View allAll Photos Tagged System's
I admit I disliked fuji when it started. From the X100 to the XPro1, the camera system, despite its completely seducing color science output, was completely out of sync with my practice in terms of autofocus speed and file. Now the X system has matured into something that I find very hard to match for mirrorless camera photography.
The XT1 comes to solve pretty much all the problems I had with the system: AF and Camera Operations (once u get used to the nobs, hard to go back to menus) are reliable and quick, Lightroom 5.7 renders the file beautifully (with Classic Chrome) and the viewfinder is bigger than that of a full frame dSLR. Not only the camera is now a great camera, the lens system is superb in its consistency: the 14, 23 and 56 are great highly recommended lenses and perform equally marvellously in sharpness, colors and BOKEH while also looking darn good with the Fuji design language. Image quality wise, you get clean files at most of the modern ISOs 200-6400 (you can push the 6400 raw up to 12800 if u want without much penalty or color shifts).
The running cost of ownership is also even more interesting. The body goes for around 1K$ and the rest of the "super prime lenses" (you'd want to shoot prime with this one) go for 1k$ or less each. You can get yourself up and running for less than a full frame camera with equivalent quality lenses.The XT1 ain't still sunshine and rainbow though: It requires the extra grip to enjoy shooting with it, it is not light, the battery lasts as much as a film roll, you can't use exposure compensation on "manual" mode to shift the auto-ISO values, the RAW files are HUGE 30-40mb a piece, low-light AF works fast as long as you have a contrast zone to hunt for but then you also have a magnificent manual focus experience. Classic Chrome (also available in LR 5.7) redefines the fuji photography experience by offering a raw file free of color distorsions and true of natural colors as well as a butt load of great micro-contrast off the file.
All in all, I have to say that I fell in love with it. It is truly the best enthusiast mirrorless system I've come across and it's now well matured.
If you use a full frame dSLR: switching to fuji will depend if you want the premium lenses or the full frame IQ but can't afford the steep 2K$ per lens or 2-4K$ per body, also if you want to sacrifice the extensive "flash system" that dSLRs have.
If you are using a crop sensor dSLR: switching to fuji will depend if you want to keep investing in photography lenses and equipment and don't have to shoot unpredictable fast moving subjects, like birdies.
If you use a Sony: switching to fuji will depend if you are fed up with the teenage identity crisis unpredictability of the system's evolution (new tech = new "test" camera = no "conclusion" camera = less lenses for existing cameras = change the name). The A7 system will flourish to lead the mirrorless trend one day but before that day comes, you have at least until 2016.
If you use a m43 camera: switching to fuji will depend if are willing to drop a bunch of practical technical features: super fast AF (fuji is DARN FAST but m43 cameras are INSTANT FAST), video (I don't shoot video) or image stabilisation or clinical sharpness (fuji images are sharp! but not as pixel sharp as m43... I mean no camera is as pixel sharp as the m43 an) or the touchscreen af point selection... all this for an upgrade in image aesthetics that's a compromise of m43 compactness (somewhat) and passionated lens designs (m43's got good lenses but no "omg wow what the heck" lenses, sorry)
If you shoot film: This is IT. Film nobs, Film look, Film grain, Film output… on digital. This is fujifilm making a camera with the color science they apply on their negatives, all of it.
Nothing can ruin the plans of a pilot skimming the earth at 120 knots in pitch darkness like an unseen power line. Except maybe an insurgent with a rocket propelled grenade or the myriad other things that threaten low-flying helicopters.
One of the U.S. Army’s most fearsome weapons, the AH-64A Apache attack helicopter is really only as good as its ability to evade or destroy the dangers that lurk on nighttime battlefields. Now the Apache’s original Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) system is being replaced with the most advanced technology available, Lockheed Martin’s Arrowhead Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS), or simply Arrowhead.
In 2000, the Army awarded a $78.5 million development contract to Lockheed Martin and Apache manufacturer Boeing to begin the Arrowhead upgrade, and deliveries began in 2005. Last June, Lockheed Martin was awarded the Lot 3 follow-on production contract, valued at $385 million. Work is being performed by the company’s Missiles and Fire Control unit in Orlando and Ocala, Fla. As of this year, $925 million had been committed for the U.S. Arrowhead program, with a Lot 4 contract expected this month.
The Army requires 704 Arrowhead systems, which are being installed in theater. Four battalions are scheduled to be equipped by the end of 2008, and 10 by the end of 2010. Fielding will be completed to the Longbow Apache fleet by 2011, according to the Army.
The system will be installed on British AH Mk 1 Apaches beginning in 2009, and Arrowhead is the sensor of choice for the Apache Longbow Block III upgrade, slated to begin production in 2011.
Descended from the sensor suite of the canceled RAH-66 Comanche scout helicopter program, the Arrowhead M-TADS/PNVS provides significant improvements over the current Apache FLIR in all areas. It has received rave reviews from the first Arrowhead-equipped Apache battalion, which has been putting the system to the test in Iraq. The Army says Arrowhead is the number one requested upgrade from Apache users.
With Arrowhead, pilots can see better and further at night than ever before, more than double the range of the legacy system. In fact, Apache crews can finally see further at night than the range of their weapons, allowing them to strike from the same standoff distances they would enjoy during the day. Spotting wires and power lines or insurgents crouching in doorways is also much easier.
The whole of the improvement is greater than the sum of its parts because Arrowhead drastically reduces the intense pucker factor associated with maneuvering a helicopter in the dark while man and nature conspire to kill you.
"The crews are much more relaxed and they can stay in the seat for six or seven hours now, whereas with the first generation system, which was designed back in the 70s, you’d fly a two-hour mission and you were pretty much soaked through your flight suit just from the stress," said Bob Gunning, Lockheed Martin’s Apache Fire Control program director. In Iraq, he said, some Arrowhead-equipped Apache pilots are logging as many as 100 flying hours per month, more than most airline pilots.
Maintainers are as pleased with the new system as the pilots, says the Army. Arrowhead’s modularity and vastly improved reliability have taken the pressure off crew chiefs and eliminated one of three levels of maintenance, saving nearly $1 billion in operation and support costs over the system’s 20-year life, according to Lockheed Martin.
When Arrowhead components fail, which occurs less frequently than with the legacy system, maintainers quickly locate the problem with the system’s built-in diagnostics. They then replace the bad part right on the flight line. Broken modules are shipped back to Lockheed Martin for repair and returned to the unit in 15 days on average.
"They’re setting records for flying hours with the new systems because they can," Gunning said. "The pilots can handle it better and it’s a lot less maintenance and consequently it’s a lot less operational support cost for the Army."
Second generation
Widely used on a variety of ground vehicles, ships and aircraft, FLIRs work by sensing temperature differences. Everything radiates heat in the infrared spectrum, and FLIRs build images by comparing the objects’ heat to their background. The heart of the system is an array of detector elements which is cooled to 67 degrees Kelvin (-339 Fahrenheit). The focal array, made up of photon-gathering units called detectors or pixels, looks at the world through a set of optics similar to a telescope. Because the array is so cold, it is extremely sensitive to differences in temperature. The FLIR unit electronically takes data gathered by the detectors, runs it through an image processor and then displays it to the user.
First generation arrays, built in the 1980s, had one row of anywhere from 120 to 180 detectors. The system scanned across the detectors, picking up light from each one to build a picture. These first-generation systems operated in the 8-to-12 micron part of the electromagnetic spectrum, considered long-wave for infrared. Second-generation systems, also long-wave and scanning, came out in the 1990s with four sets of 480 detectors.
To illustrate the improvement, the first-generation Apache system had a one-by-180 array, which the scanner swept across as many times as necessary to build a composite picture. The second-generation system has a four-by-480 array (1920 pixels), which alone accounts for 20 times greater resolution without counting Arrowhead’s improved optics, image processing and other features.
Arrowhead’s detector assembly was originally designed by the Army’s Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate to satisfy Comanche’s tough requirements. Gunning calls it the most advanced detector in production.
While night-vision experts dispute the exact definition of third generation, FLIRs have continued an evolutionary development since the second generation with more pixel-dense arrays (640 x 480 is becoming more common), mid-wave length light gathering and staring technology that gathers light like a video camera instead of scanning across the array.
Scanning allows Arrowhead to optimize the sensitivity of a scene for targeting application and the resolution of the scene for pilotage applications.
"The pilot at the controls needs to see wires, whereas the targeting guy needs to have higher sensitivity to pick out a man that’s hiding in the doorway of a building," Gunning said.
Arrowhead offers the co-pilot/gunner, who sits in the front seat of the Apache, a wide, medium and narrow field of view for finding, identifying and engaging targets. In the narrow field, there is an electronic zoom for zeroing in on human-sized targets, a plus in Iraq. The pilotage sensor has one-to-one magnification.
When moving into or out of a combat area, the co-pilot typically puts his M-TADS sensor in the wide field of view to help the flying pilot navigate and dodge obstacles. Each Arrowhead sensor is gimbaled to slew wherever its pilot is looking, so the crewmen can swivel their heads in opposite directions. Pilots have three options for viewing FLIR imagery: the Apache’s Multi-Function Display and Integrated Helmet Display Sighting System and Arrowhead’s new Target Acquisition Designation Sight Electronic Display and Control (TEDAC).
In contrast to the two older displays, TEDAC is a high-definition screen without which crews would be unable to receive the full benefit of Arrowhead’s vision. The Apache program office is upgrading the helmet display so it can optimally display the new imagery, an upgrade that should be fielded in a year.
Lockheed Martin also has completed the development of a low-light television camera that it has been evaluating with the Night Vision lab. The low-light camera, which looks in the visible spectrum, would pick up city lights, tower lights and other urban illumination that the FLIR, which only sees heat, might not see.
The low-light imagery will be blended with the FLIR so the pilot can simultaneously see both spectra, a big plus in an urban combat situation. The system has already been flight-tested, and Gunning said the Army was pleased with the results. If given the go ahead, he said the company can field the low-light camera as a spiral development in 18 to 20 months.
Lockheed Martin also wants to fuse the targeting imagery from Arrowhead with the Longbow fire-control radar, the cheese-shaped radome perched above the Apache’s main rotor hub, which the company also makes. Longbow can detect motion and identify targets. Currently, the radar cues the pilot if it finds a threat and the pilot looks for the threat. With image fusion, the system would help the pilot find things he might otherwise have missed.
For example, the radar would point out a threat to the FLIR, which automatically would slew to place the threat in the pilot’s crosshairs.
The night vision community now is pursuing 1000-by-1000 pixel arrays. That incredibly high level of resolution will pose tough image-processing challenges, but prototypes are already available, and Gunning said he expects to see these kinds of third-generation systems fielded in the next 10 years.
While the hardware improvements are impressive, they are worth little without the software to rapidly process the vast amounts of data they gather.
"The biggest and most dramatic improvements have come in the software algorithms that do the actual image processing," Gunning said. "We’ve got a team of guys who have probably half a dozen patents for things that are in the Arrowhead system."
The ultimate goal for FLIR is to completely break down the differences between night and day, and do it in living color. That day will come, say industry sources, with systems that are increasingly reliable without being heavier or bulkier.
"The pressure on cost and weight and size that we had on day one in the 1980s is every bit as intense today. That is the universal constant," said Jeff McConnell, business development manager with Raytheon. "And there are great reliability expectations with the product that are being fulfilled."
FLIR Use Spans Services
Although the AH-64D is the only helicopter in the U.S. Army’s conventional fleet with a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) system, the cameras are standard equipment for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
The Air Force’s HH-60G Pave Hawk and MH-53 Pave Low III helicopters are equipped with FLIRs, as will be the service’s CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor. In the Navy and Marines, the MH-60R and S Seahawk, MV-22 Osprey and CH-53E Sea Dragon have FLIR cameras. FLIRs are proving their value in the Iraq theater, where the Marine Corps’ giant CH-53E cargo helicopters have been equipped with Raytheon’s AN/AAQ-29 system.
The systems are saving lives in Iraq because of the huge improvement they provide in situational awareness, said a spokesman at the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Md.
People in industry see a rising demand for these systems considering the improvement of FLIR technologies, more affordable prices thanks to better manufacturing techniques, and the simple fact that having FLIR on board virtually eliminates the possibility of flying into terrain or wires.
"I think we’re going to see, certainly in the military area, there’s not going to be a platform out there that doesn’t have capability like this," said Jeff McConnell, business development manager with Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems.
McConnell said he sees the opportunity extending to even light utility helicopters that typically are not in harm’s way and traditionally have not been considered candidates for FLIR packages.
The Army has been so impressed with Arrowhead that Lockheed Martin is marketing a scaled-down version for the service’s cargo and utility helicopters, a system known as the Pathfinder Pilotage Sensor. Lockheed Martin developed the system from the Pilot Night Vision Sensor (PNVS) side of the Arrowhead program, said Bob Gunning, Lockheed Martin’s Apache Fire Control program director.
Chinook and Blackhawk helicopters are not getting any cheaper, and many of the accidents that destroy or damage them could be avoided with a pilotage FLIR, Gunning said.
Pathfinder is being marketed as an appliqué system that can be mounted easily without altering the system software or operational flight programs of the aircraft.
Lockheed Martin and the Army’s Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate, stationed at Fort Belvoir, Va., planned to begin flight demonstrations in January with Pathfinder on a UH-1 Huey.
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
PROGRAM GRANT AWARDS
CHARLESTON -- Governor Earl Ray Tomblin today, June 29, 2016, awarded $1,087,599.00 in STOP Violence Against Women Grant Program funds for twenty-eight (28) projects statewide. The purpose of these funds is to establish or enhance teams whose core members include victim service providers, law enforcement, and prosecution to improve the criminal justice system's response to violence against women. Grants provide personnel, equipment, training, technical assistance, and information systems for the establishment or enhancement of these teams. Additionally, statewide projects are funded to provide training and educational opportunities for all victim service providers, law enforcement, prosecution, and court personnel throughout the state.
STOP funds are awarded from the Office on Violence Against Women, Office of the U.S. Department of Justice. The funds are administered by the Division of Justice and Community Services.
Funds were awarded to the following:
CABELL
Branches Domestic Violence Shelter, Inc.$55,446.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Cabell County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Cabell County Prosecutor's Office, Branches Domestic Violence Shelter, CONTACT of Huntington, and the Huntington Police Department.
Contact:Ms. Amanda McComas
Phone: (304) 529-2382
Email: mccomas@branchesdvs.org
CALHOUN
Family Crisis Intervention Center$19,799.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Calhoun County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Calhoun County Prosecutor's Office, the Family Crisis Intervention Center, and the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department.
Contact:Ms Emly S. Larkins
Phone: (304) 428-2333
Email: eelarkins@suddenlink.net
FAYETTE
Comprehensive Women's Service Council$32,671.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Fayette County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Fayette County Prosecutor's Office, the Comprehensive Women’s Service Council, and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department.
Contact:Ms. Patricia M. Bailey
Phone: (304) 255-2559
Email: Pbailey@wrcwv.org
GRANT
Family Crisis Center, Inc.$17,683.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Grant County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office, the Family Crisis Center, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Department.
Contact:Ms. Sony Fazzalore
Phone: (304) 788-6061
Email: fcc911@frontier.com
GREENBRIER
Family Refuge Center$53,040.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Greenbrier County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Greenbrier County Prosecutor's Office, the Family Refuge Center, the Lewisburg Police Department, and the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department.
