$849,995Style: Garrison ColonialYear built: 1989Square feet: 2,542Bedrooms: 4Baths: 3 fullSewer/water: PublicTaxes: $8,010 (2020)

Call it serenity anytime, not just now.

A recent addition to this Saugus home is 272-square foot she shed. Its not a man cave with curtains, but a stand-alone structure deep on this 1.04-acre lot reached via a winding pathway of washed pebblestone and stepping stones.

Behind the cedar clapboard exterior is a working wood stove and wood-like laminate flooring underneath a vaulted ceiling. Best, though, may be the covered porch, upon which sits two hammocks. Sipping coffee on these rockers? Only for the steady hand.

Adjacent is a hot tub, and just beyond, down a second pathway, is a half basketball court. A fire pit offers a great way to socialize, when you want to.

The main house, located in the Hammersmith Village neighborhood, is a Garrison Colonial with a modern kitchen, a ground-level bedroom/office suite, and a third-floor suite with a balcony.

Entrance is via a multicolored slate walkway to a front door flanked by sidelights. The foyer is so spacious that it currently hosts a grand piano with enough room for listeners to congregate.

On the left, four wide steps connect to the living room. The space features a trio of windows topped with a half-moon one, a working fireplace with a brick surround and a wood mantel, and a towering ceiling. The flooring here is cherry hardwood.

Back out in the foyer, the first-floor suite is on the right. It features two closets (one is a walk-in), beige carpeting, a dome light, and a wide window. The room is connected to the first full bath, which has a shower behind a frosted-glass door, a white ceramic tile floor, beige ceramic tile with accents on the walls, and a white single vanity topped with cultured marble.

The foyer also connects to a formal dining room that boasts exposed brick, a pellet stove, recessed lighting, and an 8-foot slider to one of the homes three patios. The flooring here and in the foyer is cherry hardwood. A dogleg hallway off the dining room leads to doors to the backyard and the two-car garage, as well as a laundry room with a sink. The dining room also connects to the kitchen and living room. They are four steps up.

See more photos of the home below:

In the kitchen, the color scheme changes dramatically from natural wood highlights to a space surrendered to sunshine and varying shades of gray and white. The kitchen boasts a breakfast area with a slider to the deck, a nook perfect for a coffee bar, and enough space to accommodate a table for six. The kitchen offers gray picture-frame cabinets with soft-close drawers and doors and undermounted lighting; polished granite counters; stainless-steel smart appliances (double oven, refrigerator, and hood vent); a farmers sink; a blue-gray glass subway tile backsplash; and a roughly 9-foot-long island with a sink and a granite counter that has a beveled edge. The flooring is gray oak planks.

Stairs between the kitchen and living room lead to the third floor and the homes other bedrooms and baths. The first bedroom has two windows, two closets, and built-in seating, while the second offers two windows and a double closet with a sliding door. All of the bedroom floors are cherry.

The owners suite comes with a slider to the deck, a half-moon window, a vaulted ceiling, and a walk-in closet. The en-suite bath offers a whirlpool tub-shower combo, a bidet, a toilet, a white porcelain tile floor, porcelain tile with a mirrored look on the walls, a window, and a long dual vanity with oak cabinetry and a man-made material on top.

The main full bath offers a tub/shower combo, a single oak vanity topped with a cultured-stone sink, and white ceramic tile for the floor and the shower backsplash.

The attached two-car garage surprises with a vinyl-composite tile floor in a checkerboard design. Additional house features include an updated electrical system, a central vacuuming system, air conditioning, a new roof, and high-efficiency forced-hot water heat by oil.

There is no basement.

Candice Pagliarulo Hodgson of Lyv Realty in Middleton has the listing.

Take the virtual tour.

Follow John R. Ellement on Twitter@JREbosglobe. Send listings tohomeoftheweek@globe.com. Please note: We do not feature unfurnished homes and will not respond to submissions we wont pursue. Subscribe to our newsletter atpages.email.bostonglobe.com/AddressSignUpand follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter@globehomes.

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Home of the Week: Saugus 4-bedroom with a dreamy 'she shed' - Boston.com

After playing just four games with the Sun, Carelton was cut.

The signing of Bridget Carleton last year was something where we said, You know what? We liked this player in the draft, Lynx coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve said. And we had an opportunity.

