults, and encouraging counseling and treatment to cope with personal and family problems that contribute to abuse. Violence, abuse and neglect toward older individuals are signs that the people involved need help immediately.
Education is the cornerstone of preventing elder abuse. Media coverage of abuse in nursing homes has made the public knowledgeable about — and outraged by — abusive treatment in those settings. Because most abuse occurs in the home by family members or caregivers, there needs to be a concerted effort to educate the public about the special needs and problems of older adults and the risk factors for abuse.
Respite care — having someone else care for the elder, even for a few hours each week is essential to reducing caregiver stress, a major contributing factor in elder abuse. Every care-giver needs time alone, free from the worry and responsibility of looking after someone else's needs. Respite care is especially important for caregivers of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia or of older people who are severely disabled. Area Agencies on Aging are a local resource for services that might help family caregivers find respite and in-home help with difficult care tasks, such as bathing, dressing and cooking (see Where to Go for Help section).
Social contact and support can be a boon to older persons and to family members and caregivers as well. When other people are part of the social circle, tensions are less likely to reach unmanageable levels. Having other people to talk to is an important part of relieving tensions. Many times, families in similar circumstances can band together to share solutions and provide informal respite for each other. In addition, when there is a larger social circle, abuse is less likely to go unnoticed. Isolation of elders increases the probability of abuse, and it may even be a sign that abuse is occurring. Sometimes abusers will threaten to keep people away from the older person.
Counseling for behavioral or personal problems in the family or for the individual with mental health and/or substance abuse problems can play a significant role in helping people change lifelong patterns of behavior or find solutions to problems emerging from current stresses. If there is a substance abuse problem in the family, treatment is the first step in preventing violence against the older family member. In some instances, it may be in the best interest of the older person to move him or her to a different, safer setting. In some cases, a nursing home may be a more appropriate living environment than living with adult children who are not equipped emotionally or physically to handle the responsibility. Even in situations in which it is difficult to tell whether abuse has really occurred, counseling can be helpful in alleviating stress.
If you suspect that an older person is being abused or neglected
Don't let your fear of meddling in someone else's business stop you from reporting your suspicions. You could be saving someone's life. The reporting agencies in each state are different, but every state has a service designated to receive and investigate allegations of elder abuse and neglect. Even if these agencies determine that there is only potential for abuse, they will make referrals for counseling (call the Eldercare Locator at (800) 677-1116).
Do not put the older person in a more vulnerable position by confronting the abuser yourself unless you have the victim's permission and are in a position to help the victim immediately by moving him or her to a safe place.
Remember that many professionals, including psychologists and other mental health specialists who work closely with older individuals, are "mandatory reporters" according to state statute, which varies from state to state.
If you feel you are being abused or neglected
Your personal safety is most important. If you can safely talk to someone about the abuse (such as your doctor, a trusted friend, or a member of the clergy) who can remove you from the situation or find help for the abuser, do so at once. If your abuser is threatening you with greater abuse if you tell anyone, and if the abuser refuses to leave you alone in a room with others who could help, you are probably afraid to let anyone know what is happening to you. A good strategy is to let your physician know about the abuse. The physician has a legal obligation to report the abuser and help you find safety.
You can also contact Adult Protective Services (APS), and they will help you find safety and will also find help for the person who is abusing you (see the Where to Go for Help section for a link to APS), or you can call the Eldercare Locator at (800) 677-1116.
If you feel you have been abusive or are in danger of abusing an older person in your care
There is help available if you have been abusive to an older person or if you feel you want to hurt someone for whom you're caring. The solution may be to find ways of giving yourself a break and relieving the tension of having total responsibility for an older person who is completely dependent on you. There are many local respite or adult day care programs to help you.
If you recognize that abuse, neglect or violence is a way you often solve problems, you will need expert help to break old patterns. There is help and hope for you, but you must take the first step as soon as possible. You can learn new ways of relating that are not abusive. You can change. Talk with someone who can help — a trusted friend or family member, a counselor or your pastor, priest or rabbi. If alcohol or drugs are a problem, consider contacting Alcoholics Anonymous or some other self-help group.
Contact a helping professional, such as a counselor, psychologist or therapist who specializes in helping people change destructive behaviors. To find a competent therapist, ask your physician or your health plan representative for a recommendation. The American Psychological Association can help you find a local psychologist through its Psychologist Locator. If you cannot afford private therapy, call your city or state mental health services department to find out what your options are.
The most important thing for you is to be honest — with yourself and with those who want to help you—about your history of violent behavior and your abusive relationship with the older person. Someone's life — and your own — may depend on it.
National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA)
The NCEA is a resource for public and private agencies, professionals, service providers, and individuals interested in elder abuse prevention information, training, technical assistance and research.
Phone: (855) 500-3537
Adult Protective Services
Adult Protective Services (APS), present in all 50 states, is designated to receive and investigate allegations of elder abuse and neglect. Each state has a primary agency that houses APS. It may be the Area Agency on Aging, the Division of Aging, the Department of Aging or the Department of Social Services.
Area Agencies on Aging
Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) provide support for older adults, their families, and caregivers through advocacy, information and services. Programs and services offered for vulnerable older adults vary by locality but often include a long-term care ombudsman and an elder abuse prevention specialist. Check your local telephone directory.
Eldercare Locator
The Eldercare Locator is a nationwide service sponsored by the U.S. Administration on Aging that connects older Americans and their caregivers with information on senior services. If you know the address and zip code of an older person being abused, the Eldercare Locator can refer you to the appropriate agency in the area to report the suspected abuse.
Phone: (800) 677-1116
Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCU)
Each state attorney general's office is required by federal law to have an MFCU that investigates and prosecutes Medicaid provider fraud and patient abuse and neglect in health care programs and home health services that participate in Medicaid. Contact information for individual state MFCUs is available online.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
This toll-free, anonymous hotline provides support counseling for victims of domestic violence and links to more than 4,000 local support services for abused women across the U.S. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Phone: (800) 799-7233 , TDD (800) 787-3224
Psychologist Locator
The APA's Psychologist Locator makes it easy for you to find practicing psychologists in your local area.
Acierno, R., Hernandez-Tejada, M., Muzzy, W., & Steve, K. (2009). Final report: National elder mistreatment study (PDF, 7.3MB). Source: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/226456.pdf
Beach, S. R., Schulz, R., Williamson, G. M., Miller, L. S., & Weiner, M. E. (2005). Risk factors for potentially harmful informal caregiver behavior. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 53, 255-261. doi:10.1111 /j.1532-5415.2005.53111.x
DeLiema, M., Gassoumis, Z. D., Homeier, D. C., & Wilber, K. H. (2012). Determining prevalence and correlates of elder abuse using promotores: Low-income immigrant Latinos report high rates of abuse and neglect. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 60, 1333-1339. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04025.x
Dong, X., Simon, M., Mendes de Leon, C., Fulmer, T., Beck, T., Herbert, L., . . . Evans, D. (2009). Elder self-neglect and abuse and mortality risk in a community-dwelling population. Journal of the American Medical Association, 302, 517-526. doi:10.1001/ jama.2009.1109
Horsford, S. R., Para-Cardona, J. R., Post, L. A., & Schiamberg, L. (2010). Elder abuse and neglect in African American families: Informing practice based on ecological and cultural frameworks. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect, 23, 75-88. doi:10.1080/08946566.2011.534709
Laumann, E. O., Leitsch, S. A., & Waite, L. J. (2008). Elder mistreatment in the United States: Prevalence estimates from a nationally representative study. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 63(4), S248-S254. doi:10.1093/geronb/63.4.S248
MacNeil, G., Kosberg, J. I., Durkin, D. W., Dooley, W. K., DeCoster, J., & Williamson, G. M. (2010). Caregiver mental health and potentially harmful caregiving behavior: The central role of caregiver anger. Gerontologist, 50, 76-86. doi:10.1093/geront/gnp099
National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. (2003). The role of culture in elder abuse. Source: http://www.preventelderabuse.org/issues/culture.html
U.S. Administration on Aging. (2011). A profile of older Americans: 2011 (PDF, 436KB). http://www.aoa.gov/aoaroot/aging_statistics/Profile/2011/docs/2011profile.pdf


