washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Historic river crossing in West Texas is filled with death

HORSE HEAD CROSSING , Texas ( AP ) - As state historical sites go , few can rival this remote muddy ford on the Pecos River for rank obscurity .
Until recently , only a bullet-pocked , vandalized state historical marker , erected in 1936 , miles off the paved road , gave any hint of the wrenching frontier dramas that once played out here , 30 miles northeast of Fort Stockton .
As the marker inscription notes , the crossing got its odd name from the bleached animal skulls found hanging from bushes by a government surveyor in 1850 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the few safe crossings along the treacherous , high-banked Pecos River , this was an action-packed and perilous place , the San Antonio Express-News reported .
Comanche war parties returning from Mexico with stolen horses crossed here , as did immigrants and adventurers drawn by the California goldfields , as well as pioneering cattle drovers , including Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving , pushing their leggy longhorns through to northern markets .
From 1858 to 1861 , the Butterfield Overland Mail stage also stopped here on its daring 2,700-mile run between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intrepid reporter on the first westward stage shared the grim observations made along the 75-mile waterless stretch coming to the Pecos from the east .
“ Far as the eye could reach along the plain , decayed and decaying animals , the bones of cattle and sometimes of men , all told a fearful story of anguish and terrific death from the pangs of thirst , ” wrote Waterman L. Ormsby , who also noted the abundance of prairie dogs and antelope .
And while its importance began to fade 150 years ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and greasewood flats , Horse Head Crossing has never been forgotten .
Some , in fact , rank it with the state ’ s most important historical sites .
“ I think Horse Head Crossing is the second most iconic landmark in Texas , second to the Alamo , because so much history went through there , and also Larry McMurtry based his novel ( ‘ Lonesome Dove ’ ) on that cattle drive , ” said Kirby Warnock , 68 , secretary of the Pecos County Historical Commission .
“ Only some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pecos County know about it .
It ’ s out there in the middle of nowhere on a dead end road on the Pecos River , ” added Warnock , who recalls visiting the famous crossing as a child with his father .
Warnock still marvels at the guts and determination required of Goodnight , Loving and their drovers on their first cattle drive , trying to reach water at Horse Head Crossing .
“ It was a death march .
Either they got to water in so much time , or the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saddle 30 hours .
And when they got near the crossing , the cattle stampeded , and they lost a bunch of them , ” he said .
On the last weekend in October , the tranquil old crossing sprang vibrantly to life , as hundreds of folks , including western artists , historians and local cowmen , gathered to celebrate and retell its colorful history .
For two days , the Dutch ovens glowed and wood smoke billowed , the bugles blared and fiery cannons lit the night , and in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Among the tunes heard was “ The Ballad of Pecos Bill , ” who was Texas ’ s most famous fictional cowboy .
As the story goes , young Billy fell out of the family wagon while crossing the Pecos and was raised by coyotes .
The lyrics describe him as “ the roughest , toughest critter , never known to be a quitter.
” At serving time , the campfire grub ran to biscuits , tin pot coffee , beef stew and chili , with plenty of beans .
Diners ate standing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pine planks laid between metal barrels .
There were scholarly presentations and performances by historical re-enactors dressed in frontier garb .
“ We ’ re here to preserve our history .
Look at all the statues and monuments being torn down .
And they want to change the name of Sul Ross ( University ) .
They ’ ve lost their flippin ’ minds , ” said Robin Adams , 56 , of South Brewster County , seated at a campfire near a 120-year-old chuck wagon .
Robert Schmitt , 80 , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for a close look at the once fearsome Pecos that flooded a mile wide before it was dammed .
It now resembles a meek and muddy irrigation ditch .
“ I just started reading Zane Grey ’ s ‘ West of the Pecos , ’ and this locale is mentioned numerous times .
They run cattle up the river through here , ” he said .
“ I feel connected to the land and the history of this area .
And as I age , all that stuff seems to mean more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was officially sponsored by historical groups in four area counties , the main driver was Ernest Woodward , 67 , a prominent local rancher who owns the west bank at the crossing .
He also is president of the Pecos County Historical Commission .
And when Woodward put out the call , people came from as far as Louisiana and California .
“ Everyone knows Ernest and that ’ s why all these people showed up , because he asked , ” said Tom Lindsey , 65 , a local rancher .
Woodward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and secrets of Horse Head Crossing .
A few years ago , he held a celebration for the 150th anniversary of Goodnight and Loving ’ s first cattle drive north .
He also was behind the long overdue repairs to the damaged granite historical marker .
Most recently , he has been trying to solve the mysteries of the Butterfield Overland Mail stage coach station that once sat on the east bank , but was long ago erased by floods .
A breakthrough by avocational archaeologist Tom Ashmore , who finally pinpointed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was the inspiration for the two-day bash .
“ We are specifically identifying the 1858 stage stop , the trails and the swing-around , which to our knowledge , had never been found , ” Woodward said .
In his presentation , Ashmore , 67 , told how he used satellite and drone imagery , as well as an 1867 military map , to find the lost sites and roads .
Amazingly , even 160 years later , the vegetation that grew up on the old roads and building sites remains distinguishable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ For the first year , the stage never crossed the river here , but they got water and changed teams here , and then went upriver to cross .
“ After that , they created a ferry crossing at Horse Head Crossing , ” Ashmore said about the cross-country stage run that ended with the onset of the Civil War in 1861 .
After the war , Texas cattlemen had plenty of free-range beef but no capital and few good markets .
To get the best prices , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New Mexico , Colorado and points north .
“ In the beginning , the Indians hadn ’ t picked up on it .
When they did later , it got real bad .
They attacked the cattle drives , but they were mostly after the horses , ” Ashmore said .
The cattle drives through Horse Head Crossing eventually faded with the completion of rail lines and later , the fencing of the range .
While the Comanche and later the Apache were a menace , the most deadly obstacle to both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dry stretch from the Concho River west to the Pecos .
Decades later , Goodnight still shuddered to recall the suffering of man and beast on his first cattle drive , as they struggled for three waterless days to reach the river .
Hundreds of cattle died on the way .
“ The Pecos , the graveyard of the cowman ’ s hopes , ” he would say , adding , “ I hated it !
It was as treacherous as the Indians themselves , ” according to his biographer , J. Evetts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dreadfully , and in his book “ Crossing River Pecos , ” historian Patrick Dearen recounts some of those experiences .
“ Thousands upon thousands of cattle lay dead about the Pecos , while all the road was white with fleshless bones , ” noted Stephen Powers , an early traveler , who almost died on his trip through here in 1868 .
“ Many great droves had arrived here before us .
Some of the frenzied animals had rushed headlong into the glittering pools of alkali , and quaffed the crystal death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added .
Another traveler described the river of rotting carcasses that greeted them at Horse Head Crossing .
“ We can see the dead cattle floating down while we are dipping up the water and see them lying on the banks all over .
This is all we will have to drink for 87 miles , ” wrote emigrant Ruth Shackleford in the same year .
Indian attacks at Horse Head Crossing increased as it found favor with cattlemen and travelers .
“ During the last year , I am informed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( U.S. Army ) posts in New Mexico were captured when passing this place , ” referring to Horse Head Crossing , wrote Edward Hatch , the U.S. Army post commander in Fort Stockton in 1867 .
That same year on their third drive north , Loving , Goodnight ’ s partner in the early cattle drives , died of his wounds after being attacked by Comanches .
Disregarding Goodnight ’ s advice to travel only at night , Loving and another cowboy were ambushed near the Pecos while riding ahead of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early November , through Woodward ’ s efforts , the gravel road to the crossing has been improved and a large area has been cleared and covered with caliche .
Ranch hand Jesus Espinosa , 85 , took a break from singing “ El Rancho Grande , ” with Doug Moreland , a guitar picker from Austin , to share his memories .
“ When I was small , I saw all this , and it was very different then , all brush , ” he said , adding , “ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I helped to clear it.
” Woodward said he intends to donate the crossing property he owns to an appropriate entity so that it can “ forever be accessible to the public , and for preservation , research and education.
” And , he said , he is not finished delving into its long and colorful past .
“ There ’ s enough history out there to fill a whole shelf of unsolved mysteries , ” he said .
Not the least of them is the unknown fate of Mexican Emperor Maximilian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was reportedly stolen in West Texas in 1867 as he tried to sneak it out of the country .
“ A lot of it is myth and legend , but there actually was a Maximilian who lost all the money , ” Woodward said .
“ And the last place it was known to be was at Castle Gap , ” a geological feature 12 miles east of Horse Head Crossing .

