Ad hominem (Latin for "to the man" or "to the person"), short for argumentum ad hominem,
is an argumentative strategy whereby an argument is rebutted by
attacking the character, motive, or other attribute of the person making
the argument, or persons associated with the argument, rather than
attacking the substance of the argument itself.
In December 2014, the city made FDP a $4.5 million loan, from the
intergovernmental sewer agreement shared-revenue fund, so Blackwell
could buy out three property owners and show the state he controlled the
property. That allowed him to meet an end-of-year deadline and be
awarded $9 million in state historic tax credits.
The only physical work that was done at Machinery Row during
Blackwell’s ownership was the demolition of the northernmost section of
900 Water St., the larger of the two buildings, and some site cleanup.
On Dec. 16, the city declared Blackwell in default on his loan. Until
Wednesday evening, it was unclear what would happen with the Machinery
Row plan since that occurrence.
Paul Curtin saved the
North Beach Oasis and turned it into a popular profit center for the
City. Lying' John coveted it - took it away from Mr. Curtin and gave it
to his friends!
NOW - with Lying' John gone - "the friends" don't want it anymore.....
So WHAT changed? The kickbacks? The Vig? What goes in and out the back door at Festival Hall?
Hmmmmmm.....
Mar 27, 2017:
RACINE — Fans of Benjamin Beer Co.,
507 Sixth St., are one step closer to enjoying its products under the
summer sun on North Beach.
On
Monday night, the city Finance and Personnel Committee unanimously
approved a proposal, pending a fiscal note before the next City Council
meeting, which would allow Benjamin Beer Co., Inc., to operate the
concession services at the North Beach Bath House, known to many as the
North Beach Oasis.
Kathryn
Kasper, purchasing agent for the city of Racine, said the city put out
two official bid notices and hadn’t heard any responses from anyone.
“It’s
a bit of a tough concession to run, we understand that,” Kasper said
adding Benjamin Beer Co. approached the city with an offer. “We felt
that it was a fair proposal.”
If
approved by the City Council, Kasper said the company is willing to pay
the city 15 percent of its revenue made at the facility during the
first year and 20 percent the second year.
In
the past, contracts for vendors lasted five years but Kasper said as
the city will be studying the best uses for North Beach as part of the
“North Beach Master Plan,” this contract is for two years.
Mario Lanza (born Alfredo Arnold Cocozza; January 31, 1921 – October 7, 1959) was an American tenor of Italian ancestry, and an actor and Hollywood film star of the late 1940s and the 1950s.
Lanza began studying to be a professional singer at the age of 16. After appearing at the Hollywood Bowl in 1947, Lanza signed a seven-year film contract with Louis B. Mayer, the head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,
who saw his performance and was impressed by his singing. Prior to
that, the adult Lanza had sung only two performances of an opera. The
following year (1948), however, he sang the role of Pinkerton in Puccini's Madama Butterfly in New Orleans.[1]
The title song of his next film, Because You're Mine, was his final million-selling hit song. The song went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. After recording the soundtrack for his next film, The Student Prince, he embarked upon a protracted battle with studio head Dore Schary arising from artistic differences with director Curtis Bernhardt, and was eventually dismissed by MGM.[3]
Lanza was known to be "rebellious, tough, and ambitious."[4] During most of his film career, he suffered from addictions
to overeating and alcohol which had a serious effect on his health and
his relationships with directors, producers and, occasionally, other
cast members. Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper
writes that "his smile, which was as big as his voice, was matched with
the habits of a tiger cub, impossible to housebreak." She adds that he
was the "last of the great romantic performers".[5]
He made three more films before dying of an apparent pulmonary embolism
at the age of 38. At the time of his death in 1959 he was still "the
most famous tenor in the world".[6] Author Eleonora Kimmel concludes that Lanza "blazed like a meteor whose light lasts a brief moment in time".[7]
I am so sorry that I am getting this posted so late I was up at 2am with Drew he had to go to work very early today. I went back to bed to just lay down and I fell asleep. Here are your questions.
