You've no doubt heard of the Isle of Wight, the Isle of Skye and the Shetland Islands.

But there's an island much, much closer to London that to those who live there is just as beautiful as any of them.

There's every chance you'll have never heard of Foulness Island, however, and that's probably because visiting really isn't that simple.

It's probably Essex's best kept secret and only a few miles from the busy seaside resort of Southend.

However, it is owned by the Ministry of Defence and as it is used for weapons testing there are strict rules around who can visit, when they can visit and where on the island they can go.

There is a network of footpaths and bridleways that cross the island that are open to the public.

But if red flags are flying that means the island's weapons testing range is active and you are not welcome.

If they are lowered you are good to go but even then there's another major obstacle to worry about.

The Broomway, a sea path which connects the village of Great Wakering to Foulness Island, is reported to be the deadliest footpath in Britain.

It is only walkable at low tide and over its 600-year history, is reputed to have claimed the lives of 100 people.

Author Robert Macfarlane, in his book The Old Ways says that 66 of the victims are buried in Little Foulness churchyard, but the rest of the bodies were never found.

The majority of the deaths were attributed to people being overly optimistic in their ability to traverse the three-hour walk before the tide came in.

But as well as drowning, other victims are said to have got lost in poor weather or become stuck in the quick sand. If you do want to cross it you are advised to go with a guide.

Don't let all of this put you off visiting, though.

The island is 6,000 acres of scrub and marshland, and is a paradise for bird watchers and nature lovers in general.

About 150 people live on the island but there's no supermarket and the islands pub, George and the Dragon, shut in 2007.

Even without a pub it is still a blissful life for many of those that live there.

Earlier this year, local resident Mary Reeve told the Echo : "Weve been here about 22 years. Its secluded and we are surrounded by water and countryside, two things we love.

"Its like something out of a story book, we have chickens and horses and dont need for anything."

One major draw for anyone who moves to Foulness is that crime is almost non-existent.

The island is guarded 24 hours a day by the Ministry of Defence so some residents reputedly feel comfortable leaving homes and cars unlocked.

Local councillor Neil Hookway told the Echo that life on the island has barely changed for decades.

He said: "Its special as its MoD land and has a certain amount of protection due to that.

"Its somewhere people want to move to.

"Its so peaceful and quiet and so there is no real crime with the security there."

Due to the weapons testing - atomic weapons research even took place here in the 1950s - public access is limited and visitors must have a legitimate reason to enter the island.

There's a heritage centre on the island which is open on the first Sunday of the month between April and October, which you don't need permission to visit.

To gain access to the residential areas of the island there's a main road but visitors must either have official business (such as postal deliveries) or must be "sponsored" by a Foulness resident.

Unannounced recreational visitors will not be admitted unless they are visiting the heritage centre.

Those public footpaths can be used, though, as long as the red flags aren't flying. Just remember deviating off those paths is a big no no and likely to land you in a spot of bother.

So if you are planning a visit it's probably not best to do it on a whim, as you are likely to be turned away.

But plan it properly and it will be a spectacular day out like few others.

On the east coast of Essex, the island is separated from the mainland by narrow creeks.

Its residents live in the settlements of Churchend and Courtsend at the north end of the island.

Predominantly farmland, it is protected from the sea by a sea wall and is an internationally important site for migrating and breeding birds, including avocets.

During the North Sea flood of 1953, almost the entire island was flooded, and two people died.

Surrounded by the River Crouch and River Roach, plus the North Sea, Foulness has working farms, producing wheat, barley, peas and linseed.

After passing numerous red danger signs, barbed wire fences and a security checkpoint just outside Great Wakering, a military built main road takes you over a bridge and on to the island.

Launching towers, satellite dish-topped weather stations, old air raid shelters and rusting warehouses dot the island.

It is wild and bleak but undoubtedly beautiful.

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The beautiful but secretive island not far from London that's almost completely shut off from the world - MyLondon

CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) A man has been charged with felony murder in connection with a shooting on Whitemarsh Island that left a woman dead early Wednesday morning.

The Chatham County Police Department (CCPD) says officers were called to the 100 block of Forestay Court in the Battery Point subdivision just after 4 a.m. When they arrived, they found a deceased female with an apparent gunshot wound.

The victim has been identified as 34-year-old Samantha Sams.

Witnesses on the scene told detectives there was an altercation between Sams and 34-year-old Christopher Hall. Hall and Sams knew each other, and detectives say this was not a random shooting.

Hall was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained during the incident. He was then released and taken to the Chatham County Detention Center.

Hall was charged with aggravated battery on Wednesday. On Thursday, he was also charged with felony murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of an aggravated battery.

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Man charged with murder in Whitemarsh Island shooting that left woman dead - WSAV-TV

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WIVB)The much-anticipated project that could bring a massive Amazon warehouse to Grand Island experienced a see-saw this week when the developer pressed pause on the deal.

Opponents breathed a sigh of relief, while supporters scrambled. That changed again as the week wore on.

But it was a day earlier this week that looked to potentially sink a project that could change the physical and financial face of Grand Island.

News 4 broke the story about the idea that could bring whats now known as Project Olive to this plot of land off Long Road near the Holiday Inn Express.

After what town and other local officials describe as a problematic meeting of the towns planning board, when an attempt was made to vote in opposition to a zone change on the land, the developer pulled back and informed board members the project was on hold.

Town officials, including Grand Island Chamber of Commerce President Eric Fiebelkorn, were relieved to learn it was still moving forward.

We see it really as a once in a lifetime opportunity financially, and something thats going to take some time to work out. This is how deals get done. Nothing gets done in a day, Fiebelkorn said.

The plan calls for a 3.8 million square foot building that would eventually house 1,000 employees for another Amazon distribution hub.

Those are big numbers for the aging infrastructure of Grand Island, particularly the bridges on the north and south ends. But there are other big numbers to consider, Fiebelkorn says.

