Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

KILLEEN, TX Monday, we showed you how to safely shop while looking for gifts online but what happens when you do everything right and a porch pirate comes by and snags your packages?

Jennifer McCann owns a quaint mail service in Harker Heights and for the past 21 years in business, shes heard a common worry from her customers: Mail theft.

Well hold it for a few days if needed, McCann said, So [they] wont feel like they need to rush home from work to grab their package from their porch.

Its a crime officials take seriously since a 2019 bill Governor Abbott passed that charges porch pirates thousands in fines and possible jail or prison time if convicted.

Were going to have our officers out making sure that were watching for that, and that our citizens are watching for that, Lawrence Stewart, the public information officer for the Harker Heights Police Department said. Were gonna take the opportunity to arrest you.

But there are ways we can catch the thieves including utilizing an at-home security system.

You know it's working when you get notifications when your camera detects abnormal activity and it could be the only way to catch the criminal.

Were all super busy these days and were all running and doing things, Josh Wallace at InHouse Systems in Temple said. I mean it's just crazy right now. So, having a peace of mind at home, about home is important.

But if you dont have a Ring doorbell or security cameras, there are other ways to make sure your deliveries are safe.

The best thing to do is if you know you ordered a package, to be on the lookout for that package, Stewart said.

Or you can seek out a third party to help keep your mail secure like Eagle Express.

We keep everything safe here, McCann explained. We call the customers directly so they know they have a package here and they get the notification instantly.

Experts say the easiest way to stay safe this holiday season is to be vigilant with packages and invest in a security system or video doorbell.

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Porch pirates are on the rise as the holiday season rolls around - KXXV News Channel 25

You shouldnt mess with mans best friend or how they settle things among themselves. Dogs know where their spot is on the front porch, and whose spot is whose. The king, or alpha dog of the porch, will let any other dog know when they are sleeping in their spot. Theres a pecking order, a hierarchy among the porch dwellers. If you cross the unwritten rule of where your place is on the porch, youll suffer the consequences.

Comedian Kevin Heart says the same thing another way, Stay in your lane. The fact is, we all get a little ahead of ourselves. Where am I going with this? I think its critical that every company have a well-defined front porchi.e., organizational chart.

A good organizational chart lets everyone know who reports to who, and whos in charge of what task or department. It allows a company to manage from a much higher plane, no matter its size. An organizational chart also gives each employee a path, or a position to work toward.

Sometimes smaller companies are less likely to have an org chart, and I think this is a mistake. As in a small company, everyone normally takes on multiple jobs and the org chart helps define those roles and who does them. And, as the small company grows, the org chart can identify what positions need to be filled first, and what the pecking order should be.

If your company seems out of control, or if it seems like the company is running you, instead of you running the company, put in place a well thought out organizational chart, and see if that doesnt help. It certainly cant hurt. At the very least you wont get barked at while youre sleeping.

As alwaysMy two cents.

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Every Dog Should Know Their Place on the Porch | Mind Your Business - USGlass Metal & Glazing

Investigators believe they are on the right track of solving the mysterious double-murder of a Missouri couple found dead on their front porch Saturday morning.

Willard Police Chief Tom McClain said in a newsconference Monday that investigators believe 28-year-old Alexander Chute and Brianna Sproul, 30, were killed by a third party.

McClain said the crime scene did not suggest the couple had died during a murder-suicide but pointed to another person being involved, according to The Springfield News Leader.

Police also dont believe it had been a random attack.

These folks in Willard were targeted, he said, according to local station KY3.

Police were called to the home Saturday morning and discovered the couple shot to death on the front porch.

McClain declined to discuss a possible motive in the slaying, but said he believed the investigators were making progress in the case.

While I am not willing to talk about particular suspects or motives or things of that nature, we are, as I said earlier, confident that we are on the right track, he said.

Oxygen.com reached out to the Willard Police but had not received a response as of press time.

At the time of the slayings, Chute had been in a custody battle with his ex-wife, according to court records obtained by the local station. Just last month, his ex-wife filed a motion for a family access order in the case.

Chute filed for divorcein 2018.

Although this level of violence is unusual for the small town, McClain said he is hopeful and confident that police will be able to bring those responsible to justice.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Willard Police Department at 417-742-5341.

Crime Time is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Sign up for our Crime Time Newsletter and subscribe to our true crime podcast Martinis & Murder for all the best true crime content.