Contact:Ms. Kenosha Davenport
Phone: (304) 645-6334
Email: kenoshad@familyrefugecenter.org
HARRISON
Task Force on Domestic Violence, "HOPE, Inc."$43,176.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Harrison County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Harrison County Prosecutor's Office, the Task Force on Domestic Violence “HOPE, Inc.”, the Bridgeport Police Department and the Clarksburg Police Department.
Contact:Ms. Harriet Sutton
Phone: (304) 367-1100
Email: hmsutton@hopeincwv.org
KANAWHA
Kanawha County Commission$46,429.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Kanawha County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Kanawha County Prosecutor's Office, the YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program, the Family Counseling Connection – REACH Program, Beginning My Empowerment Thru Emmanuel's Kingdom (BEMEEK) Outreach Program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, and the Charleston Police Department.
Contact:Ms. Gale A. Teare
Phone: (304) 357-0499
Email: galeteare@kcso.us
MARION
Task Force on Domestic Violence, "HOPE, Inc."$51,078.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Marion County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, the Task Force on Domestic Violence, "HOPE, Inc.", the Marion County Sheriff's Department, and the Fairmont Police Department.
Contact:Ms. Harriet Sutton
Phone: (304) 367-1100
Email: hmsutton@hopeincwv.org
MARSHALL
Marshall County Commission$25,259.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Marshall County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Marshall County Prosecutor's Office, the YWCA Family Violence Prevention Program, and the Marshall County Sheriff's Department.
Contact:Ms. Betsy Frohnapfel
Phone: (304) 845-0482
Email: bfrohnapfel@marshallcountywv.org
MINERAL
Family Crisis Center, Inc.$17,683.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Mineral County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Mineral County Prosecutor's Office, the Family Crisis Center, and the Mineral County Sheriff’s Department.
Contact:Ms. Sonya Fazzalore
Phone: (304) 788-6061
Email: fcc911@frontier.com
MINGO
Tug Valley Recovery Shelter, Inc.$43,576.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Mingo County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Mingo County Prosecutor's Office, the Tug Valley Recovery Shelter, and the Mingo County Sheriff's Department.
Contact:Ms. Kim Ryan
Phone: (304) 235-6121
Email: k.s.ryan@hotmail.com
MINGO, LOGAN
Tug Valley Recovery Shelter, Inc.$32,596.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Logan County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Logan County Prosecutor's Office, the Tug Valley Recovery Shelter, and the Logan County Sheriff’s Department.
Contact:Ms. Kim Ryan
Phone: (304) 235-6121
Email: k.s.ryan@hotmail.com
MONONGALIA
The Rape & Domestic Violence Information Center, Inc.$54,599.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Monongalia County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Monongalia County Prosecutor's Office, the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center, the Morgantown Police Department, the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, and the Star City Police Department.
Contact:Ms. Judy King
Phone: (304) 292-5100
Email: rdvic99@earthlink.net
Monroe
Family Refuge Center$23,825.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Monroe County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office, the Family Refuge Center, and the Monroe County Sheriff's Department.
Contact:Ms. Kenosha Davenport
Phone: (304) 645-6334
Email: kenoshad@familyresourcecenter.org
NICHOLAS
Comprehensive Women's Service Council$36,904.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Nicholas County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Nicholas County Prosecutor's Office, the Comprehensive Women’s Service Council and the Nicholas County Sheriff's Department.
Contact:Ms. Patricia M. Bailey
Phone: (304) 255-2559
Email: pbailey@wrcwv.org
OHIO
Ohio County Commission$87,614.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Ohio County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Ohio County Prosecutor's Office, the YWCA Family Violence Prevention Program, the YWCA Cultural Diversity and Community Outreach Program, and the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department.
Contact:Mr. Scott R. Smith
Phone: (304) 234-3631
Email: ssmith@wvocpa.org
POCAHONTAS
Family Refuge Center $6,000.00
These funds provide for the enhancement of the Pocahontas County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Pocahontas County Prosecutor’s Office, the Family Refuge Center and the Pocahontas County Sheriff’s Department.
Contact:Ms. Kenosha Davenport
Phone: (304) 645-6334
Email: kenoshad@familyrefugecenter.org
PRESTON
The Rape & Domestic Violence Information Center, Inc.$35,643.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Preston County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Preston County Prosecutor's Office, the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center, and the Preston County Sheriff's Department.
Contact:Ms. Judy King
Phone: (304) 292-5100
Email: rdvic99@earthlink.net
PUTNAM
Putnam County Commission$25,421.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Putnam County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Putnam County Prosecutor's Office, Branches Domestic Violence Shelter, the Family Counseling Connection - REACH Program, and the Putnam County Sheriff's Department.
Contact:Sheriff Steve Deweese
Phone: (304) 586-0256
Email: tcraigo@putnamwv.org
RALEIGH
Comprehensive Women's Service Council$60,535.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Raleigh County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Raleigh County Prosecutor's Office, the Comprehensive Women’s Service Council, and the Beckley Police Department.
Contact:Ms. Patricia M. Bailey
Phone: (304) 255-2559
Email: pbailey@wrcwv.org
RANDOLPH
Women's Aid in Crisis$16,767.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Randolph County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Randolph County Prosecutor's Office, Women's Aid in Crisis, and the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department.
Contact:Ms. Marcia R. Drake
Phone: (304) 626-8433
Email: mdrake@waicwv.org
ROANE
Family Crisis Intervention Center$17,398.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Roane County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Roane County Prosecutor's Office, the Family Crisis Intervention Center, the Spencer Police Department, and the Roane County Sheriff's Department.
Contact:Ms. Emily S. Larkins
Phone: (304) 428-2333
Email: eelarkins@suddenlink.net
UPSHUR
Upshur County Commission$26,496.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Upshur County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Upshur County Prosecutor's Office, Women's Aid in Crisis, and the Buckhannon Police Department.
Contact:Mr. David E. Godwin
Phone: (304) 472-9699
Email: degodwin@upshurcounty.org
STATEWIDE
West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute$39,284.00
These funds provide for the development and continuation of strengthening prosecution strategies and best practices as well as improve prosecution-based victim services in cases involving violence against women through training and the development of resources.
Contact:Ms. Sherry Eling
Phone: (304) 558-3348
Email: sherry.s.eling@wv.gov
West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services$56,689.00
These funds provide for finalizing the development of an Advocate Guide and Protocol with participating correctional facilities in the state for service provision; convert training materials into e-learning resources; and work with Rape Crisis Centers on service implementation in order to work towards compliance with PREA requirements.
Contact:Ms. Nancy Hoffman
Phone: (304) 366-9500
Email: wvfris@frontier.com
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals$54,104.00
These funds provide for updating and printing the Domestic Violence Benchbook; to provide the salary of a DV Case Coordinator for the pilot program of the Kanawha County Domestic Violence Court; to maintain the Domestic Violence Registry back-up internet site; and to provide continued training for court personnel in the area of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence.
Contact:Ms. Angela Saunders
Phone: (304) 558-0145
Email: Angela.saunders@courtswv.gov
West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence$43,763.00
These funds provide for the continued enhancement of the statewide domestic and sexual violence database; to provide training and technical assistance for STOP Teams and Domestic Violence Programs on cultural diversity and cultural competency; and to promote dating violence protocols.
Contact:Ms. Tonia Thomas
Phone: (304) 965-3552
Email: tthomas@wvcadv.org
West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Serivces$64,121.00
These funds provide for training activities, the on-going development and capacity building of service providers to victims of sexual assault, dating violence and stalking crimes, and to provide training and resources for these programs in order to provide services to sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking victims.
Contact:Ms. Nancy Hoffman
Phone: (304) 366-9500
Email: wvfris@frountier.com
Division of Justice & Community Services contact:
Sarah J. Brown
Senior Justice Programs Specialist
Division of Justice and Community Services
1204 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, West Virginia 25301
Phone: (304) 558-8814, Extension 53337
Email: Sarah.J.Brown@wv.gov
Photos available for media use. All photos should be attributed “Photo courtesy of Office of the Governor.”
The Knack of Selling: System's new method of training men to sell. Second -- Managing the Interview.
System, The Magazine of Business
Wabash & Madison, Chicago
44-50 E. 23rd St., New York
A. W. Shaw Company, Ltd.
34 Norfolk St., Strand, London
Copyright, 1913 By A. W. Shaw Company (All rights reserved)
+++ DISCLAIMER +++
Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based on historical facts. BEWARE!
Some background:
When, towards late 1945, the Einheits-Chassis for the German combat tanks (the "E" series of medium and heavy tanks) reached the front lines, several heavily armed anti-aircraft turrets had been developed, including the 30mm Kugelblitz, based on the outdated Panzer IV, the "Coelian" turret with various armament options for the Panzer V Panther hull, and there were twin 55 mm as well as single and even 88mm cannon systems for the new E-50, E-75 and E-100 chassis'.
With these new weapons for medium- and high-altitude targets, Firepower was considerably increased, but the tank crews still had to rely on traditional visual tracking and aiming of targets. One potential solution in which the German Heeresleitung was highly interested from the start was the use of the Luftwaffe’s new radar technology for early target identification and as an aiming aid in poor weather conditions or even at night. The German Luftwaffe first introduced an airborne interception radar in 1942, but these systems were bulky and relied upon large bipolar antenna arrays. These were not suitable for any use in a ground vehicle, lest to say in a tank that would also carry weapons and ammunition.
A potential solution appeared in late 1944 with the development of the FuG 240 "Berlin". It was an airborne interception radar, too, but it was the first German radar to be based on the cavity magnetron, which eliminated the need for the large multiple dipole-based antenna arrays seen on earlier radars, thereby greatly increasing the performance of the night fighters. The FuG 240 with a rotating dish antenna was introduced by Telefunken in April 1945, primarily in Junkers Ju 88G-6 night-fighters, behind a plywood radome which considerably improved aerodynamics. This so greatly reduced drag compared to the late-model Lichtenstein and Neptun systems that the fighters regained their pre-radar speeds and made them competitive again. The FuG 240 was effective against bomber-sized targets at distances of up to 9 kilometers (5.5 mi), or down to 0.5 kilometer, which eliminated the need for a second, short-range radar system.
Right before the FuG 240's roll-out with the Luftwaffe, the Heer insisted on a ground-based derivative for its anti-aircraft units. Political pressure from Berlin convinced the RLM to share the new technology, and Telefunken was ushered to adapt the radar system to an armored ground vehicle in February 1945.
It soon became clear that the FuG 240 had several drawbacks for this task. On one side, ground clutter and the natural horizon limited the system's range and low-level effectiveness, but its 9 km range in free space made high altitude surveillance possible – just enough for the effective interception of Allied bombers that attacked important point targets. Furthermore, the whole system, together with its power supply and a dirigible dish antenna, took up a lot of space, so that its integration into a tank-based anti-aircraft vehicle like an SPAAG as an autonomous, stand-alone solution was ruled out.
A workable solution eventually came as a technical and tactical compromise: the army’s anti-aircraft tanks were to be grouped together in so-called Panzer-Fla-Züge, which consisted of several (typically four) SPAAGs and an additional, dedicated radar surveillance and command unit, so that the radar could guide the tank crews towards incoming targets – even though the gun crews still had to rely on visual targeting.
Two respective guidance vehicles developed, a light and a heavy one. The light one, intended against low-flying targets like the Ilyushin Il-2 on the Eastern front, became the 8x8 Funkmess-/Flak-Kommandowagen Sd.Kfz. 234/6. The heavy variant, with a bigger antenna and a more powerful emitter, became the Mittlerer Funkmess-/Flak-Kommandopanzer Sd.Kfz. 282. In contrast to the light and compact Sd.Kfz. 234/6, the Sd.Kfz. 282’s complete radar and observation system was installed in a new turret, so that it could be simply mounted onto the new E-50 Einheitspanzer battle tank hull.
This new, box-shaped turret had been developed by Rheinmetall, together with Telefunken, and was based on the turret design for the new 55 mm twin anti-aircraft cannon. It had a maximum armor of 60mm at the front and held all of the radar equipment, christened "Basilisk", after the monster from medieval mythology with a petrifying sight. The turret held a crew of three: a commander, a radar operator, and an observer for the optical rangefinder. The rest of the crew, the driver and a radio operator, sat in the hull. No armament was fitted, even though a light machine gun could be mounted on the roof for self-defense, even though it could not be operated from the inside. A heavier armament was not deemed necessary since the vehicle would stay close to the heavily armed tanks/SPAAGs it would typically accompany.
The Basilisk radar’s rotating dish antenna had a diameter of 90 cm (35 ½ inches) and was installed at the turret's front under a hard vinyl cover. Power of the modified FuG 240 was 25kW, with a search angle of +80/− 5° and a frequency range: 3,250–3,330MHz (~10 cm). Range was, due the bigger antenna and a higher emitter output, increased to 0.5–11.0 kilometer, even though only under ideal conditions. Power came from a dedicated generator that was connected to the E-50’s V-12 Maybach HL 234 gasoline engine.
Beyond the radar system, the vehicle was furthermore equipped with a powerful visual coincidence range finder in the turret, combined with an analogue computer, the Kommandogerät (KDO) 40 Telemeter. This system had been introduced in 1941 as a guidance tool for stationary anti-aircraft units equipped with the 88 mm and the 105 mm Flak, but it had so far – due to its size and bulk – only been deployed on an unarmored trailer
The KDO 40 and similar sights worked as follows: Light from the target entered the range finder through two windows located at either end of the instrument. At either side, the incident beam was reflected to the center of the optical bar by a pentaprism, and this optical bar was ideally made from a material with a low coefficient of thermal expansion so that optical path lengths would not change significantly with temperature. The reflected beam first passed through an objective lens and was then merged with the beam of the opposing side with an ocular prism sub-assembly to form two images of the target which were viewed by the observer through the eyepiece. Since either beam entered the instrument at a slightly different angle the resulting image, if unaltered, would appear blurry. Therefore, in one arm of the instrument, a compensator was integrated which could be adjusted by the operator to tilt the beam until the two images matched. At this point, the images were said to be in coincidence. The degree of rotation of the compensator determined the range to the target by simple triangulation, allowing the calculation of the distance to the observed object.
Fixed target reading with the device mounted in the Sd.Kfz. 282 turret was possible on targets from 3,000 to 20,000 m. Aerial courses could be recorded at all levels of flight and at a slant range between 4,000 and 18,000 m - enough for visual identification beyond an anti-aircraft group's effective gun ranges and perfectly suitable for long range observation, so that the Sd.Kfz. 282 also had excellent reconnaissance and observation capabilities. The rangefinder’s optical bar had a massive span of 400 cm (157.5 in) and went right through the turret, just above the radar device installation. The whole device, together with its armored fairing, was 4,60 m (15 ft 1 in) wide, so that it protruded from the turret on both sides over the lower hull. The odd and unwieldy installation quickly earned the vehicle nicknames like "Hirsch (stag)", "Zwo-Ender" (a young stag with just two antlers) or “Ameise” (ant). None of these were official, though. In order to protect the Telemeter on the way, the turret was normally turned by 90° and hidden under a tarpaulin, in order not to give away any details of the highly classified equipment.