So why not throw the dart? Thats the position Minnesota was in last season while trying to both contend and acquire young talent. Reeve knew Connecticut thought highly of Carleton, and only had to let the 6-foot-1 wing go after an injury forced the Sun to jumble their roster.

So, Minnesota nabbed Carleton, first on a seven-day deal, then to a contract for the remainder of the season. It had the makings of a tryout for a fringe WNBA player. The Canadian played in four games, never for more than four minutes. Not exactly a breakout performance.

Still, Minnesota brought Carleton back this season.

I know that we thought Bridget Carleton was a good basketball player, Reeve said. We also talked about Bridget in the offseason and what we thought she needed to do to be really good in the WNBA.

And she did it. Carleton arrived in the Twin Cities market this spring in great, great shape, Reeve said. Then she had a great training camp. So, when she scored 25 points in her first career start in Minnesotas win over New York on Aug. 5, Reeve and others werent exactly surprised.

Carleton continues to impress with each opportunity she is given. The now second-year wing scored 15 points to go with four rebounds and three steals in Minnesotas loss to Los Angeles on Sunday.

Carleton has played 23-plus minutes in each of the Lynxs past four contests. In that time, she is shooting 73 percent from the floor and 78 percent from deep while also contributing on the glass.

She has always prided herself on being solid and consistent, doing the right things and making the right reads, and it has been on full display. When her moment finally came, she captured it.

Coming into this season, I knew there were going to be opportunities, Carleton said. I knew I was going to get a chance to do what I can. So, coming into the season, I was ready for that, to take advantage of any opportunity I have.

Entering the season, the backcourt looked to be the Lynxs primary weakness. That was before Lexie Brown and Shenise Johnson missed games. But Carleton filled the gaps, and Reeve now has another more-than-reliable option at her disposal. The coach has touted Carletons unselfishness, as well as the impact shes had on Minnesotas locker room.

So, even when Odyssey Sims makes her expected season debut later this week, and when Johnson eventually returns from injury, its tough to think Carleton wont continue to get ample run.

Shes earned as much.

No matter how many minutes I play, Im going to come out and give it my all, she said. Im going to get stops on defense and be ready to be aggressive on offense. The environment Im in, and the people Im around, give me confidence. Im just as excited to get that opportunity as I ever have been.

Continue reading here:
Stealth addition Bridget Carleton has sparked Lynx's early success - Bemidji Pioneer

Will the changes the Jacksonville Jaguars front office made to the cornerback room pay off with better play in 2020?

The Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback room doesnt look the same as it did at this time last season.

A.J. Bouye is in Denver. Jalen Ramsey got his wish and is now in Los Angeles. The room is young and full of promise but lacks experience. And from the look of things, it will be tested often by opposing quarterbacks who will throw against this team all season.

As of now, rookie C.J. Henderson, the teams first pick in the NFL Draft will start on one side while Tre Herndon will man the other spot. There is plenty of healthy competition for depth. And there is D.J. Hayden who is expected to play in the nickel and provide veteran leadership as much as possible.

Hayden, when healthy, is one of the best at his position in the NFL.

Three of the Jacksonville Jaguars draft picks this past April were cornerbacks, which tells you how the front office believed this was a position of need. They also added J.R. Reed as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia.

The Jaguars executed a major overhaul at the cornerback position, essentially finishing a total transition that began with last seasons midseason trade of All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams, John Oehser of Jaguars.com wrote.

The team got good value for Bouye, a Pro Bowl selection for the Jaguars in 2017 who likely would have been released for cap reasons had he not been traded. Henderson was considered one of the drafts top two cornerbacks. The Jaguars also focused on adding veteran depth, first signing Rashaan Melvin as an unrestricted free agent.

After he opted out of the 2020 season because of COVID-19, the Jaguars this past weekend signed 11-year veteran [Tramaine] Brock. He has spent time with six NFL organizations, including Arizona and Tennessee last season.

If the Jaguars hope a rotation of players will help erase the loss of two former Pro Bowl players, then this is a work in progress. Henderson must come into training camp and perform immediately. Its more difficult to predict how the rookies will pick up the scheme having been away from the stadium and time on the practice field has been limited.

As Oehser also explained, this group of players could become a surprising strength if they show the ability to shut down opposing wide receivers early in the season.