With a conservative assessment potentially on the building, its going to give the local share 35 million dollars, 25 million of that to the schools, over a 15 year period, he added.

Former Grand Island Town Supervisor Nate McMurray told voters this week Project Olive offers both risk and reward.

And though he says Amazons labor relations and the potential environmental impact should be examined more closely, hes hopeful the town board comes to a supportive conclusion. And that union workers are used to build what could be a five-story center, to decades of future development.

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Plan to put Amazon warehouse on Grand Island back on after town supervisor said project was on pause - WIVB.com - News 4

Vinalhaven residents on Wednesday night shot down a proposal to continue paying the Knox County Sheriffs Office to police their community.

The Courier-Gazette reports that the proposed $125,335 contract was the only item out of 48 on the town meeting warrant to fail.

That comes after residents have complained about ineffective police coverage following a series of high-profile incidents on the island.

In March, the island attracted national attention after a group of armed men allegedly tried to force out-of-staters to quarantine during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic by cutting down a tree to block their driveway.

Then, on June 14, 28-year-old Roger Feltis died from knife wounds. Feltis had filed a harassment complaint with a sheriffs deputy against Dorian Ames three days before his death, which police ruled a homicide. A Knox County grand jury declined to indict Ames in the death earlier this month. Details about the circumstances around Feltis death are still unclear.

Vinalhaven has contracted with the sheriffs office for police coverage for decades, according to the Courier-Gazette. It is one of two towns the other is North Haven that have a dedicated officer, Knox County Sheriff Tim Carroll told the newspaper.

The previous contract with the sheriffs office expired on Dec. 31, 2019.

Vinalhaven Town Manager Andrew Dorr told the Courier-Gazette that residents have questioned the quality of the service, complained about coverage gaps and that the bill for it is too high.

Carroll acknowledged that a bone of contention between the islanders and his office is that a deputy does not live on the island full time. Under the expired contract, the town paid $750 a month for housing and up to $4,500 for heating and electricity for a deputy, the Courier-Gazette reports.

Another town meeting will be scheduled in the coming weeks to discuss police coverage, including options ranging from reviewing the contract with the sheriffs office and starting an island-based police force, according to the newspaper.

Originally posted here:

Vinalhaven residents reject paying county sheriff to continue patrolling the island - Bangor Daily News

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Despite sharp spikes elsewhere in the country, the rate of positive coronavirus (COVID-19) tests remained below 3% on Staten Island for the sixth straight week, data show.

In fact, the percentage of positive tests in the borough over the past seven days decreased from the prior one-week period.

As of Thursday afternoon, 2.56%, or 132 of the 5,159 borough residents who were checked since July 16 have confirmed coronavirus cases, according to the most recent data compiled by GitHub, which is linked to the city Heath Departments web site.

Previously, for the week between July 9 and July 15, the positive test rate was 2.82%.

Over the past month-and-a-half, the lowest positive test rate was 2.36% between June 18 and June 24.

Earlier last month, the rate had been above 3%, specifically, 3.44% from June 4 into June 10.

At the same time, Thursdays data showed the continuing decline in Staten Islands total positive test rate since the pandemics outbreak in March.

Of the 81,673 residents checked thus far, 14,208, or 17.39%, have been infected, the data said.

Last week, 14,076 of the 76,514 Islanders examined through July 15, or 18.39%, had confirmed coronavirus cases.

Overall, the total infection rate is significantly lower than it was three months ago at the pandemics peak.

On April 16, of the 19,174 borough residents checked to that point, 9,108, or 47.5%, had confirmed cases.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

The highest percentage of positive tests remains in two North Shore ZIP codes 10302 and 10303.

ZIP code 10302, which includes Port Richmond and Elm Park, has retained the highest positive rate on Staten Island 21.34%, or 654 of 3,065 residents checked.

But fewer individuals have been tested in that ZIP code compared to all but one other in the borough.

ZIP code 10303, which includes Mariners Harbor, continues to have the second highest rate of confirmed cases 19.51% - or 918 of the 4,706 residents examined.

Third highest was ZIP code 10305 with 1,316 of the 7,274 residents checked testing positive, or 18.09%.

Communities in ZIP code 10305 include Arrochar, Fort Wadsworth, Grasmere, Ocean Breeze, Rosebank, Shore Acres, South Beach, and part of Dongan Hills.

ZIP Code 10304 has the fourth highest rate of confirmed cases.

Residents there were positive 18.04% of the time 1,448 of 8,026 individuals examined

ZIP code 10304 covers a long swath of the East and North shores, including Clifton, Concord, Emerson Hill, Stapleton, Todt Hill and part of Dongan Hills.

While the rate of confirmed cases in ZIP codes 10314 and 10312 are toward the middle of the pack, those two ZIP codes continue to have the greatest number of total cases.

They are two of the boroughs largest ZIP code areas.

In ZIP code 10314, of the 15,769 residents checked, 2,780, or 17.63%, have confirmed cases, said the data.

ZIP code 10314 includes such communities as Bulls Head, Castleton Corners, Graniteville, Meiers Corners, New Springville, Travis, Westerleigh and Willowbrook.

There were 1,600 confirmed cases in ZIP code 10312, which displayed a positive rate of 16.79% for the 9,532 residents examined.

ZIP code 10312 includes Annadale, Arden Heights, Eltingville, Greenridge and Huguenot.

Positive test rates in the remaining communities ranged from 15.92% in ZIP code 10306 to 17.5% in ZIP code 10307.

Residents in ZIP code 10306 had 1,519 positive cases in 9,539 tests.

Included in its area are Egbertville, Grant City, Midland Beach, New Dorp, New Dorp Beach, Oakwood, Richmond, and part of Dongan Hills.

