Arrest made in robberies spree

In Joplin, Mo Paul D. Shoumake, 42, was arrested for burglary charge for an attempt to rob a Carie Parish at her home east of Carterville. Shoumake went to the door of Parishs home on a Monday afternoon and asked to use her phone. He then forced himself through the door to gain entry to her home and demand money from her. When she told him she had none, he forced her outside the house with her 3 year old child in her arms, Shoumake intent was taking her to the bank to obtain money from an account. Perish tried to run from him with her child once they got outside, but he tried to grab her with a struggle causing him to flee without obtaining any money. Shoumake has also been charged with the robbery of the Great Southern Bank on East 32^nd Street and is suspected of three more robberies, or robbery attempts, dating back to Nov. 21.

I’m glad this man was caught since he is known to be aggressive and it may have been a matter of time before a victim would have been harmed. It’s scary that this could have happened to anyone at any time.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x622291115/Arrest-made-in-robberies-spree

Joplin woman charged in baby-for-sale scam

In Joplin, MO, Alice H. Sims, 29, allegedly offered an unborn baby for sale on Craigslist. She has been arrested and accused for accepting a $200 down payment on the imaginary baby from two undercover police officers. Police say Sims placed an ad on the Internet site Craigslist and advertised an unborn baby for sale. Sims wanted a $200 down payment and $100 per month until the due date on May 18 of the supposed baby. Two Joplin undercover officers posed as a couple and was sent to meet Sims at her vehicle in a McDonald’s parking lot. They met and discussed the purchase of the baby and then exchanged $200. She agreed to accept $200 more at the time of the child’s birth instead of the $100 per month that she had been expecting. Soon after, Sims was stopped as she was leaving the parking lot and then was taken in for questioning.

Wow I think crazy what people will do for money but in my opinion why would you advertise an unborn baby on the internet, she should know it’s illegal. Obviously the girl is not very bright on how to scam people very well and good thing she got caught, so she can’t actually do it to someone who desperately wants a child.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x1312703632/Joplin-woman-charged-in-baby-for-sale-scam

Judge tosses out federal charges in Gary Hall tobacco case

In Witcha, Kansas a federal judge threw out an indictment against Gary Hall a Kansas tobacco wholesaler and business associates who were charged with trying to avoid paying $25 million in cigarette taxes to the state of Oklahoma and Indian tribes. U.S. District Judge Monti Belot had ruled out the defendant’s indictment because the case against them was unconstitutionally vague and should be dismissed. Belot stated the government’s case was based on the government’s opinion and not by federal for Kansas or Oklahoma statute. The decision clears all charges against Gary Hall, Discount Tobacco Warehouse Inc, and Rebel Industries Inc. Prosecutors could seek another indictment because charges were dismissed without prejudice. They also could appeal Belot’s decision, but the judge strongly discouraged prosecutors from seeking reconsideration. Hall’s companies stamped cigarettes for sale at smoke shops in lower tax rate areas when they actually were sold at shops with higher tax rates. Belot said the cigarettes had tax stamps and records were accurately made and maintained. The investigation started in 2006 after a Kansas Highway Patrol officer had stopped a vehicle in Coffeyville that was allegedly carrying cigarettes worth more than $200,000 without appropriate tax stamps. In May 2007 federal and state agents raided Rebel Industries. Belot ruled out the evidence of Kansas Highway Patrol officer had no reason to suspect the driver of a U-Haul van that was found to be loaded with cigarettes was violating any laws, and the search was illegal. The 43 count indictment filed in October 2008 included charges of conspiracy to divert cigarettes, mail and wire fraud, and record keeping violations of the Cigarette Trafficking Act, interstate transportation in aid of racketeering, transporting contraband cigarettes, conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, and engaging in unlawful monetary transactions.

In my opinion it sounds like Gary Hall paid off the Judge because the judge ruled out most of the evidence against him, which he evidently committed fraud. If this was to be anyone else who doesn’t have money would be prosecuted and sent to prison for life if that person didn’t pay $25 million in cigarette tax. I think by law everyone should be treated equally the same but in this day in age money talks for almost anything.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x1853594621/Judge-tosses-out-federal-charges-in-Gary-Hall-tobacco-case

Suspect in stabbing turns self in

Donnie R. Wilson, 22, was taken to St. John’s hospital of Joplin on a Saturday night for treatment of a stab wound during a fight with another man and required surgery for the wound to his lower back. A steak knife was believed to have been the weapon used in the stabbing and was recovered at the scene, but the 19 year old suspect who fought with Wilson was gone before the arrival of police. The alleged 19 year old suspect came to the police station on a Sunday night in the company of a bondsman and turned himself in. Police were seeking a charge of first-degree assault against the man, but the charge has yet to be filed.