Henderson was considered the drafts best pure coverage cornerback, and he has the physical skill to be a true No. 1 corner, he added. He also reportedly has a tireless work ethic and intense drive to be great. Herndon played as well as any starter in the Jaguars secondary last season, and he and Henderson have the potential to be a very good starting tandem. A somewhat hidden strength of this group?

The Jaguars also brought in Luq Barcoo, who may become an addition to the roster.

Per the Jacksonville Jaguars website, The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed seventh-year DL Josh Mauro, the club announced today. The Jaguars also waived second-year WR C.J. Board.

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Jacksonville Jaguars: Looking at the cornerback room - Black & Teal

The corner of Fulton and School streets in Carthage was for many years the center of education in the village. Today, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 1762 stands on this spot, but in 1884, the time of the Great Carthage Fire, the wooden high school of the day stood on the spot. After it burned to the ground, along with much of Carthage, the school was replaced the next year by a brick building. In 1906 a large addition was added that became the new high school. The 1884 building was replaced in about 1930 by the primary building that also contained a new gymnasium and auditorium.

It was in this second addition that the statues lived. For many of us who attended the Fulton Street School, these were the first exposure we had to classical beauty, otherwise known as naked people. Between the long windows in the auditorium perched on beautiful plinths, was a collection of statues of Greek or Roman fame.

Some were gods or goddesses, like Artemis or Diana the Huntress or Hermes also known as Mercury, the god of trade, wealth and animal husbandry. Some were replicas of David, the well-known Michelangelo statue carved in 1504 and the Venus de Milo, Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty created in 130 B. C.

These eight statues were displayed in the Carthage High School auditorium for many years before being moved to the Carthage Free Library where they are now on display.

According to research, done by Jamie Peck when the new addition to the library was opened in December of 2012, some of the statues were gifts to the school from graduating classes in the early part of the century. They were created by a plaster casting company known as P.P. Caproni & Brother located in Boston, Mass.

The statue of the Winged Victory is on a plinth in the book store area of the second floor reading room. The brass plaque reads: Restored in memory of Muriel W. Wallace, Carthage Shakespeare Club of 1988. A smaller plaque states Presented by Mr. & Mrs. Howe.

Bob Blunden, Carthage High School Class of 1951, recalled a time that the classic Greek and Roman statues lining the top of the Carthage High School auditorium were removed to paint the walls. The statues were graduated in size to heighten the illusion of depth in the already large auditorium and Mrs. Bintz, the head teacher, came in to inspect the job that the workmen were doing. As she gazed around the room, she noted with surprise that the statues had all been returned to the correct wall bracket.

Who was the genius that got them all back in the right places? She asked the men. After some hemming and hawing, one of the men spoke up, Well, maam, he replied, We just matched em up with the marks in the dust.

You can see one of these statues one on the original bracket in the main room of the Carthage Free Library.

Editors note: The author of this piece expressed thanks to Jamie Peck, Terry Heagle, Ginger Favret, Bill Blunden and Kate Newtown who offered help and support for this article.

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Local history: Where did the statues at Carthage Free Library come from? - NNY360

TOPLINE

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Sunday that theres room for compromise when it comes to the lapsed $600 weekly unemployment payment that Democrats have said they want to see reinstated in a new stimulus package, while calling a memorandum President Donald Trump signed Saturday authorizing $400 weekly payments unconstitutional slop.

U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) participates in a news conference August 7, 2020 ... [+] on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Pelosi indicated on CNNs State of the Union that coming down from the $600 number might be something Democrats are willing to negotiate.

When host Dana Bash asked, Are Republicans right when they say that you will not come off of your $600 number, you will not come off of other figures, Pelosi responded, No, thats why were in a stalemate.

Continued $600 weekly federal unemployment payments are something Democrats had consistently said must be included in the next stimulus package.

Republicans are proposing $200 a week payments through the end of the year, instead, arguing that the $600 payments are far too generous and disincentivize Americans from returning to work.

But last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he was prepared to support a coronavirus stimulus bill that continued the $600 weekly payments, with talks between Republicans and Democrats failing to show progress.

Trump threw a massive curveball in negotiations on Saturday when he bypassed Congress and signed an executive order and three memoranda to provide pandemic aid, including one that would provide payments of $400 a week to unemployed workers through the end of the year, a legally questionable move that is likely to be challenged by Democrats in court.

Of course theres room for compromise, but you have to see the entire package, Pelosi said.