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Union 'worker centers': Another ploy
Desperate over their share of the private-sector workforce shrinking to 6.6 percent, labor unions increasingly are using an insidious organizing method that pushes the legal envelope under the guise of community organizing.
The Wall Street Journal reports Big Labor is funding nonprofit community "worker centers" — whose true purpose is building support for union organizing, thereby laying groundwork for workplace unionization elections. Not "labor organizations" under national labor law because they don't have ongoing bargaining relationships with employers, these centers have more latitude than unions in terms of picketing and other tactics.
End runs around labor law, worker centers are the subject of an ad campaign by the Center for Union Facts. Sometimes offering language classes for immigrants, these centers are essentially union subsidiaries.
They often are affiliated with — and paying membership fees to — the AFL-CIO. Worker centers' funders include the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, the United Steelworkers and the Service Employees International Union — which last year gave $2.5 million to a Brooklyn center formed by ex-leaders of defunct ACORN's New York chapter.
John Raudabaugh, a Republican former member of the National Labor Relations Board, expects an upswing in court challenges to worker centers' operations. Such litigation bears watching. As do worker centers themselves, nothing less than Big Labor's latest attempt to force new members into its ranks.
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FARMLAND - Yvonne (LeMons) Wagner, 82, of Farmland, IN passed away Thursday afternoon, June 13, 2013 at I.U. Health Ball Memorial Hospital of Muncie, IN.
She was born May 10, 1931 in Kentucky. She had attended Ball State University.
Yvonne was a homemaker, but had also worked as a beautician and at the Randolph County Courthouse. She was a member of IBB Club of Farmland, IN.
Yvonne leaves to cherish her memory a son, Tim Wagner of Farmland; two daughters, Krista Wagner of Muncie, IN and Jill Cunningham (husband, Joe) of Farmland, IN; three grandchildren, Christopher Cunningham (wife, Emily) of Muncie, IN, Curtis Cunningham (wife, Rachel) of Farmland, IN and Kimberly Cunningham of Muncie, IN; five great-grandchildren, Caleb, Eli, Abram, Paige and Lydia Cunningham; two siblings, Michael Garringer (wife, Beverly) of Losantville, IN and Jana Green (husband, Bob) of Muncie, IN.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Gene Wagner.
A service to celebrate Yvonne's life will be 4:00 p.m. Saturday, June 15, 2013 at Thornburg Memorial Chapel of Parker City, IN. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery of Maxville, IN.
Family and friends may gather to share and remember from 2:00 p.m. to service time on Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to ARF, Animal Rescue Fund in Muncie, IN. Envelopes will be provided at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be expressed at http://www.wilsonshookfuneralhomes.com.


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Large pot grow found in Forest Park
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Multnomah County Sheriff's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) removed 114 marijuana plants from an obscure section of Forest Park Wednesday, weeks after they began investigating tips about a grow in the area.
Deputies say this bust is not as big as other outdoor grows they've found in rural areas, but it is still unusual anyone would attempt to run the operation in a recreational public park less than a quarter mile from the nearest house and in an urban area overlooking Portland.
KATU News was granted exclusive access as deputies pulled the plants, one by one.
"To me, it looks like they've grown here a couple times. Two years or more," said Sean Christian, a member of the SIU.
Authorities estimate each of the plants could produce a pound of marijuana worth up to $3,500, so the entire grow could have been worth approximately $300,000.
"This is probably something they check once or twice a week. It's close in and it's easy money if they get away with it," Christian said.
It is fast money for the grower, but bad news for everyone else because the empty field's location is susceptible to erosion. In addition, there is a big mess in the area that includes garbage cans, plastic bags, and fertilizer.
"When it gets to wintertime and the rains really come, a lot of that is going to wash away into the drainage system and the river," Christian said.
Deputies are hauling the plants away, and are on the lookout for suspects.
The SIU says they find one to two grows in Forest Park every year.
It is such a wide area, they suspect there may be more hidden in the area.


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Fort Monroe
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|Hotel 878 Libis - Cafe 878
Cafe 878, the Hotel's cozy and quiet coffee shop is exclusive and private to hotel residents and their guests. It provides comfort and security and is the appropriate place to meet and dine with the occasional visitor. Offering quick, efficient service, Cafe 878 serves a variety of deliciously prepared specialty dishes, sandwiches, and pasta at guest-friendly prices. Located in the 2nd Floor, Cafe 878 is open from 7am. to 9pm. for the convenience of the hotel guests and their visitors. We also welcome reservations for intimate parties as well as regular meetings of neighborhood Rotary Clubs and various socio-civic groups. Room service from the coffee shop is available as well as free Wifi access.


text:
United States Department of Education
Office of Postsecondary Education
September 2014
Dear Paul Douglas Program Official:
Under 34 CFR 75.590 of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), each grantee is required to submit a performance report detailing program activities for each year. Enclosed for this purpose are the performance report form and instructions for award year 2013-14. We are requesting that the report be completed and submitted no later than September 30, 2014.
The report should reflect the activities conducted by and the accomplishments of your scholars during the 2013-14 award year.
If you are using standard U.S. mail service or a courier service, send the performance reports to:
Darryl G. Davis
Federal Administrator
Office of Postsecondary Education
U.S. Department of Education
1990 K Street, N.W., Room 6059
Washington, D.C. 20006-8550
If you have any questions regarding this procedure or the Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program in general, please contact Darryl Davis via e-mail at email@example.com, or by telephone at (202) 502-7657.
For those state education agencies that are returning the repayment of the Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program funds to the Federal Government, please note that these funds should only be reflected where indicated on the performance report. Repayment funds should be returned to the Department to the address below:
U.S. Department of Education
P. O. Box 979053
St. Louis, Missouri 63197-9000
A letter should accompany your check indicating that these funds are the result of a scholar's non-compliance or they are expired Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program repayment monies being returned, and you should request that this money be posted to Miscellaneous Receipts. Be sure to include your grant number and DUNS number in the letter and on your check.
Donald E. Watson
Executive Director, Historically Black Colleges and University
Capital Finance Program
Director, Historically Black Colleges and Universities and
Predominantly-Black Institutions Grant Division
- Performance Report MS Excel (43K) | PDF (35K)
- Performance Report Instructions MS Word (290K) | PDF (172K)


