LIP News
Lancaster Independent Press
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* UPDATED – *** BREAKING NEWS *** 90-YEAR-OLD DECEASED
Posted on December 8th, 2013 4 commentsUPDATED – 2:00 PM
There are four homicide detectives and two Lancaster County detectives at 504 Beaver Street as of 2:00 pm today.
(Photo courtesy of “Must See Pics an Vids” Facebook page.)
*** BREAKING NEWS ***
POSSIBLE HOMICIDE
A fanily member went to check on a 90-year-old woman living at 504 Beaver Street this morning. They found the home had been broken into and ransacked and the woman was not responsive. The woman is deceased. Police are on the scene awaiting the coroner and criminal investigators. County records show the home is owned by Emma F. Weaver.(Photo taken this morning at 504 Beaver Street is courtesy of “Must See Pics an Vids” Facebook page.) -
ALMOST TOO MUCH TO BEAR
Posted on December 6th, 2013 2 commentsSILENT STRUGGLES
Today, I was left speechless, literally and figuratively. I lost my voice completely due to the cold that I’ve had the better part of this week. Some might argue that’s a good thing, but it certainly prevents me from making phone calls and I’m going to keep this very short today to try and rid myself of this ailment once and for all.My plan was to look up Peter Sturla’s dockets (again) for their exact status and I also figured I’d make it a court type day and look up the statuses on some of the Federal lawsuits I’ve mentioned that have been filed against the Lancaster Police Department (click here).I’m sure I’ve seen the case before, it was filed in March of this year, but I passed over it because the first party named in the law suit is the Lancaster County Prison. But then I noticed the defendant’s name and I said, “No, this can’t be!” I pulled it up and yes it was.Sonya R. Morton is suing the Lancaster County Prison, Deputy Warden Kenneth Arnold, the City of Lancaster - Bureau of Police and Detective Michael Gerace because after working at the prison for over 20 years she was fired and the complaint reads:Plaintiff initiates this action to see regress against Defendant, her former employer, for unlawful race discrimination, in violation of 42 U.S.C. & 1981, and other applicable law.Why was I rendered speechless? Because Ms. Morton is the sister of Darryl Morton, who along with his girlfriend Judy Cora, was found deceased in his home on Thanksgiving morning and no cause or manner of death has been released. His obituary is in today’s paper (click here).And I was simply struck by the amazing, apparent coincidence and the silent stuggles in so many people’s lives. And after reading this morning’s LNP article where they quote the three County Commissioners and Mayor Gray among others about the death of Nelson Mandela, I was simply stunned by the hypocrisy of it all – and especially the Lancaster Newspapers who have led the way in keeping the racial divide in Lancaster so excessively and blatantly wide and who fail to provide the public with information they need or hold public officials accountable for their actions or inaction.Condolences to both the Morton and Cora families in this most difficult time in their lives.Please check back tomorrow. -
*** BREAKING NEWS *** STURLA DIALS 911!
Posted on December 6th, 2013 7 comments*** BREAKING NEWS ***
STURLAS FIGHT OVER
TV REMOTE & MORE!
LIP News has learned that State Representative Mike Sturla dialed 911 last night regarding his 19-year-old son, Peter Sturla, and a fight over the TV remote at his home at 931 West Walnut Street. Sturla told the police his son was literally wrecking his house. The police responded but the issue was “resolved” and no one was arrested.Please click here for the last update on the charges against Peter Sturla brought by his parents and there will be more later today as these two cases very slowly wind their way through the Lancaster court system. The Lancaster Newspapers have not mentioned one word about these cases because Sturla supports their convention center/hotel! Unbelievable.HYPOCRISY AT ITS WORST!There will be much more this afternoon including the passing of Nelson Mandela and LNP’s story reporting local reaction to it. The Lancaster Newspaper’s only minority reporter – in a city that is more than 50% “minority” – Sudip Bhattacharya – left their employ on December 3rd. LNP has over 100 editorial employees and there is not a single minority on that staff! How much longer will Lancaster residents tolerate this unbelievable, blatant and illegal racism by their local newspaper?HYPOCRISY! – 2And this morning at 9 am, the Lancaster Newspapers are doing a big live chat about keeping your children “safe” on the internet (click here), while they allow racism, bullying and threats on their own online comments section (see the story immediately below). This should be good!Please check back later today. -
“KEEP ON TROLLIN’”
Posted on December 5th, 2013 2 commentsADULTS: BE CAREFUL
ON THE INTERNET!