1) When you go to bed does it take you a long time to fall asleep?
2) Do you feel like at night you just take naps or not?
3) Do you sleep straight through the night?
4) How many hours do sleep at night?
I hope you are staying warm and have a good weekend!
Paul Curtin saved the North Beach Oasis and turned it into a
popular profit center for the City. Lying' John coveted it - took it
away from Mr. Curtin and gave it to his friends!
NOW - with Lying' John gone - "the friends" don't want it anymore.....
So WHAT changed? The kickbacks? The Vig? What goes in and out the back door at Festival Hall?
Hmmmmmm.....
Mar 27, 2017:
RACINE — Fans of Benjamin Beer Co.,
507 Sixth St., are one step closer to enjoying its products under the
summer sun on North Beach.
On
Monday night, the city Finance and Personnel Committee unanimously
approved a proposal, pending a fiscal note before the next City Council
meeting, which would allow Benjamin Beer Co., Inc., to operate the
concession services at the North Beach Bath House, known to many as the
North Beach Oasis.
Kathryn
Kasper, purchasing agent for the city of Racine, said the city put out
two official bid notices and hadn’t heard any responses from anyone.
“It’s
a bit of a tough concession to run, we understand that,” Kasper said
adding Benjamin Beer Co. approached the city with an offer. “We felt
that it was a fair proposal.”
If
approved by the City Council, Kasper said the company is willing to pay
the city 15 percent of its revenue made at the facility during the
first year and 20 percent the second year.
In
the past, contracts for vendors lasted five years but Kasper said as
the city will be studying the best uses for North Beach as part of the
“North Beach Master Plan,” this contract is for two years.
About three weeks ago, I removed Norton from my computer with the plan to reinstall it without so many permissions. Norton will take over your computer if you let it. Their headline product, Norton 360, did just that. I've noticed that they've stopped making that horseshit program. I've always gone with Norton Internet Security because it offers many more options and doesn't try to rape your machine.
I renewed my Norton back in June. I remember that as I removed the program from my computer, it stated I had 199 days left. Three weeks later, I go to reinstall my Norton and it says that my subscription has expired. Boy, I got on the telephone to them after that. And, no, my subscription has expired and did so back in June of last year. They claimed I had no Norton products installed on my computer. They say it's been 7 months since I had Norton. WHAT?
This is the (cheap) thing with Norton: they will try to squeeze every last penny out of you. After arguing on the telephone for two days, I told them to stick their fucking program up their asses. Bingo. My Norton products started working with the rest of my subscription showing.
Why in the fuck do they do that? I've been a customer for 20 years and often I have to fight them for my rights. I think what turned this one around was my statement to the customer service rep: "I can't make you do anything, but you and I both know that I have half a year of coverage coming. You know who else knows? God. When you die, God will ask you why you screwed me over a measly $40." Next day, I noticed my security was back up.
County Not Using Tax to Lower Property Tax Levy as Required by State Law
January 3, 2018 – Milwaukee, WI – Yesterday, the
Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty filed suit against Brown
County in state court, alleging that the County’s new Sales and Use Tax
violates state law. The lawsuit is on behalf of the Brown County
Taxpayers Association and a resident of Brown County, and also names the
Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue as a Defendant.
On May 17, 2017, the Brown County Board of Supervisors enacted an
ordinance creating a 0.5% sales and use tax intended to go into effect
on January 1, 2018. The tax will fund $147 million in spending on
projects like a new STEM center, library projects, road works, and
museum exhibits. Based on the County’s 2018 budget, the tax will raise
over $22 million and spend close to $18 million in 2018 alone.
Although Wisconsin law permits counties to impose a “sales and use
tax” of 0.5%, such a tax may only be imposed to reduce the existing
property tax levy imposed by the County. Brown County’s Sales Tax is
not being used to reduce its property tax levy but is instead being used
to evade the County’s levy limit and is therefore void and
unenforceable.