I think the suspect who fought Wilson made the right decision by turning himself in but I think it’s stupid when guys bring weapons to fights, it’s a cheap way to fight and even worse it could kill someone. Wilson is very lucky that he did not get killed during the fight.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x622288902/Suspect-in-stabbing-turns-self-in

Man accused in sex-slave case facing gun charges

In St. Louis, Mo, Bradley Cook, 32, was accused of torturing and mutilating a runaway teen who was a sex slave for years, but he is facing a new felony charge because he possessed and transported firearms illegally in December last year. Cook is in federal custody on charges filed in Kansas City for the alleged sex slave case. Federal prosecutors in St. Louis are pressing an order against Cook to stay behind bars that’s pending trial on the weapons count, casting the man as a dangerous threat to the community, and a serious flight risk. Cook has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, sex trafficking, racketeering and weapons charges in the sex case. He faces a possible life sentence if convicted of the trafficking count. Edward Bagley, 43, is known as the victim’s “master” who went by the name Master Ed promised the 16 year old girl that she would become a model and dancer with a great life. Instead, the teenager was given drugs and sexually abused. When she turned 18, she was sexually tortured, persuaded to sign a sex slave contract and tattooed with several slave symbols. Bagley allegedly advertised online and in-person torture sessions, with Cook and three other men that are also accused of using cigarettes, computer hard drives, meat, and other items to take part in the sexual abuse and torture. Cook frequently visited Bagley’s home to have sex with the victim and would often jolt her with a crank-activated phone rigged with wires attached to parts of the woman’s body. Cook’s attorney, has portrayed Cook as a responsible member of the St. Louis community who had a real-estate business and restored old cars, who has no criminal record other than the unpaid tickets and was not a risk to flee.

I hope Cook stays behind bars! It’s sick that someone would want to do horrible things to a young girl, who was helpless. I feel sorry for the young girl it’s terrible that she had to go through torture by men, who are sick and twisted. I hope authorities will charge Cook with both charges, so he will go to prison for a long time for what he did and I hope the other men do too, especially Bagley. It makes me sick that Bagley made the young girl call him master and forced the poor girl to be a sex slave, when all she was looking for was a good home to grow up in.
http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x1199045050/Man-accused-in-sex-slave-case-facing-gun-charges

New York professor installs camera in head

Wafaa Bilal, a New York University professor had a camera surgically implanted into the back of his head, so he can be closer to reality and ideas that are unseen in everyday life. Bilal is a photography professor at the university's Tisch School of the Arts, had the procedure done at a piercing studio for an art project commissioned by a museum in Doha, Qatar. “A project like this is meant to establish a dialogue about surveillance," said Bilal. The project is called "The 3rd I," which is a posterior camera that is used to take snap-shot photographs each minute of Bilal's everyday activities for one year. The thumb-sized camera is mounted on a titanium plate inserted inside the back of his head. A cable runs from the camera to a computer that he carries in a custom-made shoulder bag, providing a real-time global positioning signal of his location. Bilal wants his artwork to examine broader ideas and realities. “I see myself as a mirror reflecting some of the social conditions that we ignore," said Bilal. University authorities have tried to prevent concerns of privacy by requiring a cover over the lens while Bilal is teaching on campus, since the school of arts takes the privacy issues of his project serious.

I think this is a neat idea, but I wonder how that would be comfortable to have a camera on your head and carry a computer in a shoulder bag for a year, that sounds like a lot of work. I want to see the results of this dialogue and understand more where he is coming from with this project. It would be interesting to know what people don’t see behind them in their everyday life.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/12/02/new.york.camera.head/index.html?npt=NP1

Ryan Gosling: 'fat and unemployed'

Actor Ryan Gosling says he was fired from the 2009 movie "The Lovely Bones" for getting too fat. In a new interview, the 30-year-old star reveals how he prepped to play the role of Jack Salmon, whose teenage daughter Susie is brutally murdered by packing on 60 pounds. The problem was Gosling never told the film director Peter Jackson of his plan. Gosling told reporters, "We didn't talk very much during the pre-production process. It was a huge movie, and there are so many things to deal with, Jackson just couldn't deal with the actors individually." When Gosling showed up on set, Jackson was shocked by his weight gain, which ultimately got him fired and was soon replaced by Mark Wahlberg for more of a muscular look. "We had a different idea of how the character should look. I really believed he should have been 210 pounds,” says Gosling.

The “Lovely Bones” was a really good movie, but is a chiller since it could happen to anyone. I think Mark Wahlberg was a good choice for the role of Susie’s Dad and Ryan Gosling would have been a good pick too but I don’t think the character would have look good being fat. Gosling should have confirmed it with the director first before gaining the weight, since the director is the boss of the set.

http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/03/ryan-gosling-fat-and-unemployed/?npt=NP1

'Black Swan' goes to some dark places

The movie “Black Swan” is an idealized image of feminine purity, high art's version of Snow White or Cinderella. Natalie Portman is Nina, a dedicated dancer whose technique makes her the obvious candidate to replace the retiring prima ballerina in the forthcoming production of "Swan Lake." The character Nina lives at home with her mom (Barbara Hershey), and she has never been tempted by alcohol, drugs or men. It takes her friend Lily (Mila Kunis) to open her up to those trap doors. As Nina explores her dark side and her sense of reality, Portman reveals a more open and vulnerable actress than she has shown before. It's a risky, intensely physical performance that deserves an Oscar. The melodrama is the kind of chick flick guys are going to love exclaim producers.

