Heat Wave Takes Hold

The spell of hot, dry weather that has held the area in it’s grasp for the last few weeks is taking its toll on grasslands and fire fighters.

The heat wave has been stifling for residents and firefighters.
Photo courtesy: Google Images

Saturday, in the wake of 15- and 25-mph winds and a high temperature of 99 degrees, fire protection agencies from across the area responded to 16 calls.

At the largest of those, a 25-acre grass fire on Peabody Road north of Prathersville and west of Route 19, paramedics treated at least 5 of 35 fire fighters for heat exhaustion on site, county fire chief Debra Schuster said.

Three more of the heavily-clad firefighters were hospitalized for heat exhaustion, and two of those were flown to Springfield Hospital by helicopter. All were treated for about one hour and released.

Dennis Sapp, fire captain of Station No. 1, said the blaze at Peabody Road, which burned out of control for an hour before it was contained, probably was started by a trash fire. The blaze endangered some nearby farmland and a barn on the land, but the fire was extinguished before anything but grass was burned.

Schuster said fires like the one on Peabody Road had been starting all day, especially in the northern part of the city and county. 

Schuster said some of the fires could have been the work of an arsonist, but careless burning was a more likely cause.

“We don’t have any evidence there is an arsonist,” Schuster said. “We sure hope we don’t have someone running around starting fires on purpose, but there is that possibility.”

Armed Robbery At Local Store

Above, an image taken from the security camera is shown.
Photo: Google Images

An armed man robbed The Black Derby Liquor Store at gunpoint and escaped arrest from pursuing police.

The suspect wore a pillowcase over his head to protect his identity, and with his pistol in hand demanded the money from the register.

The clerk at the time, Steve Bellinos, triggered a silent alarm at 7:16 p.m., and police arrived just three minutes later.

Officers Anne Fulgham and Jose Lopez responded to the alarm and arrived as the gunman was leaving the store. 

The suspect immediately fled from police, and Fulgham issued a warning before taking a shot that missed.

The two officers followed the suspect down an alley before he alluded arrest.

John Pual Reinickewitnessed the scene and said that “the officers did a great job”, adding “the guy ran so fast he looked like a track star”.

The owner of the store, Ralph Matinson, stated that $2,845 were taken.

Police Chief Antonio Grasso said a routine investigation by the Police Internal Security Squad will take place due to an officer discharging their firearm.

The store clerk Bellinos described the robber as a 6 foot tall male weighing 155 pounds, who was wearing blue jeans and a dirty white t-shirt with a torn right sleeve.

Fresno Pacific Routes Springfield In First Round Battle

TULSA, Okla. - It was a one-sided affair for the first round of the NAIA Division I basketball tournament as Fresno Pacific routed Springfield College 81-56.

Fresno dominated most aspects of the game as they eliminated Springfield.

Fresno more than doubled the opponent’s assist total, won the battle on the boards, and ultimately outplayed Springfield on their way to victory.

The game was kept close at halftime as Springfield only trailed by 9, but the game was torn open in the second half.

The gap continued to rise in the second half as Springfield continued to play poorly, with their sole bright spot coming from Al Muldrow’s 20 point performance. 

The two teams were separated in large part due to their shooting, as Springfield was held to just 30 percent from the field.

Fresno Pacific was led by Ty Amundson and Al Moore, who had 18 and 24 points respectively.


"It was a good win for us," Amundson said. "We're looking forward to the next round."

School Board Debate Gives Senior Citizens Chance To Be Heard

Senior citizens in Lenoir School District worry that a proposal for year-round schooling might hit them in the pocketbook.

School Board members debate in front of senior citizens
 at Lenoir Retirement Community Center.
Photo: Google Images

School board candidates are still campaigning for the upcoming election, discussing important issues and offering their stances to the citizens gathered at the Lenoir Retirement Community Center.

Where at previous debates the main topic of conversation had been a bond on the upcoming April ballot, this debate offered an opportunity to hear the candidates’ opinions on the year-round schooling issue.

One candidate, Henry Lane, believes that year-round schooling would eliminate the need for trailers that currently house the overflow of students.

Lane also advocated a multitracking schedule that would help overcrowding by cutting daily attendance to the school by 25 percent.

