The rain on Friday stopped just in time for Johnson County leaders and officials to hold the ceremonial groundbreaking for the countys new adult probation building.

The new building will cost about $4.6 million and will relocate the adult probation departments employees primarily into one location.

Officials have said the building is long overdue and when completed, it will create a more efficient adult probation department thats divided into three buildings, Adult Probation Director Toby Ross said.

Ross said hes waited a long time for the county to finally approve the building, but he said he knows theres still more work to be done.

Weve waited for this for years, but its not over, yet, he said.

About 80 people showed up for the groundbreaking, including each county commissioner, state Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, Cleburne Mayor Justin Hewlett, county commissioner candidates and several probation office employees.

Im happy about the progress and what weve been able to do, said 413th District Judge William Bosworth, who helped lead the charge for the new building as the countys administrative judge.

Bosworths role as administrative judge allowed him to be a liaison between the county and its department, making sure everything ran smoothly.

The probation building has needed more room for a long time, Bosworth said.

One of the probation offices in downtown Cleburne has been overcrowded for a few years, Johnson County Judge Roger Harmon said.

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New probation building to begin construction soon

Post-Gazette

This five-bedroom home in Bell Acres has Victorian-style features, including a grand turret, high ceilings and a wrap-around porch.

There are lots of reasons to love Victorian style -- high ceilings, wrap-around porches and cozy turrets to name a few -- but the maintenance that usually comes with these classic beauties can be daunting. Fortunately, there is lovely home at 165 Summerlawn Drive in Bell Acres that has all of the belles and none of the alarming whistles.

The five-bedroom, 51/2-bath house (MLS No. 900843) is on the market for the first time for $465,000 with Realtor Carroll Ferguson of Howard Hanna Real Estate (412-741-2200 or http://www.howardhanna.com).

The 13 years-young home is picture-perfect, with a grand turret, lots of windows and a wrap-around porch that urges you grab a seat and take in the view. Hugged by lots of natural landscaping, the entryway is made more inviting by pair of evergreens that flank the low stairs.

BELL ACRES

Website: http://www.bellacresborough.org

Size: 5.38 square miles

Population: 1,388 (2000 census)

School district: Quaker Valley (www.qvsd.org)

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Buying Here: Bell Acres

By Penny Stine Friday, March 9, 2012

We have been remodeling our master bathroom for about a month. When I say we, I should clarify: It doesnt include me. Although I did go with the tile guy to choose the tile, I havent done much beyond that. Not only am I totally unqualified to do anything remotely handy, Im having a hard time getting excited about bathroom choices.

At the home improvement store, I had to admit to my husband that I didnt care about the light fixtures. That doesnt mean Im not grateful that were doing the remodel or indifferent to the process, it just means that I have no strong preference regarding toilets, lights or cabinetry.

Our bathroom was at the point where anything would have been an improvement. Seriously. ANYTHING. There was no one feature that was terribly wrong with the room, but there wasnt anything right about it, either. Our house was built in the 1970s, and although the 70s are known for good music and weird clothing, it wasnt an era in which they were building classic homes. When we bought the house, it came with avocado fixtures in one bathroom, blue fixtures in another and off-white carpet in both.

We replaced the avocado toilet years ago, along with the carpeting in bathrooms frequented by teenage boys. Replacing the blue toilet and carpeting in the master bathroom never seemed like an urgent priority. Then we noticed the faucet in the shower had a permanent drip, the carpet had turned from off-white to grungy-gray and we realized the bathroom had outlived its useful service life.

Plus, our master bath included a 32-inch shower, which is pretty roomy if youre one of the seven dwarfs. Not so spacious if youre an average-sized adult. The room was too small for a tub-and-shower combination and the placement of the window made expanding the shower tricky. So we brought in an expert tile guy, who took one look and gave us an option that neither my husband nor I had considered.

The bathroom remodel hasnt been a major inconvenience because we have three bathrooms in the house and only three people currently live there. Were rarely home at the same time, let alone trying to shower and get ready for work at the same time.

It has, however, thrown Howie the dog for a big-time loop. As a former shelter mutt whos probably got some red heeler and dingo in his blood, Howie is a fiercely protective herding dog. Some people would say hes a maniac with issues, but he only acts that way when someone tries to invade his castle or mess with his herd.

Having the tile guy and his helper working in the house for a week was an invasion only second to Normandy. Fortunately, Howies a smart dog and eventually agreed to a truce, at least until the bathrooms finished.

Howie also likes to keep track of his herd at all times, which means he follows us around from room to room. Our house is a tri-level, and during the bathroom remodel, Ive been schlepping around with my toiletries in a basket as I alternate between using the downstairs bathroom and the upstairs bathroom. I should have just invaded one of our other bathrooms during the duration, but a bathroom invasion by me is more like an Occupy Wall Street event, and I couldnt do that to my family.