“Brown County has enacted an illegal tax in violation of State law in
order to fund projects that they could not otherwise fund,” said WILL’s
President and General Counsel Rick Esenberg. “By doing so they will
raise the price for all taxed products and services in Brown County,
increase the cost of living, and place an additional burden on vendors
and consumers. We have laws for a reason, and the reason for
Wisconsin’s tax levy limits is to ensure political subdivisions like
Brown County do not have unbounded authority to tax their residents.”
WILL’s complaint for the lawsuit can be found here.
WILL has been on the forefront of challenging illegal taxation and
government spending in Wisconsin, including their successful effort to
prevent Milwaukee from passing the utility costs of the Streetcar
construction on to consumers and their ongoing challenge opposing the
City of Eau Claire’s illegal creation and expansion of Tax Incremental
Districts.
County Not Using Tax to Lower Property Tax Levy as Required by State Law
January 3, 2018 – Milwaukee, WI – Yesterday, the
Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty filed suit against Brown
County in state court, alleging that the County’s new Sales and Use Tax
violates state law. The lawsuit is on behalf of the Brown County
Taxpayers Association and a resident of Brown County, and also names the
Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue as a Defendant.
On May 17, 2017, the Brown County Board of Supervisors enacted an
ordinance creating a 0.5% sales and use tax intended to go into effect
on January 1, 2018. The tax will fund $147 million in spending on
projects like a new STEM center, library projects, road works, and
museum exhibits. Based on the County’s 2018 budget, the tax will raise
over $22 million and spend close to $18 million in 2018 alone.
Although Wisconsin law permits counties to impose a “sales and use
tax” of 0.5%, such a tax may only be imposed to reduce the existing
property tax levy imposed by the County. Brown County’s Sales Tax is
not being used to reduce its property tax levy but is instead being used
to evade the County’s levy limit and is therefore void and
unenforceable.
“Brown County has enacted an illegal tax in violation of State law in
order to fund projects that they could not otherwise fund,” said WILL’s
President and General Counsel Rick Esenberg. “By doing so they will
raise the price for all taxed products and services in Brown County,
increase the cost of living, and place an additional burden on vendors
and consumers. We have laws for a reason, and the reason for
Wisconsin’s tax levy limits is to ensure political subdivisions like
Brown County do not have unbounded authority to tax their residents.”
WILL’s complaint for the lawsuit can be found here.
WILL has been on the forefront of challenging illegal taxation and
government spending in Wisconsin, including their successful effort to
prevent Milwaukee from passing the utility costs of the Streetcar
construction on to consumers and their ongoing challenge opposing the
City of Eau Claire’s illegal creation and expansion of Tax Incremental
Districts.
Please join Cindy and I is JUST SAYING NO to allowing Governor Scott
Walker, Representatives Robin Vos, Cory Mason & MTP President David
DeGroot to violate the Wisconsin Constitution (and their Oath of Office)
by granting special rights to Corporate interests, stealing people’s
property, destroying multi-generational Farms alongside an entire long
established Community, loosening environmental protections, permitting
heavy metals water pollution, instituting slave labor wages, providing
taxpayer subsidies to multi-billionaire Corporations, and politician
overreach.
The full-size carousel at Ella's Deli
may have spun for the last time as the owners of the unique Madison
restaurant announced Wednesday it's closing at the end of the month
unless a buyer steps forward.
The
restaurant on a well-trafficked spot on E. Washington Ave. with the neon
hot air balloon sign beckoning the hungry and the curious for more than
four decades will serve its last bowl of chicken matzo ball soup and
french fried dill pickles on Jan. 31.
But owners Ken and Judy Balkin, who have owned the restaurant for 41 years, hope it doesn't come to that.
"There's
nothing to be sorry about," Ken Balkin said in a phone interview
Wednesday afternoon.
"We're optimistic someone in the community or from
around the state will want to carry on the tradition here."
