Americas best craft whiskey is distilled right here in New England.

Sons of Liberty Spirits Co. of South Kingstown, R.I., was named American Craft Producer of the Year last week at Whisky Magazines annual awards ceremony at Brandy Library in New York City, the best of the 1,400 small distillers across the country.

Tiny Sons of Liberty produces but 60,000 bottles per year, and its spirits are available only in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, two factors which made its nations-best distinction all the more improbable.

I thought wed never win because we dont have a national brand, said Michael Reppucci, who founded Sons of Liberty in 2011. This honor shows that the people who are into whiskey and who read publications like Whisky Magazine are involved and have heard of us and respect what we do.

Sons of Liberty has proven an innovator in the spirits industry for pioneering both seasonal whiskeys and the connection between whiskey and beer. Its seasonal whiskeys include Gala Apple, Honey Chamomile and Pumpkin Spice.

Both beer and whiskey, meanwhile, begin life as a mash of malted grains. That liquid is fermented to create beer; that beer is then distilled to create whiskey.

Most distillers simply ignore the relationship. Few consumers know the relationship. Sons of Liberty celebrates the relationship.

The distillers Uprising American single malt is brewed much like a stout, with the deeply roasted malts that give the beer style its famously dark color and roasted flavor. Its then double distilled and aged in charred American oak with toasted French oak.

Battle Cry single malt uses rye and honey malt in the mash, and is then fermented with a Belgian-style Trappist ale yeast, adding to its dark fruit and spice character. Its distilled and aged in charred American oak.

True Born Gin Belgian Wheat Act begins with a brew of barley, wheat and oats. The mixture is then infused with spices and aromatics coriander, juniper, orange peel, lemongrass plus cascade and chinook hops.

Sons of Liberty also creates what Reppucci calls a family tree of products from the same mash.

Were making a stout, then distilling it to make whiskey, then aging the whiskey in oak, then bottling whiskey and aging beer in the same wood used to age the whiskey, Reppucci said. Nobody nationally is doing that. I think efforts like that are why were getting so much attention.

(Sons of Liberty Spirits Co., 1425 Kingstown Road, South Kingstown, R.I., 401-284-4006, http://www.solspirits.com)

Excerpt from:

Sons of Liberty toasted as best craft whiskey distiller in country - Boston Herald

WINDS UP TO 81 MPH DOWN TREES, POWER LINESWindstorm of 2017 | 0:48

What we know Virginia Butler

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Strong winds topple tree into dentist office in Irondequoit. Video by Shawn Dowd Shawn Dowd

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Wind gusts Wednesday afternoon surpassed 80 mph, downing trees and power lines, leaving nearly 100,000 people in the Rochester area without power. Wochit

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High winds knocked down trees and tree limbs and whipping up waves on Lake Ontario. Tina MacIntyre-Yee

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Windstorm of 2017

Wind storm whips Rochester

WATCH: Windstorm of the decade

RAW video: High winds down trees, power lines.

Dec. 27, 1889 Democrat and Chronicle.(Photo: Provided photo)

Wednesday's wind gusts had the Christmas light-bedecked wires swinging wildlyon the downtown Rochester Liberty Pole but at least the whole thing didn't come crashing down.

That's what happened Dec. 26, 1889, in another legendary windstorm. The pole, then made of wood, snapped into three massive fragments, bringing the wires down with it. It was 101 feet in height, 3 feet around at the base and sunken 7 feet into the ground.

It had been tottering throughout the day in heavy wind, according to the next day'sDemocrat and Chronicle. The fire department was called, and a doughty firefighter named John McDermott clambered up the pole and tied a wire around it, hoping to secure it to the Sibley building.

No sooner had McDermott stepped back onto the ladder than: "the lofty pole ... swayed back once to the west and then with a slow lingering motion, while the hundreds of onlookers held their breath, fell obliquely across East Main Street, with the top pointing almost directly up East Avenue."

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A carriage with a driver and two young men stood in the street directly in the pole's downward path, but a piece of it snagged on overhead electric wires and fell astray.

Many of the people gathered around took home splinters of the pole as mementos; the firefighters hauled away a large piece to carve into wooden canes.

That original wooden pole was first installed July 3, 1859, with a finely designed weather vane and ball on the top.

The current, 190-foot steel pole was installed in 1965.

Wind records from the 19th century are spotty, so it's difficult to know how hard the wind was blowing that day in 1889. The website thelibertypole.org pegs it at 72 miles per hour.

Read the full newspaper account here.

JMURPHY7@Gannett.com

Read or Share this story: http://on.rocne.ws/2mGOvRw

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Remember when the wind blew down the Liberty Pole? - Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

New Yorkers were left confused late on Mar. 7 when the lights illuminating the Statue of Liberty turned off for more than an hour. (Editor's note: This video has no sound.) (AP)

Formore than an hour Tuesday night, a cloak of darkness covered Lady Liberty. Some of thelights that normally illuminate the statue went off before 11 p.m., leaving only her still-lit torch and crown visible to most in New York Harbor.

As one Twitter postopined, the timing was just too perfect. Definitely, tweeted another, an ominous sign of the times.

The near-blackout of the universal symbol of freedom was invested with great meaning on the Internet, with a consensus settling, more or less, on two interpretations.

Lady Liberty was either protesting President Trump generally and, more specifically, histravel ban just a day after he signed the revised executive order limiting entry to the United States from six Muslim-majority countries.

Or she was signaling her solidarity with #DayWithoutWoman, a strikescheduled for Wednesdaythat asks women to skip work to show the world what life would be like without them.

Give me your tired your poor your huddled masses but later. Were closed, one tweetsaid.Her lights were out because Trump has plunged our country into darkness,said another.

Ive been wondering how long before France asks @realDonaldTrump for the statue of liberty back as he clearly doesnt respect its symbolism, tweeted Jason Rumble.

Perhaps when her lights came back on, her forearm would display a Nevertheless, she persisted, tattoo, another tweetsuggested.Could it be that Lady Liberty one of the nations most recognizable female figures was participating in the Day Without a Woman?

Indeed, Womens March, organizers of A Day Without a Woman, were quick tothank the statue for standing with the resistance and going dark for the event.

Lady Liberty got the memo, the organizers addedin a tweet. Thats ONE MORE woman America CANNOT do without, another Twitter user wrote.

On the other hand, someone else suggested, perhaps Russian hackers were to blame.

Ultimately, the lights came back on at about midnight and the National Park Service, ever the spoiler, explained what might have happened, stressing that crews had not yet inspected the scene to establish a definitive cause.

The park staff suspected theoutage was related to ongoing work on a new emergency backup generator for Liberty Island, according to Jerry Willis, a public affairs officer for the NPS. To activate the generator a replacement for a generator damaged in Hurricane Sandy in 2012 park staff had prepared fora lighting outage later in the week, Willis told The Washington Post.

Willis suspected that a setting on the timer for the lighting system was changed, moving up theoutage.

Willis insisted it was not in any way related to the Day Without a Woman.

We dont use the lighting system to back any particular cause, he said.

Even after the truth came out, the timely quips continued.Comedian Aparna Nancherla tweeted: Apparently the Statue of Liberty lights went out due to a power failure. But I would argue women are also protesting due to a power failure.

Lady Libertys lights last went off for a prolonged period during Hurricane Sandy, when about 75 percent of the islands 12 acres was underwater, causing serious damage that would keep the island closed for eight months for repairs. Although the statue was unscathed,its lights turned off when the island lost electricity. It was later illuminated by temporary floodlights powered by a generator.

In July 2015, a newlight-emitting diode (LED) lightsystem was installed to do the job.

We know how important it is that she stays lit, so we do our very best to keep it that way, Willis said.

He said that given recent news, the symbol of Lady Liberty has been used quite a bit as of late and is at the forefront of a lot of whats going on in the world.