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A city manager in South Florida is accused of scamming his citizens and nearly leaving one woman homeless. Local 10's Bob Norman investigates.
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2011 Whistler Yoga Conference
Posted: Thursday, April 28, 2011
This conference will provide a supportive meeting place for yoga students and teachers to grow and expand their practice and vision for the benefit of all. Students of all levels are welcome to participate and be inspired.
Through the avenues of conscious collaboration and the uninhibited sharing of yoga-inspired tools, techniques and yoga teachers experiences, we can aim to develop a global community of teachers and practitioners who will be the change we want to see in this world. Join us on this journey to the majestic mountains, to the nurture of nature, and the timeless experience of yoga.
The below schedule is an outline of each day. There are be 3-5 fantastic options during each time slot (except for celebrations). There will be about 40 different seminars / workshops / classes to choose from.
Learn about daily conference activities:
- Friday May 6, 2011
- Saturday May 7, 2011
- Sunday May 8, 2011


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DA councillors in Tshwane defect to ANCComment on this story
Pretoria - Four Democratic Alliance councillors in Tshwane are set to defect to the ANC, the ruling party said on Friday.
"We are going to be welcoming four other DA members to the ANC," African National Congress deputy chairperson in Tshwane, Mapiti Matsena, said on Friday.
The four would leave the DA in pairs during the next two council meetings.
"We agreed with them not to do it (defect) at the same time. It is going to be two per every council meeting until the elections," he said.
Four DA councillors from Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg joined the ANC in February.
The two from Ekurhuleni were unveiled on February 11, the day of the DA's march to the ANC's Luthuli House headquarters for real jobs.
The two from Johannesburg were announced on February 27. The pair, Toni Molefe and Sipho Masigo, served as DA proportional representation councillors in the City of Johannesburg. Molefe was DA deputy chief whip and Masigo the party's deputy chairman in Gauteng.
They claimed black people in the DA were not given room to grow.
"D**kies are always deputising... Sipho is the deputy chair; I am the deputy chief whip. Why are d**kies always deputies in the DA?" Molefe asked at the time.
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text:
Chapter 1
"Goddess of light here our call,
Tonight angels did fall,
Fill us with your spirit light,
Strengthen our powers so we may fight."
We chanted in unison as the candles around us flickered in the darkness.
"God damn, that always hits me so hard!" Violet said, standing up to blow out the candles.
"I don't know, I guess I got use to it," I said grabbing the rock salt from the circle. Usually that would break the circle seeing as we didn't close it first, but because it wasn't a physically casted circle of magic it was no big deal. We usually just put a circle of salt for protection purposes.
"I like the feeling," Amara giggled in her normal, creepy, little girl way; and twirling her black shoulder length hair the fire red tips flaring up as she spun them around her fingers.
"How can you like it? It's like an electric shock!" Violet stared at her like she was completely demented.
"I know it feels like I'm being electrocuted again!" Amara mused as she helped us clean up the circle.
"Please stop talking and, hand these to Faith" Violet handed her some candles for me to put away.
Amara was electrocuted twice as a child; the first when she purposely put a butter knife in a toaster, and the second when she also purposely put a fork in an outlet plug. Truth is she use to be somewhat sane before we got our powers. I've always thought our magic made her lose it even more, like her already damaged mind just couldn't take all the power within her. Some people at school say she's completely crazy, but I know Amara and she's only slightly insane. The funny thing is she's scarier when she isn't being her insane self. If you saw her though you'd think she was an ordinary teenager with an extraordinary style, and nothing more. She's only sixteen but her wardrobe is the most sought after in school, and it's all her own making. Not to mention her snake bites, and hip piercings which fit well with her tongue ring, and both ears pierced entirely down.
"You scare me sometimes," Violet said, obviously nervous of Amara's attitude
Although Amara was mostly known as the princess of darkness, she has a bit more of a girly flare than Violet; but that's because Violet is more of the sexy casual of the coven. She could wear jeans and a well fit tee, with some cleavage and turn plenty of heads. Her hair is a little longer than Amara's; it's what we like to call mid-tit length, mine was a little bit longer than hers. Her hair is a bit brighter as well; a fire red all the way through almost too bright to be a permanent coloring. Her nose, belly button, and whole left ear pierced. Though her attitude and appearance give no hint she's barely sixteen.
"Aw come on Amara not scary, she's just a little insane you know that," I laughed.
"So how is the packing going?" I asked putting everything in our coven trunk.
"Dad still isn't happy about it," Amara chimed in handing me stuff.
"Well I didn't even think either of you were going to be able to get out,"
"I think my family know if they didn't I'd just run away," Violet smiled as she went around my apartment turning on lights.
"Well it's for his own safety, and ours. If any demons found our families they wouldn't hesitate to kill them; we can't continue to put them in danger," I pointed out as I changed for bed.
"I think that's why our families aren't fighting us on this one," Amara said as they both joined me I my room.
"Well I got a three bed room apartment so we can be closer to each other in a time of need. We are more vulnerable living apart than we are living together," I knew them moving into my apartment was the safest option at this point. We all noticed the attacks were growing more frequent and being separate was not exactly a smart idea.
"Well, I think my parents were madder about us not being able to pay the rent on our own. They just kept yelling about the amount of money they were putting in OUR bank account, and how if we were responsible we would get a job," Amara continued as she changed as well.
"My parents didn't complain about that too much after I explained we were trying to focus on graduating before we complicated thing farther with jobs. They were actually very pleased to hear I wouldn't be letting my demon fighting career get in the way of me having a 'successful future' as they out it," Violet said plopping down on my bed.
"Really my mom just kept joking about how I should start talking to my bosses about getting a salary for putting my life in constant danger," I laughed as Amara and I joined Violet on the bed.
"Yeah, cause your moms Wiccan and actually understands. You lucky bitch," joked Violet
"Have you heard from Jake?" Amara asked probably sensing the increasing hole in heart.
"Not since the last time….About a month ago. I just miss him so much," I said as my eyes started to water.
"I know sweetie," Violet hugged me, "but it's not safe to have him around. You know that," she continued rubbing my back. I laid my head in her lap and began to cry.
"He would never hurt us. He fought by our side before he left," I continued to cry.
"But he left because he was losing control. He did what he thought was best in order to keep you safe, to keep all of us safe." Amara said lying down, and cuddling up to me.
"I know, but I need him here with me. It would make everything so much easier to handle, if I could come home to him every day. To have him here to hold me whenever I start to think I just can't take anymore," I sobbed
"I know sweetie, someday he'll be back. You two were made for each other, you'll find a way to be together." She continued.
I must have fallen asleep soon after that, because the next thing I knew I was waking up, curled up alone in my bed. I got up and got a glass of water stopping by Amara and Violet's rooms to check on them. They were fast asleep. I pulled the covers over their shoulder and closed their doors behind me. They always said I had a tendency to mother them, but I guess this was the first time I really noticed it myself. I went back into my room stopping by my vanity to put down my glass of water. I stopped and stared at my reflection in the mirror. Taped to the mirror was a picture of me and Jake taken two weeks after we started dating, His short, black hair spiked up his hazel eyes so deep staring at the camera, and his muscled arms wrapped around me, keeping me safe. I always loved that he was tall enough to rest his head on the top of mine as he did in the picture. My gazed bounced back and forth between the picture and my reflection. I had changed so much since then. To think that was in the beginning of my freshman year. I was a thirteen year old human, Wiccan in training to be in my family coven. I had no piercings, had my natural hair color, and had just met the sweetest sophomore guy in the world. Now I was a half witch half wolf junior living in her own apartment with her two best friends fighting demons, and wondering every day when she'll get to see the love of her life again.
I stared at my reflection once more. My midnight black and electric purple hair cascaded down to my breasts my eye browel, lip, and nose ring shining in the reflection. The girls had always said I had a good body but I always felt my breasts and ass could have been bigger. Yet standing I front of the mirror in my fitted tee and short shorts I was pleased with my body for the first time in years. Tired of thinking about my old life I removed my jewelry sighed crawled into bed and thought to myself. Who was I kidding the person in that picture was dead. She died a long time ago. After all, that girl would have never had the scars on her wrists that I obviously did. There was no hiding that. This was who I was now, and as much as I tried to think of all the good in my current life something deep inside me wanted so much to be that happy naïve girl once again. But Goddess knows that was no longer possible.
A couple hours later I was fast asleep and dreaming; at least I thought I was. Standing in an ally all alone, I look down and I'm dressed in a pair of tan shorts and a tight black tank. I turn to leave but it's a dead end. I hear something ad turn, but there's nothing; other than some dumpsters and rats. There's that sound again.
"Who's there?" I yelled knowing I wouldn't be getting an answer. I reach down and grab the knife that's usually strapped to my ankle; but it's not there. I stand up slowly, very aware of my surroundings; feeling the wolf in me rise up, I could sense something wasn't right here. Tapping into my hyperactive hearing I listen closely...There! I lung to the right two knives appear in my hands, throwing them before they can fully take form. I've pined my opponent against a wooden building. Another knife taking form in my hand I place it against his throat.
"Oh I like it rough," he said teasingly. I lowered the knife looking into his eyes; he grabbed my wrists and rolled me against the wall switching our places, leaving me defenseless. I can feel his breath on my cheek and just as my heart begins to race he kisses me so intensely it took my breath away. His tongue so soft and sweet as his lips pressed against mine. He bites my lip, pulling my lip rig with him as slowly pulls away, my eyes roll back as I enjoy every minute of his body being pressed against my own.
"We got to stop meeting like this" he said with a teasing half grin.
"You scared me. I thought you were a dream demon," I whispered as his lips linger inches from mine; our nose barely touching.
"I noticed, you almost impaled me," He said turning away from me.
"Well this isn't your usual choice setting for our little visits. Although, I guess I should have guessed from the tomb raider outfit," I giggled wrapping my arms around his stomach resting my head on his back, and I heard him chuckle a bit. He grabbed my arms and turned toward me, our fingers intertwining he stared down with a pained look on his face.
"It's good, means you're prepared," he seemed so worried yet so distracted.
"Jake? What's wrong?" I asked trying to meet his gaze.
"I love you and I can only be with you in your dreams!" he said through gritted teeth obviously trying to fight back his quickly rising anger, I could hear it in his voice. There was something he wasn't saying.
"It doesn't have to be that way! Come home! I have my own place now...With the girls, you can stay with us!" what wasn't he saying? I had to know, I knew he hated it when I read his thoughts, but at this point I didn't really care
"Maybe this was a bad idea" I could believe that's what he was thinking
"Damn it Faith! You know I hate that! I can't come back! You know I can't!" he yelled pushing me away a little too forcefully and I hit the wall. I didn't hit the wall hard but the tears came anyways as I slid down to the floor.
"Oh my god!" he slid down beside me and pulled me to his chest.
"I'm so sorry baby! I didn't mean to hurt you, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" he cupped my face in his hands.
"I told you I can't come back; the demon in me is too strong. He'll hurt you, and if anything ever happened to you, especially by me, I'd ever forgive myself." He said fighting the tears in his own eyes, he kissed me softly
"Besides, we both know Amara, and Violet would never approve; I'm a demon you're meant to kill me, you-"
"Your part demon! You didn't choose this!" I said my tears turning into those of anger.
"Why can't you see how much I need you?!?!?!?!" I yelled trying so hard to change his mind.
See what the movies don't tell you are that demons can be created by three different methods:
- Two demons create a spawn
- Someone surrenders to evil and lets the demon suck out their humanity
