from: thebeefsite.com

“A bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of an Iowa kosher slaughterhouse that was subjected to a large immigration raid.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Paul J. Kilburg on Monday approved the May sale of Agriprocessors, Inc., to SHF Industries, a company formed by Canadian plastics manufacturer Hershey Friedman and his son-in-law, Daniel Hirsch.

Friedman says the plant will continue producing kosher meat.

The sale ends months of speculation about the Postville plant’s future. The plant was raided in May 2008 and 389 people were detained on immigration charges. Several senior Agriprocessors managers were charged with labor law violations.”

Full Article Here

When Phantom Koala was Young

- A Koala Saga of the Mt Warning Caldera Region, Australia, the World…….this poem is dedicated to ALL the Koalas out there, doing the “hard yards”  in our “ridiculously good looking” urban, rural and recreational  expansions-

When Phantom Koala was still a youth,

his Mother left and said in truth

“I’ll make it to the Coastal tree, the one I love to eat. Yummie!”

“I’ll stay a month, then come right back” (little knowing “they’d” change her track).

So off she went to her favourite tree.Goodbyes to PK and his Sisters three, she’d cross through Mooball – the forests there had fragrant leaves in the cool crisp air. Then smelling the breeze of the ocean true she’d make her way with her corridor view to her favourite tree, and it’s leaves so rare and then she’d spend a few weeks there.

Well,

Getting there was kind of rough

but PK’s Mama was very tough.

Her way was blocked by a tall steel screen

making her travel much longer – how mean!

So when she arrived – how her body did ache

from that extra long journey those roadworks did make.

However, once climbing her favourite tree,PK’s Mama felt happy and free. She’d catch up on news of her cousins and friends as they sampled the leaves of the fine coastal blends.

Then later, as winds shifted northern and strong,her thoughts shifted also – to where she belonged. With her children, the ranges – of Mooball and beyond.  Her tall homeland trees of which she was fond.

She could venture home now, and “Next Year”, she thought “I’ll show PK this way, although it’s not short.He can sample the trees of the coastal wetland and meet all his cousins – it will be really grand!”

But sadly she found she was hopelessly caught. The route to her homeland was suddenly fraught

with DANGER – more FENCES – MACHINERY too……

PK’s Mama thought “Oh now what to do?”

She wandered for ages – for weeks up and down.

Running from people and dogs from a town.

She lost herself twice as she struggled to find

a way back to her hills and away from this bind.

So long did she struggle to find her way home,twice fleeing from males – big Koalas – so strong. Blocked off from her country to which she belonged.

Long nights did she call for her dear PK boy……

Then one winter’s night she heard an

“AHOY”

It was PK – her son but he sounded afar

Across the deep void of the roadway and tar.

He’d travelled some distance, to find her but then

the big roadway stopped him at a small shady glen,

So climbing heroically tall tree tops there, he heard his Mama through the clear coastal air as she called out his name. They both ran to their fence.

Lives divided by wire, trucks and our “commonsense”.

So now that this epic resolves, I’ll show you that PK and his Mother are still in the View, but severity lingers with human road-forms and houses, developments – all of our “norms”,  that split our dear HERO from his MOTHER in space.  And tho’ time heals his woes, no one argues his case.

Pk’s winter retreats to talk with his Mom revive all his feeling of how she’s not “home”.

He’d share all his stories to those with an ear, those people who’d see that it’s wrong just to “clear”.

Building fences and roadways to imprison his friends  (to Pk it seems that this pace knows no ends)

Yet in quiet midnight hours of his winter retreat…

His talks with his Mother – of memories sweet….

YET – NEVER to touch her, nor sit with her close.

BIG ROADS AND BIG FENCES – they do more than you suppose!

if you want to find out How Phantom Koala earned his “Hero” status, by travelling to find his mother who had become trapped in Kings forest on the Tweed Coast of NE NSW, Australia, read the second  Koala poem about him at bluecray.org –    “There is a Way“

This image from Pottsville was photographed using a Nikon D700 and 24-120mm VR lens. This lens performs better than I expected and has proven to be a great travelling lens due to its compactness and light weight.

from: qctimes.com

Interesting story on the town of Pottsville, Iowa after its kosher meat processor claimed bankruptcy.

Full Story Here

Part of my family hails from Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania — specifically Pottsville, the county seat.

For the first time in my life, I’m ashamed of that. You see, a trial just finished there.

Luis Ramirez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, was kicked to death while unconscious following a street brawl in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania late last July.

