Blizzard hits Wanblee residents hard
By Scott Aust and Barbara Soderlin, Journal staff
Monday, November 10, 2008
Spending five days without electricity or running water has been an ordeal for people in Wanblee on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Up to 200 people have been spending the night at the Crazy Horse school, at first without blankets or beds, cooking the school's food, diapering babies with old clothes, and trying to stay warm through power from a generator.
The makeshift shelter is being run by Pastor Gus Craven, who has also been helping residents make runs between their homes and the shelter, and who went to Kadoka Friday night on newly opened roads to get cots and blankets from that community's Red Cross.
He said he isn't sure when Wanblee will get power. On his trip to Kadoka he saw perhaps 20 downed power lines.
Most Wanblee residents don't have the gas or money to make the 56-mile round trip to Kadoka themselves, he said.
And some are afraid to leave, since there have been reports of people looting empty homes, he said. Craven said several families have dropped their elders and children off at the shelter and returned to their cold, dark homes to protect them from thieves.
Some relief came Saturday for the people at the shelter when the Black Hills chapter of the Red Cross sent blankets, water and toiletries. The state emergency management department planned to send food and diapers Saturday, said Russ Korzeniewski with the Red Cross. Craven didn't know Saturday evening if those supplies had arrived. He said the school was not out of food but there was not an excess, either.
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linked from RawStory
Monday, November 10, 2008
Blizzard at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation leaves Wanblee suffering
Spread this around so that the government will get their act in gear and take care of our fellow Americans who are suffering! Five days! This is not acceptable!
Greek and Armenian priests fight at Church of Holy Sepulcher
This is from Air America. While I agree with them on a lot of things, faith is not one of them. I'm posting this from their site because they found it first and had a link to the video, which I will put up in a little bit. As a Greek Orthodox Christian, this is not what Christ had in mind.
Holy Brawl at Holy Site
By Beau Friedlander
Armenian and Greek Orthodox monks were the feature fight at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, beating the holy crap out of each other in a turf war that would have made Pontius Pilate proud.
MORE >
Holy Brawl at Holy Site
By Beau Friedlander
Armenian and Greek Orthodox monks were the feature fight at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, beating the holy crap out of each other in a turf war that would have made Pontius Pilate proud.
MORE >
Advocating for Napa’s veterans
A wonderful story of a veteran serving veterans everyday, not just one. This was also written by a wonderful friend, Lily Casura who blogs at Healing Combat Trauma. Consider this. When my brother passed away last month, I had to fly back to Massachusetts. Lily was attending to some family business in Rhode Island. She is such a dear friend that she drove up to see me and attended the wake. While we've been emailing and talking on the phone for a few years, we never met. Lily did all that just to support me in my time of need. She's an amazing woman with a heart of gold!
Advocating for Napa’s veterans
By LILY G. CASURA
For the Register
Patrick Jolly is so dedicated to helping veterans, he even started opening a claim for one he happened to meet while standing in line during a vacation at Disneyland.
Jolly, a Vietnam Navy vet, has been Napa County’s Veteran Services Officer (VSO) since 2006, when he came to Napa from years spent doing the same job in Sonoma County.
Today, 11,000 Napa veterans of various wars as far back as World War II — or 25,000 people, if you include veterans’ family members — rely on Jolly to get the straight scoop about filing claims, getting benefits approved and learning what they’re entitled to.
“We’re very lucky to have him,” said Carol Sanders, senior office assistant with Napa’s Comprehensive Services for Older Adults, who is herself a six-year veteran of the Air Force. “He cares so much about his clientele,” she says, adding, “As a veteran myself, I appreciate that he’s here for county veterans.”
Jolly arrives in his office before 7 a.m. most mornings to respond to the many needs of local veterans. He gets an average of 300 phone calls a month — just transcribing the messages veterans and their families leave on his voicemail takes up multiple pages of a legal pad daily. The best way to get in touch with Jolly is actually by email — vets@napavets.com — because he can’t pick up the phone when he’s with a client, or when he’s researching a veteran’s claim.
Jolly spends the bulk of his time in the office, but sometimes he goes to convalescent homes to meet with veterans, or even makes house calls to consult with those who aren’t able to make it into his office in downtown Napa. He also heads to the Veterans Home in Yountville frequently. There’s a memorial service there every month for the often eight to 12 veterans who have died the month before. Jolly is such a treasured friend that periodically he’s asked to do a veteran’s eulogy, or present the memorial flag to the family member.
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Video: Obama arrives at White House
Video: Obama arrives at White House
Obama arrives at White House for first visit as president-elect
RAW STORY
Published: Monday November 10, 2008
WASHINGTON (AFP) – Barack Obama arrived at the White House on Monday for his first visit as president-elect ahead of talks with President George W. Bush, who leaves office in January.