HORSE HEAD CROSSING, Texas (AP) - As state historical sites go, few can rival this remote muddy ford on the Pecos River for rank obscurity.
Until recently, only a bullet-pocked, vandalized state historical marker, erected in 1936, miles off the paved road, gave any hint of the wrenching frontier dramas that once played out here, 30 miles northeast of Fort Stockton.
As the marker inscription notes, the crossing got its odd name from the bleached animal skulls found hanging from bushes by a government surveyor in 1850.
Back then, when it was one of the few safe crossings along the treacherous, high-banked Pecos River, this was an action-packed and perilous place, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
Comanche war parties returning from Mexico with stolen horses crossed here, as did immigrants and adventurers drawn by the California goldfields, as well as pioneering cattle drovers, including Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving, pushing their leggy longhorns through to northern markets.
From 1858 to 1861, the Butterfield Overland Mail stage also stopped here on its daring 2,700-mile run between St. Louis and San Francisco.
An intrepid reporter on the first westward stage shared the grim observations made along the 75-mile waterless stretch coming to the Pecos from the east.
“Far as the eye could reach along the plain, decayed and decaying animals, the bones of cattle and sometimes of men, all told a fearful story of anguish and terrific death from the pangs of thirst,” wrote Waterman L. Ormsby, who also noted the abundance of prairie dogs and antelope.
And while its importance began to fade 150 years ago, out here on the barren mesquite and greasewood flats, Horse Head Crossing has never been forgotten.
Some, in fact, rank it with the state’s most important historical sites.
“I think Horse Head Crossing is the second most iconic landmark in Texas, second to the Alamo, because so much history went through there, and also Larry McMurtry based his novel (‘Lonesome Dove’) on that cattle drive,” said Kirby Warnock, 68, secretary of the Pecos County Historical Commission.
“Only some of us who live out here in Pecos County know about it. It’s out there in the middle of nowhere on a dead end road on the Pecos River,” added Warnock, who recalls visiting the famous crossing as a child with his father.
Warnock still marvels at the guts and determination required of Goodnight, Loving and their drovers on their first cattle drive, trying to reach water at Horse Head Crossing.
“It was a death march. Either they got to water in so much time, or the cattle died. They were in the saddle 30 hours. And when they got near the crossing, the cattle stampeded, and they lost a bunch of them,” he said.
On the last weekend in October, the tranquil old crossing sprang vibrantly to life, as hundreds of folks, including western artists, historians and local cowmen, gathered to celebrate and retell its colorful history.
For two days, the Dutch ovens glowed and wood smoke billowed, the bugles blared and fiery cannons lit the night, and in the evening, guitarists played cowboy songs.
Among the tunes heard was “The Ballad of Pecos Bill,” who was Texas’s most famous fictional cowboy. As the story goes, young Billy fell out of the family wagon while crossing the Pecos and was raised by coyotes. The lyrics describe him as “the roughest, toughest critter, never known to be a quitter.”
At serving time, the campfire grub ran to biscuits, tin pot coffee, beef stew and chili, with plenty of beans.
Diners ate standing up, from plates set on heavy pine planks laid between metal barrels.
There were scholarly presentations and performances by historical re-enactors dressed in frontier garb.
“We’re here to preserve our history. Look at all the statues and monuments being torn down. And they want to change the name of Sul Ross (University). They’ve lost their flippin’ minds,” said Robin Adams, 56, of South Brewster County, seated at a campfire near a 120-year-old chuck wagon.
Robert Schmitt, 80, of Alpine brought his step-granddaughter Zoey, 9, for a close look at the once fearsome Pecos that flooded a mile wide before it was dammed. It now resembles a meek and muddy irrigation ditch.
“I just started reading Zane Grey’s ‘West of the Pecos,’ and this locale is mentioned numerous times. They run cattle up the river through here,” he said.
“I feel connected to the land and the history of this area. And as I age, all that stuff seems to mean more to me.”
While the two-day event was officially sponsored by historical groups in four area counties, the main driver was Ernest Woodward, 67, a prominent local rancher who owns the west bank at the crossing. He also is president of the Pecos County Historical Commission.
And when Woodward put out the call, people came from as far as Louisiana and California.
“Everyone knows Ernest and that’s why all these people showed up, because he asked,” said Tom Lindsey, 65, a local rancher.
Woodward has long been fascinated with the history and secrets of Horse Head Crossing.
A few years ago, he held a celebration for the 150th anniversary of Goodnight and Loving’s first cattle drive north. He also was behind the long overdue repairs to the damaged granite historical marker.
Most recently, he has been trying to solve the mysteries of the Butterfield Overland Mail stage coach station that once sat on the east bank, but was long ago erased by floods.
A breakthrough by avocational archaeologist Tom Ashmore, who finally pinpointed the site of the long gone adobe building, was the inspiration for the two-day bash.
“We are specifically identifying the 1858 stage stop, the trails and the swing-around, which to our knowledge, had never been found,” Woodward said.
In his presentation, Ashmore, 67, told how he used satellite and drone imagery, as well as an 1867 military map, to find the lost sites and roads.
Amazingly, even 160 years later, the vegetation that grew up on the old roads and building sites remains distinguishable from that of the surrounding countryside, he said.
“For the first year, the stage never crossed the river here, but they got water and changed teams here, and then went upriver to cross.
“After that, they created a ferry crossing at Horse Head Crossing,” Ashmore said about the cross-country stage run that ended with the onset of the Civil War in 1861.
After the war, Texas cattlemen had plenty of free-range beef but no capital and few good markets. To get the best prices, some began pushing herds through here for delivery in New Mexico, Colorado and points north.
“In the beginning, the Indians hadn’t picked up on it. When they did later, it got real bad. They attacked the cattle drives, but they were mostly after the horses,” Ashmore said.
The cattle drives through Horse Head Crossing eventually faded with the completion of rail lines and later, the fencing of the range.
While the Comanche and later the Apache were a menace, the most deadly obstacle to both cattle drovers and travelers was the long dry stretch from the Concho River west to the Pecos.
Decades later, Goodnight still shuddered to recall the suffering of man and beast on his first cattle drive, as they struggled for three waterless days to reach the river. Hundreds of cattle died on the way.
“The Pecos, the graveyard of the cowman’s hopes,” he would say, adding, “I hated it! It was as treacherous as the Indians themselves,” according to his biographer, J. Evetts Haley.
Human travelers suffered just as dreadfully, and in his book “Crossing River Pecos,” historian Patrick Dearen recounts some of those experiences.
“Thousands upon thousands of cattle lay dead about the Pecos, while all the road was white with fleshless bones,” noted Stephen Powers, an early traveler, who almost died on his trip through here in 1868.
“Many great droves had arrived here before us. Some of the frenzied animals had rushed headlong into the glittering pools of alkali, and quaffed the crystal death, falling where they stood,” he added.
Another traveler described the river of rotting carcasses that greeted them at Horse Head Crossing.
“We can see the dead cattle floating down while we are dipping up the water and see them lying on the banks all over. This is all we will have to drink for 87 miles,” wrote emigrant Ruth Shackleford in the same year.
Indian attacks at Horse Head Crossing increased as it found favor with cattlemen and travelers.
“During the last year, I am informed that every drove of cattle intended for the (U.S. Army) posts in New Mexico were captured when passing this place,” referring to Horse Head Crossing, wrote Edward Hatch, the U.S. Army post commander in Fort Stockton in 1867.
That same year on their third drive north, Loving, Goodnight’s partner in the early cattle drives, died of his wounds after being attacked by Comanches.
Disregarding Goodnight’s advice to travel only at night, Loving and another cowboy were ambushed near the Pecos while riding ahead of the herd in the daytime.
As of early November, through Woodward’s efforts, the gravel road to the crossing has been improved and a large area has been cleared and covered with caliche.
Ranch hand Jesus Espinosa, 85, took a break from singing “El Rancho Grande,” with Doug Moreland, a guitar picker from Austin, to share his memories.
“When I was small, I saw all this, and it was very different then, all brush,” he said, adding, “It’s very beautiful now. My son and I helped to clear it.”
Woodward said he intends to donate the crossing property he owns to an appropriate entity so that it can “forever be accessible to the public, and for preservation, research and education.”
And, he said, he is not finished delving into its long and colorful past.
“There’s enough history out there to fill a whole shelf of unsolved mysteries,” he said.
Not the least of them is the unknown fate of Mexican Emperor Maximilian’s lost money and gold, which was reportedly stolen in West Texas in 1867 as he tried to sneak it out of the country.
“A lot of it is myth and legend, but there actually was a Maximilian who lost all the money,” Woodward said. “And the last place it was known to be was at Castle Gap,” a geological feature 12 miles east of Horse Head Crossing.


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Milwaukee mother finds peace after gun violence took her son

MILWAUKEE ( AP ) - For more than four years , Camille Mays has planted peace gardens in Milwaukee for victims of homicide .
The gardens are meant to provide a place for families to visit and pay their respects after the city tears down memorial sites for them .
It ’ s a simple gesture , she said , but one that has brought her close to the families of many victims .
“ My heart went out to the families of people , you know ?
” Mays said .
“ I just couldn ’ t imagine what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always tell them , ‘ I don ’ t understand , and I ’ m sorry .
I hope I don ’ t ever understand.
’ ” On Nov. 10 , 2019 , the tragedy of homicide became personal .
Her son , Darnell Woodard II , called Booka by his family , was killed by two gunmen when they robbed him during a drug deal .
Booka , the oldest of her sons , was 19 .
Mays suddenly had her world turned upside down .
“ I felt like I lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Mays , a 43-year-old Sherman Park resident , always knew that her son was like her : fearless and ready to jump into anything .
He laughed at one of his robbers before they killed him .
But it wasn ’ t until he died that she realized how much he had taken after her until friends and neighbors came forward to talk about times that he had helped them .
Mays said Booka did things for his younger brother , like paying his phone bill and checking in on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the life of a little boy , one of their neighbors , something Mays never knew about until after Booka died .
He was very protective of his family , too .
“ He was like a teddy bear inside , ” Mays said .
“ My Booka didn ’ t fool with anyone he didn ’ t know , but if he knew you , his heart was gold.
” The nonprofit news outlet Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service provided this article to The Associated Press through a collaboration with Institute for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the homicide , Mays was surrounded by family and friends and received much media attention .
Things got even harder after the first two weeks .
“ Two weeks after is when everything disappears , ” Mays said .
“ When all the support and the food and the people , it disappears .
And I never thought about that part of it as I was calling and checking on those people throughout all the years .
“ That ’ s why it meant so much to them , because people drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They forget or they move on or it ’ s the next news story or they dismiss one of the stories with drugs or something else.
” Mays said she was thankful for the support she received but realized that other families don ’ t always have as many people checking in on them .
She said every family should be able to get that support .
“ It should be more outreach , more people checking in and more people doing stuff after , because we are not OK , ” Mays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying it .
She ’ s not OK. She ’ s traumatized .
She still offers peace gardens but doesn ’ t go to vigils or gatherings anymore because of how emotionally heavy they are .
Even movies and music can be triggering for her , making her relive emotions from the shooting .
She ’ s not OK - but she ’ s learning to live with it .
Slowly , she has begun a long healing process and is willing to talk about it .
First , she had to find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s found that talking helps , but only a few can truly understand .
Where therapy has fallen short for her , talking with people who have experienced the same violence has helped her to heal .
“ I don ’ t care how much therapy training you have , how many degrees you have , if you haven ’ t been through it , ” Mays said .
“ You can give me a textbook explanation , and there ’ s no textbook for this.
” Mays said she finds strength in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that they ’ ve helped her heal .
Mays also finds strength in mindfulness .
In the last year , she ’ s turned to yoga , meditation , Himalayan salt lamps and baths , and healing crystals .
She ’ s also tried reiki , a Japanese method of stress relief .
She turned to some much-needed peaceful distractions as well .
She said she has gotten into coloring and even painting lately .
It ’ s important to have something to take your mind off of negative thoughts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition , Mays still gardens .
She now has over 100 houseplants that she tends to regularly .
On days when she loses her purpose , the plants are always there , and they fuel her to press on .
“ It ’ s just like a constant reminder to change and grow , ” Mays said .
“ We just got to nurture ourselves and things .
It just reminds me of growth .
It ’ s always something new .
It ’ s always a new leaf.
” Mays said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She said she is blessed to have the support of a circle of friends and wanted to acknowledge them , including her fiancé .
Mays was engaged to Greg on Dec. 31 , 2019 .
She said Greg has helped and supported her through the healing process and often reminds her to take care of herself .
“ If I ’ m really stressed , he ’ ll make me just completely stop and sit down , because I ’ ll drive myself into anxiety sometimes , ” she said .
Greg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s time for her to pamper herself , meaning it might be time to get her nails done or get a massage .
Mays said everyone should be able to be pampered , but she also recognizes the tough economic realities .
People can barely afford basic needs in our communities , Mays said , let alone pampering .
People that might need that healing the most simply can ’ t get it .
It ’ s still a struggle , Mays said , but she ’ s looking to the future .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , through her flowers and through her words .
She also serves on the Community Collaborative Commission , which gives input on community policing and police-community relations .
And she has a wedding to plan .
She finds strength every day to keep going .
But one of her greatest sources of strength remains , and always will be , her late son .
“ I know that Booka wouldn ’ t want me to be sad and be down .
He would want me to continue , ” she said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the very thing that brings you down is what picks us up , motivates us to keep pushing .
”

