Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Crafton Hills College (CHC) is proud to announce the graduation of its first cohort of students earning a bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy marking a historic milestone for the college and the Inland Empire region This cohort began their journey in January 2024 taking advantage of the opportunity created by California’s expanded community college baccalaureate program approved by the state in 2014 through Senate Bill 850 allowed select California community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees in fields not widely available at the California State University or University of California systems Assembly Bill 927 made this program permanent providing community colleges like CHC the ability to meet local workforce demands by offering affordable high-quality bachelor’s degrees in specialized fields While an associate degree has traditionally served as the entry-level qualification for respiratory therapists According to the American Association for Respiratory Care new respiratory therapists entering the workforce will be required to hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy or a related health sciences field with a respiratory therapy concentration along with the Registered Respiratory Therapist credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care This requirement emphasizes the increasing complexity of healthcare and the need for highly skilled professionals The additional credential enhances earning potential provides access to management positions and expands career opportunities making CHC’s program a crucial resource for students and the broader healthcare community CHC is preparing to submit a proposal to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to offer a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Medical Services this new degree will further the college’s mission of providing innovative career-focused education that meets regional and statewide workforce needs For more information about CHC’s bachelor’s degree program, visit craftonhills.edu/bsrc or contact chc_rcp@craftonhills.edu — A fundraiser has been created to support the family of a local man killed in a crash Sunday Dustin Crafton, 40, of Gregory, was killed in a single-vehicle crash Sunday after being partially ejected from the car A fundraiser via GoFundMe has been created to support Crafton’s wife and three children it had raised more than $33,000 of a $100,000 goal devoted family man who touched the lives of everyone he met with his generosity and unwavering love,” GoFundMe organizer Jill Humble wrote More: LCSO: Alcohol, speed appear to be factors in deadly Livingston County crash In a post on social media, Howell Jr. Lacrosse shared the fundraiser and a link to a meal train for the family Crafton was a coach in the program for the past two years Jubilee Farm, an agricultural collective in Fowlerville that Crafton was involved in, also acknowledged the loss on social media listened to fellow parents when they needed a listening ear scooped his children up and hugged them when they needed support and offered a smile or a quick laugh to anyone who needed encouragement,” the post read yet his legacy shines brightly through his children.” Sunday to a single-vehicle crash on Dutton Road north of Roberts Road they learned a 1997 Chevrolet Blazer was approaching Dutton Road at a high rate of speed from a private drive when the driver lost control The vehicle slid sideways and overturned onto the roadway was partially ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene by Livingston County EMS was taken to University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Hospital in Lansing with minor injuries — Contact reporter Tess Ware at tware@livingstondaily.com Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application IN to George Carpenter and Tressie Carpenter Jean graduated from Manilla School in May 1948 who did babysitting and ironing for others and George Allen Brown were in school she went to work at the Marion County Home She then worked at and retired from Ice Miller LLP she met and married Gene Crafton in November 1985 Gene and Jean were members of the Brookville Community Church in New Palestine Indiana and were known as the “Pair of Jeans” They both loved to travel and had been on numerous cruises Marcia (married to George) Brown and 1 granddaughter Jean is preceded in death by George Carpenter – father A Celebration of Life service will be held at Brookville Community Church (Gathering Room in front of the church) in New Palestine please consider making a donation in Jean’s name to Suburban Hospice Inc. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors A Connecticut father of three is among the victims of a plane crash near Ronald Reagan National Airport outside of Washington "The airline tragedy in Washington, D.C., last night has deeply impacted our Salem community," Sen. Marx said in a statement on Facebook "My heart goes out to the Crafton-Gadbois family during this unimaginable time I ask our community to keep them in your prayers as they navigate this profound loss." Crafton was a loving husband to wife Rachel and a devoted father to their three sons Crafton was a member of Salem Little League a member of the town's recreation commission and a coach for the Montville Youth Soccer Club "Coach Casey was a valued volunteer with Montville Youth Soccer who helped to enrich the lives of all those that he came in contact with," said the soccer club of their departed coach on Facebook "Our deepest condolences go out to his family during this tragic time." Salem's first selectman