Once in Danger of Dropping Out, This Scholar is Beating The Odds--Kansas City Star

At the age of only 14, Aaron Farish thought he would be unique and set his high schools bathroom trash cans on fire. After a week in juvenile hall, a month on house arrest, nine months on probation and a semester at the Fairfax alternative school, Farish was surprised to learn the stunt had been pulled by punks before. A school librarian, Mary Sternshein became a mentor to Farish while at this alternate school. So, when he left Fairfax, he left with straight-A's. He returned to his old high school and graduated with nothing less than a B.
This is remarkable. I think it's great how easy he came around. All it took was a little here and there and he realized he didn't want to throw his life away. I wish every person would realize how great they could really do.

One Dead, One Critical in Denver Shooting

Just today at 3 am this morning, a man was shot and died 45 minutes later at a local hospital. Another man in critical condition. Police have not yet released much more information.
It's crazy how bad things get. Makes me ask myself is I'm safe on my own streets.

At V.A. Hospital, a Rogue Cancer Unit--New York Times

A unit at a Philaedelphia hospital botched 92 of 116 prostate cancer treatment over a time of six years. Majority of the seeds were placed in the bladder, not the prostate. One of the many patients was the Rev. Ricardo Flippin, a 21-year veteran of the Air Force. He stated, “I couldn’t walk and I couldn’t stand." There was rectal pain so severe that he had to remain in bed for six months, losing his church job and his income.
This is outrageous. This is what these people go to college for. I can understand some here and there, but for 3/4 of the procedures to go wrong. Theres something going on.

Fire Safety Gets Personal--Omaha World Herald

Earlier this year, Joey Anderson and his family escaped a fire that extensively damaged their home. This 11 year old boy is now a volunteer for the Red Cross and the United Way. He and five other youth volunteers performed Friday for, using Sesame Street characters to teach three main messages: “Get Out and Stay Out,” “Stop, Drop and Roll” and “What is Hot?” Anderson stated, “After I experienced a house fire, I thought it would be nice to show young kids what not to do,” he said.
I think when these types of events happen, those people really do realize "WOW! I could have died." It really makes a difference in people. Makes them realize a lot. I think it's great Joey Anderson took his experience and shared it to those who need the knowlegde about fire safety.

Bull Shot 15 Times in Sioux City--Omaha World Herald

A 1,500 pound bull was spotted in the Sioux City prairie area. the bull was simple wandering around, not harming anyone. The bull had got out of its fenced yard. The people in the neighborhood started spotting the bull and called the police. The police cornered the bull in a local park and opened fire 15 times until the bull fell to the ground. The owners were contacted and brought down to the scene. At that time the bull had been shot once already. The article stated the police shot it out of public saftey and the fact they had no tranquilizers.
Why not attempt to lure it back, instead of shooting it. The bull was doing nothing to anyone, the owners even stated the only reason they got it was because it was gentler than most they have seen. UNBELIEVABLE!

Outpouring of Help for Family Forced to Leave Home--The Atlanta Constitution

A family from Gwinnett County that has shared a house for six years with a husband and a wife and their daughter, mother-in-law and two brothers-in-law. The house was declared unlivable by a city inspector on Tuesday. An April storm sent a tree crashing into the living room and a bedroom of the modular home, leaving holes in the roofline and unstable walls, said Burny Agee, building officer for the City of Sugar Hill. The family told their landlord, Bertha Botello, of the problems, but the landlord made excuses for herself. The wife stated that the landlord said, "It’s your house, you guys can deal with it." Her family had already paid for tree removal and for tarps to cover the damaged roof as well as the furnace after living for two years without heat or air conditioning and the hot water heater. With the help of local churches and neighbors the family has been put up in a hotel until they find a new home. A lawyer has even offered his services FREE of charge.
I find it unbelievable how careless one person can be while a whole community comes together to help this family. This lady should be charged for everything that family paid for. THEY RENTED, not owned! I think it's so remarkable how the community put together the hotel for them. It really shows how thoughtful some people are and how fast a community can really come together.