Other candidates opposed Lane, suggesting that the new schedule would be more costly than adding permanent buildings.

Current Board President Elton Fay was one participant in the debate that stood against Lane.

Fay said that Mr. Lane’s plan doesn’t factor in that “the cost of educating our children would go up substantially.”

Other members of the debate, Kerry Corino and Larry Dorman, offered their opposition as well, adding that the plan would put different schools on different schedules.

Neck Injuries Prevalent Among Football Players

With one hit, it was all over for Pete Stenhoff. The junior football player at Chula Vista High School lowered his head to make a hit, and planted his head into the players chest. With that play, Stenhoff cracked a vertebrae in his spine, and is confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The risk of neck injury, and other injuries that disable their victims, are prevalent in high school football.

There are 20,000 injuries in high school football each year, and of these injuries, 12 percent end up permanently disabling their victims. Last year, there were thirteen youths who died. Thirty-five percent of all of the high school football injuries are experienced in the head or neck, and many blame the helmet. 

It is well known that football is a dangerous game. Pete Stenhoff did. The former player is not bitter. His weight has dropped from 210 pounds to 172. His injury prevented him from graduating, and he will remain in his wheelchair for the rest of his life. But Stenhoff is not bitter. He says, “I knew the risks involved when I decided to play football”. He then adds “but I wish I would have known just how bad it could be.” 

His Heirness: Michael Jordan's Endorsements Pay Off

Michael Jordan has had success endorsing
many products, including Hanes.
Photo: Google Images

Everyone remembers Michael Jordan’s iconic slam dunk, with legs spread wide and the ball held high overhead before slamming home.

In fact, even those who haven’t seen the famous dunk in the game are likely to have seen it on their feet.

The memorable pose is featured on the internationally famous Jordan basketball shoes. 

The success that Jordan experienced on the court carried over to the business world, allowing Jordan to transform his last name into a brand. 

Jordan was surely one of the most exhilarating basketball players and showmen of all time, and his success on court translated to success in the business world with plenty of endorsement deals.

His list of product endorsements is a long one that includes major companies such as Hanes, Nike, Gatorade, and his own Air Jordan brand.

Although Jordan retired from basketball for good in 2003, he continues to make an estimated $40 million a year from endorsements.

Nike has maintained its relationship with Jordan even after his retirement, with a contract reportedly still worth $20 million yearly. 

While this may seem like a fortune to pay for endorsements by most athletes, Nike considers the investment worth it.

Nike president Phil Knight has said that “Michael Jordan is the greatest endorser of the 20^th century.”  

With new marketing campaigns for Hanes as well as being the face of a 2011 video game, NBA 2K11, Jordan’s image and brand continues to be successful long after his playing days. 

St. Joseph's Shooting

ST. JOSEPH’S, Miss.  - The town of St. Joseph’s is grieving the loss of one of its officers today, after a gunman opened fire on civilians and police in the first mass shooting in the town’s history. 

The sound of gunfire rang out in the town’s calm streets at around 5:11 p.m. and officers went to 22^nd Street and Union.

The gunman shot randomly with a high-powered assault rifle, police said.One of the bullets hit Officer Bradley Arn, as seven bullets riddled his car.

Citizens of St. Joe's mourn the loss of the officer.
Photo: Google Images

The department is conducting a standard internal review of the officer firing the shot that killed the gunman Officer Connors of St. Joseph’s Police Department stated. He later said that the “officers did their job”.

The department is taking fingerprints to identify the shooter, who had no identification but carried a backpack, pockets of ammunition, a knife, and wore camouflage and had a Mohawk haircut.

Connors said that the department was strained during these events, with all units mobilized to handle the situation.

The shooting began at 22^nd street, but headed South as the shooter headed towards Calvary Church, police said..

The chaos ensued when Officer Arn appeared to slump down after a bullet went through the back of the windshield and struck the officer in the back of the head. 

Eyewitness George Macfee, who was driving behind the officer who was shot, confirmed the story, saying that he saw the bullet strike the officer and watched as the car hopped a curb and hit a boat.

The tragedy is hitting the town and the police hard, as no officer had been shot in the line of duty since 1944 and no officer killed since 1991. 

A news conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. today.