reported that Crafton's family is headed to Washington, D.C. to identify his body. In the meantime, Salem locals have organized a GoFundMe and a Meal Train to assist the family in preparation for Crafton's funeral This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A 10-year-old girl from San Bernardino, Calif., is set to make Crafton Hills College history this May when she becomes the youngest Roadrunner ever to graduate from the Yucaipa-based community college who will have just turned 11 at the time of the ceremony will cross the stage with not one but two associate degrees—one in multiple sciences and another in mathematics—joining hundreds of Roadrunners who will become Crafton alumni Alisa could have earned two additional degrees in computer science and physics had she stayed one more semester “When I first started at Crafton (at the age of 8) I was a little bit nervous…because this was my first time going to a public school,” said Alisa she had already moved beyond basic ABCs and 123s she has been focused on expanding her knowledge ever since “I credit my dad for pushing me to do well in school and try my best to work hard,” she said “She has been a little different her whole life but I have always taught her that there’s nothing out there that you’re not capable of understanding,” Rafael added Alisa began attending Crafton in spring of 2023 she considered applying to California State University but a counselor encouraged her to explore community college first due to her homeschooling background Crafton offered the support she needed to thrive Alisa’s father became an honorary Roadrunner accompanying her early semesters and patiently waiting outside her classes she began attending classes independently and flourishing on her own I explained that she was going to be around many older kids I did not make her adhere to a rigorous schedule I had set out for her I responded to what she was interested in and helped feed that interest and fueled that fire and her interest in school remained strong.” Alisa took a political science course and used what she learned to file a lawsuit in federal court against both the state and federal governments Her case challenged the constitutionality of the 26th Amendment and Article II arguing that if she had achieved the same education as 18-year-olds and she was unable to afford an appeal to the 9th Circuit Alisa hopes another young prodigy will one day pick up the cause She hopes to work in the artificial intelligence tech industry either by joining an established company or building a startup with her dad but you have to work hard to get what you want,” Alisa said “Do not ever have any doubts over what you want to do in life Bob Jones University is mourning the death of Casey Crafton — a 2008 graduate of the private Evangelical Greenville institution — who was recently identified as a passenger in the tragic DC plane crash of American Airlines flight 5342 on Wednesday university leadership offered condolences and thoughts on the impact of Casey Crafton: "Our hearts are grieving with the Crafton-Gadbois families as they mourn Casey’s earthly passing," said Josh Crockett who taught Casey during a freshman speech course nearly 20 years ago we are praying for God's abundant grace to be upon Rachel The university issued a public prayer request on social media: Here is more on how those who were close to Casey Crafton remember him at Bob Jones University: Casey Crafton met his wife at Bob Jones UniversityAccording to Bob Jones University The Craftons met while attending the Greenville-area university and graduated together in 2008 Rachel since she was a child and assisted in their marital ceremony in a barn on her family farm More: Aircraft involved in DC plane crash with military copter overnighted at Greenville airport a public safety employee at Bob Jones University Casey Crafton attended Central Baptist School in Memphis for his junior and senior years of high school where he coached him and also attended the same church "He was a team player and took seriously his role of making those around him better," said Allen of Crafton "He was very coachable and loved being a part of the team What did Casey Crafton study while at Bob Jones University?According to Bob Jones University Casey Crafton graduated with an Aviation and Airway Management degree in 2008 Crafton has worked as a technical services coordinator and manager at Guardian Jet and loved by many of his peers," said President Crockett – A.J. Jackson covers business, the food & dining scene and downtown culture for The Greenville News. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on X (formally Twitter) @ajhappened. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription IOSCO TWP. — A celebration of life has been announced for a local man killed in a car wreck earlier this month Dustin Crafton, 40, of Gregory, died Sunday, April 6 in a single-vehicle crash after he was partially ejected from the car Deputies with the Livingston County Sheriff's Office were dispatched around 6:32 p.m to a single-vehicle crash on Dutton Road north of Roberts Road Crafton was partially ejected and pronounced dead at the scene by Livingston County EMS A fundraiser via GoFundMe was created to support Crafton’s wife and three children it had raised more than $41,800 of $100,000 Crafton was an active community member involved in Howell Jr. Lacrosse and Jubilee Farm Both organizations acknowledged his loss on social media and offered a smile or a quick laugh to anyone who needed encouragement,” the post from Jubilee Farm read Support local news: Subscribe to get unlimited access to our local coverage A celebration of