MATT MARTINEZ of Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

MILWAUKEE (AP) - For more than four years, Camille Mays has planted peace gardens in Milwaukee for victims of homicide.
The gardens are meant to provide a place for families to visit and pay their respects after the city tears down memorial sites for them. It’s a simple gesture, she said, but one that has brought her close to the families of many victims.
“My heart went out to the families of people, you know?” Mays said. “I just couldn’t imagine what it would be like. And I always tell them, ‘I don’t understand, and I’m sorry. I hope I don’t ever understand.’”
On Nov. 10, 2019, the tragedy of homicide became personal.
Her son, Darnell Woodard II, called Booka by his family, was killed by two gunmen when they robbed him during a drug deal. Booka, the oldest of her sons, was 19. Mays suddenly had her world turned upside down.
“I felt like I lost a part of me,” Mays said.
Mays, a 43-year-old Sherman Park resident, always knew that her son was like her: fearless and ready to jump into anything. He laughed at one of his robbers before they killed him. But it wasn’t until he died that she realized how much he had taken after her until friends and neighbors came forward to talk about times that he had helped them.
Mays said Booka did things for his younger brother, like paying his phone bill and checking in on his grades. He was also a mentor in the life of a little boy, one of their neighbors, something Mays never knew about until after Booka died. He was very protective of his family, too.
“He was like a teddy bear inside,” Mays said. “My Booka didn’t fool with anyone he didn’t know, but if he knew you, his heart was gold.”
___
The nonprofit news outlet Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service provided this article to The Associated Press through a collaboration with Institute for Nonprofit News.
___
In the immediate aftermath of the homicide, Mays was surrounded by family and friends and received much media attention. Things got even harder after the first two weeks.
“Two weeks after is when everything disappears,” Mays said. “When all the support and the food and the people, it disappears. And I never thought about that part of it as I was calling and checking on those people throughout all the years.
“That’s why it meant so much to them, because people drop off,” she said. “They forget or they move on or it’s the next news story or they dismiss one of the stories with drugs or something else.”
Mays said she was thankful for the support she received but realized that other families don’t always have as many people checking in on them. She said every family should be able to get that support.
“It should be more outreach, more people checking in and more people doing stuff after, because we are not OK,” Mays said.
Mays doesn’t mind saying it. She’s not OK. She’s traumatized. She still offers peace gardens but doesn’t go to vigils or gatherings anymore because of how emotionally heavy they are. Even movies and music can be triggering for her, making her relive emotions from the shooting.
She’s not OK - but she’s learning to live with it.
Slowly, she has begun a long healing process and is willing to talk about it.
First, she had to find somebody to talk to. She’s found that talking helps, but only a few can truly understand. Where therapy has fallen short for her, talking with people who have experienced the same violence has helped her to heal.
“I don’t care how much therapy training you have, how many degrees you have, if you haven’t been through it,” Mays said. “You can give me a textbook explanation, and there’s no textbook for this.”
Mays said she finds strength in other people who have been through it, and that they’ve helped her heal.
Mays also finds strength in mindfulness. In the last year, she’s turned to yoga, meditation, Himalayan salt lamps and baths, and healing crystals. She’s also tried reiki, a Japanese method of stress relief.
She turned to some much-needed peaceful distractions as well. She said she has gotten into coloring and even painting lately. It’s important to have something to take your mind off of negative thoughts and find peace, she said.
In addition, Mays still gardens. She now has over 100 houseplants that she tends to regularly. On days when she loses her purpose, the plants are always there, and they fuel her to press on.
“It’s just like a constant reminder to change and grow,” Mays said. “We just got to nurture ourselves and things. It just reminds me of growth. It’s always something new. It’s always a new leaf.”
Mays said she also relies on her family and friends. She said she is blessed to have the support of a circle of friends and wanted to acknowledge them, including her fiancé.
Mays was engaged to Greg on Dec. 31, 2019. She said Greg has helped and supported her through the healing process and often reminds her to take care of herself.
“If I’m really stressed, he’ll make me just completely stop and sit down, because I’ll drive myself into anxiety sometimes,” she said.
Greg will also tell her when it’s time for her to pamper herself, meaning it might be time to get her nails done or get a massage.
Mays said everyone should be able to be pampered, but she also recognizes the tough economic realities. People can barely afford basic needs in our communities, Mays said, let alone pampering. People that might need that healing the most simply can’t get it.
It’s still a struggle, Mays said, but she’s looking to the future. She hopes to keep serving the community, through her flowers and through her words. She also serves on the Community Collaborative Commission, which gives input on community policing and police-community relations. And she has a wedding to plan.
She finds strength every day to keep going. But one of her greatest sources of strength remains, and always will be, her late son.
“I know that Booka wouldn’t want me to be sad and be down. He would want me to continue,” she said. “It’s hard to explain, but the very thing that brings you down is what picks us up, motivates us to keep pushing.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Lessons from COVID-19 pandemic teaching educators too