Today’s paper is full of warnings for parents about what their children are doing on the internet and I’ll come back to that tomorrow.
But today, my warning is for adults! I saw something so absurd, and yet darkly dangerous, on the internet this morning and lo and behold, it was on Lancaster Online in the comments section. A commenter using the name “Jerry Sandusky,” yes, “Jerry Sandusky,” told another commenter to “Keep on trollin.’”
Now, I already outed Jerry as “the Crow” (see the link to “Stalker Warning” on the right on this site) in the comments section here several days ago. And he is the ultimate and extremely dangerous troll! And this morning, under the Letter to the Editor titled “Rampant Welfare Fraud,” this unemployed, convicted harasser and stalker posted this, which rightfully was taken down quickly by the moderators:
Did I ever tell you about the agitator/troll I identified a year or so ago? Same smartazz punk comments like you. It all ended when I posted his real name and had all of his personal information. It took a while but I found him. You’re next. I’m sure the congregation of your “church” will be impressed when they see what you’ve been up to
And you see, this is not an idle threat because this is what the Crow does all day long and has for over 10 years. Even his use of the name “The Crow” has a creepy and disgusting background and there are simply no words for using “Jerry Sandusky.” If he does learn your identity, he will harass you constantly. He will try to hack your email, your Facebook, your Twitter and any other accounts you have. He will send you Facebook friend requests so he can contact your friends. He will contact your church, your employer and post your pictures and tell lies about you all over the internet
His was not an idle threat. That is what he does all day long to people including myself
And this morning, his comment was directed to a well known, prolific, sensible and liberal commenter. And this unemployed, childless, 39-year-old sponger off his wife, stalker hates liberals more than anything.
So for that reason and jealousy, I am one of his current targets receiving multiple comments into this site daily. But he can’t hurt me – seriously, in my case there’s just nothing he can do or expose that is not known. He has caused me to limit and be extremely careful with my Facebook activities because I will not subject friends to his unbelievable crap. And his physical threats are a different and criminal matter
But that is not the case with most people. He will go after your kids, your relatives, your friends and as he mentions – even your church members if you belong to one. That is why he was banned over 100 times from the old “Talkback” section of Lancaster Online and every other local forum. If you disagree with him, he will come after you. That’s why a jury has already found him guilty of multiple counts of harassment and stalking
So, be careful on the internet! I believe he is a rarity and he crosses the line into criminal activities so he will end up in jail – because he’s not going to get probation the second time around. And Lancaster Online needs to keep this criminal creep of their comments section.
Wow! If adults have to deal with this, imagine what kids have to deal with on the internet!
There will be more tomorrow! -
TEN YEARS AGO…
Posted on December 5th, 2013 2 commentsClick here for yardbird.com
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WE KNOW NOTHING! – 2
Posted on December 4th, 2013 6 commentsHAMBRIGHT: NO JOURNALISM ETHICS,
BREIT: NO LEGAL ETHICS
The home was the location of the July 10 death of 19-year-old Allyson Negron-Rosa.
Negron-Rosa was found unconscious on the second floor of the home just before 3 a.m. that day, police said.
She was not breathing, and emergency responders confirmed she had died, police said.
Police called it a “suspicious death” at the time. An autopsy was conducted; however, the cause and manner of death have not yet been determined.
From the LNP story on October 7th of this year, “Police called again, and home on East End Avenue is condemned,” (click here).
There are so many of these “open, possible murders!” We’re coming up on six months! When will a determination be made? Any results from toxicology samples the coroner sent to the lab have to be back by now! How is this being classified on the crime reporting records the Lancaster Police have to make? What does District Attorney Craig Stedman have to say about this one? Is it another “We know nothing” like this morning’s post? Why haven’t the Lancaster Newspapers followed up? There will be more on this and other “mysterious deaths” to follow.CLEAN UP YOUR ACT, LNP!