Last month, activists unfurled a banner with the words Refugees Welcome on the statues observation deck after the Department of Homeland Security began implementing Trumps crackdown on illegal immigration. The sign was removed more than an hour later.

The New Yorkers anniversary issue last month featured Libertys Flameout, a cover image of Lady Liberty lifting up an extinguished torch, in response to the opening weeks of the Trump administration.

It used to be that the Statue of Liberty, and her shining torch, was the vision that welcomed new immigrants. And, at the same time, it was the symbol of American values, said the artist, John W. Tomac. Now it seems that we are turning off the light.

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The Statue of Liberty went dark overnight and the timing was just 'too perfect' - Washington Post

Liberty Property Trust plans to raze the former Support Center for Child Advocates building at 19th and Cherry Streets, part of an assemblage of properties the developer has been acquiring in collaboration with Comcast Corp.

Liberty hopes to begin demolition next month on the two-story building at 120 N. 19th St., John Gatusso, regional director for the Malvern-based developer, said in an interview Tuesday.

The company has no immediate plans to develop the property, he said.

Liberty has acquired much of the block bounded by Cherry and Arch Streets, between 19th and 20th Streets, in arrangement with Comcast. Some have speculated that a third Center City office tower for the entertainment and technology company could be built at the site.

Liberty is nearing completion of the Comcast Techology Center, the company's second Philadelphiaskyscraper,to the southeast of those properties.

Published: March 7, 2017 4:22 PM EST

Over the past year, the Inquirer, the Daily News and Philly.com have uncovered corruption in local and state public offices, shed light on hidden and dangerous environmental risks, and deeply examined the regions growing heroin epidemic. This is indispensable journalism, brought to you by the largest, most experienced newsroom in the region. Fact-based journalism of this caliber isnt cheap. We need your support to keep our talented reporters, editors and photographers holding government accountable, looking out for the public interest, and separating fact from fiction. If you already subscribe, thank you. If not, please consider doing so by clicking on the button below. Subscriptions can be home delivered in print, or digitally read on nearly any mobile device or computer, and start as low as 25 per day. We're thankful for your support in every way.

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Liberty to demolish building on parcels acquired with Comcast - Philly.com

COTTLEVILLE The moment wasnt too big for Kyle Younge.

The Jennings junior guard drove the ball toward the basket and executed a tough scoop shot to give his team a one-point lead with 1:58 left in an intense Class 4 boys basketball sectional against Liberty. It was a lead the Warriors didn't relinquish as they went on to a hard-fought 56-54 win at Francis Howell Central.

These are the moments I live for, said Younge, who led Jennings with 24 points. My team depends on me, so I gotta do what I gotta do.

Jennings (24-4), the No. 6 team in the STLhighschoolsports.com small-schools rankings, advanced to face Parkway Central (21-8) in a Class 4 sectional at 1 p.m. Saturday at Washington High School.

But not before the Warriors got all they wanted from a talented Liberty team that is in just its fourth year of existence and was playing its first sectional.

Theyve got two guys that can get in the paint and theyve got shooters out there. They won 20 games, so I knew they were good, Jennings coach Travis Wallace said. But, I thought our kids battled the adversity, came back and played hard. We just had to be players.

Liberty (21-7), which saw a nine-game winning streak end, got a game-high 25 points from Kaleb Overall, 14 points from fellow junior Jaylen Sims and 10 points from senior Brian Jones.

They just made a couple more plays down the stretch. Give credit to Jennings, Eagles coach Chip Sodemann said. I thought our game plan was solid. I was proud of the way our guys battled. I dont think a lot of people gave us a chance.

Jennings' Terran Jackson (5) moves the ball against Liberty at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Liberty's Kaleb Overall (23) moves the ball under pressure from Jennings at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Jennings' Kyle Younge (10) puts up a shot against Liberty at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Jennings' Latrell Jones (15) puts up a shot under pressure from Liberty at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Jennings' Terran Jackson (5) moves the ball against Liberty at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Jennings' Terran Jackson (5) puts up a shot under pressure from Liberty at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Jennings' Kyle Younge (10) puts up a shot against Liberty at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Liberty's Kaleb Overall (23) moves the ball against Jennings at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Liberty's Jaylen Sims (11) puts up a shot over Jennings at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Jennings' Terran Jackson (5) moves the ball against Liberty at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Liberty's Kaleb Overall (23) moves the ball under pressure from Jennings at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Jennings' Kyle Younge (10) puts up a shot against Liberty at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Jennings' Latrell Jones (15) puts up a shot under pressure from Liberty at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Jennings' Terran Jackson (5) moves the ball against Liberty at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Jennings' Terran Jackson (5) puts up a shot under pressure from Liberty at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Jennings' Kyle Younge (10) puts up a shot against Liberty at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Liberty's Kaleb Overall (23) moves the ball against Jennings at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Liberty's Jaylen Sims (11) puts up a shot over Jennings at Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville, Mo., on March 7, 2017. Michael Gulledge, Special to STLhighschoolsports.com

Liberty fans had a reason to be concerned just 3:26 into the game when Overall hit the deck hard while attempting to block a shot by Jennings Rajea Johnson. Overall appeared to hit his head on the floor and was down for a minute or so, but he returned to the game a little over two minutes later after being checked out.

And after Jennings enjoyed a 15-10 lead after one quarter, Overall went to work in the second.

He scored five points in the first 71 seconds to tie it at 15 and later punctuated the quarter by converting a 3-point play with 23.4 seconds left to give the Eagles a 21-19 lead at halftime.

Hes been our guy all year. Its no secret, Sodemann said. Him and Jaylen are the two guys who carried us.

The lead changed hands seven consecutive possessions in the third quarter. The Eagles finally seized control of the quarter by tallying eight of the final 12 points to take a 41-38 lead into the fourth.

Liberty maintained that lead for the first 6:02 of the quarter until Younge made his game-changing drive to the basket that gave the Warriors the lead for good at 49-48. Its a shot Younge said he practices.

Practice makes perfect, he said. So, whatever you practice you perform in the game.

After a Liberty turnover on the next possession, Younge calmly knocked down a jumper to give Jennings a three-point lead and he added two free throws with 17.4 seconds left to bump the lead to four that provided the winning margin after the Eagles hit a last-second bucket.

Hes been doing big stuff all year, Wallace said his standout When hes on, were on. He opens up everything for everybody else.

Sodemann said: Down the stretch, he just took over the game. And thats what good players do.

Sodemann must now say goodbye to the first group of seniors he and the school have had since he came over from Washington four years ago.

I havent had to do this in four years. One of the hardest things as a coach is to say goodbye to seniors, Sodemann said. Our first couple years on varsity, we were getting thumped pretty good. It would have been easy to quit. But, Im really proud of them for sticking it out. Theyll always be a really special group of kids because they were the first ones to go through.

And Jennings can say hello to an old friend the state quarterfinals.

It will bring back memories, Wallace said. I went to Jennings. I played at Jennings. The last time we went to state (2000), I was the starting point guard. Im looking for an opportunity to go back as a coach.

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Jennings pulls out intense sectional win against Liberty - STLtoday.com

At Liberty Elementary in Canton, the term character education means more than merely putting a weekly word on a bulletin board. For the almost 1,250 students in kindergarten through fifth grades, learning what attributes constitute good character is backed up by classroom discussions, student reflections and the constant encouragement to put those attributes into action each day.

The school adopted a program last spring called #BeKind as a pro-active move against bullying. Students and faculty received #BeKind t-shirts, and kids were challenged to do something kind every day, including during the summer break. Another kick-off in the fall put the program in high gear.

If you stop any kid whos been here more than a week, they can recite the be kind chant, said Principal Doug Knott. Its a simple program with a positive perspective. It almost acts like dominoes: The whole idea is that your kind actions are going to spur on additional kind actions.

The emphasis on character is reinforced during the day, explained Assistant Principal Pam Green.

