Another Superman film? Really?

WTF?????

LEBANON, Ohio -- A Cincinnati-area teen charged in a deadly crash has been sent home from juvenile detention to prepare for football season.

The 16-year-old Loveland High School junior will attend conditioning sessions three mornings a week, but Warren County Juvenile Court Judge Michael Powell also has set a number of restrictions. The boy can't drive and must be with a parent at all times. And, he must undergo random drug tests.

The teen was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide in an accident a week-and-a-half ago that killed a 22-year-old woman and her unborn son. The State Highway Patrol said the boy was speeding and reaching for a cell phone when he crossed the center line and hit the other car head-on.

story

You can't even trust DisneyWorld.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Three Orlando-area theme park workers were suspended on Monday after an online sex sting operation in Polk County.

Twenty-one people were arrested in all, including two Disney employees, hospitality host George Auld III and ride operator Jason Lee Honeycutt. Universal CityWalk food-and-beverage employee Brian Stenstrup was also charged, WESH 2 News reported.

All three are jailed in Polk County on charges of attempting to solicit a minor for sex.

Investigators said the men carried on graphic online chats for months with those who they believed were young teenage boys or girls. When the men showed up at a Polk County house, they were arrested.

Disney released a statement that said the workers have been placed on administrative leave without pay, and the statement went on to say that Disney has required background checks for all new hires since the mid-1990s.

Can two political subdivisions jointly accept an easement?

Fragile victim, mighty lesson.

Read this article. Have tissues in hand. I promise you won't regret it.

"Judge Orders Doctors To Proceed With Toddler's Surgery"

When I see headlines like this, I automatically stop and read the article. While I can contemplate the theoretical nature of these situations, I wonder how I would feel if I were in the place of the parents of the child.

As I read the story, I couldn't quite figure out who was "right."

I was a little frightened by the restriction placed on the father's visitation...Rogers, Riley's dad, doesn't object to the surgery, but he can only visit his son four hours a week under heavy supervision.

So this child...this BABY...is in a hospital all alone? with little contact with family? undergoing a surgical procedure with no mommy or daddy to hold him and assure him everything will be all right?

Then I read the last line of the article..."The surgery would implant a catheter into Riley's abdomen that would then be used for dialysis if it became medically necessary."

I am horrified.

This judge is removing parental rights and forcing surgery on a baby...surgery that is not yet medically necessary???

Either there is more to this story or the best interests standard has run off course here.

Because I think good things need to be spoken about more often...and because I was a Girl Scout myself and have very fond memories (except for maybe that time when Donna photographed me in the camp outhouse in a less than flattering pose)...

37 earn Girl Scouting's highest honor

I encourage you to read all of these...I personally am well and truly impressed with the level of community service involved in these projects.

Congratulations ladies!

Thirty-seven members of the Girl Scouts Hornets' Nest Council recently earned their Gold Awards. The award is the highest honor in Girl Scouts. The girls did various community-service projects to earn the award.

• Becky Ausband created an indoor arena at Joshua's Farm. She redesigned a space in a storage barn so riders could continue therapy during cold, windy or inclement weather. She is the daughter of Terry and Vernon Ausband.

• Katie Baker created a health fair targeting girls ages 9-12. Katie recruited professionals, friends and other Girl Scouts as guest speakers, to discuss topics such as hair care, makeup, first aid and self-defense. She is the daughter of William and Barbara Baker.

• Elizabeth Cook worked with the Lacey family to create a community Christmas lights display. She also collected 82 pairs of used eyeglasses for the Lions Club of Mint Hill. Cook expanded her project to include other items for local ministries: 10,000 cans of food to Jackson Park Ministries' food pantry and 65 coats each to Jackson Park, Florence Crittendon Services and Crisis Assistance Ministry. She is the daughter Tommy and Vickey Cook.

• Aubrey Crowder helped create Camp Oasis, a camp for kids while their parents were at Shriner events. The camp included movies, games, crafts, meals and snacks. It was a free service. She is the daughter of Bertie Crowder.

