MPD shuts down illegal gaming operation in Madison, makes arrest – The Madison Record – themadisonrecord.com

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MADISON The Madison Police Department shut down an alleged illegal gaming operation in Madison on Friday morning. MPD Police Chief Dave Jernigan said police officers, along with members of the Strategic Counterdrug Task Force (STAC), executed a search warrant at 9076 Madison Boulevard, Suite J & K, known as Wild Bills Entertainment and Arcade.

Probable cause for the search warrant was obtained from several complaints of an illegal gaming operation originally reported to the Madison County Sheriffs Office and forwarded to the Madison Police Department approximately one month ago, Chief Jernigan said. Madison Police have been involved in building a case culminating in a raid and seizure of electronic gaming machines, cash and gambling records.

Police arrested William Hines, age 52 of Madison, for promotion of gambling. He was released on a secure bond after his arrest.

Chief Jernigan said approximately 128 machines, money, receipts and records were seized pursuant to the search warrant. Several workers present during the execution of the warrant were temporarily detained, identified and released.

The gambling operation was well organized with electronic machines resembling a casino, Chief Jernigan explained. Patrons would exchange money for a gaming card which would allow them internet time credits to use the machines and later to cash-out as a winner at a payout window.

Promotion of gambling is unlawful in Alabama and is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $6,000 fine.

This type of illegal criminal enterprise will not be tolerated in Madison, added Chief Jernigan. Illegal gambling is not a victimless crime. This type of illegal enterprise promotes tax evasion, human trafficking, money laundering, falsification of records, fraud, theft and drug crimes. The investigation is continuing and more arrests are anticipated at a later date.

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MPD shuts down illegal gaming operation in Madison, makes arrest - The Madison Record - themadisonrecord.com

Guest Commentary: Enlarging the Discussion on ‘Defunding’ – The Peoples Vanguard of Davis

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By Robb Davis

Observing the early evolution of discussions around defunding the policeand after having readThe End of Policingby Alex Vitaleit is clear that the real debate is around reprioritizing community health and safety, rather than simply abolishing the police.

I understand that some people are calling for abolition, but I do not sense that this is what most people mean when they speak about ending policing or defunding the police.

Since the start of this national debate, I have felt that a broader conversation about defunding the current criminal justice system is in order. The police are merely the first stepthe gateway if you willin a highly developed punitive system that does not lead to justice in any meaningful sense.

Defunding the police, that is, stepping back and revisioning public health and safety is a useful exercise. Still, without taking on the entire logic of the penal system, this reprioritizing will be self-limiting.

Our Penal System

Our current system defines crime as an act committed against a disembodied state that requires those convicted to pay. That payment is only rarely rendered to the direct victims of crime, and the system contains many crimes that do not directly affect any identifiable victims at all.

Instead, especially in most incarceration cases, the payment is made to society in an abstract way. We still use concepts like paying a debt to society as the reason for incarceration. However, we have come to prefer the idea that imprisonment is really about removing dangerous people from society. This framing allows us to feel comfortable with the over-incarceration of people that has come to characterize our nation.

District attorneys and judges, along with a supporting role from the police, represent the state and provide the ritualistic practices that remove the dangerous ones from our midst.

In this system, victims, if they exist, are wholly owned by the prosecution and regularly used as proof that punishment is needed to expiate the sins committed against these poor people.

This entire system is so deeply embedded within our culture and our cultural understanding about what to do about wrongdoing, that we cannot imagine any reasonable alternative.

Restorative Justice within the Punitive System

Somewhat recently, restorative justice has evolved within the punitive system as an alternative in some instances or particular demographics. It is generally used as a diversion program when the penal systems worst effects have failed in undeniable ways.

So, we offer restorative justice to low-level youth crimes when it becomes clear that the incarceration of young people leads to increased criminality and violence rather than reducing it. Or, we offer some form of restorative-like diversion programs for people with severe mental illnesses when we realize that frequent arrests, fines, or incarceration change nothing and make no difference in the lives of individuals involved.

More recently, some prosecutors are experimenting with expansions of restorative practice due to an overburdened legal system, choosing to shunt low-level victimless crimes into alternative approaches that provide options to perpetrators that keep their records clean.

Restorative Justice as an Alternative System

While many people have welcomed these incursions of restorative justice into the penal system, the truth is they do not fit. They do not because restorative justice is not merely an option within the penal system but a completely different theory of what crime and justice are.

Restorative justice defines crime as an act that causes harm to people and communities. It understands harms as damaging to human relationships and well-being. It seeks processes that lead those responsible for these harms to know what they are, face those they have harmed, and work out what actions are necessary to make the harms as right as possible.

Note that the depersonalized state is not at the table as an aggrieved actor seeking recompense. The states presence in a restorative system is to provide the support necessary to move towards naming harms and making them right.

Victims are involved directly or via proxies depending on their needs for safety. Because the focus is on harms, victims speak about those harms and define what making them right might entail.

Those causing the harms listen, understand the impact of their actions, and take responsibility for making the wrongs right. There is space within restorative justice for the needs of those causing the harms to enter the discussions as well.

An important, often unstated, part of restorative justice is the question of victimless crimes. Restorative justice asks whether a crime is genuinely a crime if there are no identifiable harms. This becomes a critical question in a society that criminalizes possession of small amounts of drugs (as just one example). Theremaybe harms involved in possession, and it may be essential to ask whether the person charged with possession has substance use problems for which they need help. The point is, restorative justice demands a look at what we name as a crime.

A New System: Questions for Reflection

If we were to dispense with our punitive system and replace it with a restorative system, what would it mean for judges, for district attorneys, for defenders, and for the police?

What if we started our discussion of policing by looking at the system for which they are the entry point? What if crimes like simple possession were treated differently than they are now? Given the large proportion of arrests for such crimes, how would changing the approach immediately change the role of the police.

What would happen to district attorneys if rather than representing the abstract state, they served the needs of real victims, not to advocate for punishment, but to seek answers to what victims need?

What if public and other defenders were given resources to assess the needs of the offender, prepare them to accept responsibility for their acts, and help prepare them, as necessary for engagement with a victim?

What would happen if we examined laws through the lens of the harms they address (or whether they address any harms at all)?

What role might judges play in this system, and how might this affect how we choose them? Would they become mediators or impartial arbiters when things get stuck? Would they play a role in discerning the needs of those who cause harms? Would they meet with victims to assure they are being treated with respect?

What would success look like in this system? How does that compare to our current system, which arguably has no metric of success?

Beyond Naivete

Are there dangerous people in the world who need to be removed from contact with others? I believe there are. But a restorative system is not afraid to ask why they exist, where they come from, and whether or not they are beyond redemption.

Because it seeks to restore victims AND offenders to the community and create healing, restorative justice permits us to explore the underlying causes of violenceincluding the role of trauma.

In this sense, restorative justice is a genuinely public health approach to criminalityseeking the underlying causes of actions that cause harm. And just as public health practice does not exonerate individuals of personal responsibility, restorative justice does not say that individuals bear no responsibility but it is also willing to investigate the social and economic determinants of harmful behavior.

A final word about victims: criticisms of restorative justice invariably return to victims of violence and the seeming willingness to require their participation in a restorative process or their continued exposure to those who caused them harm. There is nothing inherent within restorative justice that requires these. There are often good reasons to provide physical protection to victims by constraining the movement of those who have harmed them. There is also nothing inherent in restorative justice that requires victims to confront their offenders.

What restorative justicedoesoffer to victims is an opportunity to describe their needs. Evidence shows that victims often have fundamental questions that revolve first around needing to regain a sense of personal safety. Often they want to know why. Only secondarily are they concerned with restitution.

It is beyond time to defund our punitive legal system by moving purposefully towards a different understanding of the meaning of crime, against whom it is committed, and what is needed to achieve outcomes that will build community.

To sign up for our new newsletter Everyday Injustice https://tinyurl.com/yyultcf9

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Guest Commentary: Enlarging the Discussion on 'Defunding' - The Peoples Vanguard of Davis

Roulette Variations – What Are the Different Types of Roulette? – BestUSCasinos.org

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When it comes to the most common casino games, its easy to forget that the version played at your local gaming establishment isnt the only thing out there.

In fact, casino staples like blackjack, craps, and roulette, all have several variations that are used in casinos, both physical and online, all across the world. The best part? These other versions often give players better odds than their American counterpart.

Nowadays, nearly every version of every game is available somewhere online. In this article, Ill lay out all the versions of roulette, and explain why some are better than others for gamblers.

You know it, youre familiar with the rules, and youve accepted the American version of roulette as the standard. To be fair, its not a bad option. In terms of all the games available at most casinos, regular roulette is among the top options in terms of a odds and low house edge. When you consider online options, however, it doesnt look quite as appealing.

Just because it is a good option does not mean that its the best available. First, Ill get into the specifics of this particular version of roulette.

The version Americans are most familiar with made its way here near the end of the 18th century. Upon arrival, it underwent a few different transformations before eventually settling on what we accept to be our version of the game.

The main characteristic of American roulette is the presence of both a 0 and 00 pocket. Additionally, the order of the numbers 1 through 36 that sit in between the two zero pockets are is different than in other forms of roulette seen throughout the world. The table layout, however, is the same.

Although it is a good option for gamblers and provides an opportunity to make some money, the odds are not quite as favorable as in other forms of the game. The house edge on single number bets in American roulette is around 5.3%.

The bottom line is that even though American roulette doesnt have the absolute best odds, if youre in an American casino, you can certainly find worse games to play.

European roulette is not that much different than American roulette, but there is one major distinction. The reason the European version of the game is more popular among gamblers is due to the house edge being half of what it is in its American counterpart.

Unlike American roulette which has 38 total pockets, including two zeros, European roulette has 37 pockets and only one single zero space.