I’m not a big fan of ballet but this movie looks really good and I think Natalie Portman is a great actress. I’m definitely going to go see this movie when it comes out to theatres!http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/03/black.swan.review/index.html?npt=NP1

Man charged with smuggling tarantulas into U.S.

Sven Koppler a German tarantula dealer has been recently charged with sending hundreds of tarantulas illegally to the United States through the U.S. mail. He was arrested right after he had just flown into Los Angeles, California after a nine-month investigation. Koppler faces one count of illegally importing wildlife into the United States, which he failed to receive permits and did not declare the spiders. Nearly 600 tarantulas were under question during the investigation, some were the Brachypelma Smithi species that are commonly known as Mexican red-kneed tarantulas. This species is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and can only be traded with special permits. Koppler failed to confess to the Fish and Wildlife Service that he had shipped the tarantulas and that is why they are considered smuggled. If convicted, Koppler could be sentenced to up to 20 years in federal prison and fined $250,000, prosecutors said. According to the criminal complaint, Koppler mailed more than 500 tarantulas, which many were wrapped in colored plastic straws. Koppler has received about $300,000 as a result of tarantula sales around the world.

Wow! That’s a lot of spiders to be sold in the U.S. but I don’t think the guy should serve 20 years for selling spiders. I think he should at least get a couple years since it is illegal without a permit and he knew that it was wrong to do but he probably got to greedy to do it in the right way.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/12/03/california.spider.importing/index.html?npt=NP1

Fans line up for latest ‘Harry Potter’ magic

November 18, 2010 In Joplin, MO, Jeremey Sailes waited nearly 14 hours in line on Thursday, Nov. 18 to be the first to see “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows,” premiere at midnight. Sailes said he had been waiting for this moment “for a long, long time before they ever started making the movies.” He arrived outside of the Hollywood Theaters North star 14 at 10:30 a.m. and was the first in line for the midnight showing. By noon, he was joined by a half-dozen comrades and by 3:15 p.m., there were more than a dozen people in line with sleeping bags and blankets, reading “Harry Potter” books, and playing card games.


I really want to see this movie too! I’m a bit jealous that I didn’t get to go see the midnight premier since I have been waiting to see this movie for a while but I will see it soon and I can’t wait! I hope the movie will be better than the last one.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x1897757646/Fans-line-up-for-latest-Harry-Potter-magic

Missouri panel studies Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia

November 17, 2010

In Jefferson, MO, a state report on Alzheimer’s disease was released Tuesday recommends that Missouri should focus on diagnosing cases early, making services available, and improve training for first responders and health care workers. Officials have estimated that more than 110,000 Missouri residents have Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia, though that number is expected to increase to more than 130,000 in the next 15 years because people are living longer. The state recommends work to increase public attention and promote efforts to detect Alzheimer’s disease sooner. They also recommend improving the available information on the disorder and urge the state to ensure adequate training for health care workers and first responders in handling people with dementia.


I think this is a very good idea because Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease and I have experienced many cases working in different nursing homes. There is medicine for this disease but it only helps by preventing the disease from progressing. It’s sad how the disease makes people loss their minds and puts them back to a young age dwelling on things from the past or things that are just not real. I hope they find a cure or at least make medicine that will prevent people from getting Alzheimer, if they take it at an early age.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x1607700778/Missouri-panel-studies-Alzheimer-s-disease-dementia

Wichita police say grenade was rigged to explode

November 17, 2010
In Wichita, KS, police found a World War II-era grenade in an alley behind a bakery and was rigged to explode. Investigators say there’s no evidence that the Sara Lee bakery was targeted and are trying to figure out who left the grenade in the alley, and why. A bakery employee found the pineapple-style grenade around 8 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16 and the Wichita Bomb Squad was called ASAP to detonate the device. Police said the live grenade could have caused damage if it had exploded and are asking the public’s help in finding out how the device ended up in the alley.


Wow that’s scary that someone would put a rigged grenade in a random alley! That could have seriously hurt someone or even worse kill an innocent person. There are crazy people in this world and obviously that person who rigged that device is dangerous.


http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x355876956/Wichita-police-say-grenade-was-rigged-to-explode 

New York man arrested in death of missing college student

Steven Pieper, who had a relationship with college student Jenni-Lyn Watson, was charged on Saturday with second-degree murder after the discovery of her body in Syracuse, New York. Authorities held a massive manhunt for the dance major, which has been missing since November 19. The discovery of what are believed to be her remains was found at 10:30 a.m. in Clay Central Park in North Syracuse. Pieper, 21, and Watson, 20, had dated on and off for 18 month. The indication leading up to the murder is believed that Watson desired their relationship to end in early October but apparently that message didn't get through to Pieper. Authorities said Watson was killed in her Liverpool home on the morning of November 19. Authorities later found her body dumped in a heavily wooded area a couple miles away. They believe that someone tried to conceal the body, but instead of finding the body buried, it was found behind a utility shed. Pieper is alleged to have been at Watson’s home on the morning of her disappearance and is believed to be the last to have seen her. He has been interviewed twice, but he has denied any involvement. Pieper has pleaded not guilty and will be held without bail.