• Alyssa Cummins and Jamie Ingram planned the annual Father-Daughter dance in the Meck 7 District. With help from volunteers, they transformed Independence High into "A Night on the Red Carpet." More than 400 people attended. Cummings is the daughter of Amy Cummins. Ingram is the daughter of J.W. and Mary Ann Ingram.

• Binta Dixon organized a diversity fair for girls. She planned a day where young girls got a broader view of beauty and could discuss image issues. She is the daughter of Norma Culbreth and Joseph Dixon.

• Elizabeth Dobson provided knit hats for cancer patients receiving treatments at Northeast Medical Center. She delivered more than 300 hats. She is the daughter of Allen and Martha Dobson.

• Alex Fadel helped plan Camp Oasis; games and activities in a hospitality room for the burn patients at the Shriners Hospital. The room was a waiting area for families. Children could do crafts, watch movies and play games. She is the daughter of Shea and Sandra Fadel.

• Chelsea Gerhard made an author quilt to inspire children to read. She mailed fabric squares to various children's authors, asking them to autograph and return them along with answers to a list of questions. She also created a notebook with the authors' biographies, their letters to her and lists of books they'd written. Gerhard took the quilt and notebook to schools and libraries and presented a program on reading. She is the daughter of Geoff and Lori Gerhard.

• Karly Hahn designed and painted an outdoor mural at the Messiah Preschool. She worked with volunteers and artist consultants to repair and prep the area for painting. She is the daughter of Greg and Kristin Hahn.

• Lea-Ann Hamby and Mindy Hopkins developed brochures and posters to tell taxicab drivers how to be safe in their vehicles -- from when to pick up a person to keeping up with regular maintenance for the vehicle. They presented the information to drivers at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. The information is being used statewide. Hamby is the daughter of Judy Hamby. Hopkins is the daughter of Robert and Susan Hopkins.

• Jenna Harper started an Adam's Animals chapter in Charlotte, in memory of her sister Morgan. Adam's Animals is an organization that provides stuffed animals for children and teens with cancer. She set up a drive at her school and collected more than 300 stuffed animals. She is the daughter of Mike and Bert Harper.

• Raquel Hoover opened a children's library at her church. Volunteers cleared a room, built bookshelves and decorated the walls for kids. They furnished the library with more than 300 donated books. She is the daughter of Richard and Sandra Hoover.

• Jessica Kanna made blankets for the children affected by Hurricane Katrina. Volunteers made flyers asking for materials to make the blankets. Working with Project Linus, they made 28 blankets and donated them to babies and small children at a Mississippi shelter. She is the daughter of Thomas and Marya Kanna.

• Lauren Kanna recorded books on tape for the visually impaired, with an emphasis on fifth and sixth grade reading levels. Lauren recorded 22 books. She delivered the books and tapes to the Metrolina Association for the Blind. She is the daughter of Thomas and Marya Kanna.

• Elena Klund brought the church youth group to the Urban Ministry Center and St. Peter's Soup Kitchen to educate them on homelessness and to serve lunch at the soup kitchen. She coordinated efforts throughout the year: hundreds of candy bags for Valentine's Day, cookies for dessert, sandwiches and hamburger casseroles for lunch and bread for Sunday dinner. She also started a toiletry drive at her church. She is the daughter of Tim and Evelyn Klund.

• Christine Lawson developed an herb-and-vegetable garden and exhibit for the Nature Museum in Charlotte. The gardens are being used as an exhibit and to raise food for the animals that live at the museum. She set up a schedule for groups to maintain the gardens and instructed museum staff of how to care for them. She also created a brochure about the herbs. She is the daughter of Tim and Mary Lou Lawson.

• Sarah Leach did several projects at Camp Tekoa, a Methodist Camp that she's attended. She built fences around several propane tanks and made a sign for the exit of the camp. She is the daughter of Matthew and Laura Leach.