The $600 weekly unemployment payments have been a major lifeline for millions of American workers since the U.S. economy was thrown into disarray by coronavirus. Those unemployment payments passed nearly unanimously through Congress as part of the CARES Act back in March, but the federal benefits, which came in addition to state unemployment payments, expired at the end of July. The $400 weekly payments Trump is attempting to institute would be only 75%-funded by the federal government, leaving the rest to the states, which have seen revenues crash during the pandemic.

Many questions remain unanswered about both whether Trump has the legal authority to enact the executive actions and where the money will come from to fund them. In addition to the $400 a week payments, Trump also extended forbearance on federal student loan repayments through the end of the year and ordered the Treasury to implement a controversial payroll tax freeze for most American workers, which members of Congress hadnt even been considering during negotiations. Pelosi on Fox News Sunday called the presidents actions unconstitutional slop, the same phrasing Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) used to describe the executive order.

Pelosi: 'Of course there's room for compromise' on $600-per-week unemployment benefit (The Hill)

Second Stimulus Check Passage Delayed Again By $600 Unemployment Extension Clash (Forbes)

GOP $200 Unemployment Plan Will Mean Massive Homelessness And A Deep Recession (Forbes)

McConnell: Im Prepared To Support A Coronavirus Stimulus Bill That Includes $600 Unemployment Checks (Forbes)

$600 Unemployment Check Cut To $300 Under Trump Executive OrdersStates Asked To Add $100 (Forbes)

Dems Slam Trumps Executive Actions, Biden Calls Payroll Tax Cut A Reckless War On Social Security' (Forbes)

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Pelosi Softens Stance On $600 A Week Unemployment Checks, Says Theres Room To Negotiate - Forbes

2020 has been an unusual year for sports. When humanity was struck with a global pandemic that disrupted and uprooted millions of lives, a return to normalcy and stability seemed out of reach, even for the realm of pro sports. But despite the upheaval, the UFC has managed to stay relevant and has produced exciting fights all year.

Coming out of the gates hot with a thrilling clash between Jon Jones and Dominick Reyes in the beginning of February, to debatably the fight of the year between Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk in early March, the UFC continued to generate excellent fights despite all the setbacks from COVID (ESPN). Whether it was the jaw-dropping bout between Justin Gaethje and Tony Ferguson in the beginning of May, to the fierce battle between Dan Hooker and Dustin Poirier, to a fight island showdown in Abu Dhabi featuring Max Holloway versus Alexander Volkanovski and Kamaru Usman versus Jorge Masvidal, 2020 has been a legendary year for the UFC; and believe it or not, its far from over.

With the highly anticipated heavyweight title fight between Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic less than a week away and the Khabib/Gaethje showdown already set for October, Dana White continued to build upon this exciting year by recently announcing that middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will be defending his belt against Paulo Costa come September 19th (ESPN). But outside of these three bouts, theres still plenty of big fights to be had before the year is up. With a handful of cards still yet to be announced or even filled, Dana White has a lot of room to work with and its only a matter of time before more big fights will be scheduled.

However, the lingering question that has yet to be answered, is which fights should the UFC set up before the end of 2020? Heres my top five must-see fights before the year concludes:

#5 Kamaru Usman vs Gilbert Burns: After a clinical victory against Masvidal in July, Usman virtually looks untouchable in his division. After taking out Tyron Woodley to get the belt, Usman pounded Colby Covington and dominated Masvidal, leaving pretty much no one left to fight besides Gilbert Burns. Initially scheduled to fight each other in July (before Burns was diagnosed with the coronavirus), Burns remains to be the most dangerous contender left for Usman to check off his list and is one of the most underrated challengers hes yet to face. Coming off a 6-fight winning streak, Burns is strong wrestler with knockout power that flattened veteran Demian Maia earlier in March (ESPN). Ever since hes moved up from 155 to 170, Burns has adapted extremely well and has proven how deadly he can be with the strength hes put on. Although Usman just fought, this is a big fight White might want to reschedule at the end of the year. We all know Usman and Burns will face each other at some point; its just a matter of when.

#4 Tony Ferguson vs Dustin Poirier: Yes, it cant be said enough! This fight speaks for itself in every which way possible. With Tony Ferguson sitting at third in the lightweight rankings and Dustin Poirier in second, this fight would decide who is worthier for the next title shot, something both fighters have been longing to reclaim (UFC). If you thought the Poirier/Hooker fight was good, this clash has the potential to be much better, considering that both fighters are two of the best strikers in the UFC. Whats unique about this fight is that surprisingly, its never happened before, presenting a very new and unfamiliar challenge for both Ferguson and Poirier. Whether Dana White will schedule this fight prior to Gaethjes and Khabibs showdown in October, is still uncertain. But theres no reason why it cant happen. And ending the year with a fight between Poirier and Ferguson, would cap off an incredible 2020 for the UFC.