ZIP code 10307, whose residents had tested positive in 406 of 2,320 examinations, contains Tottenville.

ZIP code 10307 has the lowest number of overall documented cases, as well as the fewest number of individuals examined.

Following ZIP codes 10314 and 10312, the highest number of total confirmed coronavirus cases have occurred in residents in zip codes 10306, 10304, 10305, 10301 (1,273 of 7,423), 10303, 10309 (886 of 5,354), 10310 (730 of 4,413), 10308 (678 of 4,252), 10302 and 10307.

DEATHS

Additional data show the disease has claimed the most lives in ZIP codes 10314 and 10304.

As of Thursday afternoon, there had been 203 fatalities in ZIP code 10314 in which the decedent was a confirmed coronavirus case.

That figure marked an increase of one over the past week.

The death total remained slightly lower 182 in ZIP code 10304, which saw no change in the number of reported fatalities from July 16.

The tally does not include probable coronavirus fatalities, which the city has also been tracking daily.

A death is classified as probable if the decedent was a city resident who had no known positive laboratory test for the coronavirus, but the death certificate lists COVID-19 or an equivalent as a cause of death.

A Health Department source said the figures reflect totals as of when they are reported to the agency and not when the deaths occur. All data are preliminary and subject to change.

Below, in descending order, are the number of deaths in confirmed coronavirus cases for the remaining ZIP codes. There was no change from July 16 in any of those areas:

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Positive coronavirus test rates on Staten Island remain low. Check for your ZIP code. - silive.com

AWENDAW S.C. (WCBD) The Awendaw-McClellanville Consolidated Fire District is nearing their date of completion for their newest firehouse, Station No.7. According to Battalion Chief Mike Browers, the dream forthe structure beganabout 7 yearsago.

Battalion Chief Browers said, it all started with their yearly audit after it was discovered that the area of Paradise Island was one of the areas that we were deficient in fire protection. He said after recognizing the weakness, they created a temporary station where a tent was put up. Underneath that tent was a singular unstaffed fire truck.

The structure being put up now is a 4,000 square foot buildingwith multiple pieces of equipment chosen with their surroundings in mind.

We dont have yah know, fire hydrants.Sowe use the pondsand the intercoastal, and whatever water source we can use. So really the technology that we had added to the station is mainly safety features. That would be the extractor and also the vent system that hooks to the firetruck. And we dont have either one of those in any other station that we got.

As for the location, Chief Browers said its able to reaching thepeoplethey want to reach, and the positionnear Half Way CreekRoad could belife-saving.

Weve had several traffic crashes over the years in between steed creek road andGuerinsbridge road on halfway creek road. Several fatality wrecks, its been avery dangerous stretch of road.Sothis, were hoping being on, weve got a station closer to steed creekthis will be down towards the end. Well be able to meet in the middle and cut response times to that areaof our district.

For nowStation 7 answers roughly 1500 calls a year,but with new developments coming to the areait will prove its worth both for now and thefuture.

Despite the usual construction delays that they have had, Station No. 7 should be open to the public and operating by the end of this August or early September.Chief Browers said hes excited to be open for the community, whether its to assist them, or have a cup of coffee.

To stay connected with Cait Przetak, follow her on social media! For Facebook click here, for Twitter click here, and for Instagram click here.

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Station No. 7 nears completion for Paradise Island area - WCBD News 2

PLUM ISLAND Although the City of Newburyport is restricting weekend parking in the public lot at Plum Island Point to residents only until early September, there are at least five private parking lots in the Newbury section of Plum Island open to paid parking by people from out of town.

Licensed private lots are located along Plum Island Turnpike at The Cottage Island Market and next to Surfland, as well as two at the corner of the turnpike and Northern Boulevard.

The small lot adjacent to the beach is for Newbury residents only. There is an additional private lot owned by Blue Inn on the Beach on Fordham Way that also is open to paying visitors.

Newburyport put restrictions in place on the city's public lot at the northern tip of Plum Islandto reduce overcrowding and prevent the spread of COVID-19 on beaches, according to a press release this week.

The restrictions start this weekend and run through Sept. 5-6. Newburyport residents will be able to park in the lot on weekends at the discounted resident rate of $12 per day.

Proof of residency includes an active City of Newburyport resident parking pass; a current city yard waste sticker displayed on the vehicle; or a Plum Island Parking Lot 2020 vehicle sticker.

"This sticker is available at no cost by registering the vehicle in person at the (Newburyport) harbormaster office at 27R Water Street during normal business hours," the statement reads.

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

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Private lots in Newbury on Plum Island open to nonresidents - The Daily News of Newburyport

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the major summer events and early fall events that draw hundreds of thousands of people to Grand Island have been canceled. The latest victim was the Harvest of Harmony parade, canceled Thursday by the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce.

A large part of Grand Islands economy is the reputation it has developed during the years as a destination community. Events ranging from Harvest of Harmony, Husker Harvest Days and the Nebraska State Fair to national livestock shows, national 4-H shows and the annual crane migration have all taken economic hits this year because of COVID-19.

As a destination community, visitors, along with locals, like to eat, drink and dine at many of the communitys restaurants and bars. But due to the health restrictions placed on those establishments because of the virus, they were not allowed to have customers when directed health measures were the most severe. It has been only in the past month that health restrictions have eased, allowing people again to eat and drink out.

A good indicator of how the food and beverage industry in Grand Island is doing is the citys collection of its food and beverage tax from those establishments.

According to Cindy Johnson of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, Junes food and beverage tax revenues were $171,799, compared to $201,786 collected in June 2019. That is a 14.86% decline.

Johnson said that looking at year-to-date figures for this year, the food and beverage tax revenues have been $1.637 million, compared to $1.757 million for the same January-through-June period last year. That is a 6.8% decline.

Revenues, while still down, were significantly better (as a percentage) than April and May, she said.