Just six days after he beat Republican John McCain in the presidential election, Obama, accompanied by his wife Michelle, was greeted by Bush at the South Portico of the presidential mansion, after flying in from Chicago.
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http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Obama_arrives_at_White_House_for_1110.html
Dying veteran sent from Tampa VA to hospice died without breathing machine
Transfer of VA patient goes awry
By William R. Levesque, Times staff writer
In print: Sunday, November 9, 2008
TAMPA — His body racked by vascular disease, 85-year-old Varrian "Otto" Wigner struggled with every breath.
Doctors at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa could do little for him. They suggested the World War II veteran be sent to a hospice. Wigner's wife agreed but said she insisted on one condition:
The breathing device that eased her husband's suffering and helped keep him alive must be waiting for him. Haley didn't object.
But the device wasn't waiting on Aug. 29. The hospice immediately tried to get Haley to take Wigner back, his widow said.
Haley refused, his wife said, and Wigner died in less than 24 hours.
"They dumped him like garbage on the street," said Alina Wigner, 76, of Weeki Wachee, Wigner's wife of 53 years. "I never thought the VA would let him down like this."
The case is the third detailed by the St. Petersburg Times in recent months about allegations of poor patient care or veterans who said Haley was too busy to treat them.
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By William R. Levesque, Times staff writer
In print: Sunday, November 9, 2008
TAMPA — His body racked by vascular disease, 85-year-old Varrian "Otto" Wigner struggled with every breath.
Doctors at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa could do little for him. They suggested the World War II veteran be sent to a hospice. Wigner's wife agreed but said she insisted on one condition:
The breathing device that eased her husband's suffering and helped keep him alive must be waiting for him. Haley didn't object.
But the device wasn't waiting on Aug. 29. The hospice immediately tried to get Haley to take Wigner back, his widow said.
Haley refused, his wife said, and Wigner died in less than 24 hours.
"They dumped him like garbage on the street," said Alina Wigner, 76, of Weeki Wachee, Wigner's wife of 53 years. "I never thought the VA would let him down like this."
The case is the third detailed by the St. Petersburg Times in recent months about allegations of poor patient care or veterans who said Haley was too busy to treat them.
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Search for bodies begins in St. Petersburg after fire
Search for bodies begins in St. Pete
"I opened my door and the hallway was smoky," Douglas Parks, 41, said. "I looked out back and black smoke was just rolling over the fence. I said, 'this baby is on fire' and dialed 911." Four minutes after the call, firefighters were on the scene battling the blaze. It took more than 100 firefighters to quench the blaze.
"I opened my door and the hallway was smoky," Douglas Parks, 41, said. "I looked out back and black smoke was just rolling over the fence. I said, 'this baby is on fire' and dialed 911." Four minutes after the call, firefighters were on the scene battling the blaze. It took more than 100 firefighters to quench the blaze.
Miriam Makeba dies after collapsing on stage
Legendary singer collapses on stage, dies
Miriam Makeba dies after collapsing on stage
Story Highlights
Miriam Makeba was leading South African singer, world music pioneer
Makeba had Top 20 U.S. hit with "Pata Pata" in 1967
Singer was banned from home country for 30 years under apartheid
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) -- Miriam Makeba, the South African singer who wooed the world with her sultry voice but was banned from her own country for more than 30 years under apartheid, died after collapsing on stage in Italy. She was 76.
In her dazzling career, Makeba performed with musical legends from around the world -- jazz maestros Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon -- and sang for world leaders such as John F. Kennedy and Nelson Mandela.
"Her haunting melodies gave voice to the pain of exile and dislocation which she felt for 31 long years. At the same time, her music inspired a powerful sense of hope in all of us," Mandela said in a statement.
He said it was "fitting" that her last moments were spent on stage.
Watch "Mama Africa" reflect on her career »
The Pineta Grande clinic in Castel Volturno, near the southern city of Naples, said Makeba died early Monday of a heart attack.
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Miriam Makeba dies after collapsing on stage
Story Highlights
Miriam Makeba was leading South African singer, world music pioneer
Makeba had Top 20 U.S. hit with "Pata Pata" in 1967
Singer was banned from home country for 30 years under apartheid
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) -- Miriam Makeba, the South African singer who wooed the world with her sultry voice but was banned from her own country for more than 30 years under apartheid, died after collapsing on stage in Italy. She was 76.
In her dazzling career, Makeba performed with musical legends from around the world -- jazz maestros Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon -- and sang for world leaders such as John F. Kennedy and Nelson Mandela.
"Her haunting melodies gave voice to the pain of exile and dislocation which she felt for 31 long years. At the same time, her music inspired a powerful sense of hope in all of us," Mandela said in a statement.