#3 Petr Yan vs Marlon Moraes: If you had the opportunity to watch Petr Yan fight in UFC 251 when he took on Jose Aldo, you can understand why this young Russian fighter is the new champion of the bantamweight division. Over the course of almost five full rounds, Yan gradually increased the pace and pressure against Aldo, hammering down power shots with precision and authority that led to a brutal KO/TKO finish (ESPN). Although Aldo is certainly an elite fighter, hes not in his prime anymore and is currently sitting outside of the top five in the division (UFC). Marlon Moraes on the other hand, is one of the best fighters in the bantamweight division and is the number one contender as well. Coming off a victory against Jose Aldo last December, Moraes is eager to get his redemption after losing badly to Henry Cejudo roughly a year ago (ESPN). In addition, theres really no one else for Moraes to fight outside of Cody Garbrandt, who has recently been scheduled to fight the flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in November (ESPN). I wouldnt expect this matchup to be announced soon, but everyone saw just what kind of fighter Yan is. And setting him up with the most dangerous opponent in his division, would make for an electrifying showdown. If theres one big bantamweight fight that White should schedule before the end of the year, it has to be this one.

#2 Jon Jones vs Thiago Santos: The first time this fight happened, it was nearly impossible not to cringe at the gimpy effort from Thiago Santos after he suffered ACL, MCL, PCL, and Meniscus injuries against Jon Jones that night. In addition, what made it more frustrating is that before his knee blew out, Santos was putting together a good fight. And for it to end like that, was simply disappointing and calls for a rematch. After Jones scraped by with a controversial unanimous decision victory against Reyes in his previous fight, its unlikely a rematch between the two of them would happen this year. But at 36 years-old and with over a year of rest, its time for Santos to get back into the octagon and fulfill his legacy before he fades out of his prime. Dont forget, Santos is still listed as the #2 contender in the light-heavyweight division under the UFC rankings; and a rematch against Jones this year, is only fitting.

#1 Zabit Magomedsharipov vs Brian Ortega: Thats your number one fight?! Absolutely! We just saw the rematch between Volkanovski and Holloway; so any fight relating to those two gentlemen, could be out of reach for the remainder of the year. But on the contrary, Zabit Magomedsharipov and Brian Ortega havent fought in a very long time (Zabits last fight was in November and Ortegas was in December of 2018). Ortega, who came off a brutal loss to Holloway, is in dire need of a bounce back victory. Moreover, Zabit is one of the deadliest strikers in the division right now, which grants Ortega a great opportunity to prepare himself for a title shot against Holloway or Volkanovski if the time comes. Dont forget that Ortega has been a sitting duck at the #2 overall position in his divisional rankings for far too long now (UFC). And if youre going to own that position, then you have to step up and take on the big fights that come with it, and Zabit is a suitable opponent for Ortegas return. Although Zabit recently called out Volkanovski for the belt, the only two, notable fighters hes defeated in his division consist of Calvin Kattar and Jeremy Stephens, which doesnt speak much volume for a title contender (ESPN). However, a victory against Ortega would place Zabit immediately into the title shot position hes looking for, and thats an opportunity he should embrace since its unclear if Volkanovski will want to return to the octagon this year. When all is said and done, this matchup is number one on my list because it has everything to be a thrilling showdown, that at the same time, contains so much at stake for both fighters. And if the UFC could set this up, the fans would be in store for a special treat.

The rest is here:
The UFC Has Room To Schedule Some Big Fights; But What Matchups Are A Must See Before The Year Is Up? - Empire Sports Media

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GREENVILLE When it comes to aircraft firefighting and rescue operations, the stakes are enormous.That's why it's so vital to provide instructional programs to promote and ensure safety.

One of the most promising and comprehensive training centers in the Midwest and beyond is based in the Fox Cities.

The new Fox Valley Technical College Airport Rescue and Firefighting training facility, a partnership with the Appleton International Airport, began booking trainees in June. It is locatedjust north of the FVTC public safety training center.