QUINCY , Ill. ( AP ) - Lincoln-Douglas third-graders Emma Smith and Alaina Nichols sat at their table , brainstorming ideas about a Thanksgiving parade float for a writing assignment .
“ Pumpkin pie goes with November , ” she explained .
“ Thanksgiving is in November.
” The pair say they ’ ve settled into a school year like no other - wearing masks that Emma said “ feel normal to me to have on all day , ” socially distancing and exchanging elbow bumps instead of high fives .
It ’ s also a year like no other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first year in charge of a classroom in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ She ’ s doing really good , ” Emma said .
“ She ’ s like the nicest and kindest teacher I ’ ve ever had .
She lets us have a lot of fun this year.
” The school year , so far , is definitely not what Marks envisioned , but she said it ’ s going well for both the students and their teacher .
“ It feels like everyone ’ s a first-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so new to teaching in a mask , new to not being able to have their classroom set up like the way they wanted it to , ” Marks said .
“ That definitely is something that eased my nerves going into the school year .
We ’ re all going through this together .
Other people are going through the same thing I ’ m going through.
” The Quincy High School and Illinois College graduate also is positive she made the right career choice .
“ I love being able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids , seeing their faces light up , that boost of confidence when they discover they can actually do the math problem they ’ ve been struggling on or that they are a very smart kiddo , ” Marks said .
“ I can see myself doing this for , I think , the rest of my life.
” Quincy Public Schools added 29 first-year teachers for this school year , and Teacher Mentor Project Coordinator Marilyn Smith said all are doing better than she could have ever expected .
“ They came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers had or the fear of some of the things we ’ re dealing with with the pandemic .
Everything ’ s new to them .
That was just one more new thing , ” Smith said .
And they ’ ve adjusted well - with no basis for comparison .
“ This is what I know , ” Marks said .
“ I know how to teach in a mask.
” Changes tied to COVID-19 have both helped and hindered first-year teacher Jared Holman ’ s classroom at Quincy High School .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , makes building relationships with students more time-consuming , but smaller numbers in the classroom due to the A day/B day schedule this year is an advantage .
“ Classroom management is less , so that I can spend more time focusing on the students , the assignment that they ’ re working on , individualized instruction they may require , ” Holman said .
“ Only having eight or 10 students in class , as opposed to 22 or 25 , makes getting to know these students a lot easier .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the time I do have with them is of higher quality.
” The high school schedule has teachers covering the same material twice with different groups of students , “ but it also allows me to sort of master my own style of teaching , ” Holman said .
“ I learn from my mistakes .
This didn ’ t work on A day .
If I try this on B day , it might work better.
” New hires work with a seasoned teacher mentor throughout the year - and meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for orientation and then for training every other month .
Trainings have focused on curriculum and student growth along with challenges facing some students and how to help support them as well as how to build COVID-related changes into classroom routine .
Telling students to pull their mask back up over their nose may be a frequent reminder , but it ’ s “ the same as ‘ stay in your seat ’ or ‘ we ’ re not talking , ’ ” Smith said .
“ You ’ re still teaching .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ practices used in a “ normal ” year , “ so they will know next year , or later in the year hopefully , what is good practice still without being able to do that , ” Smith said .
Good practice had Holman blending a video and some of his personal experience into a review for an upcoming test in an environmental science class .
Students drew praise from Holman for knowing the biggest volcanic belt in the world is the ring of fire , an area Holman visited while traveling in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of different volcanic land forms .
Holman and Shanti Bowen co-teach the class , working together with the regular and special education students .
“ He ’ s doing good , ” Bowen said .
“ Nothing ’ s really stopped him .
He ’ s here for the kids.
” Quarantined for two weeks in October due to a possible exposure to COVID-19 meant another new experience for Holman , who continued to teach from home with help from Bowen and co-teacher Austin Schlueter in two other classes .
“ If remote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ll already know a few things that don ’ t work because of my experiences in quarantine , ” Holman said .
“ This is a different situation than what most teachers are used to starting off with , ” he said .
“ The veteran teachers , it ’ s been difficult for them as well , but their experience has been invaluable for instruction of students.
” The Quincy University graduate initially wanted to be an English teacher , then considered a career in nursing before finding before his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now I ’ m a science teacher , ” Holman said .
“ I think I just had to try something else before I realized how much I do love teaching.
” He substitute taught for a year , waiting for a QHS science position to open up , and the excitement of simply being a teacher and “ having the same students every day , the same students all year ” hasn ’ t worn off .
Neither has the love of teaching in his hometown .
“ I love making connections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lives .
I wanted to do that with Quincy ( students ) , ” he said .
“ At QHS in general , there ’ s a lot of alumni .
I graduated from Quincy Notre Dame , but I ’ m a true Blue Devil now , and I ’ m really proud to be part of such a homegrown professional community.
” “ I just loved being able to teach , being able to see kids grow as learners and getting to celebrate their successes with them , ” Marks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teacher because I ’ m a kid at heart.
” Staying in the Quincy area , and teaching at QPS , felt right to Marks .
“ I grew up here .
I really like the Quincy area , ” she said .
“ I really wanted to give back to the school district .
By teaching in Quincy I could really do that and have an impact on those kiddos.
” The challenge this year , though , is helping kids stay safe and healthy in the classroom “ so we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Marks said .
“ I ’ m still trying to make it like a regular school year , where they ’ re able to do hands-on work , able to do partner work , just very limited.
” Each day continues the learning process for Marks , Holman and other first-year teachers - and students are happy to help .
While Emma and Alaina say they ’ re learning from Marks , they ’ re also teaching her some things .
“ We taught her words she didn ’ t know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to spell Mandalorian , ” Emma said .

QUINCY, Ill. (AP) - Lincoln-Douglas third-graders Emma Smith and Alaina Nichols sat at their table, brainstorming ideas about a Thanksgiving parade float for a writing assignment.
Alaina settled on a pumpkin pie theme.
“Pumpkin pie goes with November,” she explained. “Thanksgiving is in November.”
The pair say they’ve settled into a school year like no other - wearing masks that Emma said “feel normal to me to have on all day,” socially distancing and exchanging elbow bumps instead of high fives.
It’s also a year like no other for teacher Hannah Marks, spending her first year in charge of a classroom in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“She’s doing really good,” Emma said. “She’s like the nicest and kindest teacher I’ve ever had. She lets us have a lot of fun this year.”
The school year, so far, is definitely not what Marks envisioned, but she said it’s going well for both the students and their teacher.
“It feels like everyone’s a first-year teacher this year because everyone’s so new to teaching in a mask, new to not being able to have their classroom set up like the way they wanted it to,” Marks said.
“That definitely is something that eased my nerves going into the school year. We’re all going through this together. Other people are going through the same thing I’m going through.”
The Quincy High School and Illinois College graduate also is positive she made the right career choice.
“I love being able to celebrate even the smallest success with the kids, seeing their faces light up, that boost of confidence when they discover they can actually do the math problem they’ve been struggling on or that they are a very smart kiddo,” Marks said. “I can see myself doing this for, I think, the rest of my life.”
Quincy Public Schools added 29 first-year teachers for this school year, and Teacher Mentor Project Coordinator Marilyn Smith said all are doing better than she could have ever expected.
“They came in without the expectations that the seasoned teachers had or the fear of some of the things we’re dealing with with the pandemic. Everything’s new to them. That was just one more new thing,” Smith said.
And they’ve adjusted well - with no basis for comparison.
“This is what I know,” Marks said. “I know how to teach in a mask.”
Changes tied to COVID-19 have both helped and hindered first-year teacher Jared Holman’s classroom at Quincy High School.
Wearing masks, which mask facial expressions, makes building relationships with students more time-consuming, but smaller numbers in the classroom due to the A day/B day schedule this year is an advantage.
“Classroom management is less, so that I can spend more time focusing on the students, the assignment that they’re working on, individualized instruction they may require,” Holman said.
“Only having eight or 10 students in class, as opposed to 22 or 25, makes getting to know these students a lot easier. Even though it’s every other day, the time I do have with them is of higher quality.”
The high school schedule has teachers covering the same material twice with different groups of students, “but it also allows me to sort of master my own style of teaching,” Holman said. “I learn from my mistakes. This didn’t work on A day. If I try this on B day, it might work better.”
New hires work with a seasoned teacher mentor throughout the year - and meet as a group with Marilyn Smith first for orientation and then for training every other month.
Trainings have focused on curriculum and student growth along with challenges facing some students and how to help support them as well as how to build COVID-related changes into classroom routine.
Telling students to pull their mask back up over their nose may be a frequent reminder, but it’s “the same as ‘stay in your seat’ or ‘we’re not talking,’” Smith said. “You’re still teaching. Kids are still learning.”
Mentors highlight practices used in a “normal” year, “so they will know next year, or later in the year hopefully, what is good practice still without being able to do that,” Smith said.
Good practice had Holman blending a video and some of his personal experience into a review for an upcoming test in an environmental science class.
Students drew praise from Holman for knowing the biggest volcanic belt in the world is the ring of fire, an area Holman visited while traveling in Asia, before moving into a discussion of different volcanic land forms.
Holman and Shanti Bowen co-teach the class, working together with the regular and special education students.
“He’s doing good,” Bowen said. “Nothing’s really stopped him. He’s here for the kids.”
Quarantined for two weeks in October due to a possible exposure to COVID-19 meant another new experience for Holman, who continued to teach from home with help from Bowen and co-teacher Austin Schlueter in two other classes.
“If remote teaching is ever the current plan, I’ll already know a few things that don’t work because of my experiences in quarantine,” Holman said.
“This is a different situation than what most teachers are used to starting off with,” he said. “The veteran teachers, it’s been difficult for them as well, but their experience has been invaluable for instruction of students.”
The Quincy University graduate initially wanted to be an English teacher, then considered a career in nursing before finding before his love of science won out.
“Now I’m a science teacher,” Holman said. “I think I just had to try something else before I realized how much I do love teaching.”
He substitute taught for a year, waiting for a QHS science position to open up, and the excitement of simply being a teacher and “having the same students every day, the same students all year” hasn’t worn off. Neither has the love of teaching in his hometown.
“I love making connections with students and being an influence in their lives. I wanted to do that with Quincy (students),” he said. “At QHS in general, there’s a lot of alumni. I graduated from Quincy Notre Dame, but I’m a true Blue Devil now, and I’m really proud to be part of such a homegrown professional community.”
Teaching swim lessons at the Quincy Family YMCA spurred Marks’ career choice.
“I just loved being able to teach, being able to see kids grow as learners and getting to celebrate their successes with them,” Marks said. “I’m a teacher because I’m a kid at heart.”
Staying in the Quincy area, and teaching at QPS, felt right to Marks.
“I grew up here. I really like the Quincy area,” she said. “I really wanted to give back to the school district. By teaching in Quincy I could really do that and have an impact on those kiddos.”
The challenge this year, though, is helping kids stay safe and healthy in the classroom “so we can all learn the best that we can,” Marks said. “I’m still trying to make it like a regular school year, where they’re able to do hands-on work, able to do partner work, just very limited.”
Each day continues the learning process for Marks, Holman and other first-year teachers - and students are happy to help.
While Emma and Alaina say they’re learning from Marks, they’re also teaching her some things.
“We taught her words she didn’t know,” Alaina said.
“Like how to spell Mandalorian,” Emma said.
___
Source: The Quincy Herald-Whig, https://bit.ly/2IEWHyv


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Pickleball popularity continues to grow in Norfolk