When compared to the 5.3% house edge in American roulette, the 2.6% house edge in European roulette undoubtedly looks more attractive. Why did America end up with the extra zero, and thus a doubled house edge? Unfortunately, that is a question to which I could not find an answer.

First appearing in Vegas, double ball roulette takes the action up a couple notches by, you guessed it, tossing another little white ball into the equation.

The game actually started as an experiment by casinos (only a few have ever offered it). The idea was that it provided a little bit more excitement than the standard version of the game, and it would entice new players to give it a try.

Typically the game was played on a European wheel, meaning that low house edge that is seen in European roulette applied to double ball roulette as well.

If this version of the game sounds appealing to you, its probably best not to go around to every casino looking for it. Instead, browse some popular online casinos, which are much more likely to include double ball in its game offerings.

If you thought double ball roulette sounded exciting, wait until you hear about multi-wheel roulette.

Instead of wagering on simply one ball and wheel combination, you get eight (!!) wheels to bet on at once. Now, one important thing to note is that you place the same bet on all active wheels, so you arent making eight bets each round, which would get pretty intense after a few spins.

If youre wondering how the payouts for wins work, its probably more simple than you think. For example, if you bet on black, and four of the eight wheels come up as black, you would get the winnings from all four wheels at once.

One interesting aspect of this game is that you do get to choose which wheels are active. Meaning you dont need to set all eight wheels in motion at one time, but if you want to, let the balls fall where they may.

It should be noted that you likely wont find this game in a land based casino. With that being said, plenty of online versions exist which is good for one main reason: the visual aspect of the game interface.

Obviously, there is a lot going on when up to eight roulette wheels are going at once. That means its important to find a version of the game that seems visually manageable. My advice would be to look around for a website you feel comfortable with before depositing a large amount of money on a platform.

Real money roulette has a relatively low house edge. For casinos, that means they need to have players wager on more spins in order to get the volume of bets necessary to make a nice profit. This is the philosophy behind the low house edge, but highly profitable, slot machine industry.

Rapid roulette differs from the traditional setup by offering the game in a video form or at least the players are placing their bets on a video board. The wheel itself is not virtual, and may or may not have a real person performing the spin each time. In some cases, the ball will be deployed electronically, although once it hits the wheel, its free to land wherever.

So if the casino has put this video-hybrid version of roulette in place to increase their profits, is it all bad news for the players? The answer is actually, no.

Experienced roulette players who have frequently played at tables with several other bettors know that it can be frustrating getting paid out after a win. This problem is entirely eliminated when playing the video version of the game. Payouts are automated and instant, so youll get your money in plenty of time to make your next play.

If youre looking for a quick in-and-out version of roulette, its hard to beat rapid (often called video) roulette. It might not be where you were expecting in your favorite casino, so ask someone to direct you.

Personally, this is my favorite version on the list. Its quick, requires no interaction with other players or a dealer, and you get money instantly.

Looking to simplify the regular version of roulette? I bring you Mini Roulette!

This game, which functions just like it sounds, involves the familiar roulette procedures but on a 13-number wheel instead of the standard 37 (for European) or 38 (for American).

One thing to note that does make mini roulette slightly different, aside from the reduced numbers, is the fact that a bet that does not cover zero will only lose half if the ball ends in zero. In regular roulette, you would lose it all.

Mini roulette is more of a novelty than some of the other versions on the list, but nonetheless its a fun game and can be profitable if luck (and a good betting strategy) is on your side.

Roulette is about as classic and traditional as it gets in terms of games youll find at the casino. While the familiarity is ultimately a good thing for most bettors, it can lose some of the excitement after so many spins.

If one form of the game is starting to lose its luster, consider giving another version of the game a shot. If you cant find it at your local casino, head online and it should only take a few minutes to track down any version in this article.

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Roulette Variations - What Are the Different Types of Roulette? - BestUSCasinos.org

Real Money Live Online Casinos to gamble the European Roulette by Evolution Gaming – Tunf.com News

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Roulette is one of the most popular table games, with many variations, including European Roulette. Though cut from the same cloth, there are subtle differences between European Roulette and other versions. European Roulette wheel features the numbers 0 to 36. As a result, the game has a 2.7% lower house edge increasing your chances of winning. Once bets are placed, the croupier spins and throws in the ball. The winner is known by where the ball lands.

Though this is a game of chance, you should know what you are doing so as to increase your chances of winning. European Roulette is available on several online gambling sites, with the best to gamble at being Fruity Casa, Play Frank Casino and Casumo Casino.One of the biggest and most popular online casinos in the UK is the Fruity Casa Casino. It joined the industry in 2014, and is regulated by Curacao and the UK Gambling Commission. The site takes an extra mile to ensure their players details are secure by using the latest security measures such as SSL. Players have dozens of payment options, such as Matercard, Neteller and Visa Card. Even better, there are no limits to how much one can withdraw, there are hundreds of casino games to choose from, so you never get bored, and your pockets never run dry.

Members of Play Frank Casino agree on one thing, the site offers one of the best online gambling experiences. With over 1,200 fantastic online casino games to choose from, you will almost never leave your couch. The site has a generous loyal package, and when you earn adequate points you get to join their very advantageous VIP program. Luckily, the site offers unlimited withdrawals that are quickly processed, with no extra charges. Also, the site has a multi-lingual customer support system that is available through their live chat box any time of the day.

Casumo Casino came into the scene in 2012, and is licensed to officially operate by the Malta Gaming Authority, the Swedish Gambling Authority and the UK Gambling Commission. Newbies receive up to 200 free spins and a cash bonus that can be used to stake on any of the games. Besides, the site holds daily reel races, through which members walk away with hundreds of prizes. The best time to play at Casumo Casino is in the evening as there are large jackpots being offered at the time, more customer care persons available and more players playing.

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Real Money Live Online Casinos to gamble the European Roulette by Evolution Gaming - Tunf.com News

COLUMN: Playing the crazy game of COVID-19 roulette – Enid News & Eagle

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Can we just agree at the outset that we are all sick of the coronavirus.

Not sick from it, thank God, but sick of it. Corona, COVID-19, call it what you like ... it has plagued our lives for the past, what, 32 months or so? At least it sure seems like it.

We are all equally tired of the debate surrounding how to handle said once in a century global pandemic.

At first we locked everything down, stayed home, watched our hair grow (and return to its natural color), cooked every night, did jigsaw puzzles, binge-watched everything on TV and told ourselves how heroic we were being, how noble, how public-minded.

And after a few weeks we went stark, raving mad. We had to get out, go to Walmart, get groceries, get our hair and nails done, take the dog to the groomer, interact with people to whom we were not related, stock up on toilet paper to last until disco comes back and live free.

Click.

That was the sound of a revolver dry-firing on an empty chamber. For, you see, the reaction of many to the easing of restrictions surrounding the coronavirus has been the equivalent of a game of Russian roulette.

You know the game. Take a revolver. Load one chamber with a live round, spin the cylinder, put the gun to your head and pull the trigger.

Sound like fun? Of course not. It is a horror show. But that is what we are doing when we ignore the warnings about the novel coronavirus that has so plagued our world in 2020.

When you gather with a group of friends and dont practice social distancing, click. When you go out without a mask and enter a store or church other location crowded with people, click.

But you are not only pointing the gun at your own head you are pointing it at everyone with whom you come in contact. And you are pointing it at their loved ones at home. And you are pointing it at the members of your own family.

Like a game of Russian roulette, the results of each action are not necessarily lethal. You may go out, party, shop, live your life as if COVID-19 never existed and remain unscathed. Same with the people with whom you come in contact.

And even if you come down with the virus, you might suffer little more than cold and flu symptoms, spend two or three days in bed watching lousy daytime TV and be as good as new.

Click.

But thats the chance you take, isnt it? And thats the chance you take with the lives of strangers, your friends and family, as well. Will anyone you know get it, or wont they? And if they get it, how bad will it be?

A lot of people have recovered from COVID-19. As of this writing, 34,320 Oklahomans were listed as recovered from the disease. Nationwide that number is upwards of 1.5 million.

So, you say, fine, you get it, you stay home and eat chicken soup, you get better and you go back to work. Uh-huh, unless you are like Nancy Blodgett of Portage, Mich. Despite being listed among the recovered on that states public health website, she says no. Heavens no, she told the Detroit Free Press. Recovered is when you can go back to work (and) when you can walk to the mailbox and not struggle to breathe.

Click.

Abbigail Singer is a 22-year-old from Kansas City. She has recovered from COVID-19. After being exposed to the coronavirus March 25 at a wedding, she began exhibiting symptoms March 30. She was tested four times for the virus between then and July 7. Only the last one came back negative.

Sundays are the worst day of the week for me, Singer told the news website, The Pitch. Thats the day her family drops off groceries for her outside the front door of her apartment. She says getting up to move the groceries inside and put them away takes all the energy she has. I have only taken one shower standing up this entire time, she adds.

Click.

The Rev. Terrence Big T Hughes, of Denver, contracted COVID-19 in early March. He wound up spending two months in a hospital, much of that time hooked up to a ventilator.

But Big T pulled through. He is home now after spending time in a rehabilitation center.

I was already dealing with some things as a disabled vet, but those things are heightened extremely due to COVID, he told TV station KUSA. I had to relearn how to walk again, I couldnt walk. How to use my hands. (Afterward) I used to have extreme tremors, where feeding myself was difficult. It was almost like I had Parkinsons, my hands would shake so bad.

Click.

Other lingering post-COVID-19 symptoms include chronic fatigue, a racing and irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, loss of sense of smell, achy joints, foggy thinking and damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys and brain, according to the journal Science. And that, of course, is only if you dont die.

Click.

