Fire investigators are working to figure out what caused a fire that damaged a popular Buckhead restaurant Sunday.

The Atlanta Fire Department was called out to OK Cafe on the corner of West Paces Ferry Road and Northside Parkway around 8 a.m.

"Once it started getting bad, we started yelling and screaming, the fire alarm started going off, said General Manager Carlos Alarcon.

Tricia Pridemore and her husband were eating inside the restaurant when the fire started. She says around 50 people were inside when a waiter began running through the restaurant yelling for everyone to leave.

"Anybody who was sitting down they made sure we knew this was not a drill. That we needed to get out now, said Pridemore.

No flames were visible, but there was a burnt smell inside, according to a Pridemore

We started getting smoke, smelling smoke and then they said it was on fire and they told us to evacuate and run out, so we got the customers out and we got out. Everybody got out safe, everybody is fine, said Melissa Rogers, who has been a waitress at the restaurant for 13 years.

AFD says no injuries were reported from the initial fire.

One firefighter was injured on the scene and taken to Atlanta Medical Center. Fire officials say he fell through some rafters while cleanup was underway at the restaurant. He is alert and has no serious injuries.

Alarcon told Channel 2s Steve Gehlbach he believes it started because of an electrical issue with a hot water heater. He told Gehlbach they were having issues with the heater and called an electrician, but quickly called 911 when smoke started building.

Read more:
Fire damages Buckhead landmark OK Cafe

Murrieta, CA (PRWEB) December 08, 2014

Seats are still available for Januarys class offered by Ambassador Energy and Mission Career College, who have partnered to provide veterans and other qualified students enrollment through the G.I. Bill and Workforce Investment Act. On the back-end of the training, The Veteran Asset assists veterans with placement within the renewable energy sector.

Ambassador Energy (AE) has added 48 hours to their popular Solar PV Design and Installation Course to include more classroom time and additional hands-on labs. At completion, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioner (NABCEP) Entry Level Exam is proctored.

The first 80-hour two-week course of 2015 is scheduled for January 12 through 23, and seats are still available on a first come first served basis. The class is designed to give students ample time and attention from Ambassador Energys Director of Trainer, Catherine Kelso, and staff. Ms. Kelso is a solar expert, who has earned two NABCEP certifications PV Installer and PV Technical Sales. She also sits on the current committee for NABCEP, which is crafting the criteria for the new NABCEP credential for photovoltaic system inspectors and solar heating system inspectors.

Suffice to say, said Kelly Smith, president of Ambassador Energy, Cat is highly qualified and is an amazing teacher. In her time away from AE, she, herself is a student, working toward her Electrical Engineering degree. And, in her time away from the podium at AE, she works for us as a system designer, troubleshooter, sales technical advisor, and installation coach. She cut her solar teeth on off-grid system design in the early 2000s and has grown to become one of the countrys most successful trainers. It does not surprise me that, with Kelso at the training helm, Ambassador Energy's NABCEP pass rate far exceeds the national average.

Ambassador Energy is proud to support the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, The Veteran Asset (TVA), who plays an important role throughout the training process. TVA connects the dots, continued Smith, by interfacing with the veteran students from beginning to end. At AE, we are proof of concept, as we have hired, so far, a total of nine veterans, who graduated the TVA program. I can say, first hand, that this program has made a huge impact on so many levels for AE. These veterans are incredible assets to our company!

Veterans and other qualifying students will, upon completing the 80-hour course, be invited to take the NABCEP EL Exam, which will prepare students for jobs within the solar arena, including; installer, project manager, designer/drafter, sales, administration, information technician, maintenance provider, and more. The course also satisfies 18 of the required hours for admission to the Advanced PV Installer Exam.

The Solar PV Design and Installation course offered in January includes:

Classes are scheduled to continue in Murrieta, California, commencing on the second Monday of each month and run 9am until 5pm Monday through Friday. Interested students should contact The Veteran Asset.

About Ambassador Energy (AE) IREC-accredited training provider with staff certified as NABCEP PV Installers and NABCEP PV Technical Sales.* CSLB #928112: General Contractor B, C10 Electrician and C46 Renewable Energy, providing design and installation of solar PV and solar training throughout the U.S. *fulgham

View original post here:
U.S. Military Veterans Have a Unique Opportunity to Start the New Year Solar Trained and Ready for Career Action

A state senator has proposed changes to how Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarships are awarded.

State Sen. Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana, on Friday presented a draft bill to the Arkansas Lottery Commission Legislative Oversight Committee that calls for dividing student recipients into two categories: one with GPAs of at least 3.25 and ACT scores of 22 or higher, and another with GPAs of at least 2.5 and ACT scores of 19 or higher.

The students with the higher GPA and ACT scores would receive their scholarships in advance of their freshman years, as all students do currently. But those in the second group would be reimbursed for the amount only after "they successfully complete their freshman year and enroll for their sophomore year," according to an overview of the bill Hickey presented to committee members.