This is something thats embedded throughout the entire day, and expectations are that teachers give regular reminders to students, she said. We talk about respecting others, inspiring others by being kind, displaying responsible behavior, exhibiting excellence and empathy to be a kind school; thats the challenge we have for ourselves. Empathy in particular can be really hard for kids, especially when theyre little and its all about me. Sometimes we forget that kids are kids and need to be taught proper social skills and manners, which isnt to say the parents dont care because they do. But this approach creates a bigger sense of family.

Part of the #BeKind program challenges each classroom to come up with ways to serve others through outreach projects. A team of fourth and fifth graders brainstorm about activities the school can do, such as collecting stuffed toys for the countys first-responder program or delivering 100 boxes of Valentine wishes to residents of a local senior center. Regular meetings with the student leaders have helped keep the momentum going, said Green.

As simple as it is, the program has made an impact. And it caught the attention of the international nonprofit Character.org that last year earned the school a Promising Practices award. A few weeks ago, the same organization named Liberty a 2017 State School of Character. The honor is just one of 80 given out across the country, and the only one given to a school in Georgia. But what Knott finds most impressive is the way the program has altered the climate in the school.

The way I have seen the change is in interactions, said Knott. The culture of the building from when I got here three years ago is different. It was a fine-running machine, but now its clear theres a focus on character. The staff and parents have embraced character education, too.

Knott is now working to quantify the programs impact by studying the number of discipline referrals. Thats a piece of data well look at to be considered a national school of character, he said. The program is now in its first full year of implementation, with our first anniversary this spring, and I think well see how much things have changed. Just by watching the kids, having conversations with them and doing classroom observations, you get a really clear understanding about how successfully its working.

Information: cherokeek12.net/libertyes.

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Making the Grade: Liberty Elementary students embrace kindness - Atlanta Journal Constitution

WEST LIBERTY, Ohio (WDTN) Sixweeks after the West Liberty-Salem High School shooting, the community is giving thanks to first responders. A special event is planned for this weekend.

Parent Sean Merriman is taking his compassion a step further, showing his appreciation for the people who never hesitate to take action and step into harms way to protect the people who mean the most to us.

To have the community come together as one, Merriman said. And let them know that we appreciate them. Its very common. Its pretty rare so I think theyd appreciate it.

Seth Merriman is the dad to a third and fifth grader at West Liberty-Salem. Back on January 20th, he rushed to the school to be reunited with both of them. Hes thankful for not only the first-responders, but teachers and staff who risked their lives to protect the students, including Assistant Principal Andy McGill who held down 17-year-old Ely Serna until Police arrived.

To have somebody there that cares for your kids just as much as you do and wants to make sure that everyone else is protected as well, Merriman said. Thats a good feeling.

For Merriman, it only made sense to do something to show just how thankful him and hundreds of other parents are for the brave men and women who stepped up that day.

Hopefully the staff of the school and the first responders will appreciate the love, Merriman said. That we have to give.

Merriman is hosting an all-day luncheon, providing food, entertainment and games to the community at the Campaign County Fairgrounds. When he first posted the idea in a local Facebook group, he said it immediately took off.

The outreach that I have had from this is unreal, Merriman said. Theres so many people that are willing to reach out and help.

With a population of just over 1,800 people, Merriman says many people first responders were helping that day werent strangers to them.

He says some officers he knows werent in uniform or on duty that day, but still rushed to the scene that day in their regular clothes.

Thats what theyre calling is, Merriman said. When it comes to fight or flight they fight. Its just in their DNA. Theyre good people.

Merriman says anyone who wants to come is invited. The Appreciation Luncheon is Saturday, March 11th from noon to 5 p.m. at the Champaign County Fairgrounds. He says theyre expected as many as 1,500 people to attend.

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West Liberty to hold special event to honor first responders - WDTN

Forbes

Liberty Media CEO Dismisses NBC Formula One Fee As A 'Popcorn ... Forbes Liberty Media's CEO Greg Maffei has described the estimated $3 million fee paid by NBC to broadcast Formula One in the United States as a popcorn fart, ... Liberty CEO Says Its Unlikely He Will Buy Pandora At Current Price ...Deadline Liberty Media CEO Says He's Not Done Acquiring Assets ...Hollywood Reporter all 4 news articles »

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Liberty Media CEO Dismisses NBC Formula One Fee As A 'Popcorn ... - Forbes

This last presidential election cycle was all about Outsiders. From Bernie Sanders, to Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, they all ran as the outsider candidate. Why? The answer is obvious. People are sick and tired of politicians and the whole political system.

Why are people tired of the system? Because it seems as if politicians lie, waste our hard-earned money on insane programs, and give it away; often to the undeserving. One wonders if they care more about their reelection than the good of the country. Political office, it seems for many, is the quickest way to the good life and personal fortune. No wonder Donald Trump is our president, people were looking for the real Outsider.

Outsiders have always been a breath of political fresh air. Elected officials that run against the political wind, those who dare, even at the expense of their own political good, to stand for constitutional principles and our personal liberties.

Before the title Outsider became part of our national vernacular, there were modern day trailblazers, those who stood against the Establishment. Those who, even though were in the body politic, for the good of the citizenry, fidelity to the Constitution and love of country, were outside. Persons in government who did go along to get along.

One such Outsider, from the Clinton era, was Bob Barr. Congressman Barr was appointed by Ronald Reagan as U. S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. In that capacity, as a Republican, he successfully prosecuted Pat Swindall. Swindall (appropriately named) was a Republican member of the U. S. House of Representatives for Georgias 4th District. He was convicted of perjury.

This did not sit well with other Republicans.

Congressman Barr led the call to impeach then President William Jefferson Clinton. Which as the Washington Post reported at the time, was making the Republican leadership just a tad nervous (Washington Post). He was always an Outsider.

This Outsiders purpose was to serve the people who put him in office, not the political elite. At the time he was calling for the impeachment of President Clinton he quipped, My constituents didnt send me up here to glad-hand and have a good time. They sent me up here to get something done.

As the consummate Outsider, in 2008 Bob ran for President of the United States, not as a Republican, but as the Libertarian candidate.

What does this Outsider do when elected office is behind him? Continue to fight for the rights granted the individual in our beloved Constitution.

Bob Barr practices law and runs Liberty Strategies in Atlanta, Georgia. He has a weekly column published nationally and has served on the board of the NRA since 1997, along with sitting on the board of several other organizations.

Bob also heads Liberty Guard, a non-profit and non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting individual liberty. Liberty Guard has one mission: Protect and Defend Individual Liberty! This has always been Bobs driving passion.

We recognize that life, liberty, and property were granted to us by God, and set forth by our Founding Fathers. Our country was created to protect these freedoms but has lost sight of their fundamental importance in recent years. We seek to correct that and place focus back on these founding principles (Liberty Guard).

Liberty Guard demands a flat tax. They have delivered thousands of petitions to the Congress on a rolling basis.

In 2010 Liberty Guard formed the Opt-Out Alliance. This program was created to protect air travelers from unwarranted screening methods, such as naked body scans.

Currently Liberty Guard is considering the Deep State, the bureaucrats who are imbedded in the government, that are responsible for the leaks undermining the Trump Administration. Not only are these government employees a problem for any administration, that governs contrary to their personal ideologies, but due to the unlimited power they have in the arena of personal data collection and the possibility of misusing the data, they are worrisome to anyone who values their privacy. They literally have the power to destroy the career and reputation of anyone who disagrees with their political views.

Solutions to reining in the Deep State are not readily available. However, under the leadership of Bob Barr, always the champion of privacy, Liberty Guard desires to expose this corruption and offer legal solutions.

Presently Liberty Guard boasts 123,898 members. It has saved $32,000,000 tax dollars and delivered over 1,000,000 petitions.

So, what does this Outsider do when elected office is behind him? Continue to fight for the rights granted the individual in our beloved Constitution.