So its up to you. The gun is in your hands. Wear a mask, dont wear a mask, its your choice. Hole up at home or party like a rock star, its your call. Enids city government has apparently seen fit to declare our town a COVID-19 sanctuary city, so its anything goes around here. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe

Click. Boom.

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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COLUMN: Playing the crazy game of COVID-19 roulette - Enid News & Eagle

Sports betting leads the Spanish internet gaming industry in the first quarter of 2020 – European Gaming Industry News

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The Direccion General de Ordenacion de Juego (DGOJ) Spanish Directorate for Gambling Regulation has recently published its latest quarterly report on online gambling in the country, referring to the period January to March 2020.

According to figures from the regulator, the Spanish internet gaming sector recorded a strong performance during the three-month span, with all verticals contributing to increased revenues both on a year-on-year (12.5%) and on quarter-on-quarter (18%) basis.

In the first quarter, Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) reached barely 218m, with sports betting leading the way. Despite the suspension of sporting events in the country from mid-March, this vertical contributed with 111m, accounting for 51% of the total while recording a yearly growth of 8.7%.

The sports betting revenue was primarily driven by in-play betting with 61.3m up to March, as well as fixed odds betting; which accounted for 46.3m and rose 13% compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Casino, poker, and bingo on the rise as well

The online casino segment recorded a GGR of 78m, up 16% year-on-year. The biggest rise within this vertical was Live Roulette, up 35% to contribute with 18.5m, but Slots remain the largest contributor with 43.2m 55% of the total revenue for casino.

Poker, a vertical that has enjoyed a worldwide boom during the sports suspension, increased its contribution to the Spanish online gambling revenue to 24.2m in the first quarter, with 13% growth in inter-annual terms.

The remaining verticals, bingo, and contests (where players pay to participate in a prize draw) experienced likewise inter-annual growth; 15% the former and almost 50% the latter, but their contributions remain residual: just above 3m for bingo and less than 2m for online contests.

Investment in marketing by online operators reached 118m, up 28% from the previous year, led by the 46% increase in spending on bonuses awarded as both welcome offers and prizes, which represents more than a third of the marketing investment in the quarter. However, more than 50% of the marketing spending as a whole remained focused on advertising, as it reached 59.5m on a rise of 24% year-on-year.

Half of the internet operators offer sports betting

The primacy of sports over the rest of online gambling segments also reflects in the number of companies running sports betting websites legally in the country. In March, out of the eighty operators licensed by the Spanish regulatory body, half of them offer betting on sports.

Aside from the tasks of supervision and regulation, the Direccion General is also in charge of blocking gambling websites operating in Spain without the license. The illegal online operators should be avoided as they do not offer the necessary security guarantees and, on top of that, in many cases are fraudulent companies.

To stay away from unnecessary risks, one can always use the services of sports betting comparison sites, such as Miscasasdeapuestas. In this portal, you will find analysis and listings of the best betting bonuses and online bookmakers operating in Spain legally; that is, with licensing by the regulator.

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Sports betting leads the Spanish internet gaming industry in the first quarter of 2020 - European Gaming Industry News

Safety is the First Priority while Joining Online Game – BittFlex

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If we look at the worlds history, we shall find an aged cask full of amusements. Among those amusing aspects, the casino is one which has been flavouring our mind centuries after centuries. At first, it was a game, only for the people who belong to the lavish class of society. But, in the modern era, it has become more popular and opened to all types of community.

South Korea is a country where the casino business has widely expanded. Besides, people are eager to play the games of casino. Despite having the strict rule, still, there are around 17 casinos, and only one casino allows the Korean to play and to enter in rest of the casinos, the foreign passport works as the key of the entrance. To fulfil this amusement need, some technologist analyzed the demand and the casino named sponsored a web portal to play casino games.

The websites can is accessable from anywhere around the earth through the internet, and for cash transactions, internet banking is enough. All one need just a smart gadget or a personal computer. Another vicious fact is there are many scams found over the internet. So before depositing cash, judge the website and authority is quite essential. And Woori Casino is a sign of excellence in this modern online casino business system. The sites of Woori Casino are

The King Casino is a site where one can feel the natural essence of the casino. This casino offers a variety of games like SA games, W Games, S Games, HO Games. This casino is widely famous for the Baccarat, Roulette and the most amazing Blackjack. Besides, this site is safe to join as a member, after launching this site Woori Casino is maintaining the transactional cash system with their security. This casino is a highly secured platform to play bet.

The name was Yeska Casino when the authority launched this casino site and opened for the world. Now the administration has changed the name and formed it as Yes Casino. It has all the games and facilities what a modern online casino must keep to serve the bettors. And the transactional cash process is highly secured and quick. No factors can disappoint the member of this casino. Nonetheless, right now, the casino authority has paused the sign-up process due to keeping the existing membership holder hygiene and satisfied. It is a try worthy casino that one must try out when it allows people to join as a member.

Another concern of Woori Casino is the Sands Casino. The journey of this casino started back in 2016, and till now, it is accepting new members. The demand and the ration of joining form are quite high that it may have to pause the sign-up procedures soon. Before it occurs, real bettors and risk-takers must try it for once. It has all the modern microgames, including Blackjack, Roulette and Baccarat. For the new members, the coupon of winning 30,000 won is available on sign-up.

First Casino is another famous site to play bet. It is developed by Woori Casino as well. The variety of modern casino games is available to play. Besides having the fantastic interface, this casino has a package of advanced cash transactional procedures. Administration of this casino ensures the highest possible quality service. This sites immense popular games are S games, E games, HO Games, Roulette and many more.

The Nine Casino is an entirely safe casino to transact cash. They have secure signing and depositing procedures as well as the withdrawal is pretty much straightforward. Like other casinos, it has the same games with extraordinary quality, eye-catchy interface. Nowadays, this casino site has paused accepting new forms. But they have another portal to sign-up, and the benefits are as safe as this one.

The ending of accepting new member of the Nine Casino is the beginning of the run of Duzon Casino. This casino has made a brilliant success by providing safe and sound security. This site was founded in February of the following year 2020, and the administration panel has packed the place with advanced cash security factors. For the new member request, these sites are providing coupons to 30,000 won.

Coin Casino is a place where one can coin their cash to play bet. Besides, they have a platform for VIP members and extraordinary privileges. This casino is a concern of Woori Casino as well. Moreover, they are also providing a coupon for joining this casino site.

007 Casino has an interface and looks that makes someone feel a great lust. Furthermore, their advantages are jaw-dropping. They also provide coupons on new joining and bonus is available on deposit.

These are some of the safest sites to play and gamble. There some other sister sites of Woori Casino with their privileges one can search on Google.

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Safety is the First Priority while Joining Online Game - BittFlex

Rules of All Slots That You Must Know! – Programming Insider

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Not very long ago all slots games were not the main attraction in a casino. They were simply a way to pass some time, while your friend or spouse played on the real games like cards, roulette, baccarat, etc. However, now slots account for an average of 70% of nearly every casinos revenue, even more in certain regions. Its safe to say that theyve come a very long way from their humble beginnings.

Back then, all slots had very small jackpots, and terrible payout percentages, but you could spin the reels for a penny! Therefore, no one minded that they might not win more than a few dollars. Additionally, you could qualify for extras like free accommodations, meals, or shows when visiting casinos to play slots. Those privileges were reserved for table game players only.

The casino industry has evolved so much that its barely recognizable from the past. Slots now cover a major portion of land-based casino real estate. And even at the top online casinos like Jackpot City NZ, these games dominate the website.

Why All Slots Games Are the Most Popular?

There are many reasons why people started to prefer slots over any other type of game. Firstly, all slots games are usually the easiest to start playing in the casino. Secondly, they are relatively low commitment and inexpensive to play; for just a few cents or dollars on modern slot games, you can win massive jackpots. Sometimes millions of dollars!

New members or visitors to any casino can find interacting with other players and learning how to play table games intimidating. Therefore, they settle into the slots area for a more low-key experience. But as low profile, as they might seem, slots games actually offer the biggest rewards of every casino game.

How to Play Slots

The most popular of all slots games are usually the cheapest, at a nickel, dime, quarter, but the games that are a dollar or more per spin are more likely to payout. Even video slots use the same system of valuation based on real cash or credits.

All physical slot machines have an acceptor for currency where you can insert your card or a bill for some credits. When you push the buttons, you are playing one or more credit for each spin, when it runs out, you must add more money to continue.

Online slots or video slots work in the same way, you add funds to your account and play. You will find games that have from 5 to even 50 pay-lines on which you can use your credits for chances to win. The more pay lines you play (and more credits) the greater your odds of hitting the jackpot.

The new modern slots have exciting additions like scatter symbols that trigger bonus rounds or games with the game. These extra features increase your chances of winning or they increase your winnings by multiples like 3 or 5 times more credits.

All slots players will find interesting and thrilling new games popping up almost daily. Its exciting to see new developments and innovations in the worlds favorite casino game!

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Sohn: We’re gambling badly with COVID-19, our kids and our schools – Chattanooga Times Free Press

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How many more sick people and deaths must we see before we get it?

"Get it" here has a double meaning, of course: How many more must we see before we comprehend the truth of our willful blindness about this dangerous virus and/or before we all become sickened mourners?

Here we are, readying to send our precious children and their teachers to the first day of public school on Wednesday despite leading national experts' advice to wait for a community COVID-19 test positivity rate of 5% or lower.

Our average percentage of positive tests in Hamilton County since July 16 was 8.8%, local health officials reported Friday. Even with last week's drop in daily new cases no doubt thanks to the county's recent but unenforced mask mandate the best decline we've seen put us at 6.7%. But cases and deaths trended up again over the weekend.

