Osama Bin Laden Killed by U.S. Forces
Cheers were heard around the world and none louder than here in America when President Obama announced the death of Osama Bin Laden in his address to the nation Sunday evening.
Word spread fast through the numerous social media outlets including Facebook and Twitter as America anxiously awaited confirmation from the White House.
Bin Laden was the founder and leader of the terrorist group Al-Qaida that was responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon almost 10 years ago resulting in the loss of nearly 3,000 innocent lives.
President Obama proudly stated “And on nights like this one we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al-Qaida’s terror, justice has been done.”
Obama was said to have been given a possible lead from on the whereabouts of Bin Laden last August but it wasn’t until last week after numerous meetings with his National Security Team the President determined that “we had enough intelligence to take action and authorized an operation to get Osama Bin Laden and bring him to justice.”
The attack was launched early Sunday morning where it was reported that a small team of special operation forces conducted the raid in a large compound located in the rural city of Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Bin Laden was said to have been shot in the head during a firefight between U.S. forces and members of al-Qaida including one of his sons who had not yet been named.
His death, Obama said, “marks the most significant achievement to date in our nations effort to defeat al-Qaida.”
His body was immediately taken into U.S. custody for identification purposes and has since been disposed of at sea in agreement with Islamic tradition which requires the body be “laid to rest” within 24 hours of death.
People massed in front of the White House and New York City’s “Ground Zero” into the early hours of morning celebrating the end of the world’s most notorious manhunt.
Radford was no different. Even with finals starting tomorrow, hundreds of students happily took a celebratory break from studying to share with their friends and classmates such a victorious moment in American history.
Fireworks were lit and flags were waived as students chanted “USA! USA!”
There were even jokes of exams being cancelled in lieu of the news.
More details are sure to surface tomorrow throughout the media and although this is a time of long-awaited closure for America, the country is urged to be cautious as the recent events could increase security threats.
Police Releases
Monday, March 28, 2011 3:45pm
Bond Revoked For Man Charged In Hit and Run
After reportedly purchasing alcohol at least four times at a Virginia Beach ABC store on the date of his release from custody, Mark Richard Tietjen’s bond was revoked at the request of the Commonwealth.
Tietjen, 37, has quite a driving record including multiple DUI’s, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license and speeding.
Tietjen’s was granted a $25,000 secured bond on March 17, 2011 by Judge A. Bonwill Shockley after Tietjen appealed Judge Randall Blows decision to deny him bond on March 2, 2011. Judge Shockley ordered Tietjen to remain alcohol/drug free and refrain from driving.
He is currently being charged with Hit and Run-Personal Injury involving an 11-year old girl. The incident occurred on February 9, 2011.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 25, 2011.
Monday, April 4, 2011 4:15pm
Jury Recommends 48-years Behind Bars For Double Shooting
After a six day jury trial Virginia Beach Commonwealth Attorney Harvey L. Bryant stated that 32-year old Isidro Loredo Amaya was found guilty of First Degree Murder, two counts of Use of a Firearm and Aggravated Malicious Wounding in the shooting that occurred late last year.
Based upon the evidence provided by the Commonwealth the events leading up to the death of Florentino Martinez-Melendez on December 26, 2010 are as follows:
At a trailer located on the 1100 block of Virginia Beach Blvd. several people were gathered including Isidro Amaya and Jorge Loredo. The group was playing a card game when a fight broke out amongst them– Amayas brother being involved in the dispute urged Amaya and Jorge to “go get the gun.” Amaya returned home to retrieve the weapon and upon returning to the trailer fired four shots; three at Florentino Martinez-Melendez and once at Modesto Martinez-Melendez. Florentino died at the scene.
The Virginia Beach Police arrested both Amaya and Loredo on the 1800 block of the Virginia Beach Blvd after they tried to flee the scene. The firearm used to shoot both victims was found in the vehicle.
After hearing the case in its entirety the just recommended 48 years of imprisonment.
Amaya will be formally sentenced on July 18 of this year by Circuit Court Judge William R. O’Brien.
Amaya is said the serve his sentence and be deported.
