Your access to this service has been limited If you think you have been blocked in error contact the owner of this site for assistance If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email in the box below and click "Send" You will then receive an email that helps you regain access Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence Click here to learn more: Documentation (opens in new tab) 6 May 2025 2:32:45 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); UN relief chief Tom Fletcher warned on Thursday that the global aid system must undergo a “humanitarian reset” becoming significantly more efficient and exploring new sources of funding as major donors – including the United States – sharply reduce their contributions where he has been witnessing the severe impact of funding shortfalls on civilians the Emergency Relief Coordinator said he had raised with Taliban officials the importance of women’s participation in humanitarian efforts and their right to education He expressed hope that the discussions would lead to meaningful progress UN News: You have said that policymakers who signed off on aid cuts should come to Afghanistan to see the effect they're having on the population You said the effect of aid cuts is that millions die Do you use this kind of blunt language when you’re talking to these policymakers in private there is a bit of a time lag before you really see the impact of the cuts That has a real-world impact and it's become much more real for me on this trip The local NGO's that we're keen to protect in the midst of all this We try and find different ways to communicate this in slightly gentler terms That's the great tragedy at the heart of it now You've got politicians who are doing this really reluctantly forced to make really tough decisions because their economies are struggling and because of pressures from taxpayers to do things differently They know the importance of humanitarian efforts and they're very sad about the choices they're having to make Then there is another group of politicians who They seem to boast about – and take credit for – aid cuts That’s the group that I would love to bring to sit with a mother who has lost her child because she was forced to cycle pregnant to a hospital three hours away You show leadership on the world stage by being out there helping countries to deal with these challenges at source I don't know which of those arguments work with which constituencies so we have to adapt and be creative in how we make the case We also have to be firm in defending what we do and take pride in the fact that the humanitarian community has taken millions out of poverty and saved hundreds of millions of lives UN News: You’ve become the UN emergency relief chief at a particularly tough time in terms of ensuring the UN’s ability to help the most vulnerable In February you announced 20 per cent cuts to your department How will you make those cuts in a way that doesn’t make the job even harder Really brutal choices are being made and the sector will probably shrink by one third The money that’s been cut isn't going to come back anytime soon and trying to convince the sceptics to bring the private sector in and change the public conversation around solidarity We have to work with the money that we have not the money that we need or the money that we wish we had I'm really positive about the way that Marco Rubio has talked about the need to protect life-saving aid  I’m not giving up and I'm really positive about the way that Marco Rubio has talked about the need to protect life-saving aid I really want to get into that conversation with him and see what his vision is for America's role in saving lives around the world are we going to have to completely rethink what aid entails and how it's funded Tom Fletcher: We're going to have to change We have to preserve the best of what we've learnt and have confidence in what we’ve delivered so far but we're going through a process now that we call the “humanitarian reset” we're becoming smaller and we're trying to do that in a way that does as little damage as possible and minimises the hit to the essential life-saving work we do The IASC has backed that up and actually taken it to the next level in terms of taking the layers out of the system and making sure we end the turf wars and focus on what we each do well and ensure that we do much more at a local level UN News: Do many Member States still believe in the importance of international aid A number of donors are staying solid despite the funding crises that they're all facing We've got more innovative ideas about how to bring in the private sector and also I believe really strongly in the role of individuals in finding ways to ensure that we're reaching wider movement beyond governments and Member States the de facto authorities [The Taliban] have severely reduced access to education and employment prospects for women and girls Are you able to have a constructive discussion about this with the regime There are two really core issues here for us One is the role of women in humanitarian work: we simply cannot deliver without them we rely on them completely and we couldn't be here without them And the second is the wider issue around rights for women and girls including education and the fact that millions of girls have had that right stolen from them over the last three years who believes in respect and trust and listening and in recognizing that we have different cultures different heritages and different beliefs that I don't hold that you want to achieve before the end of your mandate as the head of humanitarian affairs Tom Fletcher: The average head of OCHA lasts about three years The travel schedule is very hectic and you're dealing with the world's worst crises so there's a bit of wear and tear along the way It's our job to save hundreds of millions of lives and to define everything we do against that yardstick my number one objective was to survive as long as possible because I think it's traumatic for an organization to get new people in learning from the organization and from those we serve and then putting that into action is a serious objective in itself I did come into it with an objective around the reform of the humanitarian sector Elon Musk and others started talking about efficiency and prioritization and cuts I do believe that we can do this much more effectively and much closer to those we serve and so I was already determined to deliver that the big one is ultimately about saving lives I believe it's our job to save hundreds of millions of lives and to define everything we do against that yardstick.  The UN’s top humanitarian official on Thursday issued a stark warning over the continuing blockade of aid into Gaza calling on Israel to lift restrictions that have left civilians without food Lifesaving operations everywhere continue to be shut down by sweeping funding cutbacks which will result in millions of people dying the UN’s top aid official said on Wednesday Dear Heloise: I like to use parchment paper when baking especially when something might bubble over onto a baking .. Dear Annie: My husband and I have been together for 13 years and married for 10 Dear Heloise: We travel with two young children who get bored if they don’t have a few toys to play with Copyright © 2025 Ogden News Publishing of Michigan | https://www.dailypress.net | 600 Ludington St. 2025 at First Missionary Baptist Church in Decatur with the Reverend Daylan Woodall officiating Fletcher will lie in repose one hour prior to service Family will receive friends Tuesday from 4:00PM until 6:00PM at Reynolds Funeral Home at the Decatur Morgan Hospital-Decatur General Campus.  Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net he reflected on a moment during The Impact ATL in which Fletcher called him a bad father Ari expressed frustration with Herbo for leaving their son Yosohn's birthday party early and missing his graduation but said that the way she was going about her issues was just her opinion In another clip from the reality TV show, Ari Fletcher spoke on coparenting with G Herbo and refused to outright call him a "bad dad." She may have her problems but she knows how great of a father he usually is and he said that it will always be love between them Fletcher apologized for coming off harsh during their interaction so that "terrible dad" quote from the first clip is just an emotional slip the Chicago rapper expressed that Ari calling him a "terrible dad" in the first clip is not something she actually means But he still understands where she's coming from Read More: Ari Fletcher Threatens To Sue Blogs Alleging That G Herbo Still Pays Her Bills "She don't mean it at all," G Herbo remarked concerning Ari Fletcher. "It's no way that you really feel like I'm a bad father I feel like she was just probably frustrated She said that kind of to get under my skin for real But that was also my daughter's first birthday it's just the uncomfortable conversation that got to be had we avoid those uncomfortable conversations what is it that I did that may have offended you or frustrated you or whatever the case And I can tell you I'ma try my best for it not to happen again G Herbo and Ari Fletcher started dating around 2014 and broke up towards the end of 2018 they've been very open about their coparenting struggles but even more so about their amicable path to the healthy and honest bond they share now Read More: Ari Fletcher Rejects Notion That G Herbo “Made Her” Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application His greatest accomplishment in life was being a caring and loving father Those left to cherish his memory are his mother; fiancé Katie Fletcher; children Kahliel (Katelynn) Fletcher and Jeremiah Fletcher; three grandchildren Andrew (Ashley) King and James King; and several nieces A visitation will be held at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home on Friday A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday Add to Calendar Add to Calendar This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors When you’ve known someone for more than a quarter of a century you might be wrong to make that assumption.  