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Call off the hounds. Bathroom remodel is almost complete

CAPE CORAL, Fla.- A local church is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars of its own money to build a public park.

Cape Christian Fellowship on Chiquita Boulevard was initially going to spend millions to expand its auditorium, but then some divine intervention had them rethink those plans.

Now, they plan on building a 100,000 square foot park.

"It'll be a fun place to come and hang out and know they are in a safe place," said Autumn Euler.

She and her four kids are looking forward to having a new place to play.

It'll be known as "Fellowship Park," built right along the property of Cape Christian Fellowship.

The park will have playgrounds, water splash area, a courtyard, an athletic field, walking trails, and an amphitheater.

"It's just a great gathering place for families. I think it's the best use of this property," said Pastor Wes Furlong.

Pastor Furlong says the initial plan was to build a $15 million expansion. But after a meeting with church leaders and taking a long look at the community, he says they changed their minds.

"We feel like this gives us the chance as a church to focus on the needs outside the walls of the church," Pastor Furlong said.

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Church spends thousands to build public park

QUEENSBURY -- A church that began in a dentists office is about to move into a new, larger building.

New Hope Community Church has grown from a Bible study group that had its first meetings in a dentists waiting room to a congregation with four worship services for attendees.

The church is finishing construction of a building at 454 Corinth Road, between West Mountain and Exit 18, which has a large open sanctuary and foyer, several rooms for a childrens ministry and a youth room for those from grades 7 to 12.

The sanctuary connects to a kitchen, and can also be used as a banquet hall.

The church sits on 11 acres, some of which will be used for its existing summer soccer clinic.

New Hope currently rents a one-story office building on Bay Road across from the Queensbury town offices, and has services overflowing with attendees.

The new building more than doubles the churchs space from 6,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet. The sanctuary, which will seat about 400 people, also opens upward with a 28-foot high ceiling inside.

The people are the church. This building is just wood, said Don Hughes, a planning team member for the church, standing Thursday inside the hollow structure.

Church leaders said the congregation relied on God, connected with the community in various outreaches and given newcomers a comfortable environment. First-timers can choose to later receive a gift from the church delivered to their home, which includes a DVD about the church, an information packet and a loaf of bread.

In 2009, the congregation held an outdoor service on the new land for a dedication ceremony.

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Providing new hope: Community church with humble start nearing completion

MONROE -- Joe Boranian goes to the Monroe Covenant Church three times a week.

He uses a powered wheelchair because of his cerebral palsy. To get in the church, he needed friends to carry him up the stairs.

That has changed.

"Now that we have an elevator, that's not an issue," said Boranian, 22, who lives in Lake Stevens.

The church, located at 202 S. Sams St., finished the remodeling project last month which added an elevator, expanded the front entryway, and built new bathrooms for the handicapped.

It was done to help members of the congregation who use wheelchairs or have trouble getting up the stairs. At the time of the renovation, Boranian was one of only two members who use wheelchairs.

The $120,000 for the cost of construction was raised by the parishioners.

The church started thinking about the changes two decades ago. It had about $20,000 in savings, and in early 2011, the church started a fund drive to get the necessary funds, pastor Mac Taylor said.

In only three months, parishioners raised $90,000, he said.

"It was a large number for a small congregation," Taylor said.

Continued here:
Monroe church's elevator gives congregation a lift

San Mateo, CA (PRWEB) March 10, 2012

JC Appliance Repair, an appliance and refrigerator repair company that serves the San Mateo, Palo Alto and San Francisco areas, is currently offering several ways in which clients can receive online coupons.

First, a person may mention JC Appliance Repairs online coupon to receive 10-percent off labor for any appliance.

"We also have an online promotion to encourage customer reviews. Leave a review about us on any of these sites: Yelp, Google, Bing, Local.com, EZLocal.com and Citysearch, print it and you will receive 15-percent off on any appliance repair," Jose Castro of JC Appliance Repair said. "Help us spread the word."

JC Appliance Repair has built its reputation on providing fully trained and professional technicians, who pay attention to details. The repair company offers reliable appliance repair service, and is prompt and expeditious in getting the job done right the first time. All JC Appliance Repair work comes with a one-year warranty, and the company does not charge extra for weekend repairs.

"If anyone has had a bad experience with appliance repair companies in the past, had to wait all day for a repairman, and still not have had the problem resolved, that will never happen with JC Appliance Repair. We take care of all your appliance needs quickly, easily and within the timeframe promised. No more waiting with a four- to eight-hour appointment window," Castro said.

For more information about any of JC Appliance Repairs services, call 650-375-8185 or view the repair company on the web at http://www.jcappliancerepair.com.

About JC Appliance Repair For more than 24 Years, JC Appliance Repair has provided expert appliance repair services throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Mateo and Palo Alto. The repair company specializes in providing exceptional appliance repair services, such as commercial appliance repair, refrigerator repair and appliance repair for nearly all household appliances from every major brand name. JC Appliance Repairs team of trained and certified appliance-repair experts specializes in retrofitting old appliance systems, commercial compressor replacements, construction, service, repair, and maintenance of walk-in freezers and coolers.