life will be held for Crafton at 1 p.m and the kind of presence that made others feel deeply seen and loved,” Crafton’s wife “Dustin had a gift for making people feel at ease and unwavering loyalty made him a friend to all and a rock to those closest to him Thanks for visiting Crafton Hills College (CHC) and California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Thursday launching “Coyotes on the Horizon,” a collaborative initiative aimed at creating a smoother more supportive and guaranteed transfer pathway for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree the event brought together college and university leaders students and families to celebrate this landmark partnership “This is more than a signing ceremony,” said CSUSB Director of Admissions “It’s a declaration that we believe in the potential of our students—and we’re willing to clear the path ahead for them.” student-centered strategy that will streamline the transfer process between CHC and CSUSB a student who has attended both institutions but I had support,” said Tyree-Garcia “What makes ‘Coyotes on the Horizon’ so exciting is that it takes the guesswork out of the process for future students With over 70% of CHC students identifying as first-generation college students and many balancing work and family responsibilities the partnership aims to significantly increase transfer rates and degree attainment The new initiative aims to double that number by 2026 “This is what equity looks like in action,” said Dr dean of student services and counseling at CHC we’re walking alongside our students every step of the way.” The signing ceremony also featured remarks from Dr vice president of strategic enrollment management and marketing at CSUSB “This isn’t just about enrollment—it’s about empowerment,” said Dr “Our shared goal is to create a seamless experience that affirms every student’s place in higher education.” “Our students don’t have to leave their community to chase their dreams,” said Dr “This agreement makes it clear that opportunity is here in the Inland Empire.” For more information on “Coyotes on the Horizon” or to learn how to participate in the program, students are encouraged to contact the counseling department at CHC or visit www.craftonhills.edu Thanks for visiting Thanks for visiting By Connor LomisPublished: Apr 2025 at 11:55 AM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInGREAT FALLS (WBTV) - A mother and her son were arrested after a triple shooting in Chester County Wednesday is facing a handful of charges which include attempted murder was charged with accessory after the fact to a felony The shooting happened around 5:50 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, along Ridgeway Road in Great Falls The teenagers were rushed to the hospital with “non-life-threatening injuries” while the status of the third victim was not made immediately clear --> Also read: Chop shop, $1.25M in stolen luxury cars uncovered amid Union County traffic stop authorities located the car used by Holt and Crafton to flee the scene of the shooting deputies obtained a search warrant for a home on Chester Avenue had taught him to build cars throughout the years Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInSALEM, CT (WFSB) - A father from Salem was among the victims of a deadly aircraft crash that happened near Washington DC Wednesday evening Martha Marx confirmed in a post on her Facebook page that Casey Crafton “My heart goes out to the Crafton-Gadbois family during this unimaginable time I ask our community to keep them in your prayers as they navigate this profound loss,” Marx said in the post pastor of the Congregational Church of Salem spoke highly of Crafton “He helped out with Apple Fest [and] stuff here at the church That message was echoed by many who knew him Montville Youth Soccer and Salem Little League also issued statements on its Facebook page “Our small town is heartbroken by a devastating tragedy involving one of our beloved Little League members we share the news that Casey Crafton tragically passed away in the horrific airline crash in Washington DC Please keep his family close to your hearts and in your prayers during this difficult time,” the organization said in its post Chechile said he’s trying to enrich the lives of those closest to Crafton He said he prayed with members of the family ahead of services on Sunday we are probably going to stop and pause what we were doing and go to John 11 and we are going to stop and think about mourning loss Crafton left behind his wife Rachel and three sons “Keep Rachel in your prayers [and] the kids,” Chechile said A MealTrain has been set up to support the family. Click HERE to donate A GoFundMe link was also set up WASHINGTON (7News) — Dailey Crafton had one person on his mind when he hopped in his car to make the trip down from New York to Washington was on American Eagle flight 5342 when it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River on January 29 He never made it home to his wife and three kids waiting for him "He was just one of the biggest-hearted most generous people you could ever possibly meet," Dailey told 7News' Lianna Golden in an exclusive interview nearly two months after the incident "He was the kind of person that left anything that he touched better than the way he found it." "In terms of policy change to prevent this kind of disaster what is your message to leaders on Capitol Hill tomorrow?" Golden asked "It’s a bonkers number," Dailey said "Why did it take the deaths of the 67 people to make anything get done about it?" Dailey was met with disbelief when he first heard the news of the crash No.' It's just like 