The all-white jury called it simple assault. That’s all. The defendants, popular local high school football players, were cleared of all murder, aggravated assault, attempting to solicit a cover-up, and ethnic intimidation charges.

One year ago, following the murder, the lawyer of one of the kids who testified in the just-finished trial, said:

“I think any time there’s a fight and any time you have one ethnic group fighting another, there’s going to be racial slurs,” he said. “I’ve seen that since I was a kid on a playground 20 years ago, but they never called it ethnic intimidation until very recently.”

“One ethnic group fighting another” seems to me to not only epitomize ethnic intimidation, but also to indicate that ethnic intimidation has been completely out of hand for a very long time. Neither that lawyer nor the jury apparently thought so, though. Nor did they believe that kicking to death an unconscious man lying on the ground constitutes murder.

Ramirez’s fiancee had this idea about the whole situation last year:

Crystal Dillman, his 24-year-old fiancee, who is white and grew up in Shenandoah, said Friday that Ramirez was walking her sister to a friend’s house the night of the attack.

“He was just trying to be a good person, making sure she got (there) safe,” said Dillman, adding she was relieved the charges include ethnic intimidation.

She says Ramirez was often called derogatory names, including “dirty Mexican,” and told to return to his homeland. Similar insults have been hurled at their children, ages 2 and 11 months, she said.

“I plan on moving out of this town as fast as I can. Not because I’m scared. I just don’t want to see my children have to deal with what their father dealt with,” Dillman said.

Unfortunately, who will be left to stand up to the pathetic, murderous, All-American jerks who remain?

by Turtle

Just to recap, two teenagers from Shenandoah, PA, Brandon Piekarsky and Derrick Donchak, were on trial this week facing charges stemming from a fight with an illegal alien from Mexico that got out of control in July 2008. The lamestream media calls the case “a racially-motivated beating death.” Hardly. Read previous articles to see why that is sensationalism at its worst.

My friend and I arrived at the courthouse, a few minutes late, and Derrick’s lawyer, Markosky, was already delivering his closing statement. He said things that made sense.

Next was Brandon’s lawyer, Fanelli, giving his closing argument. His was powerful, truthful, and shed light on how the DA avoided evidence and testimony that did not fit in with the ‘official’ story.

Recess was called until 11:10am. When we got back to the courtroom, Franz (Assistant DA) gave his closing. He tried hard to make their version of events fit and make sense, going so far as to tell the jury to believe eyewitness Arielle Garcia over two police officers! I was certainly shocked, so I can only imagine how the jury felt about those statements.

We broke for lunch until 1:10, when we came back to the courtroom for jury instructions. This took almost two hours, and no one was permitted to enter or leave the room while the judge was speaking.

About 3pm, the jury was sent to deliberate. At that time, family members of the boys gathered outside to wait. I was then invited to join them in the family room of the courthouse for dinner and to await any possible verdict. My friend and I accepted, and we stayed with the families, talking and worrying together.

The jury had asked several times for clarification of laws, specifically, ethnic intimidation and recklessly endangering another person. We had heard the media saying the judge was going to send the jury home at 10pm, but when the time came, the jury asked to stay because they wanted to make a decision before going home. We continued waiting, very nervous because we knew the jury was close, but had no idea which way they might be leaning.

I was in the hallway with some of the family, when we heard a woman saying “There’s a verdict! The verdict is in!”

We all gathered our jackets and hurried into the courtroom, where all the reporters had already gotten settled.My friend and I entered and sat with the families.As the line of jurors entered the courtroom, I got nervous. They each seemed to be scowling, and I saw only one juror glance at the boys. I thought we were in trouble.

A thin woman read from each sheet of paper, one by one, ‘on the charge of murder in the third degree – Not Guilty.’

The gasp escaping everyone’s mouth was thunderous! The media in the room looked dumbfounded, jaws hanging to the floor. After each successive ‘not guilty,’ the same synchronous gasp boomed. As for the charge of simple assault, Brandon Piekarsky was found ‘guilty.’

As Derrick’s charges were read, the crowd was already in tears, myself included. Derrick was found not guilty on most of his charges as well. As for simple assault, Derrick was found guilty, as well as 3 counts of corruption of minors, and 3 counts of providing alcohol to minors. The families all at once stood up and started cheering, with some instinctually moving towards the boys. The judge remanded the crowd to control ourselves. He then thanked the jury for their service, and he seemed pleased.

The jury was led out, and the judge said the boys will let out on their original bail, pending sentencing. He also told them not to make any comments to the press. For a split second, we all waited to see if we could get up yet. Then suddenly, everyone swarmed towards the boys. The media stood, obviously still shocked that their shoddy reporting and lack of any investigating in this case didn’t bring these kids down, seemingly unable to move for several seconds.

