InYourArea Community

The nearby Castle Inn Footbridge remains closed to ensure the safety of the public, following damage it sustained during Storm Dennis.

Image:Rhondda Cynon Taf Council

Submitted by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has started work to repair and rebuild sections of the retaining wall at A4054 Cardiff Road in Treforest following damage caused by Storm Dennis and the current traffic lights will be removed when complete next month.

Sections of the wall, along the River Taff near Castle Inn Footbridge, were damaged by the unprecedented weather in February 2020.

The repairs are scheduled across two phases of work the first of these started on Monday, October 19. The council has appointed Kaymac Marine & Civil Engineering Ltd as the contractor to carry out this work, which will last up to two weeks, subject to good weather.

The second phase of work will see the collapsed section of wall rebuilt by contractor Hammond Civil Engineering Ltd. This is expected to start in early November and last around three weeks.

Once complete, the temporary traffic lights will be removed and Cardiff Road will be re-opened for two-way traffic. Work across both phases will adhere to the latest social distancing guidance.

Please note, the nearby Castle Inn Footbridge remains closed to ensure the safety of the public, following the significant damage it sustained during Storm Dennis. The council will provide an update to residents in the near future.

Councillor Andrew Morgan, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and cabinet member with responsibility for highways and transportation, said:

Important schemes to repair damaged structures have progressed in recent months including retaining wall repairs at Ynysybwl Road and Blaen-y-Cwm Road, while work has recently been completed at Station Street in Treherbert.

Preparations are also ongoing at Ynysangharad Park in Pontypridd to repair the Marks and Spencer Bridge over the coming months, while specialist surveys at Castell Ifor Bridge in Treforest and the White Bridge in Pontypriddare are under review.

The council is committed to repairing or replacing both of these damaged bridges and will provide an update to residents in due course.

Cllr Morgan said:

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Retaining wall repairs at A4054 Cardiff Road in Treforest - In Your Area

Ann Arbor, Mich. | $1.99 MillionA house custom-built in 1979, with five bedrooms and six and a half bathrooms, on a 0.77-acre lot

Designed by Don Paul Young, a local architect, this home is part of the Hillwood Preserve, a wooded subdivision dating to the 1930s that was created by a pair of sisters who were landscape designers, on their family property. The house sits near the prairie part of the University of Michigans Nichols Arboretum, with winter views of the Huron River. One can cut through the arboretum to reach the university campus and downtown, less than a mile west, or travel a more roundabout route by road. Built for an orthopedic surgeon, the house was expanded in 2000 by a later owner.

Size: 5,249 square feet

Price per square foot: $379

Indoors: Recent updates include new exterior siding that promises to last for decades, many new windows (some of them huge) and fresh oak flooring in the living room, dining room and main study (there are three studies altogether). A substantial part of the lower level was also remodeled, and hardscaping was added outdoors.

The entrance leads into a foyer with an attached powder room (variegated ceramic tile covers the floors of both). To the left of the front door is a dining room with a 16-foot-high wall of glass and a wet bar. It flows into a living room, for an area that totals 38 feet in length and up to 25 feet in width and includes a wood-burning fireplace.

On the other side of the fireplace wall is an office with a built-in desk, wraparound upper and lower cabinets and windows on three sides, with arboretum views. On the opposite side of the living room and up a few steps is an open, tiled breakfast area and, beyond that, a kitchen with an L-shaped center island topped in granite, a Wolf range, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and a pantry. This room walks out to a 24-by-19-foot screened porch, which opens to an ipe-wood patio. Next to the kitchen is a laundry room that includes a wine refrigerator and a built-in desk and cabinetry.

A hallway past the rear staircase leads into guest quarters. Here are a bedroom with arboretum views, a bathroom with a walk-in glass-and-stone-tile shower and an office with two built-in desks and three walls of cabinets. An elevator in this wing takes you to any floor.

The front staircase ascends to a hall lofted above the dining room. The first door belongs to the master suite, which includes a carpeted bedroom with a walk-in closet behind frosted-glass doors (a dresser and shoe cubby are lodged inside) and a private balcony overlooking the arboretum. The master bathroom is sheathed in dark and light gray stone and includes a wraparound vanity with a pair of metal vessel sinks and a separate tub and shower.

This level contains three additional bedroom suites (one with a Juliet balcony), as well as a library that opens to an indoor-outdoor oak-floored exercise room above the screened porch.

The lower level has more than 2,400 square feet of finished space not counted in the homes official square footage. This encompasses a large family room with sunlight streaming through glass doors and multiple exposures (it walks out to a patio), an office with a fireplace, a full bathroom and two workshops. There are also storage and utility rooms, as well as access to a three-car garage.

Outdoor space: In addition to the porches, decks and balconies is a large paved patio hugged by a new retaining wall; it has a fire pit. The surrounding landscape is, not surprisingly, tree-filled.

Taxes: $30,646 (based on a tax assessment of $611,179), plus an annual $100 homeowner fee

Contact: Jean Wedemeyer, Reinhart Realtors, 734-604-2523; jeanwedemeyer.reinhartrealtors.com

This two-story 1936 complex is in the Bayshore neighborhood, two blocks west of Indian Creek and the nearby cluster of Mid-Beach hotels, including the Miami Beach Edition and the Faena. Within a mile to the south are Collins Park, with its cultural attractions; the Miami Beach Convention Center, where the Art Basel Miami Beach fair is typically held; and the Lincoln Road shopping district. Currently, three of the four units are rented, with leases that extend six months at the most. The rents range from $2,900 to $3,200 a month, depending on the season. Short-term rentals are not permitted.

Size: 4,478 square feet

Price per square foot: $446

Indoors: Two units are downstairs, and two upstairs; all four have identical layouts of about 1,200 square feet. They are being sold furnished, and in two units, the furniture is new.

The lower units have direct access from within a gated courtyard; between their doors is the entrance to the upper units. In each apartment, the entry door opens to a living room with wood floors and a decorative fireplace mantel. A stepped archway leads into a wood-floored dining room, and a similar archway introduces the kitchen. The kitchen surfaces and colors vary from unit to unit. In unit No. 1, which is currently vacant, the counters are white marble, the flooring is gray linoleum and the appliances are stainless steel.

The units occupy the four corners of the building, so one bedroom in each has windows that wrap around two walls. The bedrooms also have wood floors and en suite bathrooms with showers. (Again, surface materials and colors vary.) Unit No. 1 has its own washer and dryer. The other three share free laundry facilities in the complex.

Outdoor space: The seller did some landscaping of the shared garden, which includes a seating area and a grill. The building does not have parking, but occupants can apply for city permits that cost $60 a year and that allow them to park on the street, in front.

Taxes: $36,000 (estimated)

Contact: Patricia Agudelo, Coldwell Banker Realty, 347-623-7163; coldwellbanker.com

This property in the town of Shawangunk, west of the Hudson River, is the country seat of Cristy Lee McGeehan, an interior designer with a penchant for patterned wallpaper, and her husband, Colan McGeehan, the chief investment officer of Publicis Health Media. The couple are enthusiastic entertainers; to accommodate a regular parade of friends and family as well as corporate retreats, they recently built a log house from reclaimed barn wood near the Greek Revival farmhouse. The furnishings for both homes can be negotiated with the sale.

The houses are about 75 miles north of Manhattan and about 16 miles southwest of New Paltz, in southern Ulster County. Local attractions include mountain preserves, vineyards, orchards and rail trails.