Customers
don't just eat at Ella's Deli, they're entertained by the cool, retro
gizmos and decorations on every wall, the ceiling and even the
tables. Where else can diners eat burgers and slurp ice cream cones
beneath a giant smiling banana on legs, a life-size robot with
televisions in its stomach and Superman — cape flying — traveling on a
track on the ceiling?
I’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world,
ain’a? So listen, this old year, this time 2017, is practically expired
and again I’m thinking the less said about it the better.
But I will tell you’s I recall that at the beginning of this dying
year I looked back at 2016 and said it had sucked, and my crystal ball
told me to say that the future-2017 would also suck, but even more.
Cripes, I should’ve put my money where my mouth was ’cause if I had, I’d
be living the luxury life on Easy Street and lighting my Pall Malls
with $20 dollar bills, what the fock.
So yeah, the less said about 2017 the better and I’m sticking to it,
this week anyways. But before I go, I got to say once again that if
you’re out and about New Year’s Eve so’s to kick 2017 out the door,
maybe I’ll see you over by the North Shore American Legion Post 331 up
there in Shorewood on Wilson Drive just north of Capitol, 9 p.m. to
midnight with the John Schneider Orchestra, Claire Morkin, MRS. FUN and
some saxophone player, ring-a-ding-ding. It’s a suggested donation of
$15, but as always, if you’d rather drop a grand or two at the door,
there’d be no complaints.
So to the limit of my optimism, it bears repeating that I wish you
all a happy focking New Year, and good luck with that what the fock,
’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.
We are hoping to raise funds for legal expenses to fight the Village of
Mount Pleasant's illegal use of eminent domain laws to take our
brand-new home and give it to Foxconn for free.
On October 4th,
2017, we learned for the first time that Foxconn wanted to build its new
LCD manufacturing plant on our property. Prior to the public
announcement, we had not been contacted by anyone from the Village of
Mount Pleasant, Racine County or Foxconn before the public
announcement. David DeGroot and Jonathan Delagrave told the media that
eminent domain would be used as a last resort. However, the very first
notice we received from the Village was a letter from Claud Lois telling
us they were going to take our property due to widening of the
roadways. When I pointed out that we are no where near the roadways,
they said they now intend to take our property under the Blight Elimination and Slum Clearance Act.
In 2006, the Wisconsin legislature signed into law 2005 Wisconsin Act 233
which prevents unblighted homes from being condemned for purposes
of conveying that property to a private entity. The Village of Mount
Pleasant and its high-priced lawyers are trying to find a way to ignore
that law, even though they have offered our neighbors $50,000 - $82,000
per acre for their farmland. If they succeed, they will render that
law meaningless, not just for us, but for all homeowners in Wisconsin.
They
have said they will pay us fair market value. That amount will not
allow us to rebuild. 1+ acre lots are selling for nearly double what we
paid for ours nine years ago. Plus, new subdivisions require you to
build bigger, more expensive homes. The taxes are much higher and they
have HOA fees. All of those costs would require us to take out a larger
mortgage, which we cannot afford, nor should we have to.
Please
help us send a message to Racine County and the Village of Mount
Pleasant that they cannot bully homeowners and take their property in
order to give it to a multi-billion dollar company. If they or Foxconn
want our property, they have to buy it at our price or leave us alone.
This
has been an extremely stressful situation for me and my family. After
nine years, we were able to build a beautiful home in a quiet rural area
that we love, and which is close to work and family. We have not even
spent one Christmas there and they want to just take it from us even
though the laws say they cannot. https://www.gofundme.com/eminent-domain-abuse-in-wisconsin
Scientists have found strong evidence that 2018 will see a big uptick
in the number of large earthquakes globally. Earth's rotation, as with
many things, is cyclical, slowing down by a few milliseconds per day
then speeding up again.
You and I will never notice this very slight variation in the
rotational speed of Earth. However, we will certainly notice the result,
an increase in the number of severe earthquakes.