Everyone started hugging each other, and both Derrick and Brandon proceeded down every person, hugging each one. Derrick had been crying, his eyes swollen and wet. Brandon was all smiles.

We moved out of the courtroom and headed down the hall. As we were going down the stairs, one media moron asked if we had any comments. I put a fist in the air and yelled, “Yes! I was right from the start! Try investigating your stories!” Then, as we went around the turn, another media moron asked how we felt about the verdict, and the family member in front of me said “no comment.” Then I said “Unbelievably happy!” and a young lady behind me said, “Awesome!”

We continued outside, and the families were trying to get into their cars. Meanwhile, the camera crews, who tend to walk backwards while accosting people they’re trying to videotape, bumped right into me. That jerk wasn’t going to get anything decent while I was there, so I put my hand out to keep him back away from the cars. Then he moved to my left, so I moved and put my hand out again. Then he went over to the right, and shoved his camera into a family member’s face, literally inches from it, so I put my arm out and told him to “Back off!” Finally, everyone had gotten in and were pulling out, so my friend and I jumped into our car and left. I called my wonderful husband to tell him the good news, and he said he saw it on the news.

We went to Sheetz because neither of us had eaten in many hours. I had been Twittering while in the car, and when we got to the gas station, I saw a car with some of the boys’ friends who had been at the courthouse. I went over and talked to them; they were obviously relieved and happy about the verdict.

(Yes, I called Dan Smeriglio and told him “NOT GUILTY, so put that in your pipe and smoke it. F*** Off!” and then I hung up on him.)

We left Pottsville, and I cried on the way home. I’m not sure I can put the reasoning behind it, although relief, stress from the long day, being overtired and hungry all played a part. While I had no dog in this fight, I felt the same way those families felt.

I will never forget the way the gasps sounded, nor will I ever forget the way the boys’ relatives accepted me and my friend so easily. I am deeply humbled by them, so friendly and they obviously all love each other very much. I was afforded a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be present during a murder trial, but to be in the seat I was offered was simply beyond anything I’d ever thought of.

I did not take video or pictures of the families because 1, it would have been rude, and 2, they had enough cameras shoved into their faces.

Here’s hoping the boys and their extended relatives can all move on from this, and that MALDEF stops thinking it owns this country. Justice was served, and served well.

Thank you so much to the Piekarsky and Donchak families for letting me be a part of the trial and for letting me be your voice for the past almost-year. You are all wonderful people, and don’t let anyone tell you different.

by Turtle

Many of my readers know that I have been an active member of Voice of the People USA for almost two years. During those two years, I managed to get over my stage fright, prepare speeches, and find a voice inside me that yearned to speak the truth. I had admired Dan Smeriglio; I thought he had a lot of nuts to lead VOPUSA under so much pressure to be “politically correct.”

Well, also during the last two years, I learned to figure out how this group works. If Dan doesn’t want it, it isn’t going to happen. Here’s the truth about the first Shenandoah rally:

I saw all the posts on the Republican Herlad site asking for help. I called Dan and told him we should do something. He told me NO, it’s bad for PR. It took a week of convincing him to go ahead until he finally said to do it. That’s when I put together some friends, and we split up into teams to pass out flyers in Shenandoah a week before the event. Then I asked Dan to contact our “ally groups” across the country (Diggers Realm, Illegal protest, ALIPAC, etc) and ask them to post about our protest. At the time, everyone thought that it was a bad idea to go into a town where “those boys beat a man because he was brown.”

Well, Digger and Ruth decided that even though it was unorthodox, it was worth standing up for fellow Americans. They came, gave speeches, and videotaped the event. In all, we had 580 people show up, much to Smeriglio’s chagrin.

Now we are faced with a similar situation. Do I expect hundreds of people on Monday? NO, especially not now, but I only ever expected a small handful of people (5-15) because it’s such a touchy subject.

So what did I wake up to this morning? Smeriglio apparently had plenty of time to contact Ben Wofgang of the Pottsville Republican and Herald to tell him that VOPUSA has canceled to the protest. Really? Since I’m the one making all the arrangements and handling all the details, and Dan is only flapping his yap to the media, how can he can cancel something that isn’t HIS?

To hold reservations about doing something never done before, something strange and unusual that’s not acceptable to the general population, is one thing, but to go behind the backs of the people ‘in your group’ to deliberately and methodically sabotage an event is disgusting and shows his true colors.

