Friday, April 18, 2008

Pride Goes Before the Fall

  • The tree-eating beetle led to the removal and destruction of more than 1,700 trees in the state.

    Five years have passed without a sighting of the black and white insect and now federal and state officials have declared they are all gone.

    The last infestation was detected in Chicago's Oz Park in 2003. The first infestation broke out in Ravenswood in 1998.
We give it under 3 years and someone spots another one.

It's only a matter of time. We're better off breeding a tree that's immune to the beetles.

Labels:

26 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

First we kill a cougar, now we are waging war against the beetles.... oh man!

4/18/2008 12:23:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Are you serious with this story on a police blog? I know it is your blog and everything but.........

4/18/2008 01:17:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

chicago roaches are another story

4/18/2008 01:33:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I believe your post slams those poor beetles,and I will rise to their defense...........

4/18/2008 07:35:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Did you say the Beatles are having a concert in Oz Park?

4/18/2008 08:25:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Have you lost your mind with this story? Or maybe this been under the sarcasm and silliness section.

4/18/2008 10:39:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sorry that this is off topic, but where is the FOP on our pensions??
(This if from one of the links on this website.)

Pensions

From A.P.B. -
The city of Lexington, Kentucky might have to fork over more than $30 million to shore up its pension fund for police officers and firefighters.

According to a recent article in the Herald Leader newspaper by Beth Musgrave, the state Court of Appeals sided with five police officers who sued the Urban County Government, saying the city has underfunded the police and fire pension fund.

The Court of Appeals decision upholds a December 2006 decision by Fayette Circuit Judge Gary Payne. Lexington Police Officer Tommy Puckett, a former pension board member and the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, estimated that the Urban County Government might have to pay between $30 million and $35 million in back payments to the pension system.

But he also cautioned that the number could be a low estimate. Puckett, a 35-year police veteran, said the decision, if it is upheld, will go a long way to ensuring that the pension fund pays pensioners what they’re owed. “As a public servant, we don’t make the best salaries, but we do get good benefits,” Puckett told Musgrave in an interview.

“This will ensure that the kids coming up after me will have pension.” According to 2006 estimates, the pension is approximately $220 million short, or needs $220 million to fund all current and future beneficiaries.

Records show that the pension fund has money for all of its current retirees but might not be able to meet its obligations 10 or 20 years down the line. Lexington is hardly the only municipality struggling to keep its pension system flush with cash.

State leaders are also struggling to find ways to pump more money into the state pension system that some estimate could be as much as $18 billion short.

4/18/2008 10:58:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ringo's sick again, so Seiser's filling in on drums.

4/18/2008 12:17:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/
This is abc 7 Chicago. Look up the video on the Joliet father killed in gang cross fire.

"We are not going to allow these gang banging punks to take over our city" I always wanted to be a Chicago police officer. But looking at CPD today i would gladly go work for this department/city. Chicago should take notes from this guy. Great interview.

4/18/2008 12:17:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I remember when the beatles first came here in 1964 and played at the amphitheater, a lot of people were pissed off then too.

4/18/2008 01:05:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think the only 2 beetles left are Paul and Ringo

4/18/2008 01:05:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What's next for J-Fed?

4/18/2008 01:24:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Are you serious with this story on a police blog? I know it is your blog and everything but.........

4/18/2008 01:17:00 AM"


What, cops don't get to have opinions on anything but shit about police work?

4/18/2008 01:37:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

O.T. Any word yet about where the cougar roast will be held.I'm looking forward to seeing Neil Steinberg's head in the cougar's mouth.

4/18/2008 01:50:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Off the topic. My pet mountain lion got out my back door last week. I anyone sees him gimme a call. By he way there is a $10,000 reward if recovered alive.

4/18/2008 02:54:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is it true the Beatles are getting back together........Yoko is a cougar

4/18/2008 02:59:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Off topic, has anyone seen the new transfer order for the 5th period? Can you post the major players?

4/18/2008 03:29:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Off topic, has anyone seen the new transfer order for the 5th period? Can you post the major players?

4/18/2008 03:29:00 PM


Is it true? CW to 021?

4/18/2008 06:21:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gunshots hit boy, 4, as he rides in minivan with mom

April 18, 2008Recommend (10)

BY LAUREN GUY Staff Reporter/lguy@suntimes.com
A 4-year-old boy riding in a minivan with his mother was shot in his leg Thursday in the West Englewood neighborhood.

Lorenzo Johnson was shot about 3:30 p.m. while sitting in a red minivan with his mother in the 6800 block of South Damen, police said.

» Click to enlarge image

Relatives of Lorenzo Johnson, 4, inspect the gunshot-damaged minivan on Thursday.
(Chris Sweda/Sun-Times)



» Click to enlarge image

Lorenzo Johnson, a 4-year-old boy, riding in a minivan with his mother was shot in his leg Thursday in the West Englewood neighborhood.
(Courtesy)


An offender pulled alongside their vehicle and fired several shots, striking the boy in the right leg, police said.