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Who is Guarding Liberty? - Liberty News Now

Usage-based insurance has been kick-started this year thanks to advances in technology, and Liberty Mutual has taken notice. The company announced upgrades and additions to its UBI portfolio in January, including gamification and driver-feedback components.

Nick Grant. senior director, product technology solutions for the auto insurer, recently spoke with Information Management's sister publication Digital Insurance in on why the company is making big moves now.

Digital Insurance: Why is Liberty Mutual investing more in telematics and UBI now?

Nick Grant: Liberty Mutual is always looking to provide new value to existing and new customers through innovative uses of data and technology. Our new products use innovative technology to help you become a better, safer driver and ultimately worry less on the road.

DI: What have you learned about the UBI customer is the profile of a potential UBI policyholder widening?

Grant: Weve found that more and more consumers are looking for personalized offers, messages, pricing and recommendations from their auto, home or life insurance providers. Using the data compiled from telematics-based apps and products such as ByMile, HighwayHero and RightTrack allow Liberty Mutual Insurance to cater to this desire for personally tailored advice, information and even policies. It also helps foster a positive relationship between Liberty Mutual and their customers, and will hopefully lead to safer roads as well.

DI: How are advances in connected-car technology making UBI more accessible as an option for insurers?

Grant: Traditionally, usage-based insurance programs relied on customers plugging in a device to collect driving data. But with our new mobile offerings, we are able to streamline the evaluation process making it easier for customers to save on their insurance while learning safer driving habits. Our customers will be able to take advantage of these new mobile offerings not just with a plug-in device but with the ease of either downloading an app on their smartphone or using our new tag device that sticks on the windshield giving them multiple options for savings.

The RightTrack app uses both a tag device and a mobile phone. The advantage is that you get the data accuracy from the device with the convenience of the mobile app to provide portal for customers to keep track of how their driving is saving them money on their auto insurance. In addition, Liberty Mutuals HighwayHero app is available to everyone- not just customers- and includes a gamification element allowing drivers to compete for badges of honor and safety ratings. Additionally, Subaru drivers in select states can now access RightTrack through their Subaru Starlink [connected car] systems.

DI: How else is the Internet of Things having an impact on your business? And what does it mean for data protection and privacy?

Grant: Liberty Mutual values and respects our customers privacy. We will not share personally identifiable usage data we collect with any third party except to service our customers auto policies, for research, or as required by law. Inovation is a top priority and we have dedicated, nimble teams constantly evaluating and working on key trends and technologies such as next-generation vehicles and sharing economy that could have future impact on the insurance industry and its customers.

Nathan Golia is editor-in-chief of Digital Insurance. Nathan.Golia@sourcemedia.com

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Why Liberty Mutual is diving deeper on telematics - Information Management

DELPHI, Ind. --Family members of Abigail Williams and Liberty German are expected to make a statement to media for the first time on Thursday.

Neither family has spoken publicly since the girls went missing on February 13. It is unclear which family members will address the media.

The families of both girls toured the Delphi investigation headquarters last week.

While there, Abigail's grandparents made a stop at a board where the community can leave messages for investigators. Their message to police offered prayers and thanks:

Where are the police when you need them? I have uttered these words whenever a speeding or reckless driver nearly runs me or someone else off the road. Where are the police when you need them? They are here, in Delphi, with us. We pray for your protection, and we are forever grateful for your service Diane & Eric (Abbys grandparents)

Libby, 14, andAbby, 13, went missing on February 13 while hiking near the Monon High Bridge. Their bodies were found the next day less than a mile from where they were last seen alive.

RELATED | State Police: 'Please don't spread rumors' in Delphi investigation

The reward for information leading to an arrest in the girls murder hit $219,000 on Monday after significant donations over the past week from local businesses, families, Pat McAfee and Colts' owner Jim Irsay.

If you would like to donate to the reward fund, you can mail a check to the Indiana State Police Alliance, 1415 Shelby Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46203. Put "Delphi Reward" on the memo line of your check

Indiana State Police have released a picture of a suspect, which was taken by Liberty on her cell phone. She also captured the man's voice saying "down the hill." You can listen to that recording below.

Indiana State Police are still encouraging anyone with information on the case, no matter how insignificant, to call the Delphi Homicide Investigation Tip Line at (844) 459-5786 or 1-800-225-5324 (800-Call FBI). Tips can also be emailed toAbbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com. Information can be reported anonymously.

FULL DELPHI COVERAGE |Indiana's 'Singing Contractors' record emotional tribute to Delphi murder victims|ISP: Do not use social media to report tips on murders of Delphi teens|Don't share the Delphi suspect 'sketches'|FBI moves to larger space for Delphi case|Delphi girls murdered: What is the evidence?|New audio could help solve Delphi killings| Delphi murders have parents watching kids closer|Report Delphi tips to police, not social media|Security concerns on Delphi trails after murders|Dont share the Delphi suspect sketches|German family friend: She was a good kid|See somebody walking near Delphi? Call police|Prosecutor: Dont harass people about Delphi|ISP on Delphi murders: "Everyone is a suspect"|PHOTOS: Motorcycle fundraiser for families of Delphi murder victims|Search warrant served at Delphi home in connection to teen murders, no arrests made|Friend of killed Delphi girl: I question everything|State Police say an Amber Alert would not have done any good|A look at the property where the bodies of two missing teen girls were found|ISP wants to speak to this man and anyone who was near Delphi trail when two teens went missing|Community in shock after bodies of two missing teens found|Community concerned about safety as police search for suspect in death of teens|MAP: Where the two bodies of the teen girls were found near Delphi, Indiana|Why wasnt an Amber Alert issued when girls were reported missing in Carroll County?|Delphi Timeline: Teen girls found dead after disappearing while hiking|Two bodies found during search for Carroll County teens|MISSING: Two 13-year-old girls dropped off to go hiking near Carroll County trail

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Delphi, Indiana: Family of murdered girls expected to speak publicly on Thursday - WRTV Indianapolis

NEW YORK If a debate, and the sentiments it subsequently evokes, can ever undo a nations character, the debate over the wall, the banning of immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations and the refusal to take in refugees, is doing so to the United States.

In recent weeks, the U.S., the promised land for the persecuted everywhere, has seen its Jewish cemeteries vandalized, brown-skinned immigrants assaulted and several mosques and Muslim establishments attacked. Refugees are being rejected by a public that hardly has any knowledge of who they are and what they bring to our communities.

Thirty years ago, I was one such refugee. I arrived in the U.S. just as Lady Liberty knows: Tired and poor, with only a backpack on my back and a few words of English in my lexicon. In me, the adolescent angst and anger stirred more than the average teenager, perhaps because of an ugly year in transit and an uprooting from my homeland Iran, to which, despite the bleakest of circumstances, I felt profoundly attached.

My affluent compatriots, whose extravagant lifestyles are the stuff of reality shows like the Shahs of Sunset, made up the first wave of arrivals in the tumultuous days before or immediately after the 1979 revolution. They fled, in great part, to bring their wealth to safety.

Choosing America, the Supreme Leaders arch enemy, was the greatest gamble of our lives.

For most of the rest of us, those who left long after the revolution, especially in the aftermath of several waves of arrests leading up to the 2009 Green Movement, the sale of everything we ever owned carried us only as far as a third country, an in-between location with a U.S. embassy. The one in Tehran had been shut down on November 4, 1979, in the aftermath of the ignominious hostage crisis. By the time travel costs, room and board and various legal and visa processing fees were paid for, we had used up the last of our scarce dollars.

Those of us who came to the U.S. in this second and third wave of immigration had already been intensely vetted by Tehran and we had failed the test. Under the clergys dogmatic reign, we had been relegated to the margins of society and fled to bring ourselves to safety.