Geophysicists are able to measure the rotational speed of Earth
extremely precisely, calculating slight variations on the order of
milliseconds. Now, scientists believe a slowdown of the Earth's rotation is the link to an observed cyclical increase in earthquakes.
To start, the research team of geologists analyzed every earthquake
to occur since 1900 at a magnitude above 7.0. They were looking for
trends in the occurrence of large earthquakes. What they found is that
roughly every 32 years there was an uptick in the number of significant
earthquakes worldwide.
The team was puzzled as to the root cause of this cyclicity in
earthquake rate. They compared it with a number of global historical
datasets and found only one that showed a strong correlation with the
uptick in earthquakes. That correlation was to the slowing down of
Earth's rotation. Specifically, the team noted that around every 25-30
years Earth's rotation began to slow down and that slowdown happened
just before the uptick in earthquakes. The slowing rotation historically
has lasted for 5 years, with the last year triggering an increase in
earthquakes.
Hello, my friends and enemies! How are you? I'm still recovering from the holidays. Sorry I didn't post last week. I was rather "involved" with someone. Santa better not talk Everything is fine until we hit the whiskies. That's blackout city for me. And a headache and nausea upon my reawakening. Lord, I should listen to Mr. OrbsCorbs in this area, but I'm just not ready to give it up. You can have my booze when they pry the bottle from my cold, dead fingers. No, seriously, I don't drink that much. I have a business to run. You can't do that and drunk so heavily.
Did the state make a lotta money off of speeders and drunks/drugged this past weekend? I certainly hope so. As far as I'm concerned, they should let the lawbreakers pay for our highways. And let our prison population build them. We can go right back to the days of slavery.
How about the recent temperatures? I hope this entire winter is not as bitter as it has been. Lord, I loathe the deep cold. When it goes below zero night after night, it does something to my mind. Senor Zanza has referred to it as "the stupid stare," but I know he's only joking. I hope. Junior is finally bundling up a little. What is it with teenagers and their refusal to wear hats? And jackets. But they have plenty of underwear to show. And trip over.
My God, have you seen the one in which not only has the young man 90% of his underwear showing, but they're shit-stained. Does that imply some new meaning to the underwear? I really don't care about this, but you're often "trapped" into looking at someone's underwear. I think a generation ago, our parents would have pulled down the pants, but no more! Legalities cover more and more aspects of life. So we get to stare at stupidity like that.
Hey, how about da Foxconn, ya hey? This promises to be the greatest show on earth, in so many respects. It should provide amusement for years. And court proceedings for even longer. The people who are being forced to sell and move have my sympathies. Remember, we're a free country.
I'll bet you that every type of scam artist known on earth will make an appearance here. We need a "Foxconn cam" to document all of the convulsions and evolution. I'm kind of glad that I'm on the downside of my life cycle. I don't know if I could take the whole show.
Btw, thanks for nothing to lying John and his cronies. The lawsuits are starting to pile up and the taxpayers of Racine have to pay to defend this dirt. If we took him down, would that help?
You can help yourself to my heart anytime. I'm your Madame Zoltar. I love you all.
They say it might warm up a little as the week progresses. Should I get out the sun block? __________________________ Please donate: paypal.me/jgmazelis If you don't like PayPal, send me a note at madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com and I'll send you my street address so you can send a check or money order. Thank you
While already the murder capital of America, it appears law and order is really losing control as The Daily Caller's Anders Hagstrom reports that Chicago residents suffered more carjackings in 2017 than in any other year since at least 2007, new statistics released by the Chicago Police Department (CPD) show. The CPD reported 967 carjackings in 2017 through Dec. 27, a sharp 30 percent increase over 2016’s 682 total, the Chicago Tribune reported Sunday.
The past three years have shown a stark upward trend in car thefts
after eight consecutive years of decline since 2007, when 898 jackings
were reported. The crime rate bottomed out at roughly 300 reports in
2014.