"It is a big deal," said Abe Weber, director of the Appleton airport. "You can get a plethora of training in one environment to prepare for the worst-case scenario."

The operation, headed by FVTC instructor Ben Sokol, is a $10-plus million facility that was financed with federal and state grants. It's billed as the only one of its kind in the Midwest and it offers an exhaustive list of protocols that provide a wealth of specialized aircraft rescue and firefighting instruction.

The training, which is required by the FAA for live firefighting,also offers instruction for new airport firefighters, fire truck drivers and operators of airport firefighting apparatus, municipal firefighters who assist airport firefighters, and first responders.

The training field provides hands-on training scenarios on a Boeing 777 and aCessna Skyhawktraining prop.They areseton a spill-fire areaof 96 individually controlled fire zones.

The props are designed to provide realistic situations in which trainees learn proper techniques to approach and attack aircraft fires.

"There's a lot of different aspects to this," Sokol said. "There could be a fuel spill or there could bea large fire under fuselage, wheel well firesor small fires inside the aircraft.

"These things don't happen often, but we need to be prepared for it, Sokol said.

RELATED:Gulfstream opens its new service center at Appleton International Airport, expects to create 200 jobs

RELATED:Appleton International Airport gets $10.4 million to build fire and rescue training center

RELATED:FVTC pays airport $131,000 to use land

Adjunct professor and Grand Chute firefighter Jeremy Hanson remotely lights an engine fire on a simulated Boeing 777 during a training session at the ATW ARFF Training Center located at Fox Valley Technical Colleges Public Safety Training Center on Thursday, July 16, 2020, in Greenville, Wis. The ATW ARFF Training Center is used for aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) training.Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

If a problem develops on an aircraftwhen it's coming in to land, an emergency would be declared and the rescue crew would respond when it is safely on the ground, he said.

"It is high stress," Sokol said. "It's a specialized form of firefighting, learning how to drive on airfield."

There is one traditionalclassroom and one classroom in theapparatus bay. In addition, there is asecond-floor control room. Instructors operate the props from there.

From the control room, Sokol can simulate fires on the Boeing 777, along with otherpotential problems on the aircraft.

"We can remove doors, cockpit controls and go through the 777. (Trainees)need to know the aircraft inside and out," he said.

"There are noactual fires, but there ishands-on training. We can create small to massive fuel fires, and ... smaller fires outside."

There also is a class for drivers and operators of firefighting equipment and apparatus. "We do everything from learning how to drive on streets to settingup apparatus," Sokol said.

"If there is an aircraft emergency, (crews) must adhere to instructions onunderstanding an airfield, aircraft hazards, how many people on are board, and how they will get off."

Sokol said the training program has drawn considerable interest from departments in Wisconsin and Illinois, and he expects the numbers to expand. He also has heard from departments as far away as Arizona.

The program was developed after a similar trainingfacility in Duluth, Minnesota, was closed.We picked upthe ball, and were running with it. Sokol said.

Weber, the Appleton International Airport director, said the early results are promising.

It's pointing to a very successful operation, he said, adding that it has been an important addition to Appleton International.

"Were a smaller airport," Weber said. "When we have an emergency here, we rely on mutual aid from nearby communities. Now, we can introduce those who respond to structural fires to approaching airliners."

Andy Thompson can be reached at 920-996-7270 or by email at awthompson@postcrescent.com.

In a nutshell

Fox Valley Technical College Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting training facility

Classes include:

On the Web

https://www.fvtc.edu/Training-Services/Public-Safety-Training/Aircraft-Rescue-and-Fire-Fighting-ARFF

Andy Thompson can be reached at 920-996-7270 or by email at awthompson@postcrescent.com

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'It is a big deal': Aircraft firefighting training operation at Appleton airport gaining foothold in Midwest and beyond - Post-Crescent

On Friday afternoon, Steelers veteran tight end a Vance McDonald joined in a fan forum call through Steelers Nation Unite. Taking questions from fans over the phone, Vance McDonald mentioned his new teammate in the tight end room, Eric Ebron, on multiple occasions.

McDonald was asked about the addition of Ebron and what its like getting to work together with him and Ben Roethlisberger.

I appreciate what he brings to the tight end position in the league the last seven years that Ive been around, McDonald said of Ebron. Its been really neat to have him here.

One of the things McDonald mentioned was trying to get as much work as possible for Ebron with his new quarterback so they can also establish the necessary connections.