But those figures likely don't tell the whole story, as we don't know the true number of cases that go unconfirmed. Here are some numbers we do know:

* The McCallie School football team has halted contact preseason practices after having at least 11 players test positive for COVID-19 before classes open there on Aug. 18

* About 100 miles north of us, more than 80 students at Cookeville High School have been quarantined for 14 days during the first week of classes after a student tested positive. An additional seven teachers and staff, and a bus driver, also are at home in the mostly rural Putnam County due to a positive test of contact with someone who tested positive.

* About 100 miles south of us, North Paulding County High School just west of Marietta, Georgia, made headlines when a student's photo of a crowded school hallway after classes started Aug. 3 went viral and the student who shot the picture was suspended. Since then, nine coronavirus cases were reported, according to a letter from the principal. Six of those cases were students and three were staff members, the letter said. (After some outrage, the 15-year-old student with the camera was readmitted to school.)

* There's more trouble in Georgia: In Cherokee County, a second-grader testing positive resulted in 20 other students and the teacher being asked to quarantine for two weeks. Marietta city schools have seen at least five employees test positive after the system began "preplanning" work on July 27. And in Gwinnett County Public Schools, about 260 employees had either tested positive or been exposed to COVID-19.

* Roughly 500 mostly maskless Republicans gathered for three hours at a fundraising event at the Chattanooga Convention and Trade Center on July 31. Health officials have warned that at least one person in the infectious period of COVID-19 was there. How many GOP celebrants took that exposure home to their children and other family members?

People! Can we not read? Do we not watch news? Do we not understand that alternative schooling arrangements do not mean children's education and well-being are abandoned? Do we not understand that taking the most protective actions we can against this virus is not a matter of health vs. economy?

READ MORE:Hamilton County braces for impact of schools reopening amid coronavirus pandemic

In fact, if we don't better protect the regions' and nation's health, we are dooming the economy and threatening our children's future of any kind.

Our divisive president has said falsely that children are "virtually immune" to COVID-19. But physicians and data tell a different story.

* More than 97,000 children nationwide tested positive for COVID-19 "in just the last two weeks of July," according to a report published last week by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association. The report states there was a 40% increase in child cases across the states and cities that were studied. Another new report suggests older children can transmit the virus just as much as adults, and yet another study says children younger than 5 carry a much higher viral load than adults.

* At least 86 children have died since May, according to the new report. Last week, a 7-year-old boy with no pre-existing conditions became the youngest coronavirus victim in Georgia.

* Overall, the U.S. has just seen five days in a row of more than 1,000 daily deaths until Saturday. And over the weekend we topped five million reported infections since the start of the pandemic, with at least 163,000 deaths.

What more do we need to see?

Times Free Press sports columnist Mark Wiedmer this weekend took on another schools-related COVID folly: Our "colossally stupid game of Russian roulette we football-addicted Southerners keep playing, and losing, against the coronavirus."

"Time to end it," Wiedmer demanded. "No football for high schools in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and everywhere else where your words roll slowly and sweetly from your lips, as if bathed in molasses. ... We have seen the enemy, and it is as much us as it is COVID-19."

He is right. We all need to stop whining about wearing masks or social distancing or diminished partying.

But most of all, we need no more politicking. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp need to mandate masks statewide and help all our schools get the online learning tools they need. You, governors: You need to do what's right.

As for the rest of us? Let's be like the 15-year-old with a camera in Paulding County and make some good trouble to force better school policy.

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Sohn: We're gambling badly with COVID-19, our kids and our schools - Chattanooga Times Free Press

Reopening schools: What do teachers think? | nwLaborPress – Nwlaborpress

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So many of our teachers have contacted me to say, I feel like Im being asked to play Russian roulette with my life or with my immunocompromised childs life. PAT president Elizabeth ThielIs it possible for schools to reopen safely?Can online education substitute for in-person instruction?As school districts debated those questions and ultimately pushed back in-person reopening to at least November, Labor Press reporter Don McIntosh turned to Madison High School English teacher Elizabeth Thiel, the newly elected president of Portland Association of Teachers (PAT), for answers.

What was PAT members reaction to the plan to reopen at half capacity?

The vast majority of our members believe that the best and only option is online, because of safety. Nobody wants to be back in classrooms with students more than teachers. Distance learning is not what we want. It is absolutely not the best educational model. Its not what we were trained to do, and its not how we best connect with our students. But we have a responsibility for our students safety as well as our workers safety and the safety of all our family members in the community. Talking with our superintendent, it seems more and more clear that the hybrid model would not be sufficient to keep people safe. Part of it is we dont have answers to basic questions, like so many of our classrooms dont have good ventilation. We dont have operable windows in all of our classroom. We dont have touch-less sinks; in fact most schools have sinks where you have to hold the faucet with one hand in order to put the other hand under the water or it automatically springs back. So even washing hands is tricky in our schools. And then you think about things like fire drills, earthquake drills, and active shooter drills, which are required under state law. And theres no way to do that under social distancing. And of course the Oregon Department of Education guidelines talks about isolating anybody with COVID symptoms. And any teacher will tell you that on any given day, there are a number of students who have stuffy noses. And what are we actually going to do when the school bus arrives and one or five or 20 kids have runny noses? The logistics of what this mean are just baffling to imagine, when we know COVID is rapidly spreading. There are so many questions that have not been figured out, like how do you move through the hallway maintaining social distancing? How do you eat and serve lunch with kids being apart from one another? How do you have recess when kids arent supposed to be touching the same equipment? For teachers that all brings forward some pretty bleak questions about how that kind of classroom environment can be developmentally appropriate for kids, when youre talking about six year olds being asked to sit at a desk for the entire day without partnering, without sharing manipulatives with other kids, without a teacher coming up right next to them to read their writing. So much of teaching is about relationships and proximity, and partnering and collaboration. So what in-person teaching would look like under those guidelines isnt the kind of teaching that were all dying to get back to.

Its one thing to expect a high school student to sit in a row and keep to themselves, but how are you going to get kindergarten, first grade second grade students to maintain six feet distance and do everything theyre told?

And what happens when they dont? Thats another anxiety that teachers have expressed: Is it my job to be the social distancing police? How much of my time will be spent teaching and connecting with kids in positive ways, and how much will be spent telling kids to put their masks back on right, to step away from that kid, not to touch that kids book? So many of our teachers have contacted me to say, I feel like Im being asked to play Russian roulette with my own life, or my immunocompromised childs life, or my parents life who Im caretaker for. The stakes are very real.

Teachers unions have resisted widespread adoption of online learning as a replacement for in-person instruction. Now the epidemic has forced the issue. How did you feel about the way it went at the end of the last school year?

We do not believe that online is the best model for kids, and we are forced to use it and figure out how to use it best. There are so many problems with online learning. Some kids dont have as stable internet access as others, or any internet access. So access to learning is not equitable. There were many students who did not engage or who dropped off after a period of time in distance learning and stopped coming back. The district did provide Chromebooks and hot spots [portable Wi-Fi connection], but there were students who were sharing a hotspot or Chromebook with siblings. Beyond that, some students have a parent at home who was able to help and guide them through learning, and other students did not. Some students have a quiet place to work, dependably. And other students are sharing a crowded living space with many other kids and without adult support at home.

Even in the best of circumstances, what were the limitations you were seeing with online learning?

The lack of relationships. Kids are looking at a screen, theyre listening, but you cant make friends. You cant make eye contact with people. Your teacher cant look over your shoulder to see what youre working on. The lack of in-person social interactions gets in the way of every aspect of teaching and learning. Teaching is based on relationships.Partner work is a lot harder to organize, face-to-face discussion, all the engagement strategies that we use in classrooms to meet kids social and emotional needs dont work the same way over virtual learning.

And that leads me to the worst case scenario: How on earth do kindergarten, first and second grade students get something out of online learning?

It is a huge challenge. Its not developmentally appropriate for a five or six or seven year old to be sitting in front of a computer receiving screen instruction. Educators have had to be creative in figuring out how to support kids in developmentally appropriate activities while not being able to be there with them. A lot of teachers are figuring out the best thing they could do, which maybe would be small group meetings with fewer kids, meeting one-on-one to read with kids over the Internet and providing activities and projects that kids can do independently at home and then report back or email in. But all these things are a huge challenge with our little kids especially. We want to be there with them. We want to show them how to hold a pencil, how to socialize with a large group of people, how to wait their turn. How to ask someone to play. All these things, goals of early education, are not there over distance learning.

Were teachers consulted when the district was making plans about whether and how to reopen?

Teachers have been part of some committees going through what it would take to get kids back in schools. Ive been going to all those committee meetings. Whats becoming clearer and clearer and what myself and others have been saying at those meetings, is as weve seen outbreaks in Kindercares and sports teams, as the numbers of COVID cases and hospitalizations have gone up, teachers increasingly reached the conclusion that its not going to be safe to go back to the schools. Going through this process of planning out how it would look, the logistical difficulties, its just crystal clear theres not a way to run schools at 50% capacity that wouldnt continue spreading the virus. [Given that governor is saying no gatherings more than 10] the notion that schools should have a totally separate set of safety standards is insulting and wrong headed. The research is more and more clear that students do spread COVID. And the adults who care for themtheir teachers and their family members are vulnerable to catching it from kids. When you apply the same safety standards that are being applied to other public places, libraries, stores, theres no way to rationalize having 15 students stay in a classroom for six hours out of the day.

With parents relying on schools to be a safe place for kids while they can go to work, if education is taking place online at home, how does that work for parents who cant be there or are forced to stay home and cant work?