'no' when you first hear it," Dailey said "It’s always hard to lose someone when you compound it with the shock and horror of the way this happened." Casey worked in aviation with expertise in aircraft maintenance "His function was to go and check out a plane that a seller had," Dailey said "His job was to go inspect it and make sure it matched up to what they were saying was going on with that particular aircraft." "We for some reason ended up calling each other 'Bubs,' which confuses everybody Then my kids know him as 'Uncle Bubs' and his kids know me as 'Uncle Bubs,' and so that would be confusing Just miss that camaraderie that we had with each other," Dailey said "We’re gonna try to grieve and celebrate He hopes leaders on Thursday remember this: Dailey will join several victims' families to listen in and then speak to the public in a press conference afterward WESA's local, independent journalism is only possible because of financial support from readers like you. Please support WESA by making a donation during our fall fundraising campaign A local affordable apartment complex for seniors will soon see a major investment aimed at improving housing quality for residents and guarding against future climate problems The $6.1 million award was announced Thursday at Crafton Towers by Acting Secretary of the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development Adrianne Todman flanked by a host of local officials and housing advocates we also have to make sure we're investing in the future: that when the summers are really hot “So these investments are a two-fer — to invest in affordable housing like this building but also to make sure we're doing it in a way that protects us against the storms and weather events to come The investment in Crafton — part of the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program funded by the Inflation Reduction Act — was part of a larger $69.1 million round of awards announced Thursday by HUD officials The visit by a federal official highlighted how high housing costs have increasingly become an issue in the upcoming presidential election The Crafton upgrade will include energy-efficient improvements like new windows which will generate much of the building’s electricity vice president of real estate development for local affordable housing developer ACTION Housing The 103-unit building is owned and operated by ACTION Housing but receives a federal subsidy to keep rents affordable “This project is really about creating a better quality of life in this building so that our seniors can benefit for many years to come,” Andrews said The structure hasn’t had major upgrades since it opened in 1974 “Older buildings like this don't always get a lot of attention in the world of affordable housing but … if we don't invest in preserving what we have we will never address this nation's affordable housing crisis,” she said Resident Joe Cousineau said he was glad to see the funding available for the upgrades our commitment is to cover the region's critical news from government and education to health and housing the most important issue will be the election especially in the pivotal swing state of Pennsylvania Our reporters will be fanning out across the region and cutting through the misinformation to bring you essential news coverage we'll be rolling out the latest edition of the WESA Voter Guide our annual breakdown of the candidates and ballot measures to help you make an informed choice of the ballot box Have a tip for the WESA newsroom? Email news@wesa.fm Just over a week ago, a new part-owner of fifth division team Dagenham & Redbridge appeared on Sky Sports and talked up his “dream” to reach the Premier League with average attendances at their east London home of around 1,700 I feel like a child playing FIFA as a gamer and suddenly it becomes reality.” Dagenham’s chairman Daniel Hall is the London-based figurehead for the North Sixth Group, the American firm which acquired the team via its subsidiary, Club Underdog, last May, buying Dagenham from a group of investors that included New York Yankees minority owner Peter B. Freund and former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard Speaking about Serry’s arrival last Monday, Hall hailed a “renaissance” in Egyptian football, citing Mohamed Salah’s contract renewal at Liverpool and Omar Marmoush joining Manchester City from German club Eintracht Frankfurt in January and the club claimed that Serry would bring “global reach” to Dagenham was also appointed Dagenham’s Director of Development & Engagement Her Instagram includes photos with both Salah and Marmoush She said that she and Serry had studied English clubs as far down as the tenth tier adding that Serry wanted a team who plays in red in London but insisting the immediate priority was to ensure “everyone in the community” knows Dagenham The club’s X post announcing the pair’s arrival ✍️ @serrymarwan Joins Daggers Ownership Group Egyptian YouTuber & Erza3 founder (5M+ fans) brings global reach to the club Joining him is @salmashhour23 as Director of Development & Engagement Together they aim to grow the club through creativity — Dagenham & Redbridge (@Dag_RedFC) April 14, 2025 This all seemed rather unusual for a team positioned 21st in the 24-team National League at the time languishing in one of the four relegation spots the new “investment” had unravelled altogether prompted by Mashhour’s social media posts about the Israel-Gaza conflict coming to light and culminating in Serry announcing his “complete withdrawal” from the club’s ownership on Saturday The Athletic has spoken with several figures at the heart of this extraordinary episode