Since 1979, the U.S. has attained a great deal more trust from Iranians, providing a refuge to those turned away by Tehran | Morteza Nikoubazl/Reuters

The U.S. and much of the Western world have been engaged in an undeclared war with Iran for nearly 40 years. We, the post-revolutionary orders bonafide misfits gays, Jews, artists, Bahais, secular intellectuals and scientists, Iranian Sunnis, new converts to Christianity, Kurdish liberation activists, womens rights advocates, prisoners of conscience have been the real warriors. Choosing America, the Supreme Leaders arch enemy, was the greatest gamble of our lives.

It was comforting to discover that, contrary to all the propaganda we had once been subjected to, Americans did not bare their teeth or graze us with their claws (metaphors courtesy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, not mine). The America we experienced vast, open, free, and generous was not the America we had been told to fear. Our encounters with our new home stood in sharp contrast to the official narrative and opened another front in the undeclared war between Iran and America.

In the decades since 1979, diplomats and policymakers looked for ways to undo what residual distrust may have lingered among Iranians from the CIAs misadventures in 1953 and thereafter. Still, nothing has been as effective as the wistful narrative that the diaspora passed along to those still on the inside.

Indeed, in the past decade, every reporter who visited Iran returned with the same story: Iranians loved America. If the tired proverb absence makes the heart grow fonder ever needed foolproof evidence, the fond heart of Iranians in the absence of America since 1979 would be just that.

American industry and business institutions lost out to their European rivals when the ties between the U.S. and Iran were severed. However, the U.S. has since attained a great deal more in regaining the trust of Iranians and providing a refuge to those turned away by Tehran.

This new America is taking the very cruel shape the clerics had always portrayed: one of an unfeeling, morally corrupt bogeyman who cares for nothing other than lining his own pockets.

If such intangible claims are often hard to support, consider the Anti-Defamation Leagues 2015 survey, in which it found that Iran a nation under severe censorship and without any U.S. or Israeli presence was the least anti-Semitic in the Middle East and North Africa. We, the educated immigrants formerly branded as wretched refuse, can claim some credit for making that happen.

Now, this hard-earned seismic shift is about to be undermined with the savage stroke of a pen. The very messengers who were the catalysts of that historic shift, who gambled their all on America, are about to lose their cherished sanctuary.

Into the effigy of Uncle Sam raised up to the sky at Friday prayer, a terrible life has been breathed. This new America is taking the very cruel shape the clerics had always portrayed: one of an unfeeling, morally corrupt bogeyman who cares for nothing other than lining his own pockets. Lady Libertys light is dimming and so could the outline of hope for those who once followed it to these shores.

Roya Hakakian is the author of, most recently, Assassins of the Turquoise Palace (Grove Press, 2011). She came to America as a refugee.

Read the original:

Lady Liberty's dimming light - POLITICO.eu

First let me confess that this post is inspired, in part, by the fact that it is written while sitting at a desk that allows me to glance to the side and look at the Golden Gate Bridge.

In other words, I am currently attending a journalism conference in Stephen Curry territory.

This location tends to inspire thoughts on Curry, hoops, sneakers and God -- not necessarily in that order, There are, of course, topics that have been discussed many times here at GetReligion (click here for flashbacks) because, well, many (not all) mainstream journalists have struggle to "get" the whole God angle in the remarkable career of this unlikely NBA megastar.

Anyway, I noticed the following report in the daily online offerings of Baptist Press, a denominational news organization that is usually not my go-to source for NBA news. This is not a remarkable story, by any means. In fact, it's rather ordinary -- which is my point. The question that I think some news consumers would ask, once again, is this: "Is this story news? Why or why not?"

Now, there are several different newsy things going on in this story.

For Baptist Press, the lede is clearly the religion element. You have one of the world's best known athletes giving his Christian testimony in what, for some, would be a controversial setting. This isn't a surprise, since Curry is very open about his faith and, well, reporters should have figured out the Bible verses written on his sneakers thing by now.

It also helps to know that Curry's younger brother Seth -- currently lighting things up for the Dallas Mavericks -- played hoops at Liberty.

So Steph Curry said the kinds of things one would expect an openly Christian guy to say in a chapel setting, asking students to "use their talents and abilities" to serve God and help others.

Originally posted here:

Stephen Curry goes to Liberty: Social justice plus God plus sneakers equals news? - GetReligion (blog)

Caroline Wadzeck is surprised at her selection as the 2016 Dayton Citizen of the Year Award. Wadzeck was presented the award by Dayton Mayor Jeff Lambright.

Caroline Wadzeck is surprised at her selection as the 2016 Dayton Citizen of the Year Award. Wadzeck was presented the award by Dayton Mayor Jeff Lambright.

Master of Ceremonies Mike Little presents a gavel donated by former State Representative John Otto to outgoing 2016 Chairman of the Board of Directors James Reese, general manager of Chilis in Liberty.

Master of Ceremonies Mike Little presents a gavel donated by former State Representative John Otto to outgoing 2016 Chairman of the Board of Directors James Reese, general manager of Chilis in Liberty.

The 2017 Chairman of the Board Kandace Wolfe presents a plaque to 2016 Outgoing Director Lana McCarty.

The 2017 Chairman of the Board Kandace Wolfe presents a plaque to 2016 Outgoing Director Lana McCarty.

The 2017 Chairman of the Board Kandace Wolfe presents a plaque to 2016 Outgoing Director John Wright.

The 2017 Chairman of the Board Kandace Wolfe presents a plaque to 2016 Outgoing Director John Wright.

The 2017 Chairman of the Board Kandace Wolfe presents a plaque to 2016 Outgoing Director Brenda McManus Fairchild.

The 2017 Chairman of the Board Kandace Wolfe presents a plaque to 2016 Outgoing Director Brenda McManus Fairchild.

The 2017 Chairman of the Board Kandace Wolfe presents a plaque to 2016 Outgoing Director Bessie Conn.

The 2017 Chairman of the Board Kandace Wolfe presents a plaque to 2016 Outgoing Director Bessie Conn.

The Master of Ceremonies for the 41st Annual Awards banquet for the Libety-Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce was Mike Little. He is the municipal judge for the city of Liberty.

The Master of Ceremonies for the 41st Annual Awards banquet for the Libety-Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce was Mike Little. He is the municipal judge for the city of Liberty.

The Honor Guard from the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Dayton High school presented the colors at the banquet while Anne Marie Smesny sang the national anthem.

The Honor Guard from the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Dayton High school presented the colors at the banquet while Anne Marie Smesny sang the national anthem.

Liberty-Dayton Chamber honors leaders, citizens

An overflow crowd witnessed the 41st annual Liberty-Dayton Chamber of Commerce Awards on the night of Feb. 28 and with it the hilarious comedy of guest speaker Chad Prather of Burleson, Texas.

Filled with anticipation, chamber officials honored their outgoing board and various members for their service during the previous year.

None was as poignant as the recognition given to the Flat Line Cookers, the cooking team of Liberty County EMS, who knocked it out of the park with their steaks and trimmings at last August's Liberty-Dayton 500. The moment was subdued as many were still remembering Craig Ringer who died suddenly Feb. 24.

Ringer was instrumental in buying and cooking the food, leading the cook team through the successful event and rescuing the chamber in a time of need.

Caroline Wadzeck was honored as the 2016 Citizen of the Year for the city of Dayton.

After receiving her Master of Library Science in 1979, she was hired as a librarian in Dayton and helped design the Richter library adding the reading pit and courtyard. In 1988 she was named Teacher of the Year at Dayton ISD.

She served many terms on the Dayton Library Board and the Dayton Classroom Teachers Association.

In 1991 she was hired as an elementary librarian at Barbers Hill ISD, serving there until 2009, the year both she and her husband retired.

She has used much of her time traveling and volunteering for the city. She left on a trip to Ireland the morning after the chamber banquet.

When she is not traveling, she said she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.