It’s terrible that this girl’s life has been taken away at a young age, because of her jealous boyfriend. I think one of the scariest things in this world is how most people cannot be trusted now a days but it’s an unexpected action to have done by a love one. I hope whoever is guilty for this murder will pay for their actions and the victim’s family will get their justice.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/11/27/new.york.missing.student/index.html?npt=NP1

Oklahoma flu season has killed 1, sent 30 to hospital

In Tulsa, Ok, the flu has caused one death since September 1^st and has sent at least 30 people to the hospital. Last year there were 47 deaths in Oklahoma and 1,300 hospitalizations due to the flu. The health officials said there is some influenza going around in Oklahoma, but it the virus is low levels now. Influenza symptoms begin suddenly and typically include a fever of 100 degrees or higher, chills, headache, sore throat, cough, extreme fatigue and body aches. Most who contract the flu recover in one to two weeks, but some may develop pneumonia, or other potentially life-threatening complications. To avoid catching the flu you should avoid close contact with people who are sick, keep your hands clean, properly cover your cough, and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth because germs can be spread that way. To also prevent the spread of the illness is to get a flu shot urged by health officials.

I’m glad that I have my flu shot because I do not want to be sick this year. Last year I was so sick from the flu I couldn’t get out of bed for days. I hope everyone gets their flu shots or at least try to prevent from getting sick because the spread of the disease is becoming dangerous to others.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x1199045048/Oklahoma-flu-season-has-killed-1-sent-30-to-hospital

Joplin firefighter appeals firing in DWI case

A Joplin firefighter was fired in August after he was ticketed for driving while intoxicated, but he wants his job back. Jeff Lawless has appealed his termination to the city’s personnel board and held a hearing on the case Tuesday. In August, Lawless rear-ended a car while driving on Main Street near 32nd Street. The wreck caused little damage and no injuries but resulted in Lawless being tested for DWI. Lawless testified on Tuesday that he drank several beers, which he estimated to have 5 to 9 cans, while working on a car with a friend between noon and 6:45 p.m. after he had gotten off work. He said he did not feel impaired to drive on his way to buy some food at a fast-food restaurant. Lawless said that two other firefighters who were charged with DWI this year were not fired.


I think this guy was treated unfairly because he was off the clock while this happened, so his job had no right to fire him. Everyone makes mistakes, but a job should not fire someone for a DWI charge unless it’s done on the job or that person has gotten to many charges. If two other fire fighters have had the same charges and did not get fired, then Lawless should get his job back.
http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x713538421/Joplin-firefighter-appeals-firing-in-DWI-case

Attorney admits he made racial comment in court

A Joplin attorney, Tom Mann has been fired as the city’s public defender because he admitted in a letter to the City Council that he made a racial comment in open court. Mann sent a letter to the Joplin City Council and was obtained by The Globe through a request filed by the state’s Sunshine Law after city officials last week said it was a closed record because it pertains to a personnel issue. The letter has been reprimanded four previous times for inappropriate comments in court. The council voted 7-2 on November 1^st to ask Mann to resign after a closed meeting was held citing the personnel issue. On November 15^th the council held a discussion during an informal meeting about how to proceed with the hiring of a new public defender and the existence of the letter was also discussed at that meeting too.

As an attorney, you should watch what you say because anything can be offensive to a client and it is inappropriate to make such a comment in court, especially coming from a public offender, but I also don’t think it’s right to announce the personal issue in the news paper to make a attorney look bad, since he is a college teacher too.
http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x20123496/Attorney-admits-he-made-racial-comment-in-court

Toddler pricked by contaminated needles

A three year old girl, Hailey Rodriguez from New York was accidently pricked by contaminated needles on the floor at the Monteflore Medical Pavilion in the Bronx. Her mother heard screaming and crying from the examination room and her mother asked what happened, she lifted up her dress, her stomach and hand were bleeding. She pointed to the bin that was on the floor and the top wasn’t securely on, the opening where needles are placed was broken, which was filled with uncapped. Hailey is at risk for HIV infection and hepatitis and she is taking a drug cocktail for preventative treatment that takes six months to find the prognosis.