including Dagenham’s managing director Steve Thompson This is how a part-ownership of a English football club lasted only five days before dramatically falling apart Serry has over five million followers across social media and his Erza3 YouTube platform has become a particularly popular channel for Arabic-speaking followers of world football “The stereotype is about an Arab who has a lot of money but I’m an Arab and I don’t have a lot of money — I have plans to get big big investments in this club,” he told Sky Sports “I want Dagenham to be the most famous club for Egyptians and Arabs to support in English football.” His idea appeared to be developing content about the club — not dissimilar to the manner in which Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have captured the imagination at Wrexham — and introducing Dagenham & Redbridge to new markets Thompson has been involved at a senior level since 1981 preceding even Dagenham’s merger with Redbridge Forest in 1992 which led to the formation of Dagenham & Redbridge He said Serry and Mashhour filmed behind the scenes for several weeks before the ownership announcement including interviews at the club’s training ground with players and staff as well as attending games to mingle with fans and capture footage Serry told The Athletic: “Within the first 24 hours (of announcing his investment in Dagenham) I was approached by a number of investors and multiple sponsorship offers — I’ve received initial offers for various sponsorship deals as the news went viral all over the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region and many brands wanted to be a part of our future.” Serry declined to specify any of these offers say that he was in conversations with DAZN the broadcaster which holds the international media rights for the National League saying that ideas included a promo code for Arabic fans and potential commercial deals for the streaming platform DAZN was contacted by The Athletic but was not able to provide a comment prior to publication Thompson says the plan had been for the pair to produce a pilot for a docuseries see if there was an appetite for it and get funding it” Both Serry and Thompson declined to say how much money Serry had invested to become part of the ownership group Serry said he was introduced to the club’s shareholders by Mashhour describing her as “an instrumental part of this deal from day one” Social media posts by Mashhour came to light which provoked complaints shortly after the October 7 attack on Israel A military response followed by the Israeli government Her post represented a response to viral memes about the British television personality Piers Morgan whose discussions with advocates of the Palestinian cause had often included him asking if they condemned Hamas she wrote that “occupation creates resistance Israel created Hamas and self-defense is not terrorism.” She added: “So no Piers international law violations and illegal settlements that created this genocide In a further seven-minute video, first reported by the British website Jewish News and which has been seen by The Athletic Mashhour described the Israeli state as “illegal” and questioned whether the attacks came at “just the right time to give Israelis a common enemy” following protests internally against the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu The Jewish News report describes Mashhour as “peddling conspiracy theories” in her video A petition was formed on Change.org on Tuesday demanding the removal of both Serry and Mashhour from Dagenham and arguing “any support of their actions has no place in our diverse community” Thompson said the posts were brought to his attention on Tuesday afternoon With the history of the club and the multi-cultural multi-racial identity of Dagenham & Redbridge We have a number of people from all faiths who found it wrong and very quickly came to the conclusion that Salma couldn’t keep the role that we’d given her I don’t think I need to go into which bits.” Thompson said the club’s local Labour MP Margaret Mullane made contact and one executive from a local Dagenham sponsor who asked to remain anonymous in order to avoid the risk of social media abuse told The Athletic they reached out to the club to express their concern They said they would have given serious consideration to terminating their sponsorship if Serry and Mashhour had remained in place Mashhour responded to The Athletic via email She insisted her posts were “never an endorsement of any form of violence” She added: “It was an expression of frustration at the way calls for empathy toward dying Palestinian civilians were being twisted into justifications for terror I believe that condemnation without context is performative — and that to truly try to end cycles that produce these horrors again and again we need to address and understand their root causes “This post was a direct response to a segment on Piers Morgan Uncensored… I am deeply shocked that my words were taken as an endorsement of hatred or terrorism My intent was always to promote empathy and understanding that violence should be condemned universally not selectively as was happening on the show.” She also denies that she peddled conspiracy theories instead saying: “The caption explicitly states that my issue was: ‘Why aren’t these questions asked?’ I never stated personal opinions or pushed conspiracy theories — I presented questions that were circulating publicly and believed they deserved serious answers “The questions were intended to push for balanced The video cites sources and avoids making personal claims My English and Egyptian roots taught me deep respect for diverse perspectives and my PhD in politics enhanced my belief and conviction that open balanced and constructive conversations are vital to any hopes of progress and peace Mashhour was not without support herself and, as of Tuesday evening, her position was still intact. A counter-protest was launched on Change.org: “Marwan Serry & Salma Mashhour stay for Dagenham club” This had over 5,000 signatures by Sunday night while social media rapidly grew toxic and abusive in both directions the club had a fans’ forum scheduled for the evening of Wednesday supporter opposition to the Egyptian venture appeared to have ulterior reasoning beyond the dispute about Mashhour’s comments owing to the club’s recent performance on the pitch A team who spent nine years in the Football League between 2007 and 2016 find themselves staring at relegation to the sixth tier of English football and Serry’s bold claims of a future in the Premier League represented the tip of the iceberg for some fans already feeling exasperated by the club’s owners Joel Page, a supporter who runs the Dagnificent fan website which was hosted by both Thompson and club chairman Hall “It was going to be explosive anyway and the Egyptian investment added a ridiculous amount of fuel Page says he is not sufficiently informed on the Israel-Gaza war to comment on Mashhour’s post but added: “Obviously it doesn’t help when the club is then aligned with a viewpoint that is at best controversial but my personal objection was the nonsense about saying he (Serry) does not have a lot of money but that he wants to take us to the Premier League Or how he said he liked us because we’re a club in London that wore red It had all the makings of something completely disastrous that we didn’t want to be associated with.” The club’s social media following suddenly ballooned Serry says Dagenham’s Instagram following grew from “a mere 13,000 to 315,000 within two days of the announcement” Both Serry and Thompson pointed to these numbers as an indication of the potential global lift for the club The Instagram page disappeared over the weekend before reappearing on Monday with the message “We’re back baby” and a follower count of 59,000 Page said the club’s social media pages became a battleground to express views about the Middle East He said: “There was cult-like following (of Serry) saying it’s their club now and that we are now an Arabic football club it became impossible to engage with our own football club To be able to comment on Twitter and be able to have that forum is critical for a community club and it was taken away from us.” Mashhour wanted to attend the forum — saying she had not been given “a clear indication” her job was at risk — but says she was asked to leave She said via email: “I was even dismissed without dialogue although I went to the fan forum in good faith prepared to speak directly to fans at the forum and help clarify any concerns and to engage constructively I was informed by Steve Thompson MD that he ‘believed I was gone’ but I was not offered a chance to take any steps to respond or explain myself I was then asked to leave the stadium quickly before fans arrived because it would be ‘too dangerous’ for me.” Thompson said Mashhour “was never an employee of Dagenham & Redbridge FC never had a contract or any remuneration agreement nor was ever an investor in either the club directly or the ownership group” announced her as “Director of Development and Engagement” only 48 hours earlier Thompson added: “During a half-hour discussion (before the forum) I expressed the opinion that her position with the club was untenable and that I thought it would be better if she stepped away citing that her presence was now a distraction Salma wanted to try and resolve the situation by speaking to some of the supporters individually at the meeting but I expressed the opinion that the nature of the meeting would not facilitate such a nuanced approach Salma then decided to leave of her own accord.” saying her lawyers had advised her not to do so According to an executive at a sponsor of he club this meeting was “the most toxic” they had ever seen the atmosphere around the club It started badly when it emerged manager Lewis Young — brother of Ashley Young Manchester United and Everton in the Premier League — had not attended with the ownership saying it was more important to focus on upcoming games with one fan voicing his upset at Serry likening his ownership of Dagenham to playing a video game Serry told The Athletic: “Regarding the FIFA comment that I made during the Sky Sports interview I was attempting to break the ice and to remember where it all started for me the Sky Sports interview only aired 10 per cent of what I said.” Another supporter stood at the forum and said “this does not feel like the football club I fell in love with or recognise any more” A different fan said the ownership had insulted the local Jewish community I want the club to refund the hospitality I’ve got booked for the Altrincham game because frankly I don’t want to be at this club any longer.” Thompson says the timing of the fans’ forum was “horrible” but he thought it would be wrong to cancel the event and a chance for supporters to communicate with the club He said neither he nor chairman Hall could provide clarity about Serry and Mashhour on Wednesday night because a “process” was ongoing He also said a “final decision” had not been made at that point and that they were hoping Serry might remain and that his content plans for the club might still continue Serry told The Athletic he watched the scenes at the forum remotely He said: “I felt that I was treated unfairly and was not given