However, development of the Einheitspanzer family lagged behind schedule, and in early 1945 no E-50 chassis was available for the highly specialized Sd.Kfz. 282 – battle tanks and SPGs were in higher demand. As an alternative, the turret was quickly adapted for different tank hulls, namely the Sd.Kfz. 171, the Panzer V ‘Panther’ medium tank and the heavy Sd.Kfz. 181 ‘Tiger I’. Tests with both hulls in spring 1945 were successful, but only the lighter ‘Panther’ hull was chosen because it was lighter overall, more mobile and available in sufficient numbers for a quick roll-out. In this configuration, the system received the designation Sd.Kfz. 282/1, while the original Sd.Kfz. 282 designation was reserved for the originally planned E-50 chassis variant.
The first vehicles reached, together with the new FlaK tanks, the front units in September 1945. Operating independently, they were primarily allocated to the defense of important production sites and the city of Berlin, and they supported tank divisions through early warning duties and visual long-range reconnaissance. Operationally, the Sd.Kfz. 282’s sensor setup with its combined visual and radar input turned out to be surprisingly successful. The combination of the Basilisk radar with the KDO 40 rangefinder allowed a time from initial target acquisition to the first AA shot of less than 20 seconds, which was impressive for the time – typically, simple visual target acquisition took 30 seconds or more. First shot hit probability was appreciably improved, too, and even quick passes of aircraft at low altitudes could be precalculated, if the radar was not obstructed.
However, the radar remained capricious, its performance rather limited and the unarmored antenna fairing at the turret’s front was easily damaged in combat, even by heavy machinegun fire. But the Sd.Kfz. 282 offered, when the vehicle was placed in a location with a relatively free field of view (e. g. on a wide forest clearance or in an open field), a sufficient early warning performance against incoming bombers at medium to high altitudes, and it also appreciably mobilized the bulky but valuable KDO 40 device. It now could easily be moved around and keep up with the pace of motorized battle groups that the Panzer-Fla-Züge units were supposed to protect.
Until the end of hostilities, probably thirty Sd.Kfz. 282/1s were completed from newly built (Ausf. F, recognizable through the simpler all-metal wheels) or from refurbished earlier Panzer V chassis of various types before production switched in early 1946 to the E-50 chassis which had eventually become available in sufficient numbers.
Specifications:
Crew: Five (commander, radar operator, observer, driver, radio-operator/hull machine gunner)
Weight: 41.2 tonnes (40.4 long tons; 45.3 short tons)
Length (hull only): 6.87 m (22 ft 6 in)
Width: 3.42 m (11 ft 3 in) hull only
4,60 m (15 ft 1 in) overall
Height: 2.95 m (9 ft 8 in)
Suspension: Double torsion bar, interleaved road wheels
Fuel capacity: 720 litres (160 imp gal; 190 US gal)
Armor:
15–80 mm (0.6 – 3.15 in)
Performance:
Maximum road speed: 48 km/h (30 mph)
Operational range: 250 km (160 mi)
Power/weight: 15.39 PS (11.5 kW)/tonne (13.77 hp/ton)
Engine:
Maybach HL230 P30 V-12 petrol engine with 700 PS (690 hp, 515 kW)
ZF AK 7-200 gear; 7 forward 1 reverse
Armament:
1× 7.92 mm MG 34 machine gun in the front glacis plate with 2.500 rounds
Optional MG 34 or 42 machine gun with 1.500 rounds on the turret
The kit and its assembly:
Another submission to the “Recce & Surveillance” group build at whatifmodellers.com in July 2021, and actually a good occasion to tackle a project that I had on my list for some years. A long while ago I bought a resin conversion set with a (purely fictional) Heer ‘46 anti-aircraft surveillance radar system, based on an E-50 chassis. Unfortunately, I cannot identify the manufacturer, but this 1:72 conversion set was/is nicely molded, with delicate details, no bubbles or flash and it even came with a commander figure for an optional open hatch on top as well as a pair of delicate brass antennae.
Even though I could have mounted this replacement turret onto a Trumpeter or Modelcollect E-50/75 chassis, I rather decided to create an earlier (1945 time frame) interim vehicle on a late Panzer V ‘Panther’ basis, mostly because it would be more compact and I doubt that brand new E-50/75s would have been “wasted” on second line/support vehicles like this mobile surveillance/commando post for anti-aircraft units?
The Panther chassis is the old Hasegawa kit for an Ausf. G tank from 1973, chosen because of its good fit, simplicity and the vinyl tracks, which I prefer. However, the kit clearly shows its age and some weak/soft details (e. g. the gratings on the engine deck), but it was enough for my plans and easy to handle.
Both turret and hull were built separately and basically OOB, combined with an adjusted turret ring. The Kdo 40’s “antlers” are to be glued directly to the turret’s flanks, but I reinforced the connections with wire. I also replaced the set’s brass antennae with heated sprue material and used a surplus PE detail set from a Modelcollect E-50/75 to hide the crude engine openings and change the overall look of the Panther a little. Some storage boxes as well as spare track links were added to the flanks, stuff collected from the scrap box.
To emphasize the refurbished character of the vehicle I left away the Panther’s side skirts – these were easily lost in battle, anyway, and probably have rather been allocated to battle tanks than to 2nd line support vehicles, despite leaving the Panther’s lower hull under the mudguards vulnerable.
Painting and markings:
Even though the paint scheme on this model is based on German standard colors, it is a little special. Late in real-world WWII some Panzer Vs received a unique, uniform RAL 6003 (Olivgrün) factory finish instead of the usual all-over RAL 7028 (Dunkelgelb) or the bare oxide red primer finish, onto which the frontline units would add individual camouflage, depending on the theatre of operations and whatever paint or application tool was at hand. This special green livery was adopted for the model, including the new turret. The individual camouflage consists of diagonal stripes in Dunkelgelb and Rotbraun (RAL 8017), added on top of the green basis with rather sharp and straight edges and only to the vertical surfaces. The practice to leave out the horizontal surfaces was called “Sparanstrich” (literally “economy paintwork”), an attempt to save the more and more scarce paint.
This rather odd style was actually applied to several late war Panther tanks – even though I am personally not certain about this pattern’s effectiveness? Maybe a kind of dazzle effect was sought for?
The basic green became a modern-day RAL 6003 from the rattle can (which is very close to FS 34102, just a tad lighter), applied in a rather cloudy fashion on top of an initial coat of Oxide Red primer (RAL 3009) overall, also from the rattle can. On top of that the stripes were painted with a brush, partly masked but mostly free-handedly. For some variation I used this time Tamiya XF-60 (a rather pale interpretation of Dunkelgelb which IMHO lacks a greenish hue and rather looks like a desert sand tone) and XF-64 (a rich whole milk chocolate tone) to create the additional camouflage, not fully opaque so that the impression of thinly/hastily applied paint was reinforced.
Once dry, the whole surface received a very dark brown washing with thinned acrylic paint and surface details were emphasized through dry-brushing with earth brown and beige.
For a different look (and to break up the tank’s bulky outlines) I applied camouflage nets to the model, realized with gauze bandages drenched in Tamyia XF-62 (Olive Drab) and mounted into place around the turret and at the front of the hull while still slightly wet.
Decals were puzzled together from various German tank sheets. The kit was sealed with matt acrylic varnish, what also fixed the cammo nets in place. The originally shiny black vinyl tracks were also painted/weathered, with a wet-in-wet mix of grey, iron, black and red brown (all acrylics). Once mounted into place, mud and dust were simulated around the running gear and the lower hull with a greyish-brown mix of artist mineral pigments.
Not a spectacular build, but I am happy that I eventually had the opportunity and motivation to tackle this project that had been lingering for years in the The Stash™. The result looks really good – the anonymous resin set is/was excellent, and combined with the Panther hull, the whole thing looks very credible. I am only a bit sad that the odd, almost artistic camouflage got a little lost under the cammo nets and the equipment on the hull, and the dust/dirt on the lower areas blurs the three basic colors even more. Well, you cannot have everything at once, and I might re-use this scheme on a “cleaner” future build.
I admit I disliked fuji when it started. From the X100 to the XPro1, the camera system, despite its completely seducing color science output, was completely out of sync with my practice in terms of autofocus speed and file. Now the X system has matured into something that I find very hard to match for mirrorless camera photography.
The XT1 comes to solve pretty much all the problems I had with the system: AF and Camera Operations (once u get used to the nobs, hard to go back to menus) are reliable and quick, Lightroom 5.7 renders the file beautifully (with Classic Chrome) and the viewfinder is bigger than that of a full frame dSLR. Not only the camera is now a great camera, the lens system is superb in its consistency: the 14, 23 and 56 are great highly recommended lenses and perform equally marvellously in sharpness, colors and BOKEH while also looking darn good with the Fuji design language. Image quality wise, you get clean files at most of the modern ISOs 200-6400 (you can push the 6400 raw up to 12800 if u want without much penalty or color shifts).
The running cost of ownership is also even more interesting. The body goes for around 1K$ and the rest of the "super prime lenses" (you'd want to shoot prime with this one) go for 1k$ or less each. You can get yourself up and running for less than a full frame camera with equivalent quality lenses.The XT1 ain't still sunshine and rainbow though: It requires the extra grip to enjoy shooting with it, it is not light, the battery lasts as much as a film roll, you can't use exposure compensation on "manual" mode to shift the auto-ISO values, the RAW files are HUGE 30-40mb a piece, low-light AF works fast as long as you have a contrast zone to hunt for but then you also have a magnificent manual focus experience. Classic Chrome (also available in LR 5.7) redefines the fuji photography experience by offering a raw file free of color distorsions and true of natural colors as well as a butt load of great micro-contrast off the file.
All in all, I have to say that I fell in love with it. It is truly the best enthusiast mirrorless system I've come across and it's now well matured.
If you use a full frame dSLR: switching to fuji will depend if you want the premium lenses or the full frame IQ but can't afford the steep 2K$ per lens or 2-4K$ per body, also if you want to sacrifice the extensive "flash system" that dSLRs have.
If you are using a crop sensor dSLR: switching to fuji will depend if you want to keep investing in photography lenses and equipment and don't have to shoot unpredictable fast moving subjects, like birdies.
If you use a Sony: switching to fuji will depend if you are fed up with the teenage identity crisis unpredictability of the system's evolution (new tech = new "test" camera = no "conclusion" camera = less lenses for existing cameras = change the name). The A7 system will flourish to lead the mirrorless trend one day but before that day comes, you have at least until 2016.
If you use a m43 camera: switching to fuji will depend if are willing to drop a bunch of practical technical features: super fast AF (fuji is DARN FAST but m43 cameras are INSTANT FAST), video (I don't shoot video) or image stabilisation or clinical sharpness (fuji images are sharp! but not as pixel sharp as m43... I mean no camera is as pixel sharp as the m43 an) or the touchscreen af point selection... all this for an upgrade in image aesthetics that's a compromise of m43 compactness (somewhat) and passionated lens designs (m43's got good lenses but no "omg wow what the heck" lenses, sorry)
If you shoot film: This is IT. Film nobs, Film look, Film grain, Film output… on digital. This is fujifilm making a camera with the color science they apply on their negatives, all of it.
Newspaper 8-11-1965
County School officials and Kentucky State Police check the safety of the system’s 65 buses in anticipation of the new school year.
Left to Right
Trooper Raymond Hail, director of transportation Dewey Bolton, Trooper George Hall, driver Cecil Wiles and superintendent Raymond Combs.
Jim Slaughter Photography Collection
ROSMAN, NC (May 16-17, 2015)—For fourteen years, Rosman High School students have voluntarily locked in with teachers and schoolmates for fun, food, and fellowship after the prom. It’s reasonable to ask why students, after spending the evening together and with many other options available, keep this tradition going.
Attending for three or four years straight suggests that these Tigers are convinced: getting locked in, not up, is more than a vote for safety. It offers unique opportunities that only come around one night a year. And at midnight after the Rosman High School prom on May 16, about 170 students once again packed the gym for fellowship and fun.
Senior Megan Lewandowski has attended three times. “I’ve always loved the lock-in, and I might probably just go home otherwise,” she said, “but now I’m at the age where people are starting to party, and I appreciate the effort made by our school to keep people out of trouble. Plus, you get to throw dodgeballs at teachers!”
All Rosman High students are invited, whether they attend prom or not. “I think the biggest advantage is getting to spend time with friends and teachers,” said RHS junior Anna Cobb, who has attended for three years. “We are able to go to school the next week and talk about the fun we had together, and laugh at our ‘tired’ personalities.”
Taking over Boshamer Gymnasium at Brevard College, as they do each year, provides abundant choices for attendees. From sports, such as dodgeball and 3-on-3 basketball, to leisure, in movie rooms or hallways lined with sleeping bags, students sprawl into suitable spaces and pass the night in safety.
Along with students who locked in within 30 minutes after the prom, 46 adults enlisted for some or all of the night. That number included 24 from Rosman High, seven from RMS, three from the TCS central office, several parents, and others from Brevard High, Blue Ridge College, the National Guard recruiter’s office, and the Sheriff’s Department.
School Resource Officer Greg Stroup has organized the event since it began, and fellow SRO’s Desirée Abram and Michael Hall were on hand as well. Sheriff David Mahoney enlisted as both target and marksman, right alongside teachers and administrators, for a grueling dodgeball match.
Students have plenty of options after the prom, such as sleepovers and bonfires, which they put aside to join the lock-in. Officer Stroup said that thinking of creative ways to help kids stay safe has always been the goal of the event, and thanks to community support it continues to work today.
“What a wonderful opportunity it has been to offer this activity for 14 years to our kids on such a special night,” said Stroup. “If it was not for the generosity of the community, this event would not be possible.”
Brevard College offers free use of the athletic building, and almost 70 donors provides prizes or cash donations. Transylvania Youth Association generously offered $1,000 to support the event, and even more goes each year to the T-shirts again provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
Every student enjoys pizza and soda or water throughout the night, and is assured of winning a door prize from gift certificates to swag offered by dozens of local businesses. Larger gifts reserved for a seniors-only drawing provide a bonus for locking in after the last prom of a student’s high-school career.
Among the seniors, Dillon Zachary won the flat-screen television, while Megan Lewandowski’s lucky number landed her a dorm fridge to take to college. Kimberly Holliday won a GoPro camera, and Jacey Voris got tickets to ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
One of the most coveted senior prizes each year, a kayak, went to Jon Miller who was also celebrating his 18th birthday. At classroom awards on the Monday after lock-in, senior Keen Jones took home a microwave oven.
The plentiful gifts seem to drive home what organizers hope to convey: “The message sent to us is that our school is a family, and that our teachers really care about the students,” said Anna Cobb. “It allows us to have fun together and see teachers when they’re a little more laid back.”
Continued high attendance among all the grades at RHS showed organizers that the effort is well worth it. Attendance is free, even for guests from other schools, which helps to stretch a family’s dollar after covering prom-related expenses.
To keep everyone fed and hydrated, this year’s lock-in required 35 Jet’s pizzas, 14 cases of drinks, 100 juice boxes, a pound of coffee, and 200 biscuits from Brevard’s new Bojangles restaurant.
Students know not to miss the party, where memorable moments are made every year. Organizer Julie Queen said, “I love seeing the students come in Monday morning with their T-shirts on, and laughing about having such a great time.”
With a long track record of success, she said that donors and former students have learned to set their spring clocks according to the all-nighter as well.
“It is a very rewarding feeling to have alumni tell you what fond memories they have of the lock-in,” said Queen. “I have even had some call and ask for ideas because they want to replicate it in other places.”
Board of Education member Betty Scruggs arrived Sunday morning to provide moral support during the home stretch and found what she expected after attending in 2014: with some students playing basketball, watching a movie, or playing electronic games, several had also given into sleeping.