The bill also calls for establishing a $750 scholarship award for students in certificate-of-proficiency or technical-certificate programs.

Hickey said the changes could save several million dollars and make up for a shortfall between projected lottery revenue and projected scholarship awards. He noted that the lottery projects to provide $78 million for scholarships this year. An additional $20 million in general revenue for the scholarship still falls short of $102 million projected to be awarded.

Hickey asked the legislators to keep in mind "three Cs:"

"Cash flow, compassion for students and a combination of both," he said.

He said he has already prefiled the bill for consideration in next year's legislative session.

More:
Sen. Hickey proposes changes to lottery scholarship awards

Published on December 03, 2014

Hockey Legend Jean Beliveau dead at age 83

MONTREAL - It is hard to imagine a classier hockey player, on and off the ice, than Jean Beliveau.

A supremely skilled centre for 18 seasons for the Montreal Canadiens, the 83-year-old Beliveau was also a gracious spokesman for the team and the sport.

With his death confirmed late Tuesday by a spokesman for the Canadiens, the NHL club lost the man who embodied all the attributes of their dynasty teams of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s talent, flair, intelligence and success.

He scored 507 goals, won 10 Stanley Cups and was captain for 10 seasons before his retirement in 1971, then moved seamlessly into an executive position with the club.

Words like class and gentleman were attached to Beliveau by virtually everyone who met him.

"Meeting him is not like meeting other stars from the old days," said Beliveaus former linemate Gilles Tremblay.

"When people see Bobby Hull, they say: 'Hi Bobby.' When they meet Big Jean, it's always: 'Hi, Mr. Beliveau.' He commands respect."

Canadiens fans who revered Beliveau were given a scare in 2000 when he was diagnosed with throat cancer, but after losing 30 pounds during treatment and enduring "the worst period of my life," he recovered and was soon back in his familiar spot attending nearly every home game with his wife Elise in the seats among the fans. He also survived a stroke in 2012.

Read the original post:
Hockey Legend Jean Beliveau dead at age 83

By Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press

MONTREAL - It is hard to imagine a classier hockey player, on and off the ice, than Jean Beliveau.

A supremely skilled centre for 18 seasons for the Montreal Canadiens, the 83-year-old Beliveau was also a gracious spokesman for the team and the sport.

The NHL club lost the man who embodied all the attributes of their dynasty teams of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s talent, flair, intelligence and success.

He scored 507 goals, won 10 Stanley Cups and was captain for 10 seasons before his retirement in 1971, then moved seamlessly into an executive position with the club.

Words like class and gentleman were attached to Beliveau by virtually everyone who met him.

"Like millions of hockey fans who followed the life and the career of Jean Beliveau, the Canadiens today mourn the passing of a man whose contribution to the development of our sport and our society was unmeasurable," team owner Geoff Molson said in a statement posted on the Canadiens' website.

"Jean Beliveau was a great leader, a gentleman and arguably the greatest ambassador our game has ever known," Molson added.

"Meeting him is not like meeting other stars from the old days," said Beliveaus former linemate Gilles Tremblay, who died last week.

"When people see Bobby Hull, they say: 'Hi Bobby.' When they meet Big Jean, it's always: 'Hi, Mr. Beliveau.' He commands respect."

The rest is here:
Jean Beliveau dead at age 83

By Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press

MONTREAL - It is hard to imagine a classier hockey player, on and off the ice, than Jean Beliveau.

A supremely skilled centre for 18 seasons for the Montreal Canadiens, the 83-year-old Beliveau was also a gracious spokesman for the team and the sport.

The NHL club lost the man who embodied all the attributes of their dynasty teams of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s talent, flair, intelligence and success.

He scored 507 goals, won 10 Stanley Cups and was captain for 10 seasons before his retirement in 1971, then moved seamlessly into an executive position with the club.

Words like class and gentleman were attached to Beliveau by virtually everyone who met him.

"Like millions of hockey fans who followed the life and the career of Jean Beliveau, the Canadiens today mourn the passing of a man whose contribution to the development of our sport and our society was unmeasurable," team owner Geoff Molson said in a statement posted on the Canadiens' website.

"Jean Beliveau was a great leader, a gentleman and arguably the greatest ambassador our game has ever known," Molson added.

"Meeting him is not like meeting other stars from the old days," said Beliveaus former linemate Gilles Tremblay, who died last week.

"When people see Bobby Hull, they say: 'Hi Bobby.' When they meet Big Jean, it's always: 'Hi, Mr. Beliveau.' He commands respect."

See more here:
Legendary Jean Beliveau dead at age 83

LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has suspended its electrician from service for being involved allegedly in extorting money from residents of various residential schemes on Multan Road by posing himself as deputy director (recovery).