- Or the demon sucks out your humanity forcefully by reaching into your heart with his hand/claw
This does not apply to werewolves. In my case it's pretty standard to your typical wolfman movie; a bite and every full moon you go all grrr. But I was just scratched, which left me with some of the wolf's abilities. Jake is another special case, he was saved before the soul sucking process could be finished, leaving half human half demon constantly fighting off his evil half. Believe it or not I used to be normal too. Hanging out with my friends, and boyfriend; completely oblivious to the existence of demons, and other creators that go bump in the night. Until the night everything changed, we were attacked.
I was raised in a Wiccan house hold. I've followed the religion my whole life, but as far as I knew the whole flying in the night sky and curses were just for movies. My parents weren't home; the girls and I got a hold of a book we thought was just a bunch of bull shit for people who wanted to learn to turn people into frogs or something. Violet was going through it and laughing while I was on the phone with Jake and Amara was painting her toes.
"They'll be gone all night," I said to Jake on the phone, "No! My parents would flip if they knew you came over, I told them it was going to be a quiet girls night" I giggled, "Okay, fine but you have to be gone by morning."
"Looks like Jakes coming over" Amara smiled at Violet.
"I'm shocked" Violet giggled sarcastically
"Okay bye I love you too!" I blushed as violet and Amara made joking kissy faces at me. "You guys are so immature" I giggled hanging up the phone.
"So how long till he gets here?" asked Violet turning back to the book.
"About ten minutes" I smiled
"The fastest man on three legs" Amara said winking at me
"You're so bad! It's not even like that,"
"What no handcuffs tonight"
"Whatever, that was an isolated incident, and it wasn't what it looked like,"
"I'm sure come on Faith; we all know you're a little kinky masochist,"
"Cause you have so much room to talk Amara; or should I say little miss tie me up, bite my neck, and tease me more" Violet laughed coming to my aid.
"Hey! I'll admit I'm a kinky bitch" she laughed.
"Wow! I think this conversation has gone a little too far" I laughed.
"Okay, well you guys have to check this out," Violet said looking at the book
"I don't want to get up," I groaned
"Yeah she got to conserve her energy for Jake" Amara giggled
"Your just jealous cause I'm actually getting action" I teased, "What's it say?" I asked nodding toward the book.
"It's a "spell" to give you superpowers" she laughed then before I realized what she was saying and doing, it was too late she read it out loud.
"Goddess of the night
Shine on us your loving light
Give us the gifts of your purity
We will be your angels for eternity
Fighting for your light forever
Hell demons may rule never"
She read as I sat in awe. She had no idea the consequences of reading that out loud, but I did. The lights went out and we all screamed.
"What did you do!" I stood up grabbing the book for her
"I just read it to you guys! What happened to the lights?" she asked as a sudden chill went down our spines and she grabbed the throw blanket over her shoulders; suddenly I heard a glass shatter.
"Did you guys hear that?" I asked
"Yeah, what was it?" Amara stood up as well
"I don't know, but it came from down stairs" I said grabbing the pocket knife clipped to my boot and opening. I opened the door and slowly crept down the hall the girls behind me. I could hear footsteps.
I slowly crept down the stairs and quickly rounded the corner into the living room, it was empty. But whoever was in the house was definitely in the kitchen, I really wished I would have remembered to lock the back door right about now. I reached behind me and grabbed Violet's hand and as we approached the kitchen door slowly my heart began to pound almost out of my chest. Standing in front of the swinging door I closed my eyes took a deep breath and kicked the door open. I hit the intruder with the door; he hit the ground and jumped on him. Straddling him I held my knife to his throat.
"Jesus babe a little kinkier then I'm use to with you but okay," Jake said no doubt a little startled by my ambush.
"Jesus Christ Jake! You scared the shit out of me!" I said still sitting on him.
"I can see that, now can you please remove the sharp object from my jugular?" he said reminding about the knife I was pushing into his throat.
"Oh shit! Sorry baby," I closed the knife and the minute I did he grabbed my wrist and rolled, switching our places.
"Gotcha!" he smiled
"Rawer, a girl could get use to this" I teased
"Eh hem" Amara coughed reminding me they were still in the room. For the first time since the attack Jake noticed their presence and got off and helped me up.
"So about those lights..." Amara said closing the awkward silence.
"Oh yeah! Very funny you ass!" I slapped Jake in the arm
"Ow what'd I do?" he said holding his arm as if I'd just broken it.
"Cutting the lights to try and scare us real original" I said sarcastically
"That wasn't me, they were off when I got here that's why I came around back I thought maybe your parents came home early so I came in through the back, and when I couldn't see I knocked over the glass. I tried to clean it up but, someone hit me with the door and tackled me to the ground." He looked at me accusingly. I smiled up at him in that 'you know I love you' sort of way.
"Sorry" I kissed him.
"Wait....If Jake didn't cut the lights.....Then who did?" Violet pointed out.
Suddenly three guys appeared out of smoke, I thought I was crazy. I stood there in utter shock, I couldn't fucking believe my eyes. One of them threw and energy ball at me and knocked me against the cabinet, doing the same to Violet, and Amara next. I pulled myself to my knees looking up at the strangers, as another one seemed to run impossibly fast to Jakes side. Picking him up by the neck he looked at his fellow intruders.
"What do you think? New recruit?" he growled
"Mallic does need more followers" the other hissed
"Let me do it! I'm hungry!" said the third
"No!" I shouted still on my knees, the first one sniffed
"Well, what do we have here? Anthony get her!" he said talking to the second one.
"Don't touch her!" Jake yelled as best he could
"Shut up! James get the other two!" he said to third one. Anthony came grabbed my wrist and held them behind my back while James grabbed Violet, and Amara who were just starting to come to.
"I swear if you hurt anything I'll kill you, even if I have to come back from the fucking dead!" Jake fought to loosen the leaders grip on his throat.
"Is this what I think it is Anthony?" he said staring at Jake with disgust, Anthony sniffed me, and seemed to enjoy whatever sent he was picking up.
"Young love, how cute" he said patronizing us as if we were naïve kids.
"Hey sweetie, do you what happens when you get scratched by a half demon half werewolf?" said the obvious ring leader. I looked at Violet and Amara as they struggled against James' hold, then at Jake was fighting as hard as he could to get free.
Anthony held both arms with one hand he held the other in front of my face and I watch his nails grow and his arm got hairy. I would have fought back harder but I could barely stand let alone fight back. He took his claw to my throat and scratched me just enough to draw blood.
"No! Damn it!" Jake yelled as Anthony threw me to the floor and all the veins in my body began to sear as if my blood was boiling, I lay on the floor screaming at the pain as Anthony made his way to Jake. He thrust his claw into Jakes chest and Jake screamed in pain as a white light started to flow from his chest into Anthony's arm. Just then Violent screamed.
"NO!" when she did a burst of wind knock all three down. James let go of them and disappeared in a puff of smoke the leader and Anthony stood up and disappeared as well, leaving us there on the floor bleeding and confused.
The searing eventually stopped. We cleaned up got out the first aid kit and slowly pieced together what exactly happened. One by one we all discovered our powers doing everything we could think of to know what powers we had. With a little research we discovered Jakes demon side and my werewolf side. I blame myself everyday for the partial loss of his soul, and I thank the goddess everyday that Violet discovered her power in time to save what's left of his soul.
"I need you too, but it's not safe!" he said tears escaping his eyes.
"I don't care! I can't live without you! I won't, not anymore, I'm done," I said calming down, slowly losing grip on my own mental stability. He grabbed my forearm tightly holding me against the wall.
"Don't you ever talk like that again!" I could hear the anger in his voice but I didn't care I sat there silently, stone-faced. He slammed me against the wall again.
"Do you hear me? Answer me!" he yelled as his anger increased
"Do you think for one second you're going to stop me, from doing anything? You never have before?" I said pushing him away and extending both arms for him to see my scars spelling his name. "You're never around!" I yelled, he clenched his teeth turned away and tightened his hands into fists.
"God damn it!" he said in anger through his teeth and punched the wall right next to my head making me throw my hands up in defense and flinch. I put my arms down and he put his hand on my shoulder holding me against the wall.
"Damn it faith! What were you thinking? Are you that stupid or are you trying to fucking kill me?" he said boiling with anger
"I'm thinking that you promised to be by my side through every challenge, and then you up and left me here to deal with all the bull shit by myself! I'm thinking that you say you're so in love with me yet, you don't seem to have a problem not seeing months at a time!" I said definitely. He stared down at me still looking angry when he wrapped one arm around my waist and placed the other on the back of my head and kissed me hard and passionately.
When he pulled way his eyes had softened into the one I had gazed into a thousand times. Those hazel eyes I had fallen in love with what seems like so long ago.
"How could you possibly think for one second that it's easy to be away from you? Don't you think I miss you every day? Not one night goes by when I don't wonder if you might be better off if I just disappeared forever. The only reason I haven't is because of my own selfish needs to be with you, be near you. If I thought for one second I bare to never see you again I would have already left, and let you live a normal life," he said as his breath lingered on my cheek
"Normal life? You're kidding right? I was there that night too; my life is just as screwed up as yours. The only differences is anytime you need me, or need to see I'm there because all you have to do is jump into my dream; but when I need you I have to hope and pray that's the same night you'll be there. I'll ever have a normal life again and you know that," I said avoiding his gaze even though I could feel his eyes locked on me.
My arms hanging by my side I felt his fingertip grazing the scars on my arm, as the warmth of his breath lowered to linger on my neck. I could feel the guilt radiating from him, and I knew the battle I had fought for almost a year now was almost won. I turned to meet his gaze, putting one hand on the back of his head the other on his shoulder and kissed him.
"Come home," I whispered against his neck
"I can't," he said his gazed never leaving the wall behind me
"Then you've made your choice," I said closing my eyes and willing myself to wake.
I woke just an hour before my alarm clock was to go off. I must have laid there in bed at least twenty minutes replaying everything that had happened. Did I just break up with Jake? I don't think I did, it wasn't my intention. I just wanted him to see how bad he was hurting me; I wanted to change his mind, to hurt him a little. I don't want to lose him, but I needed time to process his decisions. I mean why can he not take my thoughts in to consideration at least? Isn't that what you do in a serious committed relationship? Who was I kidding; it wasn't the same as a typical relationship. Far from it, but did that change all the typical rules?
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Club calendar, 3/10
SAN ANGELO, Texas - Upcoming club meetings and events. To include your club or organization in the calendar, send your information to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Please include time, date, address and a contact telephone number.
The deadline for Club Calendar is 5 p.m. Friday nine days before the Sunday publication date. For more information, call 325-659-8234.
Retired Highway Employees will meet at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Kenny Blanek's Village Cafe, 2100 W. Beauregard Ave. The meeting is open to retirees from the Texas Highway Department, the State Department of Highways & Public Transportation and the Texas Department of Transportation and their spouses.
Information: 325-949-5093.
Hanging By a Thread Quilt Club will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the Suez Shrine Temple, 2915 Loop 306. The public is welcome.
Information: 325-947-0524.
The San Angelo Writer's Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at First Place, 14 E. Harris Ave. Local author Ken Casper will be the guest speaker.
Information: 325-942-5741.
Promenade Squares will dance mainstream and plus level at 7 p.m. Thursday at 618 Locust St. Dance theme will be "Wearing of the Green". Caller will be John Geen.
Visitors are welcome.
Information: 325-944-1439.
The Newtimers Club of San Angelo will meet for book interest at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 3 S. Randolph St.
Information: 325-949-9360.
Concho Valley Telephone Pioneers Club will meet at 11:30 a.m. Friday in Rio Concho Manor recreation room, 401 Rio Concho Drive. The meeting is open to all telephone company employees and retirees.
Information: 325-374-8415.
Subscribe to the San Angelo Standard-Times
Need Help? Call us at 1-877-304-7763.
Monday-Friday: 6am-8pm / Saturday: 6am-12pm / Sunday: 6am-1pm