April and May were when restaurants and bars could not serve customers in their establishments. Many improvised to keep some revenue flowing, especially as the government was paying many of those businesses to keep their employees. They implemented curbside pickups, some had drive-thru windows going and others were delivering food directly to their customers.

Considering the effect the pandemic was having on the communitys businesses, having food and beverage taxes down by less than 7% is a testament of those businesses resiliency, as food supply chains to restaurants were severely disrupted.

Looking at labor force numbers for the Grand Island market area, Johnson said the unemployment rate was 7.6%. Last year, during June, it was 3.3%.

She said that Junes workforce in Grand Island was 44,571 people, of which 41,175 people were employed.

Hall Countys initial unemployment insurance claims dropped to 128 the week of July 18, Johnson said. That compares to the highest initial unemployment insurance claim total of 940 in April.

As the federal COVID-19 relief package (which provided an additional $600 per week in unemployment benefits) and the executive order waiver of requiring work search come to an end (slated for Aug. 1), we expect to see more unemployed individuals return to the workforce, Johnson said.

She also reported that building permits for residential construction so far this year total $12.642 million, with 86 permits. That compares to $12.682 million for 76 permits for the same period last year.

For commercial building permit valuation for January through June, three permits have been issued for a valuation of $4.383 million. Last year, during the same period, there were six permits for $11.62 million in valuations.

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Grand Island food and beverage tax revenues down 7% for the year - Grand Island Independent

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WKBW) All summer long, three-year-old Vivian Budnack of Grand Island sang out these words.

Mr. Cardinal!!! Vivian said.

Her friends and family even proclaiming her as a bird-whisperer.

[She] has gotten this great interest with birds, and she just wants to be friends with them, her mom Rachel Budnack said. She tiptoes all over the backyard, all summer, saying Im Vivy, Im your friend,

Well, on July 15, a bird friend answered her call. A red cardinal.

I love cardinals, Vivy said.

Mom says the cardinal approached her at a picnic table at Sandy Beach. She called over Vivian over and the two chatted for about 10 minutes. Just enough time for mom to capture this photo.

I talked to it and I fed it, Vivan said.

And you know, shes gonna think shes a Disney princess now. Stick out my hand and here comes the bird, mom said laughing.

Vivian says she doesnt always get the chance to come in close contact with a red cardinal, but she always tries.

Yeah and this has been her prayer and her big dream all summer. To be friends with the birds, mom said.

A prayer that has been answered for this new fairy princess. At a time when so many spirits could use a lift.

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Three-year-old Grand Island girl deemed "bird-whisperer" - WKBW-TV

In the middle of its most serious standoff with China in decades, India has deployed Jaguar fighters in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean.

The Indian Air Force (IAF), it is believed, has flown at least 10 Jaguar fighters to the Car Nicobar Air Base in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

This deployment of the fighters, which took place earlier this month, came in conjunction with at least three naval exercises in areas around Andaman and Nicobar Islands over the last few weeks, including two Passex or passage drills with the navies of Japan and the US.

In all probability, the fighters deployed at Car Nicobar are the maritime strike variant of Jaguar, called Jaguar IM. While there is no confirmation, the fighters could be from the Number 6 Squadron 'Dragons based at the Jamnagar Air Force Base in Gujarat.

The first Jaguars (not the maritime variant) of the IAF had landed at the Jamnagar airbase from the United Kingdom this month nearly 40 years ago. While India acquired Jaguars in large numbers, the maritime variant forms a small part of IAF's fleet of Jaguar fighters.

Over the years, the IAF has upgraded its Jaguars to squeeze in new capabilities. The most recent upgrade involved the installation of an active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar manufactured by Israels Elta Systems as part of the Display Attack Ranging Inertial Navigation III (DARIN III) upgrade programme of the IAF. Jaguar was the first fighter in the IAF's fleet to get an AESA radar.

AESA radar gives the Jaguars a new lease of life with the capability to track multiple targets at greater distances, much more accurately than before, and resist jamming.

In other words, Jaguars of the IAF can now track multiple enemy targets in air and on the ground during an operation, and guide missiles towards them while resisting enemys attempt at jamming.

Another upgrade, which came in the form of the integration of the Harpoon missile, has added more lethality to the platform, which some said was fast becoming obsolete.

Equipped with these capabilities, and deployed in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Jaguars of the IAF can prove to be a headache for China accentuate its Malacca Dilemma' if the conflict unfolding in the Himalayas escalates and expands to the maritime domain.

Along with assets of the Indian Navy, the Jaguars will play a vital role in the interdiction of Chinese shipping if India decided to do that in the event of war.

The Malacca Strait, a narrow stretch of water between the Malaya Peninsula in the north and the Indonesian island of Sumatra in the south, is crucial for China. It may not be the only shipping channel connecting the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea, but it is the most viable and widely used one. A large part of global seaborne trade (40 per cent by some accounts), including much of China's imports and exports, passes through the Malacca Strait.

Beijing's dependence on the Malacca Strait can be gauged from the fact that over 80 per cent of its crude oil requirement, a large part of which comes from the Middle East, passes through this narrow channel on its way to ports in China. Much of the ore and minerals it imports from Africa, which is critical for its industry, passes through the Malacca Strait.

In a long drawn out war with the US or India, a blocked Malacca Strait, if it lasts long enough, can starve China of resources critical for its industry.

Additionally, if China, in the event of war with India, decided to deploy its naval assets in the Indian Ocean region, maintaining supply lines through the Malacca Strait will prove difficult with the presence of Indian Navy warships and fighters of the IAF deployed in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. India can interdict these supply lines, forcing Chinese assets to depend on its limited bases in the Indian Ocean.

Equipped with the 124-km-range Harpoon anti-ship missiles, the Jaguars flying from Car Nicobar can target enemy ships exiting the Malacca Strait and moving towards Andaman and Nicobar Islands from standoff ranges.

