kimblr.com

What investigators can learn by exhuming teenage murder victim Peggy Reber will depend on the condition of her remains after being buried since 1968, according to a forensic medical expert.
“It all depends on how the body was embalmed,” said Dr. Howard Adelman, a renowned medical pathologist from New York. “If it was a good job of embalming, then it should theoretically be preserved well. But it also depends on how tightly the casket was sealed and if there was any water leakage.”
Reber’s body was exhumed on Tuesday from its resting place at Grand View Memorial Park in North Annville at the request of Lebanon County District Attorney David Arnold, as part of his investigation into a possible new suspect in the 40-year old case.
Arnold would not comment on details about the exhumation, including exactly what he hoped to find. He did, however, state that all the tests he planned to conduct were performed.
Adelman is the former chief deputy medical examiner of Suffolk County and now works as
an independent forensic pathologist. He has written several books and is perhaps best known for his investigative work in the 1974 murders of six members of the DeFeo family in Amityville, N.Y. The murders were the impetus for the supposed haunting of the DeFeo’s house and the subsequent book and movie, “The Amityville Horror.” Adelman worked on the film’s 2005 remake.
With no prior knowledge of Reber’s murder, Adelman refused to speculate about what investigators might be hoping to find, other than it probably involves DNA evidence. If it is direct evidence from the crime scene they are looking for, they are not likely to find any, he said.
Reber was embalmed by Willis Christman, the former owner of Christman’s funeral home.
He died in 2006, but Doug Redinger, a former employee who was trained by Christman and purchased the funeral home from him in 1995, said Christman’s work was excellent. Redinger said he knows that Christman prepared Reber’s body because it is in her file’s records.

ldnews.com

Children’s Mental Health Week will be held in Simcoe County from May 5 to 9.
To mark this week, elementary schools in the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) have been invited to participate in the Walk for Children’s Mental Health.
On Tuesday, May 6, various SCDSB schools will be incorporating this walk into their daily physical activity. This walk is designed to raise awareness of the mental health issues faced by children and youth.  
The Walk for Children’s Mental Health and other Children’s Mental Health Week events are being initiated by Children’s Mental Health Ontario, along with local service providers New Path Youth and Family Services and Kinark Child and Family Services.
For more information on Children’s Mental Health Week, click the link. 
SIMCOE.COM is an online publication servingthe communities of Barrie, Alliston, Collingwood/Wasaga Beach, Midland, Stayner and Orillia in central Ontario, Canada. All rights reserved. Reproduction, modification, distribution, transmission or republication ofany material from simcoe.com is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from Metroland Media Group Ltd.

orilliatoday.com

An annual day of violence may soon sweep the streets of Russia’s cities and towns. As the Interfax news agency reports, the occasion is Hitler’s birthday, April 20th, when extremist youth groups typically stage attacks and violence.In preparation, Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs will be taking preventative measures, and police will be out in full force to keep the streets safe.
Rashid Nurgaliev, the Minister of Internal Affairs, explained the agency’s plans:
“The militsiya always works for pre-emption. That’s why measures will be taken, so that there won’t be mass disorders or any kind of confrontations.”
Nurgaliev noted that the extra measures will correspond with established laws. “Everything must be within the framework of the Constitution and the country’s applicable legislation.”
This year, the Jewish Passover holiday happens to fall on the same date. As a response, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia (FEOR) plans to institute stricter security at synagogues and community centers, according to the Fontanka.ru online newspaper.
For more than 20 years, starting at the end of the 1980s, radical nationalist and neo-nazi groups have used Hitler’s birthday as an excuse to lead public demonstrations. Every year, the day is marked by widespread attacks by skinheads on foreign citizens, as well as migrants from the Caucasus region and Central Asia. The neo-fascists also target Jewish sites and monuments.
Rising levels of hate crimes in recent years have led some community leaders to conclude that the police have turned a blind eye to their concerns. After a recent spate of ethnically motivated murders in February, a Moscow town meeting concluded that both the militsiya and the judicial system were dealing too lightly with skinheads and neo-nazis.

theotherrussia.org

AUGUSTA, Ga. – When Trevor Immelman was laid up in a hospital bed, wondering whether that lump growing inside his body was cancerous, the last thing on his mind was winning a golf tournament – much less a major.
He thought about all his loved ones, especially 1-year-old son Jacob.
“You want to hang around and be part of his growing up, try and make sure he turns into a good, upstanding citizen of the world,” Immelman said. “It was all scary.”
Fortunately, the tumor in Immelman’s diaphragm was benign. On Friday, just four months removed from that harrowing experience, he found himself in sole possession of the lead midway through the Masters, shooting 4-under 68 for the second round in a row.
The 28-year-old South African heads into the weekend with a one-stroke advantage over Brandt Snedeker and a commanding seven-shot lead over everyone’s favorite, Tiger Woods.
“It definitely gives you perspective,” Immelman said. “I went from winning a tournament to lying in a hospital bed waiting for results on a tumor. It definitely made me realize that golf wasn’t my whole life.”
Last December, coming off a win in his homeland, Immelman felt a severe pain around his ribcage. He also had trouble breathing. He withdrew from the South African Airways Open and went to see his doctor, who gave him the grim news: “There’s something in there that has to come out.”
“I don’t think I was really knowing what was going on at that point,” Immelman said. “They were pumping me so full of stuff just to try to get over the pain that I don’t think it really mattered to me what the result was at that point. Obviously, my family was there every step of the way. They were obviously real nervous, and we were just thrilled when we found out it was some rare type of benign tumor.”