“We constantly look at it, but to just give you a simple answer is difficult,” Chicago
Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told the Tribune. “Sometimes you
can’t predict what these (carjackers) are going to do and how they’re
going to do it.”
The CPD have joined with the FBI to create a carjacking task force, however. They
have reported that one of the most popular carjacking methods is the
“bump and run,” where a driver will lightly rear-end another car only
for his passenger to steal the vehicle when the owner gets out to
inspect the damage. These incidents almost always include the use of force, with
the passenger threatening the owner with a weapon before stepping
driving off in the vehicle.
Six months ago, Randy Bryce took the State of Wisconsin and the nation
by storm when he announced his candidacy to run against Lyin' Paul Ryan
and launched one of the most amazing videos
in this cycle. It struck a chord with almost everybody because it
accurately portrayed Randy as an every day guy - a guy who is
struggling to meet the needs of his families but finding it harder and
harder to do so.
Talking
Racine discusses the complaint filed by Azarian and Olsen former owners
of property at the failed Machinery Row development. The complaint
uncovers fraud, kickbacks, secret accounts and calls developer Rodney
Blackwell the cities straw-man. We bring the perspective down to the
local level to discuss issues that affect our own city of Racine, WI.
Foxconn CEO Terry Gou outfoxxed government officials in India - and left the taxpayers holding the bag.
Might
it happen to the (potentially) greater FOOLS in Wisconsin - Scott
Walker, Johnathan Delagrave, David DeGroot, Robin Vos and Cory Mason?
Only time will tell.
Please join Cindy and I in JUST SAYING NO to allowing Governor Scott
Walker, Representatives Robin Vos, Cory Mason & MTP President David
DeGroot to violate the Wisconsin Constitution (and their Oath of Office)
by granting special rights to Corporate interests, stealing people’s
property, destroying multi-generational Farms alongside an entire long
established Community, loosening environmental protections, permitting
heavy metals water pollution, instituting slave labor wages, providing
taxpayer subsidies to multi-billionaire Corporations, and politician
overreach.
The
City of Racine is now facing at least 2 lawsuits over the Machinery Row
debacle. In the rush to force positive economic growth,
inept/incompetent/malfeasant Political Actors failed to act according
to Statutes, Ordinances, and basic human decency. Thus, the lawsuits and
economic woes are the only thing which continues to grow in Racine.
Will
the rush to welcome Foxconn cause the same problems in MTP? Cindy and I
are certain that it will. Have you ever heard of Maharashtra, India?
Well - google it if you will. Anyways - you will hear about it shortly.
Attached
- for your perusal is a copy of the second Machinery Row Complaint. It
is important that you view it and study it - as it is INSTRUCTIONAL - in
why Bureaucrats MUST follow statutes, ordinances, and basic human
decency.
Who knows? In the future - all the land emptied
and confiscated by MTP to promote a dream of a manufacturing revival in
SE WI might lead to another State Recreation Area - ala Bong Air Force
Base. Cindy and I have decided that this will be the best purpose for
this land - and it shall come to pass.
Once designated to be a jet fighter base, Richard Bong State Recreation Area
is fittingly named after Major Richard I. Bong, a popular WI native who
was America's leading air ace during World War II. The air base was
abandoned three days before concrete was to be poured for a 12,500-foot
runway. Local citizens had the foresight to protect this open space for
future generations.
Tread lightly, and be sure to dot those i's and cross those t's.
A copy of the Olson Complaint is attached for your instruction/study.
RACINE
— A second lawsuit was filed against the City of Racine related to the
derailed Machinery Row development, seeking compensation for property
owners who were displaced because of the project.
The
case, filed Thursday, has nine plaintiffs, most of which are
businesses. They are suing the city and some of its representatives over
the development plan once known as Machinery Row. The project,
announced in 2014, was a $65 million riverfront development proposed by an Iowa developer.
It was expected to be a commercial and residential development in a
20-acre area north of Water Street and east of Marquette Street, but it
was never completed. Racine adopted a new plan for the area in November.