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San Mateo Appliance Repair Service, JC Appliance Repair, Announces Online Promotions

March 09, 2012 08:57:15 PM

PANAMA CITY After he sank a boat and had been pulled to shore, the crowds that watched from the patios of two restaurants cheered, and Jonathan Byers took a bow.

Its unlikely the crowd was cheering for Byers, who was near the end of an alleged crime spree that Panama City police believe included burning a trailer and resulted in an Amber Alert and the near drowning of his son. More likely is that the crowd cheered for Capt. Keith Butchikas and his buddy, who pulled Byers and his 3-year-old son, Austin Byers, from the water.

Butchikas, who runs Island Stylin Adventures, didnt know at the time about the Amber Alert, or that the helicopter hed been seeing that afternoon was looking for Byers, or that Byers was suspected of setting his girlfriends home on fire about two hours earlier. Still, Byers showmanship ticked him off.

I wanted to smack him, Butchikas said. I was like, Are you kidding me? Youre taking a bow? You just about drowned your kid.

Butchikas had been keeping an eye on the 7-foot dinghy ever since Byers drove it into a couple pylons trying to get out of St. Andrews Marina on Thursday. He asked Byers if he was all right as he passed by.

Ive never driven boats too much, Byers told him, so Butchikas warned him against getting out into open water in the tiny boat, which had about 6 inches of water in it by that point.

Butchikas actually took Austin for a ride on a Jet Ski at Jonathan Byers insistence just moments before the boat went down. He wouldnt have normally done that Jet Ski rentals, not giveaways, is how he makes his money after all but something about the sad-looking child tugged at his heart strings, so he took him for a quick ride and put him back in the boat with his father.

Thank you so much was all Austin said to him, Butchikas recounted.

Only minutes later, as he was putting his ski up, Butchikas heard a commotion from the patios at Uncle Ernies and Gracie Raes. People were screaming. He didnt have to turn around to know what happened.

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Man charged with arson, child abuse

The industrial cleaning company services manufacturing, power, and paper industries, to name a few

PESHTIGO -- Pressure-washing uses water, and sand-blasting uses sand.

But have you ever heard of ice blasting?

It uses dry ice and is a non-abrasive cleaning process that easily blasts away oil, grease, dirt, and dust.

Precision Iceblast Corporation of Wallace, Michigan, recently moved to Peshtigo, Wisconsin.

So why did the family-run business leave the U.P.?

There wasn't a lot of room for expansion at all, explains Matthew Peterson, who works in Project Management. You couldn't work on multiple projects. It was pretty much focused on one project and getting that done then moving on to the next one."

Sales have grown in the last few years.

But why did company officials consider Wisconsin?

The state of Wisconsin was great with tax incentives, said Keith Boye, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. They were very aggressive with trying to court us to come over here. And when we looked where in Wisconsin we wanted to go, the city of Peshtigo was also instrumental in bringing us over here."

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Have you ever heard of ice blasting?

Posted: Mar. 10, 2012 | 1:59 a.m.

Ryland Homes is welcoming spring with a March sales special. Through the end of the month, homebuyers can save 20 percent on Design Center options and save on items such as granite countertops, upgraded cabinets and premium surround sound packages.

"If you have been looking for the right time to buy a new home with everything you love, it is this month," said Stephanie McGerty, marketing director for Ryland Homes' Las Vegas division. "We have great values on homes in every one of our Southern Nevada communities, and 20 percent off design center options is icing on the cake."

The builder is nearly sold out at its Mountain's Edge communities, Augusta and Ellingwood. With just five homes left, the gated neighborhoods have been among Ryland's most popular, according to McGerty.

"These are the perfect neighborhoods in Mountain's Edge, one of Southern Nevada's most popular master-plan(ned) communities," said Mara Glaser, sales agent. "Augusta and Ellingwood offer the privacy of a gated neighborhood that has its own park areas, but are still within the master plan that includes expansive parks, trails and other amenities."

Two-story homes offered are the 3,200-square-foot Angora model and the 2,754- square-foot Addison model. All five are offered on pool-sized home sites, with several scheduled for completion in April.

"The Angora models include five bedrooms, three full baths and two lofts. The Addison models include four bedrooms, a den, three full baths and two lofts. They are perfect for homebuyers that want extra space for bedrooms, game rooms, offices or hobby rooms," Glaser said.

With prices starting at $220,000 in Augusta and Ellingwood, homebuyers receive heavily upgraded homes with pool-sized home sites for as low as $79 per square foot.

Ryland Homes adds to the value of Augusta and Ellingwood by paying the SID (special improvement district) fees for each home in the neighborhood.

"That item alone is an approximate $7,000 savings to each homebuyer," Glaser said.

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Ryland Announces March Sales Specials