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Wafer takes stand in Renisha McBride fatal shooting case Wafer takes stand in Renisha McBride fatal shooting case

Updated: Monday, August 4 2014 4:11 PM EDT2014-08-04 20:11:02 GMT

DETROIT (AP) -- A Detroit-area man on trial for killing an unarmed woman who showed up drunk on his porch told jurors Monday that when he bought the gun he shot her with, it was a form of home security he could afford.Theodore Wafer took the witness stand on the seventh day of testimony in his trial on second-degree murder charges in the Nov. 2 slaying of Renisha McBride.Wafer's lawyer, Cheryl Carpenter, asked if he had a security system installed at his home. He said no. "I think everybody w...

DETROIT (AP) -- A Detroit-area man on trial for killing an unarmed woman who showed up drunk on his porch told jurors Monday that when he bought the gun he shot her with, it was a form of home security he could afford.Theodore Wafer took the witness stand on the seventh day of testimony in his trial on second-degree murder charges in the Nov. 2 slaying of Renisha McBride.Wafer's lawyer, Cheryl Carpenter, asked if he had a security system installed at his home. He said no. "I think everybody w...

Updated: Thursday, July 31 2014 7:47 PM EDT2014-07-31 23:47:47 GMT

DETROIT (AP) -- A former medical examiner sparred with a prosecutor Thursday over a wound on the hand of a woman who was fatally shot on a Detroit-area porch, telling jurors it seems to fit the defense's claim that Renisha McBride was pounding on the homeowner's doors before she was killed.Dr. Werner Spitz, a forensic pathologist, said photos of McBride's body show a "small superficial laceration" on her left hand. It "could have come from pounding on something," Spitz said.The testimony was ...

DETROIT (AP) -- A former medical examiner sparred with a prosecutor Thursday over a wound on the hand of a woman who was fatally shot on a Detroit-area porch, telling jurors it seems to fit the defense's claim that Renisha McBride was pounding on the homeowner's doors before she was killed.Dr. Werner Spitz, a forensic pathologist, said photos of McBride's body show a "small superficial laceration" on her left hand. It "could have come from pounding on something," Spitz said.The testimony was ...

Updated: Wednesday, July 30 2014 5:46 PM EDT2014-07-30 21:46:50 GMT

The prosecution has rested its case in the Renisha McBride murder trial. Theodore Wafer, 55, has been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and felony firearm.

The prosecution has rested its case in the Renisha McBride murder trial. Theodore Wafer, 55, has been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and felony firearm.

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Wafer takes stand in Renisha McBride fatal shooting case

Published: Monday, August 4, 2014 at 9:25 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, August 4, 2014 at 9:25 p.m.

Residents of Tuxedo, Zirconia and Green River could have a new public park by this fall, after county commissioners on Monday authorized a $328,328 construction project at the former Tuxedo Mill site.

We should be substantially complete by the Thanksgiving timeframe, said County Engineer Marcus Jones.

The board of commissioners voted 5-0 to award Allison Contractors of Hendersonville a contract to develop the long-awaited Tuxedo Park. The vote comes nearly two weeks after the Green River Community Association gave the company's plans and bid its blessing in July.

The company will clear and grade the site; install stormwater controls; build and pave walking trails and parking; import topsoil and sow grass in a meadow and lawn area of the park; plant trees and shrubs provided by area citizens; put up split-rail fencing; and erect a flagpole and signage.

County officials found out July 11 that Tuxedo's park was not among the 17 projects chosen this cycle by a state authority for a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant.

Commissioners had socked away $225,000 in reserves last year to use for construction or as a match in case the Green River Community Association won the dollar-for-dollar grant. They'd also budgeted $200,000 in the current fiscal year in case the PARTF grant failed.

Last year, Henderson County Parks and Recreation was denied in the first PARTF cycle but received notice just before Christmas that it had won a $500,000 grant to help pay for its new Athletics and Activity Center.

But a PARTF representative told county officials that the authority's delay in deciding this spring's grant cycle caused by a delinquent state budget process made it unlikely the community association would get another crack at grant funds until 2015.

Jones said Allison's bid was so favorable that it would cover the work foreseen in the grant application anyway.

Continued here:
New Tuxedo park should be ready this fall

When Lehigh University came into a windfall of land donated to the school in 2012 by the Donald B. and Dorothy Stabler Foundation, it came with one piece of baggage.

A chunk of the 755 acres of donated property included contaminated limestone tailings a form of zinc mining waste that the state insisted had to be cleaned up before that portion could be developed.

Nearly two years later, Eastern Industries, the local company that holds the mining permit for the land and is responsible for its remediation, is close to finishing the job, state regulators say. It has stabilized the property, layered clean soil and rock over the zinc piles and seeded the newly-graded property to stabilize it.

Now the company just needs to grow some grass.

"This was an agreed-upon remedy, provided the vegetation takes," said Colleen Connolly, spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection. "DEP will inspect to see if the planting and seeding is satisfactory at the site. Eastern Industries just has to make sure the vegetation progresses."

DEP and Lehigh County Conservation District inspectors visited the site in June to inspect the work, she said.

"It is a process DEP required, and we have been following their protocol," said Rusty Taft, Eastern's land permit and environmental manager.

The cleanup was designed to prevent dust emanating from the mining waste, which includes zinc and arsenic, from being caught up and dispersed in the wind.

State officials had initially given the company until the end of August 2013 to complete the regrading, and the end of September 2013 to grow the grass.

Last year, Connolly said, dust from the piles was not blowing off the 139-acre former mine site, and it was not a public health threat.