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Missouri Couple Found Slain On Their Front Porch In What Authorities Believe Was A 'Targeted' Attack - Oxygen

Jack Perry|The Providence Journal

Santa Claus won't make it to Garden City Center in Cranston this year because of COVID-19, but the shopping center says his elveswill visit, and the halls will be decked.

The realities of the pandemic and the need for social distancing are forcing all of us to do things differently this year, and yet we know that shoppers look forward to Garden City Centers festive holiday traditions and we want to keep as much of that as possible this year, saidJoe Koechel, general manager.

In Santa's absence, the shopping center's tradition of holiday strolls will continue. The strolls will feature carolers in Victorian-era clothing, hot chocolate and a brass holiday band playing traditional and modern holiday songs.

Santa will also send some of his elves to walk around during the strollshanding out the occasional "surprise"for children and adults, too.

The strolls will befrom 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 28, December 5 and December 12.

More: RI updates list of coronavirus cases by community

More: Latest numbers: RI reports 6 COVID deaths, new daily case record

More: Governor Raimondo expected to announce more COVID restrictions Thursday

For families looking to take Christmas photos, the shopping center saysthe Verde Garden Shop, a seasonal pop-up, has designed a display at the gazebo that features trees andwreathes where families can take holiday photographs.

jperry@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7614

On Twitter: @jgregoryperry

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Santa Claus won't be visiting Garden City Center this year because of COVID - The Providence Journal

NAUGATUCK For the third time in five months, police charged a 66-year-old registered sex offender with masturbating in public.

Police arrested Francis Scott Keen, of 18 Barnum Court, Naugatuck, at about 7 p.m. Tuesday after they say he was masturbating downtown in public.

Deputy Police Chief C. Colin McAllister said a woman, who was driving past Salem School with a child in the car, told police she saw Keen exposing and fondling himself near the playscape at Salem Elementary School on Meadow Street.

When officers arrived, McAllister said, they spotted Keen with his pants unbuckled on a bench on the Green, which is across the street from the school. Keen tried to walk away when he saw the officers, McAllister said.

Officers found Keen with a bottle of baby oil, police said.

Police charged Keen with public indecency, second-degree breach of peace and loitering in or about school. Police held Keen on a $25,000 bond, which was doubled when he appeared in Waterbury Superior Court on Wednesday. He did not post bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on Dec. 9.

This is the third time in the past five months Naugatuck police charged Keen, a registered sex offender, with public indecency.

On June 19, police arrested Keen after they say he was masturbating in the gazebo on the Green in the afternoon.

On Aug. 21, officers charged Keen after police say they found him with his pants and belt undone sitting on a rock on the side of Fairview Avenue. Police said Keen had several bottles of lubricant in his possession.

These cases are still pending in Superior Court, according to online judicial records.

Keen, a registered sex offender, has a history of public indecency.

In 1998, he was convicted of risk of injury to a child after he appeared to masturbate with his hands down his pants in front of two children, 14 and 15, according to the Connecticut Sex Offender Registry.

In 2010, Keen was convicted of risk of injury to a child after approaching boys in a public area and masturbating while making sexual comments, records show.

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Naugatuck man accused of lewd act in public for third time this year - Waterbury Republican American

Once in Volgograd, I walked to the Mamayev Kurgan, the dominant hill overlooking the city, where I visited the Second World War mausoleum. Further down the river, I stopped by Tsagan Aman, the only kalmyk town located on the Volga. After visiting the Buddhist temple, locals took me to a restaurant, where I drank traditional milk tea, and berk, meat dumplings with yak butter.

During my last days of paddling, I was getting closer to the city of Astrakhan. Here, far away from any nearby reservoirs, the river regains its independence, its ardour, and draws voluptuous meanders as it curls around innumerable islands dusted with fine sand. I saw fishermen, wild horses, and white-tailed eagles flying above. By mid-November, I reached Astrakhan, and followed the river delta. On one of my final stops, a group of local fishermen invited me to a delicious lunch of ukha, fish soup. On 15 November, 82 days after starting the trip, and 3,690 km later, I reached Vyzhka. Here, at the southernmost point of the delta, by the shores of the Caspian sea, my journey came to an end.

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How I paddled down the Volga from source to sea - The Calvert Journal

If you plan to be in the area on Saturday morning, expect to hear the roar of vintage war planes passing through Charlotte County.

The Welcome Home Vietnam Vets 2020 event will take place starting with a parade at 9 a.m. on Saturday at Port Charlotte Beach Park.

This is the first parade of its kind held in Port Charlotte to honor veterans, organizers say. There will be more than 600 participants including three high school marching bands, military vehicles, ROTC units and a grand marshal.