Size: 5,400 square feet (combined)

Price per square foot: $375

Indoors: The yellow clapboard-sided farmhouse, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, includes a traditional double parlor with wide, antique floorboards and rooms separated by pocket doors. Wallpaper in complementary patterns with a lot of black gives a modern Victorian frisson to the rooms. Rustic wood of different shades also makes an appearance on a wall of the sunny front parlor. A brick fireplace with a black-painted mantel is in the rear parlor.

A formal dining room is papered in a mix of more subtle patterns and colors. The homey kitchen has a vaulted beadboard ceiling with exposed brick above the wall cabinets; stainless steel and concrete countertops; and a window seat.

Downstairs, in the original kitchen, with its fireplace designed for cooking, the owners created an exuberant space they describe as a speakeasy and use for karaoke. On the second floor, Ms. McGeehan hand-glued hundreds of scalloped bits of paper to the slanted wall of the master bedroom. Two additional bedrooms also have angled ceilings that follow the rooflines, and the bathroom is a medley of raw brick, white-on-white brocade-patterned paper, hexagonal floor tile and rough concrete for the vanity. There is a vintage tub and a walk-in shower.

In the log house, Ms. McGeehan amped up the eclecticism, using botanical- and animal-themed papers to contrast with the pervasive wood-and-mortar striping. In the downstairs powder room, the animals are dressed in Victorian garb and set within ornate picture frames. In the upstairs bedrooms (each of which has a private bathroom), they portray hummingbirds, butterflies, moths and garlands. There is also a main-floor master suite whose bathroom paper is festooned with silhouetted boats and rosy Chinese lanterns. (You will also find a vanity converted from an American Colonial-style desk, brass sconces sprouting crystals and a very contemporary glass-walled shower.)

Outdoor space: A hot tub, a bandstand, a firepit and several seating areas add to the entertainment value. Alpacas, among other animals, have recently enjoyed the paddock.

Taxes: $14,472

Contact: J.C. Keeler, Heather Croner Real Estate, Sothebys International Realty, 917-603-1946; sothebysrealty.com

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Originally posted here:
Here's What $2 Million Buys You in Michigan, Florida and New York - The New York Times

WILLCOX, Ariz. A semi tractor-trailer driver died after the truck drove through the City of Willcox Visitors Center Monday.

The driver's identity has not been released by authorities.

According to the City of Willcox, an investigation revealed that the vehicle was going westbound on I-10 near milepost 341 when it suddenly left the roadway to the right, which led to the vehicle driving through a fence and the visitor center.

Witnesses say the vehicle did not apply brakes as it approached the center.

"After traveling - mile the vehicle struck a retaining wall on the north side of the Visitor Center property and continued to travel southbound. The vehicle struck the north side of the building and maintained enough velocity that it traveled through the entire building and exited through the south side of the building," the city said about the crash.

The vehicle then reportedly dropped off its loading drop, causing it to "jackknife" in the Arizona Department of Public Safety's parking lot, narrowly avoiding officers inside the building.

I would like to thank all personnel involved in this incident. Although tragic, this incident again shows how well first responders in rural Arizona come together to accomplish tasks. Thank you to all personnel who had a hand in this. Your dedication to preserving life brings great credit upon yourselves, your agencies and the State of Arizona, Chief Hadfield, Director of the Willcox Department of Public Safety stated.

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Tractor-trailer crashes through Willcox Visitor Center, driver killed - KGUN

NOTICE TO BIDDERS BY THE RIVANNA WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY BID FOR THE MCAWRRF ENGINEERING BUILDING ADDITION - RFB NO. 376 Sealed Bids will be received by the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, hereinafter called the OWNER, in the Administration Building at the Moores Creek Advanced Water Resource Recovery Facility, 695 Moores Creek Lane, Charlottesville, VA 22902 until 4:00 p.m., local prevailing time on November 20, 2020 and then at said office be publicly opened and read aloud (virtually at the sole discretion of RWSA) for the following: GENERAL CONSTRUCTION: Includes all site preparation work needed for the Addition to the Engineering Building Facility. Site preparation includes site grading; retaining wall construction; asphalt pavement; building foundation work; and water, sewer and electrical utility installation. The foregoing description shall not be construed as a complete description of all work required. Contract Documents may be examined at the following locations: Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, 695 Moores Creek Lane, Charlottesville, VA 22902; Hazen and Sawyer, 4011 West Chase Blvd., Suite 500, Raleigh, NC 27607. Digital copies of the Contract Documents may be obtained through the office of Hazen and Sawyer located at 4011 WestChase Boulevard, Suite 500, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27607, at no cost. Inquiries should be directed to Mr. Bret Edwards, P.E. at (919) 755-8588. An optional virtual pre-bid conference will be held on November 4, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. to review the scope of work and clarify any aspect of the work that may be in question. Attendance at the virtual pre-bid conference is not mandatory. To obtain a link to the virtual pre-bid conference, contact Scott Schiller, P.E., Engineering Manager at the Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority at (434) 977-2970 x206 or sschiller@rivanna.org, or Bret Edwards, P.E. at Hazen at (919) 755-8588 or bedwards@hazenandsawyer.com. A more detailed Notice to Bidders can be seen at http://www.rivanna.org.

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NOTICE TO BIDDERS BY THE RIVANNA WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY BID FOR THE MCAWRRF ENGINEERING BUILDING ADDITION - RFB NO. - The Daily Progress

District 47 - West TN NorthernCARROLL COUNTY, SR-22A: Bridge repair in Huntingdon over Brier Creek at LM 0.34 and over CSX Railroad at LM 3.10.Restrictions: Monday, March 9, 2020: SR 22A will be reduced to one lane traffic with a traffic signal system.

CARROLL COUNTY, SR 22: The resurfacing on SR 22 from the end of the curb and gutter in Clarksburg to Bennetts Lane will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project.

DYER, LAKE, OBION COUNTY, SR-78: The resurfacing on SR 78 from SR 103 in Dyer County, through Obion County to south of SR 79 in Lake County will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project.

DYER COUNTY, SR-3 (US-51): The repair of bridges on US 51 (SR 3) over SR 211 in Dyersburg will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 55 MPH.Restrictions: Sunday, July 19, 2020: Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction with a 12 lane restriction.

DYER COUNTY, SR-3 (US 51): The resurfacing with hot in-place recycling on US 51 (SR 3) from near SR 105 in Dyer County to South Main Street in Obion County.

DYER COUNTY, SR-20 (US-412): The resurfacing on SR 20 from US 51 (SR 3) to the Crockett County line will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project.

DYER COUNTY, SR-104: The resurfacing on SR 104 from SR 182 to the SR 181 including bridge deck repair will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project.

GIBSON COUNTY, SR-5

Wednesday, October 21 through Saturday, October 31, 2020: There will be a closure of the right southbound lane and shoulder on SR 5 (north side of Humboldt) for construction of turning lane for Tyson S.I.A. route.

HENDERSON COUNTY (New Lexington By-Pass): The grading, drainage, construction of bridges and retaining walls, signals and paving on US 412 (SR 459) from US 412 (SR 20) west of Lexington to near SR 22 south of Lexington. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway.

HENRY COUNTY, SR-54: The grading, drainage, construction of bridges, retaining wall and paving on SR 54 from near Rison Street to near Smith Road. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway. *Speed limit has been reduced to 35 MPH.