On August 9 of 2010 a jury found Loredo guilty of voluntary manslaughter and unlawful wounding.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 3:05pm
Man Confesses to Attacking Woman on Oceanfront
40-year-old Stephen James Franklin of Chesapeake, Virginia pleaded guilty to charges of Aggravated Malicious Wounding and Unlawful Wounding in the Commission of a Felony.
Franklin confessed to attacking a young woman walking along the beach near the Resort Hotel and Conference Center off of Shore Drive. The incident happened around 2a.m. on August 21, 2010.
The woman was cut on the left side of her throat with a sharp object and tackled before a nearby resident heard her screams and came to her aid causing Franklin to flee.
Franklin was later arrested and confessed to the attack.
His sentencing will take place on August 16, 2011.
Friday, April 8, 2011 11:00am
Black Bear Sighted in Virginia Beach Oceanfront Area
At approximately 10:50pm on Thursday, April 7 the Virginia Beach Police received a 911 call reporting a bear-sighting on Mediterranean Avenue near 9th Street.
The bear was last seen near Cooke Elementary at the intersection of Baltic Avenue and 13th Street around 2a.m.
Officers have not yet located to bear.
This incident follows a series of bear-sightings in the past 48 hours including the areas of London Bridge and the Pine Ridge subdivision.
Residents are urged to call 911 if they see a bear and to keep a safe distance away. Do not attempt to feed, approach or attract the animal.
Monday, April 18, 2011 8:30am
Free Self-Defense Workshop
The Virginia Beach Police Department and Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation are teaming up to host a free self-defense workshop called “The Best-Defense.”
This class is specifically targeting those ages 12 and up. Participants will learn about crime prevention, personal safety tips, how to escape dangerous situations and increase awareness of the environment.
Those attending are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing, preferably loose and no jewelry. A guardian must be present for those under the age of 16.
Instructors of the Virginia Beach Police Department will be supervising the event.
Registration is required by May 7, 2011. The class will take place on Saturday, May 14, 2011 from 1-4pm at Bayside Recreation Center.
For more information on “The Best Defense” contact MPO Let Krieger in the Crime Prevention Unit at (757) 385 1324.
Participants can register online at http://ezreg.vbgov.com for class #101284
or by calling any Virginia Beach Recreation Center.
Judge Samuel G. Wilson
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On October 20, 2008 Human Resources Manager for the Virginia Department of Transportation Karl Larson was involved in a “verbal altercation” with his supervisor. Larson claims to have been professionally diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the confrontation. He left work for several weeks and in mid-November stated that he would only return to work if he was promised to not have immediate contact with Elliot, the man that he claims “verbally assaulted him, putting him in apprehension for his safety.” VDOT refused to grant his request for special accommodation and Larson was later terminated. He is now taking legal action in order to be compinsated for the lack of action taken on the part of VDOT. According to the ADA it requires thats it’s employers make “reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability who is an . . . employee.” But in the case of Larson and according to Judge Wilson, there is no “disbility” to prove and therefore the defedents motion to dismiss the case was granted.
Augusta County inmate William Couch was seeking legal action against defendent John Jabe, the Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC) for violating his rights by enforcing a grooming policy. The policy does not allow long hair and beards unless its for a medical reason such as a condition that aggrevated by shaving. Although the VDOC policy doesnt allow certain long hair and beards because it promotes gang identification and contraband items can be concealed effortlessly it doesnt however exercise forcible cutting or shaving. If an inmate fails to comply with the grooming policy they are transferred to another housing unit. Couch is a Sunni Muslim and claims that under the Free Exercise Clause, that the defendent is in clear violation of his religious beliefs. RLUIPA provides that “[n]o government shall impose a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person residing in or confined to an institution . . . even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability.” One would think that Couch, who is currently serving consecutive life sentences for multiple counts of rape, robbery and statutory burglary has a decent case. But because growing a beard even if its only the requested amount of 1/8 inch poses a security threat its overruled. Judge Wilson granted the defendants motion for summary judgement on the plaintiffs claims.