Why did Smeriglio do it? Because he was mad that the subStandard Speaker ran the hit-piece editorial and that he “didn’t know” Wolfgang was interviewing him for this story.

I quit VOPUSA several days ago. I’m tired of being the only one with the cajones to get anything done, and I’m tired of having to stroke the ego of someone who lacks integrity.

It doesn’t matter anymore. The protest is going on. Voice of the People consists of one person now, Dan himself. And since his goal is only to garner more media attention, and does not care one way or another about those boys who need us, he can go straight to hell.

by Turtle

We have confirmation of the location and times for the protest on Monday, April 27. We will meet at 9am in Pottsville.

Our area will be cordoned off with police tape, as per Captain Moser’s information.

We have Laurel Boulevard, from Sanderson Street to 7th Street, which is well within the ‘radius’ originally required. (No, we are not breaking the rules; I spoke with Capt. Moser and this is the area they are providing us.)

Click here if you want to see a Google map of the area.

We can park on the south side of Laurel Blvd, and we’ll be right across the street from our vehicles.

As always, remember to bring your signs and patriot gear, cameras, and your support for four snowballed teenage American boys. Please, no bullhorns. We do NOT want to interrupt the trial.

Some sign ideas:

“NOT guilty” (duh!)

“Innocent Until Proven Guilty … Does NOT mean tried, convicted, and hung by the news”

“Snowballed”

“Self Defense knows no race”

and one of my favorites “Newsflash: The MSM Lies”

Also, there has been an account set up for the legal costs for Brandon Piekarsky. Donations can be dropped off any KNBT Bank, and tell them it’s for the Brandon Piekarsky Legal Defense Fund.

by Turtle

We have confirmation of the location and times for the protest on Monday, April 27. We will meet at 9am in Pottsville.

Our area will be cordoned off with police tape, as per Captain Moser’s information.

We have Laurel Boulevard, from Sanderson Street to 7th Street, which is well within the ‘radius’ originally required. (No, we are not breaking the rules; I spoke with Capt. Moser and this is the area they are providing us.)

Click here if you want to see a Google map of the area.

We can park on the south side of Laurel Blvd, and we’ll be right across the street from our vehicles.

As always, remember to bring your signs and patriot gear, cameras, and your support for four snowballed teenage American boys. Please, no bullhorns. We do NOT want to interrupt the trial.

Some sign ideas:

“NOT guilty” (duh!)

“Innocent Until Proven Guilty … Does NOT mean tried, convicted, and hung by the news”

“Snowballed”

“Self Defense knows no race”

and one of my favorites “Newsflash: The MSM Lies”

Also, there has been an account set up for the legal costs for Brandon Piekarsky. Donations can be dropped off any KNBT Bank, and tell them it’s for the Brandon Piekarsky Legal Defense Fund.

State officials in Harrisburg are currently being politicked as they decide what projects will receive money from the economic recovery bill recently signed into law by President Barack Obama.

We're still waiting.

Surely some of that money could come the Schuylkill way, but probably won’t be spent on the projects you find most important to your area or to the county as a whole.

Let’s presume the County receives the $10 million it said it needed about seven years ago to build the intermodal  (neither Spellcheck or the Scrabble dictionary have that word yet) transportation center in Pottsville. If you don’t remember, the project called for a redevelopment of where 84 Lumber and a rail yard once operated into the “hub of transportation” for the County. Aside from some large buildings for retail and office space, the gem of the idea was the return of commuter rails to Pottsville.

Years later, the lot is emptier than ever even though there is signs that a train could be coming to Pottsville with the installation of track partially into the empty lot. If this were the killer idea city and county officials thought and still think it is, still constantly changing the landscape of the project, it could have been built a few years ago.

What if a better idea existed? This large-scale project needn’t be in the same location, and it doesn’t even have to be spent in all one spot, but if the county were to actually be given $10 million as a one-time stimulus, how should it be spent?

Present your ideas (within reason) on how to spend $10 million to the common good in Schuylkill County …

The following municipal meetings are being held today. If you’re attending any of these meetings, please post some feedback here and we’ll follow-up,or if you know of a hot-button issue, we’ll try to attend the meeting:

At 6:30 p.m.

Ashland Borough
Pottsville City
Ringtown Borough

At 7 p.m.

Barry Twp.
Butler Twp. Planning
Kline Twp.
New Ringgold Borough
Port Clinton Borough
Ryan Twp.
Tower City Borough
Washington Twp.

At 7:30 p.m.

Palo Alto Borough

Searching for a career has never been harder than it is today. The volatile job market and fluctuating economy are making employers more selective about how they will spend their money and who they will hire. Jobs are still there, but new hires are expected to have more than just the basic qualifications.