Restrictions: Monday, November 25, 2019: Bridge work on SR 54 at LM 12.02 (Bridge nearest Guthrie) is causing a 10 lane restriction. *Traffic has been shifted to Phase 3 of traffic control.

OBION COUNTY, Future I-69 (Phase 2): Grading, drainage, construction of eight bridges on future I-69 from south of US 51 (SR 3) to south of US 45W (SR 5) will cause possible lane closures throughout the project.

OBION COUNTY, Future I-69 (Phase 3): Grading, drainage, construction of bridges and paving on future I-69 from west of SR 21 to US 51 (SR 3) will cause possible lane closures throughout the project.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020: Bethlehem Road north from Clifford Rives Road to Lindenwood Road will be closed. Claude Tucker Road north from Cloys Road to Section Line Road will be closed. Detour routes are posted.

WEAKLEY COUNTY, SR-22 (US 45E): The repair of the ramp bridge on US 45E (SR 22) over SR 431 will cause the ramp to be closed. A detour to SR 431 is provided.

District 48 - West TN Middle/Southern

CROCKETT COUNTY, SR-20: The miscellaneous safety improvements on US 412 (SR 20) from near the SR 54 ramp (LM 10.40) to Old SR 20 (South Cavalier Drive) (LM 12.80) may cause possible temporary lane closures both eastbound and westbound.

CROCKETT COUNTY, SR-20:

Wednesday, October 21 through Friday, October 23, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: There will be possible temporary lane closure northbound US 412 (SR 20) near SR 88 overpass for excavation, to build a new cross over.

HARDIN COUNTY, SR-69: The construction of a Bulb Tee bridge over Doe Creek along with grading, drainage, and paving may cause temporary lane closures on SR 69 at LM 10.06. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway.

HAYWOOD COUNTY, SR-19 (Brownsville Bypass): The construction of an I-Beam bridge along with grading, drainage, and paving may cause temporary lane closures on SR 19 (Brownsville Bypass) from east of SR 87 to west of Windrow Rd. One lane will remain. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway. Speed limit is reduced to 45 MPH within the project limits. Shaw Chapel and King Road will be closed at SR 19 and a detour put in place on August 27, 2020.

HENDERSON COUNTY, SR-20: The resurfacing with hot in-place recycling on US 412 (SR 20) from Crucifer Road to near Sea Horse Drive will cause temporary lane closures daily.

HENDERSON COUNTY, SR-20: The resurfacing with hot in-place recycling on US 412 (SR 20) from east of SR 22 to near the Chesterfield By-Pass, including bridge expansion joint repair and thin epoxy overlay will cause temporary lane closures daily.

MADISON COUNTY, SR-186 (US 45 Bypass) and I-40: Interchange improvements on SR 186 (US 45) north and southbound from the I-40 ramps to Old Hickory Blvd for paving and construction of retaining walls. Widening of I-40 from just east of Exit 79 to just east of Exit 82

Thursday, October 22 and Friday, October 23, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for bridge construction activities.

Saturday, October 24, 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for bridge construction activities.

Monday, October 26 through Wednesday, October 28, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for bridge construction activities.

LOOK AHEAD

Thursday, October 29 and Friday, October 30, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for bridge construction activities.

Saturday, October 31, 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will be closed and detoured for both north and southbound lanes from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection to allow for wrecking of overhang jacks, patching, and installing closure bay diaphragms. (BACKUP DATE: Sunday, November 1, 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.)

Saturday, October 31, 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: I-40 eastbound and westbound will have intermittent lane closure at Exit 82 to allow for installation of overhead signs and opening of phase 1 of the on ramps. (BACKUP DATE: Sunday, November 1, 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.)

Monday, November 2 through Wednesday, November 4, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for bridge construction activities.

MADISON COUNTY, SR-186: The resurfacing on US 45BP (SR 186) from Channing Way (LM 4.40) to Passmore Lane Overpass (LM 8.18), including bridge expansion joint repair and thin epoxy overlay.

Friday, October 23, 7:00 p.m. through Monday, October 26, 6:00 a.m.: Intermittent lane closures both north and southbound on US 45BP (SR 186) from Channing Way (LM 4.40) to Passmore Lane Overpass (LM 8.18) for bridge work.

Sunday, October 25 through Friday, October 30, 7:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: Intermittent lane closures north and southbound for resurfacing on US 45BP (SR 186) from Channing Way (LM 4.40) to Passmore Lane Overpass (LM 8.18).

LOOK AHEAD

Friday, October 30, 7:00, through Monday, November 2, 6:00 a.m.: Intermittent lane closures both north and southbound on US 45BP (SR186) from Channing Way (LM 4.40) to Passmore Lane Overpass (LM 8.18) for bridge work.

Sunday, November 1 through Friday, November 6, 7:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: Intermittent lane closures north and southbound for resurfacing on US 45BP (SR 186) from Channing Way (LM 4.40) to Passmore Lane Overpass (LM 8.18).

MCNAIRY COUNTY, SR-57: The resurfacing with hot in place recycling on SR 57 from the Ramer City Limits (LM 12.00) to the Hardin County Line (LM 24.67), including bridge expansion joint repair will cause intermittent lane closures daily.

TDOT District 48 MAINTENANCE:

Wednesday, October 21 through Wednesday, October 28, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures at various locations in Region IV in order to repair pavement on an as needed basis.

District 49 - West TN Southwest

FAYETTE COUNTY, SR-196: The repair of bridge over Shaw Creek will cause a lane closure with temporary traffic signal near MM 7.0.

LAUDERDALE COUNTY, SR-19: The resurfacing with hot-in-place recycling on SR 19 from near Eastland Avenue to Haywood County Line will cause temporary lane closures daily.

LAUDERDALE COUNTY, SR-88: The resurfacing with full depth reclamation on SR 88 from Dee Webb Road to Key Corner Road, including bridge deck repairs will cause temporary lane closures daily.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-3: Resurfacing on SR 3 (Union Ave) from Bellevue Blvd to BB King Blvd.

Wednesday, October 21 through Tuesday, October 27, 6:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be intermittent lane closures on SR 3 east and westbound between Bellevue Blvd and B.B. King Blvd for asphalt paving operations. One lane in each direction will remain open. Weather Permitting.

LOOK AHEAD:

Wednesday, October 28 through Tuesday, November 3, 6:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be intermittent lane closures on SR 3 east and westbound between Bellevue Blvd and B.B. King Blvd for asphalt paving operations. One lane in each direction will remain open. Weather Permitting.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-14: Resurfacing on SR 14 from the Mississippi State Line to SR 175

Thursday, October 22 through Wednesday, October 28, 5:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.: There will be temporary lane closures on SR 14 (Third Street) north and southbound for resurfacing. One lane will remain open in each direction.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-14: The grading, drainage, construction of concrete Bulb-Tee and I-beam bridges, signals and paving on SR 14 from east of Old Covington Pike to SR 385 will cause possible lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 45 MPH.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-14: Construction on SR 14 for a widening project from SR 385 to east of Kerrville Rosemark Rd. There will be possible temporary lane closures throughout the project. Access to SR-14 from McCalla Rd West will be permanently detoured to Donnell Rd. *Speed limit has been reduced to 45 MPH.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-23: Bridge Testing on SR-23 (Union Ave) at Flicker StTuesday, October 27, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: There will be intermittent lane closures on SR-23 (Union Avenue) near Flicker St MM 2.2 to perform ACM testing on the bridges.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-205: The resurfacing on SR 205 from SR-14 to Armour Rd will cause temporary lane closures.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-205: The addition of turn lanes on SR 205 (Airline Rd) from Brooks River Drive to south of I-40 will have lane closures throughout the project.Thursday, October 22 through Wednesday, October 28, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be intermittent lane closures on SR 205 north and southbound from Brooks River Drive (LM-15.75) to just south of I-40 (LM-16.07) to perform temporary road widening work. There will be one lane traffic with flaggers present at times. *Speed limit has been reduced to 35 MPH. Weather Permitting.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-385 from LM-2.19 to LM-2.31): The resurfacing of SR 385 from MM 34.0 to MM 35.0 will have lane closures throughout the project.