"It's going to be incredible," said Steve Lineberry, spokesperson for Welcome Home Vets 2020. "Retired Sergeant First Class Melvin Morris will be honored as the grand marshal. He was a special forces soldier in Vietnam and he received the Congressional Medal of Honor at the White House in 2018."

The parade route will continue on Harbor Boulevard, proceed to Edgewater Drive, turning left (west) on Edgewater Drive to the William R. Gaines, Jr. Veterans Memorial Park. The eastbound side of Edgewater will be blocked off, so attendees may park on Edgewater Drive and sit in the median. If you plan to watch, organizers say, bring a lawn chair and arrive early.

"We will be handing out 2,000 flags to parade watchers to show support for the veterans,"Lineberry said.

The parade will include veterans along with dignitaries, marchers, Vietnam-era military vehicles on the ground and Huey helicopters overhead.

After the parade, a full day of activities is planned at the Charlotte Sports Park located at2300 El Jobean Road.

A Walk of Honor will be staged near home plate inside the stadium.

"People who would like to honor a loved one who has served created banners that include the name, rank, photo and time served," said parade organizerSam Taylor. "This event is for vets of the Vietnam era because very few of them were thanked for their service upon returning home."

Guests can view replicas of vintage submarines and other items that soldiers used during combat.

Huey helicopters are expected to fly over the Charlotte Sports Park at about 1 p.m. At 2 p.m., the warbird pilots will circle over the park. Helicopter rides will be available for $65 per person.

Gates open at 11 a.m. and general admission seats are $20. The event is free to all veterans.

Live entertainment will feature a concert by Lee Greenwood, as well as performances by Mike Riley & The Boogiemen, Bandana, Marcella Brown and more.

Today at noon at the gazebo at Veterans Park in Punta Gorda, there will be a brief program and a wreath-laying ceremony with special guest Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient Melvin Morris. Taps will be played and there will be a 21-gun salute. Everyone is welcome.

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What you need to know about Welcome Home Vietnam Vets 2020 - yoursun.com

Stunning one-of-a-kind 3200 sq ft Westend home w/separate finished 1800 sq ft building for home business or extra family dwelling. Home is all renovated complete w/a Chef's kitchen & top of the line appliances including gas Bertazzoni Range, 2 Refrigerator Drawers, & full size wine fridge. Upstairs has 2 lg bdrms, 2 renovated bathrooms, & living room w/fireplace. Master bedroom has private attached deck. A 3 season sunroom upstairs overlooking the gardens. Downstairs adds 3 lg bdrms, w/new carpet, 1.5 baths, media room, laundry, & work out space. Park your toys & cars in the 4 car heated garage. The b/y has a gazebo, 3-tier pond w/waterfall, & fire pit. The 1800 sq ft. finished building is a rare find. Completely finished with 1200 sq ft of space down, 600 sq ft of office/storage up, & a bathroom. NEW VINYL WINDOWS, ROOFS, HOME FURNACE, AC'S, & a private park-like yard.

View Listing

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4 of the Most Expensive Homes for Sale in the Billings Area - Billings Gazette

1301 W. Seminary Avenue, Lutherville, MD 21093

Hot House: A 1902 house for a 2020 lifestyle. Bell Gate is a delightful house set back off of a long driveway with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, mature trees and gardens, a pool and a pool house. Asking price: $1.15 million.

What: If you want solitude, space and privacy, but dont want to be too far away from the Jones Falls Expressway or I-695, this board-and-batten farmhouse complete with period details, modern amenities, and a pool on two acres might just be what youve been seeking. This warm, comfortable house is set back on wooded property, with plenty of open space. The house itself, made of board and batten, has a rambling first floor including a new kitchen, with a breakfast area and butlers pantry; living room with fireplace, built-in bookcases, beamed ceiling and parquet floor; dining room with French doors; and a great room with a fireplace. There is also an addition that could be used as an office space or a ground-floor bedroom. It also includes an en suite bathroom.

The second floor includes the main bedroom and a recently updated luxury bathroom, as well as two additional bedrooms, and a bathroom, laundry room and storage space.The grounds of Bell Gate feature gardens with a wide variety of mature trees and flowering plants, along with a pool, pool-house and a gazebo. There is also a two-car garage along the driveway.

Where: Although the address is on busy West Seminary Avenue, the house is not visible from the road and the driveway is tucked away, just west of Tally Ho Road. Blink and you will miss it. It is very near the city via 83 and 695, and its convenient to restaurants, shopping, and more with Green Spring Station a little over a mile away.