Getting an associates degree in specialized business degree can help make you look more attractive to employers and help ease your way into a successful and fulfilling career. Getting your degree not only makes you more attractive to potential employers but also gives you the knowledge and self confidence to be able to succeed in your new career once you have been hired.

Getting your Associate degree in fields like Accounting, Administrative Office technology and computer Science and programming gives you the tools to advance in careers that are recession resistant and provide opportunities to begin your career in growth industries. A career school is the perfect place to get your Associates degree because classes tend to be focused on the industry of your choice whether it be medical assisting or network administration. Career schools like the McCann school, for instance, specialize in training students to excel in specific industries.

Don’t limit your growth and settle for a generic job. Take the first step on your path to a successful and high paying career by reading more about getting your associate degree from a career school like McCann.

McAdoo Borough (Pottsville, PA) is looking for a new police chief and some part-time police officers.

Council member Clara Preputnick asked the council to approve advertising positions for a new police chief and a couple of part-time officers.

The chief of police position opened when Russell Palmer officially resigned a few months ago. Palmer had been in a salary dispute with the borough after he injured his knee while on duty in 2005.

McAdoo failed to pay Palmer one-third of his salary while he was collecting workmen’s compensation benefits. The court ruled in Palmer’s favor and McAdoo paid almost $38,000 in back wages, including interest.

Mayor Stephan Holly has been temporarily in charge of the police department by taking care of scheduling shifts and making sure routine paper work was being filed by the on-duty officers.

In other news, the Roxy dance club at Blaine and Sheridan streets was recently shuttered by its owner. Electric was cut off in the building, according to council President Joe Madochick.

McAdoo Borough police and the council received complaints from neighbors about the Roxy, ranging from loud music to questionable activities outside the building. The council had taken steps to begin the process of closing the bar through legal avenues as a “nuisance” spot.

The council also approved buying garbage billing software for $1,300. The software will enable bills to be perforated for easy payment, much like the sewer and water bills. The new billing will begin in January.

The council approved the purchase of a new computer for the police department from Staples for $399 plus another $140 for a new monitor.

In other business, the borough council approved sending its recommendations for a roof replacement on the borough building to Alfred Benesch Engineering. Benesch engineers hired by the borough will make up a list of specifications to replace the old roof. Once specifications are completed, council will advertise for bids.

The council is working on a new budget for 2009. One meeting has been held.

Link

I’ve had the privilege to vote in 4 presidential elections. This is the first time the candidate I voted for prevailed (the story of my previous choices we will save for another time). “This is supposed to feel good” I thought, as I colored in my paper ballot with Obama’s name. I know he is going to win so this should make me happy. Instead, I had been dwelling on my McCain campaign disappointment.

Last night, the image of the overjoyed crowds had a surprising effect on me. It felt a lot like optimism which I would characterize as the melting away of a layer or two of cynicism. I was besieged by more images and anecdotes of these crowds over the last 24 hours. I love this America that is all fired up. Apparently, it’s infectious. But now what?

I wish this blog had more than 7 readers because I would implore everyone to try to remember this feeling, positive or negative, and channel it into being an engaged citizen of our nation. I’m not talking about service and sacrifice. I mean doing your best to educate yourself on important issues, consider multiple viewpoints and please do not let the New York Times or CNN be your primary news source.

I understand we are all busy and will soon be caught up again in the daily grind. If your day is packed and you only have time for one news source, just read this blog and believe everything I say. Just kidding…mostly. The Framers were very clear when they wrote the Constitution that the ignorant masses (you and I) should NOT be allowed to directly elect the President (or Senators for that matter). We have been trying to prove them wrong ever since, but I think we need to pay attention all the time, not just during an election cycle.

My mother’s family is from a small town (about 15,000 residents) in Pennsylvania called Pottsville (famous as the birthplace of Yuengling and not so famous for the Pottsville Maroons). I will never forget my first visit there after 9/11. EVERY house on Norwegian Street had a flag flying two and a half months after the attack. We shouldn’t need a horrifying attack to feel proud of our country or an historic election to feel hopeful.

Earlier today on Facebook, a friend’s status looked like this:

This, too, could be you

You can stay patriotic unnamed Facebook friend that is most definitely not reading this right now. Please try.

Wow.  Just… wow.  This is Trent Steel’s current residence (and he’s tied to these fucking yahoos in location ONLY).  It amazes me, the level of ignorance in this country.

Really, really disappointing.  Another reason why I hate the current state of politics.