And, of course, the Lancaster Newspaper’s big story today is an “EXCLUSIVE” with Esther Schmucker of the TV series, “Amish Mafia,” (click here). Their use of “exclusive” cracks me up! Are they referring to “beating out” WGAL for the story or what?And reporter Brett Hambright has a journalistic obligation to report that this interview was obviously done in attorney Steven Breit’s office. Pull up the three almost identical and ridiculous photographs and they all give credit to Steven Breit. Breit is a legal consultant for the show, loves media attention (that is Breit pictured with “Lebanon Levi” in the above photo) and has highly questionable legal ethics – click here for “STEVEN BREIT SHOULD BE DISBARRED!”Commenters under the article are also questioning her “Amish” attire and asking why Hambright didn’t address that in his interview. It’s a valid point especially since she has the above photo of herself on her Facebook page that identifies her with the show.The Lancaster Newspapers need to totally clean up their journalism ethics and the way their reporters handle stories. This is an absolute disgrace and takes away from the very serious nature and the point of the interview in the first place – domestic violence. -
WE KNOW NOTHING!
Posted on December 4th, 2013 2 commentsIS IT A NEW DISEASE?
With sixteen unsolved murders in the city alone in the last eight years, District Attorney Craig Stedman has taken a new tact – the “we know nothing” approach to crime! Yes, the county’s chief law enforcement officer knows nothing! And he relies on the Lancaster Newspapers not to question him too deeply and to forget about it and never mention it again and of course the Lancaster Newspapers cheerfully comply.
Two healthy adults in their early 50′s die in the same home at the same time and Stedman knows nothing!
What will he think of next?
Please check back later today. -
OUTRAGEOUS AND UNACCEPTABLE!
Posted on December 2nd, 2013 1 commentBlood left from assault makes for tricky walking in Lancaster city
I just received an email with a link to this article with the above headline that states, “This is outrageous!” It is beyond outrageous! Someone needs to call the police and Mayor Gray on the carpet. This is unbelievable!Also outrageous and unbelievable are the “mysterious deaths” of two people in their early fifties in the same house. I believe the police know much more than they are saying and an arrest will be made. If that does not happen in the next day or two, the families of the two victims should get independent autopsies performed. Period.There will be more on this tomorrow. I have a bad case of a cold or flu and I am going back to bed! Thank you for your patience. -
WHO WAS PEEKING OUT THE WINDOW…
Posted on December 1st, 2013 5 commentsAND WHY?
Please note the window blinds in the photo below and the close-up below it. It certainly looks like someone was peeking through the blinds at 788 Sterling Place where Darryl Morton and Judy Cora were found dead Thanksgiving morning. Please also note the window cracked about an inch above the garage. The photos were taken Thursday morning and are courtesy of the “Must See Pics an Vids” Facebook page.
As stated here previously, Morton did not go to work on Tuesday. The family, worried, called the Manheim Township Police on Wednesday and the police went to the house three times and knocked but no one answered and they left. Morton’s son, Darryl Morton, Jr., who is in his early twenties, lived with the couple and his whereabouts during those days are uncertain. It is known that there bodies had decomposed sufficiently to produce a strong odor throughout the home.
Morton was at the home last evening attempting to remove belongings. There will be much more tomorrow.
A CELLULAR TELEPHONE?
On a much lighter note, I found a link to the video posted below the photographs on the “Only in Lancaster, PA” Facebook page this morning. I don’t know what the contest is for or how you vote, but the video is superb and if you can figure out how to vote, let me know! The Amish Mafia redux!
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KEEPING THE PUBLIC IN THE DARK!
Posted on November 30th, 2013 4 comments“IN THE CORONER’S HANDS”
I spoke with Manheim Township Police Sgt. Thomas Rudzinski by phone at 3:20 pm today about the deaths of Darryl Morton and Judy Cora in their Sterling Place home. Their bodies were found on Thanksgiving morning.
Rudzinski said he had no updates to give on the investigation and that any new information would be coming from the coroner’s office. I asked him if their deaths were caused by foul play and he again stated they were waiting on the coroner’s report.
I asked him if the public has a right to know if they are in danger and he said, “sure they have a right to know.” I asked him if they knew the whereabouts of Morton’s son who is in his early twenties and lived with the couple. He said he was not going to discuss that. He said that would be inappropriate because, “It’s in the coroner’s hands; it’s an ongoing investigation and we are awaiting the results of the autopsy.” -
* UPDATED 11-30-13 – DARRYL MORTON, JR. IS SUSPECT
Posted on November 29th, 2013 No commentsUNACCEPTABLE POLICE WORK
UNACCEPTABLE REPORTING!
Friday’s front-page Lancaster Newspapers print edition.