Monday, October 26 through Tuesday, October 27: INTERMITTENT lane closures on SR 385 east and westbound from MM 34.0 to MM 35.0 for resurfacing activities.

TDOT District 49 MAINTENANCE:Thursday, October 22 through Wednesday, October 28, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures on all interstates and state routes in District 49 for routine maintenance activities on an as needed basis.

TDOT District 49 On-Call Guardrail/Concrete Barrier Rail Repair:

Wednesday, October 21 through Tuesday, October 27, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be night time lane closures at various locations on SR 3 (Shelby County), SR 385 (Shelby County), SR 14 (Shelby County), SR 15 (Shelby County), I-40 (Fayette and Shelby Counties), I-269 (Shelby and Fayette Counties),

I-55 and I-240. One lane will be CLOSED to repair damaged guardrail. THP will assist with traffic control. Weather Permitting.

Thursday, October 22 through Wednesday, October 28, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be daytime lane closures at various locations on SR-3, MM 10.0MM 24.0 (Lauderdale County), SR-195, MM 3.0-MM3.4 (Fayette County), SR-205, MM 2.3MM 2.5 (Shelby County), SR-206, MM 2.3 (Tipton County), and on SR-59, MM 20.6 (Tipton County). One lane will be closed. Flagmen will be used to direct traffic. Weather Permitting.

Wednesday, October 21 through Tuesday, October 27, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime ramp closures in Shelby County at the I-55 southbound EXIT 5A Off ramp to eastbound Brooks Rd, I-55 southbound EXIT 7 On ramp from SR-14, I-55 northbound EXIT 12C Off ramp to Metal Museum Drive, I-240 eastbound EXIT 30 On ramp from Union Avenue, and I-240 eastbound EXIT 23B On ramp from southbound Airways Blvd. Weather permitting. If weather prohibits, the closures will be on the next available night.

LOOK AHEAD:

Wednesday, October 28 through Tuesday, November 3, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime ramp closures in Shelby County at I-40 westbound On ramp from EXIT 12 Sycamore View, I-55 southbound EXIT 5A Off ramp to eastbound Brooks Rd, I-55 southbound EXIT 7 On ramp from SR-14, I-55 northbound EXIT 12C Off ramp to Metal Museum Drive, I-240 eastbound EXIT 30 On ramp from Union Avenue, I-240 eastbound EXIT 23B On ramp from southbound Airways Blvd, and I-240 westbound EXIT 17 On ramp from Mt. Moriah. Weather Permitting.

TDOT District 49 Emergency Reference Marker Installation

Sunday, October 25 through Tuesday, October 27, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime lane closures at various locations in Shelby County on I-40 westbound, MM 0.0MM 18.6; I-240 eastbound, MM 12.0MM 31.0, and I-55 southbound, MM 5.8MM 12.4. One lane will be CLOSED to install new Emergency Reference Markers. Weather Permitting.

NON-TDOT/City of Memphis work

SHELBY COUNTY, I-40: Memphis Cook Convention CenterMonday, October 7, 2019, 6:00 a.m. through Wednesday, October 28, 2020: On October 7, 2019 the exit ramp from I-40 eastbound (Exit 1, Front Street) was fully closed for upgrades to the Memphis Cook Convention Center. The ramp split to Riverside Dr. will remain open. Traffic will be controlled by signage and traffic barrels. Drivers should exercise caution when approaching and traveling through work zones.

SHELBY COUNTY, I-40: Sensor Installation in I-40 near Front St

LOOK AHEAD:Monday, November 2 through Friday, November 6, 6:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be two lanes closed on I-40 westbound to install weight sensors at EXIT 1A (Second/Third St). The I-40 westbound EXIT 1A Off ramp to Second/Third St will be closed. Detours will be provided.

SHELBY COUNTY, I-55: Bridge deck Repair on I-55 Bridge over Mississippi River

Sunday, October 25, 5:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: ALL lanes will be closed in the NB direction on the I-55 NB on the AR-TN Bridge over the Mississippi River to perform bridge deck repairs.

Detour will be posted.

LOOK AHEAD:

Sunday, November 1, 5:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m ALL lanes will be closed in the SB direction on the I-55 SB on the AR-TN Bridge over the Mississippi River to perform bridge deck repairs.

Detour will be posted.

From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at http://www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel or for West Tennessee follow https://twitter.com/NicLawrenceTDOT.

As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

In 2016, the Tennessee Department of Transportation lost three workers in the line of duty. All three were struck by passing motorists. Those tragedies bring the total number of TDOT lives lost to 112. We dont want to lose another member of our TDOT family. Were asking you to WORK WITH US. Click on the WORK WITH US logo to learn more.

See the rest here:
West Tennessee Weekly Construction October 21-28, 2020 - tn.gov

At just 25 years old, Camila Chindoy is seen by many in her community as a possible future governor of the Inga Indigenous reserve of Yunguillo in the Colombian Amazon. If elected, she would also become one of the youngest Indigenous matriarchs in the country.

But Chindoy is a simple woman who doesnt like to talk about the opportunity of occupying the most powerful political position in her community. Shed be in charge of the lives of 1,600 people who reside in Yunguillo. Many of the community leaders, and those who have closely followed her environmental and social work, are convinced that its only a matter of time before this happens.

They point mainly to Chindoys work as a facilitator of the team in charge of implementing the first territorial environmental management plan (POAT) of their community, which started nearly five years ago. Chindoy got involved at the beginning of 2019.

The POAT runs more than a hundred pages, prepared by everyone in this reserve 25 kilometers (15 miles) from Mocoa, the capital of the department of Putumayo in southwestern Colombia. The POAT lists the rules for sustainable growth for the community, whose residents are aware as never before of the enormous responsibility they have in protecting the Amazon. Their location in the Amazon foothills, where the thick jungle merges with the Andes mountain range, is a particularly important pressure point in the regions ecosystem.

After the painstaking three-decade struggle to expand the reserve, in 2015 the area was increased from 4,320 hectares to 26,716 hectares (10,675 acres to 66,017 acres).

Today, as a facilitator, Chindoy has worked hard to meet the POAT objectives, including promoting the protection of the Amazons biodiversity and advocating for the responsible administration of natural resources.

And Chindoys election as the leader of the implementation team occurred at a moment when the community had been hit by one of the worst natural disasters in Putumayos history: the Mocoa mudslide, which occurred in the early hours of April 1, 2017, and left 336 people dead and 70 missing.