Case in point: I first met my friend “Steve” (left) when he first opened his Bagels Plus in a former (but already closed before he bought the building) Bruegger’s Bagels location on E I also thought I remembered Steve telling me that he bought an H&H Bagels location in New York not long after it was revealed that Kramer the kooky character on the hit NBC-TV show “Seinfeld,” had been on strike for years from the original H&H Bagels in Manhattan.  it took a kitchen fire and the shop being closed for five months — Bagels Plus finally reopened at the end of March — for me to find out just how wrong I was on both counts.  my friend the bagel maker’s real name is Monsieur (yes “They were my competitors when I had my first Bagels Plus in Roslyn was that Steve did bring the ability to make true New York-style bagels with him when he moved to Florida — “to get away from the snow” — even though most New Yawkas say that there are no “real” bagels in Florida because we can’t duplicate the water in the Empire State.  Steve showed me the five special water filters he has in Bagels Plus to reduce the “hardness” of the water here even though New York is one of the few cities in the U.S that doesn’t filter its water because of its natural “softness” and purity.  he attributes the authenticity of his bagels to the way he makes them “We use wheat flour and some vegetable flour yeast and water to make our bagels,” he says sugar or any of the other things you don’t need that other people use to make bagels.”  Photographer Charmaine George and I watched Steve make a batch of bagels and we agreed that he did not use any of the ingredients he mentioned that other people do use.  He says that one of the most important things is that “real New York” bagels have to be kettle-boiled before they are baked.  you need the right kind of kettle,” he says “The kettle isn’t a very expensive piece of equipment but you really need it to make the bagels correctly.”  Whatever Steve and his happy crew have been doing to them there’s no doubt in most local bagel lovers’ minds that Bagels Plus had the closest-to-New-York bagels anywhere near New Tampa or Wesley Chapel prior to the fire that caused Steve to not only shut his doors but basically rebuild the interior of his shop from scratch.  “The fire ended up being a blessing,” he says “Because when the fire inspectors came to take a look afterwards they said that one of the support beams in the front of the store (now replaced) was ready to fall down we would never have known about it.”  who also previously owned a men’s clothing store in Manhattan also had opened a similar men’s store in the Target-anchored University Plaza behind what is now his bagel shop.  “I was thinking about moving the clothing store to this building but when I heard that it had already been a bagel shop I made the owners an offer on the spot.” And the rest is history.  Although both of my sons now live in Lakewood Ranch when I told them Bagels Plus reopened right before my most recent visit to them they both insisted that I bring them Steve’s famous bacon egg & cheese (BEC) bagel sandwiches.  egg and cheese like Bagels Plus at home,” my older son Jared — who wants to open a Bagels Plus franchise near him — told me “I just can’t get the eggs the way they make them.”  many New York bagel shops make their bacon (or sausage or ham) egg and cheese sandwiches with fried eggs — and Bagels Plus will make yours with a fried egg if you prefer — but anyone who works the grill at Steve’s shop knows how to pour just the right amount of the already-cracked real eggs onto the hot flattop griddle and fold those eggs into the perfect size to just stick out on all sides of the bagel.  if you like your bacon crispy like I do — I know there are people who prefer their bacon “wet,” which I try to not hold against them — there is always a ready supply of perfectly crisp bacon waiting to be placed in generous amounts atop your eggs a single thick slice of yellow American cheese is gently placed atop that combo also are happy to add salt & pepper or to “scoop out” your bagel before assembling your sandwich That not only gets rid of about 1/3 of the bagel’s calories it also allows it to toast up extra crispy especially when it is put through the conveyor belt toaster twice The only time they won’t put it through the toaster is when your bagel has just come out of the oven.  Bagels Plus also offers a large variety of cream cheese options — from regular and light plain to bacon scallion light strawberry and a salmon cream cheese that is made with real smoked salmon You also can get a generous portion of sliced smoked salmon with your choice of cream cheese on your favorite bagel (left photo) There’s also a variety of fresh salads (tuna roasted turkey and Black Forest ham available delicious apple or strawberry turnovers (photo below) Steve still pretends to pocket new customers’ credit cards and throw an empty coffee cup at them to make them think it’s full but it’s hard to dislike a guy who has been keeping it New York real for 27 years!  For more info or to pre-order bulk bagels (because they do often run out) You must be logged in to post a comment and Virginia Harrison; and was also preceded in death by his devoted wife Bobby and Maggie Holleman; and his beloved Cat Fletcher's two greatest loves were baseball and racing He was a pitcher for several Minor League baseball teams before returning to Virginia and opening F Fletcher was a skilled machinist and spent many happy hours building and racing cars Fletcher spent countless hours with his grandchildren; he could never tell them no Fletcher would take on the world for his family and friends finding beauty in all of His creation and joy in everything around him and will be so greatly missed by all who knew him The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Butterwood Methodist Church Cemetery the family request you take time to remember Fletcher by taking your car for a run Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text Dancer Mary Verdi-Fletcher is a pillar of the Northeast Ohio arts community and a pioneer in the world of dance her company Dancing Wheels has revolutionized what it means to be a dancer celebrates 45 years of Dancing Wheels and is determined to continue performing until the company’s 50th The Dancing Wheels Company is a physically integrated dance company comprising dancers with and without disabilities “There's a saying that access to the arts is a right "We have a byline under our title as the World Center for Integrated Dance and Arts Access we really want to make the arts accessible to all people.” Verdi-Fletcher was born with spina bifida in the 1950s “Babies that were born back in that time with spina bifida were oftentimes left to die or be institutionalized,” she said Her mother was distraught and didn’t know what to do but Verdi-Fletcher’s grandmother gave her hope after doctors wanted to institutionalize her she loved to move and would dance in her wheelchair “I moved to the point where I broke the axle off the wheel,” she said Verdi-Fletcher would go out dancing with friends “We did some dancing and twirled around the wheelchair.” Her disco routines led to her forming her own company Through her company and the Dancing Wheels dance school she has inspired others to follow her lead “They see ability on stage or in the class that we teach,” she said “You don't have to say a word because when we set foot or wheel on stage people are seeing ability everywhere from the disabled and non-disabled dancers.” “I pride myself in being able to dance still,” she said Just the stamina to keep up with that is somewhat of a challenge Memorial service will be held at Riverside Evangelical Church in Sartell May 31st at 11:00 am with visitation beginning at 10:00 am New Jersey to the late Robert William and Betty Mathilda (Olson) Fletcher New Jersey area and attended and graduated from Moorestown High School Student Council President and judge of the senior court Thomas was united in marriage to Ruth Cummins on September 25 In 1958 Thomas began working as an elevator constructor with IUEC Local 5 Philadelphia and IUEC Local 9 Minneapolis They purchased a farm near Swanville in 1973 Thomas and Ruth built a home in Little Falls and later a home in Sartell where they resided for the rest of their married life Tom enjoyed travelling and trips in the RV with Ruth their church friends and the Rum River Ramblers Thomas was an active member of Riverside