journalgazette.net

The competition was on last night during “Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew,” as the remaining three dance crews awaited their fate in regards to next week’s Season Finale show.
The show started off as Kaba Modern, JabbawockeeZ, and Status Quo waited for the results from last week’s performances. Host Mario Lopez soon revealed that Status Quo would be moving on to the end, with a guaranteed spot. That meant that Kaba Modern and JabbawockeeZ had to duke it out on the dance floor to win the judges over.
First, Status Quo performed their pop-n-lock routine, which honestly wasn’t even that spectacular. They earned their spot into the Top 2 based on popularity, but as far as technique and precision is concerned, Kaba and Jabba are way ahead of them.
Next were the JabbawockeeZ. They danced to the same soundtrack, which was part of this week’s theme. And, wow, were they amazing. They were energized, unique, completely in sync (literally and figuratively, as last night’s music featured a snippit from “Bye, Bye,Bye,” a good laugh for judge J.C. Chasez).
They ended their routine amazingly, with all of the crew going out into the crowd, pumping fans up, while just one member remained on stage spinning on his head for at least two minutes. That’s right, on his head! It was amazing and everyone watching new that was a performance that couldn’t be beat.
After the ultimate praise from the three judges, former N’Sync member J.C. Chasez, singer/rapper Lil’Kim and hip-hop choreographer Shane West, it was time for Kaba Modern to try and top the Jabbas.
And, boy, did they put up a good fight. They came out and blew the crowd away like they did every week. Precision, accuracy in their moves, and lots of energy. They’ve always been our favorite, and truly belong in the Top 2 show.

blog.silive.com

Elkins Lake Women’s Golf Association hosting ‘Paws For a Cause’ golf tourney
The Elkins Lake Women’s Golf Association is hosting a “Paws For a Cause” golf tournament on April 24. This year’s tournament will benefit the Rite B. Huff Animal Shelter. All proceeds over and above the cost of the tournament will go directly to the shelter. For tournament and sponsor information, call Wanda McGhee at (936) 291-1546.
Mended Heart Support Group
The Mended Heart Support Group will meet today at noon in the Huntsville Memorial Hospital Conference Rooms A and B. The program will be on identity theft awareness with Dan Barrett, Investigator for the Walker County Sheriff’s Department. A light lunch will be provided.
CASA Day at Lisa’s Gift Box on the Square
Lisa’s Gift Box will be donating 10 percent of its proceeds for the day to support CASA of Walker County and Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.
SHSU Art Department
SHSU Art Auditorium (room 108 in Art Building E) SHSU Department of Art presents “Creativity is Your Super Power” a talk by Kirk Demarais, author of “Life of the Party,” a pictorial history book of the world’s oldest prank and magic company, S.S. Adams (whom he also designs for). Kirk pays his mortgage by creating animated e-cards for Dayspring, a subsidiary of Hallmark. Kirk Demarais will also be the juror in the upcoming 9th annual Juried Student Exhibition. The Juried exhibit opens April 7 and runs through May 1 at the Gaddis Geeslin Gallery at SHSU. There will be a reception, award ceremony and open studios from 5-7 p.m. on April 24.
Upcoming Graduate Dance Concert ‘Fused’ at SHSU campus
The SHSU Dance Program is proud to present “Fused,” a graduate dance concert. The concert will run April 3 and 4 at 8 p.m. in the SHSU Dance Theatre (Room 101). Seating for the performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be limited. Admission is free.

itemonline.com

As a young boy, I remember watching the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade downtown with my family while atop my father’s shoulders. That was in the 1960s. As I grew older, I attended the parade with friends, rather than family. I don’t think I have EVER missed “the parade.” I am sure many of you feel the same way.
My recollections of parades spent with grandparents, parents, siblings and friends abound within my memory.
Through the years, new family parade memories would begin after my wife and I had our own family. Relatives passed on and some friends moved away, but now we had our kids to raise upon our shoulders so they could see the parade. Life seemed to be coming full circle. Visits to the colleen float with my young daughters to take their picture sitting in the colleen’s seat and telling them “some day you might be the colleen.” Colleen visits to their elementary school, with some kids asking, as they saw the crown, “are you a princess”?
Reflection on past parades and related events means different things to many people. On Sunday , new memories will be created for thousands and thousands of people as they visit, or come back home to, Holyoke to enjoy our 57th annual parade.
This year, I have the distinct pleasure of serving as president of this unique, volunteer organization known as, the St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke Inc. Along our side every step of the way are individual parade committees from: Agawam, Chicopee, Easthampton, Northampton, South Hadley, Westfield Sons of Erin, and Springfield. All of these communities working in conjunction with one another is the reason this regional event is so successful. It’s true that “if you put your mind to it, anything can happen.” That’s why in Holyoke, on Sunday , you will enjoy the country’s best St. Patrick’s Parade!