That night, an overflow of the Mocoa, Mulato and Sangoyaco rivers destroyed several neighborhoods in Mocoa. Though not as deadly as earlier natural disasters a 1985 volcanic eruption triggered landslides that killed more than 20,000 in the town of Armero in Tolima department, and an earthquake in 1999 killed more than 1,900 in Armenia, in Quindo department the incident was an eye-opener. It raised alarms about the vulnerability of human settlements near rivers, and the need to protect these natural ecosystems from the impacts of overpopulation, illegal mining, and the clearing of forests for new settlements and livestock grazing.

For Chindoy, the social and environmental consequences of that event were the trigger that launched her as one of the most important Indigenous leaders in Putumayo.

Bisney Camila Chindoy Mutumbajoy was born in 1994 in the Yunguillo Indigenous Reserve, which is home to 400 families and falls under the jurisdiction of the four nearby municipal councils of Yunguillo, Osococha, Tandarido and San Carlos.

Daughter of Simn Chindoy, a farmer, and Mara Elvira Mutumbajoy, a school teacher and the first female governor of her community, Chindoy grew up in the reserve with four brothers and three sisters. When she was in the 10th grade, she traveled to Mocoa to finish high school at the Po XII school, the largest in the city.

In 2011, she began studying environmental engineering at the Putumayo Technological Institute. In her seventh semester there, she became pregnant with her daughter, Valery Sofa. In June 2017, she graduated with a project that consisted of the development of a solid-waste management system for Yunguillo, marking the first step in her environmental work with her community.

Just months later, the Mocoa mudslide struck. Chindoy remembers how that day she and her daughter were at her house they shared with Chindoys sisters Paola and Ingrid. As the disaster unfolded, they were reunited with other relatives, including her brother Daniel.

When it all started, my biggest concern was my daughter, who was 2 years old, Chindoy says in a recent phone interview. Water ran down the streets like a river as people tried to escape. I will never forget the loud noise of the water.

Then, as they huddled on a high floor in the dark with dying cellphones, a neighbor came and told them that the San Miguel neighborhood, where her brother Daniel lived, had disappeared under the mud.

Paola and Ingrid went out to look for him in the dark, Chindoy recalls.

When the sisters arrived in San Miguel, they found Daniels apartment gone, and in its place was a pile of rubble. They went to the Mocoa hospital, but didnt find him among the crowd of injured people. At around 9 in the morning they found him about 300 meters, or three blocks, from his house, where he had been dragged by the mudslide. Although badly injured, Daniel was miraculously alive.

The pain that many families suffered is unimaginable and will be felt for a lifetime. Although no one in my family died, many acquaintances did, while others lost everything they had, Chindoy says.

Many had to seek psychological help after the avalanche. Now, every time it rains, we fear the worst.

Chindoy and her family received some aid from the government, such as food and money to pay the rent. But it wasnt much, and we had to get on with our lives and keep working, she says.

Prior to 2017, there had been an alarm about a possible mudslide. And while people had prepared for the worst, it didnt come to pass, which may have explained many peoples complacency when disaster did strike, Chindoy says.

People were confident and that is why many stayed at home when the rivers did overflow, she says. This realization made her understand the urgency of starting to work with her community on prevention and awareness of disasters, using an approach that accounts for the relationship between people and the environment.

A few days after the mudslide, Chindoy began working with the Mocoa mayors office, assisting affected families, providing aid to Indigenous communities, and collaborating in prior consultation processes. By law, Indigenous peoples in Colombia must be consulted by the national government about projects or works proposed in their territories, in order to protect their integrity and traditions.

She says she wasnt aware initially of the latest organizational and community activities of the reserve, having been away during her years of study. But she became increasingly involved in them while supporting the risk management and disaster attention unit in Mocoa.

In December 2017, Chindoy left for Yunguillo. An election would be held later that month to choose a new Indigenous authority for the reserve, who would serve for 2018. The winner was William Chindoy (he is not related to Camila), whose responsibilities included implementing the POAT, the road map to establish the distribution and use of the territory of the reserve following the 2015 expansion.

The challenge now was to put our Pacha Mama to good use, Camila Chindoy says, referring to the deity revered by Indigenous peoples across much of the Andes.

Camila doesnt seem physically strong, but every time she speaks her whole character comes out, says Mara Fernanda Franco, a Putumayo-based member of the Amazon Conservation Team, a nonprofit that works with Indigenous communities. In one of the first meetings she went to with Governor William Chindoy, very few knew her, but she got up and, there, in front of everyone, mostly men, she told her story, Franco says. She said that she had left the reserve to study at the university and prepare, and that she was now returning to help. She asked to be recognized for that effort and be given a job to contribute to her people.

In 2019, the reserve chose a new governor, Juan Carlos Mutumbajoy, who proposed to Chindoy that she work on the POAT. She accepted and was hired on the POAT facilitation team, made up of the leaders of each of the four councils representing the reserve. From that position, Chindoy was to lead the groups activities.

The POAT contemplated the reformulation of the economic activities of the reserve, such as cattle ranching, which, although it generates income for families, also contributes to the imbalance of ecosystems from deforestation and the deterioration of water basins, Chindoy says. We had to understand how to conserve and live in harmony with all the wealth that the Lord has given us. Chindoy, as many Indigenous people in Colombia, shares her communitys traditional beliefs with Catholic faith.

She says that when they were working on the POAT, they remembered that when the mudslide occurred, one of the rivers that overflowed split into two, one part of which passed through an area that had been deforested and destroyed all the houses that had been built there. But the other part passed through a small forest reserve that functioned as a retaining wall, preventing the tragedy from being greater.

That made us reflect on the need to protect river basins, because, just as we have our places where we do our daily activities, rivers also have their home where they must travel freely, Chindoy says. If we go in there they will recover their house, thats why what happened, because the ravine had nowhere else to move its course, but was enclosed within the four walls.

These days, Chindoy approaches conservation of the natural world in terms of partnership.

Nature itself is wise to reflect and realizes that, even though it has provided us with a service, we have always been selfish and think only of ourselves. The avalanche made us ponder how we humans cannot control nature, and we have to adapt to it, not it to us, she adds.

Under Chindoys leadership, the facilitating team also conducted censuses of fauna populations, water resources, and ritual and conservation areas. Among their results, they delivered a complete fish inventory prepared with the help of scientists from universities in the capital, Bogot.

Chindoy also participated in the construction of a checkpoint on the road that leads from Mocoa to Yunguillo, to supervise who enters or leaves the territory. It is mostly foreigners and tourists interested in meeting the taitas, or shamans, and learning about the ayahuasca ritual.

In this way, the team sought to protect the Indigenous people and their rituals, and thus guarantee the security of this community that has been buffeted by violence for decades first by the FARC guerrillas and, more recently, by armed groups involved in drug trafficking and deforestation to grow coca and mine illegally.

In its final pages, the POAT establishes simple rules on how economic practices should be transformed in such a way that they protect natural resources, and dictates the total area that should be dedicated to conservation.

Chindoy sees responsibility for carrying out the POAT as resting with every community member.

Now we are in the implementation stage and, for this year, we will start work in the brooks, which are affected by bad practices in agriculture and livestock, because we know that water is one of the most vulnerable resources in the world, Chindoy says.

One of the episodes for which Chindoys work gained widespread recognition in her community came in October 2018, when she supported authorities in efforts to denounce and demand justice for the murder by unknown assailants of three young men from the council of Osococha.

She took the initiative to organize a commission with traditional authorities of the Yunguillo reserve, which traveled to Bogot to demand justice from national authorities such as the Attorney Generals Office, the Ombudsmans Office, the National Protection Unit, and the Ministry of the Interior. They managed to obtain security guarantees for community members leading social processes and for the community leadership due to come into office in 2019, including then-governor Mutumbajoy.