This scenario, experts say, is unlikely unless the situation escalates drastically and an all out war breaks out. And in the current situation, the deployment of Jaguars in Andaman and Nicobar Islands is mostly aimed at deterring Chinese misadventures in the Indian Ocean region.

The Peoples Liberation Army Navy, over the last decade, has significantly increased its presence in the Indian Ocean. Chinese submarines make regular forays into the Indian Ocean, as do its research vessels studying submarine routes and mapping the ocean floor.

In September last year, the Indian Navy forced out a Chinese research vessel after it entered Indias exclusive economic zone in the Andaman Sea.

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Explained: What The Deployment Of Jaguar Fighters In Andaman And Nicobar Islands Means - Swarajya

Jul 17, 2020 Contact tracers have linked 16 confirmed coronavirus cases in Jefferson County to parties along the St. Lawrence River July 4th weekend.

State and county health officials say theyve contacted more than a hundred people who may be at risk of having COVID-19. Theyre also actively working to identify additional individuals who may have been exposed.

Anyone who attended a large gathering in the Thousand Islands July 4th weekend should get tested immediately, especially if they may not have worn a mask or kept six feet social distance. The state set up a temporary testing center Friday afternoon at the Clayton fire department.

All New Yorkers are reminded that emergency orders banning large social gatherings remain in effect, and people should wear masks in public when they cant stay six feet away from others.

Overall, Jefferson County reported 26 new coronavirus cases in a week, bringing its total to 137 since the start of the pandemic.

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Thousand Islands July 4th parties linked to COVID-19 spike - North Country Public Radio

Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira are names that are synonymous with mixed martial arts. Both men have been fighting in the sport for the better part of two decades.

On Saturday night on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, the two legends will meet for the third and final time as part of UFC on ESPN 14.

Shogun won both of their prior meetings. The first one took place under the Pride FC banner in 2005. The second bout happened in the Octagon at UFC 190 in 2015.

Now, 15 years after their first meeting, they step into the cage again, this being the final fight of Rogerio's illustrious career. Nogueira has announced that he will retire following the bout. But it will also be one of the final fights for the 38-year-old Shogun, who says he believes he has two or three fights left before he also walks away from the sport.

Hear everything Shogun Rua had to say at his UFC on ESPN 14 pre-fight Media Day scrum.

TRENDING > Video: What happened when Jorge Masvidal and Michael Bisping crossed up on UFC Fight Island?

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Mauricio Shogun Rua excited to fight another Legend on UFC Fight Island - Yahoo Sports

The Thousand Islands Land Trust will be extending the temporary closure of Potters Beach Preserve due to the continued development of COVID-19 case in Clayton and surrounding communities.

The Land Trust did not say when the popular beach, on Grindstone Island, will reopen.

The preserve, which includes trails and a sand beach, is also a popular spot for boaters to moor and swim. Last week Jefferson County officials said multiple people were potentially exposed to coronavirus during a gathering of boats off nearby Picton Island. The beach has been closed since.

The Land Trust will continue to monitor cases.

TILT will be communicating directly with Jefferson County Public Health, along with state and local officials and authorities, the agency stated. TILT will continue to monitor this situation and provide an update once it is deemed safe to reopen. Please note, while this is an unprecedented situation, the health and safety of the River community is of the highest importance to TILT. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding.

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Potters Beach on Grindstone Island to remain closed - NNY360

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Two Staten Island women with ties to a pro-life religious organization were arrested after they allegedly defaced the Black Lives Matter mural outside the Trump Tower in Manhattan, only to be seen on video hours later dumping paint on two other murals in Brooklyn and Harlem.

Bevelyn Beatty, 29, and Edmee Chavannes, 39, both Black residents of Stapleton, were taken into custody after they allegedly smeared black paint across the bright yellow letters which read Black Lives Matter on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, police said.

During the act, which was posted by Beatty on Facebook, she can be heard saying: Black Lives Matter, right? ... For the Black people. This is for the Black people. Theyre destroying business for Black people. Theyre looting for Black people.

No, Beatty says as she dumps black paint onto the mural. No. Were not standing with Black Lives Matter. We want our police. Re-fund our police.

Beatty and Chavannes were both charged with criminal mischief, given desk appearance tickets and released shortly afterwards.

A statement from At the Well Ministries, an organization that has posted videos of Beatty denouncing abortion, said the two women were treated like royalty by cops after their arrests.

This was the BEST experience they have ever had with any police department, the statement read, adding that police expressed their HIGH APPRECIATION for what Bevelyn and Edmee stood up for today.

While responding to the incident, a cop slipped on the paint that was poured on the mural slamming his shoulder and head into the pavement. The statement said the officer is doing very well and fine.

More to come, the statement continued, But we are taking our country back NOW!

An NYPD officer falls during an attempt to detain a protester pouring black paint on the Black Lives Matter mural outside of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Saturday, July 18, 2020. (Associated Press/Yuki Iwamura) AP

A short while later, in the late hours of Saturday night, Beatty posted another video on Facebook entitled, Harlem Drive-by Painting, in which she and others pour paint out of the back of a minivan as it rolls past the Black Lives Matter mural on 7th Avenue and West 125th Street.

Jesus matters, they can be heard saying, as other cars rolled along the Harlem street behind Beatty who was wearing the same outfit she was seen in outside the Trump Tower earlier on Saturday.

Before anything else can matter, Jesus got to matter, Beatty said as she poured the black paint onto the brightly-colored mural.

As the cars crept down the street, an onlooker began accosting the group.

Whats wrong with you? Youre a Black woman, the person can be heard saying. What the f--k is wrong with you? Youre a Black woman.

As the caravan of cars pulls away, empty paint cans can be seen being hurled towards the group.