“I am delighted with all the students and staff members who participate in the lock-in,” said Scruggs. “It builds community and great memories more than any other single event.”
“They create a well-planned evening of activities in a fun and safe environment, all because of their passion for RHS and commitment to service,” she added. “This lock-in could not happen without a vast number of hours and tremendous amount of phone calls Julie Queen and SRO Greg Stroup make throughout the school year. What a difference they make!”
These and many other pictures can be found on the school system's photo website at flickr.com/tcsnc/sets under "RHS After-Prom Lock-In 2015."
Rosman High School and the organizers wish to thank all their donors and the following sponsors who made the 14th Annual After-Prom Lock-In possible:
Appalachian Construction of Pisgah Forest, Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard College, CARE Coalition – Promoting a drug free community. Comporium, Dalton Insurance, Ecusta Credit Union, Farm Bureau Insurance, Fraternal Order of Police—NC Lodge #14, French Broad Trailer Park, Jiffy Lube, M&B Industries, NC National Guard, NC Farm Bureau, Petit’s Paint and Body, RHS Athletics, RHS students, parents, faculty, and staff, RHS Tiger Club, State Farm Insurance – Meredith Baldridge, Self-Help Credit Union, Sheriff David Mahoney, The Fitness Factory, Toxaway Grading, Transylvania Youth Association, United Way, and the Transylvania Co. Sheriff’s Office.
© 2015, Transylvania County Schools. All rights reserved.
The Tranquility Pod is a multisensory biofeedback environment. This is the pod that uses pleasant sound, gentle vibration, and soothing light to transport the body, mind, and spirit to a tranquil state of relaxation. Designed by Alberto Frias, designer of the pods for Men in Black III. Handcrafted from fiberglass into a smooth, shiny gel-coat surface, the pod’s ellipsoid exterior blocks 90% of outside noise while its interior foci ameliorate music played from the integrated 80-watt, four-speaker sound system via an iPhone/iPod or smartphone. The system’s subwoofer generates gentle vibration through the bed, resonating through the body to impart restful harmony. The pod’s biofeedback system—an exclusive feature only available from Hammacher Schlemmer—uses a pulse sensor that synchronizes your heartrate with 50 LEDs housed in the pod’s inner perimeter that create ambient mood lighting for calming the mind. The LEDs change colors at your command from the built-in controller or wirelessly from an iPhone or smartphone app. The pod’s elliptical opening reveals a 76"-diam. ultra-suede-topped, memory foam cushion that covers an octagonal waterbed with two lofty ultra-suede pillows. The waterbed is temperature controlled (85-90° F) from a panel. Special conditions and guarantee limitations apply. 78" Diam. x 42" H. (350 lbs.). Price $30,000. www.hammacher.com/Product/12195
Skyward System's foray into the world of VTOL fighters begins. This is an experimental aircraft built to test VTOL using only jet engines in a conventional layout and not with separate lift engines (totally not a Yak-36).
This does have a F-35 style flap underneath where thrust is re-directed from the engines and down to push the plane up, but I didn't get any screenshots of the bottom. I might take some and put them in a separate image.
I will build something out of real Lego eventually....
(Also on the side view the screenshot cut off the tail-thruster/stabiliser)
There will be thousands more knowledgeable on the subject than I, but this was a picture taken on the Hershey Railway. The system's passenger service was largely in the hands of these elderly 'Interurban' electric railcars... sort of a half way house between a tram and a genuine railway train. The Mill, it's associated cane plantations and the interconnecting rail network was once the property of the American confectionery giant, Hershey but I would imagine ceased to be at the time of the Cuban Revolution.
We were taken for a demonstration ride in this car out of the yard and onto their main line, however progress was abruptly halted with much horn sounding when we came face to face with an inbound freight!
LTV A-7K Corsair II
a/c NZ5710, 75 Squadron, Corsair Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF)
Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, 16-17 January 1991
Personal mount of Wing Commander Chris Wood
The RNZAF relinquished its GAF Canberra B.20s for A-4K Skyhawks during the 1960s. Used for attack duties across South East Asia, they suffered significant losses during the UN's ill-fated Operation Half Back Flanker in 1972. To recapitalise its attack capabilities, the RNZAF re-equipped with the A-7K Corsair II from 1974. The A-7K featured the boom receptacle and Pave Penny laser spot tracker of the USAF's A-7D and the internal AN/ALQ-162 ECM system of the USN's A-7E. The single-seat A-7K was later joined by 2 twin-seat versions, the TA-7K trainer and the Pave Tack equipped OA-7K. The New Zealand government acquired the Corsair II with the expectation of upgrading the fleet to Corsair III standard around 1980. This justified the installation of a feature unique to the K series: a narrow track rear undercarriage. These units gave the airframe a level stance on the tarmac, a position which simplified the proposed mounting of an F100 turbofan in an extended fuselage. However, although the proposal was successfully demonstrated by 2 YA-7F prototypes flown in 1979-82, no orders were placed. Issued to 4 squadrons (collectively known as Corsair Force from 1987), RNZAF Corsair IIs maintained a presence at Butterworth in Malaysia throughout the 70s and 80s, flying hundreds of missions against Red forces across SEA.
By 1990, the Corsair Force was both battle hardened and formidably equipped. The RNZAF Corsair IIs could deliver GBU-15 glide bombs with both EO and IIR guidance heads, GBU-10 and GBU-12 Paveway II and GBU-24 Paveway III LGBs, AGM-65B and D Mavericks, AGM-84A Harpoon, AGM-88⁰ B HARMs, Mk.82 and Mk.84 bombs, CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition CBUs and CBU-89 Gator mine dispensers. The AN/AAR-45 LANA FLIR pod was integrated into the nav/attack system of the A-7Ks and the OA-7Ks used the AN/AVQ-26 Pave Tack day/night laser targeting pod; they could also conduct remote targeting of the GBU-15 via the AN/AXQ-14 datalink pod. AIM-9M Sidewinders were carried for self defence, as were Magnolia Mist ChaffWinder and bulk Wood Bungalow counter measures dispensers. The Corsair II force also trained with the F-16B Block 15s of 14 Squadron, which could provide daylight buddy laser targeting via their AN/AVQ-23E Pave Spike pods.
The RNZAF's commitment to Operation Desert Shield included 2 squadrons from Corsair Force. This brought together 14 A-7Ks of 75 Squadron and 6 OA-7Ks from 12 Squadron, although airframes and personnel were drawn from all 4 RNZAF Corsair II squadrons. The deployment came at a difficult time for the RNZAF's A-7 community. The national budget delivered in May 1990 included a commitment to reduce the Corsair Force from 4 to 2 squadrons by June 1991. This was to be achieved by disbanding 12 and 75 Sqns at the end of their rapid current deployment cycle. With personnel retiring or being posted elsewhere, the Desert Shield deployment faced serious manpower and morale problems. As Christmas approached, the strains of months of non-stop training, of living in a tented camp and being confined to a base in Saudi Arabia were starting to show. Looking across the flight line, Wing Cmdr Wood realised that his drably painted neutral grey aircraft were looking as weary as his crews. With an inspection coming up, he reckoned the planes. In the interests of esprit de corps, he ordered the pilots and ground crews to collaborate in the design and application of individual camouflage schemes. The results were stunning, effective, distinctive and morale boosting.
All 20 aircraft of Corsair Force participated in the attacks on the opening night of Desert Storm, hitting targets in and around Iran's 4th Tactical Air Base at Vahdati with GBU-15s and GBU-24s. Although close to the Iraqi border and subjected to repeated air strikes, artillery barrages and cascades of tactical ballistic missiles, the base remained operational throughout the Iran-Iran War. A key to its survival was its extensive underground facilities. In 1961, the Shah of Iran launched Project ˈFēniks. This program was designed to harden Iran's key military, civilian and industrial infrastructure from nuclear, biological and chemical attack. Central to ˈFēniks was the construction of underground facilities built to withstand nuclear blasts and enable occupation for several months. The post-1979 Islamic regime further hardened its underground infrastructure against precision conventional attack. They were helped in this effort by the DPRK, which sent technology, engineers, tradesmen and labourers. Vulnerable points like ventilation shafts were protected by thick concrete baffles or hidden inside innocuous looking buildings. Some vulnerable points were also masked by decoys. As UN CentCom commander General “Stormin’ Norman” Schwarzkopf was infamously recorded saying in a hot mic incident, “We’re fighting Morlocks here.”
The Shahbaz IADS built under the Shah benefited from his undergrounding program. Its command, control and communication facilities were hardened and redundant and fixed SAM sites operated from shelters. By 1979 it featured an extensive, layered, highly mobile network of radars, flak and SAMs, including MIM-14 Nike Hercules, MIM-23 Hawk and the Shahab Tagheb (a locally manufactured version of the Phillips Canada Tea Leaf R440 Crotale). Forced into a war of national survival by the Iraqi invasion, the Shahbaz IADS was updated and extended by the Shia regime. The UN called this new system the Shahbaz II. Unlike its American designed predecessor, the UN didn't have intimate knowledge of this system's vulnerabilities. With technical assistance from the DPRK, the Hawk was reverse engineered and upgraded as the Mersad. Korean derivatives of the Moscow Pact's SA-2 (as the Sayyad-1, a version specifically built for Iran featuring a monopulse seeker head) and the SA-14 MANPAD were also introduced. Worse still for the UN, as evidenced from 10 years of war, Iranian radar and SAM operators were skilled and experienced. Signal intelligence confirmed that Iranian radars were operated with discipline and often masked by decoy emitters. To prepare for this formidable defence, the UN held several desktop and flying exercises during Desert Shield against Shahbaz II simulations. These demonstrated that the SAM threat was dense, varied and resilient. For UN airpower to survive in the Iranian air defence environment, hit their targets
and degrade Shahbaz II, extraordinary measures would be required.
The Desert Storm Day 1 plan of attack against Vahdati handed down from the Combined Air Operations Center involved several UN air arms. The USAF provided AWACS with the E-3A Sentry, tanking was via Canadian and RNZAF KC-135As and USAF EF-111As furnished stand-off jamming. 6 F-15As from 77 Sqn RAAF lead 12 F-16As of 14 Sqn RNZAF. Acting in the SEAD role, the Kiwi Vipers launched ADM-141A TALD decoys drones and fired AGM-88B HARM anti-radiation missiles to support the ingress of stand-off missiles deployed by USAF B-52Gs. These were 4 AGM-142A Have Naps with 3,000 lb I-800 penetrator warheads and 8 AGM-86C CALCMs. The CALCMs targeted fixed, above ground radar and communications facilities. The Have Naps were used as bunker busters. While the Australian Eagles established forward CAPS, the F-16 ppilots set up CAPS to protect the tankers and sanitise the egress routes of the following waves. The next attack came from the A-7Ks of 75 Sqn and the OA-7Ks of 12 Sqn, RNZAF. All the Corsair Force jets carried an AIM-9M Sidewinder and a Magnolia Mist ChaffWinder. The core A-7K loadout featured a LANA FLIR pod and a single external fuel tank. Each OA-7K lugged a Pave Tack, an AN/AXQ-14 datalink pod and 2 drop tanks. The first Corsair IIs in action were the 4 A-7Ks of Rangi Flight. Each armed with 2 GBU-15(V)32/Bs, the glide bombs were released from a stand-off range. From there, the WSOs of Pavlova Flight's 6 OA-7Ks guided the bombs to their aim points. After this, the 6 A-7Ks of Footrot Flight, each loaded with 2 BLU-109 armed GBU-24A/Bs, dropped their Paveway IIIs to be guided via the Pave Tack pods of Pavlova Flight's OA-7Ks. The 4 A-7Ks of Cooch Flight conducted SEAD and carried 4 AGM-88B HARMs each. Once free of their heavy bombs, the A-A-7K pilots of Rangi and Footrot took up "SAM shotgun" positions, calling out and kinetically responding to threats. To prosecute this DEAD task, each carried an IIR-guided AGM-65D and a CBU-87 to engage SAM sites. As the Kiwis engaged the SAM threat, they gave cover to the final wave to hit Vahdati that night. It was the job of 4 Saudi Arabian Panavia Tornado International S of 7 Sqn RSAF, each carrying 2 CAE Teal Candidate JP.233 submunitions 00⁰dispensers, to put Vahdati's runways and taxiways out of action. Sweeping in at high speed and low altitude, the Saudis cratered concrete and left behind area denying mines. Once the last Tornado completed its pass, Corsair Force executed its egress.
The air defences around Vahdati caused the New Zealanders problems on the first night of Desert Storm. The decoy drones launched ahead of their attack hadn’t soaked up SAMs. Nor had the presence of the cruise missiles lit up Iranian radars for the enfilade of HARMs that followed. Instead, the defenders waited until manned attackers approached their expected bombing approaches. Indeed, mobile SAM batteries had been positioned around expected Paveway drop baskets and laser targeting routes. These were tactics gleaned from the Reds and, using equipment acquired from the DPRK, the Iranians had 2 more point defence methods to execute. As Corsair Force neared, the defenders of Vahdati deployed particulate aerosols illuminated by strobing and sweeping IR searchlights emitting in the wavelengths used by FLIR pods. Combined, these measures degraded the performance of the attacker's FLIR and laser technologies.
Flying as Footrot Flight Leader, Wing Commander Chris Wood was the first to release his GBU.24s. Despite SAM alerts and jinking, all went well; but, pulling up into a SAM shotgun profile, he could see his colleagues struggling to make their attack runs. Between pilots evading SAMs and WSOs having difficulty acquiring and maintaining Pave Tack target locks, the remainder of Footrot Flight abandoned their runs and repositioned for a second go. Picking a threat vector on his RWAHS monitor, Wng Cmdr Wood turned to face the threat. Selecting the LANA pod's view, he clearly saw a hot Shahab Tagheb launcher. In moments it filled the seeker head of his AGM-65D. Boom! A follow-up CBU-87 sprayed other vehicles in the battery with Combined Effects Munitions. Meanwhile, the HARM shooters of Cooch Flight were busy slinging their missiles in Target Of Opportunity and Self Protect modes. These kinetic responses supported Pavlova Flight and the rest of Footrot Flight as they made their second bomb runs. It also gave cover for the Saudi Tornado crews to complete their attacks unmolested.
Post-strike reconnaissance confirmed some of the GBU-15s and GBU-24s had missed their aim points (the exact numbers are still classified). The Tornado crews had achieved their mission, leaving Vahdati's runways cratered. Also confirmed destroyed were several vehicles associated with SAM batteries, but what was due to HARMs, Mavericks or CBUs was open to debate. Two of Pavlova Flight's OA-7Ks were damaged by Sayyad-1s; both returned safely to Al Ahsa and flew the next night. An A-7K from Cooch Flight was damaged by a Shahab Tagheb. It diverted to King Saud Air Base and resumed combat missions 3 days later. The only UN aircraft lost in the attack was an A-7K from Footrot Flight. Its pilot reported an "engine issue" during the egress, forcing him to eject on the Saudi side of the Iraqi border. The cause of the powerplant problem was later determined to be shrapnel from a Sayyad-1.
Corsair Force remained active throughout Desert Storm. Operating exclusively at night, they suffered 2 more losses from SAMs (both single seaters, the pilots becoming POWs), with another 7 Kiwi Corsair IIs suffering repairable damage. 4 A-7Ks and 2 OA-7Ks were received as reinforcements mid-way through the campaign. Although credited with a credible performance against the toughest of defences, it had become apparent that the Corsair II was nearing the end of its usefulness against near-peer opponents. In the late 1990s they were replaced with the F-15K Poukai, named after a monstrous bird of prey in Maori mythology. The Poukai was the RNZAF's main combat type during the UN's 2007 "humanitarian intervention" into the DPRK. By then, the F-16s had been upgraded to MLU standard, retired and sold to Bangladesh.