When we arrived in Bogot we realized that the prosecutors office had no reports of what had happened. That caused us outrage, because it is a sign of the abandonment of Indigenous communities, and a proof that we are only visible to the government during times of political campaign and elections. Its very painful for us, Chindoy says.

On one occasion during that period, she says, she was walking along a road with her mother when they were intimidated and threatened by a group of men. These situations led us to wonder if we should continue with the processes, because we were afraid that something would happen to us, Chindoy says, adding that, in the end, they decided that the best thing for their safety was to leave the cases in the hands of the authorities.

For all this, many within Yunguillo believe that Chindoy can follow in her mothers footsteps and become governor of the reserve. If successful, she would become one of the youngest Indigenous leaders in her department and in Colombia. Nidia Becerra, who was governor during three consecutive periods, from 2014 to 2016, was first elected when she was just 26 years old.

Even though it might seem strange that a community can have such young leaders, age does not play an important role for the Inga people when choosing a governor. Instead, it is more taken into consideration the fact of belonging to a family taitas, political leaders or educators, which is Camilas case, whose mother is a school teacher and Principal. Not to mention that she was the first female governor of the reserve.

The main qualities that anyone who wants to lead the community are the will and desire to work, because the governors do not earn any salary, says Richard Macas, the current governor of Yunguillo. I think Camila can become the governor because she has shown the will and because all that professional knowledge she has can be channeled for the success of the community.

In this reservation, elections for governor take place during the last months of the year. The candidates for this position are postulated by the community and the elders, and there are two ways in which a candidate can be elected: by an unanimous decision or via elections. Who gets elected will rule for the next year, starting in January.

Former governor Juan Carlos Mutumbajoy says there are several challenges that whoever assumes this position must face.

The biggest is that one must leave his family aside and give himself 100% to the community. One is the father, the judge and the administrator. So the commitment is very great and one has to find solutions and manage resources for the development of the community he says.

Mara Elvira Mutumbajoy, Chindoys mother, says her daughters commitment to her people has been such that she has rejected job offers with important companies to stay and work for the community in the reserve.

She is a humble, simple and responsible woman, and she has been very tolerant, since she has never had problems with the community, Mara Elvira says. She has carried out the processes that she has proposed, always thinking of the benefit of all. She has us in her heart and values the cultural identity linked to her territory very much.

Her arrival at the governorship would be important because although traditionally Indigenous communities have had matriarchal systems, in recent years we have seen how machismo has increased, mainly since the evangelization processes began by religious congregations and as a copy of the Western societies, she adds. I think it is very important to rescue those ancestral values in which women, as the ancestors say, directed most of our decisions.

In recent months, Chindoy has continued to work on the application of the POAT road map and raising awareness about the importance of caring for nature and taking care of the Amazon, including addressing global issues such as climate change.

We cannot be oblivious to what happens in the rest of the world, because it affects us in many ways, for example by altering our sowing and harvest calendars, Chindoy says. Before, the grandparents had identified the dry and rainy seasons, but now that has changed and we do not know when they will occur, and this is because of the global issue of climate change.

We, as Indigenous people, have a mission to protect resources, Chindoy adds. In the future, the conflicts will be over water, one of our most important resources here in the Amazon so we will continue working to take care of it.

Banner image: Camila Chindoy (r) during one of the final meetings for the validation and socialization of the TEMP document. Photo courtesy of the Amazon Conservation Team.

Read more:
Camila Chindoy, the Indigenous daughter poised to lead her Amazon community - Mongabay.com

Tiruchi Corporation plans to utilise Smart Cities Mission fund to construct a retaining wall along the Salai Road over bridge as a portion of the approach road was eroded on a rainy night in July this year.

Though the civic body has made temporary arrangements, the eroded portion is yet to be permanently repaired.

The right-side retaining wall and a part of the road overbridge on Salai Road leading towards Mainguard Gate caved in after heavy rainfall amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

While the civic body used concrete, sack bags and wooden pillars to strengthen the sides to avoid further damage, a permanent solution is yet to be made.

An official of the State Highways said that a proposal for reconstruction of the bridge had been sent to the State government for approval. Once the approval was given, funds sanctioned under a redevelopment scheme would be allotted for the construction.

The civic body, meanwhile, has decided to strengthen the soil and construct a retaining wall.

About 2.5 crore under the Smart Cities Mission fund will be utilised to fix the wall so that the bridge can be utilised until the plan submitted for redevelopment is approved, City Corporation Commissioner S. Sivasubramanian said.

Since the damage to the overbridge, heavy vehicles, including buses ,are not allowed to travel on that route. A detour is taken via Karur Bypass Road to reach Mainguard Gate.

What is usually a two-minute drive takes us at least 15 minutes due to the traffic on Karur-Bypass Road. The bridge was damaged amid the lockdown and the authorities could have repaired it before resumption of transport services, R. Kalaivani, a commuter on the route said.

Read the original:
Salai Road overbridge to get retaining wall soon - The Hindu

In Ferryville, a small town of less than 200 people along the Mississippi River in Crawford County, stepping out of the car brings a strong scent of fresh river water. The local gas station displays photos of former Minnesota Viking Brett Favre getting sacked by a Packer.

In October, the Crawford County village attracts plenty of passers-by enjoying the fall foliage along the National Scenic Byway.

Theres also the chance of coming across a giant symbol of a far-right conspiracy theory thats been labeled a domestic terror threat by the FBI.

Ferryvilles Main Street doubles as part of Wisconsins Great River Road. On Main Street, across from a mechanic and a photography studio, is an abandoned schoolhouse with a large retaining wall in front.

On that retaining wall, in white paint are eight letters. The first letter, and the largest, is a giant Q. The other seven, WWG1WGA represent the call sign of QAnon.

QAnon is the catch-all name for a baseless set of conspiracy theories that, among other things, claim President Donald Trump is fighting a war against a deep-state cabal of Satan-worshipping, sex trafficking, pedophilic cannibals that includes Democratic politicians, the media and left-leaning celebrities.

Trump himself has winked at the conspiracy theory through retweets on Twitter and refusals to condemn the far-right movement most recently in a televised NBC town hall last week.

Closer to home, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany was one of 18 members of the House of Representatives who voted no on a bipartisan resolution to condemn the conspiracy earlier this month. Sen. Ron Johnson appeared on Fox News on Oct. 18 to claim Hunter Biden, the son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, was in possession of child pornography a claim CNNs Jake Tapper interpreted as a nod to QAnons focus on child sex crimes.

Ferryville residents have a hard time placing exactly when the graffiti went up. Many said one day they noticed some strange initials on a wall and didnt know what they meant. The village clerk thought it was advertising a radio station.

The graffitis sudden appearance in Ferryville mirrors the conspiracys sudden appearance online a few years ago.

[The graffiti] is a perfect analogy for how it spread online, says Brian Friedberg, a researcher for the Technology and Social Change Project at Harvard University. The phrases, the use of Q and WWG1WGA, were both used as really unique keywords to help spread the movement on social media and in real life.

The theory started on the forum 4chan in 2017 with anonymous posts about the deep state from someone called Q who claims to have high-level government security clearance. The movement quickly developed its own language and keywords. It moved to Youtube and Facebook, along with specific websites to track drops and other obscure forums such as 8chan that house the most radical elements of internet culture.