We are failing as a society right now to meet these needs. In order to open schools safely, we need to control the spread of COVID 19. And what we have seen is an absolute failure to do that in our country. If opening schools is the objective, then number one, we need to be seriously looking to stop the spread as other countries have done with greater success. We absolutely have the means and the resources to do it. We have to be able to support families to stay home without fear of losing their housing, for the period of time that it takes to stop the spread. We failed to do that. So in the Spring, when we were looking towards Fall reopening, it was imagining that we had followed the advice of the World Health Organization and stopped the spread of the disease. Since we havent, were in a position where opening up schools puts peoples lives at risk. Further, if opening up school is the goal, and is important for the economy, which I absolutely understand that it is, then it merits the investment of what it would cost to open up schools in a safe way. And that would include quite a bit more funding to allow for much smaller classes. It would look like doubling or more the number of teachers we have so that kids could be in small groups. Not to mention funding PPE and bigger investments, like HVAC systems, to make sure we have air flow in our rooms. Small class sizes will always benefit our kids, and this epidemic is definitely highlighting how far away we are from that. Having classroom spaces that have adequate ventilation is always something that weve needed. Right now it is particularly unsafe to be in spaces that dont have adequate ventilation, but thats been the case in our schools for a long time.

As you mention, one of the solutions that may be needed is class sizes of the sort that teachers and parents have been advocating for a long time. Is this an opportunity to rethink how we school our children? If we had to develop all this from scratch would we do it the same way?

This is a phoenix rising moment. We have a crisis in how we run public schools. We need to come out of this better, and smaller class sizes is one of those things. Meeting students social and emotional needs has always been crucial, and right now it is front and center because as a country we are living through a historic trauma. We need to reimagine schools so they better serve our students needs around racial equity and better serving all of our students. We see that racial inequities are being highlighted by the COVID epidemic itself and by the inequities in how distance learning is impacting students and families. Our school system needs to put the funding and the thought into serving all of our students better. Special education has really come up as a huge need. Our special educators really found themselves with the impossible task of offering individualized instruction to kids who now they cant see in person and cant work with in groups, and cant use the specialized instructional models they have developed for those kids.

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Reopening schools: What do teachers think? | nwLaborPress - Nwlaborpress

Robinhood app luring and robbing amateurs like in the dot-com era – Fox Business

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Allianz chief economic adviser Mohamed El-Erian argues apps like Robinhood are reducing the barriers to retail entry. He also provides insight into the coronavirus pandemic, initial jobless claims, earnings and how to allocate capital in the current market environment.

The 1990s were simpler times. The news was dominated by Bill Clintons various sexual escapades, but also a bubble in internet-related stocks that was partly fueled by thedemocratization of stock trading.

The latter inflated the stock market generally, and if youre old enough to remember, pretty much crashed it. Newbie investors took the brunt of the crash, with some losing their lifesavings, well after professional traders had sold their positions.

Now history may be repeating itself in the form of Robinhood,a stock-trading appthat has become something of a cultural phenomenon during the pandemic.

Robinhood now boasts 13 million users and growing about 3 million of those joinedsince COVID-19 hit.Bars and gyms are closed, people are in lockdown, but Robinhood gives you a chance to make money and a way to alleviate boredom.

Its aided and abetted by the massive government economic-relief effort that appears to make trading a no-lose proposition, enticing retail investors to flip stocks just like they did two decades ago.

During the dot-com era, there was a famous commercial of an office clerk teaching a C-suite executive how to trade online. Meanwhile, Robinhood is so easy to use that even a Luddite like me can set up an account and start trading stocks, options or cryptocurrencies in a matter of minutes, as I did in preparation for this story.

Plus its free, or at least thats the impression the company wants to give (there are no commissions, but Ill explain how the company makes money later).

Theres a lot to like about Robinhood. Its a clean, easy-to-use interface. You can even get a free stock for signing up. I received a free share of a company called Agenus, trading under the symbol of AGEN for $3.28, a company described in my Robinhood portfolio as a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company.

But the lure of Robinhood is also the lure of the roulette wheel you can make a lot of money, but youcan also lose a lotbecause trading isnt easy. Its something that is honed and perfected and even the best go through periods of losing money.

Of course, I found none of this on Robinhoods website. Nowhere does it tell me that my free share of stock is described by Wall Street pros as a speculative penny stock because it trades below $5 a share.

And that gets to the problem with Robinhood its built for the person who doesnt know a lot about the markets and doesnt ask a lot of questions.

Its also built for people who think they can trade like the big guys, people like Steve Cohen, Dan Loeb, Ken Griffin. To arm you against the professional, Robinhood gives users access to research and reporting in its news feed, but again, when much of this type of news hits the tape, the pros have already traded on it.

Thats not insider information, but the way the Wall Street information mill works. The big guys who pay the biggest commissions get the best info, not some guy trading a few shares of AGEN.

Robinhood is now valued at around $8 billion given its recent success, meaning its heading for a big IPO payday itself. You might ask how it makes money without charging brokerage commissions, and the simple answer is that it sells its trading-order flow to third parties that match buyers and sellers, a practice known as payment for order flow.

Big brokers pay Robinhood for order flow because they can trade out of these orders at huge profits, and given all the action on Robinhood, brokerages are clamoring for this business. In other words, nothing comes for free, and Robinhood users are the product, just like they are on Facebook.

Im not a Robinhood hater. Founders Baiju Bhatt and Vlad Tenev come from immigrant families and met at Stanford and created a great business designed to bring in those whove been left out of the system by making investing more approachable, a company spokesman tells me. Moreover investing is a worthwhile pursuit, and thats why there are mutual funds and index funds for the masses.

But there is a learning curve to buying and selling individual stocks, which isnt investing but the profession of trading. Thats how Steve Cohen makes $1 billion a year and can affordto buy the Mets.

Many eye 'Tik'ing a chance

The Microsoft bid to buy controversialsocial-media app TikTokis far from over, but already the tech giant is receiving interest from outside investors to join its bidding group, sources tell me.

These potential co-investors include General Atlantic Partners and Sequoia Capital, both current investors inTikToks Beijing-based parent, ByteDance, sources with knowledge of the matter say. In addition, dont be surprised if a big private-equity firm jumps into the group.

Keep in mind, a lot can happen between now and the time that Microsoft actually makes a bid. It is currently focused on TikToks US operations around 100 million monthly users, mainly Gen-Zers and social-media influencers in this country who use the short-video app to post everything from dance videos to commentary to political satire. But TikToks audience is expected to expand; sports franchises are said to be interested in posting.

That said, a Microsoft bid is far from a done deal. The company has looked at whether buying just the US portion makes sense since TikTok has 800 million users globally. Moreover, it will have to convince President Trump that the app issecure from Chinese influence.

While all this plays out, TikToks future in the US is ticking away.

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Robinhood app luring and robbing amateurs like in the dot-com era - Fox Business

Proud Boys show at Sandy ‘Back the Blue’ rally – Pamplin Media Group

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Proud Boys Alan Swinney, Andrew Duncomb make appearance at the pro-police rally.

Dozens of people lined Highway 26 in Sandy Tuesday evening, Aug. 4, waving flags while shouting support for local police and the re-election of President Donald Trump.

The event was originally promoted as a show of support for local enforcement, meant to honor Sandy Police and other local officers on what would have been National Night Out.

While the majority of the 50 to 60 people who attended brought signs saying they "back the blue" or displayed American and thin blue line flags, there also was a large presence in support for President Trump, either waving Trump flags, wearing Trump 2020 hats and/or chanting their support.

Several motorists traveling on Highway 26 honked in support.

Sandy Backs the Blue co-organizer Dixie Bailey said two minor incidents occurred during the event. One person in a passing car mooned the demonstrators and another man showed up in his underwear to "try and make us look bad," Bailey said.

Some passersby made crude hand gestures or shouted "F*** Trump!" or "Black Lives Matter," while those in attendance responded with "Four more years," "Trump, Trump, Trump," "He's your president, snowflake" or "All Lives Matter."

"I felt like the (flag) wave went really well," Bailey said. "We all really enjoyed supporting our local (law enforcement officers). I was extremely grateful to see so much community support."

Two men came from out of state Texas and California and showed support of the pro-police group Sandy Backs the Blue.

One was Andrew "Black Rebel" Duncomb, who was reportedly filming the unrest in downtown Portland on July 25 at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse and Multnomah County Justice Center when he was allegedly stabbed by a protestor who Duncomb said identifies as being part of the "antifa" movement, a loose coalition of left-leaning protesters who oppose fascism.

Duncomb said activists had alerted others to his presence and identity before he confronted one of the men who'd been following his group. He said he was stabbed in the back during that incident.

After that experience in Portland, Duncomb said he feels more welcome in Sandy. He followed his "fellow patriot" Alan Swinney to a previous Sandy flag wave.

"I think in small communities like this, (these events) encourage people to fight back and take this country back," Duncomb said. "We are under attack. I can't even walk downtown Portland without being attacked."

Swinney expressed similar sentiment, saying "America is under attack and we need to try to do something to stand up for it."

Both men have been linked to the Proud Boys, a far-right organization described as a hate group by members of the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League.

According to the ADL's website:

"The Proud Boys represent an unconventional strain of American right-wing extremism. While the group can be described as violent, nationalistic, Islamophobic, transphobic and misogynistic, its members represent a range of ethnic backgrounds, and its leaders vehemently protest any allegations of racism.

"Their founder, Gavin McInnes, went so far as to file a defamation lawsuit against the Southern Poverty Law Center when the SPLC designated the Proud Boys a hate group. In McInnes' own words, the Proud Boys are a 'pro-western fraternity,' essentially a drinking club dedicated to male bonding, socializing and the celebration all things related to western culture. In reality, the Proud Boys bear many of the hallmarks of a gang, and its members have taken part in multiple acts of brutal violence and intimidation."

Aside from the Proud Boys, a few other out-of-towners came to support Sandy Backs the Blue.

One woman, who asked to remain anonymous, came from Gresham for the event. She said she is moving to Sandy soon and is "excited to get into a community that doesn't support hate and violence."