a chance to express myself or my opinions.” Mashhour added: “The way my posts have been characterised this week has led to a torrent of abuse and even warnings that it would be unsafe for me to attend matches And although this experience has affected me both personally and professionally I have deep respect for Dagenham & Redbridge — its owners and fans I won’t allow the actions of a few to shape how I view the wider community and I refuse to make sweeping statements in response to isolated negativity.” It read: “Club Statement: Dagenham & Redbridge FC has removed Salma Mashhour from the position of Director of Development & Engagement Mashhour told The Athletic she was not informed prior and “found out through the club’s social media post” Serry says he was “not informed about the decision or any concerns or risk to her position” He also says the club raised no concerns about either his or her social media content before announcing him as a new part of the ownership group “I was taken by surprise by the decision to remove her which I found out about just like everyone else via social media,” Serry told The Athletic The decision to remove Mashhour provoked another round of stinging criticism. The X post announcing her departure had 11 million views as of Monday said: “The club have gone from being seen to support Hamas or Palestine now being seen as pro-Israel or pro-genocide It’s a drastic fluctuation of one extreme to the other “Some of the abuse I’ve received under the assumption that I’m Jewish or Israeli — neither of which I am — it’s been ridiculous the club’s own fans are in the middle of it and just furious at it all It’s hard to put into words how badly we’ve got this wrong.” warning her removal was “unacceptable” and that he would not “shut up” about the matter He then pleaded for no-one to attend the club’s crucial relegation battle against Ebbsfleet United on Friday afternoon saying he would reimburse those who boycotted An attendance of 1,747 was recorded for Dagenham’s 1-0 win …. ردي الرسمي قريب جدا علي الاعلان بفصل سلمي مشهور من ادارة النادي و لكن نداء للمشجعين العرب اللي كانوا رايحين بكرا ضروري ! ارجوكم عدم الذهاب و سيتم تعويضكم بالمبلغ الخاص للتذاكر مني شخصيا pic.twitter.com/jSGiz3oRn4 — Marwan Serry (@Serrymarwan) April 17, 2025 the former Green Party candidate for Ilford South wrote on X: “I’m appalled that Dagenham & Redbridge FC has removed Salma Mashhour as a Director over her anti-Zionist pro-Palestine stance — a view shared by many in our community It’s time to boycott clubs that support genocide Thompson said: “I can’t control the ills of social media “When we got promoted to the Football League we had the first British-Asian captain of a Football League club — I’d like you to include that in your story — he is Anwar Uddin and he’s got an MBE He was part of a team where we also had Sam Sloma who was featured on the front page of the Jewish Chronicle when we got promoted when the (far-right) British National Party were knocking on the doors of Barking and Dagenham… all the pundits thought that the BNP were going to get their first MP I’m not about one culture or one group of people against another.” At the end of a traumatic week, Thompson could afford a wry quip. As public relation disasters go, he acknowledged, this “probably ranked up with the stories around Kurt Zouma”, the defender at neighbouring club West Ham United who in 2022 was filmed kicking a cat by his brother Yoan, a Dagenham player at the time But Thompson defended his club’s attempt to explore different sources of revenue “If we’ve now got the facilities because of the digital age to reach out to other parts of the world and we can make it relevant then surely you should applaud clubs that are trying to do that,” he said Supporter Page is more sceptical: “It came across like a gimmick Does a fifth-tier football club need to connect with Arabic-speaking audiences all these buzzwords that really fundamentally mean nothing “It’s ridiculous how we’ve become embroiled in all this Was it worth it from a guy who admitted he hasn’t got that much money We weren’t going to get a multi-million-pound injection On Saturday, Serry wrote on social media: “I officially announce my complete withdrawal from the ownership of Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club and the cancellation of the investment project in the club اعلن رسميا انسحابي الكامل من ملكية نادي داجنهام و ريدبريدج و الغاء مشروع الاستثمار في النادي و لن نتازل عن مبادئنا و جاري اتخاذ الإجرائيات القانونية لرد حق سلمى مشهور و شكرا لدعمكم المستمر “I officially announce my complete withdrawal from the ownership of Dagenham & Redbridge… pic.twitter.com/atzMxVqFc4 — Marwan Serry (@Serrymarwan) April 18, 2025 He declined to comment as to whether he would be reimbursed for any money he may have invested into the club Serry thanked his followers for their vocal support insisted he and Mashhour would stick to their principles and that legal action was being explored He told The Athletic he “will be still looking to invest in a UK-based club in the future” saying he understands his influence and the responsibility this carries He said he has urged his followers “to refrain from responding to any racist or provocative comments and to refrain from any hate speech or any abusive comments in a video posted on my social media accounts” a 0-0 draw at Braintree Town that keeps Dagenham in the relegation spots the club now finds itself accused at every turn (Top photo: The FA/The FA via Getty Images) REAL NEWS BY REAL STUDENTS College just became a little easier for students in the Inland Empire and for someone like me who dreams of being the first in my family to