Evangelical Church in Sartell where he enjoyed singing in the choir and helping with the youth of the church He will be remembered and loved by all who knew him Left to cherish his memory are his children Timothy James (Margie) Fletcher of Palm Harbor Ruth (Jeffery) Mueller of Swanville; 11 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren Jeffrey Thomas Fletcher and Daniel Howard Fletcher and his siblings Emblom Brenny Funeral Service is Cherishing the Memory and Celebrating the Life of Thomas Serious questions about the handling of the David Fletcher abuse scandal remain unanswered after the Diocese of Oxford refused to expand on its joint statement with his former church Anglican Ink reported last month that Fletcher had Permission to Officiate (PTO) in Oxford Diocese when safeguarding concerns first emerged about his behaviour towards women the conservative evangelical flagship church in central Oxford where he had been Rector from 1986 to 1998 He held the Bishop of Oxford’s PTO until July 2018 Fletcher therefore had PTO in Oxford Diocese for the first two years of Croft’s episcopate In February following the Channel 4 News revelations that Fletcher was an abuser of women and girls Oxford Diocese and St Ebbe’s issued a joint statement This followed an earlier statement by St Ebbe’s which said: ‘Since 2017 by which time David Fletcher was very unwell and had ceased doing any ministry St Ebbe’s received reports from two women about him having been inappropriately tactile with them These were referred to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team {DST} No other concerns have been reported to St Ebbe’s in relation to him.’ The Oxford Diocese-St Ebbe’s joint statement said that in 2017 Fletcher was told ‘to avoid physical contact that had any possibility of being considered inappropriate’ following a report of him ‘being inappropriately tactile with a member of the church’ It also said that in 2019 ‘David Fletcher’s behaviour was again raised when a report of inappropriate tactility was passed to St Ebbe’s via a third party’ ‘who confirmed that the appropriate action had been taken in 2017 and advised that the report did not meet the threshold for further action.’ The joint statement added that a further concern about Fletcher emerged in 2021: ‘St Ebbe’s heard indirectly of a couple who had approached David Fletcher to confront him about his behaviour some years previously The couple were contacted and encouraged to make a report to the Diocese David Fletcher was seriously ill at this point and In March Evangelicals Now ran a news story in which an Oxford Diocese spokesperson was quoted clarifying how St Ebbe’s handled the disclosures: ‘The 2017 complaint was handled by St Ebbe’s when first reported Anglican Ink last week contacted Oxford Diocese in the light of the news that Fletcher had PTO in 2017: ‘We know that Fletcher had PTO during the first two of years of Bishop Croft’s episcopate and that the St Ebbe’s leadership handled the initial disclosure about Fletcher themselves ‘Would Oxford Diocese be prepared to issue a statement on the handling of the 2017 disclosure about a minister holding the Bishop’s licence at the time and about the fact that the Bishop was not informed until at least two years later that there were safeguarding issues around Fletcher What is Oxford Diocese’s position on this delay?’ AI also asked for further details about the handling of the 2017 disclosure by St Ebbe’s Who told Fletcher to ‘avoid physical contact that had any possibility of being considered inappropriate’ Roberts’s clerical number two at the church Was the church’s safeguarding officer present Oxford Diocese responded: ‘The diocese and St Ebbe’s actions in light of complaints made about David Fletcher’s behaviour have been detailed in this statement, on St Ebbe’s website Following the Channel 4 News investigation more women have come forward with disclosures about their abuse by Fletcher It is to be hoped for the sake of all his victims that there is full transparency from both Oxford Diocese and St Ebbe’s about the scale of the scandal the culture that enabled him to abuse his position of trust is an evangelical journalist based in the UK United has recalled Homegrown forward Kristian Fletcher from English Premier League side Nottingham Forest FC Fletcher will be available for selection for the Black-and-Red's upcoming MLS fixtures Fletcher originally went on loan on August 30 and spent a majority of his loan spell playing for Nottingham Forest’s U-21 squad in the Premiere League 2 He made his debut for Nottingham Forest’s U-21 side on Oct coming on as a 74th-minute substitute against Southhampton FC U-21 Fletcher would score his first goal for the Reds on Feb helping them secure a 1-1 draw against Derby County U-21 the Homegrown forward has appeared in 12 matches for Nottingham Forest’s U-21 side scoring three goals and amassing 576 minutes played The Maryland native originally signed with the Black-and-Red on Aug as the 19th Homegrown Signing in club history in a 2-1 league win against New York City FC The 19-year-old scored his first career MLS goal on Oct Fletcher also spent a short loan spell at Swansea City AFC in the English Football League Championship where he appeared in 13 matches recording 17 goals for Swansea City’s U-21 team before returning to D.C Fletcher has scored two goals and recorded two assists in 28 appearances across all competitions United recall Homegrown forward Kristian Fletcher from English Premier League side Nottingham Forest FC he enlisted in the United States Army serving from June 7 He was employed at Trumbull County Engineers for 25 years He was an avid Ohio State Buckeye and Cincinnati Bengals fan Bible study class and spending time with his grandchildren Christine Ranttila Fletcher of Cortland; daughter Matthew (Pollyanna) Fletcher of Powell; siblings Terry Fletcher and Karen Gavin; and grandchildren Interment will be in Ohio Western Reserve Cemetery in Rittman Arrangements have been entrusted to the Carl W | https://www.tribtoday.com | 240 Franklin Street SE LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — An investigation at an elementary school in west Las Vegas led to the arrest of a Clark County School District employee CCSD's police department announced on Tuesday The employee was identified as 31-year-old Alicia Fletcher Police say she was arrested on Friday and booked into the Clark County Detention Center on charges related to child abuse and battery Fletcher's arrest stems from an investigation that began Friday at Red Rock Elementary School Police noted Fletcher is a specialized programs teacher assistant and has been employed by CCSD since July 2024 "Per the negotiated agreement with the bargaining unit she will be placed on unpaid leave," police wrote CCSD Police did not immediately release additional information about their investigation Report a typo “Cutting funding for those in greatest need is not something to boast about...the impact of aid cuts is that millions die,” warned Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher Speaking from an overcrowded hospital in Kandahar in southern Afghanistan where three or four patients have to share a bed Fletcher warned that the financial crisis has already forced UN aid teams to close 400 primary health centres across the country so far Back in Afghanistan, the reality of funding cuts continues to play out in its hospitals “where you can see doctors making the most horrific decisions about which lives to save and which lives not to save”, Mr. Fletcher said at Mirwais Regional Hospital The lack of investment in aid relief has also affected female Afghan health workers whose salaries are being cut by up to two-thirds The plight of women in the country is well documented and has been condemned by the international community having deteriorated following numerous prohibitive edicts issued by the de facto authorities who overran Kabul in 2021 As part of his official visit to Afghanistan Mr. Fletcher met de facto provincial governor Mullah Shirin Akhund to discuss the need to address Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis It comes after more than four decades of conflict that have left almost half the population - some 22.9 million people – needing humanitarian assistance to survive In earlier talks during his official visit Fletcher stressed that development was not possible without girls’ education and their full participation in the country’s economy a lack of basic services and dire economic forecasts Afghanistan has few resources to cope with the arrival of a growing number of Afghan refugees sent back by neighbouring countries including Pakistan and Iran The scale of the pushbacks is enormous, with more than 250,000 Afghans returned in April alone, including 96,000 who were forcibly deported. On Tuesday, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, voiced particular alarm over the fate of women and girls who face increasing repression under Taliban rule Fletcher also visited a reception centre where the UN and humanitarian partners provide support He said that the closure of hundreds of health facilities in the region had denied more than three million people access to primary care  Born in Providence she was the daughter of the late Alfred and Ellen (Devlin) Fletcher and sister of the late Maureen Fletcher Kathleen was employed by AMICA Insurance as a computer programmer from 2006 until her retirement in 2020 "Kathy greatly enjoyed traveling with Bruce and meeting with friends and relatives at home gatherings and regional restaurants Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to HopeHealth Hospice & Palliative Care 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904. HopeHealthCO.Org/Memorialgiving Receive emails when new obituariesare published to our website When you have experienced the loss of a loved one you can trust us to guide you through the arrangements necessary to create a meaningful ceremony that celebrates the unique life being honored Our staff is committed to providing your family with the highest quality care and service in your time of need and we take pride in our responsibility to lighten your burden as you take the first steps toward healing.  