Authorities arrested a Farmington resident Saturday afternoon following an investigation into a child endangerment report was taken into custody on Garage Road at approximately 1:46 p.m after Ontario County deputies determined she had left an 8-year-old child home alone Deputies arrested Benson for Endangering the Welfare of a Child and issued her an appearance ticket for the Town of Farmington Court Officials from Child Protective Services were notified of the incident Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox each morning. Sign up for our Morning Edition to start your day. FL1 on the Go! Download the free FingerLakes1.com App for iOS (iPhone, iPad) FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected] FARMINGTON – The Farmington Public Library is excited to announce the third annual “Emily’s Planting and Blooming Day” which will be held on Saturday Children of all ages are invited to the library to decorate a pot Every child will get to go home with a personalized pot and plant to watch grow throughout the summer The library encourages all those who wish to attend to call ahead and reserve your pot to ensure that there will be one available There are plenty of spots available currently so call the library at 207-778-4312 to save your space All are welcome even without a reservation just know that if all pots are reserved ahead of time there may not be one available The Daily Bulldog is a completely free, fully online publication dedicated to covering the wide variety of happenings in Franklin County. We aim for timeliness, for our news to go far, and to be a reliable point of information for local residents. For immediate questions and concerns, please call (207) 778-8146 or email thedailybulldog@gmail.com  Daily Bulldog depends on businesses like yours to support our independently owned community paper and news reporting For information on how to advertise please visit our advertising page or contact us at (207) 778-8146 or thedailybulldog@gmail.com Utah — Two people are in custody following a shooting late Thursday night in Farmington The names of the arrested haven't been released officers were called to the area of 1415 North Main Street on reports of multiple gunshots being heard they found multiple handgun shell casings on the road on Main Street they say a vehicle when a man and woman inside pulled up to the officers The man had visible injuries to his head and body while the woman didn't appear to have any injuries Officers say that both people were uncooperative and noncompliant with police the man was taken to the hospital in stable condition Investigators say they believe that the man and woman were traveling through the area when an altercation happened between the two that the injuries to the man appear to be from being hit by a vehicle and not gunfire they found a handgun as well as drug materials and an open alcohol container Police say the incident appears to be isolated and there isn't a threat to the general public about 100 protesters gathered on the sidewalk in front of the Farmington Museum and Gateway Park from 4 to 7 p.m Cars and trucks honked and loudly revved their motors as they passed The crowd, many elderly and retired, was organized by a core group of six Indivisible San Juan activists who plan to continue demonstrations and expand their opposition to policies of President Donald Trump’s administration said she was empathetic for migrants who had been deported from the U.S “I can’t even imagine having a loved one in an El Salvador prison for one more minute and not even knowing they’re alive sometimes – it’s brutal.” who was a speech pathologist in public schools for 24 years the Bureau of Land Management and national parks Lehmer said their organization is connected with indivisible.org and she participates in their weekly webinars She said her group has formed about 10 action teams to address issues such as immigration One group leads protesting and protest chants “We’re growing and we’re getting a base of more and more people who are becoming more hurt by these dangerous policies,” Lehmer said adding they’re meeting with members of Congress and their staffs “We’re writing and calling and showing up at federal in-person meetings and meet-and-greets with local official and we’re asking for town halls.” “I’m just so disgusted with 47 (Trump is the 47th president) and his tariffs,” Jennie Bottoms said Bottoms said her worries include a lower economic growth rate “If they abolish the SNAP program I won’t be able to live by myself,” Bottoms said Former federal employee Michael Hogan voiced his concerns about the way he was treated was hired by the Bureau of Land Management in 1983 He started as a secretary and worked up to a Policy Lead Realty specialist He said he was notified March 4 with two hours’ notice that he was losing his job He said that he could either retire or take a payout He said it wasn't the Bureau of Land Management that fired him “I am seriously concerned that we’re going to lose our overall democracy,” said Hogan who said he raised six children and has 13 grandchildren “Getting rid of due process – that’s huge,” Adams said “Just because now they’re getting rid of the quote-unquote illegals … it’ll be happening for us She also opposes Trump’s proposed cuts to Medicaid and the decline in her 401(k) “What do you think that’s going to mean to our hospitals “I’ve taken such a hit from the tariffs if you watch the markets go down and up and down,” she said Beth McNally said she was there to show support for programs benefiting veterans Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests have got to go,” the crowd chanted Mary McCallum said she felt that constitutional checks and balances and separation of the three branches of government were eroding you know our Congress is responsible for letting them do it.” Taylor Ingram of Indivisible San Juan said anyone who stands for the Constitution should be concerned we are heading into fascism “What do you want?” Rebecca Davis chanted in the bullhorn said education was one of her “biggest worries.” who probably took democracy for granted most of his life “There’s strength in numbers … and it’s a dangerous time to be complacent.” The email "' + userEmail + '" could not be added Please try again or email Shane at shane@durangoherald.com for assistance Choose from several print and digital subscription packages We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to our policies READ MOREFarmington auto-ped incident shots-fired response leads to arrest of quarreling coupleby Danielle MacKimm Utah (KUTV) — A couple was arrested in Farmington after the woman allegedly struck her boyfriend with a car and the man reportedly opened fire Farmington police said they responded to Main Street near 1425 North on Friday after receiving reports of multiple gunshots heard in the area officers located several spent bullet casings along Main Street a vehicle occupied by 22-year-old Karina Rivera Aza and 26-year-old Michael Dante Galke pulled up to the scene Aza was attempting to flag down officers while Galke was in the back seat Police approached the couple and determined that Galke’s injuries were consistent with being hit by a car While officers attempted to assist the couple Galke reportedly told Aza to remain silent Aza disregarded Galke and cooperated with police Galke allegedly became agitated and stated she hit me with the car.” When asked to elaborate Galke “...said he was on top of the hood trying to hold on.” Authorities did not specify whether this occurred before or after the crash They added that Galke fired a handgun four times on the roadway It was not disclosed whether he was shooting at Aza or at something else Officers located a handgun in the back seat Police noted that Aza appeared to be under the influence of alcohol He was transported to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries Both suspects were booked into the Davis County Correctional Facility Aza was booked on third-degree felony aggravated assault and multiple misdemeanors Galke was booked on third-degree felony failure to stop at the command of police second-degree felony possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person including four counts of discharge of a firearm by a restricted person Farmington Hills is moving forward with plans to cull the city's deer population with sharpshooters The city council listened to more than four hours of impassioned pleas to use nonlethal means to address deer overpopulation and then voted 6-1 Monday to authorize a cull The cull by professional sharpshooters will take place next year It will be followed in 2027 by bow hunting or crossbow hunting by up to five volunteer public safety officers who would have to demonstrate hunting proficiency Councilman Michael Bridges cast the dissenting vote “I don’t think the case has been made” for a cull.Other council members said they were taking the advice of experts who believe a cull is the most effective means of addressing overpopulation Councilwoman Jackie Boleware said people have strong feelings about the issue on both sides and no decision will make everyone happy “My decision is based on research,” she said Council members said they are concerned about increasing numbers of car-deer crashes destruction of landscaping and the possibility that overpopulation is reaching a point where it could become unhealthy for the deer those who spoke against the cull outnumbered those who favored it but council members said they’ve received hundreds of requests for a cull over the past several months They said residents have been asking the city to take action for about a decade Resident Sue Gerrity said she found it ironic that the experts the city consulted maintain that killing is the most humane way of dealing with overpopulation She said the city’s documents that justify the cull are “ripped right out of a hunting manual.” Douglas Gradin said his family stopped growing vegetable gardens because of the deer His daughter’s car was totaled in a crash with a deer several years ago It’s not unusual to see 17-20 deer in his backyard But there comes a time when (a cull) is necessary,” he said deputy director of the city’s Special Services Department deer specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources They disputed claims that the city will be killing “tame” deer and that the city has not taken any nonlethal steps to control the deer herd A cull is a controlled operation performed at night using rifles with silencers and thermal imaging to identify deer The sharpshooters are elevated in tree stands The city will contract with organizations like the U.S Department of Agriculture to perform culls Both the cull and the bowhunting will be performed on designated public property The professional culls and the bowhunting will only take place for about two days per year Bridges said the number of car-deer crashes averaged 122 per year over the last several years He said the city hasn’t done enough to educate people about the kinds of landscape that are resistant to deer MI (WXYZ) — The Farmington Hills Fire Department (FHFD) is working to reduce risks on the road through promoting safe car seat practices for families Memorial Day weekend is approaching and that means the unofficial start of summertime — and road trip season — in Michigan Nationally certified child car seat technicians from the FHFD will be available to assist community members at a free car seat inspection event on Sunday Community members must make an appointment in advance for this important service According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nearly 50% of all child car seats are installed or used incorrectly NHTSA estimates that properly installed car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by approximately 70% for infants and 50% for toddlers It’s important to know the recommended stages to ensure each child is in the right type of car seat or booster seat for their age and that it is installed in the correct position FARMINGTON HILLS – The Farmington Hills City Council passed a deer management resolution Monday night (April 28) with a 6-1 vote The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the city of Farmington Hills worked together as a suspected increase in deer population raised concerns for the community In March, residents and leaders began discussing a plan. The resolution is to have teams of public safety personnel participate in a highly regulated deer hunting program. Firearm use will not be allowed. Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Hannah Music is an alumna of Oakland University and has been with Local 4 since March 2024. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WDIV Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group A Farmington man is being held without bail after being accused of giving his girlfriend a combination of fentanyl and xylazine that led to her overdose of Farmington two stamp bags containing a combination of fentanyl and xylazine Twardesky said he also injected drugs but left the house after the two got into an argument police responded for a possible cardiac arrest at a home on Farmington Ohiopyle Road in Wharton Township They found Rectanus lying face up on the bedroom floor with a needle in her left arm and a bleeding puncture wound on her right arm Police reported that it appeared the woman had been deceased “for some time” prior to their arrival The complaint noted police saw drugs and drug paraphernalia scattered throughout the room Twardesky reportedly told troopers that when he came home around 1 p.m. he found Rectanus lying face down on the floor in a fetal position Twardesky is currently being housed at the Fayette County jail and a preliminary hearing is is scheduled for later this month in front of District Judge Nathan Henning If you have an account and are registered for online access sign in with your email address and password below Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe Copyright © Herald-Standard | Contact | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy FARMINGTON — A man and a woman have been jailed in connection with reports of gunfire Thursday night on Main Street in Farmington Police suspect the two engaged in some sort of altercation while traveling through the area Farmington police were dispatched to the area of 1415 N after reports of "multiple gunshots," according to a a statement from Farmington police Friday Officers found shell casings from a handgun at the location and while on the scene they were approached by the man and woman who were in a vehicle The woman "attempted to flag down the officers with the victim in the back of the vehicle (who) was bleeding profusely from his head Officers attempted to help the victim with his obvious injuries The victim told his girlfriend to plead the Fifth," according to a police booking affidavit "The victim became upset when his girlfriend was initially cooperating with police and he said she hit me with the car,'" the affidavit alleges The man allegedly told police he had been on top of the hood of the car Police said the man's injuries "were consistent with being struck by a vehicle and not from a gunshot visible damage to the outside of the vehicle was consistent with hitting something." Officers reported seeing open alcoholic beverages in the vehicle and said the woman had a "strong odor of alcoholic beverages," the affidavit states "Officers also observed a handgun in the back seat of the vehicle," as well as marijuana Surveillance footage from the area captured the sounds of gunshots and the departure of a lone vehicle no other bystanders are visible in the footage was booked into the Davis County Jail for investigation of aggravated assault possession of drug paraphernalia and having an open container in a vehicle was booked into jail for investigation of four counts of discharge of a firearm possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person and other potential charges Police say Galke fired a handgun four times and resisted arrest including spitting on the face of one of the officers He was treated at a hospital before being booked into jail A Farmington man was arrested after a traffic stop led to multiple charges including criminal possession of a forged instrument was arrested following a traffic stop on State Route 96 in Farmington Deputies charged Grady with criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree along with several vehicle and traffic violations According to the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office Grady was operating a vehicle bearing fake New York State registration plates labeled with “All rights reserved without prejudice UCC 1-308,” a phrase often associated with self-proclaimed “Sovereign Citizens.” Deputies reported that Grady refused to answer questions and would not provide identification during the stop Investigators determined the plates were fraudulent and intentionally designed to resemble official New York DMV registration plates Authorities also found the vehicle was unregistered and that Grady did not possess a valid driver’s license Grady was transported to the Ontario County Jail for processing and remains in custody pending arraignment FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected]. FARMINGTON HILLS — The city council approved deer culls In a 6-1 vote that came after midnight following comments from dozens of the more than 300 people in attendance the council decided that culls will begin early next year An accompanying pilot archery hunt planned for 2027 will be performed by “public safety personnel” and will not be open to a public lottery as originally proposed Councilman Michael Bridges was the sole no vote I don’t think the case has been made,” Bridges said “Looking at the number of complaints in city provided by Deputy Director of Special Services Bryan Farmer who has been studying deer management in the city for the past decade Farmer prefaced his remarks at the meeting by identifying himself as a hunter but said he was unbiased in the research of deer issues in the city which include 621 deer-vehicles crashes reported in the past five years He noted that many more collisions with the animals go unreported and cited the loss of habitat as perhaps an even larger concern—with the loss of saplings “We’re not looking to eradicate the deer,” Farmer said “We are reducing the population to have a healthier herd and a better landscape.” The loss of hundreds of dollars in landscaping to hungry deer was cited by several of the 15 Farmington Hills residents who spoke in favor of the cull who said he had lived in the city since 1971 when there were “no deer and no ticks.” He began seeing deer around 2006 when they were still a novelty and said he now has up to 20 deer in his backyard.“My landscaping is gone don’t even bother with a vegetable garden,” Green said it’s faced by communities all over the country folks.”He added that he didn’t want to see the deer eliminated Green viewed it as the “kind thing” to do for the herd which he predicted would otherwise suffer from disease and starvation But the roughly 25 city residents that voiced their opposition to the cull see the practice as anything but humane said the results of a survey showed a significant majority of residents did not want hunting in the city ‘It’s the only humane thing to do,’ because their landscape plants are eaten or they might be in a crash,” Gerrity said “(Deer) are living beings and killing them is not humane I always believed we’re a city that welcomes people from all over… This vote affects what kind of city we are along with others that opposed lethal means of controlling the deer population also wondered why other solutions had not been considered Among ideas residents proposed were sterilization and contraception for the animals but DNR Wildlife Biologist Chad Fedewa explained that both of those options are ineffective Deer contraceptive drugs are not approved for use in the state and sterilization is impractical in terms of both cost and logistics as animals would have to be darted and then operated on by veterinarians before being returned to where they were taken from Fedewa noted that deer can easily jump fences less than 10-feet high and while there are repellents that can work deer numbers will continue to grow in the absence of natural predators along with negative impacts to the community He also took issue with claims from flyers mailed to homes in the community that councilmembers and staff said were filled with “erroneous information,” including that the deer in Farmington Hills are “tame.” who added that the only method for reducing the number of animals is through hunting or permitted culls Councilwoman Valerie Knol observed that she had heard from a lot of residents that “the deer were here first we invaded their territory and took over the land they were living on.” Knol said that Farmington Hills had actually been a mostly built-out community for many years with the majority of large subdivisions built between the 1950s and 1990s The deer population began exploding around 2000 and really began taking over with unchecked growth since 2010 Councilman Jon Aldred noted that suggestions had been made for education on deer-resistant plans education on the city’s ordinance against feeding deer he noted those things had already been done Aldred reassured residents that hunters would not be wandering around their neighborhoods and there would be “zero risk” to residents with a cull held over the course of a few days at night with trained sharpshooters using thermal imaging and silencers on their weapons Mayor Theresa Rich added the final comments before the close of the five-hour meeting requesting the resolution be modified to limiting proposed archery hunts only to public safety personnel “We’ll see what we can do to mitigate (the deer issue) over time,” she said “(But right now) it’s do a cull or do nothing I can’t get my arms around the do nothing approach.” Rich and others on the council will now watch to see what approach other communities in the Southeast Michigan Urban Deer Management Coalition take The coalition has more than 24 stakeholders in the region including the cities of Farmington and Southfield whose councils are expected to vote on deer culls May 5 Contact reporter Susan Bromley at sbromley@hometownlife.com Farmington police are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred Tuesday an 82-year-old was driving a Ford Freestyle SUV west on 212th Street West and was turning south onto Dushane Parkway when they crossed into the path of a motorcyclist who was driving east on 212th Street collided with the passenger side of the SUV Both occupants of the SUV were taken to the hospital; The 82-year-old driver sustained minor injuries while the 82-year-old passenger was flown with “more serious injuries.” “This investigation is in the early stages and we have made no determinations as to the cause ofthis tragic crash,” Deputy Police Chief Nate Siem said “I would ask the public to withhold speculation out of respect for both families involved in this incident.” The department extended its heartfelt condolences to the Wrobel family and wished the occupants of the SUV a speedy recovery Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KSTP via our online form or call 651-646-5555 Lost your password? Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link ← Back leads teammate Josh McCarthy and Central freshman Brody Cole to the finish line during the boys 200-meter dash event at the MAAA conference track and field meet on Thursday in Potosi mking@dailyjournalonline.com POTOSI – Farmington tightened its collective grip on the MAAA track and field team championships on Thursday with no signs of relinquishing them anytime soon Sophomores and freshmen again played major roles in helping the Knights race to a sixth consecutive boys and eighth straight girls celebration atop the conference Farmington highlighted its 13 event victories on the boys side with a clean sweep of all four relays and amassed 234 points with nearest challenger North County checking in at 129 Senior Brett Drye and sophomore Axtin Brune each won two individual contests while sprinters Coy Fripp and Josh McCarthy prevented each other from doing the same Champion Owen Barron and Wyatt Scott continued their friendly and beneficial rivalry after trading the school pole vault record last month and are preparing for a promising Class 5 postseason Farmington freshman Destini Robinson sprints to victory in the girls 100-meter dash event at the MAAA conference track and field meet on Thursday in Potosi The gathering also provided a platform for other Knights to become first-time varsity champions including Bryce Busenbark in the 110-meter hurdles Freshman Destini Robinson emerged as a double winner in the girls 100 and 200 while sophomore Hazel Perret controlled the triple and high jumps Farmington compiled 185 ½ points to maintain separation from Ste which relied heavily on its standout seniors in girls action Potosi ranked third in both 11-team divisions The closest final margin within the boys relays occurred in the 4×200 as Farmington withstood Valle Catholic at the line by seven-tenths of a second McCarthy edged Fripp in the featured heat of the 100 but the results were flipped about two hours later in the 200 as the meet progressed quickly amid the threat of thunderstorms Kendall Wright and Easton Gerstner delivered a 1-2 finish in the 400 for Farmington Brune and Ayden Wiles were also the first two crossing in the 3200 had already notched the 1600 title as the Knights flexed their distance prowess and depth Drye bolstered Farmington off the track by repeating his long and triple jump crowns Bismarck junior Gabe Crocker was second in both of those events Hazel Perret totaled 36 points after taking second in both hurdles races Helena Perrett was only behind her sister in the triple jump and runner-up to Valle Catholic sophomore Ella Bley in the long jump Genevieve senior Kale Clements runs the opening leg of the girls 4×800 relay event at the MAAA conference track and field meet on Thursday in Potosi and followed up with an powerful final stretch to also win the 800 as Ste Genevieve all-state senior Kale Clements sought a perfect 40-point meet and Ella Scott secured second in the pole vault The Knights added three second-place efforts in the 4×100 Clements still collected three impressive titles for the Dragons and cut a scorching mark of 58.39 seconds in the individual 400 Senior classmate Hollyn Zangaro brought home the 3200 win Genevieve obtained another victory in the 300-meter hurdles from Kayden Huck Ashlyn Wezner and Laurie Parker contributed to relay wins Paul Taylor topped all three boys throwing events last spring as a sophomore for Ste but earned his third shot and second discus triumphs in a row North County senior Brandon Shrum repeated as high jump champion after clearing 6 feet 8 inches competitively for the second time in four days North County senior Brandon Shrum makes a successful clearance of 6 feet 8 inches to win the boys high jump event at the MAAA conference track and field meet on Thursday in Potosi He expressed far greater joy in watching younger brother Caleb Shrum achieve a new personal best of 6 feet The Raiders touted one of the premier freshmen in the conference in Jackson Walker who prevailed in the 300-meter hurdles while crossing the line third in three other races North County was second in the boys 4×100 after an injury stalled its 4×200 hopes Claire Scott equaled her own school record in the pole vault and Claire Jenkins seized the shot put to give the Lady Raiders two field titles Recent Mineral Area signee Terra Fenwick soared to second place in the high jump Senior Alex Smith saved Potosi from going without an event victory after pulling away from Valle Catholic senior Josh Fallert and Farmington senior Nickolai Cain in the boys 800 The Trojans were second in the 4×400 and 4×800 which were both anchored by Alex Smith and included legs from Brayden Smith and Carter Pyatt a senior newcomer to the sport this spring finished second in the discus throw while freshman Kammara Tedder ran second-fastest in the 100 to pace the Potosi girls Valle Catholic did not have all-state distance specialist Madelyn Griffard available to defend her 1600 and 3200 titles but managed to claim second spot in the 4×800 Bley was second in the 400 after her long jump victory and freshman Cecilia Meyer safely earned second place in the 1600 for the Lady Warriors Valley junior Daisy Kearns and Farmington sophomore Hazel Perret battle for the lead during the featured heat of the girls 100-meter hurdles event at the MAAA conference track and field meet on Thursday in Potosi The Valle Catholic boys were headlined by three runner-up showings from their 4×200 crew Braden Smith in the 300-meter hurdles and Fallert in the 400 Fredericktown celebrated three new program records in winning fashion Garrett Wright threw the javelin 44.90 meters to edge Farmington junior Corben Phillips by about three feet Jonsyn Rehkop and Calie Allgier established new standards of 51.61 in the 4×100 and 1:49.78 in the 4×200 for the Lady Cats Lauren Hale completed a javelin sweep for Fredericktown Dylan Melvin raced to second in the 110-meter hurdles and Cayden Crump edged teammate Maddox Knepper for second in the shot put Central senior Jacob Voyles finished second to Taylor in the boys discus Senior Allie England broke a 16-year school record for the Lady Rebels while placing fifth in the 1600 Arcadia Valley junior Meleah Lara broke through for a dominant discus victory after placing third as a freshman and fourth as a sophomore Arcadia Valley junior Meleah Lara is picture after winning the girls discus event at the MAAA conference track and field meet on Thursday in Potosi Daisy Kearns became the first MAAA track champion for a new Valley program in a fierce 100-meter hurdles showdown The junior also took second in the 200-meter dash Potosi senior Alex Smith leads Valle Catholic senior Josh Fallert and Farmington senior Nickolai Cain during the boys 800-meter run event at the MAAA conference track and field meet on Thursday in Potosi Farmington sophomore Axtin Brune leads the boys 1600-meter run event at the MAAA conference track and field meet on Thursday in Potosi and Potosi freshman Kammara Tedder complete in the featured heat during the girls 100-meter dash event at the MAAA conference track and field meet on Thursday in Potosi Valle Catholic sophomore Ella Bley competes during the girls long jump event at the MAAA conference track and field meet on Thursday in Potosi Editor’s note: This article was updated May 1 to include comments from citizen journalist Justin Chee and to clarify a New Mexico statute concerning identification of alleged victims at a crime scene A YouTube content creator with the handle of Press ON Unleashed was arrested in Farmington after confronting law enforcement officers and reportedly refusing to leave the scene of a sexual assault investigation who was listed in jail for seven days as John Doe He was booked into the San Juan County Detention Center April 23 on a count of concealing identity and two counts of misdemeanor resisting or obstructing officers The confrontation with police officers raised ethical and legal questions surrounding citizen journalists who report from the scene of a criminal investigation a rising issue on social media and in the New Mexico legislature The charges were filed in Farmington Municipal Court and not being handled by the San Juan County District Attorney’s Office according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Decker The citizen journalists contend that Cook was jailed illegally “We’re here to make sure they’re feeding him,” said Clifford Williams of Vigilance Committee The jail assured the Tri-City Record that he was being fed Cook) has been offered food and water at all regular meal times This includes cereal and a drink after the tray has been cleared at the conclusion of meal service,” San Juan County Adult Detention Center Administrator Daniel Webb said Wednesday Staff will continue to provide meals and have offered “spoon feeding of cereal after each meal service.” (Cook) has covered his mouth upon attempted spoon feeding,” and he was transported to San Juan Regional Medical Center the Tuesday evening “He verbally refused medical treatment and was subsequently returned to the facility.” The detention center made “exhaustive efforts to identify” Cook who said the center wanted " to better assess his medical needs including any prescription medication he may require,” because “the well-being of each and every individual is of the utmost importance to our staff.” Williams stated prior to Cook being identified that the man is “just a free American,” who does not have a name a Social Security number or a birth certificate At issue is the arrest of Cook, which occurred after he and citizen journalist Justin Chee of 4Corner FistNtheair in Farmington showed up at the scene of a sexual assault investigation They reportedly refused to “step back 20 feet out of the crime scene area” and filmed officers during an interview with the alleged victim of sexual assault New Mexico’s Inspection of Public Records Act ensures that identity of sexual assault victims are not disclosed in public records a video posted on Chee’s YouTube channel clearly shows the victim while she was being interviewed by police She can be heard describing the alleged sexual assault raising legal and ethical questions for journalists New Mexico Foundation for Open Government Legal Director Amanda Lavin weighed in on the matter and cited the law New Mexico Statutes § 14-2-1.2 restricts the disclosure of names and other personal identifiers of victims of sexual offenses in law enforcement records according to information provided to the Tri-City Record from NMFOG Chee reiterated his exemption from the law “The NM state statue 14-2-1.2 is for ‘Law enforcement records.’ NM state statue 14-2-1.2 is very misinforming in your story you have published about PRESS Harder and myself This State Statue has nothing to do with Independent journalism such as myself and PRESS Harder (Cook.),” he said He also stated that IPRA only applies to law enforcement and “PRESS Harder and I are definitely not law enforcement This NM State Statue 14-2-1.2 does not apply to us whatsoever.” The act of filming a sexual assault victim raised questions of ethics According to an article by Baylor University Alumni Amber Orand and Sara Stone for the Society of Professional Journalists “the first guideline in the code of ethics” is to “seek the truth and report it,” but the second guideline is to “minimize harm.” “Items under that dictum include ‘avoid pandering to lurid curiosity’ and ‘be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes,’” Orand and Stone wrote journalists must closely examine their own motives they should be guided by professional ethics and never simply by a desire to be first with a detail that will increase ratings or circulation.” Videoing at a sexual assault investigation could lead to the victim being identified which could be a violation of the code of ethics Farmington Police were called to the sexual assault at 10:36 p.m April 22 at the Cedar Ridge Apartments in the 300 block of East 20th Street According to the Farmington Police Department incident report Cook and Chee were at a DWI stop earlier the same day and were listening “to the police scanner” and then filming “officers on calls for service.” Cook reportedly was on the grounds of the Cedar Ridge Apartments filming officers and he reportedly disobeyed officers’ requests to move back while officers attempted to secure the apartment the suspect allegedly barricaded himself with the female victim Chee and Cook stood in the area of the crime scene and refused to move Cook reportedly called the officer a “f---ing b---ch,” told him to “suck his testicles” and continued “yelling profanities,” the report states Cook “fell to the ground and pretended to be asleep,” according to the incident report Farmington Police spokeswoman Shanice Gonzales said the “male repeatedly interfered with the investigation yelled profanities and diverted officers from their duties.” the disruptive male continued to interfere ultimately resulting in his arrest after refusing to comply,” she said Police warned Cook that he was possibly obstructing their investigation and their ability to do their job but Williams said there was no obstruction and argued that “anybody can be wherever they want to be in a public setting.” Lavin said that is not necessarily the case “While any person has the right to be in a public space and observe law enforcement activity the First Amendment does not give a person (or journalist) license to obstruct a law enforcement investigation or trespass onto private property,” Lavin said “You have to respect the boundaries of a crime scene whether you are a private citizen or a journalist,” Lavin said The Cedar Ridge Apartments are on private property Farmington Municipal Code Sections 18-3-11 and 18-3-12 refer to trespassing on private property and defines criminal trespass as consisting “of knowingly entering or remaining upon the lands of another knowing that such consent to enter or remain is denied or withdrawn by the owner or occupant thereof.” While trespass charges were not filed against Cook the police report states Cook “continued to yell,” and allegedly inserted himself into the investigation when they were attempting to interview the rape suspect “He was constantly maneuvering himself to get closer despite the verbal perimeter he was causing those involved to pay more attention to him than the investigating officers and his actions required officers to spend time dealing with his conduct than the investigation,” the report states A community of citizen journalists on Wednesday supported Cook According to YouTube influencer James Freeman it was Cook’s right to be on the scene and speak as a citizen journalist said they “don’t have nothing against good policing He added the goal of citizen journalists is to make sure the police are “real and right.” The New Mexico State Legislature looked at changing the definition of journalist to include social media influencers and hobbyist bloggers The bill defined a journalist as “a person who regularly gathers investigates or publishes news or information that concerns local or international events or other matters of public interest for dissemination to the public.” and Senate Minority Leader Bill Sharer said that might be a good thing “It appears that this bill was aimed at protecting the bloggers and YouTube influencers probably at the detriment of citizens,” Sharer said Williams and another social media influencer, Jose Ramirez-Medina of Utah Cop Watch visited the Tri-City Record on Tuesday to share Doe’s story They stated their intentions during a live feed of Utah Cop Watch “They think we’re going to beg them to do the story.” “We’re not going to beg them,” Ramirez-Medina said Ramirez-Medina said Four Corners (Justin Chee of 4Corner FistNtheair) “seems to talk good about them.” “Especially the reporter he’s worked with in the past with David (Albright),” Williams added “Hopefully they are not like every single reporter that likes to twist the words,” Ramirez-Medina said David Albright on Wednesday denied working with them Williams stated that he hoped “the editors will pick up the story too Freeman told his version of the story in an April 29 feed saying Cook “was kidnapped” and is being “held hostage” by Farmington Police Williams stated that Cook’s charges do not make sense because resisting or obstructing has “to be a physical act,” and “he wasn’t fleeing He stood there when the officer said ‘You are going to be under arrest.’” Cook refused to speak or move and made the officers “manipulate his body to get him in and out of the patrol unit,” according to the police report He was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center “for a medical clearance,” before being booked into the detention center where he was found to have two glass marijuana pipes in his possession Williams believes Cook’s legal rights are being violated you need to know you could be sued – a week in jail under a false arrest – good luck with that,” Williams said Ramirez-Medina said Farmington Police are “cry babies with guns and badges,” and stated this case will make for a good lawsuit because it is his belief that Doe is being held illegally “We are holding John Doe (Cook) under a legitimate court order,” said San Juan County spokesman Devin Neeley on Tuesday when the booking process had not been completed completely and totally under legitimate court orders.” Cook is still being held in the San Juan County Detention Center and the booking process has been completed when Ramirez-Medina was at the jail he wanted to know if Cook was alive but according to Webb the detention center “does not offer in-person visitation,” so Ramirez-Medina and those with him “were referred to the online visitation process.” David Edward Albright of the Tri-City Record contributed to this report which is that of the man previously referred to as John Doe This article was updated May 1 to include a statement from Justin Chee 4Corner FistNtheair regarding the New Mexico State Statutes referred to in the story A paragraph citing New Mexico Statutes Section 30-37A-1 was because it applies to sensitive images which are defined in the statute as images that would include nudity Another paragraph citing New Mexico Statutes § 14-2-1.2 was edited to report that statute applies only to law enforcement records Sign up for our daily email newsletter or to receive breaking news delivered to your inbox: OAKLAND COUNTY – A 21-year-old charged with assaulting an 80-year-old man at a gym locker room in 2024 was found guilty by a jury Prosecutors said Smith and the 80-year-old exchanged words in the locker room and then got into a physical fight Former University of Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards was also at the YMCA, and he said he heard the fight and went to see what was going on. “I walk into the locker room after work, and basically, I hear -- about four rows behind me -- arguing about music and how it was being played too loud,” Edwards said. “So, I’m not paying attention, and I was just minding my business.” “The noise escalates, and then you can hear some pushing and shoving, so you know what fighting sounds like, but once I hear a thud, that’s when I got up and turned around.” “I see the guy ... (he) grabs the back of the victim’s head by the hair, and he was about to slam it down on the counter.” Edwards pulled Smith away from the 80-year-old. “The victim was left unconscious and bleeding, and he had to be hospitalized after this assault,” said Prosecutor McDonald. “When we first brought charges, I said this was a vicious, senseless attack and clearly the jury agreed after looking at the evidence. Their verdict will hopefully provide the victim a measure of justice.” Smith faces up to ten years in prison. He is expected to be sentenced on May 20, 2025. Samantha Sayles is an Oakland University alumna who’s been writing Michigan news since 2022. Before joining the ClickOnDetroit team, she wrote stories for WILX in Lansing and WEYI in Flint. KAYSVILLE — Get ready for headaches if you're used to driving in the wee hours of the morning on I-15 through Kaysville and Farmington The interstate will face several complete closures in the week to come in the two Davis County cities starting Friday night to accommodate the Utah Department of Transportation's Shepard Lane interchange project "We do everything we can to avoid closing I-15," said UDOT spokesman Mitch Shaw crews need to place beams across I-15 where Shepard Lane will cross it in the new roadway configuration necessitating the closures to safely accommodate the work The first closure of I-15 between 200 North in the heart of Kaysville south to Park Lane in Farmington The Shepard Lane project area is located between those two I-15 interchanges where the north end of Farmington and south side of Kaysville meet I-15 will face on-and-off closures through Kaysville and Farmington starting Friday to accommodate the Shepard Lane interchange project (Photo: Utah Department of Transportation)Northbound traffic will be detoured from the Park Lane exit in Farmington to U.S traffic will continue on Main Street through Kaysville to 200 North and then back onto I-15 Southbound traffic will take the same route the other way UDOT also said "alternating one-way traffic patterns" will be implemented on Shepard Lane Frontage Road and 1500 West where they meet in Farmington in the project area as early as Monday but UDOT also warns of delays traversing the section The change is expected to last through May UDOT is up front about the likely disruptions caused by the I-15 closures both to motorists and those who live along the detour route "Drivers should plan for heavy travel delays in the area during the closures Nearby residents may experience increased noise truck traffic and vibration throughout this work," the agency said in a statement Shaw said similar I-15 closures are in the offing in May or June when the existing Shepard Lane bridge over I-15 is to be demolished crews will implement alternating one-way traffic patterns on Shepard Lane Frontage Road and 1500 West in Farmington to accommodate drainage work (Photo: Utah Department of Transportation)The $147.5 million Shepard Lane project calls for creation of an interchange where the roadway meets I-15 Shephard Lane will be shifted south slightly of its current trajectory over I-15 and the parallel rail line The roadway will connect on the west side of the interstate into 950 North thereby connecting the two north-south arterials UDOT says the new interchange and roadway configuration will reduce congestion and improve safety in the area UDOT also plans changes in the project area to enhance pedestrian and bicycle traffic The interchange work should be done by October with work on pedestrian pathways to continue into 2026 The Farmington girls basketball program is in search of a new head coach Brad Johnson — who’s won more than 400 games in 16 seasons and four state championships including the last three seasons at the helm of the Lady Cardinals — informed his team Thursday morning that he will be resigning as head coach with the expectation of joining first-year Coach Kelsi Musick’s staff on the Arkansas women’s basketball team Johnson had not officially resigned at Farmington but he said once he does it will be immediate and he’ll hit the ground running with the Razorbacks The University of Arkansas women’s basketball program had not announced Johnson’s hiring as of Thursday afternoon “To join Kelsi Musick is a phenomenal opportunity,” Johnson said She’s the type of person players want to play for and you want to work alongside The opportunity to work alongside her is phenomenal I’m excited to get to work and build a product this entire state can be proud of.” Musick was hired March 26 as the Razorbacks’ head coach after Mike Neighbors resigned