11-30-2013 – 8:30 am
Rudzinski [Manheim Township Police Sgt. Thomas Rudzinski] said late Thursday afternoon that police are unlikely to release more information about the deaths this weekend.
Asked if area residents should be concerned about their safety, Rudzinski had no comment.
From the story in Friday’s print edition. The Lancaster Newspapers have now put “investigative reporter” Gil Smart on the story (click here for the latest “updates”).
Mr. John Kirkpatrick, the new President of the Lancaster Newspapers, coming from the Pulitzer winning Patriot-News: that is an unacceptable response from Sgt. Rudzinski! You understand that, don’t you? You had three reporters on this story and they can’t tell the public whether they should be concerned about their safety? Are you serious?
It is your job to inform and protect the public. And that is obviously the job of the police as well. And three of your reporters failed to do that! This is an absolute disgrace! And Sgt. Rudzinski needs to be called on the carpet, now!
Please check back later today.-*** BREAKING NEWS ***
TRAGIC DOUBLE HOMICIDE
Darryl Morton and his girlfriend Judy Cora are the two adults who were found murdered in their Sterling Place home Thanksgiving morning. LIP News has learned that Morton, a crane operator for Luken Steel, did not report to work on Tuesday. The Manheim Township Police knocked on their door three times on Wednesday at the request of family but no one answered and they left.
It is believed the police are looking for Morton’s son, Darryl Morton, Jr., as the suspect in this tragic double homicide. -
PERMANENT POST – ARREST THE KILLERS & RESIGN CHIEF! PLEASE PAGE BELOW FOR TODAY’S NEWS
Posted on January 26th, 2011 30 comments
On December 6, 2010, an arsonist killed Olga Sanchez-Reyes and critically injured two of her children. A year-and-a-half before, an arsonist also targeted a property owned by Sanchez-Reyes and her husband. This post will remain at the top of this site until an arrest is made in this horrific murder and also the horrific murder below added in July of this year.
Click here for “Lancaster police chief vows to find arsonist.”
On May 16th of this year, 83-year-old Erma Kaylor was brutally stabbed to death in her home at 235 W. Vine Street. No arrest has been made. Click here for “Chief says police will find killer of 83-year-old woman.”
Click on the “UNSOLVED MURDERS” tab above to see the names of the victims of the eleven unsolved murders since Keith Sadler became the Police Chief on April 23, 2008.
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This permanent box had been up for over a year when on July 29, 2012, I chanced upon Rosaura Torres-Sadler and her book detailing physical abuse by her ex-husband, the current Chief of the Lancaster Police, Keith Sadler (click here).
The Lancaster Newspapers have not written one word about this and most citizens in Lancaster are unaware of his past. “Abuse Hidden Behind the Badge” is available from Amazon.com. -
HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!
Posted on November 27th, 2013 1 comment
LIP News will resume daily publishing this Saturday.
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LAFLEUR IS SENTENCED TO PROBATION &
Posted on November 26th, 2013 6 commentsA MYSTERIOUS BLOGGER!