UN airpower attacked Vahdati over a dozen times during Desert Storm. Despite this, after the war the resident force of A-7Ps and F-5Es were rolled out from their underground shelters with great fanfare. They wear dusty, but undamaged. Chris Wood would go on to earn the rank of Air Vice-Marshal.
ROSMAN, NC (May 16-17, 2015)—For fourteen years, Rosman High School students have voluntarily locked in with teachers and schoolmates for fun, food, and fellowship after the prom. It’s reasonable to ask why students, after spending the evening together and with many other options available, keep this tradition going.
Attending for three or four years straight suggests that these Tigers are convinced: getting locked in, not up, is more than a vote for safety. It offers unique opportunities that only come around one night a year. And at midnight after the Rosman High School prom on May 16, about 170 students once again packed the gym for fellowship and fun.
Senior Megan Lewandowski has attended three times. “I’ve always loved the lock-in, and I might probably just go home otherwise,” she said, “but now I’m at the age where people are starting to party, and I appreciate the effort made by our school to keep people out of trouble. Plus, you get to throw dodgeballs at teachers!”
All Rosman High students are invited, whether they attend prom or not. “I think the biggest advantage is getting to spend time with friends and teachers,” said RHS junior Anna Cobb, who has attended for three years. “We are able to go to school the next week and talk about the fun we had together, and laugh at our ‘tired’ personalities.”
Taking over Boshamer Gymnasium at Brevard College, as they do each year, provides abundant choices for attendees. From sports, such as dodgeball and 3-on-3 basketball, to leisure, in movie rooms or hallways lined with sleeping bags, students sprawl into suitable spaces and pass the night in safety.
Along with students who locked in within 30 minutes after the prom, 46 adults enlisted for some or all of the night. That number included 24 from Rosman High, seven from RMS, three from the TCS central office, several parents, and others from Brevard High, Blue Ridge College, the National Guard recruiter’s office, and the Sheriff’s Department.
School Resource Officer Greg Stroup has organized the event since it began, and fellow SRO’s Desirée Abram and Michael Hall were on hand as well. Sheriff David Mahoney enlisted as both target and marksman, right alongside teachers and administrators, for a grueling dodgeball match.
Students have plenty of options after the prom, such as sleepovers and bonfires, which they put aside to join the lock-in. Officer Stroup said that thinking of creative ways to help kids stay safe has always been the goal of the event, and thanks to community support it continues to work today.
“What a wonderful opportunity it has been to offer this activity for 14 years to our kids on such a special night,” said Stroup. “If it was not for the generosity of the community, this event would not be possible.”
Brevard College offers free use of the athletic building, and almost 70 donors provides prizes or cash donations. Transylvania Youth Association generously offered $1,000 to support the event, and even more goes each year to the T-shirts again provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
Every student enjoys pizza and soda or water throughout the night, and is assured of winning a door prize from gift certificates to swag offered by dozens of local businesses. Larger gifts reserved for a seniors-only drawing provide a bonus for locking in after the last prom of a student’s high-school career.
Among the seniors, Dillon Zachary won the flat-screen television, while Megan Lewandowski’s lucky number landed her a dorm fridge to take to college. Kimberly Holliday won a GoPro camera, and Jacey Voris got tickets to ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
One of the most coveted senior prizes each year, a kayak, went to Jon Miller who was also celebrating his 18th birthday. At classroom awards on the Monday after lock-in, senior Keen Jones took home a microwave oven.
The plentiful gifts seem to drive home what organizers hope to convey: “The message sent to us is that our school is a family, and that our teachers really care about the students,” said Anna Cobb. “It allows us to have fun together and see teachers when they’re a little more laid back.”
Continued high attendance among all the grades at RHS showed organizers that the effort is well worth it. Attendance is free, even for guests from other schools, which helps to stretch a family’s dollar after covering prom-related expenses.
To keep everyone fed and hydrated, this year’s lock-in required 35 Jet’s pizzas, 14 cases of drinks, 100 juice boxes, a pound of coffee, and 200 biscuits from Brevard’s new Bojangles restaurant.
Students know not to miss the party, where memorable moments are made every year. Organizer Julie Queen said, “I love seeing the students come in Monday morning with their T-shirts on, and laughing about having such a great time.”
With a long track record of success, she said that donors and former students have learned to set their spring clocks according to the all-nighter as well.
“It is a very rewarding feeling to have alumni tell you what fond memories they have of the lock-in,” said Queen. “I have even had some call and ask for ideas because they want to replicate it in other places.”
Board of Education member Betty Scruggs arrived Sunday morning to provide moral support during the home stretch and found what she expected after attending in 2014: with some students playing basketball, watching a movie, or playing electronic games, several had also given into sleeping.
“I am delighted with all the students and staff members who participate in the lock-in,” said Scruggs. “It builds community and great memories more than any other single event.”
“They create a well-planned evening of activities in a fun and safe environment, all because of their passion for RHS and commitment to service,” she added. “This lock-in could not happen without a vast number of hours and tremendous amount of phone calls Julie Queen and SRO Greg Stroup make throughout the school year. What a difference they make!”
These and many other pictures can be found on the school system's photo website at flickr.com/tcsnc/sets under "RHS After-Prom Lock-In 2015."
Rosman High School and the organizers wish to thank all their donors and the following sponsors who made the 14th Annual After-Prom Lock-In possible:
Appalachian Construction of Pisgah Forest, Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard College, CARE Coalition – Promoting a drug free community. Comporium, Dalton Insurance, Ecusta Credit Union, Farm Bureau Insurance, Fraternal Order of Police—NC Lodge #14, French Broad Trailer Park, Jiffy Lube, M&B Industries, NC National Guard, NC Farm Bureau, Petit’s Paint and Body, RHS Athletics, RHS students, parents, faculty, and staff, RHS Tiger Club, State Farm Insurance – Meredith Baldridge, Self-Help Credit Union, Sheriff David Mahoney, The Fitness Factory, Toxaway Grading, Transylvania Youth Association, United Way, and the Transylvania Co. Sheriff’s Office.
© 2015, Transylvania County Schools. All rights reserved.
ROSMAN, NC (May 16-17, 2015)—For fourteen years, Rosman High School students have voluntarily locked in with teachers and schoolmates for fun, food, and fellowship after the prom. It’s reasonable to ask why students, after spending the evening together and with many other options available, keep this tradition going.
Attending for three or four years straight suggests that these Tigers are convinced: getting locked in, not up, is more than a vote for safety. It offers unique opportunities that only come around one night a year. And at midnight after the Rosman High School prom on May 16, about 170 students once again packed the gym for fellowship and fun.
Senior Megan Lewandowski has attended three times. “I’ve always loved the lock-in, and I might probably just go home otherwise,” she said, “but now I’m at the age where people are starting to party, and I appreciate the effort made by our school to keep people out of trouble. Plus, you get to throw dodgeballs at teachers!”
All Rosman High students are invited, whether they attend prom or not. “I think the biggest advantage is getting to spend time with friends and teachers,” said RHS junior Anna Cobb, who has attended for three years. “We are able to go to school the next week and talk about the fun we had together, and laugh at our ‘tired’ personalities.”
Taking over Boshamer Gymnasium at Brevard College, as they do each year, provides abundant choices for attendees. From sports, such as dodgeball and 3-on-3 basketball, to leisure, in movie rooms or hallways lined with sleeping bags, students sprawl into suitable spaces and pass the night in safety.
Along with students who locked in within 30 minutes after the prom, 46 adults enlisted for some or all of the night. That number included 24 from Rosman High, seven from RMS, three from the TCS central office, several parents, and others from Brevard High, Blue Ridge College, the National Guard recruiter’s office, and the Sheriff’s Department.
School Resource Officer Greg Stroup has organized the event since it began, and fellow SRO’s Desirée Abram and Michael Hall were on hand as well. Sheriff David Mahoney enlisted as both target and marksman, right alongside teachers and administrators, for a grueling dodgeball match.
Students have plenty of options after the prom, such as sleepovers and bonfires, which they put aside to join the lock-in. Officer Stroup said that thinking of creative ways to help kids stay safe has always been the goal of the event, and thanks to community support it continues to work today.
“What a wonderful opportunity it has been to offer this activity for 14 years to our kids on such a special night,” said Stroup. “If it was not for the generosity of the community, this event would not be possible.”
Brevard College offers free use of the athletic building, and almost 70 donors provides prizes or cash donations. Transylvania Youth Association generously offered $1,000 to support the event, and even more goes each year to the T-shirts again provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
Every student enjoys pizza and soda or water throughout the night, and is assured of winning a door prize from gift certificates to swag offered by dozens of local businesses. Larger gifts reserved for a seniors-only drawing provide a bonus for locking in after the last prom of a student’s high-school career.
Among the seniors, Dillon Zachary won the flat-screen television, while Megan Lewandowski’s lucky number landed her a dorm fridge to take to college. Kimberly Holliday won a GoPro camera, and Jacey Voris got tickets to ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
One of the most coveted senior prizes each year, a kayak, went to Jon Miller who was also celebrating his 18th birthday. At classroom awards on the Monday after lock-in, senior Keen Jones took home a microwave oven.
The plentiful gifts seem to drive home what organizers hope to convey: “The message sent to us is that our school is a family, and that our teachers really care about the students,” said Anna Cobb. “It allows us to have fun together and see teachers when they’re a little more laid back.”
Continued high attendance among all the grades at RHS showed organizers that the effort is well worth it. Attendance is free, even for guests from other schools, which helps to stretch a family’s dollar after covering prom-related expenses.
To keep everyone fed and hydrated, this year’s lock-in required 35 Jet’s pizzas, 14 cases of drinks, 100 juice boxes, a pound of coffee, and 200 biscuits from Brevard’s new Bojangles restaurant.
Students know not to miss the party, where memorable moments are made every year. Organizer Julie Queen said, “I love seeing the students come in Monday morning with their T-shirts on, and laughing about having such a great time.”
With a long track record of success, she said that donors and former students have learned to set their spring clocks according to the all-nighter as well.
“It is a very rewarding feeling to have alumni tell you what fond memories they have of the lock-in,” said Queen. “I have even had some call and ask for ideas because they want to replicate it in other places.”
Board of Education member Betty Scruggs arrived Sunday morning to provide moral support during the home stretch and found what she expected after attending in 2014: with some students playing basketball, watching a movie, or playing electronic games, several had also given into sleeping.
“I am delighted with all the students and staff members who participate in the lock-in,” said Scruggs. “It builds community and great memories more than any other single event.”
“They create a well-planned evening of activities in a fun and safe environment, all because of their passion for RHS and commitment to service,” she added. “This lock-in could not happen without a vast number of hours and tremendous amount of phone calls Julie Queen and SRO Greg Stroup make throughout the school year. What a difference they make!”
These and many other pictures can be found on the school system's photo website at flickr.com/tcsnc/sets under "RHS After-Prom Lock-In 2015."
Rosman High School and the organizers wish to thank all their donors and the following sponsors who made the 14th Annual After-Prom Lock-In possible:
Appalachian Construction of Pisgah Forest, Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard College, CARE Coalition – Promoting a drug free community. Comporium, Dalton Insurance, Ecusta Credit Union, Farm Bureau Insurance, Fraternal Order of Police—NC Lodge #14, French Broad Trailer Park, Jiffy Lube, M&B Industries, NC National Guard, NC Farm Bureau, Petit’s Paint and Body, RHS Athletics, RHS students, parents, faculty, and staff, RHS Tiger Club, State Farm Insurance – Meredith Baldridge, Self-Help Credit Union, Sheriff David Mahoney, The Fitness Factory, Toxaway Grading, Transylvania Youth Association, United Way, and the Transylvania Co. Sheriff’s Office.
© 2015, Transylvania County Schools. All rights reserved.
1:24 Ex-Dorvack - PAM-48Y "Spatha" (fictional German Bundeswehr use; kit conversion/scratch-built)
A historic moment - this actually is the rest of my first ever Dorvack PA kit, about 25 years old and saved from a rather desperate state. Anyway, the original PAC-48 "Guardian" kit was only useable in parts. The plastic had suffered from a bath in brake fluid to get rid of the old paint crust, making the ancient polystyrene even more brittle. Consequently, many hull sections had to be cut away or replaced with plastic sheet or replacements, and the kit ended up as a thorough conversion - rather Frankenstein-style. And in this poor state it stood for years among the other, pretty and finished PA kits, staring at me and waiting for an idea and a revival.
This finally came spontaneously when I browsed literature for interesting camouflage paint schemes and stumbled across the current German army summer uniform. Its cammo scheme is rather complex and consists of nothing less than five colours. It is a very effective paint scheme for forest and heath areas, since it blurs contours through the strong colours contrasts and the mottled colour fields.
With such a Bundeswehr theme, I decided to leave the “inner” Dorvack universe with this kit and rather build a "What if..." model: how would a PA in real military use in 2020 look like? I already did this some time ago with a Patlabor Brocken, and the result was …exciting!
Hence, I modified the kit with plausible details. Parts came from everywhere: the smoke dischargers come from a vintage Dougram F35 Blizzard Gunner, the sensor turret was built from HO scale supplement pieces from a Cornerstone set. This set also donated the cooling grates on the PA’s rear sides. The new jet propulsion system’s intakes are actually exhausts from an Italieri AH-1W in 1:72, the jet pipes come from a horrible 1:72 F-4 snap-fit kit from Heller - after 20 years I found some good use for them… The whole right arm had to be built from scratch, the missile launcher as main armament also comes from the aforementioned Blizzard Gunner kit in 1:72 scale.
With the Bundeswehr theme, I made up a new designation for this PA model: the PAM-48Y “Spatha” – the “Y” suffix is a reminiscence of German army vehicles’ license plates, the name “Spatha” has nothing to do with Spartan warriors, it is actually a term for a German straight sword blade, a cavalry weapon.
For painting I settled on five Humbrol tones. Since I could not find concrete reference numbers for the original uniform colours, I had to match with photographs. I finally came up with:
- Humbrol 95 (Concrete, a greenish yellow tone, currently out of production, though)
- Humbrol 78 (Cockpit Green)
- Humbrol 62 (Leather Brown, RAL 8032)
- Humbrol 149 (Forest Green, FS 34092)
- Humbrol 33 (Black, RAL 9011/FS 37038)
This is also the order of application - if you take a close look at an original German uniform, you will find the colours arranged in layers above each other, from the lightest to darkest tone, mottled, but with clearly defined edges.
Application was less difficult than expected, everything was done by hand with a small brush. A wash with thinned black ink followed, decals followed. Those came from the scrap box, tactical markings were taken from an aftermarket decal sheet from TL Decals. More ageing was done through dry painting with grey and ochre tones, plus some rubbing with grinded pencil mine. All of this was sealed under matt varnish.
As final cosmetics, dry painting with shiny silver on some edges and some splotches with water-based colours that simulate dust were added. At the feet, I also added some white glue to this mix and blew some filtered sand/dirt onto the feet, in order to simulate a mud crust.
All in all, not a highlight of model kit building. But considering the fact that the basic kit is 20 years old, worn and revamped for two times, the result ain't bad.