The uniqueness of the keyword makes it an easy search query to fall into a data void, Friedberg continues. Similar things happened with a lot of other slogans in the community. These were all things that didnt take up a lot of space on the web. The presence of those things in real life do similar services to being online.

By 2020, the theory had multiplied, devolved and split into factions. It had gained the support of health and fitness accounts on Instagram and notably suburban women.

The interesting thing about QAnon compared to other far-right ideologies is its attraction to women, says Donald Haider-Markel, a political science professor at the University of Kansas. Usually right-wing ideologies attract white men and older white men. It has a special appeal to women because of the focus of the conspiracies on children and threats to children. Though its telling that none of the real world actions weve seen related to QAnon so far involved women.

In April, as people flocked to Madison from all over Wisconsin to protest Gov. Tony Evers stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, a number of rally-goers carried Q paraphernalia. COVID-related restrictions played a big role in spreading the conspiracy, experts say.

Recently, Facebook and Youtube have moved to de-platform QAnon by removing accounts and groups from the networks only now its too late, the conspiracy has spread, the graffiti is on the wall and no amount of banning can put the theory back into its box.

Despite how widespread the conspiracy has become, most of Ferryvilles residents fall into two categories, theyre either alarmed by the Qs presence or have no idea what it means. One resident said he didnt give a sh-t about it. Some teenagers, asked about the big Q, smiled knowingly.

Bridget Schill, the village clerk, says that once she found out what it meant she was embarrassed and that most members of the community feel the same way.

I dont think people are happy about it, Schill says. We just have to ignore it. Most people in Ferryville would like to loudly proclaim that doesnt speak to the people of Ferryville and theyre embarrassed by it.

She says she called the Crawford County Sheriffs Office about it, but was told because the Q is on private property theres nothing that can be done.

Kristy Knoble recently moved to Ferryville with her 20-year-old son. She says shes spoken about the Q with him, but not with other community members especially as a Democrat in a largely conservative area.

In 2016, Trump won Crawford County by a slim margin. But Ferryville with its 126 votes voted for Hillary Clinton, 70-52 (four votes went to Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson).

This year most of the yard signs in the village are supporting Trump. Knoble, though she doesnt think her politics match most of her neighbors, says she doesnt think any of them are conspiratorial types.

Its unacceptable, she says. We live in a typical, small, rural, Republican community, but Ive never had a problem with anyone here. I havent heard anyone else talk about [the Q].

Kim Schmitz has lived in Ferryville for about a decade. She works across the street from the Q graffiti at the Cheapo Depot, a store advertising the sale of fireworks, tools, toys, housewares, pet supplies, greeting cards, beer, bait, tobacco, CBD, vapes and pipes.

Schmitz had never heard of QAnon, but after learning, she didnt think the graffiti represented her town.

Thats kind of sh-tty, Schmitz says. Were a peaceful town with friendly people.

Schill says shes worried about the Q because school buses drive by the property. Recently she called the property owner to see if hed remove the paint, she says. He said hed do it, for $50,000.

I dont think the village is in position for that, so now we have a Q, Schill says. If there were something we could do, wed do it.

The property owner, Terrance Possehl, lives in Fond Du Lac. He says the graffiti is there at his consent and he put it there because I wanted to though he wouldnt explain why he believes in QAnon or what message he was hoping to spread to Ferryville residents.

Are you trying to put a big spin on it? What are you, a liberal? Possehl says. You know we dont trust newspapers, right? I think everybody should be able to hear the Q message, right? [Its] independent research, you dont have to go off of what other people say.

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Friedberg, the Harvard researcher, says Possehls display matches a pattern, especially since he doesnt live at the property. Not living in Ferryville allows him to remain somewhat anonymous while still spreading the ideology.

They operate with certain degrees of anonymity, when someones willing to put those on their property, its a message that theyre willing to commit socially that a lot of people are only willing to commit to online, Friedberg says. Despite the fact that he was contacted, it doesnt sound like he was too embarrassed by it. Hes effectively using his property as a billboard, thats very consistent.

Possehl says he can do whatever he wants, but QAnon has had dangerous real-world consequences. A man recently pleaded guilty to terrorism charges stemming from a 2018 incident in which he used an armored vehicle to barricade the Hoover Dam. In 2019, a QAnon adherent who believed he had the protection of Trump as he attempted to fight the deep state killed a mafia boss as he tried to perform a citizens arrest.

I think its cause for concern amongst many folks, including in law enforcement, Haider-Markel says. Its certainly true that the potential threat posed by far-right extremist groups has grown. The best thing people can do is monitor online activity about their local community and try to head off potential real world confrontations that could possibly occur. Just simply having the Q on a wall isnt itself inherently a threat. But an idea could spread really quickly, Heres this pedophile ring operating out of this restaurant, that could be dangerous.

The Crawford County Sheriffs Office was unaware of the graffiti in Ferryville, but Lieutenant Ryan Fradette says theyll look into it though he acknowledged that agency leadership had to look up what QAnon was after receiving a call about it.

This is honestly, were a very small rural area, this is the first weve heard theres something in Ferryville, Fradette says. We had to even look up what it was. Around here we havent heard of it.

Read the rest here:
QAnon spreads offline to rural Wisconsin - Wisconsin Examiner

Quick thinking ITM staff used a forklift to secure the teetering vehicle after drove over a retaining wall at Waipapa. Photo / supplied

Two people had to rescued after their vehicle went over a retaining wall at a busy intersection near Kerikeri about 12.45pm yesterday. It is understood the elderly couple were heading south on State Highway 10 and intended to turn left into Waipapa Rd, where a new roundabout is under construction, but instead went straight ahead, through a fence and over a retaining wall at Bay of Islands ITM. The vehicle was teetering precariously over the wall so quick-thinking ITM staff used a forklift to prop up the front while firefighters secured the back with strops, allowing the couple to be helped out safely. They were taken to Bay of Islands Hospital by St John Ambulance as a precaution. The crash caused major delays on SH10.

Minor injuries when van rolls

A man received minor arm injuries and a possible head knock in a crash near Maromaku yesterday. The crash occurred about 1.15pm when a van rolled at the intersection of Matawaia-Maromaku Rd and Taikirau Rd, coming to rest in a paddock. No other vehicles were involved. Police, St John Ambulance and the Kawakawa Fire Brigade responded.

Fire damage closes classrooms

Kerikeri High School is due to reopen to all students on Monday after a fire destroyed a toilet block and damaged three classrooms. The blaze, which started about 2.20pm on Wednesday, is still being investigated. All 1500 students stayed home on Thursday on the advice of the Ministry of Education while a thorough damage assessment was carried out. Senior students, in Years 11-13, went back on Friday. In an email to parents principal Elizabeth Forgie said seniors had come back early because it was close to the end of their school year when every day counted.The impact was worse than initially expected with three classrooms out of action for some time, significant affecting lesson timetables.

Police searches

Whangrei police searched a number of

properties throughout the district in relation to an ongoing investigation.

A 23-year-old female was charged with drug and firearms-related offending and was scheduled to appear in the Whangrei District Court yesterday.

For operational reasons, police say they cannot provide

details of Thursday's morning's search.