I think it’s terrible that little girl has to go through that kind of treatment because someone must have not been paying attention. I wonder how she even got a hold of the sharps container on the floor and why was she left alone at the clinic? But I hope the little girl gets better and will not have HIV after the treatments are finished.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/10/22/us.child.needles/index.html?hpt=T2

Granby man arrested on shooting charges

In Neosho, Mo, William “Willie” Eads, 29, who is thought to have ties to a Southwest Missouri gang was arrested for a connection with a nonfatal shooting. Eads was attending a barbecue at the home and had an altercation with his girlfriend. The 31 year old home owner told police that he started arguing with Eads, who pulled out a pistol and shot the victim in the arm. The victim was treated for injuries including a shattered bone in his forearm. Eads was charged with one count of first degree assault.
I think the Joplin Honkies are nothing but a joke and a racial gang. I hope this man gets what he deserves because it’s wrong and stupid to be going around shooting and torturing people. Something should be done about the problems with the Honkies, since I been hearing about them on the news here lately.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x847472456/Granby-man-arrested-on-shooting-charges

Woman found dead in college bathroom

On Thursday, investigators were searching for a husband of a 19 year old woman found dead in the bathroom of a California college. The woman was found Tuesday night in the men’s restroom at the San Diego Community College, but authorities did not say how she was killed. In the past she has went to the police with domestic violence allegations against her husband, Armando Gabriel Perez, who is considered a person of interest.

Wow! I can’t believe that a woman was killed in a public restroom of a college. I can’t believe that no one heard or seen anything, but it’s terrible how that woman’s life has been taken when she probably had so many goals and desires, especially for how young she was.

Georgia clamps down on illegal immigrants in colleges

Georgia public colleges has passed new policies to prevent illegal immigrants from attending high demand schools and from being admitted ahead of legally and academically qualified at the rest the state’s public institutions. The State Board also approved legal penalties for providing incorrect information on any tuition-related forms. The new tuition policy will take effect in fall of 2011, so Georgia can strengthen their colleges by classifying the students properly. Illegal immigrants will not be able to attend the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, the Medical College of Georgia, Georgia State University, and Georgia College & State University, which all have already turned students away.

I think this is a good idea because it’s not fair for people, who are legal to compete against students that are illegal. I know there are other countries that are not provided with the greatest education and immigrant students do deserve to experience a good education, but they should enter our country by obeying the laws legally, because it’s not fair for people who are legal citizen that works just as hard.

Prosecutor files charges in beating and robbery of man

The Jasper County prosecutor’s office has filed a robbery charge against a man named Joe D. Summers, 32, who was arrested on Saturday for beating and the robbery of Anthony Loeffler, 25, at a homeless camp along railroad tracks near West 7th Street in Joplin. Loeffler told the police that he was jumped by two men at the campsite; they stole his tobacco, alcohol, and knife. Summers was charged with second-degree robbery.

I think it’s terrible that some men beat and robbed a homeless man. Just because the young man is homeless gives no reason for someone to bully him, it’s very immature and cruel of Mr. Summers for what he did and should be punished for his actions.

How a cell phone picture led to girl's suicide

Hope Witsell, age 13, struggled in middle school by being bullied. Her school in Ruskin, Florida, was challenging for Hope because fellow students would walk up to her and call her “slut”, “whore”, and would sometimes call her a “skank” just to be really cruel to her. Other times her friends would have to surround her because people would come by and try to hit or push her into lockers. Hope had a sexted picture of her breasts to her boyfriend and another girl from the same school got her hands on the photo and had sent it to students at six different schools in the area. Because of the photo Hope had become a target for 11, 12, and 13 years old bullies. Bullies also started a “Hope Hater Page” on MySpace and wrote horrible things, the taunting became worse. On Saturday, September 12, 2009, after spending the day with her family, that night her mother found Hope dead and tried to start CPR immediately, but it was too late. She had used her favorite scarves to hang herself from her canopy bed. After hopes death, her mother learned that her daughter was summoned to meet with a school social worker because there was a concern that Hope was trying to hurt herself. The school never cared to contact the parents to warn them about Hope and about her possibly harming herself.

I think it’s terrible that this happened to this girl and how students picked on her just to be mean. I can’t believe kids would just write horrible things about her on a MySpace hater page, the school should have looked more into this and should have done something about it sooner than let it go on for a long time. Hope suffered throughout school for no reason and she sounds like she was a very good girl that made some mistakes like any other teenager would do. I think the kids that picked on her should be definitely punished for what they did to this poor girl. She can’t live her life no more because of mean kids that think it’s funny to bully someone; I hope that these kids feel terrible for what they did by driving someone to kill themselve. I also think the parents should sue the school for not calling the parents about the problems Hope had to face.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/10/07/hope.witsells.story/index.html

Atlanta Police dispute “most dangerous neighborhoods lists”

In Atlanta, Georgia four neighborhoods are part of the 25 most dangerous in the United States. Atlanta is in the position 5, 7, 17, and 22 on the list and one of the neighborhoods is within walking distance of CNN’s world headquarters. APD says they will not dispute that there are neighborhoods in Atlanta that experience more crimes than others for a variety of factors. They stated that they take fighting crimes seriously, and do not believe it can be reduced to headlines about dangerous neighborhoods based on potentially flawed methodology.