• Megan Louya helped preserve the words on many gravestones damaged by acid rain and vandalism at Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church. She created rubbings from the pre-Civil War era cemetery that will be included in the historical room at the church. She is the daughter of William and Penny Louya.

• Kayla McCormick taught classmates about different German holidays. She researched four holidays and made a class presentation and Web site for the students to view. During the presentations, she made crafts and served snacks. She is the daughter of Garry and Jan McCormick.

• Deana Messer created a Valentine Brownie Olympics. She wanted to create a fun event where Brownies could learn sportsmanship and build self-esteem. Her event included the long jump, 10-meter dash and jump rope. Her goal was for Brownies to cheer on each other and boost their self-confidence. She is the daughter of Denise Brissie.

• Danielle Mingus collected 500 new baby items for homeless shelters in her area. Volunteers collected things for the Salvation Army and the women's shelter. The items were assembled for new mother kits. She is the daughter of Terry Richards.

• Christine O'Brien hosted an Adolescent Health Fair, focusing on obesity. The fair was at her church's family center. Students talked with health instructors about eating habits. Young people also tried activities, games, healthy foods and exercise. She is the daughter of Joseph and Nancy O'Brien.

• Erin Petruso made fleece Blankets of Love for needy children. She made 111 blankets for the Family Center and the Battered Women's Shelter. She organized two separate sleepovers to teach others how to make the blankets. She is the daughter of Jon and Ann Petruso.

• Leann Presley coordinated a school supplies drive for Classroom Central, an organization that allows teachers to select free supplies for students who cannot afford to buy their own. She motivated friends, family, fellow church members and neighbors to contribute more than 1,000 pounds of school supplies. She is the daughter of Clay and Carol Presley.

• Kylie Rethage collected items for activity kits for 100 juvenile burn victims. The children are from the Carolinas, Virginia and Ohio. Volunteers collected games, playing cards, puzzles, books, crayons, markers, CDs and more. The children can use the kits waiting to see their doctors. She is the daughter of Chris and Mica Minor.

• Chelsea Robertson and Vicky Spisak designed a plan to restore land at the Catawba Land Conservatory. Robertson led bench construction and helped establish the major trail design. Spisak worked with representatives from the conservancy and the Town of Weddington to develop a master plan for the property. She recruited other Girl and Boy Scouts to continue the work of the small natural park. Chelsea is the daughter of Ron and Lauren Robertson. Vicky is the daughter of Mark and Ginny Spisak.

• Amanda Rushing assembled spa and care packages for the women and children at the Hope Haven battered women's shelter. She assembled 41 large spa bags and 15 child bags; she wanted to make the public aware of domestic violence in the community. She is the daughter of Ray and Debbie Rushing.

• Halli Sigal made a video of Holocaust survivors currently living in the Charlotte area. She had survivors tell their stories. She is the daughter of Marvin Sigal and Margie Sigal.

• Sarah Smith organized an Earth Saver's Fair to promote environmental awareness. Topics presented at the fair include resource use and conservation, water pollution, car emissions and smog. She is the daughter of Randy and Peggy Smith.

• Amanda Tamayo completed 71 books on tape/CD and turned them in to the Child Life Center at Carolinas Medical Center. When she delivered the books, she read with the children. She is the daughter of Ruben and Martha Tamayo.

• Lauren Teddy helped the Shriners Children's Hospitals. She helped create Camp Oasis for children while their parents were at Shriners events. It was a weekend in November. She planned crafts, games and meals for the children. She is the daughter of Daryl and Karen Teddy.

• Katherine Webber collected sneakers for a "poverty stricken" area in Kentucky. Volunteers collected and cleaned 250 pairs of sneakers of all sizes. They contacted St. Gabriel Catholic Church, which agreed to deliver the shoes and other items during its mission trip. She is the daughter of Peggy Webber.