Review Us 404 Decatur Street Cumberland, MD 21502 (301) 722-5700 Phone: (301) 722-5700 Your browser may not work with certain site. Upgrade now. Anthony Hospital in Minneapolis to Ralph and Elsie (Goldbloom) Swanson Karen's fighting and persistent spirit was evident from the start tiny enough to fit in a shoebox and wrapped in blue dancing at the New Year’s Eve party hosted by the Fish Lake Pavilion in 1957 They were married by January 1958 and together raised three tenacious sons (Rodney “Butch,” Kurt Through their shared dedication and hard work they built not just a family but a legacy across Harris which became a cornerstone of the community she enjoyed listening to and playing music on the accordion and piano Our self-reliant mother and grandmother was always known for living life on her own terms and setting her own rules she was dedicated to her family and found her greatest joy and purpose in caring for and spending time with her loved ones Karen is survived by her children Butch Fletcher of Harris Tad (Tammy) Fletcher of Braham; 9 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; sister Kathy (Jim) Olson of Harris; sister-in-law Lois (Vern) Arntson of Sabin; nieces and nephews She was preceded in death by her parents Ralph and Elsie Swanson; husband Rusty Fletcher Reverend Teleen Saunders will officiate funeral services for Karen: 11 AM; Thursday 2025 with a time of visitation and reviewal one hour prior to the service all at Fish Lake Lutheran Church in Stark The interment will take place in Fish Lake Lutheran Cemetery please consider a donation in Karen's name to your preferred cancer organization Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City, Olson Chapelwww.FuneralAndCremationService.com Billings was home to Alice during the challenges of the Great Depression but her life was filled with music that would shape the direction of her adult years when his college quartet sang at her church They began dating her freshman year at Miltonvale Wesleyan College in Kansas and were married July 27 They partnered in pastoral ministry for 20 years in churches across Minnesota committed to providing a Christian college education for their children they joined the work and ministry of Houghton College Their family was deeply impacted by their passion for following Christ and great love of music They forged a beautiful marriage of deep love and friendship that lasted 70 years until Rolland’s death in 2019. Alice worked for Houghton College for 20 years in the college bookstore and Human Resources until her retirement in 1991 She had an eye for beauty and found great creative outlet in cooking Her Grace-filled life will be greatly missed by her four children She was the proud grandmother of Richard Stoneberg of Montgomery She is further survived by sister-in-law Lucille Fletcher of Pinellas Park preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday River Cane Wetland Park Community Advisory GroupOutstanding Project Volunteer - Group Volunteerism plays a vital role in determining the quality of life for the citizens of Raleigh and in the diverse and numerous offerings of the Raleigh Parks Department No one exemplified the spirit of volunteerism more than Fred Fletcher The Fred Fletcher Outstanding Volunteer Awards honor Fred's 54 years of dedicated service to Raleigh Parks by honoring the volunteers who have made outstanding contributions to the programs and services offered by the Department HendersonOutstanding Financial Contributor  Dave GreckyOutstanding Adopt-A-Park Volunteer Jane FennOutstanding Adult Program Volunteer Sarah ReevesOutstanding Project Volunteer - Individual Alexis ArterberryOutstanding Park Volunteer Corrine KallmanOutstanding Program Volunteer Brandi NeuwirthOutstanding Cultural Resources Volunteer Heart of Carolina Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen This year’s Harvey Karsevar Award winner for Outstanding Basketball Coach is James “Carr” McLamb Coach McLamb has coached basketball with Raleigh Parks and Cultural Resources Athletics since 2002 Coach McLamb reflects on playing in the City’s Junior Basketball League as a youth at Jaycee Park where Coach McLamb got the opportunity to play for another influential coach and role model in his life It was because of this influence that Coach decided to pass along his love for the game to the next generation of young Coach McLamb demonstrates this in his philosophy to help prepare kids for life by teaching them the importance of teamwork he believes this is a great way to promote and build character and confidence It is because of his dedication to the Raleigh basketball program and the overall impact he has left on his players and Parks staff that Coach Carr McLamb is truly deserving of this year’s Harvey Karsevar Award for Outstanding Basketball Coach Coach Price has coached youth flag football and baseball since 2021 he never failed to lead his teams in a positive way throughout the course of the season   Though Coach Price stresses the value of winning his greatest strength is his dedication to promoting a positive and fun environment for all to learn His positive demeanor makes being in his presence both enjoyable and meaningful for all that work alongside him Coach Price is always one of the first coaches to acknowledge the importance of rewarding positive sportsmanship in athletes This is never more evident than when he verbalizes how grateful he is to the Athletics staff when the program seasonally awards selected youth league participants for their dedication to promoting positive sportsmanship in sports Terry Henderson contacted the City of Raleigh Museum in hopes of helping them with the 100th anniversary celebration of the Hayes Barton neighborhood organized events for the weekend celebration and hoped to work with the museum to create a pop-up museum in an empty storefront in the neighborhood Terry demonstrated a deep love for the history of his community with unlimited energy to ensure the celebration was meaningful and fun for his neighbors Terry Henderson’s faith in the museum inspired him to reach out to the Friends of the COR Museum and offer to lead the organization through a major strategic planning process at a critical moment.Terry provided valuable advice on how to begin a top-to-bottom reorganization and helped envision a new redirection from a private citizen who had no formal connection to the museum Terry demonstrated his support by donating $5,000 to fund a strategic planning process.Terry has demonstrated a dedication to the community and the museum’s mission that far surpasses most community members and museum volunteers Red Hat’s Climate Change Community of Practice reached out to Dorothea Dix Park in 2022 to see how they might support the park’s development as well as volunteer This conversation quickly led to Red Hat helping at not only Dix Park and the Rocky Branch Trail They have participated in everything from Adopt-A-Trail to mulching and volunteering in the City of Raleigh Greenhouse Red Hat’s main focus is the Adopt-A-Trail Program where they have adopted the section of Rocky Branch Trail greenway that runs through Dorothea Dix park and along Western Blvd Red Hat has dedicated an entire committee to helping coordinate these volunteer opportunities They have been a meaningful way for employees to not only give back to their community but also to meet and engage with one another Red Hat volunteers are heavily invested in learning more about the parks and oftentimes engage in meaningful conversations around everything from the greenway to the creek study to Raleigh Parks in general as they work alongside staff In addition to their enthusiasm for the Adopt-A-Trail program Red Hat is heavily invested in Raleigh Parks as a whole One story in particular comes to mind of when Park Maintenance needed volunteers to help spread 170 yards of mulch at Nash Square This project is usually done by volunteers due to the layout and heavy usage of the park not being conducive for the use of machinery Red Hat jumped at the opportunity when asked if they would be interested Then they showed up in force and prepared to work hard.They are truly dedicated to our park system Natural Resources and Parks Manager for Dorothea Dix Dave Grecky is an extremely dedicated volunteer to the Fletcher Park Garden Program commonly referred to as “Fletcher Fridays” This program meets weekly to help with horticulture projects at Fred