Heads Cup challenge

Tomorrow will be the first Heads Cup where teams from all over Whangrei Heads come together for a 20/20 cricket competition.There has been a huge amount of support from the business community, and some great spot prizes and raffle/ auction items.Event organiser Richard Davy and his team have pulled together four teams from Parua Bay, RD 1, RD 4 and Onerahi Town. The cup will be housed at Parua Bay Tavern until next year's event. The games will start at 10am and finish just before 4pm on the pitches at the Onerahi Airport.The Cancer Society is this year's charity of choice to receive funds from the event.

Four new cases

Four new cases of Covid-19 were reported from managed isolation in New Zealand yesterday. One suspected historical case is being investigated, which is not included in yesterday's numbers.The first imported case arrived from the Philippines via Hong Kong on October 3. The second arrived from Peru via Mexico and the US on October 10. The third and fourth imported cases arrived from Hong Kong on October 11. New Zealand's total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 is 1524.

Read more:
Northland news in brief: Car hits retaining wall - New Zealand Herald

Staff reports| Herald Democrat

Each week, the Texas Department of Transportation announces a list of planned road projects for the week. While the schedule for the projects can change, motorists are advised to be aware of areas where construction crews may be present.

"These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues," the news release said. "Motoristsare advised toremain alert and pay special attention to all signs, barricades and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems."

Here are the construction projects planned for Oct. 19-23.

"US 75, Grayson County: from FM 1417 to SH 91 (Texoma Parkway). Watch for shoulder closures and lane shifts on northbound and southbound US 75 between Center Street and FM 1417 as crews work on building new main lanes and the new South Travis Street Bridge. Watch for lane closures on the frontage roads between FM 1417 and Washington Street as crews work on building detours and installing drainage structures. The northbound exit ramp for Houston and Lamar (SH 56) is currently closed, and exiting traffic is requested to use the Park Avenue exit ramp. The southbound exit ramp for Park Avenue is currently closed and exiting traffic is requested to use the Houston/Lamar Street (SH 56) exit. The northbound frontage road from South Travis Street to near Park Avenue is closed in order for crews to work on building the remaining portion of the retaining wall along US 75 at the South Travis Street intersection. Traffic is requested to use the US 75 mainlanes during this closure. There will be daily closures from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. for the northbound Washington Street exit ramp as crews work to construct detour pavement in this area. Exiting traffic wishing to access Washington Street should use the Park Street exit or the North Travis Street exit. There will be a nighttime lane closure on the southbound main lanes on Sunday night Oct. 11 for crews to perform restriping and to adjust traffic barriers along the mainlanes and frontage roads between Park Avenue and FM 1417. The FM 1417 exit ramp will be closed during this time, and exiting traffic should use Exit 58 for Houston Street. Lane closures will begin at 7:30 p.m. and the lanes should be reopened to traffic by 6:30 a.m. A reduced speed limit of 60 mph has been set for this construction project.

The US 75 pedestrian bridge near Pecan Street in Sherman is closed to pedestrian traffic. The east side over the frontage road has been removed. The remaining pedestrian bridge will be removed at a later time. Pedestrians wishing to cross US 75 are advised to cross at the Houston Street signalized intersection.

US 75 Full Depth concrete repair, Grayson County: crews will be working on US 75, weather permitting, each week from Sunday night through Thursday night. Lane closures will be present during the nighttime only in order for crews to replace failed concrete slabs. Lane closures begin at 7:30 p.m. and should be reopened to traffic by 6 a.m.

FM 1417, Grayson County: from US 82 to SH 56. Watch for lane shifts and shoulder closures between US 82 and SH 56 while crews are working to construct a portion of the new Sand Creek bridge. Watch for occasional daytime lane closures as crews perform utility work. A reduced speed limit of 45 mph has been set for this construction project.

SH 289, Grayson County: from FM 120 in Pottsboro north to the end of State Maintenance. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to stripe and install rumble strips on the roadway.

FM 121, Grayson County: from Jim Jones Road to FM 3356. Watch for occasional daytime lane closures as crews work to build portions of the new bridges and roadway. Watch for lane shifts and narrow lanes throughout the project as crews have moved traffic to the temporary detour section. The ultimate roadway will be a five-lane section consisting of concrete pavement when the project is completed.

US 377, Grayson County: Willis Bridge at the Oklahoma State line. Watch for occasional lane closures on the existing bridge as workers pour concrete for the new bridge structure.

US 75 Ramp Reversal in Denison, Grayson County: on the southbound US 75 main lanes and frontage road between Spur 503 and FM 691. Watch for a lane closure on the southbound US 75 frontage road as well as the westbound Spur 503 ramp while construction crews work on building the new southbound US 75 entrance ramp. A new traffic pattern has been implemented where westbound Spur 503 will be shifted to the southbound US 75 frontage road and will travel through the FM 691 intersection and then enter southbound US 75 using the on-ramp after FM 691. The new FM 691 exit ramp is open to access FM 691.

Spur 503, Grayson County: from US 75 to SH 91. Watch for daytime and nighttime lane closures for both eastbound and westbound lanes as crews perform concrete pavement repairs.

US 75 debris pickup, Grayson County: from Collin County line to Oklahoma State line. Watch for mobile lane closures as workers pick up debris from the roadway every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the daytime.

US 82 & US 69, Grayson County: from FM 131 to FM 1897 on US 82, and from SH 56 to US 75 on US 69. Watch for temporary daytime lane closures and shoulder closures as workers install safety treatments on fixed objects.

SH 289, Grayson County: between SH 56 and FM 121. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance workers blade level the roadway.

SH 160, Grayson County: between SH 11 and the Collin County line. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews blade level the roadway.

FM 1753, Grayson and Fannin County: from FM 1897 to SH 78. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.

FM 898, Fannin County: from the Grayson County line to SH 121. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.

FM 2815, Fannin County: from FM 1629 to SH 11. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.

FM 1743, Fannin County: from SH 56 to FM 1550. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.

FM 824, Fannin County: from SH 56 in Honey Grove to the Lamar County line. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.

US 82, Fannin County: from SH 121 to the Lamar County Line. Watch for slow moving construction equipment as crews work on widening US 82 from a two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided section. Westbound US 82 traffic has been shifted to the new pavement on the eastern end of the project between the Fannin and Lamar County line and County Road 2975. Eastbound traffic will remain in its current lane, while crews work on the inside lane to work on building the crossovers and turn lanes. Drivers who frequent this roadway are advised that all driveways, county roads and farm-to-market roads approaching the new westbound main lanes on US 82 will have a full stop before crossing over to the median. The SH 121 and US 82 frontage road intersections have been converted to signalized intersections. The on-ramp to westbound US 82 from SH 78 has been closed while crews work on building the new westbound main lanes. The westbound exit ramp for SH 121 is closed as crews work on building the new main lanes in this area. Exiting traffic for SH 121 is asked to use the SH 78 exit and continue along the frontage road to SH 121.

County Road 3530, Fannin County: at Wafer Creek. County Road 3530 is closed for crews to remove the existing bridge and build a new culvert. Traffic on CR 3530 will need to use an alternate route during construction.

County Road 4250, Fannin County: at Freeman Creek. County Road 4250 is closed for crews to remove the existing bridge and build a new bridge. Traffic on CR 4250 will need to use an alternate route during construction.

FM 274, Fannin County: from FM 1753 to SH 78: Watch for daytime lane closures as crews blade level the roadway.

US 69, Fannin County: in Leonard from FM 896 to SH 78. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews perform ditch cleaning work."

See original here:
TxDOT: Beware of road construction this week - Sherman Denison Herald Democrat