"Gresham claims it's not a city that values hate," she said. "I'm totally insulted they're flying the terrorist Black Lives Matter flag. I came out here to back the blue. I have all the respect in the world for the police."

Another woman, Cindy, who refrained from giving her full name, came from Rhododendron to "show support for my country, support for my president and support for the police."

While dozens came out to the event, Juli Hager, co-organizer of the Sandy Backs the Blue, said she had hoped to see members of the local anti-racism group, the Sandy STAND UP Movement, there.

Bailey said in an earlier interview that the event was open to all, was to be "non-political" and that leaders of the STAND UP Movement had been invited.

STAND UP leaders told The Post they'd informed their members of the event and made attending the flag wave an individual member decision.

"I wish the other group would come out," Hager said as the flag wave was kicking off. "To have people at odds doesn't sit well with me."

"I chose not to go because I did not want to stand alongside Proud Boys and those supporting them in this community," Sandy STAND UP co-organizer Lindsay Polk said. "It goes against what I (we) are trying to change in Sandy."

Sandy STAND UP co-organizer Tracy George echoed Polk's comments, saying "I did not go personally because with the presence of (Proud Boys). It did not feel like a safe situation to put myself or my children in."

Other members of the STAND UP group have expressed similar concerns about the Proud Boys' presence in Sandy.

For more information about the group, visit their Facebook page.

You count on us to stay informed and we depend on you to fund our efforts.Quality local journalism takes time and money. Please support us to protect the future of community journalism.

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Proud Boys show at Sandy 'Back the Blue' rally - Pamplin Media Group

Man seen in area of homemade explosive at Portland protest ID’ed as ex-Navy SEAL – OPB News

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Shortly after someone threw a makeshift explosive devices at protesters in Southeast Portland early Saturday morning, a man wearing dark clothes and carrying a military style helmet with night-vision goggles was videotaped near the area.

Multiple people say the man in the video appears to be a retired U.S. Navy SEAL and former Central Intelligence Agency contractor who has worked in Afghanistan and spoken out on social media against the nightly Portland demonstrations.

Protesters gathered at Laurelhurst Park before marching to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office in Southeast Portland on May 31, 2020.

Jonathan Levinson / Jonathan Levinson

No one was injured in the small explosions, but the attack suggests a new, dangerous dynamic. For the past 73 days of protests against systemic racism and police violence, there has been a continuous fear that right-wing demonstrators would become involved, leading to violence. Now, it appears that may have happened.

In a livestreamed video filmed during protests demanding the police be defunded or abolished, roughly a dozen protesters are seen gathered in Southeast Portlands Laurelhurst Park. Some people shout toward a darkened wooded area and point flashlights, calling for someone to come out of the woods. An object then lands near protesters and explodes into a bright light and a plume of smoke.

Protesters shout and call after a person who is not visible in the video. In a later video, a protester shows a second unexploded device that appears to be a pipe containing a bag of black powder.

Demonstrator Scott Keeler told OPB he followed a person after the incident. Keeler posted a video of the interaction online and said he had seen the person in the video in the park after the explosions had gone off.

Keelers video shows a man dressed in dark clothing and carrying a ballistic military style helmet with night vision goggles attached to it.

The man walks away from the person shooting the video and paces between vehicles parked in a residential neighborhood. The person shooting the video shines a flashlight in the mans eyes.

Hey, you want to stop, Keeler says.

Look man, Im not the guy you want to fuck with, the man with the helmet says.

Ok, then why are you throwing bombs at people? Keeler asks.

I dont know what youre talking about, the man answers. But Im not that guy you want to fuck with.

It is not clear if the man in the video had anything to do with the device that exploded in Laurelhurst Park. But multiple people told OPB the man in the video resembles Louis Garrick Fernbaugh, a retired Navy SEAL who said in court documents he is a former contractor for the Central Intelligence Agency and that he held a top secret security clearance. In a 2018 Clackamas Review op-ed, Fernbaugh also said hes held a security clearance his entire adult life.

In a mid-July post on LinkedIn during the height of federal policing on Portland streets, Fernbaugh boasted he had infiltrated ANTIFA during previous nights of protests and offered to help other people opposed to the protests do the same.

A July 2020 LinkedIn comment by Garrick Fernbaugh claims he "infiltrated ANTIFA" during protests in downtown Portland. Fernbaugh, a retired Navy SEAL and former CIA contractor, was seen leaving the Laurelhurst park carrying a ballistic helmet and night vision goggles after someone threw a makeshift explosive at protesters.

Screenshot

Fernbaugh was a brand ambassador for Red Frog Team, a female-owned small business that teaches gun safety to women, according to the companys owner.

The company ordered a cease and desist a year and a half ago for any affiliation with him, said Shannon Monihan, Red Frog Teams owner, because there were issues and I needed that person not affiliated with this company.

At OPBs request, Monihan reviewed the video of the moments after the Laurelhurst Park explosions. She said the man captured on camera in the area is Fernbaugh. .

Hes not affiliated with Red Frog, Monihan reiterated. Yes, thats Garrick Fernbaugh in the video.

Fernbaugh did not answer several calls made to phone numbers associated with his name or messages on social media.

Numerous photos and videos posted on social media of Fernbaugh appear to match the person in the video posted after the explosions. A former law enforcement official who recognized Fernbaughs voice on Keelers video said he was certain enough that its Fernbaugh that he planned to contact the FBI. A former acquaintance who has known him for several years also confirmed that it is Fernbaugh in the video.

Im about trying to make the world a safer, better place at the end of the day, and reutilize some of these skill sets that we have that can help make that happen, Fernbaugh said in a February 2019 interview on the Military Wire podcast about the security work hes done since leaving the military.

In an affidavit filed in connection with his 2013 divorce proceedings, Fernbaugh said he is a government consultant and worked overseas for months at a time, returning to Happy Valley during his time off.

I work in a highly dangerous field and am constantly in danger in an effort to provide for my family, the affidavit reads.

A 2014 trial memorandum submitted by his soon to be ex-wife said they separated in March 2013 because of domestic violence.

Given the sensitive nature of his work as a government independent contractor, Wife never reported any incidents to law enforcement, the memorandum says. Until now, she has agreed to keep the details of his abusive behavior out of the court file in order to preserve his employment.

The confrontation between the man identified as Fernbaugh and Keeler points to a potential danger that has long existed in Portland demonstrations: conflicts between activists on the left and groups or individuals with right-leaning politics who oppose them. For the last several years, members of groups like the Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer have traveled to Portland and, at times, attacked protesters.

Give me a Fing break, the political violence has been going on for more than two years already, Fernbaugh wrote in a 2018 Facebook post, after explosive devices were sent to CNN and Democratic politicians by a Florida man.

Fernbaugh went on in the post to claim leftists sought a second civil war, repeating a commonly cited conspiracy theory about billionaire investor George Soros.

Soros is known to have paid ANTIFA to instigate rioting and create chaos that has caused millions in damage across numerous cities, but especially Portland, OR, Fernbaugh wrote.

A 2018 Facebook post by Garrick Fernbaugh after explosive devices were sent to CNN and Democratic politicians by a Florida man. Fernbaugh, a retired Navy SEAL and former CIA contractor, was seen leaving the Laurelhurst park carrying a ballistic helmet and night vision goggles after someone threw a makeshift explosive at protesters.

Screenshot

A spokesperson for Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt said the office is aware of the improvised explosive detonation in the video at Laurelhurst Park, but referred questions regarding any investigation to the Portland Police Bureau.

In a statement released Saturday evening, PPB said it received a 9-1-1 call at 2:38 a.m. Saturday reporting bombs going off at the park.

We dont have any witnesses who are willing to speak to us and we dont have any evidence, said PPB spokesperson Officer Derek Carmon. If someone has that device, wed love to have it.

The bureau has not confirmed information regarding any possible suspects in the case.

Conrad Wilson and Ryan Haas contributed to this report.

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Man seen in area of homemade explosive at Portland protest ID'ed as ex-Navy SEAL - OPB News

Shots fired as police clash with protesters in Chicago, Portland and Ferguson on anniversary of Michael Brown’s death – The Independent

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Shots were fired in downtown Chicago, as police clashed with police in Portland and Ferguson on the anniversary of Michael Browns death at the hands of a Missouri police officer.

Early Monday morning, hundreds of protesters smashed windows, stole from shops and clashed with police in downtown Chicago, following an incident on Sunday afternoon.

Shots were also fired at the police at one point and officers fired back, but nobody was injured in the incident, according to police spokesman Tom Ahern.

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The unrest that mainly took place in the citys Magnificent Mile shopping district begun just after midnight, and followed dozens of protesters clashing with police earlier in the day after officers wounded a man in Englewood, just 10 miles from downtown Chicago.

Residents were misinformed that the police had fatally shot a child, which led to an angry crowd forming in the neighbourhood on Sunday, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The incident in Englewood occurred on the sixth anniversary of the death of 18-year-old Mr Brown, who was killed by officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, on 9 August 2014. His death sparked weeks of protests and helped form the Black Lives Matter movement.

In July, it was announced that Mr Wilson will not be charged for Mr Browns death, and peaceful protests and memorial services were held in his honour on Sunday.

A small demonstration in honour of Mr Brown outside the police headquarters in Ferguson also turned ugly when riot place used batons and pepper spray to make a series of arrests.

At a separate protest in tribute to Mr Brown in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday, at least eight people were arrested, as police appeared to use flash grenades and pepper sprayed a demonstrator.

Police clashed with protesters in numerous states in the US on Sunday, including in Portland, where a small group of demonstrators marched to the Portland Police Association building and blocked roads and started fires.