NORFOLK , Neb .
( AP ) - It might be an unusual name , but the sport of pickleball is gaining interest among people of all ages .
The game is a combination of a few sports , including tennis , table tennis and badminton .
The activity can be played around the state in Norfolk , Omaha , Lincoln and Fremont .
Locals can play pickleball at the YMCA Tennis and Pickleball Center in Norfolk , which is located near Skyview Lake .
“ It ’ s a fun family game , and it really is a sport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the Norfolk Daily News .
“ It is a cross-generational game.
” Preusker , the Norfolk YMCA marketing director , has been involved in the sport for six years and wants to continue to spread the activity to people in the Norfolk area .
“ I figured out how to play the game , and now I help teach the basics of the sport through clinics , ” Preusker said .
“ We will pull you in and teach you the ropes.
” Preusker said the game is just like a gigantic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand on the table to play .
“ It is a badminton sized court , and there are a lot of similarities to tennis , ” she said .
Each point starts off by someone serving cross-court underhanded with an upward arc movement and hitting the ball while it is below the server ’ s belly button .
There is a two-bounce rule , and the opponent returning has to let it bounce once before hitting it .
Once the ball is returned to the serving side , the person receiving the ball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After that , it is fair game and can be hit in the air or bounce once to win the point .
There are usually at least four players on the court and split into two teams .
Games are normally played to 11 points and are decided by two or more points .
Tournament games may be up to 15 or 21 points depending on the tournament .
While the point system is like ping-pong , players use a paddle to hit an oversized whiffle ball .
Pickleball players play in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A beginner will start off with a 2.0 rating and can later get up to the pro level , which is a rating of 5.0 .
Preusker is considered a 3.0 player and will play in tournaments around the state based on her rating .
Back in 2016 , Preusker took second place at the Cornhusker State Games .
The YMCA in Norfolk hosts a league on Wednesdays from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. for players rated 2.0 to 4.0 .
There are about 18 people in the league who play on three courts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While there are usually enough participants to fill the courts , the league is always looking for more people .
“ It really is sport made for anybody .
There is a lot of little rules and techniques we teach , then it is a matter of practicing , ” Preusker said .
“ If I play three or four times a week , then I really start to improve.
” Preusker is in her early 60s , but players range in age from 30 all the way to people in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ball is built to keep the game to go a little slower , and the game stays slow , ” she said .
“ The integrity is there because they want seniors to be able to play.
” Jim Carretto , a former pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wisner , picked up pickleball in Phoenix with his brother-in-law and , when he moved to Norfolk , he was able to continue to play .
“ There ’ s plenty of strategy that goes into the game , ” Carretto said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it really gets you moving.
” Carretto has been involved with the sport over the past three years and plays five times a week .
At the age of 66 , Carretto has a 3.0 rating and continues to gain strong reflexes .
“ When you think about the court , it ’ s half of a tennis court .
There ’ s not as much running , and it will get you in shape , ” Carretto said .
“ There ’ s enough running that you ’ ll be pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem like a strange and different game to play , but pickleball players such as Preusker encourage people of all ages to play .
“ You have to be able to allow yourself to laugh , and you ’ ll have to allow yourself to laugh at other people because you are going to , ” Preusker said .
“ The hardest thing has been trying to get people to try it .
The name of the game is pickleball , so they wouldn ’ t take it serious .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s a fun game all put together.
” Members of the YMCA can play for free and the YMCA also started a 3.0 and under league on Fridays from 9 to 10 a.m. along with open play , which is on Monday , Wednesday and Friday mornings .
“ Pickleball is loads of fun and , in turn , it can be good for your health , ” Preusker said .
“ Pickleball specifically works on your balance and agility while it also offers the same benefits of other regular exercise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less fun ) .
”

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) - It might be an unusual name, but the sport of pickleball is gaining interest among people of all ages.
The game is a combination of a few sports, including tennis, table tennis and badminton.
The activity can be played around the state in Norfolk, Omaha, Lincoln and Fremont. Locals can play pickleball at the YMCA Tennis and Pickleball Center in Norfolk, which is located near Skyview Lake.
“It’s a fun family game, and it really is a sport made for anybody,” Barb Preusker told the Norfolk Daily News. “It is a cross-generational game.”
Preusker, the Norfolk YMCA marketing director, has been involved in the sport for six years and wants to continue to spread the activity to people in the Norfolk area.
“I figured out how to play the game, and now I help teach the basics of the sport through clinics,” Preusker said. “We will pull you in and teach you the ropes.”
Preusker said the game is just like a gigantic ping-pong table and people are able to stand on the table to play.
“It is a badminton sized court, and there are a lot of similarities to tennis,” she said.
Each point starts off by someone serving cross-court underhanded with an upward arc movement and hitting the ball while it is below the server’s belly button. There is a two-bounce rule, and the opponent returning has to let it bounce once before hitting it. Once the ball is returned to the serving side, the person receiving the ball has to then let it bounce once. After that, it is fair game and can be hit in the air or bounce once to win the point. There are usually at least four players on the court and split into two teams.
Games are normally played to 11 points and are decided by two or more points. Tournament games may be up to 15 or 21 points depending on the tournament.
While the point system is like ping-pong, players use a paddle to hit an oversized whiffle ball.
Pickleball players play in leagues and tournaments based on ratings. A beginner will start off with a 2.0 rating and can later get up to the pro level, which is a rating of 5.0.
Preusker is considered a 3.0 player and will play in tournaments around the state based on her rating.
Back in 2016, Preusker took second place at the Cornhusker State Games.
The YMCA in Norfolk hosts a league on Wednesdays from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. for players rated 2.0 to 4.0. There are about 18 people in the league who play on three courts, with four players on each court. While there are usually enough participants to fill the courts, the league is always looking for more people.
“It really is sport made for anybody. There is a lot of little rules and techniques we teach, then it is a matter of practicing,” Preusker said. “If I play three or four times a week, then I really start to improve.”
Preusker is in her early 60s, but players range in age from 30 all the way to people in their 70s, Preusker said.
“The ball is built to keep the game to go a little slower, and the game stays slow,” she said. “The integrity is there because they want seniors to be able to play.”
Jim Carretto, a former pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wisner, picked up pickleball in Phoenix with his brother-in-law and, when he moved to Norfolk, he was able to continue to play.
“There’s plenty of strategy that goes into the game,” Carretto said. “It’s great exercise, and it really gets you moving.”
Carretto has been involved with the sport over the past three years and plays five times a week. At the age of 66, Carretto has a 3.0 rating and continues to gain strong reflexes.
“When you think about the court, it’s half of a tennis court. There’s not as much running, and it will get you in shape,” Carretto said. “There’s enough running that you’ll be pretty tired at the end.”
It might seem like a strange and different game to play, but pickleball players such as Preusker encourage people of all ages to play.
“You have to be able to allow yourself to laugh, and you’ll have to allow yourself to laugh at other people because you are going to,” Preusker said. “The hardest thing has been trying to get people to try it. The name of the game is pickleball, so they wouldn’t take it serious. It’s a serious and competitive game, but it’s a fun game all put together.”
Members of the YMCA can play for free and the YMCA also started a 3.0 and under league on Fridays from 9 to 10 a.m. along with open play, which is on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.
“Pickleball is loads of fun and, in turn, it can be good for your health,” Preusker said. “Pickleball specifically works on your balance and agility while it also offers the same benefits of other regular exercise (exercises that are a whole lot less fun).”


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Omaha neighbors take advantage of restored park

OMAHA , Neb .
( AP ) - On one of this month ’ s unseasonably mild afternoons , laughter and giggles filled the playground at North Omaha ’ s Miller Park .
Children ran from slides to swings and on to something else as parents and grandparents watched from picnic tables and benches .
Nearby , beneath towering sycamore , catalpa and linden trees , a family sat down to supper at a picnic table .
Across the park , a man relaxing after work unleashed his dogs and let them run at a newly completed dog park .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s oldest parks , neglected and sometimes overshadowed by the city ’ s problems with crime , has been restored to its place among Omaha ’ s crown jewels .
And the Omaha World-Herald reports the families whose homes surround the park have voted with their feet , filling all corners of its 80 acres : walking the trail ; playing golf and basketball ; bringing kids to the splash pad , playground and swimming pool ; and visiting at benches and picnic tables .
“ It invites people to have fun , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said of the refurbished park .
Rodriguez brings her 7-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son to the park every week .
“ It ’ s a lot safer with these improvements .
It ’ s more child-friendly ; it ’ s more family-friendly.
” Three years ago , the Lozier Foundation , in collaboration with the Omaha Parks Department and other donors , set out an ambitious plan : Return the park to its old glory , but with updates to appeal to today ’ s families .
A thriving park , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the surrounding neighborhoods .
Other improvements include a cushiony , kid-friendly surface at the playground , a high-tech soccer training wall , musical hopscotch that teaches children their numbers , picnic shelters , an amphitheater , pickleball and basketball courts , and a fountain .
One hundred new trees , including birch , maple , oak , fir and spruce , have been planted .
The latest addition , a dog park , was celebrated last week at a grand opening .
Still to come , according to John Williams , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the playground , security cameras and improvements to the pavilion so that it can be used for more meetings , wedding receptions , reunions and youth programming .
The park , between 24th and 30th Streets , just south of Redick Avenue , has seen about $ 2.9 million in donor-funded improvements since 2018 .
The city has provided about $ 100,000 .
A separate philanthropic undertaking , led by other donors , was the park ’ s $ 1.7 million Kerrie Orozco Memorial Ballfield , built in honor of a beloved Omaha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened last year .
Bob Braun , executive director of the Lozier Foundation , said Miller Park had many of the attributes needed for success .
The park itself is scenic ( the state ’ s largest larch tree is there ) , the nearby neighborhoods have strong leadership , and there is a reasonable percentage of surrounding owner-occupied homes , which provide stability .
“ This was a gem sitting there , and for really not an amazing amount of money , you could really make a difference , ” Braun said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families into the park … and to make it a center for the community .
It seemed doable , and so far it ’ s working .
That ’ s very cool.
” It ’ s not by accident that the Lozier Foundation cast its gaze on Miller Park .
Lozier ’ s identity is bound up in North Omaha , Braun said .
The company , which describes itself as the nation ’ s largest manufacturer of store fixture systems , is headquartered in northeast Omaha .
And the Lozier family hails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chairman emeritus of the company , grew up just west of the park .
He and his wife , Dianne , started the Lozier Foundation .
The private financial investment has been amplified by the on-site city staff who neighborhood residents say have proved pivotal to the park ’ s success .
Park caretaker Chad Cawthon and Mike Rice , who oversees the golf course , make the public feel welcome and have gotten the park in its best shape in years , residents say .
“ Honestly , they ’ re instrumental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Miller Park Minne Lusa Neighborhood Association , said of Cawthon , Rice and the staff .
“ What ( Cawthon ) has done for the grounds around that park deserves an award .
It looks cared for , it ’ s cheerful and welcoming , it makes you want to be here , ” she said .
Jim Beatty , a longtime Omaha golfer and executive editor of the monthly magazine African American Golfer ’ s Digest , credited Rice with making Steve Hogan Golf Course at Miller Park “ the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can play golf for free at the par-3 course and get free lessons .
“ Mike Rice is a stabilizing force at Miller Park .
He knows the golfers by name , and they know him by name .
They even know the name of his puppy ( Ginger , a Shih Tzu ) .
” Rice credited the city ’ s renewed investment in the golf course , through additional staff and funding , for its turnaround .
“ It used to be Omaha ’ s best-kept secret , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the number of people golfing.
” Miller Park was built in 1891 at the urging of George Miller , a founding father of Omaha who was influential in parks and boulevard development .
In the years that followed , upper-middle class neighborhoods sprung up around the park as people were drawn there by the amenities and attractive stock of bungalows , Tudors and cottages .
Jackson-Triplett said things will only get better .
Home values are rising , and the park is playing an increasing role in neighborhood life .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space that everyone uses , ” she said .
“ It is giving everyone a chance to see each other.
” Shane Leonard has lived his entire life just a few blocks from the park , and he said he ’ s never seen it so busy .
“ Isn ’ t this neighborhood great ?
” he asked as he exercised his pups , Penne Pasta and Lily Bee , at the new dog park .
“ This is one of those places that you don ’ t realize how special it @ @ @ @ @ @ @