masslive.com

NEW YORK.- (With information from EFE) Swiss photographer Michel Comte, author of the image of Carla Bruni in the nude says he has more explicit pictures but that he will not sell them. In an interview published today in Le Matin, Comte, who now resides in New York, says that he does not know how the picture got to Christie’s where it will be auctioned on April 10, “I must have made a gift to someone. I make very few copies, three to five at the most, he points out. In fact, the photographer assures that he got word of the auction when a reporter from Le Matin called him on the phone. He remembers that he took the picture at the end of a photo shoot for Vogue in Paris or New York.
I worked with Carla for approximately 10 years. We have shot thousands of pictures together, fashion photos, pictures in her house in Italy. We were close friends and spent a lot of our time aboard the Concorde”, he remembers. In his opinion, the black and white photo which is expected to fetch at least $3,000 US DLS.”It’s her, it’s Carla, with her fantasy.
Comte says that Nicolas Sarkozy’s wife is “naked in this picture but at the same time shows her masculine side. And even goes on to say that it could even be a man. “It seems as if she is touching or hiding her sex: she plays. She looks afraid, with her feet pointing inside and her face has the expression of a mask, as if it was torn from her body, he continued.
According to an online bio, Bruni signed with City Models at age nineteen. In the 1990’s she was pulling in about seven million dollars a year modeling and she dated a list of famous men including Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger and Donald Trump.

artdaily.com

Since 1973, the griddled frankfurters at Gray’s Papaya, home of the $3.50 “Recession Special” (two franks and a 14-ounce drink), have been served with fresh fruit juices, tangy sauerkraut and a side of politics.
Nicholas A. B. Gray, the chain’s founder and resident pundit, has offered endorsements of candidates seeking the presidential nomination from Jimmy Carter in 1976 to Bill Bradley in 1999 to, most recently, the noncandidate Michael R. Bloomberg.
Last August, Mr. Gray, 71, began displaying signs at two of his three stores encouraging the candidacy of the mayor with the slogan “Run Mike, Run!” He told The Times in October that he was hoping for a Bloomberg run for the White House because “he’s cool under pressure” and he believed that the mayor’s personal wealth made him less corruptible.
Until recently, Mr. Gray hoped for a Bloomberg candidacy. Enlarge this image. (Photo: Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times)
But after Mr. Bloomberg officially ended his extended flirtation with presidential candidacy in an Op-Ed column last week, Mr. Gray did not waste any time.
This weekend, the large window at the original Gray’s Papaya store on Broadway at 72nd Street was filled with a white sign bearing the words “Yes Senator Obama. We are ready to believe again” in red and black uppercase letters.
“I think he is a very inspirational man and I think he’s what the country needs; we’ve grown a bit cynical,” Mr. Gray said in a phone interview.
Despite the bold new message at the Broadway store, few of the patrons at the shop on Sunday afternoon showed much excitement about politics. Outside, some passers-by on the sidewalk did stop momentarily to read the sign.
“I’m here for the hot dogs and the papaya drink,” said Mona Walsh, 54, in between the last couple of bites of her amply garnished frank. “Even if Gray’s Papaya were supporting the most deplorable candidate imaginable and there was a big sign about it out front, I’d still be here eating hot dogs.”

cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com

DUBAI, 13 March 2008 — Gulf states, flush with proceeds from record high oil prices, are racing to build the world’s tallest tower.
The Kingdom has just joined the fray with a plan to build a one-mile tower in Jeddah, according to the London-based Middle East Economic Digest (MEED).
The project, which would overtake super-tall skyscrapers in neighboring Kuwait and Dubai, places the competition to build the world’s tallest tower firmly in the Gulf region.
Of all the other high-profile buildings under construction around the globe, such as New York’s Freedom Tower, none will exceed 700 meters in height.
Riyadh-based Kingdom Holding Company, which is controlled by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, will invite bids before July for contracts to build the tower in Jeddah.
Called the Burj Al-Meel or the Mile-High Tower, it will be located on the northern side of the Obhur Creek and the Red Sea. It will be spread over an area of more than two million square meters.
MEED said that although there is still secrecy over which companies are involved with the project, it is believed that Britain’s Hyder Consulting is working in a joint venture with Arup, as engineer on the project, which is expected to cost up to $10 billion. US engineering giant Bechtel has been chosen as construction manager for the project. Saudi firm Omrania is the project architect.
Kuwait has unveiled a plan to build a 1,001-meter tower. Its height is a reference to the classic work of Arabic literature, “One Thousand and One Nights.”
Three blades that will be built near the top of the tower will carry a mosque, a church and a synagogue to signify the unity of the three monotheistic religions.
The building will be one of the highlights of the City of Silk, a $77-billion project inspired by the Silk Road which aims to revive the ancient trade route by becoming a major free-trade zone linking Central Asia with Europe.

arabnews.com