The Journal Times reported earlier this month
that a tenant from one of the involved properties filed a lawsuit in
circuit court against Racine seeking compensation for relocation
expenses, among other alleged damages. A second lawsuit, this time filed
in federal court, makes a variety of requests, including compensation
for property, relocation expenses and damages.
The
plaintiffs are: Richard Olson, Racine Indoor Motocross, Marquette
Warehouse, Marquette Distribution Center, Urban Sustainable Aquaponics,
Riverside Business Center, Sam Azarian & Sons Marina, Azar and
Azarian Wrecking.
Guess where former City of Racine Mayor John Dickert is once yet again?……
Besides making sure that after abandoning resigning the City of Racine Mayoral position he has held since 2009 that the torch would be passed to local Representative Cory Mason so John could take a job with the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities initiative
to silence any opposition to the heavy metals water pollution and
excessive usage of Lake Michigan water which would be incurred by the
proposed massively taxpayer subsidized Foxconn Mega-Manufacturing
facility on Mount Pleasant WI.
The marijuana industry is coming to the rescue of Smith Falls,
Ontario, an old factory town that is experiencing an unlikely
renaissance now that Canopy Growth Corp., Canada’s largest
publicly-traded cannabis producer, has become the town’s largest
private-sector employer.
This summer, Canada will become the second country after Uruguay to
legalize marijuana at the federal level, which has driven a boom in the
local cannabis industry, according to Bloomberg.
Smiths Falls, Ontario - population 8,885 - is seeing a
revival of fortunes since medical marijuana producer Tweed Inc. set up
shop four years ago in an abandoned Hershey Co. chocolate factory. The
company, since renamed Canopy Growth Corp., has become the world’s
largest publicly traded cannabis producer and is the town’s largest
private-sector employer.
For Smith Falls, Canopy’s arrival heralded a boom in younger
people moving to the town, located about 75 kilometers (47 miles)
southwest of Ottawa. There are sometimes bidding wars on homes.
New businesses are arriving. And commercial property is seeing renewed
interest. Canopy, formerly known as Tweed Inc., took over an old Hershey
factory to build a giant growing operation for medical marijuana. How’s
that for symbolism?
In the year that President Donald Trump pulled out of the Paris
accord and downplayed global warming as a security threat, the US
received a harsh reminder of the perils of the rise in the planet’s
temperature: a destructive rash of hurricanes, fires and floods.
According to Bloomberg, the US recorded 15 weather events costing $1 billion or more each through early October, one short of the record 16 in 2011, according
to the federal government’s National Centers for Environmental
Information in Asheville, North Carolina. And that tally doesn’t include
the recent wildfires in southern California, one of which grew to be
the largest fire in state history, according to Bloomberg.
Among the most devastating events were hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria and wildfires in northern California. The
killer storms caused economic losses of more than $210 billion in the
U.S. and across the Caribbean, and about $100 billion in insured
damages, according to Mark Bove, a senior research scientist with Munich Reinsurance America in Princeton, New Jersey.
Five sheriff’s deputies in Colorado were shot, one of them fatally,
while responding to a call about a domestic disturbance on Sunday
morning. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said the deputies
responded to a call from an apartment complex in Highlands Ranch, a few
miles south of Denver, shortly after 5 a.m. Mountain time. The gunman
opened fire, wounding two civilians. The gunman, whom authorities have
not named, was later shot by deputies and is “believed to be dead,” the
sheriff’s office said.
Authorities also have not named the deceased or injured officers, or the
civilians. Deputy Jason Blanchard, spokesman for the sheriff’s office,
said no other information will be released until a news conference at
noon Mountain time.
Area
is fittingly named after Major Richard I. Bong, a popular WI native who
was America's leading air ace during World War II. The air base was
abandoned three days before concrete was to be poured for a 12,500-foot
runway. Local citizens had the foresight to protect this open space for
future generations.