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - On one of this month’s unseasonably mild afternoons, laughter and giggles filled the playground at North Omaha’s Miller Park.
Children ran from slides to swings and on to something else as parents and grandparents watched from picnic tables and benches.
Nearby, beneath towering sycamore, catalpa and linden trees, a family sat down to supper at a picnic table.
Across the park, a man relaxing after work unleashed his dogs and let them run at a newly completed dog park.
Miller Park, one of Omaha’s oldest parks, neglected and sometimes overshadowed by the city’s problems with crime, has been restored to its place among Omaha’s crown jewels.
And the Omaha World-Herald reports the families whose homes surround the park have voted with their feet, filling all corners of its 80 acres: walking the trail; playing golf and basketball; bringing kids to the splash pad, playground and swimming pool; and visiting at benches and picnic tables.
“It invites people to have fun,” a young mother, Adriana Rodriguez, said of the refurbished park. Rodriguez brings her 7-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son to the park every week. “It’s a lot safer with these improvements. It’s more child-friendly; it’s more family-friendly.”
Three years ago, the Lozier Foundation, in collaboration with the Omaha Parks Department and other donors, set out an ambitious plan: Return the park to its old glory, but with updates to appeal to today’s families. A thriving park, the theory went, would feed positive energy into the surrounding neighborhoods.
Other improvements include a cushiony, kid-friendly surface at the playground, a high-tech soccer training wall, musical hopscotch that teaches children their numbers, picnic shelters, an amphitheater, pickleball and basketball courts, and a fountain. One hundred new trees, including birch, maple, oak, fir and spruce, have been planted.
The latest addition, a dog park, was celebrated last week at a grand opening.
Still to come, according to John Williams, an Omaha parks planner, are restrooms by the playground, security cameras and improvements to the pavilion so that it can be used for more meetings, wedding receptions, reunions and youth programming.
The park, between 24th and 30th Streets, just south of Redick Avenue, has seen about $2.9 million in donor-funded improvements since 2018. The city has provided about $100,000.
A separate philanthropic undertaking, led by other donors, was the park’s $1.7 million Kerrie Orozco Memorial Ballfield, built in honor of a beloved Omaha police officer slain in 2015. It opened last year.
Bob Braun, executive director of the Lozier Foundation, said Miller Park had many of the attributes needed for success.
The park itself is scenic (the state’s largest larch tree is there), the nearby neighborhoods have strong leadership, and there is a reasonable percentage of surrounding owner-occupied homes, which provide stability.
“This was a gem sitting there, and for really not an amazing amount of money, you could really make a difference,” Braun said. “The idea was to get families into the park … and to make it a center for the community. It seemed doable, and so far it’s working. That’s very cool.”
It’s not by accident that the Lozier Foundation cast its gaze on Miller Park. Lozier’s identity is bound up in North Omaha, Braun said.
The company, which describes itself as the nation’s largest manufacturer of store fixture systems, is headquartered in northeast Omaha. And the Lozier family hails from the neighborhood - Allan Lozier, chairman emeritus of the company, grew up just west of the park. He and his wife, Dianne, started the Lozier Foundation.
The private financial investment has been amplified by the on-site city staff who neighborhood residents say have proved pivotal to the park’s success. Park caretaker Chad Cawthon and Mike Rice, who oversees the golf course, make the public feel welcome and have gotten the park in its best shape in years, residents say.
“Honestly, they’re instrumental,” Michelle Jackson-Triplett, president of the Miller Park Minne Lusa Neighborhood Association, said of Cawthon, Rice and the staff.
“What (Cawthon) has done for the grounds around that park deserves an award. It looks cared for, it’s cheerful and welcoming, it makes you want to be here,” she said.
Jim Beatty, a longtime Omaha golfer and executive editor of the monthly magazine African American Golfer’s Digest, credited Rice with making Steve Hogan Golf Course at Miller Park “the most family-friendly course in the city.”
Youths can play golf for free at the par-3 course and get free lessons.
“Mike Rice is a stabilizing force at Miller Park. He knows the golfers by name, and they know him by name. They even know the name of his puppy (Ginger, a Shih Tzu).”
Rice credited the city’s renewed investment in the golf course, through additional staff and funding, for its turnaround.
“It used to be Omaha’s best-kept secret,” he said. “Not any more, judging by the number of people golfing.”
Miller Park was built in 1891 at the urging of George Miller, a founding father of Omaha who was influential in parks and boulevard development. In the years that followed, upper-middle class neighborhoods sprung up around the park as people were drawn there by the amenities and attractive stock of bungalows, Tudors and cottages.
Jackson-Triplett said things will only get better. Home values are rising, and the park is playing an increasing role in neighborhood life.
“It has become a nice, unifying green space that everyone uses,” she said. “It is giving everyone a chance to see each other.”
Shane Leonard has lived his entire life just a few blocks from the park, and he said he’s never seen it so busy.
“Isn’t this neighborhood great?” he asked as he exercised his pups, Penne Pasta and Lily Bee, at the new dog park. “This is one of those places that you don’t realize how special it is until you live here.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--'Free to create': Artist paints murals to enhance history

TUPELO , Miss .
( AP ) - When Cody Crotts , 25 , painted his first mural of the new Mississippi flag in his hometown of Corinth , he thought it could be a conversation starter .
When he was approached about painting the flag in downtown Corinth , voters had yet to decide whether to officially adopt the design as the state ’ s flag .
But Crotts was excited to be part of the idea , though he noted the timing was early .
“ Either for or against the idea of this design in particular , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to vote for change , ” Crotts said .
“ It was a matter of having that conversation .
That was really important to me , for the state of Mississippi to go out and vote.
” When the flag vote passed with over 71 % support , as of Nov. 5 according to the Associated Press , he saw it as a sign to continue to change and “ see where it goes from city to city.
” He ’ s painted over 10 murals commercially , although he didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Crotts has been an artist his whole life .
Growing up , he always had crayons and copy paper on hand , and he never enjoyed coloring books because it limited what he could create .
“ It was always this idea of making my own world , whatever I could conceive in my mind , and translate that onto paper , ” Crotts said .
He joked that in school , he was the kind of kid who ’ d draw on notes when he should have been taking them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an undecided major , but took art classes on the side .
It wasn ’ t until he got out of college that he realized art could potentially be a future for him .
“ Art was always the idea or always the mindset , I just didn ’ t know how to make that a reality as far as a job or opportunity , ” Crotts said .
He painted his first mural in 2017 , when his high school contacted him to see if he would be interested in creating artwork @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than pleased to do that because I wanted to give back to my school in a way that I couldn ’ t do academically , so I thought , what a great way to put a piece of myself , or a piece of my art , for my school , ” Crotts said .
“ That ’ s kind of how it started.
” After the project , Crotts transitioned from mural to mural .
He never advertised his work and said he feels very fortunate that he ’ s been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Coca-Cola mural featuring a hand pouring a Coke bottle for one area business , he said other commercial businesses , boutiques and CPA firms reached out .
Because Crotts has a full-time job and often works 50-plus hours a week , painting murals became his after-hours side-gig .
But creativity has never been something “ pushed upon him.
” “ It ’ s always been instilled in me to create , and it ’ s kind of evolved from medium to medium .
Essentially , I ’ m going from paper to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ latest creation is a second flag mural in downtown Tupelo , on the side of Reed ’ s .
It ’ s his first mural painting outside of Corinth , and he sees it as a way of expanding his canvas and gallery of artwork .
On Nov. 12 , he was preparing to finish the mural the next day if everything went according to plan .
It took him about a week to paint .
Crotts talked about the amount of preparation it took to create the mural due to it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creating murals as “ adding something new ” rather than taking away the history .
“ Essentially , this wall and everything it stands for and its history , is preserved in these bricks .
Nothing changes , ” Crott said .
He extended that metaphor to the subject of the mural itself .
“ That ’ s essentially how I feel about the flag , too .
It ’ s not taking history or what we stand for as Mississippians .
It ’ s more or less adding something new to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopes to keep expanding his canvas , to travel to other cities and paint similar flag murals , but said he always wants to branch out with his own ideas .
He does not limit himself to just murals for advertising or commercial reasons .
He enjoys the act of creation for its own sake .
“ My motto is free to create , ” Crotts said .
“ That ’ s my brand .
That ’ s my motto for life .
”