Animation illustrating orbits of Pluto, Charon, Nix, and Hydra about the system's barycenter. Derived from two Hubble Space Telescope images and a diagram of the orbits.
Names orbit with bodies.
Reprojected plane of orbits to face-on view, determined angles swept in the three days separating original images, made new frames based on date/angle. Each time step represents one Earth day.
Image 1: 15 May, 2005 hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2005/19/image/b/
Image 2: 18 May, 2005 hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2005/19/image/c/
Orbit diagram: hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2005/19/image/h/
Video created by R. Kline, Cornell University Department of Astronomy
+++ DISCLAIMER +++
Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based on historical facts. BEWARE!
Some background:
When, towards late 1945, the Einheits-Chassis for the German combat tanks (the "E" series of medium and heavy tanks) reached the front lines, several heavily armed anti-aircraft turrets had been developed, including the 30mm Kugelblitz, based on the outdated Panzer IV, the "Coelian" turret with various armament options for the Panzer V Panther hull, and there were twin 55 mm as well as single and even 88mm cannon systems for the new E-50, E-75 and E-100 chassis'.
With these new weapons for medium- and high-altitude targets, Firepower was considerably increased, but the tank crews still had to rely on traditional visual tracking and aiming of targets. One potential solution in which the German Heeresleitung was highly interested from the start was the use of the Luftwaffe’s new radar technology for early target identification and as an aiming aid in poor weather conditions or even at night. The German Luftwaffe first introduced an airborne interception radar in 1942, but these systems were bulky and relied upon large bipolar antenna arrays. These were not suitable for any use in a ground vehicle, lest to say in a tank that would also carry weapons and ammunition.
A potential solution appeared in late 1944 with the development of the FuG 240 "Berlin". It was an airborne interception radar, too, but it was the first German radar to be based on the cavity magnetron, which eliminated the need for the large multiple dipole-based antenna arrays seen on earlier radars, thereby greatly increasing the performance of the night fighters. The FuG 240 with a rotating dish antenna was introduced by Telefunken in April 1945, primarily in Junkers Ju 88G-6 night-fighters, behind a plywood radome which considerably improved aerodynamics. This so greatly reduced drag compared to the late-model Lichtenstein and Neptun systems that the fighters regained their pre-radar speeds and made them competitive again. The FuG 240 was effective against bomber-sized targets at distances of up to 9 kilometers (5.5 mi), or down to 0.5 kilometer, which eliminated the need for a second, short-range radar system.
Right before the FuG 240's roll-out with the Luftwaffe, the Heer insisted on a ground-based derivative for its anti-aircraft units. Political pressure from Berlin convinced the RLM to share the new technology, and Telefunken was ushered to adapt the radar system to an armored ground vehicle in February 1945.
It soon became clear that the FuG 240 had several drawbacks for this task. On one side, ground clutter and the natural horizon limited the system's range and low-level effectiveness, but its 9 km range in free space made high altitude surveillance possible – just enough for the effective interception of Allied bombers that attacked important point targets. Furthermore, the whole system, together with its power supply and a dirigible dish antenna, took up a lot of space, so that its integration into a tank-based anti-aircraft vehicle like an SPAAG as an autonomous, stand-alone solution was ruled out.
A workable solution eventually came as a technical and tactical compromise: the army’s anti-aircraft tanks were to be grouped together in so-called Panzer-Fla-Züge, which consisted of several (typically four) SPAAGs and an additional, dedicated radar surveillance and command unit, so that the radar could guide the tank crews towards incoming targets – even though the gun crews still had to rely on visual targeting.
Two respective guidance vehicles developed, a light and a heavy one. The light one, intended against low-flying targets like the Ilyushin Il-2 on the Eastern front, became the 8x8 Funkmess-/Flak-Kommandowagen Sd.Kfz. 234/6. The heavy variant, with a bigger antenna and a more powerful emitter, became the Mittlerer Funkmess-/Flak-Kommandopanzer Sd.Kfz. 282. In contrast to the light and compact Sd.Kfz. 234/6, the Sd.Kfz. 282’s complete radar and observation system was installed in a new turret, so that it could be simply mounted onto the new E-50 Einheitspanzer battle tank hull.
This new, box-shaped turret had been developed by Rheinmetall, together with Telefunken, and was based on the turret design for the new 55 mm twin anti-aircraft cannon. It had a maximum armor of 60mm at the front and held all of the radar equipment, christened "Basilisk", after the monster from medieval mythology with a petrifying sight. The turret held a crew of three: a commander, a radar operator, and an observer for the optical rangefinder. The rest of the crew, the driver and a radio operator, sat in the hull. No armament was fitted, even though a light machine gun could be mounted on the roof for self-defense, even though it could not be operated from the inside. A heavier armament was not deemed necessary since the vehicle would stay close to the heavily armed tanks/SPAAGs it would typically accompany.
The Basilisk radar’s rotating dish antenna had a diameter of 90 cm (35 ½ inches) and was installed at the turret's front under a hard vinyl cover. Power of the modified FuG 240 was 25kW, with a search angle of +80/− 5° and a frequency range: 3,250–3,330MHz (~10 cm). Range was, due the bigger antenna and a higher emitter output, increased to 0.5–11.0 kilometer, even though only under ideal conditions. Power came from a dedicated generator that was connected to the E-50’s V-12 Maybach HL 234 gasoline engine.
Beyond the radar system, the vehicle was furthermore equipped with a powerful visual coincidence range finder in the turret, combined with an analogue computer, the Kommandogerät (KDO) 40 Telemeter. This system had been introduced in 1941 as a guidance tool for stationary anti-aircraft units equipped with the 88 mm and the 105 mm Flak, but it had so far – due to its size and bulk – only been deployed on an unarmored trailer
The KDO 40 and similar sights worked as follows: Light from the target entered the range finder through two windows located at either end of the instrument. At either side, the incident beam was reflected to the center of the optical bar by a pentaprism, and this optical bar was ideally made from a material with a low coefficient of thermal expansion so that optical path lengths would not change significantly with temperature. The reflected beam first passed through an objective lens and was then merged with the beam of the opposing side with an ocular prism sub-assembly to form two images of the target which were viewed by the observer through the eyepiece. Since either beam entered the instrument at a slightly different angle the resulting image, if unaltered, would appear blurry. Therefore, in one arm of the instrument, a compensator was integrated which could be adjusted by the operator to tilt the beam until the two images matched. At this point, the images were said to be in coincidence. The degree of rotation of the compensator determined the range to the target by simple triangulation, allowing the calculation of the distance to the observed object.
Fixed target reading with the device mounted in the Sd.Kfz. 282 turret was possible on targets from 3,000 to 20,000 m. Aerial courses could be recorded at all levels of flight and at a slant range between 4,000 and 18,000 m - enough for visual identification beyond an anti-aircraft group's effective gun ranges and perfectly suitable for long range observation, so that the Sd.Kfz. 282 also had excellent reconnaissance and observation capabilities. The rangefinder’s optical bar had a massive span of 400 cm (157.5 in) and went right through the turret, just above the radar device installation. The whole device, together with its armored fairing, was 4,60 m (15 ft 1 in) wide, so that it protruded from the turret on both sides over the lower hull. The odd and unwieldy installation quickly earned the vehicle nicknames like "Hirsch (stag)", "Zwo-Ender" (a young stag with just two antlers) or “Ameise” (ant). None of these were official, though. In order to protect the Telemeter on the way, the turret was normally turned by 90° and hidden under a tarpaulin, in order not to give away any details of the highly classified equipment.
However, development of the Einheitspanzer family lagged behind schedule, and in early 1945 no E-50 chassis was available for the highly specialized Sd.Kfz. 282 – battle tanks and SPGs were in higher demand. As an alternative, the turret was quickly adapted for different tank hulls, namely the Sd.Kfz. 171, the Panzer V ‘Panther’ medium tank and the heavy Sd.Kfz. 181 ‘Tiger I’. Tests with both hulls in spring 1945 were successful, but only the lighter ‘Panther’ hull was chosen because it was lighter overall, more mobile and available in sufficient numbers for a quick roll-out. In this configuration, the system received the designation Sd.Kfz. 282/1, while the original Sd.Kfz. 282 designation was reserved for the originally planned E-50 chassis variant.
The first vehicles reached, together with the new FlaK tanks, the front units in September 1945. Operating independently, they were primarily allocated to the defense of important production sites and the city of Berlin, and they supported tank divisions through early warning duties and visual long-range reconnaissance. Operationally, the Sd.Kfz. 282’s sensor setup with its combined visual and radar input turned out to be surprisingly successful. The combination of the Basilisk radar with the KDO 40 rangefinder allowed a time from initial target acquisition to the first AA shot of less than 20 seconds, which was impressive for the time – typically, simple visual target acquisition took 30 seconds or more. First shot hit probability was appreciably improved, too, and even quick passes of aircraft at low altitudes could be precalculated, if the radar was not obstructed.
However, the radar remained capricious, its performance rather limited and the unarmored antenna fairing at the turret’s front was easily damaged in combat, even by heavy machinegun fire. But the Sd.Kfz. 282 offered, when the vehicle was placed in a location with a relatively free field of view (e. g. on a wide forest clearance or in an open field), a sufficient early warning performance against incoming bombers at medium to high altitudes, and it also appreciably mobilized the bulky but valuable KDO 40 device. It now could easily be moved around and keep up with the pace of motorized battle groups that the Panzer-Fla-Züge units were supposed to protect.
Until the end of hostilities, probably thirty Sd.Kfz. 282/1s were completed from newly built (Ausf. F, recognizable through the simpler all-metal wheels) or from refurbished earlier Panzer V chassis of various types before production switched in early 1946 to the E-50 chassis which had eventually become available in sufficient numbers.
Specifications:
Crew: Five (commander, radar operator, observer, driver, radio-operator/hull machine gunner)
Weight: 41.2 tonnes (40.4 long tons; 45.3 short tons)
Length (hull only): 6.87 m (22 ft 6 in)
Width: 3.42 m (11 ft 3 in) hull only
4,60 m (15 ft 1 in) overall
Height: 2.95 m (9 ft 8 in)
Suspension: Double torsion bar, interleaved road wheels
Fuel capacity: 720 litres (160 imp gal; 190 US gal)
Armor:
15–80 mm (0.6 – 3.15 in)
Performance:
Maximum road speed: 48 km/h (30 mph)
Operational range: 250 km (160 mi)
Power/weight: 15.39 PS (11.5 kW)/tonne (13.77 hp/ton)
Engine:
Maybach HL230 P30 V-12 petrol engine with 700 PS (690 hp, 515 kW)
ZF AK 7-200 gear; 7 forward 1 reverse
Armament:
1× 7.92 mm MG 34 machine gun in the front glacis plate with 2.500 rounds
Optional MG 34 or 42 machine gun with 1.500 rounds on the turret
The kit and its assembly:
Another submission to the “Recce & Surveillance” group build at whatifmodellers.com in July 2021, and actually a good occasion to tackle a project that I had on my list for some years. A long while ago I bought a resin conversion set with a (purely fictional) Heer ‘46 anti-aircraft surveillance radar system, based on an E-50 chassis. Unfortunately, I cannot identify the manufacturer, but this 1:72 conversion set was/is nicely molded, with delicate details, no bubbles or flash and it even came with a commander figure for an optional open hatch on top as well as a pair of delicate brass antennae.
Even though I could have mounted this replacement turret onto a Trumpeter or Modelcollect E-50/75 chassis, I rather decided to create an earlier (1945 time frame) interim vehicle on a late Panzer V ‘Panther’ basis, mostly because it would be more compact and I doubt that brand new E-50/75s would have been “wasted” on second line/support vehicles like this mobile surveillance/commando post for anti-aircraft units?
The Panther chassis is the old Hasegawa kit for an Ausf. G tank from 1973, chosen because of its good fit, simplicity and the vinyl tracks, which I prefer. However, the kit clearly shows its age and some weak/soft details (e. g. the gratings on the engine deck), but it was enough for my plans and easy to handle.
Both turret and hull were built separately and basically OOB, combined with an adjusted turret ring. The Kdo 40’s “antlers” are to be glued directly to the turret’s flanks, but I reinforced the connections with wire. I also replaced the set’s brass antennae with heated sprue material and used a surplus PE detail set from a Modelcollect E-50/75 to hide the crude engine openings and change the overall look of the Panther a little. Some storage boxes as well as spare track links were added to the flanks, stuff collected from the scrap box.
To emphasize the refurbished character of the vehicle I left away the Panther’s side skirts – these were easily lost in battle, anyway, and probably have rather been allocated to battle tanks than to 2nd line support vehicles, despite leaving the Panther’s lower hull under the mudguards vulnerable.
Painting and markings:
Even though the paint scheme on this model is based on German standard colors, it is a little special. Late in real-world WWII some Panzer Vs received a unique, uniform RAL 6003 (Olivgrün) factory finish instead of the usual all-over RAL 7028 (Dunkelgelb) or the bare oxide red primer finish, onto which the frontline units would add individual camouflage, depending on the theatre of operations and whatever paint or application tool was at hand. This special green livery was adopted for the model, including the new turret. The individual camouflage consists of diagonal stripes in Dunkelgelb and Rotbraun (RAL 8017), added on top of the green basis with rather sharp and straight edges and only to the vertical surfaces. The practice to leave out the horizontal surfaces was called “Sparanstrich” (literally “economy paintwork”), an attempt to save the more and more scarce paint.
This rather odd style was actually applied to several late war Panther tanks – even though I am personally not certain about this pattern’s effectiveness? Maybe a kind of dazzle effect was sought for?
The basic green became a modern-day RAL 6003 from the rattle can (which is very close to FS 34102, just a tad lighter), applied in a rather cloudy fashion on top of an initial coat of Oxide Red primer (RAL 3009) overall, also from the rattle can. On top of that the stripes were painted with a brush, partly masked but mostly free-handedly. For some variation I used this time Tamiya XF-60 (a rather pale interpretation of Dunkelgelb which IMHO lacks a greenish hue and rather looks like a desert sand tone) and XF-64 (a rich whole milk chocolate tone) to create the additional camouflage, not fully opaque so that the impression of thinly/hastily applied paint was reinforced.
Once dry, the whole surface received a very dark brown washing with thinned acrylic paint and surface details were emphasized through dry-brushing with earth brown and beige.
For a different look (and to break up the tank’s bulky outlines) I applied camouflage nets to the model, realized with gauze bandages drenched in Tamyia XF-62 (Olive Drab) and mounted into place around the turret and at the front of the hull while still slightly wet.
Decals were puzzled together from various German tank sheets. The kit was sealed with matt acrylic varnish, what also fixed the cammo nets in place. The originally shiny black vinyl tracks were also painted/weathered, with a wet-in-wet mix of grey, iron, black and red brown (all acrylics). Once mounted into place, mud and dust were simulated around the running gear and the lower hull with a greyish-brown mix of artist mineral pigments.
Not a spectacular build, but I am happy that I eventually had the opportunity and motivation to tackle this project that had been lingering for years in the The Stash™. The result looks really good – the anonymous resin set is/was excellent, and combined with the Panther hull, the whole thing looks very credible. I am only a bit sad that the odd, almost artistic camouflage got a little lost under the cammo nets and the equipment on the hull, and the dust/dirt on the lower areas blurs the three basic colors even more. Well, you cannot have everything at once, and I might re-use this scheme on a “cleaner” future build.