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Rustic Furniture has long been a popular furnishing of homes throughout the world. Unlike fads like linoleum it is a style that will never appear dated or out of fashion. This raises the inclination of many people to invest in high quality oak furniture with the intention of the keeping it in their home or professional property for a prolonged period.
For such Rustic Furniture to retain its beautiful appearance over a long period of time it is important for the owner to care for the product sufficiently and effectively. Whilst the quality of the furnishing and its effectiveness will not diminish, the appearance may be slightly tarnished over time. Gordons Furniture are pleased to offer their expert advice on caring for Rustic Oak Furniture.
Always clean the wood regularly. This will stop a build-up of bacteria that could lead to the weakening of the wood. This is particularly important if the furnishing is a dining table or another surface that is exposed to foodstuffs. Any dropped food or liquid could damage the wood if not cleaned away immediately. The bacteria from the food may enter the wood over time. To clean the surface, simply moisten a high quality cloth with furniture cleaner or mineral spirits and wipe down the surfaces.
It is important to treat any stains or blemishes as soon as they occur. Neglecting a stain will only allow it to worsen. If the stain is treated immediately there is a good chance that the damage will be reversible. Clean with mineral spirits or camphorated oil depending on the intensity of the stain. Repair any watermarks, burns and chips as soon as humanly possible. In the case of a chip, speak to an antique furniture expert as to how to best fill the chip.
Ensure that you monitor what your wood is being exposed to at all times. The vast majority of cases of damage being caused to oak is due to hot, corrosive or dirty objects being placed atop it. Many examples of this damage can be treated but the best course of action is prevention.
Finally, if the problem seems very large then the best solution would be to talk to a reliable specialist immediately. Their expert knowledge will be able to solve a wide range of different problems and issues that Rustic Oak Furniture may encounter.
Company Contact Information
Gordon's Furniture Ltd
Lower Hollin Bank Street
Press Release Service by I-Newswire
Original Source: The Importance Of Caring For Oak Furniture