Ms. O’Connell at a rock concert with Mr. Banks hours before she died, in a photo provided by the O’Connell familyWithin days of the shooting, a woman at a computer 2,700 miles away in Washington State came across a tiny news article that struck her as odd. It reported that the unidentified girlfriend of an unidentified deputy sheriff in St. Augustine had used his service weapon to take her own life, and that no foul play was suspected.Over the years, the woman, who blogs as “Cloudwriter,” had trained herself to spot suspicious cases of domestic abuse involving police officers. The subject had special meaning for her, she said, because she had had a troubled marriage to a police officer.This morning I received an email from my brother titled, “The power of a crime blogger” with the message, “The blogger doesn’t appear right away, but she’s a vital link,” with a link to a New York Times/PBS Frontline collaborative story, “Two Gunshots On a Summer Night,” (click here).I read up until the above two paragraphs under a sub-healine of “A Mysterious Blogger” and immediately emailed him back, “OMG!!! I know the blogger!”“Know” might be too strong a word, but our paths have crossed: I have been to her blog many times and she sent in several comments to this site. Our lives crossed because of Rosaura Torres-Sadler, the ex-wife of Lancaster Police Chief Keith Sadler, and her book, “Abuse Hidden Behind the Badge.” The blogger is one of Rosa’s staunchest supporters.The article is very long, but extremely well investigated and written with an ending that might surprise and upset you. But early in the story there are these two paragraphs that are so important:Domestic abuse is believed to be the most frequently unreported crime, and it is particularly corrosive when it involves the police. Taught to wield authority through control, threats or actual force, officers carry their training, their job stress and their guns home with them, amplifying the potential for abuse.Yet nationwide, interviews and documents show, police departments have been slow to recognize and discipline abusers in uniform, largely because of a predominantly male blue wall of silence. Victims are often reluctant to file complaints, fearing that an officer’s colleagues simply will not listen or understand, or that if they do, the abuser may be stripped of his weapon and ultimately his family’s livelihood.I’m going to come back to this tomorrow. As I’ve said before, I often have to pinch myself to be absolutely certain it’s true that Lancaster’s Chief of Police has been accused of 20 years of domestic violence by his ex-wife in a book available everywhere.And I’ll also come back to today’s very disturbing domestic violence story, “Lancaster man says he will plead guilty to beating Amish Mafia star,” (click here).Cherlie LaFleur received four years of probation today (click here for the LNP story and also see this morning’s post). There will be more on this at a later date.LIP News will publish tomorrow morning and then go on Thanksgiving break until this coming Saturday when daily publishing will resume. -
CHERLIE LAFLEUR IN COURT TODAY
Posted on November 26th, 2013 3 commentsSCHEDULED TO PLEAD GUILTY
TO ONE MISDEMEANOR COUNT
Cherlie LaFleur, now age 20, is scheduled to plead guilty this afternoon in front of Judge James P. Cullen to one misdemeanor count of concealing the death of a child at McCaskey High School in May of this year. District Attorney Craig Stedman originally had her bail set at $1,000,000 cash bond. That was reduced by Judge Louis Farina several weeks later and she was released from prison on her own recognizance with multiple stipulations.LIP News has learned that several Franklin & Marshall students from the Women’s Center will attend today’s court proceedings.Please click here for “DISGUSTING GRANDSTANDING BY THE DA!” and check back later today. -
EVIDENCE BEFORE COUNTLESS EYES!
Posted on November 25th, 2013 8 commentsWHY IS THIS NOT BEING
DONE IN LANCASTER?POLICE CHEIF SADLER, MAYOR GRAY AND LNP?
A friend emailed me a link to this article today and said I HAD to read it (thank you). I have posted the beginning of the article below – click here for the full article and a link to the Philadelphia Police YouTube channel which displays all the videos.
Somebody, somebody tell me why this isn’t being done in Lancaster – the city with more cameras per person than any other city its size and many much larger cities as well?
Police Chief Keith Sadler, why is this not being done in Lancaster? Mayor Gray, why is this not being done in Lancaster? Lancaster Newspapers, why is this not being done in Lancaster?
The Lancaster Police should be posting videos after almost every single crime. A specific and very disturbing example of just one of hundreds where they have not done so – a recent assault - will come tomorrow.Surveillance Video Playing Increasing Role In Arrest, Conviction Of Criminals
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – by Tony Hanson — The Philadelphia Police Department reports since February of 2011, it has made arrests in nearly 200 crimes, including murders, based on the aggressive pursuit of surveillance video to identify suspects. The department, with the Public Affairs Office as the clearinghouse, is using the latest technologies to get the evidence before countless eyes.
Police Public Affairs Lieutenant John Stanford says the department has posted nearly 350 videos so far this year, coming from countless sources.
“City cameras that are posted, located throughout the city, we have access to SEPTA cameras, Housing Authority cameras, private businesses and private residents have cameras,” he says. “Cell phones cameras, SEPTA busses, anything, anywhere we can get a camera or get video we try to retrieve video.”
Stanford says over 2 million people have viewed the videos on YouTube. -
TALKING TURKEY!
Posted on November 25th, 2013 4 commentsLNP SENDS THEIR
“DIVERSITY” REPORTER
TO THE BIRDS!
Yes, LNP has sent their one recently hired reporter of color for the classic Thanksgiving story on Esbenshade’s turkeys (click here)! Maybe he should have stayed in the office and written about those pink turkeys!This afternoon we’ll tackle two of the items on his boss’s list she posted yesterday in her Sunday News column (see ‘MEATLOAF AND GREEN BEANS?” below):As we cast a wider net for reader commentary, the look of the pages and the names and ideas they hold will change. So, too, will local issues of which there are no shortage. I expect them to be a robust source for community engagement.… Accountability of public officials
Local responsiveness, or lack thereof, to increasing diversity.If it’s robust you want, Barbara, robust it will be! Wow!Please check back later today. -
* UPDATED – MEATLOAF AND GREEN BEANS?