In her spare time, she wrote "The Streets of Dayton: History by the Block." She donated the proceeds from the sale of her book to the Dayton Historical Society where she has become a force in preserving the history of Dayton. She currently serves as recording secretary for the Historical Society and is a curator at the Dayton Old School Museum. She was appointed to the Dayton Enhancement Committee and plays an integral role in the beautification of Dayton.

Wadzeck is an active member of the DAR, secretary of Lakata Club, the Dayton Police and Fire Museum and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Dayton where she sings in the choir. She was recently named Volunteer of the Year at the Dayton Chamber banquet.

Ann Daniel Rogers is the recipient of the Liberty Citizen of the Year for 2016.

A proud Liberty High School Panther, Rogers has served as the unofficial go-to person and producer of many successful reunions for over 50 years, and became a charter member of the Liberty ISD Education Foundation upon its inception.

During the earlier years, she readily shared musical talents as pianist for the Liberty Rotary Club, and as a vocalist in choirs, high school musicals, and little theater productions; and was an avid worker with both the Girl and Boy Scouts when this parent's children were participants.

After personally witnessing a family member's struggle to interpret letters, words, and symbols, she was one of the earliest (if not the first) in the area to begin delving into the misunderstood world of dyslexia. She was further dismayed upon learning how many adults silently suffered with the inability to read or write so she independently sought out and obtained certification as a Dyslexia Teaching Specialist and began to meet this need by tutoring school-aged learners and adults alike, much done without compensation. Though vocations of dyslexia tutor and owner/instructor of a private driving school were a means of supporting herself and her children, one had only to express interest or need, and payment became negotiable.

In the late 1980s, as her own three children were becoming self-sufficient, she began a long career at Hardin ISD as an often-requested kindergarten teacher. Lastly she served as ESL coordinator and became certified in the Irlen Syndrom. She developed and facilitated the district's testing program, and continues to test and tutor when needed on a volunteer basis. Before retiring from Hardin ISD in 2007, she established a personal scholarship for graduating seniors.

During retirement, she became an active member and officer of the Friends of the Library, working on numerous projects and for many years in their Jubilee Bake and Book Sale. Also, as a self-taught "computer guru," she began "piecing together" old computers and accessories and has quietly provided re-built (and often new) computers at no charge to area retirement homes, needy graduating seniors, churches, missionaries in Nepal and the Philippines, just to name a few. This endeavor led to her next offer: to teach free adult computer classes at the Liberty Library as well as writing the accompanying manuals and handouts. These classes continue to be a popular service offered by the Library, at no expense to them or the student.

She has been active in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life and recently voted an Honorary Life Member of the Board of Directors for Bridgehaven Children's Advocacy Center.

Prather later took the stage and with his characteristic humor, provided an entertaining evening for the guests.

Guest speaker Chad Prather's popularity exploded when his humorous video "Unapologetically Southern" went viral.

In 2016, Chad Prather and Fort Worth, Texas comedian Cowboy Bill Martin teamed up to begin the Kings of Cowtown World Comedy Tour. This was his second appearance at the Liberty-Dayton Chamber of Commerce.

"Sometimes we're like the dogs that run in packs-they sleep, eat, fight amongst themselves and allow new members in the pack," Prather said.

Referring to the sleepers, "We'll sit back and be lethargic and let everyone else run the organization regardless of what happens. It's always been done that way," he said.

The eaters, he said, are no better.

"We like to consume whatever is given us. We're good at taking the benefits, while not providing very much of our own.

And every group has misunderstandings and disagreements.

"We'll have squabbles that stop our creativity and inspiration that soon stops our progress."

And adding to the pack is sometimes worrisome.

"We're happy to welcome new members if we're not threatened by them and as long as they're willing to do it our way," he said.

Dogs will do all of those things like their human counterparts until a rabbit runs by, Prather smiled.

"As soon as that rabbit runs by, the sleepers wake up and start chasing, the ones eating will join the run, the ones who are fighting will quit and in unity join the rest of the pack in the hunt and new members can join the pack as long as they're willing to hunt," the comedian said.

"I say to Dayton and to Liberty, find your rabbit, your common goal. As one community, one common goal, find your rabbit and chase that thing. Follow your community leaders and the example and standard they set and support them."

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Liberty-Dayton Chamber honors leaders, citizens - Houston Chronicle - Chron.com

CHARLESTON, W.VA (WDTV) - (Game release by Mountain East Conference/Rich Stevens)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The West Liberty and Fairmont State mens basketball teams are assured of playing in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Tournament.

Neither was interested in resting comfortably despite knowing their seasons would continue after Sundays Mountain East Conference Tournament championship game at the Charleston Civic Center.

Fairmont State (29-2) led 64-56 with 5:14 remaining, but West Liberty scored 11 of the games final 12 points. The Hilltoppers worked the game to a 64-64 tie, broken with 1:03 left on a David Dennis free throw. After Matt Bingaya missed two free throws, David Dennis made two free throws with 10 seconds left for a three-point advantage.

I heard the word resilience and that kind of describes the way we play, West Liberty coach Jim Crutchfield said. I told them at halftime that we were going to win.

A Jason Jolly 3-pointer was off the mark for Fairmont, but the No. 1 seed got the rebound and called timeout with 1.2 seconds left.

West Liberty (28-3) fouled prior to the inbound, putting DOndre Stockman at the line for two free throws. Stockman made the first and missed the second intentionally. Dennis got the rebound and flung the ball in the air as the horn sounded.

West Liberty just made a few more plays, said Fairmont coach Jerrod Calhoun, who is 3-12 against West Liberty and has not beaten the Hilltoppers outside of Fairmont. You dont sit around and feel sorry for yourself, but we also understand that.

Thats what drove us all year to win the regular season title, and this series isnt over. You just have to keep plugging away.

The Falcons forced West Liberty into a season-high 17 turnovers, but couldnt hold off the Hilltoppers despite leading for the games first 38:57. West Liberty had a combined 19 turnovers in their two regular season meetings.

They have quick hands, put good pressure on, Crutchfield said. I dont think there was a time when we could relax with the basketball, and thats unusual for us. But, with that pressure, the basket is exposed, their big guys are pulled away from the basket and driving lanes open.

Their intelligence factor is really high, Calhoun said. They dont get too high or too low. Usually, we get teams down 10 or 11 we try to take it to 18 or 20. Unfortunately, we couldnt do that tonight.

Dennis led West Liberty with 23 points, while adding nine rebounds. Hoehn, the tournament MVP, had 18 points and Dan Monteroso added 10 points. Zac Grossenbacher had 11 of West Libertys 45 rebounds.

Bingayas 18 led the way for Fairmont. Thomas Wimbush chipped in with 17, Vonte Montgomery had 10 and Stockman came off the bench to contribute 11.

West Liberty and Fairmont State await the NCAA Tournament selection show to discover their seeds for the Atlantic Region Tournament, which will be played at the home of the regions top-seeded team. The top eight teams in each region earn a spot in the 64-team Division II field.

The question remains who will host the regional. Top-ranked Fairmont, No. 2 Indiana University of Pennsylvania and No. 3 Kutztown lost IUP and Kutztown lost in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament. West Liberty was No. 4.

It would be good to play in a regional final in Fairmont hopefully, Calhoun said.

Crutchfield said, our facility is available. We have people on standby who have done it before. Nobody hosts better than West Liberty guys do.

West Liberty seeks its eighth consecutive trip to the Sweet Sixteen.

MEC All-Tournament Team A.J. Carr (Shepherd) Haywood Highsmith (Wheeling Jesuit) Matt Bingaya (Fairmont State) Vonte Montgomery (Fairmont State) Thomas Wimbush (Fairmont State) Dan Monteroso (West Liberty) David Dennis (West Liberty) MVP- Devin Hoehn (West Liberty)

Highest Scoring Average- Elliott Cole (Charleston) Sportsmanship Award - A.J. Carr (Shepherd) Commissioner's Heart & Hustle Award - Thomas Wimbush (Fairmont State)

Continue reading here:

West Liberty denies FSU sweep of MEC men's titles - WDTV

WEST LIBERTY It was a day that comes around only once every four years, but it was a day all 3,435 residents of West Liberty would gladly have turned away.