Fletcher Park Dave logged 76.5 hours at Fletcher in 2024 somehow improving on his 74 hours spent volunteering in 2023 Dave Grecky has done just about every task there is to do—pruning The group gets a lot of work done in our two-hour block which means they tend to generate a lot of debris Dave is there with his trusty wheelbarrow ready to load or unload monitoring their buckets while they work and emptying them as soon as they’re even halfway filled Dave is a huge piece of what makes our Fletcher Friday program so effective and efficient Dave Grecky seems to remember the name of every person and dog that he crossed paths with at Fletcher which does a great job at fostering community and bringing in new volunteers He’s a great listener and will follow up with questions with genuine interest and care Dave is the glue that keeps our Fletcher Friday group together and what makes our team feel like family Jane Fenn has been an incredible contributor to the Active Adult Community in the Raleigh area She teaches a weekly line dance class at the Five Points Center for Active Adults providing a fun way to socialize and exercise The amount of time and effort she puts into each class is invaluable and is reflected in the enjoyment she brings to her program participants She motivates young and old alike to get their bodies moving and keep their minds sharp Jane Fenn checks in regularly with center directors to ensure the proper dance class levels are being offered and that they are reaching as many people as possible The patrons and staff at Five Points love having Jane and her enthusiastic drive in our center Over the course of their volunteer engagement Empower All has selflessly dedicated over 400 hours of their time and talents to creating meaningful experiences for our community through special events and a transformative STEM-focused summer camp Empower All has been instrumental in the success of several special events hosted by our department and enthusiastic participation have ensured that each event was well-executed and enjoyed by attendees of all ages the group demonstrated an unwavering commitment to creating inclusive and enjoyable experiences for everyone involved One of their most remarkable achievements was the development and implementation of a summer camp centered on STEAM (science Recognizing the importance of equipping young minds with 21st-century skills Empower All designed a program that balanced education and fun through hands-on activities to environmental science experiments and engineering challenges their thoughtfully crafted curriculum inspired curiosity and fostered a love for learning among participants and a genuine passion for service.Their positive attitude and ability to connect with both children and adults created a welcoming and encouraging environment that resonated with everyone they worked with.The impact of Empower All’s efforts extends far beyond the hours they contributed Their dedication has enriched our community and left a lasting impression on the many lives they have touched This dedicated group of community members has gone above and beyond in their efforts to shape the vision for the River Cane Wetland Park Through their selfless contributions of time they have played a pivotal role in the development of the new park’s Master Plan ensuring that it will become a cornerstone of environmental preservation and community engagement for generations to come The creation of a master plan for a park as ecologically and culturally significant as the River Cane Wetland Park is no small task It requires a deep understanding of the local community’s diverse needs as well as a commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability The advisory group has proven to be an invaluable partner throughout this process and actionable insights at every stage of planning Their dedication to ensuring the plan reflects the needs of both the environment and the community has been remarkable Their expertise and lived experiences as members of the community provided critical perspectives that have been integral to the plan’s success the group demonstrated true leadership by working collaboratively to champion important values such as inclusivity Their collective efforts have set a new benchmark for community involvement in the public planning processes embracing a forward-thinking approach to environmental sustainability and advocating for equitable access to recreational spaces the group has created a legacy that will benefit the people of Raleigh for decades to come Sarah Reeves has been an unwavering advocate for Dix Park from the very beginning As a member of the original Dix Park Master Plan Advisory Committee she dedicated countless hours to meetings and events engaging the community in shaping the park’s future Sarah has been a consistent presence at community festivals like Falling for Local and Earth Day generously volunteering her time and energy to support these events she took on a leadership role in overseeing the landscaping project at the Stone Houses enhancing the beauty of the historic houses' grounds Sarah and her friends even created plant identification markers for everything that had been planted In addition to her hands-on work at Dix Park have been steadfast supporters of the Dix Park Conservancy they made an early investment in the park’s success Sarah’s creativity and commitment extend to the holiday cards she sends out each year she sent a watercolor ornament card featuring a painted bunting to 200 friends while donating $10 per card to the Conservancy Sarah’s leadership also extends to her work with the downtown Raleigh Rotary Club where she has been a driving force in raising awareness about the park Her efforts led to the club choosing to host its 110th anniversary gala at the All Faiths Chapel at Dix Park in March 2025 in support of the park and the upcoming Thomas Dambo trolls installation Executive Director of Dix Park and Nick Smith Chief of Staff of the Dix Park Conservancy Alexis Arterberry has been volunteering with the City of Raleigh Parks Recreation and Cultural Resources Department for the past 10 years over a wide variety of events and community center locations She has donated hundreds of hours of her time to ensuring events run smoothly and are enjoyable for the community Her main location has been at Marsh Creek Community Center where she has volunteered at every event Marsh Creek holds Although she has volunteered in a number of different roles most recently she assisted with making balloon animals for the Marsh Creek Community Day This demonstrates that she is the type of volunteer that is prepared and ready to jump in where needed Alexis has been such a reliable volunteer that she is well known by staff across the department they know they can count on Alexis to step in She has been at Worthdale Community Center working their fall festival and Laurel Hills Community Center helping with the many egg hunts In addition to her dedication to volunteering with community centers she joined the Community Advisory Group for the new River Cane Park located on Kyle Drive (also awarded a Fred Fletcher Outstanding Volunteer Award this year) She has been and continues to be a dedicated member who seeks the best for her community Corrine Kallman is an amazing volunteer line dance instructor at Brier Creek Community Center and is dedicated to providing these classes for her community She has played a vital role in expanding the line dance classes being offered at Brier Creek over the last few years the program has grown from averaging around 10 - 15 students per single class to averaging around 30 - 40 total students for two classes (beginner and advanced levels) This has been possible because of the hard work and expertise of teaching line dance that Corrine has displayed Anytime our other dance class needs coverage Corrine gladly steps in to be the lead instructor so that we don't have to cancel our classes Corrine always enters the center every Wednesday evening with a smile We are very lucky to have Corrine Kallman as a volunteer at Brier Creek Community Center Lily Rankin joined the Raleigh Youth Council during her sophomore year her leadership abilities were apparent almost immediately allowing her to make meaningful contributions to the council She was a general member during her first year the 2023 - 2024 Raleigh Youth Council Sergeant at Arms Lily has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to serving her community Lily has participated in our Specialized Recreation and Inclusion Halloween and Valentine Dances which all serve individuals with special needs and disabilities She has served the youth population through Santa’s Workshop She has made environmental impacts through park cleanups and invasive species removals.  