I think Atlanta police department should not dispute about the neighborhoods problems because it keeps the news out of the way so they can try to better the neighborhoods from violence and crimes. Discussing about the dangerous neighborhoods would give Atlanta a bad reputation for violence so that’s probably one reason the Police department doesn’t want it to go public.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/06/atlanta-police-dispute-most-dangerous-neighborhoods-list/

Settlement reached in I-44 turnpike crash case

In Norman, Ok a civil lawsuit over an Oklahoma turnpike collision has killed 10 people and was settled for $62.7 million. Eight of the victims were covered by a settlement on Wednesday and two other victim’s family members received an earlier settlement. One case that was part of the lawsuit was 77- year old Donald Creed, slammed his tractor trailer into vehicles that had stopped for a previous accident on the Will Rogers Turnpike on June 26, 2009.

It’s a good thing Oklahoma has this lawsuit because they might do something with their turnpikes, since they can be very dangerous. Most turnpikes are really curvy and very steep to were you have to go very slow around them or it’s also dangerous to try to get back on the High ways after paying toll. I have seen a few bad accidents on Tulsa turnpikes so hopefully they can find a way to make them safer.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x1274849640/Settlement-reached-in-I-44-turnpike-crash-case

Carthage man faces charge in attempted robbery at store

In Carthage, Mo, Calvin F. Wallis, age25, has been charged with an attempted robbery of a convenience store. He attempted the robbery about 11:50 p.m. Friday at the Snak-Atak . He walked into the store and demanded money from the cashier, but he ran out without obtaining any cash.

I think this guy is stupid for trying to rob a gas station and didn’t end up getting any money. So what was the point of robbing the store! I bet he learned his lesson since he will probably be in even more debt with the $10,000 dollar bond and tickets.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/crime_and_courts/x124780347/Carthage-man-faces-charge-in-attempted-robbery-at-store

Webb City polic searching for man in wake of stabbing

Wednesday, Webb City police were searching for a man suspected of stabbing a Webb City man in the chest. On Jefferson Avenue, Ryan N. Tandy, age 29, was found with a stab wound in the chest. Tandy was taken to St. Johnson’s hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. That following morning, he noticed a garage door open and went to examine it. That is when he encountered a man with a knife trying to steal an air compressor from the garage. Police are looking for a man in his early to mid 30’s, he was also wearing a blue baseball cap, a gray shirt with a basket ball on front, and jean shorts.

I think it’s terrible how Mr. Tandy was stabbed by somebody, who was stealing his stuff. That would be terrifying if that happened to me, since it could happen to anyone. I hope this man is found because he is very dangerous for others.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/crime_and_courts/x535473591/Webb-City-polic-searching-for-man-in-wake-of-stabbing

Lions’ football player killed in car wreck

On Monday a Missouri Southern running back, Renard Johnson was killed in a car accident on Will Rogers Turnpike in Ottawa County on his way back home to Tulsa. On the scene he was pronounced dead due to not wearing a seat belt. Johnson was on his way home to see his girlfriend and newly born son.  He was a really nice young man and a tremendous competitor.   

His death really affected me even though I did not know him personally. To know that someone that goes to school with me lost his life and left a family behind breaks my heart. It has definitely made me rethink about putting a seatbelt on every time I get in my car. I am very sorry to his family and friends but it has thought me a life saving lesson.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/sports/x212178276/Lions-Johnson-killed-in-car-wreck

My Busy Day

Today is Thursday, September 23, 2010 and it has been a very busy day for me. I had three different tests in Theatre Appreciation, Fitness and Wellness, and Biology but I think I passed with good grades. After going to school from 8 to 2, I had to come to work, but at least I got to work on the assisted living. Work is still busy and I have been running like crazy, since I ‘m the only aide on the station, but it’s better than being on the skilled side of the nursing home. This place sometimes makes me want to pull my hair out from all the stress and other days I have a fun time working, but those are the easier and more relaxed days that are mostly only on Sundays. I think today is a good day for me and I got my work done a couple hours early, so I had a little time to get some homework done.

Study backs new heart valve without cracking chest

A new way to thread in an artificial aortic valve without cracking someone’s chest was introduced in Washington. The aortic valve is for people that are older but are too frail to survive a surgery and also could improve the chances for patients who are very ill to live at least a year because they have no other treatment options. The Transcatheter aortic valve was manufactured by Edwards Life science Corporation and has already been sold in Europe. The valve is placed by threading it through a leg artery up to the heart and is propped open. Doctors has saved a life for every five patients treated and most patients have felt better, move better, and enjoy more quality of life. Standard heart valve replacement costs up to $50,000, but the Transcatheter valve will cost between $20,000 to $30,000 in order to bring lower hospital bills.