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Over the weekend, at least 33 people were arrested during protests in Portland, while two police officers were treated in hospital, as five others reported injuries.

Black Lives Matter protests have been taking place in Portland and the US as a whole for the last two months, following the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis.

Mr Floyds death sparked protests in every state in the US in opposition to police brutality against African Americans, and protesters in Portland have called for reform of the citys police department

Last month, the Trump administration deployed federal agents to the city after the federal courthouse had become a target of nightly violence.

Despite previously supporting protests, mayor Ted Wheeler called for violence to stop on Thursday after after some demonstrators started a fire outside the Police Bureaus East Precinct building.

Although they are not attracting the same crowds as they did in July when federal agents patrolled the city, some protests in Portland have become more violent in the last week, as other peaceful demonstrations continue separately.

In reaction to more violence over the weekend, president Donald Trump tweeted that Portland should use the National Guard to stop protesters.

He tweeted: Portland, which is out of control, should finally, after almost 3 months, bring in the National Guard. The Mayor and Governor are putting peoples lives at risk. They will be held responsible. The Guard is ready to act immediately. The Courthouse is secured by Homeland!

The National Guard was deployed in multiple states across the US during protests in June and July, but so far Portland has not used them, despite the Trump administration deploying federal agents to protect the courthouse last month.

On Sunday, during a pro-police rally in Seattle, Black Lives Matter protesters clashed with members of alt-right group the Proud Boys, outside Seattle City Hall.

The Proud Boys, which is a male only organisation with a history of white supremacy, clashed with anti-racism protesters after marching through a crowd of them who were there to demonstrate against racial inequality and police brutality.

Punches were thrown as protesters were injured on both sides, and one Black Lives Matter protester was pepper-sprayed by a member of the Proud Boys, according to KOMO News.

Louisville, Kentucky, also saw unrest over the weekend, as 12 protesters were arrested on Saturday as rubbish bins were set on fire and drivers were targeted by demonstrators, according to the Courier Journal.

Black Lives Matter protests coincided with other demonstrations against police brutality and racial inequality in Louisville in May, after Breonna Taylor was killed when police broke down her door in an attempted drug raid, and shot her eight times. No narcotics were found in her residence.

Police spokesman Lamont Washington confirmed that eight of the 12 arrested on Saturday were charged with felonies, while the other four were charged with misdemeanours.

This evening, protesters, during their march, blocked roadways, surrounded vehicles that tried to avoid the protest, shot paintballs (at) passing motorists, destroyed property at 4th Street Live while it was occupied with patrons, set trash cans on fire, and then continued to Jefferson Square, Mr Washington told the Journal.

Based off these actions, the assembly was deemed unlawful.

On Saturday, at a rally that demanded justice for Ms Taylor, Mr Browns father, Michael Brown Sr said that he was dying inside, according to the Daily Mail.

Speaking about Ms Taylors death, he said: I can only imagine what the family goes through every day when they wake up not seeing those smiles. No talk. No hugs, and added: Those things will definitely kill you from the inside out.

We might look OK in the face, but we dying in the inside.

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Shots fired as police clash with protesters in Chicago, Portland and Ferguson on anniversary of Michael Brown's death - The Independent

Ian Kramer, accused of striking woman with a baton during Patriot Prayer-antifa clash, is released from jail – OregonLive

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A 46-year-old man with ties to the conservative group Patriot Prayer posted $2,500 in bail and was released from jail last week pending trial on charges that he bashed a 31-year-old woman on the neck or head with a baton, fracturing her vertebra.

Ian Alexander Kramer had spent nearly a year in jail since his arrest on Aug. 7, 2019. With no trial date in sight because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Multnomah County Circuit Judge Angel Lopez reduced Kramers bail from $269,000 to $25,000 during a July 27 hearing, according to the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office. On Wednesday, two days later, Kramer posted the necessary 10% -- or $2,500 -- and was released, according to jail records.

He is required to regularly report to a Close Street Supervision deputy who will keep tabs on him while hes out.

The prosecution objected. But a year is a long time for a defendant to await a trial on the charges Kramer faces: second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, rioting and other alleged crimes during a large clash between the left-wing group antifa and right-wing Patriot Prayer outside a Northeast Portland pub. Although a trial is currently scheduled for October, its likely that the date will once again be delayed and court officials estimate that it could be sometime in 2021 before Kramers case is heard by a jury.

Mr. Kramer has been in jail for nearly a year now, with no end in sight, defense attorney Dave B. Peters had argued, before the judge made his ruling.

Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson and two other men -- Mackenzie Lewis and Russell Schultz -- are scheduled to go to trial at the same time as Kramer. They each face a single charge of rioting, and none have been kept in jail pending trial.

Court officials have deemed it unsafe to hold such a large trial -- with four defendants and sets of lawyers, plus a jury, witnesses, court staff and members of the public -- in one room as the coronavirus continues to spread unchecked.

Juan Chavez, an attorney representing the interests of the woman Kramer is accused of striking with the baton, said there isnt a strong legal argument to continue holding Kramer. But his client, Heather Clark, is concerned Kramer could be dangerous and that recent protests could tempt him to engage in violence once again.

Ms. Clark understands the moment that were in in the pandemic, but fundamentally we dont feel safe with Mr. Kramer being out in the streets during a moment of national uprising. ...Its not an unfounded fear.

Chavez referred to more than two months of nightly protests over racial injustice and police violence that have taken place in the core of downtown Portland. Chavez also noted that on Monday evening, police say a woman was stabbed by another woman during an argument or dispute, just as that nights protests were firing up.

Lopez, the judge, ordered Kramer to steer clear of any public protests while out on bail. Kramer also must refrain from all contact with Clark.

Kramer is accused of attacking Clark on May 1, 2019, during a large confrontation outside Cider Riot, a Northeast Portland pub that permanently closed last November. A crowd of antifa activists had gathered on the patio of the watering hole at the end of a day of May Day demonstrations. About 20 right-wing protesters, associated with both Patriot Prayer and the group Proud Boys, showed up on the street next to the patio and tensions flared.

Publicly posted videos show a chaotic scene, with shouting, swearing, brawling, drink-throwing and people using pepper spray or mace.

The former pubs owner has filed a $1 million lawsuit against Gibson, Kramer and a few other men for allegedly sparking the May Day melee and intentionally interfering with the pubs ability to conduct business.

Prosecutors say Kramer and others arrived at the establishment looking for a fight, and that Kramer was armed with mace and an asp baton. Prosecutor say video shows Kramer, who was wearing goggles and a helmet, striking the woman as she turned and started to walk away from the right-wing groups.

The woman immediately fell down unconscious on the street. This video captures the incident shortly after the 42-minute mark:

Kramer was arrested and charged more than three months later on Aug. 7, 2019.

During a hearing a few weeks later, Kramers defense attorney at the time, Jason Steen, said Clark was an aggressor just before she was struck because she ran across the street into a crowd of people who are associated with my client with her fists swinging.

During the hearing last August, Lopez, the judge, refused to lower bail from $269,000 -- explaining that Kramer presents a clear and present danger to the community. If convicted of the most serious charge against him -- second-degree assault -- Kramer would receive a minimum five years and 10 months in prison.

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee

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Ian Kramer, accused of striking woman with a baton during Patriot Prayer-antifa clash, is released from jail - OregonLive

Teens take the lead in Boys State doc – Boston Herald

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For Steven Garza, the Sundance-winning Boys State caps a tumultuous time.

Im starring in a movie, Garza, 19, marveled, and Im recovering from COVID!

Boys State documents an American Legion-sponsored weeklong citizenship project where 1,000 17-year-olds create a representative government over the course of a week

Three youths were chosen by directors Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine in advance so that on Day One they had their key characters in the developing story.

Steven has this incredible personal story of a bootstrap kid whose mother is an undocumented (Mexican) immigrant, Moss noted.

Indeed, Garzas mother worked at a gas station; hes the first in his family to pass freshman year high school.

Its almost like I have to succeed, he said. To have parents proud of you is one of the most amazing things you can hear in your life.

Garza, who enrolled in Navy Junior ROTC in high school, was keenly interested in politics. With 70 kids from our area, he went to Boys State orientation and was introduced to Moss the filmmaker and cinematographer Thorsten Thielow.

Jesse asked if I was interested to hang around after for a conversation. About 12 of us stayed back, me being reserved and quiet. Some of the kids were doing these fiery rants to get noticed.

Looking back, he wonders, Who knew why I was getting Jesses attention? We went out to eat so he could know me better. At the end of the interview he asked, Would you want to be a subject?

That was a month before. I had no idea of the scale of the documentary. When I showed up there were seven camera crews. I had a microphone, cameraman and a boom man with me from 7 in the morning until the end at night.

I wasnt expecting any of this. I thought this was a side project. Two years later its a Sundance-winning film. Its all surreal.

One sign the filmmakers knew what they were doing: All their choices figure prominently in the weeks political dramas.

It was a crazy journey, Garza mused. I had done local media with the March for Life (in high school) but Id never had a camera following me around.

So those scenes of me campaigning (in Boys State) were baby steps of not looking at the camera next to you.

Jesse said, Pretend were not there while putting the camera next to my face! I started laughing. But as the week went on, it just became natural. Theres Daniel (Carter) with the camera and his assistant with the boom stick.

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Teens take the lead in Boys State doc - Boston Herald

Jersey City’s Tatiana Cruz Named Boys & Girls Club of America Youth of the Year – TAPinto.net

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JERSEY CITY, NJ - Congratulations are in order for Jersey City resident Tatiana Cruz, named the New Jersey Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

A recent graduate of McNair High School, Cruz has been recognized for her leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to livinga healthy lifestyle. As the New Jersey Youth of the Year, Tatiana will serve as an ambassador for all teens in the state. She will receive a $12,500 college scholarship $10,000 from Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey and $2,500 from Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Tatiana will go on to contend for the regional Youth of the Year and ultimately the national title.

