| Reporting: Costa Rica
For the most part, San Jos serves as stopover for tourists rather than an actual destination. It's location in the middle of the country is convenient to split up long cross-country bus trips. But the transitory nature of the capital may be adding to the proliferation of the nose candy througout the country. Heavily touristed areas are becoming snow-covered as well. Tamarindo, in northwest Costa Rica, is a once sleepy beach town that has become a hot spot for young international travelers. A year ago, officers in the town admitted that drug use was intensifying but there were no plans to increase police presence. The six officers then were so low on cash that they sometimes wouldn't respond to calls unless the complaintant agreed to pay for the gas necessary to get there. Charges of corruption ran rampant, and in July 2005 the entire force was changed out.
St. Lucie residents ally to sway public against wind turbine plan
FORT PIERCE While Florida Power & Light Co. is moving forward with plans to bring wind turbines to St. Lucie County, a group of residents is trying to spread information about the controversial project. The 3-month-old grass-roots group, Save St. Lucie Alliance, says it wants to get accurate information out to residents. On Saturday, about 40 residents attended a meeting at the Fort Pierce Community Center, where Brad Jones from Naples, N.Y., presented his findings and perspectives. .
Officials Threaten to Block Tanker Funds
Tiahrt told Bloomberg News late Wednesday that there is a possibility that Congress will block funding for the program. This comes after members of Connecticut's congressional delegation formally requested a briefing with the Air Force over the tanker contract. Had Boeing won the deal, as expect. Pratt & Whitney would have built the engines for the 600 tankers and Hamilton Sundstrand would have worked on the electrical systems. Both companies are based in Connecticut. In a letter sent to Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne Wednesday, the lawmakers expressed concern that the award did not consider the U.S. jobs that would be affected. They also said the Air Force did not take into account the subsidies from European governments to its aerospace industry, which puts the U.S. contractors at a disadvantage.
Nurses form nonprofit to prevent deaths from sudden cardiac arrest
As a registered nurse, Patricia Mathison of East Orleans has seen patients die from sudden cardiac arrest because a lifesaving device was not available. Now Mathison, fellow nurse Judi Franklin of North Harwich and Annie Dugan, a retired nurse who lives in Marstons Mills, have formed Connecting Hearts to ensure that every victim of sudden cardiac arrest has an equal chance for survival. The mission of the nonprofit organization is to raise money to expand the presence of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) throughout the Cape. "If there are more AEDs available countless more lives will be saved," Mathison says. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in the U.S., striking more than 350,000 people annually, with a survival rate of only about 5 percent, according to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association.
Special Samoa Deals for Boxing Fans and Supporters
Overseas interest in the upcoming Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing event in Apia on Saturday 2nd February 2008 will see up to 200 boxing fans and supporters arriving in Samoa next week. Many more are expected to book a ticket to Samoa with the announcement over the week end of special accommodation and rental car deals for boxing fans and supporters. Hotel Kitano Samoa is offering an accommodation special $200 SAT per room per day for up to three people with ELAVA at Vaitele is offering $120 SAT per room per day up to two people with continental breakfast included. Apia Rental is offering a 15% discount to all their vehicles with DAT Car Rentals is offering a special $165 per day for their Hyundai Tucson fleet. This was confirmed by Mr. Teleiai Su’atapulolo’o Edwin Puni, Managing Director of Event Polynesia, “For the next two weeks, Hotel Kitano Samoa and ELAVA Resort will be the home of international boxing with Apia Rental and DAT Car Rentals as the preferred rental car service.” The inaugural Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing is an initiative of Event Polynesia Boxing in association with SPBI and SABA to provide our Samoan boxers both amateur and professional a pathway to boxing world titles by setting up the needed top international competitions right here in Samoa.
Police chief wants to beef up force
While domestic battery and arguments continue to rank high on the list of police calls, Plainfield is a relatively serene community. Last year police handled two major cases: the missing person investigation of Plainfield mom Lisa Stebic's disappearance, and the fatal shooting of Javier Barrios, 18, of Romeoville, behind a gas station near Illinois 59 and 135th Street. Occasionally a violent incident occurs in town. In June 2003, Edward Binert of Romeoville used a 9mm pistol to hold up the First National Bank of Illinois at Illinois 59 and 135th Street. When police arrived, Binert held several people hostage for four hours before releasing them and surrendering. He pleaded guilty to robbery charges in September 2004. In January 2004, Maria Elena Ibarra, 37, was found stabbed to death in her salon near U.S.
Chemistry with a fighting chance
From accusations of dogfighting to drunken driving to dope smoking, the Trail Blazers were more prolific on the police blotter than in the NBA standings in the late 1990s and early part of the 21st century. So fed up with their team's play and lack of professionalism, Blazers fans voiced their displeasure through the time-honored art of "civil disobedience." Portland's attendance bottomed out at 15,053 per game, dead last in the NBA, during the 2005-06 season. Power forward Zach Randolph was among those who brought infamy to the team, and the curtain finally might have dropped on the "Jail Blazers" era when Randolph was traded to the New York Knicks on June 28, the same night Portland drafted Oden with the top pick. Thanks to a community-friendly roster that has carried itself well on and off the court, attendance at the Rose Garden is the highest it has been since 2002- 03, which also happens to be the last time the Blazers made the playoffs.
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