Posted on November 24th, 2013 9 commentsJUST DO IT!
This is not about editorializing. This is about helping the reader. Here are some simple hypothetical examples:You can tell readers that there was a burglary in a neighborhood yesterday. Or, you can tell them that there was a burglary and it was the fifth break-in to occur in that area in the past two weeks, and all happened at about the same time and in the same manner. You can also add what police and experts in home safety suggest.John Kirkpatrick in his column today responding to a letter writer who worried that he would not report the news but “editorialize” it (the column is not currently online).Mr. Kirkpatrick, I’m going to keep this to two main story ideas since you don’t seem particularly smart to me and seem to have not a clue what sells papers (or brings people to your website) and you are also new to Lancaster and may not be aware of these:1. There are 16 unsolved murders in Lancaster City in the last eight years. You can at the minimum make your readers aware of that fact and then you examine whether Lancaster has incredibly smart killers or the police are incompetent.2. You can point out that Lancaster is known for having more surveillance cameras per person than any other city of its size and discuss the cost of the cameras and who pays for them and who monitors them. You can then examine why there are so many unsolved murders and crimes and why the public never sees images from those cameras to help arrest the criminals. Case in point: A week and a half ago Katelyn Smith did a piece on the cameras for WGAL-TV and used video footage from 2005 and 2006 (click here).I’m going to leave it at those two very simple yet extremely important ideas today. Now, why don’t you cease your endless editorializing and actually have your reporters do some stories that directly impact the quality of your reader’s lives! Just do it!GROW UP, BARBARA!
When I was growing up, spirited conversation was as much of a dinner staple as meatloaf and green beans.
The table was big enough for divergent opinions about wide-ranging topics — household duties, school grades, local politics. Mealtime discussions opened each family member to ideas apart from his or her own and, when we were at our collective best, helped us to understand and address shared concerns.
And so it is with Perspective, which looks a bit different today.
The beginning of Barbara Hough Roda’s column today in the Sunday News, “Be part of the local discussion.”
Barbara, you are a grown woman in her 50′s! You are the executive editor of a news organization with hundreds of employees! And you are going to print drivel like this?
Not only that, their new president, John Kirkpatrick III, has something equally absurd to say on the same page!
What is wrong with these two? A whole, whole lot!
Please check back after your meatloaf and green beans! -
WHERE’S MY DART BOARD?
Posted on November 22nd, 2013 4 commentsNOBODY GIVES A DAMN, JON!
One more article on Wolpert – at least until next Tuesday – will set me off into a rage of huge proportion. A rage so profound you should be sure to be at least five miles from my presence should it occur!
If you recall, I published these very words yesterday afternoon. Jon Ferguson, the Lancaster Newspaper’s “news editor” and self-proclaimed, aging musical guru/groupie has done just this to ruin my weekend!
He has published yet another remarkably stupid, poorly written and pointless article on James Wolpert and the song he will be singing next Monday night (click here)!
And Wolpert is no fool. He uses almost the exact same words and sentences he used when WGAL-TV interviewed him two days ago! This article even mentions that his coach is People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive.” This allows me to use a little goodie I found on their website yesterday: “Who takes these surveys?” a commenter asked, “Blind people?” I couldn’t have said it better myself!
It’s Friday afternoon and I’m trying to remain calm but on top of this atrocity and personal attack by Jon, weirdos and dangerously strange people are coming out of the woodwork! Seriously – cut it out! To the person who sent me the email “From the desk of —-,” do not call me. Tell me what the hell you want in an email and I will consider it. Do be mindful, however, that I have a long memory and stabbing me in the back once is more than enough to get you on my permanent ”you are dead to me” dart board list.
Now, I’m going to try to calm down, paste Jon’s face on my dart board and have a go at him for an hour or three! I’ll wipe that silly smile off his face!
Have a great Friday and please check back tomorrow. -
NOBODY GIVES A DAMN! – 2
Posted on November 22nd, 2013 6 comments16 “MURDER MYSTERIES”
IN LANCASTER!