ROSMAN, NC (May 16-17, 2015)—For fourteen years, Rosman High School students have voluntarily locked in with teachers and schoolmates for fun, food, and fellowship after the prom. It’s reasonable to ask why students, after spending the evening together and with many other options available, keep this tradition going.
Attending for three or four years straight suggests that these Tigers are convinced: getting locked in, not up, is more than a vote for safety. It offers unique opportunities that only come around one night a year. And at midnight after the Rosman High School prom on May 16, about 170 students once again packed the gym for fellowship and fun.
Senior Megan Lewandowski has attended three times. “I’ve always loved the lock-in, and I might probably just go home otherwise,” she said, “but now I’m at the age where people are starting to party, and I appreciate the effort made by our school to keep people out of trouble. Plus, you get to throw dodgeballs at teachers!”
All Rosman High students are invited, whether they attend prom or not. “I think the biggest advantage is getting to spend time with friends and teachers,” said RHS junior Anna Cobb, who has attended for three years. “We are able to go to school the next week and talk about the fun we had together, and laugh at our ‘tired’ personalities.”
Taking over Boshamer Gymnasium at Brevard College, as they do each year, provides abundant choices for attendees. From sports, such as dodgeball and 3-on-3 basketball, to leisure, in movie rooms or hallways lined with sleeping bags, students sprawl into suitable spaces and pass the night in safety.
Along with students who locked in within 30 minutes after the prom, 46 adults enlisted for some or all of the night. That number included 24 from Rosman High, seven from RMS, three from the TCS central office, several parents, and others from Brevard High, Blue Ridge College, the National Guard recruiter’s office, and the Sheriff’s Department.
School Resource Officer Greg Stroup has organized the event since it began, and fellow SRO’s Desirée Abram and Michael Hall were on hand as well. Sheriff David Mahoney enlisted as both target and marksman, right alongside teachers and administrators, for a grueling dodgeball match.
Students have plenty of options after the prom, such as sleepovers and bonfires, which they put aside to join the lock-in. Officer Stroup said that thinking of creative ways to help kids stay safe has always been the goal of the event, and thanks to community support it continues to work today.
“What a wonderful opportunity it has been to offer this activity for 14 years to our kids on such a special night,” said Stroup. “If it was not for the generosity of the community, this event would not be possible.”
Brevard College offers free use of the athletic building, and almost 70 donors provides prizes or cash donations. Transylvania Youth Association generously offered $1,000 to support the event, and even more goes each year to the T-shirts again provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
Every student enjoys pizza and soda or water throughout the night, and is assured of winning a door prize from gift certificates to swag offered by dozens of local businesses. Larger gifts reserved for a seniors-only drawing provide a bonus for locking in after the last prom of a student’s high-school career.
Among the seniors, Dillon Zachary won the flat-screen television, while Megan Lewandowski’s lucky number landed her a dorm fridge to take to college. Kimberly Holliday won a GoPro camera, and Jacey Voris got tickets to ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
One of the most coveted senior prizes each year, a kayak, went to Jon Miller who was also celebrating his 18th birthday. At classroom awards on the Monday after lock-in, senior Keen Jones took home a microwave oven.
The plentiful gifts seem to drive home what organizers hope to convey: “The message sent to us is that our school is a family, and that our teachers really care about the students,” said Anna Cobb. “It allows us to have fun together and see teachers when they’re a little more laid back.”
Continued high attendance among all the grades at RHS showed organizers that the effort is well worth it. Attendance is free, even for guests from other schools, which helps to stretch a family’s dollar after covering prom-related expenses.
To keep everyone fed and hydrated, this year’s lock-in required 35 Jet’s pizzas, 14 cases of drinks, 100 juice boxes, a pound of coffee, and 200 biscuits from Brevard’s new Bojangles restaurant.
Students know not to miss the party, where memorable moments are made every year. Organizer Julie Queen said, “I love seeing the students come in Monday morning with their T-shirts on, and laughing about having such a great time.”
With a long track record of success, she said that donors and former students have learned to set their spring clocks according to the all-nighter as well.
“It is a very rewarding feeling to have alumni tell you what fond memories they have of the lock-in,” said Queen. “I have even had some call and ask for ideas because they want to replicate it in other places.”
Board of Education member Betty Scruggs arrived Sunday morning to provide moral support during the home stretch and found what she expected after attending in 2014: with some students playing basketball, watching a movie, or playing electronic games, several had also given into sleeping.
“I am delighted with all the students and staff members who participate in the lock-in,” said Scruggs. “It builds community and great memories more than any other single event.”
“They create a well-planned evening of activities in a fun and safe environment, all because of their passion for RHS and commitment to service,” she added. “This lock-in could not happen without a vast number of hours and tremendous amount of phone calls Julie Queen and SRO Greg Stroup make throughout the school year. What a difference they make!”
These and many other pictures can be found on the school system's photo website at flickr.com/tcsnc/sets under "RHS After-Prom Lock-In 2015."
Rosman High School and the organizers wish to thank all their donors and the following sponsors who made the 14th Annual After-Prom Lock-In possible:
Appalachian Construction of Pisgah Forest, Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard College, CARE Coalition – Promoting a drug free community. Comporium, Dalton Insurance, Ecusta Credit Union, Farm Bureau Insurance, Fraternal Order of Police—NC Lodge #14, French Broad Trailer Park, Jiffy Lube, M&B Industries, NC National Guard, NC Farm Bureau, Petit’s Paint and Body, RHS Athletics, RHS students, parents, faculty, and staff, RHS Tiger Club, State Farm Insurance – Meredith Baldridge, Self-Help Credit Union, Sheriff David Mahoney, The Fitness Factory, Toxaway Grading, Transylvania Youth Association, United Way, and the Transylvania Co. Sheriff’s Office.
© 2015, Transylvania County Schools. All rights reserved.
ROSMAN, NC (May 16-17, 2015)—For fourteen years, Rosman High School students have voluntarily locked in with teachers and schoolmates for fun, food, and fellowship after the prom. It’s reasonable to ask why students, after spending the evening together and with many other options available, keep this tradition going.
Attending for three or four years straight suggests that these Tigers are convinced: getting locked in, not up, is more than a vote for safety. It offers unique opportunities that only come around one night a year. And at midnight after the Rosman High School prom on May 16, about 170 students once again packed the gym for fellowship and fun.
Senior Megan Lewandowski has attended three times. “I’ve always loved the lock-in, and I might probably just go home otherwise,” she said, “but now I’m at the age where people are starting to party, and I appreciate the effort made by our school to keep people out of trouble. Plus, you get to throw dodgeballs at teachers!”
All Rosman High students are invited, whether they attend prom or not. “I think the biggest advantage is getting to spend time with friends and teachers,” said RHS junior Anna Cobb, who has attended for three years. “We are able to go to school the next week and talk about the fun we had together, and laugh at our ‘tired’ personalities.”
Taking over Boshamer Gymnasium at Brevard College, as they do each year, provides abundant choices for attendees. From sports, such as dodgeball and 3-on-3 basketball, to leisure, in movie rooms or hallways lined with sleeping bags, students sprawl into suitable spaces and pass the night in safety.
Along with students who locked in within 30 minutes after the prom, 46 adults enlisted for some or all of the night. That number included 24 from Rosman High, seven from RMS, three from the TCS central office, several parents, and others from Brevard High, Blue Ridge College, the National Guard recruiter’s office, and the Sheriff’s Department.
School Resource Officer Greg Stroup has organized the event since it began, and fellow SRO’s Desirée Abram and Michael Hall were on hand as well. Sheriff David Mahoney enlisted as both target and marksman, right alongside teachers and administrators, for a grueling dodgeball match.
Students have plenty of options after the prom, such as sleepovers and bonfires, which they put aside to join the lock-in. Officer Stroup said that thinking of creative ways to help kids stay safe has always been the goal of the event, and thanks to community support it continues to work today.
“What a wonderful opportunity it has been to offer this activity for 14 years to our kids on such a special night,” said Stroup. “If it was not for the generosity of the community, this event would not be possible.”
Brevard College offers free use of the athletic building, and almost 70 donors provides prizes or cash donations. Transylvania Youth Association generously offered $1,000 to support the event, and even more goes each year to the T-shirts again provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
Every student enjoys pizza and soda or water throughout the night, and is assured of winning a door prize from gift certificates to swag offered by dozens of local businesses. Larger gifts reserved for a seniors-only drawing provide a bonus for locking in after the last prom of a student’s high-school career.
Among the seniors, Dillon Zachary won the flat-screen television, while Megan Lewandowski’s lucky number landed her a dorm fridge to take to college. Kimberly Holliday won a GoPro camera, and Jacey Voris got tickets to ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
One of the most coveted senior prizes each year, a kayak, went to Jon Miller who was also celebrating his 18th birthday. At classroom awards on the Monday after lock-in, senior Keen Jones took home a microwave oven.
The plentiful gifts seem to drive home what organizers hope to convey: “The message sent to us is that our school is a family, and that our teachers really care about the students,” said Anna Cobb. “It allows us to have fun together and see teachers when they’re a little more laid back.”
Continued high attendance among all the grades at RHS showed organizers that the effort is well worth it. Attendance is free, even for guests from other schools, which helps to stretch a family’s dollar after covering prom-related expenses.
To keep everyone fed and hydrated, this year’s lock-in required 35 Jet’s pizzas, 14 cases of drinks, 100 juice boxes, a pound of coffee, and 200 biscuits from Brevard’s new Bojangles restaurant.
Students know not to miss the party, where memorable moments are made every year. Organizer Julie Queen said, “I love seeing the students come in Monday morning with their T-shirts on, and laughing about having such a great time.”
With a long track record of success, she said that donors and former students have learned to set their spring clocks according to the all-nighter as well.
“It is a very rewarding feeling to have alumni tell you what fond memories they have of the lock-in,” said Queen. “I have even had some call and ask for ideas because they want to replicate it in other places.”
Board of Education member Betty Scruggs arrived Sunday morning to provide moral support during the home stretch and found what she expected after attending in 2014: with some students playing basketball, watching a movie, or playing electronic games, several had also given into sleeping.
“I am delighted with all the students and staff members who participate in the lock-in,” said Scruggs. “It builds community and great memories more than any other single event.”
“They create a well-planned evening of activities in a fun and safe environment, all because of their passion for RHS and commitment to service,” she added. “This lock-in could not happen without a vast number of hours and tremendous amount of phone calls Julie Queen and SRO Greg Stroup make throughout the school year. What a difference they make!”
These and many other pictures can be found on the school system's photo website at flickr.com/tcsnc/sets under "RHS After-Prom Lock-In 2015."
Rosman High School and the organizers wish to thank all their donors and the following sponsors who made the 14th Annual After-Prom Lock-In possible:
Appalachian Construction of Pisgah Forest, Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard College, CARE Coalition – Promoting a drug free community. Comporium, Dalton Insurance, Ecusta Credit Union, Farm Bureau Insurance, Fraternal Order of Police—NC Lodge #14, French Broad Trailer Park, Jiffy Lube, M&B Industries, NC National Guard, NC Farm Bureau, Petit’s Paint and Body, RHS Athletics, RHS students, parents, faculty, and staff, RHS Tiger Club, State Farm Insurance – Meredith Baldridge, Self-Help Credit Union, Sheriff David Mahoney, The Fitness Factory, Toxaway Grading, Transylvania Youth Association, United Way, and the Transylvania Co. Sheriff’s Office.
© 2015, Transylvania County Schools. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, i was invited to visit David McConville's amazing Geodome in his wonderful home here in West Asheville. The inside of the dome was projected, from a single macbook, a map of our known space outside Earth. The progression of moving back from the earth to the edge of the universe was a process - complete with informative monologue from David - was a total mind blower.
The progression is in the these 10 photographs, but the scale and gorgeousness of the entire process was amazing.
ROSMAN, NC (May 16-17, 2015)—For fourteen years, Rosman High School students have voluntarily locked in with teachers and schoolmates for fun, food, and fellowship after the prom. It’s reasonable to ask why students, after spending the evening together and with many other options available, keep this tradition going.
Attending for three or four years straight suggests that these Tigers are convinced: getting locked in, not up, is more than a vote for safety. It offers unique opportunities that only come around one night a year. And at midnight after the Rosman High School prom on May 16, about 170 students once again packed the gym for fellowship and fun.
Senior Megan Lewandowski has attended three times. “I’ve always loved the lock-in, and I might probably just go home otherwise,” she said, “but now I’m at the age where people are starting to party, and I appreciate the effort made by our school to keep people out of trouble. Plus, you get to throw dodgeballs at teachers!”
All Rosman High students are invited, whether they attend prom or not. “I think the biggest advantage is getting to spend time with friends and teachers,” said RHS junior Anna Cobb, who has attended for three years. “We are able to go to school the next week and talk about the fun we had together, and laugh at our ‘tired’ personalities.”
Taking over Boshamer Gymnasium at Brevard College, as they do each year, provides abundant choices for attendees. From sports, such as dodgeball and 3-on-3 basketball, to leisure, in movie rooms or hallways lined with sleeping bags, students sprawl into suitable spaces and pass the night in safety.
Along with students who locked in within 30 minutes after the prom, 46 adults enlisted for some or all of the night. That number included 24 from Rosman High, seven from RMS, three from the TCS central office, several parents, and others from Brevard High, Blue Ridge College, the National Guard recruiter’s office, and the Sheriff’s Department.
School Resource Officer Greg Stroup has organized the event since it began, and fellow SRO’s Desirée Abram and Michael Hall were on hand as well. Sheriff David Mahoney enlisted as both target and marksman, right alongside teachers and administrators, for a grueling dodgeball match.
Students have plenty of options after the prom, such as sleepovers and bonfires, which they put aside to join the lock-in. Officer Stroup said that thinking of creative ways to help kids stay safe has always been the goal of the event, and thanks to community support it continues to work today.
“What a wonderful opportunity it has been to offer this activity for 14 years to our kids on such a special night,” said Stroup. “If it was not for the generosity of the community, this event would not be possible.”
Brevard College offers free use of the athletic building, and almost 70 donors provides prizes or cash donations. Transylvania Youth Association generously offered $1,000 to support the event, and even more goes each year to the T-shirts again provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
Every student enjoys pizza and soda or water throughout the night, and is assured of winning a door prize from gift certificates to swag offered by dozens of local businesses. Larger gifts reserved for a seniors-only drawing provide a bonus for locking in after the last prom of a student’s high-school career.
Among the seniors, Dillon Zachary won the flat-screen television, while Megan Lewandowski’s lucky number landed her a dorm fridge to take to college. Kimberly Holliday won a GoPro camera, and Jacey Voris got tickets to ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
One of the most coveted senior prizes each year, a kayak, went to Jon Miller who was also celebrating his 18th birthday. At classroom awards on the Monday after lock-in, senior Keen Jones took home a microwave oven.
The plentiful gifts seem to drive home what organizers hope to convey: “The message sent to us is that our school is a family, and that our teachers really care about the students,” said Anna Cobb. “It allows us to have fun together and see teachers when they’re a little more laid back.”
Continued high attendance among all the grades at RHS showed organizers that the effort is well worth it. Attendance is free, even for guests from other schools, which helps to stretch a family’s dollar after covering prom-related expenses.
To keep everyone fed and hydrated, this year’s lock-in required 35 Jet’s pizzas, 14 cases of drinks, 100 juice boxes, a pound of coffee, and 200 biscuits from Brevard’s new Bojangles restaurant.