Feb. 29, Leap Year 2012, became much more than a quirky day when someone could get a drivers license on his or her fourth birthday.

It was a normal Friday until the bad weather reports started coming in. An EF-1 tornado was headed to town, and every second counted.

Morgan Countys civil defense sirens went off and people took shelter wherever they could. Within minutes, the tornado carved a line of destruction across this normally serene county. No lives were lost because of tornadoes that day in Kentucky, which was also hit in the western and south central parts of the state by EF-2 tornadoes.

Many in Big Blue crazy West Liberty had been looking forward to watching Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and the No. 1 Wildcats take on Georgia the next day at Rupp Arena.

Several instead found themselves doing the tedious work of cleaning up the mess the tornado left. That day of getting things back to normal wound up being the calm before a storm that made the tornado on Friday look like a baby storm.

At 5:47 p.m. March 2, a time that will go down in infamy in local history, West Liberty was pummeled by an EF-3 tornado. Gusts of 140 mph winds raced through town wreaking havoc by tearing roofs off of houses and flipping cars upside down. Some said it sounded like a freight train was ripping through their homes.

Former WOWK morning news anchor Brooke Baldwin showed a video of a funnel cloud hitting the town on her CNN show.

Around 7 p.m., a different tornado about 17 miles to the southeast pounded Salyersville. It was an even more powerful EF-3 tornado with 160 mph winds. There was devastating damage in a part of town called restaurant row along Mountain Parkway.

No lives were lost in Salyersville, but the tornado moved into Johnson County killing two before entering Mingo County, West Virginia, and fizzling out.

WSAZ chief meteorologist Tony Cavalier said, It would be uncommon to have tornados two days apart in the middle of Tornado Alley, so it would be astronomically uncommon away from there. To get one tornado is really rare. To get two in three days is exceptionally rare.

Many tornadoes ripped through the country that day, and no state was more devastated than Kentucky. Twenty-four lives were lost in the state, including four in West Liberty.

It was the worst tornado in the state since the 1974 Super Outbreak claimed 319 fatalities on April 3 and 4, when 148 tornadoes hit Ontario, Canada, and 13 states including southern, central and northern Kentucky.

A year before the West Liberty tornado, Kentucky was spared when the 2011 Super Outbreak, between April 25 and 28, took 324 lives and became the countrys worst tornado event on record. Three-hundred sixty-two tornadoes hit 21 states in the Midwest, Northeast and South with Mississippi and Alabama being most affected.

West Liberty and Henryville, Indiana pummeled that day by an even stronger EF-4 tornado were invaded by newspapers from around the country and network news crews in the following days and even weeks. The damage was devastating, but volunteer help from near and far made its way into town to help.

Feb. 29 was Chris Baileys last day living in Ashland, and last at WSAZ. It was the type of day a meteorologist never forgets.

The Morehead State University and Magoffin County High School graduate travelled to Salyersville before going to Lexington to start his new job as chief meteorologist at WKYT, where he formerly worked.

Thankfully, I got the opportunity to drive into Salyersville that night after it hit to make sure everybody was OK, Bailey said.

Being about the same distance from Huntington and Lexington, Bailey was a veteran at forecasting West Libertys weather.

Just looking back on it now it has even greater historical perspective, I mean five years later because, by far and away, its now become the standard bearer for every severe weather event in our region, Bailey said.

Cavalier said: That was a tornado of 500 or 1,000 years.

Continued here:

5 years since West Liberty tornado hit - The Independent

SAN ANTONIO

While one of the states girls basketball dynasties celebrated another coronation Saturday night, Liberty Hills players pondered how to take that next step.

On Friday, the Panthers (36-3) won a semifinal contest for the first time in six trips to the state tournament, but one day later, they couldnt overcome a gritty Argyle squad that captured its third consecutive Class 4A state championship with a 40-30 victory inside the Alamodome.

But with three Argyle starters graduating this spring, including title-game MVP Vivian Gray, the Panthers couldnt help but look forward to next season. Argyle has beaten Liberty Hill three times in the past two seasons, with those of wins coming at state tournaments.

Im happy she (Gray) is leaving, said Sedona Prince, Liberty Hills 6-foot-7 junior post and a Texas Longhorns pledge. It may give us a chance to get back here with less competition, and I know that sounds bad, but shes given us a very hard time.

Panthers junior forward Kandyn Faurie agreed with Prince, saying the title-game defeat only serves as the latest lesson for a program closing on a state championship.

Itll happen, theres no doubt in my mind, Faurie said. Next year, well be back. Were growing each and every year.

Argyle won its previous two state titles by double-digit margins, but the Eagles (37-2) couldnt seal their 10-point victory Saturday until the waning moments. Liberty Hill pulled to within 33-30 on a hook shot by Prince with just under 2 minutes to play, but the Panthers couldnt muster any good looks at the basket down the stretch while committing several turnovers.

Prince finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds to lead Liberty Hill while teammate Bethany Mcleod added seven points.

They dont make too many defensive mistakes, said Chris Lange, Liberty Hills second-year coach, of the Eagles. They sit back in their man-to-man defense. Nothing has changed. You just have to finish shots against them.

Argyle sealed its victory by making 7 of 8 foul shots in the final 62 seconds of the game.

We did what championship teams do; we got stops and made our free throws, said Argyle coach Skip Townsend, who has led nine teams to UIL girls state titles, including six at Brock from 2002-11.

For most of the game, Liberty Hill matched Argyle stop for stop. Neither team topped 31 percent shooting from the floor.

Gray, who played on a club team with Prince last season, appeared uncomfortable in the paint when Prince came around. She shot just 5 of 19 from the floor while scoring a game-high 15 points and three of her shots were snuffed by Prince. The 6-1 Gray also pulled down 15 rebounds to lead all players.

I was off my game because I was worried about getting blocked, said Gray, who chose to sign with Fort Lewis, an NCAA Division II school, over Oklahoma State. She (Prince) is a great player and a great shot-blocker. You have to play her tough and be physical. She played a great game.

When Prince exited the game early in the third quarter with her third foul, Argyle quickly scored seven points to turn a 17-13 halftime advantage into an 11-point lead. After the game, Townsend said that stretch of play gave his squad the cushion it needed.

Both defenses dominated play in the first half. Argyle, which entered the game averaging 62.3 points per game, had just 17 at the break, and six of those came on a pair of three-pointers by Gabby Standifer late in the half.

But the Panthers had their own issues against a fierce Argyle defense that hasnt allowed more than 40 points since a non-district loss to national powerhouse Mercer County (Kentucky). Liberty Hill made just 6 of 18 shots before the break and attempted just one foul shot. The Panthers lone three-pointer in the first half came from Faurie, who beat the first-quarter buzzer with a 30-footer.

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Argyle holds off Liberty Hill to claim third straight Class 4A crown - Austin American-Statesman

SAN ANTONIO

It didnt come easily, but historic accomplishments rarely do.

On Friday at the Alamodome, Liberty Hills girls basketball team advanced to a state championship game for the first time in school history with a dramatic 49-45 victory over Godley in a Class 4A semifinal. Rescued by a closing 11-0 run, the Panthers earned the right to face two-time defending state champion Argyle on Saturday night in a rematch of a 2016 4A semifinal.

For at least a few hours, though, any thoughts about a rematch against Argyle or an emotional reaction to their victory could wait for the Panthers, now 36-2.

Theres no tears after this game, Liberty Hill senior guard Andrea House said. Im saving those for tomorrow after we win.