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Secure Video Surveillance
Camera Shy
Unless your surveillance cameras are wired directly to a video board, they are notoriously insecure. We show you how to keep your cameras from being compromised.
In issue 121, Marcel Gagné covered the basics of building a video surveillance system using Linux and Kmotion. But, to build a really secure, scalable (with dozens or hundreds of cameras) system that can't be compromised easily by attackers, you'll need to do more.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
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Direct Download
Read full article as PDF:066-067_kurt.pdf (1.63 MB)
Photon Controller Goes Open Source
VMware bids for a stake in the container industry with a bold effort to integrate containers with its classic virtualization system.
New Point-and-Click Exploit Kit Appears in the Wild
3ROS attack tool lowers the technical bar so anyone can be an intruder.
Firefox Finally Gets Tracking Protection
Mozilla's latest browser offers powerful new privacy feature
New Password Looter Tool Steals Passwords from a Password Manager
If attackers are on your system, saving your passwords in a password vault is no protection.
Over a Million Websites Are Still Using SHA-1
Faulty hash algorithm persists, despite efforts by experts to raise awareness.
Dyreza Malware is Back
Powerful man-in-the-middle attack is now targeting online shopping.
Kernel Developer Matthew Garrett Forks the Linux Kernel
Another high-profile coder says the kernel team needs a kinder, gentler culture.
Bugzilla Bug
Bug database has a bug of its own that could allow an intruder to create an unauthorized account.
US Launches New Strategy for Broadband Access
Report focuses federal resources on achieving universal Internet access.
RC4 Finally Gets the Fork
Leading browser makers say "no" to porous encryption algorithm


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Uniform/Deep Space Nine
From Star Trek Online Wiki
< Uniform
- You may want to view the full list of uniforms.
The Starfleet - Deep Space Nine uniform is an outfit available through the C-Store that can be customized extensively. Similar in almost all respects to Starfleet - Next Generation Film Uniforms. In addition to early seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, this uniform also was used extensively in Star Trek: Voyager and the Star Trek Generations movie.