• Kristin Wetherby wrote, directed and produced a play called "The Christmas Shoes," based on the book and song of the same name. She arranged for a videographer and a sign language interpreter for the performance. She also collected donated shoes and delivered 125 pairs to Crisis Assistance Ministry. She is the daughter of Tim and Jennifer Wetherby.

• Becky Ausband created an indoor arena at Joshua's Farm. She redesigned a space in a storage barn so riders could continue therapy during cold, windy or inclement weather. She is the daughter of Terry and Vernon Ausband.

• Katie Baker created a health fair targeting girls ages 9-12. Katie recruited professionals, friends and other Girl Scouts as guest speakers, to discuss topics such as hair care, makeup, first aid and self-defense. She is the daughter of William and Barbara Baker.

• Elizabeth Cook worked with the Lacey family to create a community Christmas lights display. She also collected 82 pairs of used eyeglasses for the Lions Club of Mint Hill. Cook expanded her project to include other items for local ministries: 10,000 cans of food to Jackson Park Ministries' food pantry and 65 coats each to Jackson Park, Florence Crittendon Services and Crisis Assistance Ministry. She is the daughter Tommy and Vickey Cook.

• Aubrey Crowder helped create Camp Oasis, a camp for kids while their parents were at Shriner events. The camp included movies, games, crafts, meals and snacks. It was a free service. She is the daughter of Bertie Crowder.

• Alyssa Cummins and Jamie Ingram planned the annual Father-Daughter dance in the Meck 7 District. With help from volunteers, they transformed Independence High into "A Night on the Red Carpet." More than 400 people attended. Cummings is the daughter of Amy Cummins. Ingram is the daughter of J.W. and Mary Ann Ingram.

• Binta Dixon organized a diversity fair for girls. She planned a day where young girls got a broader view of beauty and could discuss image issues. She is the daughter of Norma Culbreth and Joseph Dixon.

• Elizabeth Dobson provided knit hats for cancer patients receiving treatments at Northeast Medical Center. She delivered more than 300 hats. She is the daughter of Allen and Martha Dobson.

• Alex Fadel helped plan Camp Oasis; games and activities in a hospitality room for the burn patients at the Shriners Hospital. The room was a waiting area for families. Children could do crafts, watch movies and play games. She is the daughter of Shea and Sandra Fadel.

• Chelsea Gerhard made an author quilt to inspire children to read. She mailed fabric squares to various children's authors, asking them to autograph and return them along with answers to a list of questions. She also created a notebook with the authors' biographies, their letters to her and lists of books they'd written. Gerhard took the quilt and notebook to schools and libraries and presented a program on reading. She is the daughter of Geoff and Lori Gerhard.

• Karly Hahn designed and painted an outdoor mural at the Messiah Preschool. She worked with volunteers and artist consultants to repair and prep the area for painting. She is the daughter of Greg and Kristin Hahn.

• Lea-Ann Hamby and Mindy Hopkins developed brochures and posters to tell taxicab drivers how to be safe in their vehicles -- from when to pick up a person to keeping up with regular maintenance for the vehicle. They presented the information to drivers at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. The information is being used statewide. Hamby is the daughter of Judy Hamby. Hopkins is the daughter of Robert and Susan Hopkins.

• Jenna Harper started an Adam's Animals chapter in Charlotte, in memory of her sister Morgan. Adam's Animals is an organization that provides stuffed animals for children and teens with cancer. She set up a drive at her school and collected more than 300 stuffed animals. She is the daughter of Mike and Bert Harper.

• Raquel Hoover opened a children's library at her church. Volunteers cleared a room, built bookshelves and decorated the walls for kids. They furnished the library with more than 300 donated books. She is the daughter of Richard and Sandra Hoover.

• Jessica Kanna made blankets for the children affected by Hurricane Katrina. Volunteers made flyers asking for materials to make the blankets. Working with Project Linus, they made 28 blankets and donated them to babies and small children at a Mississippi shelter. She is the daughter of Thomas and Marya Kanna.