With less than two minutes to play Friday, it appeared that House and her teammates would be the ones wiping away tears after a sixth consecutive state semifinal loss. The Panthers faced a seven-point deficit entering a timeout, but head coach Chris Lange picked up a good vibe in the huddle.

Id like to say I was nervous, but I wasnt, he said. I felt comfortable and confident; I never felt like we were going to lose. We talked about getting up in their faces, staying positive and attacking. Thats what we did. We stayed positive and kept attacking.

Liberty Hill rediscovered its swarming defense in the final two minutes, and Panthers junior forward Kandyn Faurie rediscovered her shooting touch.

The Panthers forced Godley (35-5) into five turnovers during their game-clinching run, and Faurie scored seven of her 16 points in that span. Her layup off an inbounds play with 58 seconds to go gave Liberty Hill its first lead of the fourth quarter, and junior guard Bethany McLeod clinched the victory with a pair of free throws with 20 seconds to play.

Sedona Prince, Liberty Hills 6-foot-7 junior who has pledged to the Texas Longhorns, led all players with 17 points, scoring on an array of inside moves and turnaround jumpers. She also pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds in 31 minutes on the floor.

Liberty Hills swarming defense dominated the first half. Godley, which topped 60 points in four of its first five playoff games, made just three baskets and committed 10 turnovers in the first two quarters. At one point, the Lady Cats went more than nine minutes without a point as Liberty Hill built a 16-8 lead.

Godley upped the tempo after halftime, though, and put up 18 points in the third period alone. The Lady Cats committed only three turnovers in the second half before the games final two minutes.

We werent getting back in transition and getting out on their 3-pointer shooters, McLeod said. We just gave them too much room to shoot.

Still, Liberty Hill never gave up against a Godley team that shot 50 percent from the floor after the break, including 6 of 12 from 3-point range.

The journey is not over, Lange said. Its always been about one more. One more rep, one more practice, one more game. We have exactly what we wanted.

That means a rematch against Argyle, which beat Liberty Hill 43-32 last year in the Alamodome and 34-26 earlier this season.

They play very well together, and theyve been doing it a while, Lange said of Argyle, which raced past Wharton 71-31 Friday as all-state forward Vivian Gray scored 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Thats what makes them dangerous. Vivian is an outstanding player, but I have a few of those myself.

UIL GIRLS BASKETBALL: STATE TOURNAMENT

When: Through Saturday

Where: Alamodome, San Antonio

Tickets: A general-session ticket costs $19. (Children 2 and younger are admitted free but may not occupy a seat.)

Parking: Available in Alamodome lots for $15.

THURSDAY

Class A semifinals

Nazareth 63, Slocum 31

Dodd City 59, Garden City 36

Class 3A semifinals

Buffalo 50, Mount Vernon 43

Canadian 76, Goliad 34

Class 5A semifinals

Canyon 66, Barbers Hill 39

Mansfield Timberview 66, Corpus Christi Flour Bluff 41

FRIDAY

Class 2A semifinals

Martins Mill 58, Weimar 50

Panhandle 62, Woden 37

Class 4A semifinals

Argyle 71, Wharton 31

Liberty Hill 49, Godley 45

Class 6A semifinals

Pflugerville (31-6) vs. Cypress Ranch (31-6), late

Duncanville (37-2) vs. Converse Judson (28-6), late

SATURDAY

8:30 a.m. Class A final: Nazareth (34-1) vs. Dodd City (32-3)

10 a.m. Class 3A final: Buffalo (28-4) vs. Canadian (32-3)

1:30 p.m. Class 2A final: Martins Mill (37-2) vs. Panhandle (29-6)

3 p.m. Class 5A final: Canyon (30-3) vs. Mansfield Timberview (37-2)

7 p.m. Class 4A final: Argyle (36-2) vs. Liberty Hill (36-2)

8:30 p.m. Class 6A final

For results of Pflugervilles Class 6A semifinal game Friday night against Cypress Ranch and other high school basketball, go to statesman.com.

Visit link:

Liberty Hill breaks through at state, advances to Class 4A final - Austin American-Statesman

GASTON Liberty Christians Ronny Williams drove hard to the bucket, but his layup rolled off the rim. Fortunately, his teammate Dallas Burko was there to clean up the offensive rebound and put it right back in for two.

But the Lions werent done hustling. As Cowan brought the ball up the court, Williams sprinted over to the Blackhawks ballhandler, poking the ball loose just before halfcourt, diving on the floor, scooping up the ball and calling timeout seemingly all in one motion.

This series of plays with 3:20 left in the fourth quarter was a microcosm of the effort displayed by Liberty Christian on Friday night in its sectional semifinal matchup against Cowan; each play kept the Blackhawks at bay and kept the Lions lead at a comfortable margin.

Liberty Christian advanced to Saturdays sectional final against host Wes-Del, taking care of Cowan, 63-46.

You know what? That second and third quarter, I really didnt feel like we were bringing it, Liberty Christian head coach Jason Chappell said. And (Cowan was) getting some offensive rebounds, but finally, they stepped it up in that span and really, I think, turned the tide of the game.

Despite their coachs dissatisfaction at some points, the game never really was in doubt for the Lions (11-14), who took a 5-3 lead just 1:24 into the ballgame and never was tied or trailed again. Liberty Christian led by eight points at the end of the first quarter (17-9) and took 11-point leads into halftime (30-19) and into the fourth quarter (43-32).

The main challenge for the Lions, particularly on defense, was trying to figure out a way to stop Cowan guard Shea Ingles.

Ingles, who is generously listed at 5-foot-9 in the sectional program, came into the contest as the Blackhawks leading scorer at 17.5 points per game and showed exactly why, displaying no fear as he pulled up from all over the court including from the volleyball line on a few occasions

Cowan, which ends its 2016-17 season with a 7-15 record, works hard on the offensive end without the ball to get Ingles free, Chappell said, and the senior poured in a game-high 22 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 4-for-8 from 3-point land. He also had a game-best six assists.

They did a good job of screening; we didnt do a very good job of hedging. And so its a combination, Chappell said of the challenge of guarding a slippery player like Ingles. We were satisfied with letting him shoot from the volleyball line, but he hit some big shots, you know? Thats the last game of his career, and kids like that, theyre going to step up, and he had a big night.

Four Lions reached double digits on the scoresheet, led by Williams, who had 21 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, while also adding three assists and four steals. He was joined by Burko, who had 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, Trajan Dixon, who had 12 points and nine boards, and Isiah Brees, who had 10 points.

After Tuesdays sectional-opening win over Southern Wells, Chappell alluded to the fact that Burko has turned from a role player into a player. He said the same of Brees on Friday night.

Just like Burko, hes becoming a player. Hes turning from a role player into a player. And weve got some guys stepping up, you know? Chappell said. Some guys didnt have their effort tonight, but some guys stepped up for them. Thats what a team does. Everyones not going to have their best game every night, and so if weve got to take turns, Im OK with that.

Liberty Christian (11-14), playing for its sixth straight sectional title, takes on the host Warriors (17-7) in Saturdays sectional title game. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Richard E. Johnson Gymnasium.

They have a couple good athletes, and theyre in their own gym. So thats a huge advantage, Chappell said. They bring a really good crowd. Theyve had a lot of success this year, and winning ballgames is good for the soul, so well see. It should be a good time tomorrow.

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Liberty Christian drops Cowan; advances to sectional title game - The Herald Bulletin

WSAV-TV

Son arrested for mother's shooting death in Liberty County WSAV-TV According to Liberty County Sheriffs Office Detective, Capt Doug Snider, Nicholas Bacon is accused of shooting and killing his mother Montez Bacon while she was driving towards Hinesville. Witnesses say they saw Montez Bacon signal and turn into the ... Son arrested for shooting mother in Liberty CountyWJCL News Son accused of shooting, killing mother while traveling on Leroy Coffer HwyWTOC all 4 news articles »

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Son arrested for mother's shooting death in Liberty County - WSAV-TV