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- Filed Under
It is an age-old dilemma faced by lawmakers everywhere - from the halls of Congress to City Hall: Vote the apparent will of the people or vote conscience.
Two cases in point were presented to members of the Manitowoc City Council recently. On Monday, the council voted 6-3 against a request to rezone land on Cleveland Avenue that would have allowed construction of a two-story commercial office building in what is primarily a residential area.
Last November, the council rejected on a 10-1 vote a conditional use permit for a men's homeless shelter on South 29th Street.
Both proposals were defeated after council members had expressed some initial support that would indicate, if not passage, at least a closer vote. Their minds were changed, apparently, by overwhelming opposition from those living in the affected neighborhoods.
Both decisions were difficult. Changing zoning, particularly in residential areas, can be tricky business and open the door to similar requests elsewhere in the municipality.
Emotions understandably ran high during debate on the homeless shelter issue. Fear of the unknown and the wishes of the neighborhood ultimately won out.
We don't have a problem with either decision that the council reached. We do have a problem, however, if the only factor taken into consideration by individual members of the council was neighborhood opposition.
It is easy to legislate on that basis, but that doesn't make it right. There are many issues where NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) politics can come into play. Nobody apparently wants homeless shelters, living facilities for the developmentally disabled, and homes for rehabilitating drunks or drug addicts in their "back yards." The opposition is predictable and often very vocal.
Voting the will of the people is not always right. It was once the will of the people, for example, that restrooms in the South be labeled White and Colored.
Lawmakers should view vocal opposition as just one of several factors in reaching a decision. They have more information on particular issues at their disposal than does the general public. They should utilize that information to make an informed - not an emotional - decision. It appears in these two particular cases that neighborhood opposition was the overriding factor that pushed other considerations to the curb.
Financial advisor Nathan Raddatz, who proposed constructing the office building on Cleveland Avenue, said he is "comfortable" with the decision and respects the process by which it was reached.
We are as well. We're not quite as comfortable with the process and final vote in the homeless shelter debacle, however. Homeless men have few options in our community. The proposed Haven facility would have given these men a better chance to get back on their feet. They had no voice in the matter, as the neighborhood opponents did.
One alderman initially told Haven representatives he would support the shelter unless he received at least 50 phone calls in opposition. He received more than 50 calls and changed his mind.
Therein lies the dilemma. We believe our representatives should - at appropriate times - vote their consciences rather than caving to entirely predictable public opposition.


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Build Hamilton, PIM applications, earthquake register and more building information.
Rubbish collection days, recycling information, refuse transfer station and more.
Community Development teams, community funding, facilities, housing for older persons and more.
Hamilton parks, cycleways and walkways, dog parks, playscapes and more.
Our Mayor and Councillors, Youth Council and Council of Elders information.
Search for Council and Committee meeting agendas and minutes from 2007-2014
Making a request, Land Information Memorandums, riverside property and more.
Search for a property online by street address, valuation number or legal description.
Rates instalments, payments, calculator, understanding your rates and more.


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Jump to main content.
APTI Virtual Classroom
Recent Additions | ">Recent Additions | Contact Us
All EPA
This Area
20 hours
2 CEUs
Course Description
This course is designed for technical people involved in monitoring industries for VOC emissions from leaking process equipment. The course reviews the sources of fugitive VOC emissions and the procedures and equipment used to detect leaks.
Major topics


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Board of Boiler Rules Washington State Specials Request Form
Board of Boiler Rules Extension of Inspection Frequency Request Form
Form is used to ask the Chief Inspector to consider written requests for clarification and interpretation to the definitions, rules and regulations in WAC 296-104. Thsi form must be completed before F620-017-000 Board of Boiler Rules Interpretation and Revision Request form can be submitted.
End of main content, page footer follows.
© Depto. de Labor e Industrias del Estado de Washington. El uso de éste sitio del Internet está sujeto a las leyes del Estado de Washington.


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- Filed Under
When a pair of Realtors from the Salt Lake Valley turned an upscale Washington Fields home into a vacation rental for large groups of people, neighbors banded together to fight the unregulated "party house" next door.
The Comanche Circle home's owners, partners in South Jordan's Johnsen and Allphin, LLC, were cited by Washington City for a nonpermitted use of a residential zone and were subsequently convicted in court, but they appealed the verdict and are awaiting a December trial on the issue.
A St. George-based businessman who manages nearly four dozen properties in the county says ...


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Dude, note the sarcasm dripping from my post.
Now would you like to talk about other people hitting you?
[Edited by FFQueen92, 3/5/2010 8:10:14 AM]
It was drenched in the stuff and it was wonderful.
*takes a drag from a cigarette*
Same time next week?
That is my favourite of all the posts you have ever made.


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November 30, 2015
The Beatrice City Council is expected to vote on a settlement with State Bank of Odell.
The bank had sued Beatrice because the city guaranteed a 2005 loan to Blue Valley Automation when the company operated in Gage County Industrial Park.
Blue Valley was created to make packaging equipment for wood flooring. It never paid off the loan and is defunct.
The city denied the bank's $200,000 claim in September 2010, saying the loan guarantee had expired.
The bank sued the city, and in November a judge ruled the city must pay the bank more than $293,000, which includes interest.
The council is expected to vote on the settlement on Monday.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


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Computer giant IBM is considering an acquisition of data analysis software company Splunk in a deal that could be worth as much as $4bn (£2.5bn).
In a report on newswire Bloomberg, Cowen & Company analyst Peter Goldmacher suggests that IBM is one of a number of potential suitors lining up to acquire the company, with Oracle also in the frame, according to Jams Gilman, an analyst at Drexel Hamilton.
The company's shares have increased by 90 per cent since its initial public offering in April 2012. While the talk of takeover by IBM remains just a market rumour, IBM has public plans to generate as much as $16bn (£9.9bn) in revenues from analytics by 2015 – a target that will require acquisitions to achieve.
However, representatives of both IBM and Splunk declined to comment.
Splunk is one of a slew of "big data" start-ups whose software is intended to help companies analyse and better understand the immense volumes of unstructured data they now generate and store.
Founded in 2004, it focuses on "machine data", data generated by websites, applications, servers, networks, mobile devices, RFID tags and other sensors.
"By monitoring and analysing everything from customer clickstreams and transactions to network activity and call records – and more – Splunk turns machine data into valuable insights no matter what business you're in. It's what we call Operational Intelligence," claims the company.