I think this is a very good idea because this opens the door to a new treatment and many more to come. This treatment will be so much cheaper for people that cannot afford medical bills and plus more people are more likely to live longer. It’s best for patients not having to worry about the risk of surgery; it just makes them feel more comfortable and relaxed knowing that they don’t have a long and painful procedure.

Japan denies Paris Hilton entry after drug case

In Narita, Japan, the star Paris Hilton was denied to enter into Japan two days after she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drug charge in Las Vegas. Their strict immigration laws deny entrance into the country to people convicted of drug offense. Other stars that have also been denied entrance into Japan are soccer icon Diego Maradona was banned during the 2002 World Cup finals for past drug offenses, the Rolling Stones, and Paul McCartney was arrested for marijuana possession upon arrival at Narita airport in the 1980’s. They were eventually allowed back but had to wait months or years depending on their charges.

I thought our immigration laws were strict but I would never think that other countries could deny a person over drug charges, especially if they were not convicted in that country. Stars are probably the ones that are more enforced because their personal business is always announced all over the world, so Japan is probably trying to keep a good reputation.

http://www.bostonherald.com/track/celebrity/view.bg?articleid=1283325

Dance clubs owner charged with stealing from partner

In Joplin, Mo, a dispute between club owners of three dance clubs in Joplin has led to theft charges being filed against one of them and his girlfriend. Daniel W. Graves, 48 and Bridgette A. Lewis, 38 has felony theft charges because they were being accused of stealing more than $ 15,000 of the proceeds from Guitars. Graves and Zimmerman are co-owners of Guitars, Club 502, and Jukebox but Zimmerman had to file a suit against Graves. Mr. Graves allegedly diverted $70,306 of corporate proceeds or disbursements for his own benefit.  Graves has denied the allegations in court records and filed a counter claim alleging that Zimmerman caused the assists.

Sounds like they are very unprofessional of how they handle their businesses and let money get to their heads!

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x1561142889/Dance-clubs-owner-charged-with-stealing-from-partner

Lamar man charged with bank robbery

In Lamar, Mo, a Lamar man robbed a Great Southern Bank on Wednesday around 9:30 a.m. Daniel Louis Slotterback, 52, approach the teller and presented a note to a teller reading “Have a Gun Give Your 20-50-100 So No One Will Get Hurt.” The teller provided the robber with $ 1,430 from his drawer, including five $ 20 bait bills that are used to serve as evidence in bank robberies. Around 11:30 a.m. that day, the Missouri State Highway Patrol stopped Slotterback in his green Subaru and placed him under arrest. Slotterback reportedly confessed to the robbery.

It’s a good thing that he was caught, but he might have desperately needed the money so maybe that’s why he did it.  Although it is terrible to commit a robbery, the man should still be punished for what he did and plus he could have put people in danger.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x2064741050/Lamar-man-charged-with-bank-robbery

Odyssey takes crime victim to work with criminals in Joplin

Leah Goins, a woman who lost her mother, Pam Cook, more than 12 years to a drug-addled killing spree that started in Indiana and ended in Illinois. In June of this year, Leah thought it was time to write the man who participated in the murder of her mother on April 1, 1998. Leah was 15 years old and a high school freshman in Indiana when a group of men showed up at her mother’s home and shot her in the head on the front porch. Leah has forgiven Steve Hale years earlier but it has taken some time for her to write him and let him know that she forgives him.

I think it’s good for Mrs. Goins to forgive her mother’s murderer, it will give her a more peaceful life knowing that she made the right choice to forgive Mr. Hale and might be life changing for him to be a better person.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x1561143053/Odyssey-takes-crime-victim-to-work-with-criminals-in-Joplin

Iran must halt woman's death by stoning

Iran women named, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtianti has been convicted of Adultery and for the murder of her husband in the year 2006. Ashtianti gave an interview about a month ago to tell her side of the story, which she told reporters that a man entered her life and fooled her with his words in order to kill her husband. The man was her husband cousin and was the master mind behind the plot of killing Ashtianti’s husband. She said she knew about the idea, but she didn’t take it seriously. The day of her husband’s death, she said, that she went to get medicine for her mother in-law and saw the man there with all his tools, electrical tools, wires, and gloves. The prosecutor of East Azerbaijan Province, Malek Ajdar Sharifi said, “The husband was given an injection to fall asleep by his wife, then the man arrived and put him into the bath with two electrical lines on his body and killed the deceased.” The man who actually killed her husband was later identified and imprisoned for the crime. Ashtianti sentence on the other hand is being reviewed again and her sentencing for complicity in the murder is in process. The sentence was commuted because the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights states from Article 5 that no one should be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

In my opinion about this crime sounds like the women was an accomplice to the murder of her husband. She obviously knew what was going on if the man told her that he would kill his cousin for her and there are obvious signs that he was going to do it by the tools she saw him with. I don’t think the women should be stoned to death because that’s just cruel for a government to punish someone like that, but I do think if she is proven guilty then she should serve time in prison.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/07/07/iftikhar.iran.stoning/index.html?iref=allsearch#fbid=S4ucOIpPXVG&wom=false