• Lauren Kanna recorded books on tape for the visually impaired, with an emphasis on fifth and sixth grade reading levels. Lauren recorded 22 books. She delivered the books and tapes to the Metrolina Association for the Blind. She is the daughter of Thomas and Marya Kanna.

• Elena Klund brought the church youth group to the Urban Ministry Center and St. Peter's Soup Kitchen to educate them on homelessness and to serve lunch at the soup kitchen. She coordinated efforts throughout the year: hundreds of candy bags for Valentine's Day, cookies for dessert, sandwiches and hamburger casseroles for lunch and bread for Sunday dinner. She also started a toiletry drive at her church. She is the daughter of Tim and Evelyn Klund.

• Christine Lawson developed an herb-and-vegetable garden and exhibit for the Nature Museum in Charlotte. The gardens are being used as an exhibit and to raise food for the animals that live at the museum. She set up a schedule for groups to maintain the gardens and instructed museum staff of how to care for them. She also created a brochure about the herbs. She is the daughter of Tim and Mary Lou Lawson.

• Sarah Leach did several projects at Camp Tekoa, a Methodist Camp that she's attended. She built fences around several propane tanks and made a sign for the exit of the camp. She is the daughter of Matthew and Laura Leach.

• Megan Louya helped preserve the words on many gravestones damaged by acid rain and vandalism at Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church. She created rubbings from the pre-Civil War era cemetery that will be included in the historical room at the church. She is the daughter of William and Penny Louya.

• Kayla McCormick taught classmates about different German holidays. She researched four holidays and made a class presentation and Web site for the students to view. During the presentations, she made crafts and served snacks. She is the daughter of Garry and Jan McCormick.

• Deana Messer created a Valentine Brownie Olympics. She wanted to create a fun event where Brownies could learn sportsmanship and build self-esteem. Her event included the long jump, 10-meter dash and jump rope. Her goal was for Brownies to cheer on each other and boost their self-confidence. She is the daughter of Denise Brissie.

• Danielle Mingus collected 500 new baby items for homeless shelters in her area. Volunteers collected things for the Salvation Army and the women's shelter. The items were assembled for new mother kits. She is the daughter of Terry Richards.

• Christine O'Brien hosted an Adolescent Health Fair, focusing on obesity. The fair was at her church's family center. Students talked with health instructors about eating habits. Young people also tried activities, games, healthy foods and exercise. She is the daughter of Joseph and Nancy O'Brien.

• Erin Petruso made fleece Blankets of Love for needy children. She made 111 blankets for the Family Center and the Battered Women's Shelter. She organized two separate sleepovers to teach others how to make the blankets. She is the daughter of Jon and Ann Petruso.

• Leann Presley coordinated a school supplies drive for Classroom Central, an organization that allows teachers to select free supplies for students who cannot afford to buy their own. She motivated friends, family, fellow church members and neighbors to contribute more than 1,000 pounds of school supplies. She is the daughter of Clay and Carol Presley.

• Kylie Rethage collected items for activity kits for 100 juvenile burn victims. The children are from the Carolinas, Virginia and Ohio. Volunteers collected games, playing cards, puzzles, books, crayons, markers, CDs and more. The children can use the kits waiting to see their doctors. She is the daughter of Chris and Mica Minor.

• Chelsea Robertson and Vicky Spisak designed a plan to restore land at the Catawba Land Conservatory. Robertson led bench construction and helped establish the major trail design. Spisak worked with representatives from the conservancy and the Town of Weddington to develop a master plan for the property. She recruited other Girl and Boy Scouts to continue the work of the small natural park. Chelsea is the daughter of Ron and Lauren Robertson. Vicky is the daughter of Mark and Ginny Spisak.

• Amanda Rushing assembled spa and care packages for the women and children at the Hope Haven battered women's shelter. She assembled 41 large spa bags and 15 child bags; she wanted to make the public aware of domestic violence in the community. She is the daughter of Ray and Debbie Rushing.