Allowing him to get as much with Ben (Roethlisberger) as possibly can to just build that relationship because hes going to come in and do really big things for the offense this year. Im really excited at the direction were headed again.

Both McDonald and Ebron are coming off disappointing seasons in 2019. McDonald appeared in 14 games for the Steelers and only had 273 receiving yards on 38 receptions. As for Ebron, his 2019 season was cut short due to injury. In only 11 games with the Indianapolis Colts, Ebron had 375 yards on 31 receptions which was exactly half of his 2018 yardage production.

When discussing the upcoming season, MacDonald mentioned what another weapon in the arsenal from the tight end position could mean for him and other receivers on the Steelers.

With the addition of Eric Ebron, McDonald explained, I certainly think that this skill set that he brings to the position itll be really really fun to watch him. And again too, that only helps me, that only helps guys like to JuJu (Smith-Schuster), James Washington, Diontae (Johnson), and so I think its gonna be really fun. Its always fun whenever you add something on offense that you didnt have the year before, not necessarily because you begin hit goals that you wanted, which we did but Im just saying its just always fun to sort of get a new weapon. So with Eric, like I said earlier, it will be fun to see where we head in terms of production on offense.

Bringing back production from the tight end position is something which McDonald seems to wisely embrace. In 2019, the Steelers did not even have as many receiving yards from all of their tight ends as McDonald had himself the previous year. Hopefully with the addition of Ebron, the Steelers can get back to their 2018 form where the tight end position accounted for more than 1,000 receiving yards.

Read more from the original source:
Vance McDonald discusses the Steelers new weapon in the tight end room - Behind the Steel Curtain

HPT-FromFiles-33-20

Celebration for Kids - - The Caribou Cares About Kids Parade Thursday, Aug. 17 at 6 pm will be one of the many scheduled events for area children during the Caribou Cares About Kids celebration Wednesday through Sunday, Aug. 16-19. Pictured here is Sparky the Fire Dog walking the parade route greeting children along the way. (Ketch 1995)(File photo/1970)

Celebration for Kids - - The Caribou Cares About Kids Parade Thursday, Aug. 17 at 6 pm will be one of the many scheduled events for area children during the Caribou Cares About Kids celebration Wednesday through Sunday, Aug. 16-19. Pictured here is Sparky the Fire Dog walking the parade route greeting children along the way. (Ketch 1995)(File photo/1970)

100 Years Ago - Aug. 18, 1920Addition to business The Houlton Machine and Repair Co., have recently installed a public gasoline tank in front of their place of business on Mechanic Street.

100 Years Ago Aug. 18, 1920

Addition to business The Houlton Machine and Repair Co., have recently installed a public gasoline tank in front of their place of business on Mechanic Street.

Business trip Arthur O. Putnam was in Fort Fairfield Monday on business for the Putnam Hardware Co.

75 Years Ago Aug. 16, 1945

Pay tribute Arthur G. Vose was guest of honor at a farewell dinner in the Silver Room of the Northland Hotel August 9 on the occasion of his retirement as manager of the Houlton area of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company, after more than 50 years service in its employ. About 65 officials and employees of the company, representing the various departments, who had been associated with him for many years, gathered to pay him homage, coming from several Aroostook towns as well as all over the state and Boston office.

50 Years Ago Aug. 19, 1970

Receives certificate Richard Biegger, executive director of the Houlton Regional Development Corporation, received his certificate of completion from the Industrial Development Institute Friday in ceremonies held at the University of Oklahoma at Norman, Oklahoma.

Given key position Leighton W. Dudley, a native of Houlton, has been appointed Deputy Secretary Corrections for the newly created Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. He is the son of Mrs. Mildred J. Dudley of Houlton and the late John Perley Dudley.

25 Years Ago Aug. 16, 1995

Receives donation Portland Glass, on North Street in Houlton, recently donated $623 to the Houlton Humane Society. There for the presentation were employee Bonnie Rairdon, Cathy Surran of the Humane Society, Manager Pat Crowley and employee Roger Rairdon.

Aid to Foundation The annual County Open Charity Golf and Dinner-Raffle was held this past weekend. Paul Forest received a check for $25,000 from Bob Anderson to benefit the Houlton Regional Health Foundation.