Firefighters claim progress against Colorado wildfire

In Boulder, Colorado at least 54 homes have been destroyed by a wildfire and four people are missing. Twenty- four fire trucks, 200 fire fighters, and several aircrafts were used to battle the fire. Colorado Governor, Bill Ritter, declared a state of emergency, when the size of the wildfire doubled. The fire first started at 7,100 acres and then later shrunk to 6,128 acres. The state will be throwing $5 million into the battle to save the forest and homes located around the canyon. Police are investigating the possible causes of this fire and they suspect a vehicle hit and ruptured a propane tank. That’s all the information police have for right now, but at least no injuries have been reported.

I think it’s terrible that all those people lost their homes and the forest that surrounded them. It’s a good thing that the governor declared a state of emergency and threw in $5 million to help the ones, who had to battle the fire and lost everything.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/09/10/colorado.wildfire/index.html?iref=allsearch#fbid=S4ucOIpPXVG&wom=false

Webb City man dies after crash near Mansfield

Donald J. Ehrmantrout, 43, from Webb City, was killed by a single vehicle accident on Friday at 8:35a.m. on U.S. Highway 60 in Wright County about two miles away from Mansfield, MO. The highway patrol said, Ehrmantrout’s vehicle ran off the right side of the road going westbound, crossed the center median, and he was thrown out while the vehicle flipped over. Ehrmantrout was flown by air ambulance to St. Johns Hospital in Springfield, MO and was later pronounced dead.
I think it’s terrible that this man died from a car wreck, but I wonder why he wrecked by himself and what made him lose control of his car? Maybe he was tired or on a control substance, but luckily he didn’t hurt no one else.
http://www.joplinglobe.com/crime_and_courts/x955427970/Webb-City-man-dies-after-crash-near-Mansfield

Mexican shootout leaves 25 suspects dead

In Monterrey, Mexico there was a shoot out between the military and the drug cartel. Thursday, soldiers stormed in a training camp that was set up by drug cartel members from the northern border region. These gang members are known to be very violent and just last week they slaughtered 72 illegal migrants. A spokesman said that soldiers were patrolling the area around noon and came under fire by many gunmen's on a ranch controlled by the Zetas drug cartel but in return the troops fired back killing 25 people. The migrants were found later piled up with their hands tied and blindfolded inside a warehouse on the ranch. The northeastern state will help to identify the victims.

My opinion about this topic is I am shocked! The drug cartels are still bad in Mexico killing innocent victims because the war on drugs. I think it’s terrible that people in Mexico have to fear for their lives and how these gang members have no guilt for killing all these people for entertainment. Situations like this make me grateful for being born in America, so I don’t have to live in fear.

Is Tigers Ex-wife getting $54 million?

Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren divorce could leave Elin a hefty amount of change in her pocket. Tiger could be dishing out $54.5 million in either cash over the next five years, or a form of Tigers property. Documents show that Tiger took out a $54.5 million mortgage on a waterfront property in Florida, which is already owned by him. To the terms of the mortgage, Tiger has to make payments in full by January of 2016. If he cannot or does not make the payments, then his three parcel real estate spread and the mansion goes to Elin stated by one of her six lawyers.

I think Elin deserves the $54.5 million because Tiger was involved in a sex scandal that was posted throughout the news for a long time that must have been an embarrassment for her and the family. Women don’t deserve to be cheated on and Elin has paid her portion of the divorce according to the lawyers.

Medicating Children

In Opelousas, LA, Kyle Warren at 18 months has started taking a daily antipsychotic drug orders from his pediatrician to try to control his severe temper tantrums. The disorders that affect him are autism, bipolar disorder, hyperactivity, insomnia, and oppositional defiant disorder. His daily pill routine is to take antipsychotic risperdal, antidepressant, two sleeping pills, and one pill for attention deficit disorder. The boy has been taking all these medications by the age of 3. The drugs side effects caused Kyle to alter a different personality, sedated him to where he was drooling, and overweight. Today, Kyle is six year old and weaned off his medications. His family agrees that Kyle is much better, even though he is rambunctious but he is making remarkable progress and in school he is scoring higher on tests.

My view on this story is that I think children should not have to rely on medication to function on a daily basis. Doctors put children on medications so they can be controlled but any child is going have a lot of energy and going to be rambunctious. Yes children can also be aggressive but parents that can't handle their kids desperately take them to the doctor for help. Medication is just a simple solution for a complex problem that doctors use as an easy way to get them out of their hair.

Taylor's 1st blog

Hi! I am Taylor McGaugh from Joplin, MO and I am 19 years old. I am a freshman and my major is Nursing. I spend most of my time hanging out with friends, playing outdoor sports, camping, working, and going to concerts. My job is a CNA at a nursing home and I hope soon that I will have a job at the hospital, so I can get more experience before I start nursing school.