• Halli Sigal made a video of Holocaust survivors currently living in the Charlotte area. She had survivors tell their stories. She is the daughter of Marvin Sigal and Margie Sigal.

• Sarah Smith organized an Earth Saver's Fair to promote environmental awareness. Topics presented at the fair include resource use and conservation, water pollution, car emissions and smog. She is the daughter of Randy and Peggy Smith.

• Amanda Tamayo completed 71 books on tape/CD and turned them in to the Child Life Center at Carolinas Medical Center. When she delivered the books, she read with the children. She is the daughter of Ruben and Martha Tamayo.

• Lauren Teddy helped the Shriners Children's Hospitals. She helped create Camp Oasis for children while their parents were at Shriners events. It was a weekend in November. She planned crafts, games and meals for the children. She is the daughter of Daryl and Karen Teddy.

• Katherine Webber collected sneakers for a "poverty stricken" area in Kentucky. Volunteers collected and cleaned 250 pairs of sneakers of all sizes. They contacted St. Gabriel Catholic Church, which agreed to deliver the shoes and other items during its mission trip. She is the daughter of Peggy Webber.

• Kristin Wetherby wrote, directed and produced a play called "The Christmas Shoes," based on the book and song of the same name. She arranged for a videographer and a sign language interpreter for the performance. She also collected donated shoes and delivered 125 pairs to Crisis Assistance Ministry. She is the daughter of Tim and Jennifer Wetherby.

State officials who run California's juvenile justice system are unconstitutionally denying prompt hearings and lawyers to youthful offenders arrested on alleged parole violations, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Sacramento federal court.

"We are developing plans that address the issues raised in the lawsuit," Ludeman said. But, she stressed, "We have not acknowledged that our current practices are unconstitutional."

Not quite my favorite quote of all time...but definitely up there on the scale of absurdity. Remediation without admission of wrongdoing...hehehe. God, I love the law.

We lived in Terre Haute, Indiana for a while. I can understand why they need CASA volunteers.

Operation 400 blasts off in a bid to solve baby deaths
Thursday, 15 June 2006

MANY community members will swallow their pride and don a red nose on June 30 in a bid to solve the mysterious tragedy of Australia's stillbirths.

SIDS and Kids is launching 'Operation 400' as part of its 2006 Red Nose Day campaign.

Several Kalgoorlie-Boulder businesses are getting behind the fundraising event by selling Red Nose Day merchandise.

These include Coles, Harvey Norman, Hannans Foodmart, Guardian, Amcal and Friendlies pharmacies and local primary schools.

Red noses will sell for $2 each, bubble clocks for $10, pens for $5, Superhero bears for $7, pins for $5, awareness bracelets for $3 and yo-yos for $5.

SIDS and Kids Western Australia marketing manager Dee Taseff said the significance of ‘Operation 400' was that it focused on the number of mystery stillbirths that occurred annually and investigated its causes.

"Each year, on average, about 1300 babies are stillborn across the country and about 400 of those deaths cannot be explained, even after investigation and autopsies," she said.

"That's about one baby every day that dies in a mystery stillbirth.

"Losing a child is always heart wrenching, but not knowing why it's happened can be all the more traumatic."

Ms Taseff said Operation 400 would help piece together the puzzle of these tragedies by researching possible links between common viruses and stillbirth.

"Just as research and education programs have helped us win the war against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), we believe it can also help us bring down the high rates of stillbirth in Australia."

In the past 20 years, SIDS and Kids has injected more than $15 million into efforts to reduce SIDS.

Those programs have led to a 90 per cent reduction in the number of SIDS deaths, saving the lives of more than 4500 babies.

"We're relying on the support of all Western Australians during Red Nose Day 2006 as we continue to tackle SIDS and other unexpected deaths, such as stillbirths," Ms Taseff said.

SIDS and Kids WA offers support to anyone affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a baby or child. This includes losses through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death and accidents.

Along with education programs and research, money raised through Red Nose Day also funds the provision of free professional grief counselling (call 9474 3544 during office hours) and a 24-hour, seven-day peer support line to assist people who have lost a child from conception to the age of 12.