Lily has also served the community by using her voice at the Human Relations Commission’s Teen Town Hall and a Dix Park Programming Roundtable Talk She serves the broader community at the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC and through community murals In addition to her involvement in the before-mentioned service events she actively contributes to organizing and supporting Raleigh Youth Council hosted donation drives Lily’s love for and dedication to serving the community is evident in all she does She has been a valuable asset to RYC and we can always count on her to show up Brandi Neuwirth has been a long-standing member of the Latta University Historical Foundation and engage with the community about Latta University The university was an African-American co-educational institution founded by the Reverend Latta to educate underprivileged and orphan children in Raleigh’s Black community Brandi has run the Foundation for several years and in 2024 helped to support the opening of the Latta University Historic Park Brandi was on the planning committee for the Grand Opening on April 20 This included organizing members of her family and community to join Brandi has worked with staff to create special programs and events in 2024 and 2025 Opening Latta University Historic Park as a historic site has been a long-term goal of Brandi’s that she has been working tirelessly towards for many years she has thrown herself back into the work to support the additional phases of construction and further programs to cement the park in the community Brandi’s dedication and volunteer work is truly appreciated by Historic Resources staff The Heart of Carolina Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen started a Youth Aviation Academy which has encouraged young people to pursue degrees the Youth Aviation Academy has changed locations and the program has had to rebuild visibility since the Covid-19 pandemic the HOCC members' dedication to remembering the original airmen and inspiring the next generation has remained vigilant and admirable This past Fall the Youth Aviation Academy saw record attendance and engagement HOCC members worked with Raleigh Parks staff through every aspect of this program to make it the most successful season yet The plans to expand the program's capacity and offerings for this coming Fall are already in motion HOCC volunteers led four informative sessions over four months that featured a career panel and science experiments that taught the participants how aircraft can fly in the air.They also coordinated with NCDOT’s Division of Aviation to create a free field trip to their hanger at Raleigh-Durham International Airport where students learned about the NCDOT's relief efforts for Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene had the chance to sit in the cockpit of one of the state-owned planes and enjoyed a box lunch while they worked on a plane craft Their positive impact on the next generation their tenure of partnership with Raleigh Parks and their commendable efforts to carry on the legacies of the original Tuskegee Airmen deserve nothing but the highest of honors and Raleigh Parks is truly grateful for their dedication Raleigh Parks Volunteer Program This feedback widget is not intended for customer service issues This feedback is reviewed monthly to help us improve our site. For immediate customer service please refer to our staff directory MONROE, La. – Scotty Fletcher, who led Pearl River Community College to three MACCC State Championships and four consecutive 20-win seasons, has been named the 11th head coach of ULM women's basketball, Director of Athletics John Hartwell announced on Friday (March 28) Fletcher will be formally introduced at a press conference Monday morning at 11 a.m "I am thrilled for our ULM women's basketball team and the entire Warhawk family to welcome Scotty Fletcher as our new head coach," said Hartwell "His infectious positive energy and relentless work ethic are immediately evident I am confident that the best days of Warhawk Women's Basketball are ahead of us under Coach Fletcher's leadership ULM Athletics got better today with the addition of Scotty "My wife and I are very honored, appreciative and thankful to join the elite family of ULM Athletics as your women's basketball head coach," said Fletcher. "John Hartwell is an exceptional leader with a clear vision for success It was very evident when we stepped on campus that ULM is a gold mine This is an opportunity I don't take lightly and we will work tirelessly as a staff to continue to move the needle in the right direction in a very challenging league with outstanding players and coaches I have so much respect for the Sun Belt Conference and we have had several of our former players in this league I am forever grateful for John and his staff for their belief and trust in our vision." Fletcher comes to ULM after leading Pearl River to a historic 25-3 record the fewest losses recorded in program history for a single season Named the MACCC Coach of the Year for two consecutive years he has led Pearl River to four-straight 20-win seasons and three MACCC regular season championships in his 10 years at the helm Fletcher led the Wildcats to their first at-large bid to the NJCAA National Tournament since 2003 Fletcher held two separate stints at William Carey University from 2008-09 and from 2011-15 as the assistant men's basketball coach Fletcher guided the Crusaders from a last-place finish in the Southern States Athletic Conference to a perfect 21-0 in conference play in 2014 William Carey posted a 74-20 record across four seasons and captured a trio of SSAC regular season championships including a SSAC Tournament title in 2014 during Fletcher's tenure as an assistant Fletcher signed seven players who were named All-SSAC and four who were selected as NAIA All-Americans he managed the team's budget and spearheaded fundraising campaigns as well as oversaw the recruiting efforts during his time with the Crusaders Fletcher accepted a position as an assistant men's basketball coach at Jacksonville State University helping send the Gamecocks to their first Ohio Valley Conference Tournament appearance in five seasons During his two seasons at Jacksonville State he was the youngest assistant in the OVC and one of the youngest recruiters in Division I basketball In his first season as an assistant at William Carey from 2008-09 Fletcher helped the Crusaders earn their first-ever win over a Division I program Fletcher began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ole Miss in 2007 under head coach Andy Kennedy he helped guide the Rebels to a 24-11 record and a Final Four run in the NIT Fletcher started his collegiate career at Pearl River and helped the Wildcats claim the 2002-03 state championship under head coach Richard Mathis He went on to play his final two seasons at William Carey from 2005-07 averaging 9.4 points per game and leading the team with 66 triples Fletcher finished his playing career with 118 three-pointers Fletcher holds a bachelor's degree in physical education and recreation from William Carey He then went on to complete a master's degree in education at William Carey in 2009 Fletcher's hire is pending the approval of the UL System Board Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Our mission at Thomas Funeral Homes has always been simple creating a meaningful and lasting celebration of life We understand each individual is unique and their life celebration should be as well Our job at Thomas Funeral Homes is to listen We offer comfortable and warm facilities with a family atmosphere Your needs are our top priority and we guarantee our service Licensed staff members are available around the clock—24 hours a day Whether you are pre-planning or need to hold a service soon we are ready to answer our phone and offer you warm you can trust the funeral directors at Thomas Funeral Home to help you celebrate your loved one’s life Our staff has experience planning a variety of funeral services and can assist your family in honoring your loved one no matter your personal preference We pride ourselves on serving the Iowa community and surrounding areas with compassion Thomas Funeral Home - CentervillePhone: (641) 856-4321Fax: (641) 856-4322501 North 18th Street Thomas Funeral Home - UnionvillePhone: (660) 947-2200Fax: (660) 947-2204 Thomas Funeral Home - CorydonPhone | Toll: (641) 872-1410Fax: (641) 872-3198303 E © Thomas Funeral HomeSupported by SRS Computing and TA By Kassidy BrownPublished: Apr. 28, 2025 at 3:40 PM CDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWHITE HOUSE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A motorcyclist was killed early Sunday morning in Robertson County, according to Smokey Barn News. SBN reports the crash happened just after 12:30 a.m in the 7600 block of Boyles Road in the White House area Here are instructions on how to watch WSMV4 live on various platforms. According to preliminary information from the Tennessee Highway Patrol was traveling down Boyles Road when he reportedly lost control of the motorcycle The bike traveled across both sides of the road before stopping on the left shoulder He was pronounced dead at a Nashville hospital SBN said Fletcher was the only person on the motorcycle and the Robertson County Emergency Management Agency all responded to the scene larger than life with the stories he spun from the adventures he had experienced He spent many hours exploring its backwoods paths and befriending everyone he met along the way Jim also worked in construction doing industrial painting and as a mechanical technician for Winston Salem's downtown hotels he had a gift of seeing how to fix many things everything from backyard get togethers to large events with national artists Jim graduated from Mount Airy High School in 1976 his niece Mary (Tickle) Helm with son