graduate from college Crafton Hills College and Cal State San Bernardino recently signed an important agreement that will help more students transfer smoothly from community college to university The new program is called Coyotes on the Horizon The announcement happened at a big event on the Crafton Hills campus on April 17 and even the school mascots were there to celebrate But this event was more than just about taking pictures and shaking hands It was a promise to students like me that we will not have to figure everything out alone Vincent Jackson from Cal State San Bernardino said it best It is a declaration that we believe in the potential of our students and we are willing to clear the path ahead for them.” So what does this new program mean for students If you are a Crafton Hills student and complete your Associate Degree for Transfer and meet all the deadlines you will be guaranteed admission to Cal State San Bernardino You will also get priority when signing up for classes and receive help with advising There will even be Cal State staff members on the Crafton Hills campus to answer questions and guide students through the process shared how difficult her transfer experience was She said this new program makes everything much easier This kind of support is especially important because many students at Crafton Hills are working jobs and are the first in their families to go to college Making the process easier helps more people reach their dreams we are walking alongside our students every step of the way.” That shows just how committed both schools are to helping students succeed 147 students transferred from Crafton Hills to Cal State San Bernardino Students will also have a chance to visit Cal State San Bernardino before transferring This helps students feel welcome and confident before making the move David Dufault Hunter from Cal State San Bernardino said It is about empowerment.” I believe that is something every student deserves to hear If you are a student who is thinking about college now is the perfect time to start asking questions You can visit craftonhills.edu or talk to your school counselor to learn more Coyotes on the Horizon might be the opportunity you have been waiting for It is definitely helping me feel more hopeful about my future and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" One future NASCAR Hall of Famer is having a difficult 2024 Three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Matt Crafton has fallen off from the multi-time champion he once was But is it enough to question his full-time future in NASCAR It’s impressive that a driver can race in one NASCAR Series in 25 straight seasons But to race with one team for 24 of those 25 seasons is even more remarkable Matt Crafton and ThorSport have been together since the 2000 season With the exception of Crafton’s 2004 season with KHI and sponsor Menards have been together since Crafton may have invented the Truck Series “lifer” identity as he has not raced in any other series full-time in his entire NASCAR career The pair also won 15 races and three championships with three different manufacturers and countless teammates The veteran entered the championship race in Miami without a win to his name for the first time in five seasons Crafton seemingly broke the NASCAR Playoffs that day by not only not winning the race but not a single race in a system invented to incentivize winning Crafton has fallen off drastically since then he missed the Truck Series Playoffs for the first time and scored a lone top-five through seventeen races While almost any other driver in Crafton’s position may see a release from his past four seasons the veteran is still sitting comfortably with his team and sponsor of over 20 years This sponsorship is a key factor in ThorSport keeping Crafton in the No Menards is one of a few very loyal sponsors in NASCAR some teams might have to give an unsponsored underperforming driver the proverbial boot money isn’t the only factor seemingly keeping Crafton in the No There is a strong loyalty between team and driver there is a trend of letting vets get all they can out of their careers such as Terry Labonte at Hendrick Motorsports Truck Series veterans like Ron Hornaday did a lot of winning late in their careers After returning to the series at age 47 (Crafton is currently 48) Hornaday casually won 25 races and two championships prior to retiring at 56 But is there anyone Crafton is negatively affecting who or what is Crafton hurting with his recent performances with recent late-career runs from NASCAR legends Matt doesn’t look like that bad of a driver While he is less of a financial burden with Menards Thorsport currently fields four full-time trucks and one part-time truck more than likely stretching the team’s resources a little thin That part-time entry is more of an open truck but 18-year-old Conner Jones has taken on the bulk of responsibility for driving the truck this season Jones could be in the wings waiting for Crafton in the near future Crafton’s retirement could usher in an era of a revamped development for Ford which seemingly has very few drivers waiting for opportunities an open spot at ThorSport would be a great start with Ford nothing is known about Crafton’s future or is he another salty veteran looking for the right time to strike again it seems more and more like these questions will have their answers soon What do you think about this? Let us know your opinions on Discord or X, and don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube Join in the conversations in our community to stay in the loop on everything racing Terms of Use Agreement | Privacy Policy « Back