He said it was "fitting" that her last moments were spent on stage.
Watch "Mama Africa" reflect on her career »
The Pineta Grande clinic in Castel Volturno, near the southern city of Naples, said Makeba died early Monday of a heart attack.
click link for more
Police say Fort Sill has a gang problem
Lawton police say Sill has a gang problem
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Nov 10, 2008 7:51:29 EST
LAWTON, Okla. — Lawton police say the Fort Sill Army post is home to many soldiers who also are gang members, but post officials dispute that claim.
Lt. Darrell Southerland, a 20-year police veteran who oversees the Lawton Gang Task Force Unit, said his six-member unit has routinely gathered and shared evidence with Fort Sill officials about soldiers stationed at Fort Sill who also are gang members.
He said evidence has been obtained through traffic stops and arrests and includes photos of gang-related tattoos and information from informants.
“People don’t want to face the truth, but it’s true,” Southerland said. “Fort Sill has a problem with gangs. We see it every Friday and Saturday night on the streets. But nobody wants to listen.”
Fort Sill spokesman Jon Long disagrees.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_sillgangs_111008/
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Nov 10, 2008 7:51:29 EST
LAWTON, Okla. — Lawton police say the Fort Sill Army post is home to many soldiers who also are gang members, but post officials dispute that claim.
Lt. Darrell Southerland, a 20-year police veteran who oversees the Lawton Gang Task Force Unit, said his six-member unit has routinely gathered and shared evidence with Fort Sill officials about soldiers stationed at Fort Sill who also are gang members.
He said evidence has been obtained through traffic stops and arrests and includes photos of gang-related tattoos and information from informants.
“People don’t want to face the truth, but it’s true,” Southerland said. “Fort Sill has a problem with gangs. We see it every Friday and Saturday night on the streets. But nobody wants to listen.”
Fort Sill spokesman Jon Long disagrees.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_sillgangs_111008/
Congratulations Keith Olbermann!
Keith, I watched you since you started with Countdown. You really won my heart as soon as you took on what was happening to the veterans before any other station was reporting on it. You are a joy with your sense of humor, your intelligence, but most of all your compassion. Congratulations on the contract and may you enjoy many more viewers.
MSNBC 'votes for four more years' of Olbermann
RAW STORY
Published: Monday November 10, 2008
Firebrand MSNBC host Keith Olbermann will be hosting Countdown for at another four years, the network announced Monday.
Network president Phil Griffin called Olbermann "the core of MSNBC's current success." The anchor's impassioned rants aimed at President Bush, John McCain and Republicans in general coincided with a significant uptick in the third-place cable network's ratings.
"I'm delighted that we can continue to lock Countdown into the nation's political dialogue through at least the next election," Olbermann said in a news release. "Personally, I noticed that as of about six weeks ago, I'd been doing this show longer than I did SportsCenter, so it's delightful to have a true home."
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Off duty Marines saved lives in Orange County fire
Marines save the day in Orange County fire
Associated Press
Monday, November 10, 2008
(11-10) 04:00 PST Lake Forest, Orange County -- A half-dozen off-duty Marines who raced through a burning motel on Sunday warning sleeping guests that it was on fire were hailed as lifesaving heroes.
Everyone escaped the Americas Best Value Inn motel, including one elderly man who required oxygen after he was carried to safety by one of the Marines. The cause of the fire, which ignited shortly before 8 a.m., was under investigation.
Marine Pvt. Colton Oliver said he and two colleagues were walking along a second-floor landing about 8 a.m. when they saw flames and smoke. They rousted their fellow Marines and all six began knocking on doors and windows of rooms, urging people to leave.
"Everybody was out by the time the firefighters got here," Oliver said. "It's what we're trained to do."
Amy Amadito-Phelps said she and her husband and 14-month-old son were sleeping in a room near the flames when they were awakened. She said the Marines saved their lives.
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Associated Press
Monday, November 10, 2008
(11-10) 04:00 PST Lake Forest, Orange County -- A half-dozen off-duty Marines who raced through a burning motel on Sunday warning sleeping guests that it was on fire were hailed as lifesaving heroes.
Everyone escaped the Americas Best Value Inn motel, including one elderly man who required oxygen after he was carried to safety by one of the Marines. The cause of the fire, which ignited shortly before 8 a.m., was under investigation.
Marine Pvt. Colton Oliver said he and two colleagues were walking along a second-floor landing about 8 a.m. when they saw flames and smoke. They rousted their fellow Marines and all six began knocking on doors and windows of rooms, urging people to leave.
"Everybody was out by the time the firefighters got here," Oliver said. "It's what we're trained to do."
Amy Amadito-Phelps said she and her husband and 14-month-old son were sleeping in a room near the flames when they were awakened. She said the Marines saved their lives.
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