Lucian Helm his wife Becki and Becki's children Joseph Stacy's children Sophie and Porter Smith In Jim's final days his good friends stood by his side Jim considered all his many many loyal friends Jim loved the persimmons at his childhood home each year he would gather the wild crop and make persimmon pudding from a family recipe Jim's final wish is granted to rest in peace in the mountains he loved underneath a wild persimmon tree A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church on March 1st A reception will  immediately follow the service at the church Memorial contributions may be made to: The Blue Ridge Conservancy https://blueridgeconservancy.org/ Trinity Episcopal Church 472 North Main St. Join us for a free outdoor screening of “A League of Their Own” (1992) at the Fletcher Park amphitheater.Celebrate Women’s History Month by viewing this film about the first women’s professional baseball league The movie will start at 7:30 p.m. Location: Fred Fletcher ParkAges: AllCost: Free Gerry Lopez Goes Deep With Justin Jay On The Plug Podcast Spot Guide: Rincon Queen, of the Coast 6 of the Heaviest Waves in the World NewsAll NewsEventsBig Wave NewsWorld Surf LeagueEnvironmentalIndustryWave PoolsPosts List Winners of SURFER's Emerging Brands Grant Announced New Water Quality Regulations in New York Won’t Necessarily Make Water Any Cleaner The shaping bay is a strict TikTok-free zone where any distraction is felt in the board’s foam That’s why 16-year-old Fletcher Whittle’s skills on the tools are a welcome surprise Fletcher not only shapes his own surfboards He’s ridden his own designs to multiple ESA Eastern Championships including the Under-14 Shortboard final on a self-made handshape The video above comes from Micha Cantor of Erratic Nerve who filmed Fletcher ripping around his hometown and got him mic'd to talk about his activities in the shaping bay The son of a photographer and schoolteacher Fletcher got into shaping after hanging with Will Allison a North Carolina surf legend who charged the North Shore in the ‘70s and was inducted into the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame in 2006 It would be one thing if Fletcher were making wide fishes with flat rockers that is a far different enterprise than the high-performance shortboard he's undertaking arguably the most difficult job a shaper can do The required subtleties in concave and nuances of foil that make a shortboard soar don't happen by chance Fletcher's gone from newbie to certified good. He even has his own label for customs, FSW Surfboards. When Micha asked Fletcher what his favorite part of shaping was You have to do every single thing yourself Who said Gen Z doesn’t have an attention span  PLACE YOUR LEGAL NOTICES HERE ALACHUA – The City of Alachua’s newly elected leaders took their seats Monday night, April 21, 2025, in a Commission meeting that celebrated new beginnings even as it spotlighted familiar tensions over growth, governance, and electoral trust. Mayor Walter Welch and Commissioner Jacob Fletcher, who won their races in the April 8 municipal election, were sworn in during the early portion of the meeting. Welch unseated longtime Mayor Gib Coerper by just 21 votes (639 to 618), while Fletcher claimed Seat 2 over former Vice Mayor Ed Potts, 785 to 514. The Commission also unanimously appointed Shirley Green Brown as Vice Mayor. While the atmosphere was celebratory at first – with student performances by the Alachua Elementary chorus and a Relay for Life donation from Mi Apa Latin Café – public comments and Commission votes quickly shifted to weightier matters: development, rezonings, and, in one notable instance, allegations about voter eligibility. Phase 1, comprising 32 detached single-family homes, passed 4-1, with Commissioner Fletcher dissenting, citing lack of access to the staff report and concerns about procedural clarity. Phases 2 and 3, which included 42 and 37 homes respectively, passed unanimously. According to city planning staff, the developments met all requirements for concurrency and infrastructure, including sufficient water and sewer capacity. Though largely procedural, the first vote was disrupted by repeated objections from Tamara Robbins, a frequent speaker at public meetings known for her adversarial tone and exhaustive legal critiques. Robbins alleged that the hearing was invalid due to a deferral process months earlier that, in her view, violated the city’s public notice rules. “You didn’t open the public hearing. You dropped the ball on February 24—massively,” Robbins asserted during the meeting, ignoring clarifications from city staff that the hearing had been properly re-advertised and deferred by a Commission vote. At one point, Robbins launched into a lengthy, impassioned monologue asserting that the public was being “left out” and that the Commission routinely ignored due process in favor of developer timelines. Several commissioners and staff members calmly pushed back, explaining the procedural steps taken and affirming that the public had been given notice in compliance with state law. No one came forward claiming an “affected party” status during the three Fletch Trace quasi-judicial hearings. One nearby homeowner who identified herself as an “affected party,” urged the Commission to consider the impact on her neighborhood. The property owner’s agent, Chris Blurton of Northland LLC, emphasized that the zoning being requested was moderate. “We are not pursuing Commercial Intensive zoning. We’re limiting this to Community Commercial, and we’ve planned significant buffering from adjacent homes,” Blurton said. He noted that potential uses might include dental offices or quick-service restaurants and explicitly ruled out more intense uses such as liquor stores or smoke shops. Robbins again took the floor during the rezoning item, this time accusing the Commission of environmental negligence and suggesting that “any development at all” inherently produces “significant adverse effects.” She objected to the city’s standard findings that a rezoning “would not adversely impact the environment,” dismissing the language as incompatible with any construction activity. “If you're not leaving the land exactly as it is, you are adversely impacting the environment – period,” Robbins said. She also criticized the lack of transportation impact fees, saying city policy was shaped too heavily by staff and developers rather than by elected officials. Commissioners did not engage with Robbins' commentary in detail, though staff reiterated that any future development on the site would require its own traffic concurrency review. Vice Mayor Brown thanked city staff for their professionalism and added, “Little things mean a lot. When you do little things, they roll into big things. That applies to us up here too.” Mayor Welch closed the meeting by thanking the public and pledging transparency. “I heard you,” Welch said. “I promise you that my goal is not for you to be blindsided. My heart is for the citizen.” The meeting, which began at 6 p.m. and adjourned just after 10:30 p.m., demonstrated a heightened local political tension in recent months. #     #     # Kirby Milburne FletcherBirth date: Aug 11 set against a soft blue background.","contentUrl":"https://cdn.f1connect.net/photo/moments/candles/candle-blue.jpg","uploadDate":"2025-02-24T18:52:52.953Z","creditText":"funeralOne LLC","creator":{"@type":"Organization","name":"funeralOne LLC"},"copyrightHolder":{"@type":"Organization","name":"funeralOne set against a soft blue background.","contentUrl":"https://cdn.f1connect.net/photo/moments/candles/candle-blue.jpg","uploadDate":"2025-02-24T07:22:24.067Z","creditText":"funeralOne LLC","creator":{"@type":"Organization","name":"funeralOne lit white candle with a subtle wax drip on a beige background accompanied by a white and pink paper flower on the right side.","contentUrl":"https://cdn.f1connect.net/photo/moments/candles/candle-purple.jpg","uploadDate":"2025-02-21T19:36:06.143Z","creditText":"funeralOne LLC","creator":{"@type":"Organization","name":"funeralOne set against a soft blue background.","contentUrl":"https://cdn.f1connect.net/photo/moments/candles/candle-blue.jpg","uploadDate":"2025-02-21T19:16:01.707Z","creditText":"funeralOne LLC","creator":{"@type":"Organization","name":"funeralOne MWMilissa White9w agoCousin you are going to be missed so much but when I needed you you was always there NKNikisha Wright-King9w agoLit a candle in honor of Kirby.Rip my friend you’ve gained your wings To the family you have our deepest condolences and prayers 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 The King’s Family 🩵💚💙💜💕🥰 Light a candleMAManzie9w agoLit a candle in honor of Kirby.R.I.P Light a candleSBSheree Brown9w agoSuch a good hearted person he will be truly missed DCDetra Cornish9w agoI have so many memories too many to share just know My Cousin was a loving caring person with a Big ♥️ I’m really going to miss you 😞💔🥲 TJTanya Cooper-Johnson9w agoSuch an awesome person JMJamie Massey9w agoYou have our deepest sympathy There are no statistics available for this player There are currently no upcoming/recent events Thanks for visiting 1936 to the late James Arthur Brown and Alma Downing Brown She was a member of Lake Park Church of Christ Fletcher was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years Georgia; Patsy