Don’t Pick Up This Guy
Scott Bar, CA – There are several reasons not to pick up hitchhikers, but if you are unsure whether you should or not, be sure to take a good look at them before you make your decision. Another good tip is to look at the type of vehicle they have abandoned on the side of the road. If it is painted camouflage…let them keep on walking. A Scott Bar man avoided this warning sign as he was traveling south on Highway 96. After coming across a camouflage pickup off the side of the road the driver saw a 46-year-old man hitchhiking because he had run out of gas. The Good Samaritan picked him up. Unfortunately, shortly down the road the hitchhiker became aggressive and started acting erratically, saying he was in Delta Force and they were coming here and there were going to be dead bodies. Then the hitchhiker threatened to kill the Scott Bar man and his family, as well as the police. Fearing for his life, the man pulled over and told the hitchhiker to take his car. Later that day the hitchhiker was arrested and charged with making threats with the intent to terrorize and has a bail set at $25,000.
A Fight that’s Right on Cue
Santa Ana, TX – A man convicted for a pool cue killing, is most likely ‘racked’ with guilt and is hoping for a clean ‘break.’ However, after the incident that took place at Breakers Bar, he may be faced with up to four years in prison. After a fight broke out a Lakewood man was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for killing a Cypress bar patron by hitting him on the head with a pool cue. The brief fight that resulted in a 44-year-old man’s death of course involved alcohol…and miscommunication. When a beer was mistaking delivered to the wrong guy, it let to an argument, which led to a shove, which led to a pool cue to the back of a head. Reacting to the shove, one man grabbed a pool stick and slammed the thick end of the pool stick into the back of his head. If you find yourself in this situation, react in a different way – for as the prosecutor stated, “You can’t hit someone in the head with a deadly weapon just because they shoved you.” Now you know.
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“It’s horrible! I don’t appreciate it at all. I grew up here, and it’s just not fun to me anymore. It’s cold, wet and I’m done! Am I prepared for all this? Yeah, I grew up here. You have to be prepared for it; but, it still sucks. I like the spring, when it’s not too hot, not too cold.” – Daniel Ballowe, Twain Harte, (cook)
“I think it’s wonderful; spectacular, even! I like having seasons, and this is one of my favorites! I’ve been living up here for 30 years. I prepare every winter, for this potential. Just make sure you have plenty of extra water at your house. Some good, dried beans or rice would be handy, too. It isn’t often like this, but I’m really enjoying the beautiful, white, clean snow! My favorite season? Spring, truly, when you see all of the blessings that come from this kind of weather: the beautiful flowers, green bushes. I’m just really glad we’re getting a lot of snow and rain. It’ll make next summer safer. We might not have so much in the way of fire.” – Suzi Crise, Twain Harte, (administrative support)
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It All Sounds Good
Dear C.J.,
I read your article about your daughter, and I like what you say. You have a sense of humor I can relate to, but I still have no idea how to talk to my daughter about some of the “embarrassing” things you mentioned at the end of your article, so how do I do this? I have noticed commercials on the T.V. saying talk to your kids about sex, drugs, bullying… etc. There are websites you can go to and numbers to call, but do you think they can help? I also want to be able to be a help for my daughter during this “transition” time, but I am truly at a loss. I’m going to try the embarrassment approach the next time I get a door slammed in my face. I think it may be effective. I am just scared I’ll have to follow-through at some point. Do you ever have to follow-through? It all sounds good, but I’m hoping you can give more advice on what exactly I should talk to her about and how I could go about it.
Thank you, Not Sure
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Groveland’s New Dog Park in the Works
A few years ago I remember signing some sort of petition in support of building a dog park (or maybe showing an interest in it, I can’t remember now). Nonetheless, I did not hear about it again until last November. As I was doing my final SMT delivery of the 2009 (I was going to spend December out of the country), Lynn at the Hotel Charlotte mentioned the dog park and said it was really coming along. She put me on the mailing list, and I tucked the idea in the back of my head to use for a future column.
Upon my return to Groveland, I decided to check out the dog park myself. I had no clue where it was and ended up calling The Hotel Charlotte to get directions. As I turned off of Ferretti Road onto a little road I’d never heard of, I came upon a parking lot full of cars, and behind it, a baseball diamond. I had only found out a few days prior that a baseball diamond existed in Groveland. There were even bathrooms and a small playground. Off to the right was just what I was looking for.
So there I was on Saturday morning at the site of the new dog park. As I looked around, I saw twenty or so volunteers busy clearing space for the proposed park. Some were picking up logs and sticks, while others were using pickaxes trying to extrude big rocks from the ground. Elsewhere a group of people worked on removing low hanging tree limbs. There was even a monster weed-wacker (that’s what I like to call it). It was the combination of weed-wacker and lawnmower, and I’ve never seen anything quite like it before.
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I hope you’re keeping your New Year’s resolution(s). One of mine is to learn guitar before I turn 55, May 1st. I’ve never had any success with music lessons. Mom put me into piano lessons when I was eight, and I lasted only three weeks. But through the decades I’ve admired guitarists like Jeff Beck, Santana, Eddie Van Halen, Clapton, Jimi Page, Hendrix…In fact, I’ve been inspired by several local guitarists: Keno Rojas (of Plan B), Greg Noll (Crazy Ivan), Guy Dossi (Dossi on the Rocks), Patrick Karnahan (Black Irish Band), Tim McCaffrey and Thomas Atkins! (The latter two are the SMT publisher and editor, respectively). Every day Tim and Tom take turns strolling about the newsroom, strumming an acoustic guitar. They’re both pretty good. Tim REALLY gets into it, and I’ve encouraged him to develop a stage act for the local pubs/coffee houses. I can see it now: Appearing Live! One night only! Tim McCaffrey performs the songs of Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Pink Floyd – Live and unplugged – on his “little acoustic guitar” (You’d have to see it to believe it!) His guitar’s about 2/3’s the size of a normal acoustic guitar, and has groovy-looking flames on it. It’s totally out-of-sight! Anyway, both Tim and Thomas have inspired me, and I’m determined to learn guitar this year!!
Happy Birthday to one of my all-time favorite guitar minstrels, Neil Diamond! Born in Brooklyn, NY on January 24, 1941, Neil debuted with his album, “The Feel of Neil Diamond” (Bang Records) in 1966. He’s sold more than 92 million records worldwide, including over 35 Top 40 singles and 18 platinum albums! The single “Cherry Cherry” reached #6 in 1966. “Thank the Lord for the Night Time” hit #13 in ’67. He’s had many other big hits including “Sweet Caroline” (#4, 1969), “Cracklin’ Rosie” (#1, 1970) and “Song Sung Blue” (#1, 1972). Remember his 1980 soundtrack LP “The Jazz Singer”, with its Top 10 hits “Love on the Rocks”, “America” and “Hello Again”? Neil has continued to write songs, release albums (Check out his 2008 CD “Home Before Dark”) and perform in concert! On January 24, he turns 69 – but he keeps right on rockin’!
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