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RU Faculty Senate Meeting 4/14
I am currently sitting in on a Faculty Senate meeting at RU in the Heth Hall Room 014. There are a total of 37 in attendence including the director and provost who are running the meeting. First few minutes include the discussion of “old business,” basically a quick review of what was covered in the last faculty senate meeting. Members represent different departments of the university. Accoring to Kay Jordan, the meeting had a record number of topics on today’s agenda. The main reason I wanted to attend todays meeting will be item number five on the agenda list. This topic is about the pay and benefits of Adjunct instructors. There has not been a raise in pay for those instructors in Radford’s recent history. Most faculty agree that these “professors-in-training” put in as many hours if not more of preparation and in-classroom teaching. Unfortunately there was an extention passed after unimous vote to discuss the items not presented in this meeting in the next session. Meet adjourned at 4:48pm.
I’ve never been much on critiquing however after attending the play of Romeo and Juliet on Thursday evening I felt inclined write my first review.
Poll Time
It’s Communication Week at Radford University and students are encouraged if not required to attend at least one of the scheduled events throughout the week.
Students, mostly communication majors, packed into the McGuffey auditorium on Thursday to hear Mr. Frank Ovaitt, speak about the “So What” factor in Corporate Communications.
Director of the School of Communications, Dr. Hazelton introduced Frank Ovaitt as his friend and joked how they discussed theory and research in Miami over mojitos for a period of six or seven years. He praised Mr. Ovaitt for having a “long and distinguished career in public relations.”
Ovaitt began by engaging the audience in a series of questions such as how many students were in Public Relations or another concentration of Communications and of those how many were seniors and what jobs if any did they have lined up.
“The ‘So What’ factor has certainly been around for as long as I’ve been in Public Relations and today I would argue that it is higher than ever.”
Ovaitt listed four reasons as to why the stakes are so much higher.
First is the increase in channels for communicating. He emphasized that even though new forms of media are being introduced constantly the traditional forms will not be lost but instead “always be a part of the mix.”
An example he gave was Gutenberg’s moveable type which was the start of print media. Ovaitt pointed out that before Gutenberg’s there were an estimated 30,000 hand-written books in Europe. After Gutenberg’s invention the total number of printed books sixty years later had reached 20 million and by the 16th century were around two-hundred million.
Ovaitt made a very important point “The radio did not end print journalism, television did not end radio and the telephone did not end face-to-face communication,” which further proved his theory.
The second reason was justifying or measuring success of a company or business with inaccurate and unreliable equations such as AVE or add/value equivalency.
Third was described as not spending enough time focusing on the valued stakeholders and what they want the organization to do and say or who they will listen to.
He said “Many organizations put a lot of information out there for employees through the company internet, newsletters, emails, posters etc. but the question is who is it that these employees actually listen to when you put all of this out.” Its important to understand and figure out what the stakeholders want to hear, what’s important to them and who they will trust.
And finally the fourth reason as to why the ‘So What’ factor is higher than ever according to Ovaitt was that planning research is what drives value into the organization however its often overlooked and replaced with measurement. Ovaitt stated, “It’s all about show me the metrics except I’ve got to tell you that’s the wrong place to start; it’s the planning research that really shows us what it is were suppose to be measuring.”
Ovaitt really hit home with his speech when he told the audience to prove the value of what you do so that you’ll never be at a loss when asked the question “So What.”
Search Warrant
The search warrant was filed in relation to the Virginia Code 18.2-248: to wit Manufacture of Methamphetamine.
Zane Carter Holliday and Torrey Ezra Clark were searched as well as room number 210 at the Super 8 Hotel and the 1996 green Subaru registered to Holliday.
Evidence log consists of fifty-four items (length of 3 pages) Items were found on the two suspects, in the vehicle and in the hotel room.
Items include but are not limited to the following: digital scales, rolling paper, mason jars, smoking devices, nitrate gloves, hoses, rope, box of matches and syringes.
Senior Police Officer M.S. Jenkins stated in the warrant “With my training and experience boxes of matches and items that are used to cook with are items used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.”
The warrant was requested after both Clark and Holliday refused to allow the vehicle and room to be searched.
Case Moves Forward in Stigger Murder
Radford Commonwealth Attorney Chris Rehak stated in the preliminary hearing held Thursday that he is seeking indicment for capital murder rather than first-degree murder for 45 year-old Kenneth Allen Lytton.