at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season Johnson said the meeting with his Farmington players and giving them the news Thursday morning was difficult The biggest thing was I shared with them my love and admiration as kids and people and what they’ve meant to me Johnson was 403-106 overall in 16 seasons at Farmington including a remarkable 105-3 in the last three seasons Farmington went 14-0 in conference play all three seasons and has won 56 consecutive conference games dating back to Feb Farmington has won eight conference titles under Johnson as well as advancing to seven state finals The Lady Cardinals (30-1) defeated Greene County Tech 54-44 in the Class 5A state championship game on March 14 to win the program’s third consecutive state championship — their first in Class 5A Farmington won state titles in Class 4A in 2023 and 2024 the team was named co-state champion with Star City when all state finals were canceled because of the covid-19 pandemic Johnson has won 491 games in his career in stops that include Plainview-Rover and Gravette coaching boys before taking the Farmington job in 2009 Johnson expects the Farmington program will continue to be a top program even without him on the sideline The Lady Cardinals lose a talented senior class led by Minnesota signee Zoey Bershers and Pittsburg State signees Kaycee McCumber and Marin Adams But freshman sensation Easton McCollough is expected to return and she has been offered a scholarship by the University of Arkansas McCollough was selected Player of the Year by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette after averaging 21 points Johnson said Farmington has had 26 players sign at all levels of college in his 16 seasons including Arkansas sophomore forward Jenna Lawrence “We’ve said forever our program is always bigger than one person,” Johnson said “They have built the culture that is Lady Cardinal basketball The only thing that’s going to change is the person on the sideline None of that is going to change because the players are the culture.” is an award-winning sports writer who serves as sports editor for the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette he previously served as a sports writer at the Jonesboro Sun before moving to Northwest Arkansas in 2006 where he’s worked for the Benton County Daily Record and was managing editor of The Herald-Leader in Siloam Springs He received his journalism degree from Louisiana State University This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing but also with the opening of a massive sinkhole in their backyards and raw sewage running across their properties and backing up into their homes.adButlerLazyLoad("1183492212284816078",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); Montgomery County Highway Department officials said Thursday that they worked for days to move stormwater across multiple basins to protect as many homes as possible but they were overwhelmed by a rush of water equivalent to an Olympic-sized swimming pool every two to three minutes told Clarksville Now that sometime on Friday morning their security cameras went off due to workers in the area “We called our neighbor across the street and he asked them what was going on,” Ryals said “They said they were going to start displacing some of the water from Dunlop (Lane) to try and help alleviate some of the pain over there They said they were going to start pumping into this retention area over here and our neighbor then asked what’s the risk in that He was told it’s not going to be a problem because they’re just displacing the water moving it to other areas.”adButlerLazyLoad("559549525343376744",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); the Ryals family packed up their belongings from their camping trip and returned home He said the Montgomery County Highway Department workers confirmed what his neighbor had told him and he learned they were also displacing water into a drain that flowed to another section of the subdivision Ryals said the area behind his house on Juniper Pass had hardly ever held water in the years since he moved into his home That is until this year when Farmington experienced flooding in February and now again in April Farmington is outside the Clarksville city limits in Montgomery County adButlerLazyLoad("2138531536141943734",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); He said that on Saturday morning upon waking up he and his family could tell the water was creeping up closer toward their backyard fence A second pumping truck was brought in later that day and Ryals was told that whatever it was they were doing was working As water continued to climb toward their home Ryals asked again if he and his family were at risk and if they need to get some sandbags He said he was assured they didn’t need to they could wait until the water reached the middle of the backyard it’s probably in the middle of our backyard; do we need to be alarmed I think you’ll be all right,'” Ryals said.adButlerLazyLoad("255659757623589520",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); At about midnight the water reached the steps of their backyard and then two hours later the Ryals family was notified that they needed to go to Kirkwood High School to get their own sandbags “I told them we had talked about this at 4 o’clock; you guys didn’t tell me it was that big of a risk … We asked what’s the protocol and they said they didn’t know.” the crews and family members drove together to bag sand for about one to two hours other neighbors began to come out of their houses and were given sandbags They placed sandbags around their HVAC unit but by the time the Ryals family had started on their garage the HVAC unit had already been overtaken by stormwater They then moved the sandbags surrounding their HVAC and placed them around the garage inside the garage and around the front of the porch and back door The Ryals family eventually made their way inside to save as many belongings as possible.adButlerLazyLoad("1926842651033038026",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); “Had I known this was going to be an issue we would have started doing that earlier,” Ryals said and we would have started lifting everything up This is not a flood zone; we don’t have flood insurance the floodwater rose well above the sandbags at the garage the water rose above about 4 feet – above their couches the Ryals family is staying in a hotel as they figure out how to move forward.adButlerLazyLoad("1066143062215517585",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); | NEWS TIPS: Do you have a local news tip? Email news@clarksvillenow.com or call us at 931-648-7720 several homes were ruined by stormwater and sewage sewage continued to spill across at least four houses in the area Zenk told Clarksville Now his house sits in front of a 100-year-floodplain and it’s the lowest drainage point in Farmington.adButlerLazyLoad("129166627472074907",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); we felt comfortable living here without flood insurance because we were told no one can build on this drainage area,” Zenk said “They developed (Farmington subdivision) Phase 3 up above our side of the neighborhood and the drainage from that has always flooded our back yard when it rains The 100-year floodplain floods every time it rains.” He said recent storms filled the basins nearby along Dunlop Lane and that left water stagnant and standing for days on end workers pumped from that side of the neighborhood to this lowest spot,” he said everything backed up and drained this way with nowhere for the water to go here on Veronica (Court).” | MORE: Military couple depletes retirement to recover from Woodstock floodingadButlerLazyLoad("391592906764016578",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); Zenk said he and his family evacuated on Sunday but before their property flooded out front the sewer backed up from the additional stormwater “Because the storm pushed the sewer back the sewer has been flowing for days in front of our house Which is unfortunate because the storm runoff pushed it from in front of our house into the house “Thankfully the water didn’t go higher than our living space the sewage was still flowing out of the backed-up pipes told Clarksville Now the situation with the sewage in front of their homes has worsened in the last two days after crews opened up the sewage line in her driveway.adButlerLazyLoad("175466257146744876",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); Young said she called the Sewage Department with Clarksville Gas & Water Wednesday morning because sewage had started to come out from underneath her dishwasher the sewer line was opened in Young’s driveway to stop her house from being backed up they opened it this (Wednesday) morning at 8 a.m all the waste of the Farmington neighborhood has been coming out nonstop,” Young said “The smell is horrible; my garage smells like poop Nobody is taking accountability; nobody is taking responsibility Zenk did point out the situation at Veronica Court could have been worse if a sinkhole hadn’t formed behind a home at Forsythia and Remington Trace draining a large portion of the stormwater.adButlerLazyLoad("163794209167145115",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); Zenk said he would like to have seen better communication from local officials but understands there are others who need help just as much are living out of a friend’s house until they can figure out how to move forward While Veronica Court deals with continued flooding and raw sewage Farmington resident Roy Nelson and his family are dealing with the opening of a sinkhole in their backyard who’s house is at the intersection of Forsythia and Remington Trace was walking around the neighborhood with his wife to inspect the water levels he said they could hear and see the water flowing toward their house.adButlerLazyLoad("1426869719690636750",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); “We walked back around and maybe about an hour and a half later I just heard what sounded like a waterfall,” Nelson told Clarksville Now I could see trees and the grass by my housing moving It was so loud that it sounded like we were standing next to a waterfall.” Nelson said his wife woke him up and told him to go look at the land behind their backyard That’s when he saw a massive sinkhole.adButlerLazyLoad("650309379586516793",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); “It’s on the HOA’s property and it’s about 10-20 feet under and around our fence … It’s so close to our home; the actual size of the home and the weight of the home we’re just so unsure about what’s going on underneath.” Nelson said in the days since it’s been a nerve-wracking experience but they are continuing to meet with local officials and government agencies to decide how to move forward He said he’s not sure where they go from here but he offered advice to the rest of the Montgomery County community “One of the first things we were asked was ‘Do you have sink hole insurance?’ I would just advise the residents in Clarksville as a whole make sure you have sinkhole insurance,” he said “These are things we don’t normally think about every day Find out the history of flooding; find out the history of sinkholes; find out the history about your neighborhood and make sure you protect yourself and your family.”adButlerLazyLoad("1689647434530114469",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); Nelson said he thanks Jesus Christ for protecting him and his family The Highway Department said Thursday that crews have deployed a series of high-capacity pumps—brought in from outside the local area—to remove excess water and increase stormwater capacity in the affected basins “We are hopeful these efforts will help lower water levels and allow residents to return to their homes as soon as possible,” said a representative from the department “We will continue to provide updates as roads reopen and conditions improve.”adButlerLazyLoad("3258450657539793110",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); | MORE: Highway Department says it was overwhelmed by flood basin failures, blocked drainage, 250,000 gallons per minute when offering an update on the flood damage during an Industrial Development Board meeting Montgomery County Property Assessor Erinne Hester said she’s seen four or five floods in her time in office She spoke with passion about the homes damaged Hester called the damage reports “devastating” and maddening She said that while “no conditions are ever the same,” this is not solely an overdevelopment problem “That’s not what it is,” she said.adButlerLazyLoad("705123453653360908",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); “I don’t know what the remedy is And it’s on local government to do it,” Hester said “We should all use our influence to make sure this doesn’t get forgotten in a month or two when it dries up Wesley Irvin and Chris Smith contributed to this report | MORE: How to get help, give help for those who lost homes in floodadButlerLazyLoad("2083368303451445840",100,["433948","433948","433948"],"177031"); | DON’T MISS A STORY: Sign up for the free daily Clarksville Now email newsletter you can reach me at cbrown@5starradio.com or at 931-648-7720 The City of Clarksville posted the proposed 2026 fiscal year budget on its website Friday It includes a letter from Mayor Joe Pitts in which he highlighted a proposed property tax increase of 15 cents Police have closed off a north Peachers Mill Road neighborhood in Clarksville as they negotiate with a barricaded person in a house Tennessee Environmental Council (TEC) is excited to host their second Recycling Roundup in Montgomery County Some new summer markets have popped up in Clarksville and Montgomery County Here’s a list of where you can find local markets for locally sourced vegetables Visitors don’t just pass through Clarksville – they help pay our bills taxes from tourism spending put an extra $14.7 million into Clarksville’s public purse This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again The University of Maine at Farmington is closely monitoring the forecast for Commencement Saturday While we remain hopeful that the ceremony will proceed as planned outdoors there is a possibility of inclement weather Please come prepared for changing conditions We strongly encourage attendees to bring umbrellas and warm clothing in case of rain or cooler temperatures If weather conditions require us to move the ceremony indoors we will notify the campus community as soon as possible Please stay tuned for updates and detailed information about an indoor location if needed Thank you for your understanding and flexibility as we work to ensure a safe and memorable Commencement for all We are excited to celebrate the achievements of our undergraduate and graduate class at this year’s Commencement Ceremony 2025⏰ Time: 11:00 am SHARP (Students should arrive by 10 am)📍 Location: The Narrow Gauge Amphitheater– which is located in downtown Farmington behind Narrow Gauge Cinemas — near UMF’s Prescott Field (adjacent to Leib Field soccer pitch) limited indoor seating and a livestream of the event will also be available inside Narrow Gauge Cinemas We encourage families to arrive early to ensure ample time for parking and seating Graduates should dress appropriately and bring any necessary items as instructed and we look forward to celebrating this milestone with you please don’t hesitate to see the contact information below he worked for the Ministry of Health in Cambodia where his work included outbreak investigation and he aided in the response to the SARS and Avian Influenza outbreaks Shah worked as a health care attorney and was appointed as the director of the Illinois Dept Janet Mills as the director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention where he served as the voice and face of the pandemic response in Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the principal deputy director followed by appointment as the acting director Shah has championed critical public health issues including combatting the opioid crisis childhood lead poisoning and reducing maternal and infant mortality His leadership and communication style are renowned for being centered in both scientific investigation and human compassion Shah recently returned to Maine to launch a public health education program at Colby College Moody earned his Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Farmington in 1998 high school principal and is currently MSAD 54 Superintendent of schools serving the towns of Skowhegan Under his leadership and in tandem with the district’s partnership with Kennebec Valley Community Action Program (KV-CAP) MSAD 54 envisioned and developed a first-of-its-kind-in-Maine elementary school that will provide early childhood programming for children ages 6 weeks old to three years and  comprehensive educational programming to students in Pre-K through grade 5 the Margaret Chase Smith Community School will provide technical center early childhood space for high school students and will be a learning lab for professional development as well as the support of pre-service teachers In addition to his role as Superintendent of schools Moody serves on several boards that support the field of education Currently Moody serves on the Board of Directors of the Mitchell Institute is a member of the Redington-Fairview Hospital Board is a member of the Early Childhood Advisory committee with Educate Maine and serves as an adjunct Instructor for the Educational Leadership program at University of Maine at Farmington. He is also a member of the UMF Board of Visitors He and his wife Shelly (Maine’s 2011 Teacher of the Year and Elementary Principal in RSU18) are proud alumni of UMF (’98) He was a 2016 inductee into the UMF Athletics Hall of Fame They are both active advocates for a strong educational system for students (PK-16) statewide The University of Maine at Farmington is proud to announce graduating senior Manu Ritchie of Eliot as the student speaker for the 2025 Commencement ceremony Ritchie is earning her bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and English Homeschooled from fifth grade through high school Ritchie has been passionate about writing from a young age Her flexible education allowed her to explore a wide range of creative and community-focused interests volunteering at local food pantries and charities she also got a head start on college through the Early College Program at York County Community College Drawn to the close-knit campus and the strength of UMF’s Creative Writing Program Ritchie has thrived in the academic and creative community In addition to writing realistic fiction and screenplays she has been an active member of the UMF Honors Program Her campus involvement also includes singing with Strangers Sing a cappella and engaging with the Catholic Campus Ministry “Coming to Farmington was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” said Ritchie “My experience here has allowed me to grow in ways that I didn’t think possible and I have become self-assured in my own ability to succeed.” Ritchie plans to dedicate a year to her writing before pursuing a master’s degree in creative writing 2025 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM Mario Kart Tournament for Seniors The Landing 2025 | 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM Cap Decorating for Seniors The Landing 2025 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Commencement Rehearsal Narrow Gauge Cinema Rain Location: Fitness & Recreation Center 2025 | 6:00 PM Senior Banquet South Dining Hall UMF Commencement CommitteeUniversity of Maine at FarmingtonMerrill Hall224 Main StreetFarmington, Maine USA 04938tel  207-778-7276TYY (via Maine Relay Service) dial 711umfcommencement@maine.edu © 1864 - 2024 University of Maine at Farmington individuals have only a few minutes to escape and save their lives the American Red Cross and the Farmington Hills Fire Department have teamed up to offer free smoke alarm installations in homes This initiative was highlighted during a controlled fire demonstration outside the Farmington Hills Fire Department The demonstration showcased how quickly fires can spread Brian Pankow of the Farmington Hills Fire Department noted With the synthetic materials in furnishings The demonstration room took exactly 1 minute and 40 seconds to burn down The moment the match ignited the couch fabric and every home needs multiple,” Pankow emphasized The same goes for carbon monoxide detectors Carbon monoxide is a silent killer; it’s odorless The Farmington Hills Fire Department and the American Red Cross are ensuring that smoke alarms are installed and functioning correctly through their Sound the Alarm campaign Regional Disaster Officer for the American Red Cross “It’s just an opportunity to make sure that if you need smoke alarms We’ll do the installations and provide education during this time we’ll let you know where the smoke alarm will work best Pankow added that smoke alarm installation is just the first step in keeping families safe It’s also essential to have a plan for what to do when alarms sound and to practice that plan with children practicing with your little one as early as possible makes it a norm,” he said The fire department recommends practicing the escape plan with pets as well Going back inside puts you at risk of injury.” He also advised against trying to grab photos or special items during an evacuation as there isn’t enough time and it’s too dangerous To have a smoke alarm installed for free, contact the American Red Cross by visiting their website here. You can watch Kim on the morning newscast weekdays from 4:30 to 7 a.m., and frequently doing reports on the 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts. ENVIRONMENT 11:57 AM | Updated: 11:59 am Birds move around Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area in Farmington on Friday The area is one of 30 in the state that will soon require a fishing or hunting license to access BY CARTER WILLIAMS, KSL.COM SALT LAKE CITY — You’ll soon need a hunting or fishing license to access more than two dozen Utah wildlife management areas along the Wasatch Front State wildlife officials are proposing a new rule requiring a license in management areas in Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber counties. This is in coordination with the passage of HB309 especially in areas that attract more than just hunters and anglers The new law addressed several wildlife-related items including a few related to wildlife management areas it redefined wildlife management areas as properties that “protect conserve and perpetuate wildlife resources” rather than just a piece of land owned by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources it also added a new requirement that anyone 18 or older must have a valid hunting or combination license to access a management area in a county of the “first or second class,” which currently applies only to 30 properties along the Wasatch Front Hunting and fishing are considered the “primary recreational activities” at wildlife management areas but many have brought in people for other recreation Some of these areas then experienced an uptick in usage in recent years which led to more considerable challenges in managing the spaces they were loved to death,” she told KSL.com we saw some littering (and) things like that in some of these wildlife areas.” wildlife management areas are only acquired and maintained through hunting and fishing license fees and a tax tied to purchasing hunting or fishing equipment