TUPELO, Miss. (AP) - When Cody Crotts, 25, painted his first mural of the new Mississippi flag in his hometown of Corinth, he thought it could be a conversation starter.
When he was approached about painting the flag in downtown Corinth, voters had yet to decide whether to officially adopt the design as the state’s flag. But Crotts was excited to be part of the idea, though he noted the timing was early.
“Either for or against the idea of this design in particular, it’s still the idea of going to vote for change,” Crotts said. “It was a matter of having that conversation. That was really important to me, for the state of Mississippi to go out and vote.”
When the flag vote passed with over 71% support, as of Nov. 5 according to the Associated Press, he saw it as a sign to continue to change and “see where it goes from city to city.”
He’s painted over 10 murals commercially, although he didn’t initially start out to paint murals. Crotts has been an artist his whole life. Growing up, he always had crayons and copy paper on hand, and he never enjoyed coloring books because it limited what he could create.
“It was always this idea of making my own world, whatever I could conceive in my mind, and translate that onto paper,” Crotts said.
He joked that in school, he was the kind of kid who’d draw on notes when he should have been taking them. He entered Northeast Mississippi Community College as an undecided major, but took art classes on the side. It wasn’t until he got out of college that he realized art could potentially be a future for him.
“Art was always the idea or always the mindset, I just didn’t know how to make that a reality as far as a job or opportunity,” Crotts said.
He painted his first mural in 2017, when his high school contacted him to see if he would be interested in creating artwork in the breezeway.
“I was more than pleased to do that because I wanted to give back to my school in a way that I couldn’t do academically, so I thought, what a great way to put a piece of myself, or a piece of my art, for my school,” Crotts said. “That’s kind of how it started.”
After the project, Crotts transitioned from mural to mural. He never advertised his work and said he feels very fortunate that he’s been able to continue creating. After painting a Coca-Cola mural featuring a hand pouring a Coke bottle for one area business, he said other commercial businesses, boutiques and CPA firms reached out.
Because Crotts has a full-time job and often works 50-plus hours a week, painting murals became his after-hours side-gig. But creativity has never been something “pushed upon him.”
“It’s always been instilled in me to create, and it’s kind of evolved from medium to medium. Essentially, I’m going from paper to walls,” Crotts said.
Crotts’ latest creation is a second flag mural in downtown Tupelo, on the side of Reed’s. It’s his first mural painting outside of Corinth, and he sees it as a way of expanding his canvas and gallery of artwork.
On Nov. 12, he was preparing to finish the mural the next day if everything went according to plan. It took him about a week to paint.
Crotts talked about the amount of preparation it took to create the mural due to it being an older wall. He views creating murals as “adding something new” rather than taking away the history.
“Essentially, this wall and everything it stands for and its history, is preserved in these bricks. Nothing changes,” Crott said.
He extended that metaphor to the subject of the mural itself.
“That’s essentially how I feel about the flag, too. It’s not taking history or what we stand for as Mississippians. It’s more or less adding something new to the conversation,” he said.
He hopes to keep expanding his canvas, to travel to other cities and paint similar flag murals, but said he always wants to branch out with his own ideas. He does not limit himself to just murals for advertising or commercial reasons. He enjoys the act of creation for its own sake.
“My motto is free to create,” Crotts said. “That’s my brand. That’s my motto for life.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Chickens bought as quarantine fun bring problems in S.C.

LADY ’ S ISLAND , S.C. ( AP ) - Tallulah Trice has realized the six chickens she took in on her property on Lady ’ s Island are elusive birds .
The free-ranging animals resist being corralled , and rounding them up using an exhaustive list of methods can be time-consuming .
It ’ s a challenge that animal control employees have faced more often as more people buy chickens as quarantine entertainment during the COVID-19 pandemic , says Trice , the Beaufort County Animal Services director .
The animals are easily available , too , from retail stores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and northern Beaufort County .
Trice is pushing for a system to register chickens owned or bought in unincorporated areas of the county .
Municipalities could also adopt the rules .
“ It ’ s just good for us to know for many reasons , ” Trice said .
“ We ’ re not trying to restrict people from having animals ; we ’ re just trying to register them.
” That way if someone calls in birds on the loose , Trice and county animal officials can look at a map and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and enlist their help in detaining them .
And when a hurricane approaches , the animals would also be easier to locate to ensure their well-being .
It ’ s a similar system the county has for horses , so that a call in the middle of the night about the animals in a roadway can lead to contacting the responsible owner quickly .
The bottom line , Trice said , is that catching problem poultry eats up too much county time and resources .
Novice chicken owners should be aware of proper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for emergencies like a storm evacuation , Trice says .
The birds can carry diseases such as salmonella , and owners can run afoul of local noise ordinances or prohibitions on owning roosters that crow at all hours .
Towns generally have ordinances limiting the number of chickens and disallowing roosters .
If caring for chickens becomes too much , owners should surrender them or re-home them rather than set them loose .
Adult chickens offered on the Animal Services Facebook page usually find new homes quickly , Trice said .
She ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a housing community in Grays Hill and a nuisance rooster outside the Bluffton town limits .
“ Just don ’ t release them and think they ’ re going to go explore in the wild , ” Trice said .
“ We do have to catch them , because they become a nuisance.
” Requiring people to register chickens could be difficult , said Laura Lee Rose , an agent with the Clemson Extension office in Beaufort County who has kept chickens at her home on St. Helena Island .
She noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order , and people in rural areas might just be resistant to the idea .
Rose said a voluntary registration system could work well .
If people are no longer able to care for birds , they can call the local extension office , and an agent can connect them with local farmers willing to take the animals , Rose said .
She said she and Trice could discuss the possibility of an educational program on backyard birds .
Good fencing , food and water are essentials .
Rose recommends a chicken tractor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that can be easily moved around a yard and helps keep out predators at night .
“ And start small , too , ” Rose said .
“ I tell people this with gardening all the time : Don ’ t try to get a flock and think you ’ re going to go into the egg business overnight .
”

STEPHEN FASTENAU, The Beaufort Gazette and The Island Packet

LADY’S ISLAND, S.C. (AP) - Tallulah Trice has realized the six chickens she took in on her property on Lady’s Island are elusive birds.
The free-ranging animals resist being corralled, and rounding them up using an exhaustive list of methods can be time-consuming.
It’s a challenge that animal control employees have faced more often as more people buy chickens as quarantine entertainment during the COVID-19 pandemic, says Trice, the Beaufort County Animal Services director. The animals are easily available, too, from retail stores such as Tractor Supply locations in southern and northern Beaufort County.
Trice is pushing for a system to register chickens owned or bought in unincorporated areas of the county. Municipalities could also adopt the rules.
“It’s just good for us to know for many reasons,” Trice said. “We’re not trying to restrict people from having animals; we’re just trying to register them.”
That way if someone calls in birds on the loose, Trice and county animal officials can look at a map and quickly determine who might own the birds and enlist their help in detaining them. And when a hurricane approaches, the animals would also be easier to locate to ensure their well-being.
It’s a similar system the county has for horses, so that a call in the middle of the night about the animals in a roadway can lead to contacting the responsible owner quickly.
The bottom line, Trice said, is that catching problem poultry eats up too much county time and resources.
Novice chicken owners should be aware of proper care and housing and have a plan for emergencies like a storm evacuation, Trice says. The birds can carry diseases such as salmonella, and owners can run afoul of local noise ordinances or prohibitions on owning roosters that crow at all hours.
Towns generally have ordinances limiting the number of chickens and disallowing roosters.
If caring for chickens becomes too much, owners should surrender them or re-home them rather than set them loose. Adult chickens offered on the Animal Services Facebook page usually find new homes quickly, Trice said.
She’s received calls recently for chickens loose in a housing community in Grays Hill and a nuisance rooster outside the Bluffton town limits.
“Just don’t release them and think they’re going to go explore in the wild,” Trice said. “We do have to catch them, because they become a nuisance.”
Requiring people to register chickens could be difficult, said Laura Lee Rose, an agent with the Clemson Extension office in Beaufort County who has kept chickens at her home on St. Helena Island. She noted that some people buy chickens by mail order, and people in rural areas might just be resistant to the idea.
Rose said a voluntary registration system could work well. If people are no longer able to care for birds, they can call the local extension office, and an agent can connect them with local farmers willing to take the animals, Rose said.
She said she and Trice could discuss the possibility of an educational program on backyard birds.
Good fencing, food and water are essentials. Rose recommends a chicken tractor - kind of a coop with wheels that can be easily moved around a yard and helps keep out predators at night.
“And start small, too,” Rose said. “I tell people this with gardening all the time: Don’t try to get a flock and think you’re going to go into the egg business overnight.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Teen endured multiple surgeries. Then his wish came true