He was apparently taken by his mother to Holy Cross Hospital, officials said.

As of 6 p.m., he was transferred to University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital in stable condition, a nursing supervisor at Holy Cross Hospital said.

No suspects are in custody. Wentworth Area detectives said the shooting is under investigation.

4/18/2008 06:44:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fearing gang retaliation, funeral home refuses to bury couple's son
'IT'S CRAZY' | Family says 2 funeral homes rejected beaten teen, 3rd offered only brief rite, fearing violence

April 18, 2008Recommend (36)

BY STEFANO ESPOSITO Staff Reporter sesposito@suntimes.com
The family wanted something simple for John Mendoza -- the chance to see the 16-year-old one final time and then to say goodbye.

But two Chicago funeral homes told the grief-stricken Mendozas this week they couldn't help, and a third offered only an abbreviated service -- all because John Mendoza had been beaten to death and the funeral homes feared gang retaliation, the Mendozas say.

» Click to enlarge image

Ofelia and Jose Anthony Mendoza, parents of John Mendoza, stand outside the Wolniak Funeral Home on Pulaski Thursday.
(Chris Sweda/Sun-Times)



RELATED STORIES
More in metro and tri-state news

"It's crazy," said Jose Mendoza, 48, the dead boy's uncle. "Here we are trying to bury our poor nephew so he can rest in peace, and these people are being boneheads."

John Mendoza was found bludgeoned to death in a South Side alley Monday morning. Detectives haven't ruled out gang involvement, but the Mendozas insist the 16-year-old wasn't in a gang and had in fact recently changed schools to avoid being sucked into that life.

Representatives of the three Chicago funeral homes either wouldn't discuss how they handled the Mendozas' funeral request or disagree with what the family says happened.

Richard Modelski, owner of Modell Funeral Homes, denied that the Mendozas were refused service.

But any time someone dies violently, Modelski takes precautions, he said, including requiring a $2,000 fee to pay for extra security.

Wakes are often scheduled in the morning because "most gang violence occurs in the evening under cover of darkness," Modelski said. "Unfortunately, that's the society we live in."

But the Mendozas say their son wasn't in a gang.

"Most families aren't going to be honest with you," Modelski said. "Most families don't know what their children do."

At Wolniak Funeral Home on the South Side, the Mendozas were offered an abbreviated morning wake -- something that wouldn't work because the family was expecting relatives streaming in at different times from out of state, Jose Mendoza said.

Funeral home owner Nancy Wolniak-Cook said she couldn't discuss the family's "private conversation with us."

"Services were offered," Wolniak-Cook said.

Charles Childs, a past president of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association and a longtime Chicago funeral director, said he sometimes encourages a daytime wake, but he would never insist on it and never charges for private security.

"You would think that if a funeral home had some security concerns, they would call the Police Department [in advance] and the Police Department would dispatch someone," Childs said.

Though it took them four tries, the Mendozas finally found someone to take John Mendoza -- but only after Jose Mendoza contacted a friend in the funeral business, he said.

As the boy's father, Anthony Mendoza, gathered the black pants, tie and gray shirt for his son to wear today, the grieving dad said he can't understand how he could have been treated this way.

"There's no worse feeling," he said. "I was just so mad."

4/18/2008 06:45:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fuck Mendoza and his gangbanging son. Put his worthless carcass out on trash day, and make sure you check papers of the "family" for citizenship. I am so tired of the sob stories in the papers.

4/18/2008 08:53:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Would the tool who keeps posting entire news articles please stop. I know how to find on on suntimes if I need one.

4/18/2008 09:08:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"You would think that if a funeral home had some security concerns, they would call the Police Department [in advance] and the Police Department would dispatch someone," Childs said[because that security is free]

Just have it at Smith/Thomas across from 015, take over parking lots, block the exits to all our other lots, while the procession is getting set up, security is already there. No problem. Happens all the time.

Just got to go to the right place

4/18/2008 10:26:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Of topic...J-Fed how about making all those CAPS spots in the district bid. Being on the the street for over 20 years I can plan parties and go to meetings just like the rest of them

4/18/2008 10:34:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The first Taste of Chicago was in Oz Park. It was a blast. Jane Byrne waltzed around all day chatting up the folks, sipping brewskys with the CPD, and singing with the entertainmers. Back when it was fun. Those outhouses still stunk though.

4/18/2008 11:52:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I LOVE THE BEATLES!!!!!
Next the government will be targeting the Rolling Stones.But I think its a hate crime if you target Seniors.....

4/19/2008 08:10:00 AM  

<< Home

Newer Posts.......................... ..........................Older Posts