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The Magazine
As We Stand Down, Can They Stand Up?
Iraq still needs close attention from the United States.
Nov 16, 2009, Vol. 15, No. 09 • By MAX BOOT
One way to chart the recent course of Iraq's history is by the vehicles that American soldiers drive. When I first came here in the summer of 2003, I remember riding around in open-top, unarmored Humvees. By 2004, a spate of IEDs had made it necessary to move to up-armored Humvees, followed a few years later by heavier MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles that look as if they wandered off the set of a Star Wars movie. When last here in 2008, I went everywhere in a hulking MRAP.
Imagine my surprise, then, to find myself being driven in late October from Camp Victory, the main U.S. base on the outskirts of Baghdad, into the center of town along Route Irish, once notorious as the world's most dangerous road, in a lightly armored Chevrolet Suburban that could not withstand a roadside bomb. In Nasiriyah, a town in southern Iraq that was a major focus of resistance during the initial U.S. invasion in the spring of 2003, I rode into the town center without body armor in an SUV driven by the local police chief.
Clearly, despite the headlines about bombings in Baghdad, the situation has improved immeasurably, even if the war is not yet over. U.S. soldiers are still engaged in combat in rural areas alongside the Iraqis. U.S. Special Operations Forces are still carrying out nightly raids on terrorist leaders, though only after they have obtained arrest warrants from an Iraqi judge. That's not something they had to worry about in the past. Nor did they have to turn over suspected terrorists to the Iraqi legal system. Some of the commandos grumble that Iraqi justice is often a revolving door with culprits captured one week released the next, but they no longer have any choice but to work through the local system. The two U.S. detention facilities, Camp Bucca and Camp Cropper, are closing and their detainees are being released or transferred to Iraqi custody.
This is an indication of how things have changed since June 30 when under the U.S.-Iraq security agreement most (though not all) U.S. troops had to pull out of 27 major urban areas. In Baghdad, for instance, the number of Joint Security Stations where U.S. troops are present has declined from 200 to 15. The Americans are now required to secure Iraqi permission when they venture off-base in most instances, and logistics convoys run only at night to maintain as low a profile as possible. The chief U.S. role in many parts of the country is to provide the "enablers" that Iraqi forces lack, such as personnel skilled in bomb disposal, intelligence, reconnaissance, route clearance, and aviation.
Notwithstanding the diminished American role, which occasioned some initial confusion on both sides, violence has not risen since June 30. In many areas attacks are actually lower today, down to levels not seen since 2003. Only 9 Americans died in combat in October--still 9 too many but a far cry from the grisly totals of years past. In all, 285 people were killed in October in political violence across Iraq, a 93 percent reduction from three years ago. (There were 4,100 fatalities in October 2006, according to data provided to me by the U.S. military headquarters.) When attacks do occur they do not spur revenge killings as in the past. Baghdad is now full of life and electricity--literally. The streets are lit up at night. Stores are open, including hundreds of stores selling liquor, and the streets are full of traffic.
In and around the Green Zone (now protected by Iraqis in cooperation with Triple Canopy security contractors), the democratic process is functioning. In their typically protracted and Byzantine fashion, politicians are hashing out the terms of the next parliamentary election in January, which is widely expected to continue the trend of this year's provincial elections which saw power flowing away from Islamist parties and toward more secular and nationalist candidates.
Those who look at Afghanistan and shake their heads in despair should pay attention. The situation in Iraq was far worse in 2006-07 than in Afghanistan today, with far more people getting killed as sectarian groups were being drawn into a full-blown civil war. Two years later, those days seem like a nightmare from which Iraqis have mercifully awoken.


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My poor ole Graphire drawing tablet finally died on me. I can occasionally get power if I maneuver the cord into a particular upright position. But since that is not conducive to getting work done, I've decided to make good on my threats and buy a grown-up tablet.
With a finished story outline and the first few pages scripted, I sat down to create the first page. I tested out implementing the various techniques I've been nurturing through this preparatory phase.
I made some brushes I'd been meaning to last night, and I did these doodles while hanging out at Barnes & Noble with the Art Night crew.
This one isn't a Dirk Maximus image... I'm in the middle of re-reading Dracula to get some inspiration. It's a novel with some very potent imagery.
For a while, I was hesitant to post images of too many side characters here in an attempt to curb spoiling too much. Looking at their scenes however, it's going to be immediately apparent that the way these characters act is not always what you might expect from their appearance.
I felt that this character needed some work, so I did a quick sketch this morning. She gets a bit easier to do every time. I'd like to make sure that each character has a distinctive look, and that they don't suffer from same-face.
It's a lot of fun creating brushes that will expedite drawing backgrounds. It took a while to ideate some of the brushes used here, but actually utilizing them is incredibly quick. Very satisfying to see my library of brushes increasing in size; I've created every single one with a specific purpose in mind. At this point, I've begun taking old brushes and modifying them to get a new effect instead of having to start from scratch each time.
Backgrounds are very exciting for me, since I've never been much of a fine artist. Comic artists have a tendency to draw figures against a void, which I've long since tired of. Backgrounds can really be used to help tell a story and set the mood. Looking beyond figures and beyond line art is very freeing, and I hope it will help this book become what I've got in my head.
Wish I had time to do some background elements here, but I've got to get to some paying work now. But here's me playing with brushes and colors.
So I bought Red Dead Redemption and even though I'm not much for westerns, the scenery is excellent. The background here had its inspiration in that game.
Still experimenting more with brushes. At some point I'd like to get into some more "painterly" effects, with more emphasis on value change and texture, etc. But for now, I'm having a lot of fun figuring out how to use brushes to create quick background effects.
Man, I just don't know about this one. I really tried to make it into a real painting, and it did not agree with me. So this is where I went with it, and then closed Photoshop.
I'm no painter, but recently I've decided I'd like to be. Dirk Maximus needs painted backgrounds, and I've become more and more unhappy with my coloring work. I don't like inking backgrounds, and I don't like my cell-shaded-type colors that I use in conjunction with those inks.
When I draw backgrounds, I now envision shapes and textures instead of lines. I'm constantly dreaming up new brushes to accomplish effects.
I have a moderate understanding of how light works and color theory, but I certainly haven't put it to use in my work thus far.
I've always thought of my artistic interests as fairly narrow. I believe the reality of the situation is rather that I choose to become comfortable with one area before I move to another. I'm comfortable with inking now, and I need to add a new tool to my repertoire.
On the practical side of things, I believe this will also speed up my work. It sounds odd, since painting can be very time consuming. But I tend to draw and ink very slowly, especially backgrounds; and so far, I've found the looseness of the painting really speeds up the process (in addition to giving a neat contrast to the sharp stark inks).
Anyway, there's my painting ramble. I'm excited to see how it all progresses, and hopefully readers will be too.


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Shape & technology
Shape and technology is our DNA and you can be assured that shape and technology is the base of every single product. Best fit, superior comfort combined with the newest technologies and made out of high quality materials by the best skilled professionals available.
Pure focus on wetsuits, harnesses and accessories. We constantly work with our entire team on just these product groups with an intense focus and the desire to make the best out of it. Our complete design team spends hours on the water as well and every comment from our Pro team riders is evaluated by our design team themselves. Whatever we do and regardless of fashion trends, our designs should be the best possible product we can build at that time.
Find out more about:
Wetsuit tech
Harness tech
Boom tech
Boot shape
Size chart


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Northwestern State's Rob Walker runs against Missouri State.
- Filed Under
Jay Thomas got a call from a friend in Thibodaux asking did a Thomas-coached team really attempt 37 passes in one game.
Thomas, a triple-option coach at Nicholls State, said he prefers to think of the short passes in the high-tempo Demons offense as "long handoffs."
Nonetheless, Thomas said he and his team are continuing to adjust to a new system and each other as the Demons prepare to host Southern on Saturday. ...