The decision was taken by the LDAs administration department in view of a media report.

Recovery Department Deputy Director Azhar Wattoo also had a case registered against the accused person.

The LDA administration is also expected to hold an inquiry against the accused official under the law, according to a senior official.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2014

Do you have information you wish to share with Dawn.com? You can email our News Desk to share news tips, reports and general feedback. You can also email the Blog Desk if you have an opinion or narrative to share, or reach out to the Special Projects Desk to send us your Photos, or Videos.

Continue reading here:
Most Popular

BRUCE BUMSTEAD/BRANDON SUN Enlarge Image

The Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation acknowledges recipients of the Brandon Housing and Community Awards during its annual general meeting at city hall on Wednesday.

A partnership between Assiniboine Community College and Habitat for Humanity Manitoba was given special recognition yesterday for its affordable housing project.

ACC trades students and Habitat for Humanity volunteers were presented with a 2014 Housing Award from the Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation.

"I cant express how much it means to us to have the opportunity to build a house for Habitat for Humanity," said Zac DeSchutter, ACC student in the pre-employment carpentry program.

DeSchutter spoke to the crowd at BNRCs award ceremony following the organizations annual general meeting in the city hall foyer on Wednesday.

"There are several different reasons why this is such a great opportunity for us. One of them being, we get to learn on a first-hand basis what its like to build a house from the ground up."

DeSchutter said it has also been a "tremendous community building opportunity" for the students.

"We get to know that this house will be there standing for years after we built it, and we can drive by and know thats our first project that we worked on."

Habitat for Humanity and ACC trades students partnered to build a ready-to-move home. Students are building the home as part of their 2014-15 curriculum. Carpentry, woodworking, plumbing and construction electrician programs are all involved in the initiative. The build began in September and is expected to be complete this coming summer.

Original post:
'Amazing' ACC, Habitat project celebrated

Personnel expert makes staggering claim in front of construction workers

A personnel chief was condemned yesterday for telling a meeting of blacklisted workers that the scandal was a big fuss about very little.

So-called employee relations expert Mike Emmott, from human resources workers professional body the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), made the comments following his keynote speech at the Manchester Industrial Relations Societys 50th anniversary conference on Friday.

He told the packed-out meeting of 200 leading industrial relations academics, HR professionals and union officials, including blacklisted workers and Shrewsbury Pickets, that he found union moral outrage over blacklisting rather distasteful.

Mr Emmott had been speaking of the need for HR managers to embed a culture of trust, fairness and respect but showed his true colours after being quizzed by general union GMB political officer Neil Smith over CIPDs lack of response to blacklisting.

His outburst was met with gasps, then loud applause after follow-up questions identified a number in CIPDs ranks who were personally involved in blacklisting union members.

A flustered Mr Emmott responded by claiming ignorance, even though the issue has been front-page news in even the CIPDs own journal.

Yes, it is a big fuss about nothing when you cannot feed and clothe your kids and dont know why, said Manchester electrician and MRI picket Tony Jones, who was blacklisted for many years after raising concerns about electrical safety.

To me thats a form of child abuse.

Blacklist Support Group chairman Steve Acheson, also a Manchester electrician, said the campaign group had submitted a complaint to the CIPD for breaches of the code of ethical conduct but that, two years later, nobody had faced any sanction.

Read the original post:
Morning Star :: Blacklist fears a huge fuss over nothing says HR chief

Sollentuna (Sweden) (AFP) - In war-torn Syria where Mikhail Zuhir comes from, a nighttime knock on the door can mean death, but when he rings the bell at a Swedish home on a dark night he comes bearing flowers.

Instead of fear, a warm dinner and welcome await the 29-year-old refugee who fled the violence that has claimed more than 195,000 lives since Syria's war began more than three years ago.

"As I see it, if you're invited to dinner and you arrive without flowers, you're sure not to get invited again," he said, handing a bouquet to his hosts, Urban Soederman and Jenny Sigurs.

Soon the three are seated at a table over traditional Swedish fare: salmon, potatoes, apple pie with whipped cream.

What seems a casual social event is proving to be a successful initiative at better integration, as Sweden faces a rise in the anti-immigration far right.

The project is the brainchild of Ebba Aakerman, a teacher of Swedish as a second language, who was moved by a simple idea -- nothing breaks the ice better than sharing a meal.

This dinner diplomacy, she hopes, will facilitate dialogue in a nation long known for its openness but shocked by September's general election when the far-right doubled its support to almost 13 percent.

For Sweden, mass immigration is a recent and growing phenomenon, with a 2013 survey showing 20.1 percent of the population has roots outside the country.

- 'I got curious' -

Akerman got the idea early this year when she started as a substitute teacher for foreigners making new lives in Sweden.

See the original post:
Swedes try dinner diplomacy to befriend immigrants