LAUREL , Miss .
( AP ) - Toby Sykes , 18 , a senior at Northeast Jones High School in Laurel , came home from work on Nov. 14 to a wish come true .
Awaiting him was a New Orleans Saints-themed man cave made possible through the Make-A-Wish Mississippi chapter and the Magnolia Classic Cruisers car club .
“ I was really excited , ” said Toby , who works at Little Caesar ’ s in Laurel , of his surprise .
“ There are no words to describe what I ’ m feeling.
” Toby , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has two brothers , Jasper , 9 , and Conner , 8 , and a newborn sister , Edith .
He is looking forward to having a space to call his own and hang out with friends .
“ The first thing I ’ m going to do is sleep in it , ” he said .
Toby was diagnosed in January 2019 with familial adenomatous polyposis , a rare genetic cancerous disorder that causes colon polyps .
He had more than 65 polyps in his colon and tumors in his stomach and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including a 12-hour procedure to remove the polyps , and one to remove his colon .
At one point , he dropped to 70 pounds due to stress , his mother said .
“ It was a fluke that we found out about it because I took my middle child , Jasper , to the doctor , ” Tommie said .
“ When we found out the family history for Jasper , she ordered tests for all of the brothers and found the polyps.
” Tommie said it ’ s been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ it ’ s gotten better , especially now that he ’ s gotten over his surgeries and ileostomies because he ’ s been in and out of the hospital so much.
” She noted how happy she was this summer when her son was able to go swimming .
“ I was just so elated he was able to take his shirt off and enjoy himself swimming with all of the scars he had , ” she said .
“ I joked with him that he should get a tattoo of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just so happy that it ’ s over with and he can build his weight up , ” she added .
“ I ’ m so glad he can go back to school now and enjoy his senior year.
” SPACE TO ‘ GET AWAY AND BE A TEENAGER ’ Originally , Toby ’ s wish was for a trip to Scotland , an adventure to share with his family .
The coronavirus pandemic , however , meant a change of plans , said Janet Blouin with Make-A-Wish .
Instead , a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out really well for him , ” Blouin said .
“ Not only is Toby a decade older than his other siblings , but his mom just had a baby less than one month old .
It ’ s nice for him to have his own space and get away and be a teenager.
” Blouin said the Magnolia Classic Cruisers helped tremendously by setting up the man cave , sponsoring the wish and putting it all together .
“ The whole goal of all of this is to bring hope , strength @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Blouin said .
Toby said he ’ s thankful for those who worked to make his wish come true , as well as his family and friends .
“ You ’ re going to have some down times and some up times , but you ’ ve got to have some people to support you , ” he said .

LAUREL, Miss. (AP) - Toby Sykes, 18, a senior at Northeast Jones High School in Laurel, came home from work on Nov. 14 to a wish come true.
Awaiting him was a New Orleans Saints-themed man cave made possible through the Make-A-Wish Mississippi chapter and the Magnolia Classic Cruisers car club.
“I was really excited,” said Toby, who works at Little Caesar’s in Laurel, of his surprise. “There are no words to describe what I’m feeling.”
Toby, the son of Chris and Tommie Sykes, has two brothers, Jasper, 9, and Conner, 8, and a newborn sister, Edith. He is looking forward to having a space to call his own and hang out with friends.
“The first thing I’m going to do is sleep in it,” he said.
A DIFFICULT JOURNEY
Toby was diagnosed in January 2019 with familial adenomatous polyposis, a rare genetic cancerous disorder that causes colon polyps. He had more than 65 polyps in his colon and tumors in his stomach and nasal cavity. Toby underwent several surgeries, including a 12-hour procedure to remove the polyps, and one to remove his colon.
At one point, he dropped to 70 pounds due to stress, his mother said.
“It was a fluke that we found out about it because I took my middle child, Jasper, to the doctor,” Tommie said. “When we found out the family history for Jasper, she ordered tests for all of the brothers and found the polyps.”
Tommie said it’s been a difficult journey. But, she added, “it’s gotten better, especially now that he’s gotten over his surgeries and ileostomies because he’s been in and out of the hospital so much.”
She noted how happy she was this summer when her son was able to go swimming.
“I was just so elated he was able to take his shirt off and enjoy himself swimming with all of the scars he had,” she said. “I joked with him that he should get a tattoo of a zipper.
“I’m just so happy that it’s over with and he can build his weight up,” she added. “I’m so glad he can go back to school now and enjoy his senior year.”
SPACE TO ‘GET AWAY AND BE A TEENAGER’
Originally, Toby’s wish was for a trip to Scotland, an adventure to share with his family. The coronavirus pandemic, however, meant a change of plans, said Janet Blouin with Make-A-Wish.
Instead, a man cave for the Saints fan “worked out really well for him,” Blouin said. “Not only is Toby a decade older than his other siblings, but his mom just had a baby less than one month old. It’s nice for him to have his own space and get away and be a teenager.”
Blouin said the Magnolia Classic Cruisers helped tremendously by setting up the man cave, sponsoring the wish and putting it all together.
“The whole goal of all of this is to bring hope, strength and joy to children with life-altering illnesses,” Blouin said.
Toby said he’s thankful for those who worked to make his wish come true, as well as his family and friends.
“You’re going to have some down times and some up times, but you’ve got to have some people to support you,” he said.


washingtontimes--2020-11-22--Michigan teenagers open sneakers store to buy, sell, trade

Whether they are Jordan 1 Retro High Travis Scott , Kanye West ’ s Yeezys 350 Zebra or Nike ’ s classic Air Force 1 ’ 07 , the four high schoolers trade and sell footwear at school or on streets , hoping to obtain a trendier , costlier or more fashionable sole .
They are sneakerheads and , last month , they opened a store in Okemos called House of Soles to take their hobby to the next level .
There , they buy , sell and trade sneakers , mostly used , some basically new but pre-owned , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Every time I would get shoes and would not want to wear them anymore , I would start selling them on the street , ” said Lonnie Smith , who is 16 and the chief executive officer of House of Soles .
“ I thought might as well get a shoe store to make it safer and had my family help out.
” He and his twin , Leonard , had been selling shoes given to them by family members to their classmates at Haslett High School , where they are juniors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mom , Nadia Sellers , was shocked to learn her sons sold shoes after-hours , sometimes at midnight , through social media or word-of-mouth .
She didn ’ t want them to risk meeting strangers in an unknown area .
She recalled a 17-year-old killed in Detroit three years ago during an attempted sale of Nike Air Jordans to a someone he didn ’ t know .
“ These guys were meeting people at midnight to sell or buy shoes .
That is not safe , ” Sellers said of her sons .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a brick-and-mortar location in Okemos .
A crowd-funding campaign covered the other costs .
The store , she said , “ is a very safe place for kids and parents .
Hopefully more parents will start to realize kids are doing this , and if they ’ re still doing it meeting up with strangers , they ’ ll stop.
” Younger people are more drawn to the sneakerhead culture , said Joseph Eno , an older family friend from Memphis , Tennessee , who came up with the store ’ s name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s flagship store , House of Hoops , and a name suggested by Sellers : Twin Soles .
“ A lot of it has to do with the influence of Travis Scott and Kanye West , ” Eno said .
“ I think the biggest change was when Kanye left Nike to go to Adidas and they became popular again .
Air Jordans are popular because of Travis Scott and they are at the top again.
” Employees at the store build a rapport with potential buyers and sellers .
Sneakers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and knowledge of an item , its condition and rarity .
“ We look at the market and what they ’ re going for , ” said Whitfield , who is 16 and the main appraiser .
“ We try to make the price negotiable and kind of up their way.
” The inventory on their shelves has quadrupled since opening day , and the stock of shoes is on a steady rise , the teens said .
Existing stocks come from the Smith ’ s closets , with the shoes over size @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Cash for Kicks weekend event held in October .
“ I wanted to show people that these young African American kids are more than drug dealers and gang bangers or kids out here doing things they shouldn ’ t be doing , ” Sellers said .
“ I wanted to show that they could be entrepreneurs at 16 .
”

OKEMOS, Mich. (AP) - Keith Whitfield, Keaton Woods and Lonnie and Leonard Smith love shoes.
Whether they are Jordan 1 Retro High Travis Scott, Kanye West’s Yeezys 350 Zebra or Nike’s classic Air Force 1 ’07, the four high schoolers trade and sell footwear at school or on streets, hoping to obtain a trendier, costlier or more fashionable sole.
They are sneakerheads and, last month, they opened a store in Okemos called House of Soles to take their hobby to the next level. There, they buy, sell and trade sneakers, mostly used, some basically new but pre-owned, according to the Lansing State Journal.
“Every time I would get shoes and would not want to wear them anymore, I would start selling them on the street,” said Lonnie Smith, who is 16 and the chief executive officer of House of Soles. “I thought might as well get a shoe store to make it safer and had my family help out.”
He and his twin, Leonard, had been selling shoes given to them by family members to their classmates at Haslett High School, where they are juniors, and to others besides.
Their mom, Nadia Sellers, was shocked to learn her sons sold shoes after-hours, sometimes at midnight, through social media or word-of-mouth.
She didn’t want them to risk meeting strangers in an unknown area. She recalled a 17-year-old killed in Detroit three years ago during an attempted sale of Nike Air Jordans to a someone he didn’t know.
“These guys were meeting people at midnight to sell or buy shoes. That is not safe,” Sellers said of her sons.
So she invested to help them open a brick-and-mortar location in Okemos. A crowd-funding campaign covered the other costs.
The store, she said, “is a very safe place for kids and parents. Hopefully more parents will start to realize kids are doing this, and if they’re still doing it meeting up with strangers, they’ll stop.”
Younger people are more drawn to the sneakerhead culture, said Joseph Eno, an older family friend from Memphis, Tennessee, who came up with the store’s name, which is a combination of Footlocker’s flagship store, House of Hoops, and a name suggested by Sellers: Twin Soles.
“A lot of it has to do with the influence of Travis Scott and Kanye West,” Eno said. “I think the biggest change was when Kanye left Nike to go to Adidas and they became popular again. Air Jordans are popular because of Travis Scott and they are at the top again.”
Employees at the store build a rapport with potential buyers and sellers. Sneakers are appraised by employees using a smartphone app and knowledge of an item, its condition and rarity.
“We look at the market and what they’re going for,” said Whitfield, who is 16 and the main appraiser. “We try to make the price negotiable and kind of up their way.”
The inventory on their shelves has quadrupled since opening day, and the stock of shoes is on a steady rise, the teens said.
Existing stocks come from the Smith’s closets, with the shoes over size 14 coming from Leonard, and from a Cash for Kicks weekend event held in October.
“I wanted to show people that these young African American kids are more than drug dealers and gang bangers or kids out here doing things they shouldn’t be doing,” Sellers said. “I wanted to show that they could be entrepreneurs at 16.”