From the front-page of today’s paper (click here).Gil, there are sixteen unsolved murders in Lancaster City in the last eight years alone. Why don’t you investigate on of them? I told you before, nobody gives a damn about this one that happened at Penn State (click here)!
You are listed as one of two “investigative reporters” for the Lancaster Newspapers. Why don’t you do some investigative reporting? Why don’t you investigate one of the sixteen unsolved murders in Lancaster City? What is wrong with you and this newspaper?
Please check back later today. -
THE SAME OLD SONG?
Posted on November 21st, 2013 3 commentsRAISING HELL!
Enough of the hype. He won a few contests, has a nice voice, knows how to work the press, but it’s not like he worked his way to the top like most people on whom we confer “superstar” status.
How about a day without the prepackaged hype machine.Posted today on Lancaster Online under, “The Voice contestant James Wolpert has chosen his next song. Guess what it is,” (click here).Thank you! One more article on Wolpert – at least until next Tuesday – will set me off into a rage of huge proportion. A rage so profound you should be sure to be at least five miles from my presence should it occur!And guess his song? Is that a joke? How many songs are there – 50 million? I’m going with “Puff, the Magic Dragon” myself, but that’s just a puff – I mean guess - in the dark.And they even have a poll up to vote for Wolpert’s best performance/song! Have you noticed they’re putting up polls about everything? This afternoon they have a poll on whether Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone! Are they nuts?But back to Wolpert’s poll – it’s been online for at least two days now and at noon when I last checked, only 77 people had voted. That is just plain embarrassing for the Lancaster Newspapers and it’s a sure sign for them to stop!So, you’re wondering where my promised story is this afternoon? This is called stalling because I’m not ready. My frustration level with the Lancaster Newspapers grew so deep this afternoon that once again it sent me to google looking for the meaning of journalism and news. Some favorites from this site:[A newspaper] comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable.
Attributed to Finley Peter Dunne, American writer, 1867-1936It is a newspaper’s duty to print the news and raise hell.
Wilbur F. Storey, American editor, 1818-1884News is anything that makes a reader say, `Gee Whiz’!
Arthur MacEwen, American editorTry to be conspicuously accurate in everything, pictures as well as text. Truth is not only stranger than fiction, it is more interesting.William Randolph Hearst, American publisher, 1863-1951And there is this one:Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.
Joseph Pulitzer, American publisher, 1847-1911Quite simply put, I cannot meet those standards with the stories I am working on and I need more time and research. They will be forthcoming when I can better strive to meet Mr. Pulitzer’s standards. No wonder they name a prize after that man!Thank you for your patience! -
WELFARE FRAUD – SAME SENTENCE?
Posted on November 21st, 2013 No commentsSAME JUDGE!
Both of these women were sentenced by Judge Dennis Reinaker for welfare fraud. Which one received jail time? Which one had her picture in the Lancaster Newspapers?
Please check back later today. -
** UPDATED – * UPDATED 11-20-13 – REMOVE JUDGE HOWARD KNISELY!
Posted on November 19th, 2013 3 comments** I am making phone calls this afternoon. LIP News will be back tomorrow morning.
REMOVE JUDGE KNISELY!
* 11-20-2013 – From today’s print edition, page B-1.
AN OUTRAGEOUS,
UNACCEPTABLE SENTENCE!
Judge Howard Knisely
Dereck Holt Phillip WhittedAs for his behavior at prison, officials reported 12 incidents of misconduct during Holt’s nine months there.
At the judge’s request, Holt explained each and every one of them, sometimes in gruesome detail.
Holt said he was disciplined for cutting his arm with a staple, tattooing his own hand, throwing urine on another inmate and spreading feces on himself and his cell walls.
“Some things you did out there are bizarre,” Madenspacher said.
“I was just going with the flow, really,” Holt said. “I suppose I was seeking acceptance, camaraderie.”Do you think this was from today’s unbelievable article, “Problem prisoner gets 4 to 8 more years for spitting on guards,” (click here)?No, this was from Dereck Holt’s sentencing for invading, beating, torturing and tying up three elderly women in their home and leaving them to die (click here). Do you know what Judge Madenspacher sentenced Holt to for what District Attorney Craig Stedman said was one of the most heinous crimes in Lancaster County? He sentenced him to a minimum of 12 years. And Phillip Whitted just got 4-8 years for spitting on prison guards.Judge Howard Knisely needs to be removed from the bench now! This is not justice! This is absolutely outrageous and unacceptable judicial conduct. Remove him now! -
& HALLELUJAH!
