08/20/14 - NNHS Newsletter -
Since I Don't Have You

“...Lost in your heart, lost in your eyes
Lost every day, no map to follow
Entire days, weeks, a blur
Flickers of light, in the darkness,
Only to be enveloped in shadows once more...”

- Peter Winstanley

http://www.nnhs65.com/Happy-Birthday.html

 

100 YEARS AGO TODAY:

THIS DAY IN WWII:

THIS DAY IN 1964:

Thursday, August 20, 1964 - Singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor Dino Dvornik was born Miljenko Dino Dvornik in Split, Croatia. He died in his bed in Zagreb, Croatia on 07 Sept 2008 just 18 days following the celebration of his 44th birthday. Severely depressed, He had overdosed on tablets for Hepatitis C from which he was suffering.

Thursday, August 20, 1964 - Vice-President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Azarias Ruberwa, was born Azarias Ruberwa Manywa.

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  From Barbara Houston ('68) of Northern VA - 08/19/14:

Carol, Thank you for your newsletter. I started listening to the Wayward Wind (love that song) and ended up listening to several songs on Youtube. So very pleasant and relaxing. Thanks , Barbara    Thanks so much, Barbara! Isn't that fun when favorite old songs bring us so much joy? I'm glad you enjoyed the journey back in time! "Music touches us emotionally, where words alone can't." - Johnny Depp (b. 09 June 1963)

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 From Sandra Ray ('61) of VA - 08/19/14:

Hi, Carol Been a long time since I have emailed you.  I am hardly online to send Emails since I live on FB.   Hope this find you and your family well and doing good.  Hope your health is good. I can't complain.  Do have some health issues but just dealing with them on a daily basis.  At almost 73, I am just trying to make every day to raise my great-grandson, Heyd, who will be 12 in November and starting middle school.   This is going to be a really big test.  (LOL) I feel guilty about asking for your help but my sister, Angela Ray Smith ('64 of VA), would like to know if you know anything about Richard Strickland? I do believe he graduated in '64 with Angela.  Someone (and I just can't remember who) told me that he passed away; this had to have been within a year that I was told.  Would appreciate any information you can find out.  I was told that Harry Strickland (and I don't even think he graduated) passed away and that has been several years ago.  He lived in North Carolina and believe he was married with two children. Thank you, Carol. Sandra M Ray Class 1961    Thank you, Sandra! I wish you well with your exciting life!      For some reason, the question of   Richard Strickland ('64) comes up every now and then. To the best of my knowledge, the reports of his death have been greatly exaggerated...    When his brother   Mitchell Strickland, Class of 1962, passed away four years ago, Richard and his siblings, Sylvia,   Harry ('59), and Dennis Strickland, were all still alive and well.    Of course, much can transpire in four years, but I've received no report of it; Richard is still living in Hampton, or he was in the spring, anyway.

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Focus on the Facts, Please

By Harry M. Covert

 Imagine for a moment if sheriff’s deputies, police officers, state police and fire officials were removed from the streets for a day or so in wherever you live.. Visualize the pandemonium, danger on the streets and highways, the illegal guns that would surface, home invasions and carjackings.

There are lots of people who dare make light and criticize city and county officers for simply doing their sworn duty. On their own and in general people don’t do right. They do try to skirt the law in the simplest of ways, speeding on the streets and roadways and then become downright nasty if stopped and ticketed. Store robbing is not excused, however.

Excuses are absolutely creative, such as “late for work”, late for church, late, late late to pick up the children or the sports events ad finitum.

I’m sympathetic to people just trying to make a living. I’m not sympathetic to people who don’t show courtesy and respect for authority figures.

Imagine, too, if local deputies and police had to bring out tear gas to stop dangerous civil unrests. It’s not always a racial matter no matter what the professional racists say.

National attention is focused on a police shooting in a Missouri town. Don’t think for a moment this couldn’t occur in any jurisdiction. Fortunately most people are taught good manners and courtesy by parents. Citizens don’t have the right to hide behind misconduct in any form, whether rich or poor, Caucasian or Black or Irish or Italian, Liberians, or other classifications.

Everyone has to learn how to conduct themselves walking down the street, how to face confrontations. Stories abound how DWB and WWB are prevalent among some police agencies. Oh, excuse me, DWB means driving while black, and WWB is walking while black. Not in the same grouping as DUI, driving under the influence by drink or drugs or robbing and looting.

Let’s face it, no one wants to talk about the problems facing society, but every time someone is challenged by police it isn’t racist.

THE TOUGH JOB OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

When the Missouri altercation erupted, reports were the victim had stuck his arm in the police vehicle attempting to wrest the policeman’s gun. I thought, could this happen in other cities and towns? Yes, indeed.

I recall vividly an incident years ago. A woman driver was stopped at major Virginia thoroughfare traffic light. Windows were down in the vehicle. Instantly, a guy reached into the driver’s side and grabbed her by the throat. What the fellow didn’t know was she was the police chief’s wife. Without fear she grabbed a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber chief’s special and, kaboom. Problem over.

There was no civil unrest over the above. It sure did curtail similar actions. A good reason that all states should allow concealed or open carry.

Sure, it’s sad when disruptive people pay the price. But it’s not time for untrained, undisciplined and uncaring citizens to run the show.

In some quarters the sheriff’s office or police or state “polizei” aren’t supposed to enforce law. Some decriers want to ignore various sections of the federal, state and local codes. Pooh on the detractors.

Have locals forgotten home invasions ? Have they forgotten the shootings near town centers, how about the daring downtown daylight jewelry store robberies? Merely because we don’t hear of all the criminal activity in friendly confines is no reason to want a downgrade of policing.

Being in law enforcement is not teaching a Sunday School class for the young or old. Police carry Glocks for a reason. Sometimes bullets are aimed at them. It’s not a rarity.

Some 33 years ago, a press secretary was shot and maimed for life. Jim Brady died Aug. 4 and the coroner termed his death a homicide. Why not? His shooter could well be charged with murder. Why not?

Why are citizens safe in the nation’s localities? It’s no secret. The sheriff, police chief, state police are on the job, 24/7.
 

 Thanks, Ruthie!