The NYPD said an investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

However, less than two hours later, Beatty and others were on Fulton Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn early Sunday, video posted to her Facebook page showed.

Jesus matters, we are taking our country back, Beatty said during the video. The police need our help they cant stand alone. Dont just sit by idly and watch your country go to the ground. Stand with your police force, vote for Trump, vote Republican, vote for Christians.

Then, Beatty and another woman splashed paint across the Black Lives Matter mural and used paint rollers to spread it across the letters.

Several people are seen in the video approaching the two women to confront them about defacing the mural. Several verbal encounters quickly became terse.

The group then piled into nearby cars and drove off.

The NYPD said the department is aware of the incident and the investigation remains ongoing.

In a video following the incidents posted on Sunday, Beatty said: We did an all-nighter. Let me tell you something. Yesterday was epic, adding that President Donald Trump needs the American people behind him.

The Daily News reported Beatty and Chavannes were both arrested last month for protesting outside Planned Parenthoods New York headquarters, and were also charged with disorderly conduct in Fort Myers, Florida, when they disrupted a council meeting.

Were Black women, but we do not support Black Lives Matter because theyre hand-in-hand with Planned Parenthood that kills African-American babies, Beatty told Fox News last month. Theyre fraudulent hypocrites...

Black paint from a protester covers part of a Black Lives Matter mural outside of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Saturday, July 18, 2020. (Associated Press/Yuki Iwamura)AP

This is not the first time the Black Lives Matter mural outside the Trump Tower has been defaced.

The NYPD said surveillance video revealed three individuals poured and smeared paint across the midtown-street art on Friday, July 17, just before 4 p.m.

Juliet Germanotta, 39, of Manhattan; Luis Martinez, 44, of Brooklyn; and Morgan DAnna, 25, a Queens resident, were arrested and charged with criminal mischief and released with a desk appearance ticket, the NYPD said in a written statement.

A fourth person, a 64-year-old female, was issued a criminal court summons for illegally posting fliers at the scene, the NYPD said.

Last week, the New York Post reported that a man walked up to the mural and poured red paint over it before fleeing the scene.

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Two Staten Island women charged with defacing Black Lives Matter mural outside Trump Tower - SILive.com

Sources said the decision to pull Project Olive was based on significant pushback from town residents against the project.

Author: James Fink, Business First /Bizjournals.com, WGRZ Staff

Published: 6:10 PM EDT July 20, 2020

Updated: 11:24 PM EDT July 20, 2020

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. Just hours before a Grand Island Town Board meeting to examine a proposed Amazon regional distribution center, developer Trammell Crow Co. pulled the project from the agenda at Amazon's request.

Sources said the decision to pull Project Olive was based on significant pushback from town residents against the project, which was planned for a 146-acre parcel on Long Road owned by Acquest Development of Amherst. The Grand Island Planning Board voted July 13 against the project 3-2.

Sources said Trammell Crow and Amazon are not interested in finding an alternate site in Erie County, and the sources focus might shift to Niagara and Genesee counties in the next few days.

When 2 On Your Side asked if "Project Olive" was pulling out, Grand Island Town Supervisor John Whitney said he was informed by developers the project is "on pause."

During Monday night's Grand Island Town Board meeting property owner Michael Huntress spoke to the board, hoping to encourage them to see the benefits the project would bring the area. Including, the estimated 1,000 jobs and increase in annual tax revenue.

2 On Your Side has reported on the controversial nature of the project. If you drive through neighborhoods near the Long Road property you will see lawn signs protesting the development.

Many neighbors have expressed concerns about the increase in traffic volume with the development.

"You are putting one of the biggest warehouses in the world on an island that you can only get on and off through a couple bridges" said Terry Hildebrandt of Grand Island. "Just because it's on pause right now, it may or may not go away and we should still let our voices be heard that we don't think it's appropriate for Grand Island."

See original here:

Amazon to Grand Island: 'Thanks but no thanks' - WGRZ.com

Jerred Price was elected president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) in February. He recently formed two new committees. One will focus on affordability: helping people with increases in land values and tax increases and keeping Downtown rents affordable. The other will focus on reviving Mud Island Amphitheater.

Price has been a vocal critic of the Mississippi River Parks Partnerships (MRPP) move to redo Tom Lee Park. Price is the administrator of a Facebook group called Save the River Parks and the Festivals.

Group members criticize the state of Mud Island River Park with its weeds, cracks, and holes. In a video that shows all of this (below), the group says its proof the the MRPP has failed our parks. The state of Mud Island in general has many critics calling for MRPP to fix the park first before embarking on the $60 million plan to completely renovate Tom Lee Park.

We caught up with Price recently about the Mud Island committee and his hopes for the one-of-a-kind, 5,000-seat theater. Toby Sells

Memphis Flyer: Why did you get interested in this issue?

Jerred Price: Im a musician. I play Almost Elton John (an Elton John tribute artist) with my band at Lafayettes every month. I started in 2014, playing almost only on Beale Street at Hard Rock Cafe.

Even up until, I think, three or four years ago, they did concerts there. I know Eric Clapton played up there in 2015. Fallout Boy was there recently. Theyve (recently) had about 15 or 16 different bands play there. Theyve had some big names roll in there.

Then, it stopped. I think it stopped because the focus on the rebranded (Riverfront Development Corp. now the MRPP) is not on Mud Island. Its not on promoting it. It's focused on Tom Lee Park. Youll see the timeline of when the concerts stopped and when the Tom Lee Park fundraising initiative began; it matches up.

Then, Mud Island kind of fell into despair. The maintenance out there is horrible and I think that's why the bands don't want to come out there. I understand the logistics trouble. I do. I want that to be very clear, that we understand it's a challenging venue, challenging location.

It is challenging, but it can still work and it did for years and years and years. It's just become not the focus. I think a lot of Downtowners are really disappointed in the condition of it.