Lytton is accused of killing the manager of the Papa John’s in Radford, Jason Levi Stigger, 27, also Lytton’s boss on the evening of October 21, 2010.
Stigger was found shot in the restraunt by a delivery driver. An undisclosed amount of cash was also reported stolen.
In addition to murder, Lytton is also facing charges of robbery and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. In the state of Virginia it’s considered a capital offense if a murder is committed while in violation of a felony and in Lytton’s case, robbery.
The grand jury will now have to decide whether or not there is enough evidence for a trial in circuit court.
The families of both Stigger and Lytton were present for the very brief hearing that lasted no more than five minutes. Lytton’s family was choked with tears when he was walked out in a solid red New River Valley Regional Jail jumpsuit and cuffs on both his hands and feet. As for Stigger’s family they shared a few faint whispers amongst eachother and left quickly after they learned the case was moving forward.
If Lytton is found guilty in the case of a capital offense he will be sentenced to life in prison or the death penatly.
Tips for Tipping and Other Restaurant Etiquette
As a seasoned employee in the restaurant business I would like to take this opportunity to share with you ideas and concerns my fellow co-workers and I have often discussed over the years. Please do not be offended by any of the following statements. This blog is meant to inform those unaware of their small but significant blunders. Enjoy!
First and foremost the year is 2011 (just in case you werent aware or possibly forgot) and the cost of living is steadily increasing. In tough economic times like these if you can’t afford to leave a deserved tip then you shouldn’t be able to afford to go out for dinner. Tipped employees, also known as servers, make $2.13/hour, most of which we never see. When we cash out at the end of the shift the restraunt automatically taxes us ten percent of your order. Therefore, if you don’t leave a tip we end up paying a few dollars towards your meal. Yep, you’re welcome.
Oh, a small addition to the paragraph above: if an item is taken off of your bill because you were unhappy with the way the food was prepared, leave a tip based on what the original total was. We didn’t cook your dinner so please don’t penalize us. Same concept applies to giftcards and coupons. That’s money you saved, please share.
If you’ve had a rough day or bad past experience, don’t take it out on us. We don’t take our bad customers out on you. Odd’s are it’s not our fault. When we ask ”how are you doing today?” we are asking for a reason. If you’re having a hard day we want to know and will honestly do our best to make it better or at least not make it any worse.
If you are above the age of 13 please don’t order from the kids menu. You don’t act like a child (at least I hope not) so don’t eat like one. If you absolutely cannot resist those previously frozen chicken fingers with a complimentary soda of your choice then at least tip us as if you ordered an actual entree. You’re saving money anyway so help us out, we didn’t ask you to order from the “coloring book included” menu. By the way, we will give you a coloring book , seriously.
If you do have children please pay extra attention to everything they are spitting out, opening and most likely dumping on the table and floor. Cleaning up salt and chewed up pieces of french fries is not as enjoyable as it may seem. We are your server, not your nanny; unless of course you want to pay us more by the hour. Which brings me to my next point, if you know your children aren’t usually well behaved in public places don’t bring them out to the restaraunt and allow them to run amok. Not only is it dangerous but it’s also distracting to employees and other guests.
Be aware of what time you’re coming in to eat. We understand that people work late, lose track of time, are traveling etc. but coming into eat dinner at 10:59pm when the restraunt locks the doors at 11:00pm is just plain rude.
Camping is for campgrounds, not restaurants. Here’s some insight on server lingo; customers who linger at the table after paying their bill are called “campers,” don’t be one! It’s impossible to make money from a table that is already paid out and still occupied. As severs, we rely on turning tables for income. Remember, $2.13/hr. Eeek! If you aren’t ready to go home the bars don’t close until 2am.
Let me now present to you the tipping scale:
Below average service=10%
Good service=15%
Great service=20%
Anything above that…you’re our new favorite customer! Trust me, we remember. Verbal tips or compliments do not pay our bills. Of course we love to hear about our ”excellent service” but we consider that a bonus, not a tip. If we’ve done a great job show us in blank space beside the word TIP. Or in Washingtons, Lincons, Jacksons and if you’re feeling extra generous, Jeffersons.
Hello World! 