along with many other new laws passed this year the rule the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is proposing aims to clarify the new law so it’s easier for everyone to understand and follow the division’s wildlife lands coordinator Since educational programs and education/visitor centers were among the exemptions the new rule wouldn’t apply to the Eccles Wildlife Education Center or Hasenyager Reserve at Farmington Bay Wildlife Management Area in Davis County which also serves as a popular location for birdwatching “This area is closed to hunting and provides educational opportunities for the public; therefore this education and visitor center would be exempt from the requirement,” she said A sign warning visitors about a license requirement at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area in Farmington is pictured on Friday contractors and volunteers carrying out duties in a management area would also be exempt while on the job Management areas on sovereign lands or lands owned by the Utah Reclamation Mitigation Conservation Commission are also exempt from needing a license Diamond Fork and Utah Lake Wetland Preserve would be exempt because of the latter Some additional exemptions apply to management areas that straddle county lines licenses would be required on the Weber County side of Cinnamon Creek Harold Crane and Willard Bay Upland Game wildlife management areas as well as the Utah County side of Santaquin Spencer Fork and West Hills management areas but not in any of the neighboring county sections The New York Times and the Salt Lake Tribune A new segment of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail in New Haven is set to open this spring This 1.5-mile segment — phase four of a five-phase plan to improve the trail — will link Temple Street and the Yale campus with downtown New Haven The trail runs 56 miles from New Haven to Massachusetts and is part of the larger East Coast Greenway president of the Farmington Canal Rail to Trail Association said that the trail is the “crown jewel” and the “spine” of the Connecticut trail system Fernandez explained that the money for the trail’s expansion was secured in 2010 and the design for it was approved in 2013 According to Executive Director of the City Planning Department Laura Brown city planners are meeting this week with Mayor Justin Elicker to finalize a date for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the new segment of the trail “It connects a lot of Connecticut history,”  Brown explained “going through the center of the state from New Haven which is certainly the cultural capital of the state and then going north to the statehouse in Hartford and over to Massachusetts.” Bruce Donald, the East Coast Greenway’s Southern New England manager and the chairman of the Connecticut Greenways Council, cannot wait to cut the ribbon on this trail especially because this phase of the development of the trail has been delayed Donald said the first meeting about this phase of construction was over 20 years ago Brown clarified that delays to the expansion’s implementation can be attributed to an effort to ensure the trail is fully ready for use when opened to the public.  “This is the nature of development in a city,” Brown said adding that “there is a lot of history and existing buildings and infrastructure,” which can be difficult with construction New Haveners and Yalies use the trail primarily to commute to class and to work City planners estimate that commuters account for 50 percent of trail traffic These trails aren’t for the “spandex” crowd or for the cyclists on “six thousand dollar bikes” — “they’re for everyone.” New Haven commuters rely on this trail to get to work and school and they will get to enjoy the extension of the trail and improvements to the infrastructure as soon as it’s open the founder of the New Haven Friends of the Farmington Canal Greenway a trail is not “just a place where people can do recreation It’s also a place where they can … learn about history and can see interesting art The city has already installed placards in the Temple Street tunnel displaying historical information about the history of New Haven’s canals and railroads which have been transformed into a greenway “I think it’s going to be something really special when people are going to really treasure it and appreciate it the way they do the Highline in New York,” Goode said will be Connecticut’s “Lowline,” a Highline but with tunnels A trail should be accessible for recreation and commuting and the “aesthetic experience” is a bonus, but Donald believes safety on the trail is imperative. He explained that having a safe walking space in downtown will help reduce pedestrian and bicycle deaths in New Haven “It’s a big deal for the university,” Donald said The trail will connect the existing Temple Street tunnel and the Canal Dock Boathouse Orange and State Streets and Union Station will be more accessible via this route Fernandez emphasized that the trail is also invaluable for commuters from Hampton and Cheshire as well as other suburbs outside New Haven Brown says the new segment is nearing completion and will be available before the “spring biking season.” “I’m confident that this will be a lasting piece of infrastructure and added value for residents when it opens up It’s been worth the wait,” Brown said.  The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail is currently accessible from the School of Engineering on Hillhouse Avenue and Benjamin Franklin and Pauli Murray colleges April 8: The article has been updated to clarify the location of the new segment Interested in getting more news about New Haven? Join our newsletter! A Farmington Hills man was found guilty of attacking an 80-year-old man in a YMCA locker room last year was convicted Friday of assault with intent to do great bodily harm by an Oakland County Circuit Court jury The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on May 27 "The victim was left unconscious and bleeding and he had to be hospitalized after this assault," Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in a statement Monday and clearly the jury agreed after looking at the evidence Their verdict will hopefully provide the victim a measure of justice." said he was not willing to comment at this time Authorities alleged assault happened on March 1 at the YMCA at 28100 Farmington Road near 12 Mile Road Police received a call about the attack at about 10:45 a.m and found an 80-year-old West Bloomfield Township man unconscious with severe facial injuries in the men’s locker room witnesses and authorities testified that Smith and the victim exchanged words inside the locker room A witness who intervened to help the victim said he saw Smith slam the elderly man's head against a counter former UM and professional football player Braylon Edwards told WDIV-TV (Ch 4) he was the good Samaritan who intervened who played for the New York Jets and the Seattle Seahawks posted a link to his interview with the TV station on his X feed Police said the assailant fled before they arrived but were able to identify him from the facility's membership records officers arrested the suspect on Parkhill Street north of 12 Mile Prosecutors charged Smith in connection with the assault Earlier this month a Detroit man accused of shooting and wounding a man with autism was charged with assault with intent to murder assault with intent to do great bodily harm Also this month a Pontiac man accused of setting a man on fire with a lighter was charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder A Garden City man was charged this month with eight felonies including assault with intent to murder and assault to do great bodily harm for allegedly setting fire to a massage spa while two women were inside (KATU) — Farmington Road in Aloha was closed in both directions between 185th and 198th after an early morning crash on Wednesday David Huey with the Washington County Sheriff's Office says deputies were called out at 1:23 a.m. The Crash Reconstruction Team was investigating and Huey says it's too soon to tell if alcohol or speed were factors Investigators say that 62-year-old Rene Jones of Forest Grove was driving a 2003 Mazda heading West on SW Farmington Road when he left his lane of travel and crashed head-on into a Nissan that had been traveling eastbound A spokesman for Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue says they responded to a 3-vehicle crash involving two cars and a pickup truck the Utah Department of Transportation is closing a stretch of Interstate 15 in both directions every weeknight UDOT is building a new interchange at Shepard Lane in Farmington and construction crews are placing five beams on the bridge the freeway will be completely closed between 200 North in Kaysville and Park Lane in Farmington when the freeway won't reopen until 10 a.m Northbound traffic will be diverted onto US-89 in Farmington and southbound traffic will take a detour onto Main Street in Kaysville UDOT says the new interchange is expected to be completed in late 2026 It will cross over Union Pacific and Utah Transit Authority tracks to create a new connection from I-15 to local roads Officials also say it will "improve pedestrian and bike connectivity along Park Lane The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the dates for the open house and dedication of the Farmington New Mexico Temple which will be the state’s second house of the Lord Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the Farmington New Mexico Temple on Sunday with the single dedicatory session to be broadcast to all units in the temple district a series of tours and a public open house will be held at the recently completed house of the Lord with invited guests to tour the temple Tuesday and Wednesday The dedication and open house dates were first announced Monday, March 24, on ChurchofJesusChrist.org During the April 2021 general conference, President Russell M. Nelson announced Farmington, New Mexico, as one of 20 sites for new temples The Church identified the location for the Farmington temple on June 23, 2021, and released an exterior rendering of the temple on Oct The April 30, 2022, groundbreaking for the house of the Lord was presided over by Elder Anthony D. Perkins a General Authority Seventy who was born in the southwestern Colorado city of Cortez and grew up as a teen in Farmington Projected to be a single-story temple of approximately 25,000 square feet the Farmington New Mexico Temple will be built on a 6.62-acre site at the intersection of College Boulevard and Windsor Drive A meetinghouse will also be built on the site in Farmington which serves as the commercial hub of the Four Corners area where the states of Utah The temple will be the state’s second, joining the Albuquerque New Mexico Temple Nearly 70,000 Latter-day Saints reside in New Mexico the temple will serve not only members in New Mexico but also Latter-day Saints from the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States Athletic director Allyson Robinson confirmed with Hometown Life on Thursday morning that Farmington Public Schools including Farmington and North Farmington high schools has accepted an invitation to join the Lakes Valley Conference after spending almost 25 years competing in the Oakland Activities Association FPS will compete in the OAA during the 2025-26 school year before officially joining the LVC on July 1 "The decision was made with careful consideration as we believe the Lakes Valley Conference provides a better geographic and competitive fit for our schools," Robinson wrote in a followup email to HTL "The opportunity to compete against like-sized schools and reduce travel demands for our families were key factors in this transition."  