Posted on November 18th, 2013 No commentsCHANGED LIVES?
Esther Schmucker of “Amish Mafia” fame announced about two hours ago on her Facebook page (click here):I’m all fixed up and back with a bang!!!If you recall, she was the victim of a vicious beating by her then boyfriend, Imir Williams, who has since been arrested and charged with a felony (click here).Yesterday she posted this on a much more serious note:If there is ANY woman out there that reads this I just want to tell you that if you are currently in a relationship and going through what I have just went through the past 6 months Please walk away before it gets as far as it did for me. If someone is constantly telling you that you are a terrible person, or calls you names, or puts hands on you for the love of God please go to someone you can trust and tell them and ask them to help you. Because YOU are beautiful and no one deserves that. Remember the person that you REALLY are beyond the hurt you are experiencing. Theres people that care and love you. Be Blessed, Be happy, and be YOU.Good for you, Esther!And I’ll keep this light with a TV theme today and admit (gasp!) that I was wrong yesterday when I stated I knew who James Wolpert of the Voice is dating. I looked her up today and Kat is married. Uh, oh! We all make mistakes…And WGAL-TV has actually sent reporter Lori Burkholder to Los Angeles to cover tonight’s live performances on the Voice (click here and the picture is a hoot). Now, there’s a tough assignment! And WGAL has discovered that Matthew Schuler also qualifies as local because he attends West Chester University! So, there are two local lads in the remaining top ten! Hallelujah! Best of luck to both of them! -
INSANE PRIORITIES!
Posted on November 18th, 2013 3 commentsANOTHER DOG STORY!
Insanity prevailed for our police last night. I feel for them. Was scanner listening til 3:30 am and it was nonstop guns, shots, knives, bricks, bats, all night long.
I received this email Sunday morning.
Is there a word about this anywhere in the paper or online? No. Today’s front-page, lead story is about a dog shot by a bowhunter (click here).
Seriously, LNP? Seriously? Where the hell are your priorities?
Please check back later today. -
* UPDATED – TAKING THE LEAD?
Posted on November 17th, 2013 6 comments* The Lancaster Newspapers have removed the comment under the article listing her large number of dockets!
INVESTIGATE THIS!
Jessica Castro in September moved herself, her daughter and her son, ages 10 and 9, into a one-bedroom apartment, sacrificing elbowroom to save on rent.This is the lead sentence in today’s Sunday News lead, front-page article by Jeff Hawkes, “Housing crisis finds a home in Lancaster County,” (click here).This, quite simply, is one of the worst sentences I have read in a print or online publication in years – lead or no lead! And, yes, I know journalists like to spell the opening sentence to an article as “lede,” but I think it’s old fashioned and ridiculous and apparently is the only thing that makes them “journalists,” hence, I refuse to succumb to such nonsense and will continue to use “lead.”Not only that, a commenter below the story on Lancaster Online reveals why she had to move in September – her former landlord sued her and had her evicted for non-payment of rent. And she has an extensive number of dockets, both civil, criminal and traffic - there are so many I haven’t had the chance to look them all up.And back to “ledes,” if you recall in June I wrote that the Lancaster Newspapers were advertising to hire an “investigative reporter,” (click here). This is the beginning of their ad at that time on JournalismJobs.com:Do you love numbers like Nate Silver? Work sources like Bob Woodward? Write ledes like Edna Buchanan? If so, Lancaster Newspapers wants you, an investigative reporter who has a passion for critically examining suspect public practices and policy, exploring social ills, and exposing public or private wrongdoing.Notice the use of “ledes.” Well, the Lancaster Newspapers didn’t hire anyone – surprise, surprise! No, they made Jeff Hawkes an “investigative reporter!” You can look it up in their newsroom directory! What an absolute distrace!In fact, today’s Sunday News is so plain awful, I’ll come back this afternoon with some news and gossip that will rock your world. Well, maybe not – but I’ll tell you who James Wolpert is dating, who the notable local figure involved in a child custody battle is and the status of the criminal cases for a politician’s son gone wrong!Ooops! The Eagles play at 1:00 p.m. today. It will come tomorrow!