I know that, per public record, the city signs a contract every year for MRPP, formerly RDC, to maintain, and manage, and oversee the river parks. I think they get $3 million to $4 million a year from the city of Memphis budget [it was $2.97 million in 2018], but where's the maintenance going? Where's the oversight in [the contract] because if you look at maintenance out there, it looks like the city's not giving them a dime. I mean, it's bad.

I created a post on Facebook a little while back and I threw up (images of amphitheater concepts) for Servicemaster, and AutoZone, and FedEx. What if they took over the naming rights like Renasant Bank with the new convention center? What if they put up the naming rights, and sold it to a corporation, and got investors, and got a new promotion marketing team, and did some upgrades out there? How much could that bring back that theater? Then, [the post] gets shared 1,500 times.

The hotel industry and the restaurant industry, theyd love to have concerts back. Thats 4,000 people coming Downtown. They're going to want to go eat. They're going to need places to stay. They're going to need restaurants and want to go to the bars to hang out.

It's a return on investment. Its more than just about the amphitheater. Its about Downtown. So, when I got elected president this past February of the DNA, I said I'm gonna make it a focus to restore and bring back this beloved amphitheater.

MF: Do you have a timeline for this?

JP: We are basing our timeline on the safety of Downtown and Memphis. We want to make sure that whatever we do is in a timely manner that is safe for everyone together.

But we are going to do the background work of putting it together so we can be able to pull the trigger when they do say we can have concerts. That way, all the legwork is done. Weve got the promotion companies. We've got the artists. We've got the money. We've got the investors to potentially do, maybe, a pop-up concert out there.

MF: To do that, would you have to get permission from the MRPP?

JP: Any event that takes place in a park that's managed by MRPP simply has to be submitted to them with the proper insurance if it's needed or plans for the event. You just kind of have to have an outline presented to them, and then get the permission to do it.

My hope and I hope this makes it into the way you write it, too we hope that we get the support and partnership of MRPP. If their their motto on their website is working ... let me read it for you.

It says, Memphis River Parks Partnerships works with and for the people of Memphis to trigger the transformative power of our river. So, we hope the MRPP will work with and for the people in health resurrecting this beloved amphitheater, and supporting our mission and our committee to do that.

MF: Did we leave anything out or is there anything you want to add?JP: I hope that MRPP will focus more on investing more maintenance dollars in this beloved park. I understand it has its challenges.

But so did many other projects that have recently been completed such as Crosstown Concourse. People said it was nearly impossible to do what they've done there. But it's been done and it's a success and people love it.

I think we need to make sure that we we keep this jewel that sits on the front porch of our city. We need to keep it alive and we need to keep going.

Link:

Group Aims to Revive Mud Island Amphitheater - Memphis Flyer

Looking for the ultimate pandemic-era getaway home safe and secluded, with no need for masks or social distancing? Theres a private island with a rustic log cabin in northern Minnesota thats now on the market for $399,000.

The 2.5-acre island on Farm Lake is on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Accessible only by boat, the island comes with a small parcel of land on the mainland, with a boat lift and dock, where you can park your vehicle, then boat to the island.

You can be from the car to the island in less than five minutes, said co-owner Marcus Andrusko.

The island, with 2,320 feet of shoreline and covered with towering pines, birches, maples and evergreens, is a natural playground for kids, said Andrusko, who, with his wife, Abby, has four.

The good thing about an island is you can release the kids and its safe theyre not going far, Marcus said. Theres also a second, smaller play island a wade away through a shallow channel.

Marcus has deep roots in Minnesotas northern wilderness. My family used to own a resort in that area, he said. I was taken to the BWCA as a 9-month-old baby, and I havent missed a summer yet.

After the resort was taken by the government under eminent domain and made part of the BWCA, the family learned to camp, Marcus said. He eventually started a camp for at-risk youth, taking them into the Boundary Waters, which he ran for 15 years.

We still wanted a place to go our own cabin, he said. He discovered the private island while snowshoeing, looked up the owner and asked if he was interested in selling. He was.

The 546-square-foot log cabin was originally built somewhere else, then reassembled on the island in 1983. It has a main living/dining area with a small kitchen and a wood-burning stove.

Its very cozy, said Abby. There are also two bedrooms. The lone bathroom is an outhouse but its a fancy one, with electricity and a bay window.

Theres also a sauna/bunkhouse on the island, as well as an outdoor shower with hot water. All together, the island can sleep up to eight indoors, plus theres a campsite for tents.

When theyre on the island, the Andruskos spend most of their time enjoying the outdoors kayaking, canoeing, swimming and fishing. Theyre only a short paddle into the BWCA, just minutes from two entry points.

Farm Lake is a good fishing lake, filled with walleye, northerns, crappies and other species, said Marcus. Its also a good swimming lake, with warm water, added Abby.

They also enjoy beautiful sunsets from their west-facing cabin.

The island is about 250 miles north of the Twin Cities, a four-to-five-hour drive. The town of Ely is a 10-minute drive away.

Since buying the property five years ago, the Andruskos have put a metal roof on the cabin and added tongue-and-groove siding inside.

Theyre selling the island and cabin, fully furnished, now only because they co-own it with another family that is relocating to Michigan and wants to sell, said Marcus. We love the place.

Abby Andrusko, 612-581-7787, Keller Williams, has the listing.

Excerpt from:

Private island with log cabin on edge of the BWCA can be yours for $399K - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Joshua Brackenridge after his arrest in 2018.(Photo: Provided/Hamilton County Sheriff's Office)

The man who crashed near Kings Island Monday had stolen his grandmother's car, police say.

It'sthesame grandmother he had previouslyabductedwhile streaminglive on Facebook in 2018, according to court records.

Joshua Brackenridge, 33, will be charged with domestic violence and robbery in Monday's incident, Green Township police said.