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Houlton area From our Files Week of August 10, 2020 - The County

Diversity in Oregon means that in addition to the important conversations people, businesses and government agencies in Eugene and Springfield are having about policing and race, local law enforcement also needs to look at cultural diversity, such as the LGBTQIA community, who often dont feel protected by the police.

Tim Morris, who ran for Eugene City Council earlier this year, says that as someone who identifies as LGBTQIA, he doesnt feel like a lot happens when he contacts the police department for issues such as harassment. I feel like unless theres significant danger to my life, I tend to just not contact the police. I have contacted the police after being harassed and I was basically told, Good luck with that, and hung up on.

According to UCLAs Williams Institute, Oregon has the largest number of individuals who identify as LGBTQIA in the U.S., and many of them live in Eugene. But its hard to say if law enforcement reflects that demographic because as in most other professions, the sexual orientation and gender identity of police officers isnt information that is collected by the departments.

When asked about LGBTQIA representation, the Lane County Sheriffs Office said, We do not collect that information from employees in our organization. The Eugene Police Departments LGBTQIA liaison is Det. Chris White, who said that while he can think of people from command staff to line staff who are a part of the LGBTQIA community, EPD doesnt take a head count, either.

Deputy Chief Stacy Jepson, who identifies as an LGBTQIA employee at EPD, says she can understand why showing the community just how diverse the police department is can help accountability. The more transparent we can be as a police department, the better off we are. I certainly think that showing the community that we demographically represent them is very important.

Jepson returned to her hometown of Eugene last year after 23 years at the Hillsboro Police Department. Jepson says that she has seen the police force culture change significantly since she first started policing in the 90s just as society has. While it took her many years to come out to her coworkers, she says the importance of her different perspective, both as a female and LGBTQIA officer, is very important.

Law enforcement is predominantly a male-run industry so I have that female perspective that is also different, Jepson says. I also come from a different sexual orientation than most of the people I work with, so it gives me a different voice in the room. And a very important one.

Creating a more diverse police force begins with recruiting, which can often be difficult for a field that has discriminated against the LGBTQIA community. Even though transgender people are more likely to be victims of violent crime than non-transgender people, more than 57 percent of respondents to the 2019 U.S. Transgender Survey feel uncomfortable calling the police for help when they need it.

In response to Eugene Weeklys questions, EPDs recruitment team says in a statement, We have implemented removing names, age, sex and race information from our testing process, to reduce potential risk of biases. It says that, events like the Orlando dance club mass shooting make communities more aware of the discrimination and vulnerability of our LGBTQIA community. These incidents are a time when outreach to our local community is critical.

EPDs recruitment team hired a full-time recruitment and background officer in January geared toward diversity, inclusion and equality, according to the statement. It says that EPD partners with minority police associations and that the recruitment team has participated in events including the Women in Public Safety Career Fair, the Eugene Pride Festival, the Eugene Asian Celebration and the Eugene Womens half marathon.

LGBTQIA awareness extends not just to the officers employed but to the policies they enact. For example, the policy on recording information during an arrest states that the information to be recorded should include the race, ethnicity, age and sex of pedestrian or operator of the motor vehicle stopped, based on the observations of the law enforcement officer responsible for reporting the stop.

The policy does not require officers to ask what an individuals pronouns are. When asked, Jepson responds that if officers are collecting information on individuals it needs to be accurate, and that there is room for improvement in those areas.

The LGBTQIA community interacts with police at a high rate because it has been one of the most targeted groups for both violent and non-violent hate crimes in Oregon. Twenty-six percent of all hate crimes in Eugene in 2018 were related to sexual orientation or gender identity.

I often dont feel safe in Eugene. Theres people that drive by and scream slurs at me. Theres certain parts of the city Im just not welcome in, Morris says. And a part of the reason for that is a lack of safety from the police department.

Additionally, six of the 10 hate crimes involving physical violence in 2018 were motivated by the sexual orientation of the victim, according to the city of Eugenes 2018 Hate and Bias Report. The percentage of physical violence cases motivated by the sexual orientation of the victims more than doubled in comparison to 2017, the report says.

Jepson says the challenges that come with identifying as LGBTQIA have still affected her and others, both in the workplace and society. I know several male gay officers that really have struggled to come out and share who they are and be open about who they are. I worked with one for a very, very long time that I knew he was gay but no one else did and he was really reticent to share that. So I think that still exists and theres still room for growth in that area.

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The Blue in the Rainbow - Eugene Weekly