Casteen (Revis) of Valdosta; Kathy Fletcher of Twin Lakes; Craig Fletcher (Sherry) of Perry Florida; 9 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren Betty Sue was an avid racing fan and loved to talk NASCAR Her interest began back in the late 50s/early 60s when she drove in Powder Puff Derby races at Thunderbowl Speedway and Valdosta 75 Speedway She reminisced that she wanted to win for a gold watch but came in second and “That doesn’t win you the gold watch!” The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the compassionate caregivers who took such good care of our mama/Granny/“GG”: Laurie Rentz (her sitter) and the nurses and staff of Hospice of South Georgia (Langdale Hospice House) thank you Brother Ralph Russell for the special bond and calls of encouragement with our mom A graveside service will be held at 12 noon on Thursday The family will visit prior to the service from 11-12pm Condolences to the family may be made online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com contributions can be made to Building Fund for Church of Christ of Lake Park or to Hospice of South Georgia (Langdale Hospice House) Add to Calendar Add to Calendar He was a contractor in the area and was most proud of building his mother and father’s dream home His favorite memories were all the years camping and boating with his family in Maine and snowmobiling and hanging by the campfire with his many friends Known as UG (Uncle Glen) to his nieces and nephews Amy Broadstone and partner Nick and Jason Broadstone and partner Julie including his 10 great nieces and nephews of whom he was so proud of Linda Robertson (whom he resided with) and Sharon Broadstone He was always available to lend a hand and good for many laughs through the years The family would like to thank the team at Brookhaven Hospice and Westford House for their care and support during these past few weeks Private arrangements are being made through Badger Funeral home Arrangements are under the care of Badger Funeral Home, A Life Celebration Home, 45 School St. Groton, MA. To share a memory or offer a condolence visit: www.badgerfuneral.com  D.C. United have recalled homegrown midfielder Kristian Fletcher from his loan at English Premier League side Nottingham Forest FC featuring predominantly for Nottingham Forest's U21 side contributing three goals across 576 minutes he spent time on loan in the English Championship at Swansea City AFC with 28 all-competition appearances for the Black-and-Red logging 2g/2a after signing as a homegrown from MLS NEXT Pro affiliate Loudoun United in August 2022 D.C. United return to action this Saturday with a Matchday 10 road fixture at Eastern Conference foe Philadelphia Union (4:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass READ MORE: MLS Transfer Tracker presented by Avant This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page the daughter of the late Milburn Randolph Fletcher and Hazel Howes Fletcher Amanda was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church in Ponchatoula She worked with Options at the SLU Lab School for most of her life Amanda had a joyful personality that touched so many people Amanda was preceded in death by her brother The family is deeply grateful to the staff at Options for their long-standing and caring support and especially to her direct care staff: Althea Perkins Family and friends will be received at Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm with a Funeral Service at 2:00 pm Interment will follow at Davies Cemetery in Ponchatoula the family requests that donations be made in Amanda's memory to Options LA 70401; or First United Methodist Church - Ponchatoula Arrangements have been entrusted to Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home and Crematory of Hammond and Ponchatoula An on-line guest book is available at www.harrymckneely.com and we've made it easy to relieve that stress Play outdoor games like dodgeball and tug-o-war or relax and play a board game or a round of trivia This event is free and open to the public. Go to the Let’s Get Social Raleigh website to register to receive event updates! Cost: FreeAge: 21+RSVP for the Adult Recess Festival This is an email that was sent to superintendents on April 1 On Friday evening, March 28, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon sent an email to all state education agencies notifying us that the U.S Department of Education (USED) is changing the deadline it previously provided to liquidate COVID relief funds to end at 5 p.m. USED previously granted KDE’s request to liquidate COVID relief funds through March 28 “In response to a liquidation extension request the Department of Education previously granted a discretionary extension of the period of liquidation But the Department has reconsidered your request.” The letter adds even though the COVID pandemic and the liquidation period under the applicable regulations have ended the Department will consider an extension to your liquidation period on an individual project-specific basis.”  USED changed how the COVID relief funds were requested by states and processed by USED KDE has not received COVID grant funding the next business day as was previously the case KDE has been paying district grant recipients and asking the federal government to reimburse us we have asked to be reimbursed for nearly $5 million This latest message from USED will harm a variety of our schools and districts across the state even more KDE and/or our school districts have already committed or spent these funds because we were promised a liquidation period ending March 2026.  Nineteen districts asked to have an extended time to fully spend their COVID relief dollars that totaled $84.1 million There are now 13 districts with $34 million remaining that should be accessible to spend for the benefit of students primarily on construction projects or bus purchases based on the USED previously guaranteed liquidation date of March 28 Because USED required that grant funds subject to the extended liquidation deadline be obligated before Sept USED’s action to shorten the liquidation period by a full year leaves our districts and KDE in a difficult position.  There are many projects at KDE for the benefit of our schools and districts that also are in jeopardy due to this sudden change by Sec A total of $4.3 million in federal funds had been identified and approved by USED to provide crucial KY K-12 EdTech services up to March 2026 for all of the Commonwealth’s public school students The largest part of that funding is for the completion of a Kentucky K-12 cyber defense construction project that we started soon after COVID began that is due to be fully in place in 2026 COVID resulted in a significant increase in attempted cyberattacks on Kentucky’s K-12 organizations to the point that educational organizations are the number one target of cybercriminals from around the world.  Close to $900,000 of that $4.3 million was to pay for the online registration service for Kentucky’s K-12 students and their parents This service also automatically uploads K-12 student results from learning management systems like Google Classroom into our Kentucky Student Information System more than $100,000 was to pay for e-Transcripts services that are offered to all of Kentucky’s public school seniors to help with a faster better and smooth transition from high school to post-secondary after their COVID years in high school Also at risk is our fourth cohort for the Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) professional learning More than 6,000 educators have participated in LETRS training comprehensive no-cost opportunity open to all K-5 public school educators teachers gain essential knowledge to master the fundamentals of literacy instruction required to transform student learning and create a more vibrant experience for each and every young reader.​  Kentucky also has used COVID funding to implement evidence-based programs through summer before- and after-school initiatives to tackle learning loss and support the needs of low-income students those experiencing homelessness and children in foster care in those schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement (CSI) in the fall of 2022.   McMahon reconsider her letter dated March 28 and reinstate the March 2026 liquidation deadline previously granted to KDE We urge all superintendents and stakeholders to contact their federal legislators regarding this change by Sec Take the time to explain to our federal legislators how the sudden change in the liquidation deadline for COVID relief funds by the U.S Department of Education will negatively impact our schools and districts particularly the most vulnerable populations in the Commonwealth You may wish to emphasize the following points:  By taking immediate action and voicing your concerns we can work together to ensure that our schools and districts receive the support they need to continue providing quality education to all students.  Contact Information for Kentucky’s Congressional Delegation Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) publishes Kentucky Teacher to communicate directly with the state’s 40,000 public school teachers The stories of this award-winning publication include news workable ideas for guiding students to higher levels of achievement.