Investigators said Brackenridge was driving with his grandmother on Interstate 74 Monday when he began making concerning statements, so she pulled into Mercy West Hospital.

Officers reported that around 8:30 a.m. Brackenridge hit the woman and took her keys, purse and car.

Green Township officers pursued him, but the speeds quickly exceed 100 miles per hour and the chase was called off, officials said.

Police issued an alert to surrounding agencies to be on the lookout for the vehicle, but before anyone found him he crashed along Interstate 71, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol who responded to the crash.

Officials said he fled from that there on foot toward Kings Island.

Mason police said Brackenridge attempted to enter the park, but was quickly apprehended by 11:30 a.m.Both Mason and Green Township police said they do not believe he was armed.

In November 2018, Brackenridge streamed the abduction of his grandmother live on Facebook.

In the video, Brackenridge quotesBible verses and claimedhis family was conspiring against him.

"My family... was trying to use my mental illnesses against me to try to get me to kidnap my grandma and kill her," he said. "But I don't have the heart to kill her."

After his arrest, the court case was delayed while his mental health was assessed, court documents state.

In March 2019, he pleaded guilty to abduction and was sentenced to nine months in prison, according to the documents.

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Records: Man who crashed stolen car near Kings Island had abducted grandmother in 2018 - The Cincinnati Enquirer

Rep. Mike Thompson, D. St. Helena, announced this week that his legislation to transfer control of the Mare Island Naval Cemetery to the Department of Veterans Affairs was included in the National Defense Authorization Act.

This provision allows for the cemetery to be properly repaired and maintained as the final resting place for hundreds of our nations heroes.

Proud that today my legislation to repair and maintain the Mare Island Naval Cemetery was included in a bill funding our nations defense. This will ensure that this national sanctuary can be preserved for generations to come, said Thompson in a news release. This sacred space must be upheld to the highest standards to honor our service members buried there and I will continue working to find every possible solution to get this done for our veterans.

The Mare Island Naval Cemetery has gone through a major restoration over the past year. Many trees that used to surround the cemetery have been removed, as well as a portion of the white picket fence that surrounded it, although portions of the fence will be but back after the drainage system is repaired. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, repairs for the cemetery have been slowed down.

The cemetery is the oldest naval cemetery on the West Coast and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.

It has three Congressional Medal of Honor recipients James Cooney, Alexander Parker and William Halford. Also, Halfords great grandson, Ralph, was on hand at the ceremony and brought a compass that was used by William.

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Thompson bill to transfer control of Mare Island Cemetery included in Defense Funding Legislation - Vallejo Times-Herald

Test MV/Drive-through siteMV HospitalOther/Boards of HealthAquinnahTotalsTotal tests performed50942416497559Total negatives48642326497239Total pending218550273Total confirmed positives12351048Percentage positive of total tests performed.24%1.45%.64%Antibody tests1717Off-Island testsSymptomatic positives33Total Cases (positive tests + antibody tests + symptomatic positives)68 Updated July 21

The Marthas Vineyard Hospital reported no new cases Tuesday morning holding the Islands total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 48.

As of Tuesday, the hospital has tested 2,416 patients. Of those, 2,326 have tested negative and 55 are pending results.

On Monday, two new cases at the hospital marked five confirmed cases in the past week for the hospital. The new cases are a departure from last month, a span of four weeks where the hospital had no new confirmed cases.

On Friday, the Marthas Vineyard boards of health confirmed that 38 of the 48 cases are no longer symptomatic and have been released from isolation. Four cases are still being followed by public health officials, and one case was unable to be contacted.

On Tuesday, Island Health Care set up as TestMV at the Marthas Vineyard Regional High School with the help of Quest Diagnostics and testing asymptomatic individuals confirmed it had tested 5,094 individuals, 12 of whom have tested positive, 4,864 negative, and 218 pending results.

The town of Aquinnah has tested 49 people. Of those, all 49 tests have come back negative and there are no pending results.

The Marthas Vineyard Boards of Health have separately confirmed another positive case, bringing the Islands total confirmed cases to 48.

The boards of health have linked 23 of the confirmed cases to several cases among eight different household groups.

The Marthas Vineyard Hospital, town of Aquinnah, boards of health, and TestMV, the testing site at the Marthas Vineyard Regional High School, each report their own testing numbers. Those numbers are then all compiled by the boards of health. The actual number of cases can be difficult to count due to lag time and overlaps in testing each day.

IHCs website, which compiles numbers reported by each organization, says each positive test does not necessarily represent a newly infected individual.

For example, a positive test reported on July 1, 2020 by Marthas Vineyard Hospital was a second test for an individual who had previously tested positive. The Total Cases number reflects the most current accounting of unique individuals with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 on Marthas Vineyard, the site reads.

Of 48 of the confirmed cases, 28 are female, and 20 are male. Of those, 13 of the cases are aged 50-59 years old, 11 are 20-29 years old, eight cases are 60-69 years old, six are 30-39 years old, five are 20 years old or younger, three are 40-49, and two are 70 years or older.

The boards of health are also reporting on probable cases. As of Monday, the Islands total number of presumed positives rose to 20 with one new probable case. Of those 17 were positive antibody tests, and three were symptomatically positive.

Of the probable cases, 12 are female and eight are male. Of the 19 presumed positive cases, seven are aged 60-69, four are aged 50-59, three are aged 40-49, three are aged 20-29, two are under 20 years old, and one is over the age of 70.

This all comes as Massachusetts is seeing a decline in confirmed cases, deaths, and hospitalizations, but also as the confirmed cases are increasing across the country.

At the state level Tuesday, there were 165 new confirmed cases, bringing the state total to 107,221. There were 17 new deaths which brought the total number of deaths to 8,231. There have been 1,052,369 tests conducted across Massachusetts.

See more here:

Island cases at 48 - Martha's Vineyard Times