Sotomayor Senate Hearings Begin July 13--New York Times

July thirteenth will mark the beginning confirmation hearings on Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court. They say the session will probably last several days and after the entire Senate will vote to an agreement. President Obama has said he hopes that Judge Sotomayor be confirmed in time to take her seat when the Supreme Court convenes on the first Monday in October.
It crazy how long they make a simple vote lasts. They have had months to figure her out. Why not just vote already! :) Obama's motive behind her confimation seems to be apparent to everyone.

Italian Treasures in Berwyn Home Worth Millions--Chicago Tribune

Over 3,000 stolen items which included books, antiquities, and letters written by popes and kings, were found in a Berwyn home in March of 2007 after the resident, John Sisto's death. His two sons found the artifacts while going through the house on South Elmwood Avenue. After a two-year investigation by Berwyn police and the FBI,they determined that many of the items were removed illegally from Italy. The value of the stolen artifacts ranged from $5 million to $10 million.
That's just crazy this man lived so long without anybody noticing the amount of artifacts he "purchased." I mean even his sons did not have a clue about what their father was up to. $5 million dollars is a lot of money! Just imagine what "one" of those artifacts probably costed.

Death Penalty for Aurora Witness-Killer Ray--The Denver Post

Twenty-three year old Robert Ray was finally convicted after a four year legal porcess of two counts of first degree murders. Vivian Wolfe and Javad Marshall-Fields were both 22 when they were killed. Marshall-Fields was a wittness for another murder trial against Ray when he was killed. It was annouced at 11 a.m. Ray will receive the death penalty. "Crime does pay," she said, referring to Ray and his "crime pays" tattoo. "He's going to pay with his life." The jury agreed, that the death sentence was mainly for Marshall-Fields' killing, not for his fiance's murder. Jurors gave Ray life in prison for her death.
FOUR YEARS of finding an answer for this murder. I can not even imagine how the family dealt with this for four years. When the article stated the death sentence was mainly because of the murder of Marshall-Fields, I thought that was ridiculous. I'm sorry what makes his murder different from the his fiance's. I do not care if he was a wittness, his death was just as heart-breaking as his fiance's.

Woman Ticketed After Taking Kids to Bar--Omaha World Herald

An omaha woman was ticketed for leaving children in the parking lot of a bar with a man who was so intoxicated, he was vomiting. The bar called the police and told them children were here and the police arrived on the scene. They warned the 32 year old woman and said she needed to get the children out of here and home. The police were walking back to their vehicle and the woman walked right back into the bar. The police marched into the bar and ticketed the woman. The children were escorted to their legal gaurdian.
These sort of events make people wonder about what goes through other people's minds. In the entire story the report never said the children were hers, just kept repeating "the children." I could not believe she walked right back into the bar after receiving a verbal warning to take the children home. UNBELIEVABLE!!

David Carradine Dies at 72--Las Angeles Times

David Carradine was 72 years old, born December 8, 1936. He performed in more than 100 different movies. Carradine was found dead in his hotel room in Bangkok, Thailand, where he was shooting his new film. He was found by a hotel maid in his room where he was hanged. He was believed to have committed suicide.
I remember watching old movies with him in it. I could not believe he was found dead and believed to have committed suicide. I thought he was a pretty good actor, and he was born on the same day as my cousin. :)

Troopers Make Second Large Pot Bust in Week--Omaha World Herald

A trooper from the Nebraska State Patrol pulled a vehicle over on Interstate 80 with a speeding violation. The trooper's patrol dog detected an odor coming from the trunk of the car and come to find 180 pounds of pot hidden in duffel bags. The 40 year old man and 41 year old woman were arrested with drug pocession and intent to deliver. In the following week a trooper stopped a speeding motorist near Lincoln and detected more than 700 pound of pot.
It's unbelievable how far some people will go to make a quick buck in the world. It's rather funny how close together these drug busts were. Do you think there is a connection between the two? I thought the amount of pot/ marijuana found was just unbelievable. Where are they getting it from?