Phone 1 800 686 780 for this free service.

Balance of power?

OK...I know I'm a product of Schoolhouse Rock and all the idealism that it presented. But something about the funding of the court system, from top to bottom, just doesn't sit well with me. The court is not employed by the commissioners, judicial is not an employee of legislative, but yet the budget is news in more than one county. Costs and availability of funds seem to drive the decision-making process much more than the suitability of options for juveniles in need. I've even seen it at work in my own county, at the common pleas level, so I'm sure it runs the entire spectrum of the court system. It just leaves me wondering who really is in control and how are they making the decisions?

A happy ending

Abaondoned as a baby, now she's a graduate.

Vitamin E linked to stillbirth

Article
----------------------------
"However, earlier research has suggested that vitamin E, particularly taken with vitamin C, can help protect against miscarriage and pre-eclampsia.

The London study and separate research in Australia - published in The Lancet and the New England Journal of Medicine - now suggest this is untrue.

Doctors at St Thomas' Hospital conducted a two-year trial on 2,400 pregnant women at risk of pre-eclampsia.

Some took 250mg of vitamin E and 1,000mg of vitamin C each day from 14 weeks until they gave birth.

Those women who took the high doses, which were typical to those found in supplements, developed pre-eclampsia sooner and had a more severe form of the illness.

Nineteen babies were stillborn to mothers taking vitamin E supplements, compared with just seven in the group which did not take the pills.

In addition, the birthweight of the babies whose mothers had taken the vitamins was on average 60g less than the placebo group. "
----------------------------
It is amazing to me that in this day and age we really know so little about women's health, and pregnancy in particular.

Had to go back a bit for this one

Had to go back a bit for this one...

But I remembered (and have to blog about) seeing the story of the 14-year-old witness being jailed, without benefit of a hearing, in order to insure her appearance in court. The girl had previously run away to avoid having to testify against her alleged molester. She wound up in an adult jail because a juvenile judge said she couldn't be held in a juvenile detention facility without being charged with a crime. The Ohio 9th District Court of Appeals overturned the Common Pleas Judge's decision.

The decision to free her was written by appellate Judge Lynn Slaby, who said case law was so clear, no further hearings were necessary to reach a decision. Slaby said the girl was being illegally held in an adult jail and should have been given a hearing before she was sent to jail.
source

The alleged molester was ultimately acquitted of the charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

On the witness stand...the girl admitted lying about her age to the defendant as well as to others. She said she told people she was 16 or 17 years old. She also acknowledged that she had at other times lied about what happened inside her Norton home.

Appointed counsel in Juvenile Court

A Salem woman trying to regain custody of her children asked an appeals court to order Juvenile Court Judge Thomas Baronzzi to appoint counsel to represent her, at county expense.

It's just the way Ohio is set up

Here is a relatively interesting read about child support and "the court system" in Ohio. I find the push-pull viewpoints to be quite sad. But it is typical of the "that's just the way it is" attitude I see in local and state government.

Re-entry Roadmap: A 25 Point Strategy Toward Restoration

Ohio Department of Youth Services to undergo changes for "juvenile parolees."

The state's juvenile prisons are trying to develop a better way to prepare youths for life after their release because about half are locked up again within three years.

Providing the youths more job training, help finding employment and mentors to offer advice are among the planned changes at the Department of Youth Services, according to a report released Monday.

Snarky comment to follow...
You mean you can't just turn a juvenile offender loose and expect them to magically turn into a good citizen?!?!?! I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you!

Oh...and my favorite headline..."
State to try new ideas to reduce youth prison recidivism."
REALLY? NEW ideas?!?!?! Again, I'm shocked!!!
End of snarky comment.

I'm back, part deux

OK...going to give this academic blogging one more try. It should give my brain some exercise away from the emotional junk that fills it up most of the time. Watch out blawgers...I'm back (again)!