The OAA's current footprint includes 23 schools ranging from as far east as Harper Woods in Wayne County North and West Bloomfield along its western border Coincidentally, Waterford School District, which includes Kettering and Mott High Schools, is leaving the LVC for the OA A following the conclusion of the 2025 fall sports season which expands the league's footprint even more northwest FPS's decision to leave the OAA comes just days after Livonia Public Schools — which includes nearby Churchill, Franklin and Stevenson high schools — also accepted an invitation to join the LVC Its high schools were charter members of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association starting in 2008 they couldn't resist an opportunity to join a league that featured seven other likeminded schools of similar size and competition More: Leaving the LVC? Waterford Mott, Kettering apply to rejoin OAA "Joining the LVC aligns us with schools of similar size ensuring a more competitive and balanced playing field for our student-athletes," Robinson agreed "With member districts having multiple high schools and student populations around the same size we will be facing opponents with similar resources and talent pools."  it'll consist of only five similarly-sized school districts That includes South Lyon Community Schools (South Lyon and South Lyon East) Huron Valley Schools (Milford and White Lake Lakeland) A group of schools with similar enrollment should be a boon for on-field competition every school in the league will compete at the Division 2 level for football most years except for D-1 Stevenson and D-3 Western That should ensure close competition and exciting matchups in almost every sport "We have a history with a lot of the LVC schools," Robinson said "We are excited to revive some past rivalries in a fun and positive way Healthy competition on the field and court brings out the best in our student-athletes we look forward to fostering a spirit of camaraderie and collaboration with our fellow LVC schools This balance of competition and connection will create meaningful experiences for our students and school communities." That's not to say rivalries and competitive matchups against remaining OAA members will disappear FPS will continue scheduling non-conference games against natural rivalries where it makes sense as the district wants to continue fostering relationships with the neighboring schools it has competed against for decades More: Livonia Public Schools leaving KLAA for Lakes Valley Conference we want to express our sincere gratitude to the Oakland Activities Association for many great years of competition "We have valued being a part of this outstanding league and appreciate the leadership we look forward to still seeing them across the fields and pools in our non-conference schedules for years to come."  FPS is also excited about the relationships its student-athletes and coaches will create off the field at league-wide meetings and superintendent are all excited about this partnership with the Lakes Valley Conference," Robinson added "The LVC isn't just about competition — It's about student involvement beyond athletics A smaller conference not only aids our athletics programs but also provides more opportunities for students to engage in leadership activities beyond sports Through league-wide student forums and collaborative initiatives our students will be able to connect with peers from other schools and develop important leadership skills that will benefit them both in and out of the classroom." Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life. Follow him on Twitter at @folsombrandonj FARMINGTON HILLS — City officials are taking a deer overpopulation problem by the antlers proposing annual culls and local hunter participation a decade after they began studying how to manage the animals The city council will vote April 28 on whether to implement lethal methods of controlling the deer population through sharpshooter culls and eventually regulated hunts by qualified citizens Department of Agriculture sharpshooters could take place in less than a year “It’s been years since we started the process,” Bryan Farmer but this council said we need to not keep pushing this down the road and now they are addressing that goal.” More: Milford Township officials taking fresh look at where hunting should, or shouldn't, be allowed Farmington Hills' deer population is higher than the state recommends The Michigan Department of Natural Resources suggests no more than 15-20 deer per square mile in order to maintain a healthy herd and ecosystem Aerial surveys show Farmington Hills has areas with up to 80 deer per square mile in a 34-square mile city with about 83,000 human residents DNR officials favor culls as the cost-effective method to achieve the right ratio rather than sterilization or relocation of the animals They have said overpopulation of deer leads to not only a decline in deer health other wildlife and increased risk of ticks and tick-borne diseases and deer-vehicle crashes Deer-vehicle collisions are on the rise in Oakland County with a record 2,125 crashes involving the animals in 2023 the second most in the state behind only Kent County there were 621 deer-vehicle crashes recorded in Farmington Hills alone although Farmer believes there were many more that went unreported These concerns and the lack of deer concern for boundaries led Farmington Hills in 2021 to take a regional approach and establish the Southeast Michigan Urban Deer Management Coalition Southfield Mayor Ken Siver said in an email this week that the majority of Southfield voters approved culling the deer herd in an advisory referendum three years ago “We are in the middle of budget building currently,” he wrote who attended the Farmington Hills study session on Monday night and saw four deer crossing Farmington Road on his drive home is planning to discuss the issue with his city council in April but they haven’t officially seen a presentation or made any decisions,” he said I want to make sure I have the revenue for it in the budget.” Farmer said a cull of deer by the USDA is expected to cost about $20,000 in Farmington Hills sharpshooters in tree stands would use thermal imaging to identify deer and then shoot downward with guns equipped with silencers and the venison distributed to local food banks If the city council approves the deer management plan on April 28 highly regulated bow and arrow hunts could be done by citizens who have proven their skill through proficiency tests The plan would be reviewed about every five years the length of time expected to see a meaningful reduction in the deer population Similar deer management programs have been implemented elsewhere which has used volunteer archers annually since 2011 and additionally performed police culls from 2020-2023 the township saw a 36% decrease in deer-vehicle collisions over a 13 year-span; a “noticeable” decline in deer browsing damage in parks and preserves; no Chronic Wasting Disease in deer reported since 2016; and more than 6,000 pounds of venison donated to food banks in the 2023-24 management year according to data presented at the Farmington Hills meeting this week.The average hunter participation also has increased during the past several years something Farmer hopes to encourage in Farmington Hills He noted that not only are the citizen hunts cost effective but an annual parks and recreation archery survey showed “40-50% of people want to hunt but only 10% currently hunt.”  One of the reasons cited for a decline in hunter participation and deer harvest is access to land and restrictive local ordinances but when it comes to managing parks and invasive species we have a lot of responsibility,” Farmer said also citing a Michigan study that shows an 89% approval rating for hunting we are responsible for deer crashes… We don’t want to eradicate the deer but the number we have is out of control and responsibility falls on city leadership.” The Farmington Hills City Council will vote on the deer management plan during a meeting that starts at 7:30 p.m. More: Livonia police rescue deer whose life was literally on the line (WXYZ) — Twelve people have been hospitalized after a fire destroyed a home in Farmington Hills on Tuesday morning FULL VIDEO: Farmington Hills police and fire update on house fire We're told that six of the people hospitalized are in serious but stable condition as of 2:00 pm Those three officers have been transported to the burn unit at Detroit Receiving Hospital on ventilators due to smoke inhalation Officials have released the following information on those still hospitalized: The fire started at a home on 10 Mile near Middlebelt 911 calls were received just before 5:00 a.m The callers said people were trapped inside Crews from every Farmington Hills fire station responded as did everyone on duty from the Farmington Hills Police Department and Timothy Shingleton immediately rushed to the rear of the property and forcibly entered through a back door They worked to rescue an unconscious man with a 7-year-old child pinned beneath him The unconscious man was dragged out the rear door Officers also helped another man crawl over the unconscious man and outside of the house police released body camera footage of the officers pulling people to safety from the fire BODY CAMERA VIDEO: Farmington Hills officers rescue victims from house fire (WARNING: Intense video “I am extremely proud of the selfless and heroic actions of these officers who risked their lives to rescue these residents,” said Farmington Hills Police Chief John Piggott “We remain hopeful and are praying for the full recovery of the officers involved and the residents who were rescued.” helped an adult and a child out a side door Officers also rescued two cats from the home They are being treated at a local animal hospital The afternoon press conference followed an earlier news conference by Farmington Hills Fire Chief Jon Unruh "The heroic actions of these four police officers exemplify the very best of public service they rushed into danger to rescue residents trapped in the burning home demonstrating extraordinary courage and selflessness,” said Unruh at the afternoon news conference coupled with the Fire Department's immediate medical attention and transportation of all twelve individuals to the hospital This incident serves as a powerful reminder of why working smoke alarms are absolutely critical in every home These simple devices provide the early warning that can make the difference between life and death in an emergency We are profoundly grateful to these brave officers and fire personnel for their exceptional service to our community." WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE FROM FARMINGTON HILLS FIRE CHIEF JON UNRUH Farmington Hills police officers were the first to the scene just after 5 a.m. rescuing the eight family members trapped in the bedrooms of the home We're told that at least two of the people in the home were unconscious upon arrival The ages of the family members range from five months old to 27 years old The remaining two adults and child were able to get out of the home before officers arrived on scene a faith-based organization that is located directly across the street Three members of the family are in critical condition fire officials say the children are not among them is standard procedure in fires involving a faith-based organization Everyone hospitalized is believed to have suffered from smoke inhalation A cause of the fire is yet to be determined Officials believe the fire started in a bedroom They say the home did not have working smoke detectors The cause of the fire is still under investigation but at the Monday afternoon news conference officials said that their first impressions based on the initial investigation are that the fire does not seem suspicious in nature.