Final Appraisal: A property like this one does not come on the market very often. It has a lot of assets that make it special, not the least of which is its location. Not to mention the good size of the house and the lovely gardens. The listing is here.

CORRECTION: This story has been corrected to more accurately describe how to get to the house. The previous version indicated that it could be reached via Trelawny Court. It is not. It is accessed via Seminary Road.

Meg Fielding writes the local interior design and lifestyle blog Pigtown Design and is the past president of the Baltimore Architectural Foundation. She enjoys dual citizenship with the US and the UK.

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Hot House: 1902 Lutherville farmhouse with modern amenities on 2 acres - Baltimore Fishbowl

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Do you have the COVID-19 blues? Feeling a little blah, bored, restless, hopeless? Then be good to yourself and get a little eco therapy, only choose a new place. Change that routine. Get out and walk and explore right in town. Take along some binoculars and a camera.

I was feeling really in need of a change, so we headed out to the Arboretum, a place I hadnt visited for a while. We entered near the gazebo at the west end and headed for the creek. Within five minutes my spirits were lifted. The late afternoon sun was shining on three Chinese pistache trees in brilliant red fall color reflected in the pond.

I observed a western bluebird perched on a sign and suddenly a flock of birds, including many western bluebirds flew past me. And in the widened portion of the pond were two handsome wood ducks. The Arboretum has an online plant sale going on now. Want to attract more birds to your yard? Theyll have the plants.

Take your binoculars and head out to the North Ponds. Ed Whisler and Joshua Greenfield did a bird survey around the two ponds and spotted 45 species last Saturday. Their finds included two hooded mergansers, common gallinule, killdeer, greater yellow legs, 10 Northern flickers, 25 bushtits, and eight ruby-crowned kinglets. Listen for the flicker with its loud kleeeyer call easy to identify or a wik-wik-wik.

Fall migration is bringing new birds into our backyards and open spaces daily.

New birds returning to winter in Davis make my day. My bird feeders are right outside my kitchen sink so even kitchen cleaning is brightened by new species in my yard. This year, dark-eyed juncos are plentiful. White-crowned sparrows have returned and how I love their pleasant sounds. Some people think it sounds like sitli-sitli-te-te-te-te-te-te-zrrrr. Im delighted by the red-breasted nuthatch that crawl down the tree trunk, hurriedly grab a seed from the column feeder and they are off again. They were new to my yard last year and Im glad they are back. And we hear their nasal anh-anh-anh-anh.

Last week we did a getaway at Lake Solano and launched our kayaks. Theres a free place to launch them on Putah Creek Road, right across from a parking area before you get to the park. Someone even put a carpet down to help you slide your kayak down a little slope.

We ended up repeatedly scaring up a flock of at least 100 buffleheads. They are a small, compact duck with a large head. The adult males are black and white with white on the back of the head. The non-breeding ducks have a distinctive oval white patch on the head.

We saw great blue herons, egrets, mallards, Canada geese, cormorants, red-winged blackbirds and more. But just being on the water, with beautiful reflections, felt like another world. Saw a number of people on stand-up paddleboards.

The North Davis Ditch (North Davis Conveyance Channel) offers three places to walk along 1.25 miles between Sycamore Lane and F Street. Walk down in the ditch for one perspective, up along the west side of the ditch along the farmers fields with a peek at the birds on the Whitcomb Pond, or walk on the paved walk along the ditch. Volunteers regularly work in the ditch, removing weeds and improving habitat.

Then you can head out to the Yolo Basin though you might want to wait until after Thanksgiving and on into December. New bridges have replaced culverts that were too small. Because of the construction, there was about 100 acres less mudflat flooded in August so fewer shorebirds than usual. Winter ducks will begin arriving soon and there will be more flooding.

Since Veterans Day, U.S. veterans and Gold Star families have free lifetime access to all national parks, wildlife refuges and other federal public lands.

So, I hope that is an incentive for many of you to go out and enjoy nature.

Brant Jorgenson reports the sighting of a bald eagle in the redwood tree behind 615 Marina Circle, south side of Marina Circle. We seem to be getting more and more reports of bald eagles, usually in North Davis. Theyve made such a recovery once we stopped using the pesticide DDT. Forty years ago they were in danger of extinction. Well, theres something we got right. We can indeed change our ways.

Jean Jackman is a Davis resident. Her column is on the third Wednesday of each month. Got a story, question, correction? Contact her [emailprotected]

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At the Pond: Here are a few ways to beat the COVID blues - Davis Enterprise