Upon receiving the award, Cruz was completely blown away, "I was questioning it, honestly. I was like, Is this real? Did I hear my name correctly? I was about to cry. I was trying to hold back tears of joy.

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A member of the Boys & Girls Club for eightyears, she participated in many programs including Career Launch and Diplomas to Degrees. In addition, Tatiana held positions for her Clubs teen group dedicated to leadership and community service serving as Keystone Club President and Secretary. Other community service activities include her work with Brunswick Community Garden and Soul Studios Art Residency. Tatiana has received a number of honors including the Horatio Alger Scholarship semi-finalist, QuestBridge National College Match Finalist and the NJ Scholastic Art awards.

Tatiana has also been a member of Junior ROTC, a volunteer at the Jersey City Medical Center, and a participant in the Boys & Girls Clubs workforce development program, resulting in a paid internship at Best Buy. As a member of the Club she has joined a myriad of activities from college tours to art projects to attending the Youth Summit in Boston representing our Teen Tech Center. A few examples of Tatianas commitment to community and the world include being part of the Jersey City March for Our Lives Steering Committee and contributing illustrations to a reading primer created for a school in Rwanda.

Its amazing to be chosen. Im essentially the role model for club kids, and non-club kids," she said. "To be able to promote an organization that cares so much about social justice issues, promoting college career readiness- especially to minority kids.

Cruz graduated from McNair with 3.7 GPA. She will be attending Rutgers University majoring in Neuroscience, and her career aspiration is to be a Physician.

We are incredibly proud of Tatiana and all the Youth of the Year nominees, said Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Being named Youth of the Year is a lifelong honor. As the New Jersey Youth of the Year, Tatiana will serve as a spokesperson for Boys & Girls Club kids across the state who need more role models that they can admire and emulate.

This September, Tatiana will join other state winners to compete for the Northeast regional title and an additional $20,000 college scholarship. Six youth, including five regional winners and a military youth winner, will advance to compete for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of Americas National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year will receive an additional scholarship of $50,000.For more information about the Youth of the Year program, visit http://www.youthoftheyear.org.

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Jersey City's Tatiana Cruz Named Boys & Girls Club of America Youth of the Year - TAPinto.net

Be proud of our youth – Brookings Register

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Last week I was in Brookings for the first time in a few years. I was there for my grandmothers funeral. After leaving the church, as we were on our way to the cemetery, with the fine officers from the Brookings PD leading the way and stopping traffic, my wife and sons and I saw something that humbled us and made us proud. There was a group of boys, young men, playing baseball at Medary Park along Eighth Street South. We didnt see an adult coach or any adult with them. But what we did see was 10 to 12 young men, facing the road, holding their ball caps in their hands, paying respect.

I am positive none of those young men knew who the funeral procession was for. Im pretty sure none of them had ever met my 97-year-old grandmother. Yet they stopped their practicing, turned and paid respect. It brought tears to my eyes that day, just as it is now as I type this.

If you were one of those young men playing ball on that field that day, I want to say thank you. If you are a parent of one of those young men, I want to thank you as well. With all of the other garbage happening in our country right now, all of the negative we see on the news, it was touching to see that kind of respect for someone these guys never knew. Be proud of the way these young men acted. Keep teaching them what you have been, it is working. They will continue to make you, your community, and our world proud.

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Be proud of our youth - Brookings Register

Grapevine Fire Department welcomes first father-daughter duo: I was always really proud of him – The Dallas Morning News

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To Morris Leondar, the fire service has always been one big family.

At the Grapevine Fire Department where hes worked for nearly 26 years, the 55-year-old firefighter said he and his colleagues look out for each other like relatives, sometimes even mowing each others lawns.

So when his daughter Marissa Sauble joined the team on Wednesday, it felt natural to introduce one part of his family to another. But for the department, it was historic.

While Grapevine has had sets of brothers, fathers and sons, and a husband and wife, Sauble and Leondar are the first father-daughter combo to work there at the same time.

I started out my morning, my dad came and told me to have a good day when he was on his way home, 33-year-old Sauble said of her first 24-hour-shift. It was pretty great.

There are rotating shifts at Grapevine, and Sauble and Leondar arent working directly together. Still, Leondar said itll be fun to have the opportunity to stop and chat if she ever comes on duty at his station when hes leaving duty.

Sauble, a firefighter paramedic, is working at one of the stations Leondar was at when she was a child. She said some of her greatest memories were of dinnertime visits there, when she would climb in and out of the fire trucks, look at her heart rate on the monitor, and play with Domino, the departments Dalmatian.

I was always really proud of him growing up, said Sauble, who once borrowed Leondars gear to dress as a firefighter for Halloween. Career days were my time to invite him to school, to kind of show him off and say, My dads got a cool job, look at him!

Though she had confidence in his ability to be safe, Sauble said there was a period of time when she worried about the risks inherent in his profession, and she would wake up early and come downstairs to say goodbye before each of his shifts.

When Sauble decided to join the fire service, Leondar said he also had a temporary moment of concern. To Leondar, a driver-engineer and EMT, some tasks, like dive operations in the fire district's lake or highway work, can be more dangerous than fighting fires.

But Im not gonna hold her back from a career I know she loves, he said. And I know and trust that shes going to get trained way better than I got trained.

Leondar said Grapevine is a safety-conscious department and said that the process of becoming a firefighter in general has become much more rigorous.

Sauble, who attended her dads fire school graduation as a child, had her own ceremony this July. Father and daughter both attended Tarrant County Colleges Fire Academy, as part of Class 7 and Class 91, respectively.

Class 7, we only had like one classroom, one old fire truck, and a drill tower. And that was it, Leondar said. Theres a whole facility now that the school runs out of And these days, the [textbook] is probably three times as thick as it was when I went to school.

For Sauble, 9/11 was the factor that solidified her commitment to becoming a firefighter paramedic. She said she got serious after watching TV coverage in high school, beginning to take medical-related classes and asking her dad for a firefighting essentials book.

Meanwhile, Leondar said he initially joined the fire service simply because he was looking for a job. It only took about a year, he said, before he realized it was much more than just a career.

It gets in your blood, Leondar said. Its a passion for public service, and to help your fellow citizen. You cant make someone have that, it just is and mine turned out to be in the fire service.

He said he plans to retire in a few years, after hitting his third decade with the Grapevine Fire Department. But that doesnt mean the firefighting tradition in his family has to end.

Sauble said her two sons recently have begun telling her they also want to be firefighters. Although the boys are still young, Sauble said shes hopeful one will actually follow in her and her dads footsteps.

We may influence them a little, Leondar said with a chuckle.

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Grapevine Fire Department welcomes first father-daughter duo: I was always really proud of him - The Dallas Morning News

Golf Gives Back teed up this weekend at three area courses – OrilliaMatters

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Program raising money for Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada affected from COVID-19 launches Aug. 15

NEWS RELEASEGOLF GIVES BACK*************************

TORONTO TheGolf Gives Backprogram is designed to engage and encourage youth participation in the game of golf. The goal of the program is to make golf inexpensive, funand to raise $500,000 towards helping the Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada that was affected from COVID-19.

In addition, theGolf Gives Backprogram is proud to offer 100 golf courses six sets of Cobra junior golf clubs in Ontario the opportunity to offer families to use to the Cobra junior golf clubs at no cost during their time at the golfing facility.

Locally, participating clubsinclude Shanty Bay Golf Club, Innisfil Creek andTangle Creek.

TheGolf Gives Backprogram, which launches Saturday, Aug. 15 in partnership with RBC, has created twounique initiatives to give back to the community:

1. Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada is the main beneficiary of theGolf Gives Backprogram from the fundraising efforts to the program.

2. Cobra junior golf program where our golf course partners across Ontario will be receiving 6 sets of junior golf clubs for families in those communities use during practice, during a round of golf, or at camps/lessons at those facilities. The program is being funded by asking people in the community to donate between $10 to $200, and be entered into our contest which includes the Grand Prize of a trip-for-2 to the Masters in 2021, prizes from Cobra Puma Golf, and other great partnering prizes. All of the proceeds for the program are being used to donate to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada and fund the Cobra junior golf initiative.

Be sure to check out our website to find where the local participating golf courses are located to bring your aspiring junior golfer to use the Cobra golf clubs, and support the COVID-19 relief fund atwww.GolfGivesBack.ca.

QUOTES

In these extraordinary times, kids and families need our support more than ever, says Rachael MacKenzie-Neill,VP of Marketing &Development, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. We are thrilled to be the recipient of this amazing initiative that gets kids active, makes sport accessible, and raises money that will help Boys and Girls Clubs continue to offer life-changing programs and services in communities across the country.

Cobra Puma Golf is proud to be part of this great golf initiative, give back to the various communities across Ontario, and helping provide the 6-sets of junior Cobra golf clubs to each of TTG Medias golf courses partners.We are hoping these Cobra golf clubs will provide all junior golfers within these communities a chance to enjoy their time at these golfing facilities, and spend more family time together outdoors having fun, getting exercise (especially with CV-19) and playing golf." Dwayne Boecker, Head of Golf, Cobra Puma Golf

"Its a true pleasure to be working on something so rewarding for both The Boys &Girls Clubs of Canada as well as all the kids in the communities where our golf courses are offering up these amazing sets of clubs. Theres so much fun to be had on a golf course for kids with both their friends and families. More than ever its nice to know you can get outside and have some laughs. Its a true pleasure to make sure all these kids and parents know they can get outside and that they have quality clubs available to try a potential lifelong sport for free." Joe Korman, Founder of TTG Media

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Golf Gives Back teed up this weekend at three area courses - OrilliaMatters