Originally posted here:
Zinc mining waste cleanup in Upper Saucon nearly complete

Conservation efforts in a new USDA program has drawn the interest of more than 5,000 groups through some 600 proposals in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, ahead of a July deadline to qualify for federal funding, according to a news release from USDA Monday.

Back in May USDA announced the availability of some $400 million in grants with a ceiling of $20 million per project, aimed at creating conservation partnerships between private companies, tribes, local communities and non-government partners. USDA announced the program as part of an effort to improve water quality and critical wildlife habitats with third parties or work directly with producers in watersheds and other conservation areas.

The RCPP is expected to competitively award funds to conservation projects designed by local partners specifically for their region. Eligible partners include private companies, universities, non-profit organizations, local and tribal governments and others joining with agricultural and conservation organizations and producers to invest money, manpower and materials to their proposed initiatives.

With participating partners investing USDA's $1.2 billion funding in the next five years can leverage an additional $1.2 billion from partners for a total of $2.4 billion for conservation.

The RCPP has three funding pools that includes 35% of total program funding directed to critical conservation areas; 40% directed to regional or multi-state projects through a national competitive process; 25% directed to state-level projects through a competitive process established by NRCS state leaders.

In May USDA announced the designation of several critical conservation areas that include the Great Lakes Region, Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Mississippi River Basin, Longleaf Pine Range, Columbia River Basin, California Bay Delta, Prairie Grasslands and the Colorado River Basin.

"This program is an entirely new approach to conservation," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. "By establishing new public-private partnerships, we can have an impact that's well beyond what the federal government could accomplish on its own. And we put our partners in the driver's seat, allowing them to find creative solutions to the conservation issues in their local areas. The overwhelming response to this new effort illustrates an eagerness across country to partner and invest in innovative conservation projects."

Also on the conservation front, agriculture specialists with University of Missouri Extension announced they are researching the viability of inter-seeding cover crops into corn and soybean fields. When it comes to planting cover crops producers typically have to wait until after fall harvest to lay seed, and experts say that often is not the optimum seeding window for cover crops.

Researchers are looking at a number of different delivery methods as well, including via airplane or high-clearance seeders to drop cover crop seeds, such as cereal rye grass or crimson clover, into the existing crop canopy at the optimum time.

Charlie Ellis, MU extension natural resources engineer, said in a news release that inter-seeding shouldn't cause a yield loss since existing crops are mature. He said some soybeans planted in 15-inch rows, however, may be knocked down, while 30-inch beans can be inter-seeded with little crop damage.

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Conservation Program, Cover-Crop Research Advance

Feng Shui Your Day Positive Affirmations for Balance Harmony :: DARIAN #39;s Glitter Sparkles
REMEMBER to repeat these statements as if they are true right now! Placing the concept in the future keeps it there! Allow the law of attraction to work for you by bringing everything to the...

By: MyDreamsMatter

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Feng Shui Your Day Positive Affirmations for Balance & Harmony :: DARIAN's Glitter Sparkles - Video

Rushes: Gatcombe 2014: Advanced Fences 6 to 9
The fences featured are 6ab and 7 the Smith and Williamson Offset and 8 and 9 the BETA Lance Crossing. The riders and horses featured are Joseph Murphy and Top Story, Astier Nicolas and Quickly...

By: harveywetdog

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Rushes: Gatcombe 2014: Advanced Fences 6 to 9 - Video

CONYERS Roy Roper Roy T. Roper, 89 1/2, of Conyers, GA, passed away on Sunday, August 03, 2014. Roy is survived by his wife of nearly 66 years, Frances E. Roper; son, Gerrick (Ann) Roper of Covington; son, Chris (Debbie) Roper of Grayson as well as six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Roy is preceded in death by his parents, Otis and Mae Roper, his brother, Ralph Roper, sister, Allene Richards, twin brother, Toy R. Roper and daughter, Peggy Roper Waskom. Roy was a proud member of the Atlanta Police Department for seven years. After his years with the department, Roy started a successful business in construction, specializing in the installation and repair of drywall, until his retirement. Roy was a lover of his family and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His faith led him to Eastside Baptist Church in Stockbridge at 15 years old, thus making him the longest-standing member at 71 years. At Eastside Baptist Church, Roy served as head usher, substitute Sunday School teacher and was a member of the choir. The family will receive visitation on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 from 6 pm to 8 pm at Scot Ward Funeral Services. A celebration of Roys life will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2014, 11 am at Eastside Baptist Church (4010 Hwy 138 SW Stockbridge, GA 30281) with gravesite services immediately after at Fairview Memorial Gardens (164 Fairview Rd Stockbridge, GA.) In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Eastside Baptist Church in honor of Tribulation Trail. Condolences may be submitted on-line at http://www.scotward.com. Scot Ward Funeral Services, 699 American Legion Road, Conyers, GA 30012, 770-483-7216.

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Roy Roper

Didcot Power Station Demolition - Stills Sequence
Here #39;s a video created by using the stills I took on my 5D.

By: Adrian Cubitt

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Didcot Power Station Demolition - Stills Sequence - Video

Elmira Demolition Starts

By: WENY TV NEWS

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Elmira Demolition Starts - Video

Dicot Power Station Demolition - The Death of a Dragon
The Demolition of 3 of the Didcot Power Station Cooling Towers - July 27th 2014 at 5am. We always described the steam coming from the towers as Dragon #39;s Breath - hence the subtitle - "Death...

By: Adrian Cubitt

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Dicot Power Station Demolition - The Death of a Dragon - Video