Students know not to miss the party, where memorable moments are made every year. Organizer Julie Queen said, “I love seeing the students come in Monday morning with their T-shirts on, and laughing about having such a great time.”
With a long track record of success, she said that donors and former students have learned to set their spring clocks according to the all-nighter as well.
“It is a very rewarding feeling to have alumni tell you what fond memories they have of the lock-in,” said Queen. “I have even had some call and ask for ideas because they want to replicate it in other places.”
Board of Education member Betty Scruggs arrived Sunday morning to provide moral support during the home stretch and found what she expected after attending in 2014: with some students playing basketball, watching a movie, or playing electronic games, several had also given into sleeping.
“I am delighted with all the students and staff members who participate in the lock-in,” said Scruggs. “It builds community and great memories more than any other single event.”
“They create a well-planned evening of activities in a fun and safe environment, all because of their passion for RHS and commitment to service,” she added. “This lock-in could not happen without a vast number of hours and tremendous amount of phone calls Julie Queen and SRO Greg Stroup make throughout the school year. What a difference they make!”
These and many other pictures can be found on the school system's photo website at flickr.com/tcsnc/sets under "RHS After-Prom Lock-In 2015."
Rosman High School and the organizers wish to thank all their donors and the following sponsors who made the 14th Annual After-Prom Lock-In possible:
Appalachian Construction of Pisgah Forest, Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard College, CARE Coalition – Promoting a drug free community. Comporium, Dalton Insurance, Ecusta Credit Union, Farm Bureau Insurance, Fraternal Order of Police—NC Lodge #14, French Broad Trailer Park, Jiffy Lube, M&B Industries, NC National Guard, NC Farm Bureau, Petit’s Paint and Body, RHS Athletics, RHS students, parents, faculty, and staff, RHS Tiger Club, State Farm Insurance – Meredith Baldridge, Self-Help Credit Union, Sheriff David Mahoney, The Fitness Factory, Toxaway Grading, Transylvania Youth Association, United Way, and the Transylvania Co. Sheriff’s Office.
© 2015, Transylvania County Schools. All rights reserved.
The Sun (Latin: Sol), a yellow dwarf, is the star at the center of the Solar System. The Earth and other matter (including other planets, asteroids, meteoroids, comets, and dust) orbit the Sun, which by itself accounts for about 98.6% of the Solar System's mass. The mean distance of the Sun from the Earth is approximately 149,600,000 kilometers, or 92,960,000 miles, and its light travels this distance in 8.3 minutes. Energy from the Sun, in the form of sunlight, supports almost all life on Earth via photosynthesis, and drives the Earth's climate and weather.
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
PROGRAM GRANT AWARDS
CHARLESTON -- Governor Earl Ray Tomblin today, June 29, 2016, awarded $1,087,599.00 in STOP Violence Against Women Grant Program funds for twenty-eight (28) projects statewide. The purpose of these funds is to establish or enhance teams whose core members include victim service providers, law enforcement, and prosecution to improve the criminal justice system's response to violence against women. Grants provide personnel, equipment, training, technical assistance, and information systems for the establishment or enhancement of these teams. Additionally, statewide projects are funded to provide training and educational opportunities for all victim service providers, law enforcement, prosecution, and court personnel throughout the state.
STOP funds are awarded from the Office on Violence Against Women, Office of the U.S. Department of Justice. The funds are administered by the Division of Justice and Community Services.
Funds were awarded to the following:
CABELL
Branches Domestic Violence Shelter, Inc.$55,446.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Cabell County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Cabell County Prosecutor's Office, Branches Domestic Violence Shelter, CONTACT of Huntington, and the Huntington Police Department.
Contact:Ms. Amanda McComas
Phone: (304) 529-2382
Email: mccomas@branchesdvs.org
CALHOUN
Family Crisis Intervention Center$19,799.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Calhoun County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Calhoun County Prosecutor's Office, the Family Crisis Intervention Center, and the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department.
Contact:Ms Emly S. Larkins
Phone: (304) 428-2333
Email: eelarkins@suddenlink.net
FAYETTE
Comprehensive Women's Service Council$32,671.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Fayette County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Fayette County Prosecutor's Office, the Comprehensive Women’s Service Council, and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department.
Contact:Ms. Patricia M. Bailey
Phone: (304) 255-2559
Email: Pbailey@wrcwv.org
GRANT
Family Crisis Center, Inc.$17,683.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Grant County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office, the Family Crisis Center, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Department.
Contact:Ms. Sony Fazzalore
Phone: (304) 788-6061
Email: fcc911@frontier.com
GREENBRIER
Family Refuge Center$53,040.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Greenbrier County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Greenbrier County Prosecutor's Office, the Family Refuge Center, the Lewisburg Police Department, and the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department.
Contact:Ms. Kenosha Davenport
Phone: (304) 645-6334
Email: kenoshad@familyrefugecenter.org
HARRISON
Task Force on Domestic Violence, "HOPE, Inc."$43,176.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Harrison County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Harrison County Prosecutor's Office, the Task Force on Domestic Violence “HOPE, Inc.”, the Bridgeport Police Department and the Clarksburg Police Department.
Contact:Ms. Harriet Sutton
Phone: (304) 367-1100
Email: hmsutton@hopeincwv.org
KANAWHA
Kanawha County Commission$46,429.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Kanawha County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Kanawha County Prosecutor's Office, the YWCA Resolve Family Abuse Program, the Family Counseling Connection – REACH Program, Beginning My Empowerment Thru Emmanuel's Kingdom (BEMEEK) Outreach Program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department, and the Charleston Police Department.
Contact:Ms. Gale A. Teare
Phone: (304) 357-0499
Email: galeteare@kcso.us
MARION
Task Force on Domestic Violence, "HOPE, Inc."$51,078.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Marion County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, the Task Force on Domestic Violence, "HOPE, Inc.", the Marion County Sheriff's Department, and the Fairmont Police Department.
Contact:Ms. Harriet Sutton
Phone: (304) 367-1100
Email: hmsutton@hopeincwv.org
MARSHALL
Marshall County Commission$25,259.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Marshall County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Marshall County Prosecutor's Office, the YWCA Family Violence Prevention Program, and the Marshall County Sheriff's Department.
Contact:Ms. Betsy Frohnapfel
Phone: (304) 845-0482
Email: bfrohnapfel@marshallcountywv.org
MINERAL
Family Crisis Center, Inc.$17,683.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Mineral County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Mineral County Prosecutor's Office, the Family Crisis Center, and the Mineral County Sheriff’s Department.
Contact:Ms. Sonya Fazzalore
Phone: (304) 788-6061
Email: fcc911@frontier.com
MINGO
Tug Valley Recovery Shelter, Inc.$43,576.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Mingo County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Mingo County Prosecutor's Office, the Tug Valley Recovery Shelter, and the Mingo County Sheriff's Department.
Contact:Ms. Kim Ryan
Phone: (304) 235-6121
Email: k.s.ryan@hotmail.com
MINGO, LOGAN
Tug Valley Recovery Shelter, Inc.$32,596.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Logan County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Logan County Prosecutor's Office, the Tug Valley Recovery Shelter, and the Logan County Sheriff’s Department.
Contact:Ms. Kim Ryan
Phone: (304) 235-6121
Email: k.s.ryan@hotmail.com
MONONGALIA
The Rape & Domestic Violence Information Center, Inc.$54,599.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Monongalia County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Monongalia County Prosecutor's Office, the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center, the Morgantown Police Department, the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, and the Star City Police Department.
Contact:Ms. Judy King
Phone: (304) 292-5100
Email: rdvic99@earthlink.net
Monroe
Family Refuge Center$23,825.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Monroe County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office, the Family Refuge Center, and the Monroe County Sheriff's Department.
Contact:Ms. Kenosha Davenport
Phone: (304) 645-6334
Email: kenoshad@familyresourcecenter.org
NICHOLAS
Comprehensive Women's Service Council$36,904.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Nicholas County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Nicholas County Prosecutor's Office, the Comprehensive Women’s Service Council and the Nicholas County Sheriff's Department.
Contact:Ms. Patricia M. Bailey
Phone: (304) 255-2559
Email: pbailey@wrcwv.org
OHIO
Ohio County Commission$87,614.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Ohio County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Ohio County Prosecutor's Office, the YWCA Family Violence Prevention Program, the YWCA Cultural Diversity and Community Outreach Program, and the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department.
Contact:Mr. Scott R. Smith
Phone: (304) 234-3631
Email: ssmith@wvocpa.org
POCAHONTAS
Family Refuge Center $6,000.00
These funds provide for the enhancement of the Pocahontas County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Pocahontas County Prosecutor’s Office, the Family Refuge Center and the Pocahontas County Sheriff’s Department.
Contact:Ms. Kenosha Davenport
Phone: (304) 645-6334
Email: kenoshad@familyrefugecenter.org
PRESTON
The Rape & Domestic Violence Information Center, Inc.$35,643.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Preston County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Preston County Prosecutor's Office, the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center, and the Preston County Sheriff's Department.
Contact:Ms. Judy King
Phone: (304) 292-5100
Email: rdvic99@earthlink.net
PUTNAM
Putnam County Commission$25,421.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Putnam County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Putnam County Prosecutor's Office, Branches Domestic Violence Shelter, the Family Counseling Connection - REACH Program, and the Putnam County Sheriff's Department.
Contact:Sheriff Steve Deweese
Phone: (304) 586-0256
Email: tcraigo@putnamwv.org
RALEIGH
Comprehensive Women's Service Council$60,535.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Raleigh County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Raleigh County Prosecutor's Office, the Comprehensive Women’s Service Council, and the Beckley Police Department.
Contact:Ms. Patricia M. Bailey
Phone: (304) 255-2559
Email: pbailey@wrcwv.org
RANDOLPH
Women's Aid in Crisis$16,767.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Randolph County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Randolph County Prosecutor's Office, Women's Aid in Crisis, and the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department.
Contact:Ms. Marcia R. Drake
Phone: (304) 626-8433
Email: mdrake@waicwv.org
ROANE
Family Crisis Intervention Center$17,398.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Roane County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Roane County Prosecutor's Office, the Family Crisis Intervention Center, the Spencer Police Department, and the Roane County Sheriff's Department.
Contact:Ms. Emily S. Larkins
Phone: (304) 428-2333
Email: eelarkins@suddenlink.net
UPSHUR
Upshur County Commission$26,496.00
These funds provide for the enhancement and the continuation of the Upshur County STOP Team to improve the criminal justice system's response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. The core Team includes the Upshur County Prosecutor's Office, Women's Aid in Crisis, and the Buckhannon Police Department.
Contact:Mr. David E. Godwin
Phone: (304) 472-9699
Email: degodwin@upshurcounty.org
STATEWIDE
West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute$39,284.00
These funds provide for the development and continuation of strengthening prosecution strategies and best practices as well as improve prosecution-based victim services in cases involving violence against women through training and the development of resources.
Contact:Ms. Sherry Eling
Phone: (304) 558-3348
Email: sherry.s.eling@wv.gov
West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services$56,689.00
These funds provide for finalizing the development of an Advocate Guide and Protocol with participating correctional facilities in the state for service provision; convert training materials into e-learning resources; and work with Rape Crisis Centers on service implementation in order to work towards compliance with PREA requirements.
Contact:Ms. Nancy Hoffman
Phone: (304) 366-9500
Email: wvfris@frontier.com
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals$54,104.00
These funds provide for updating and printing the Domestic Violence Benchbook; to provide the salary of a DV Case Coordinator for the pilot program of the Kanawha County Domestic Violence Court; to maintain the Domestic Violence Registry back-up internet site; and to provide continued training for court personnel in the area of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence.
Contact:Ms. Angela Saunders
Phone: (304) 558-0145
Email: Angela.saunders@courtswv.gov
West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence$43,763.00
These funds provide for the continued enhancement of the statewide domestic and sexual violence database; to provide training and technical assistance for STOP Teams and Domestic Violence Programs on cultural diversity and cultural competency; and to promote dating violence protocols.
Contact:Ms. Tonia Thomas
Phone: (304) 965-3552
Email: tthomas@wvcadv.org
West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Serivces$64,121.00
These funds provide for training activities, the on-going development and capacity building of service providers to victims of sexual assault, dating violence and stalking crimes, and to provide training and resources for these programs in order to provide services to sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking victims.
Contact:Ms. Nancy Hoffman
Phone: (304) 366-9500
Email: wvfris@frountier.com
Division of Justice & Community Services contact:
Sarah J. Brown
Senior Justice Programs Specialist
Division of Justice and Community Services
1204 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, West Virginia 25301
Phone: (304) 558-8814, Extension 53337
Email: Sarah.J.Brown@wv.gov
Photos available for media use. All photos should be attributed “Photo courtesy of Office of the Governor.”
ROSMAN, NC (May 16-17, 2015)—For fourteen years, Rosman High School students have voluntarily locked in with teachers and schoolmates for fun, food, and fellowship after the prom. It’s reasonable to ask why students, after spending the evening together and with many other options available, keep this tradition going.
Attending for three or four years straight suggests that these Tigers are convinced: getting locked in, not up, is more than a vote for safety. It offers unique opportunities that only come around one night a year. And at midnight after the Rosman High School prom on May 16, about 170 students once again packed the gym for fellowship and fun.
Senior Megan Lewandowski has attended three times. “I’ve always loved the lock-in, and I might probably just go home otherwise,” she said, “but now I’m at the age where people are starting to party, and I appreciate the effort made by our school to keep people out of trouble. Plus, you get to throw dodgeballs at teachers!”
All Rosman High students are invited, whether they attend prom or not. “I think the biggest advantage is getting to spend time with friends and teachers,” said RHS junior Anna Cobb, who has attended for three years. “We are able to go to school the next week and talk about the fun we had together, and laugh at our ‘tired’ personalities.”
Taking over Boshamer Gymnasium at Brevard College, as they do each year, provides abundant choices for attendees. From sports, such as dodgeball and 3-on-3 basketball, to leisure, in movie rooms or hallways lined with sleeping bags, students sprawl into suitable spaces and pass the night in safety.
Along with students who locked in within 30 minutes after the prom, 46 adults enlisted for some or all of the night. That number included 24 from Rosman High, seven from RMS, three from the TCS central office, several parents, and others from Brevard High, Blue Ridge College, the National Guard recruiter’s office, and the Sheriff’s Department.
School Resource Officer Greg Stroup has organized the event since it began, and fellow SRO’s Desirée Abram and Michael Hall were on hand as well. Sheriff David Mahoney enlisted as both target and marksman, right alongside teachers and administrators, for a grueling dodgeball match.
Students have plenty of options after the prom, such as sleepovers and bonfires, which they put aside to join the lock-in. Officer Stroup said that thinking of creative ways to help kids stay safe has always been the goal of the event, and thanks to community support it continues to work today.
“What a wonderful opportunity it has been to offer this activity for 14 years to our kids on such a special night,” said Stroup. “If it was not for the generosity of the community, this event would not be possible.”
Brevard College offers free use of the athletic building, and almost 70 donors provides prizes or cash donations. Transylvania Youth Association generously offered $1,000 to support the event, and even more goes each year to the T-shirts again provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
Every student enjoys pizza and soda or water throughout the night, and is assured of winning a door prize from gift certificates to swag offered by dozens of local businesses. Larger gifts reserved for a seniors-only drawing provide a bonus for locking in after the last prom of a student’s high-school career.
Among the seniors, Dillon Zachary won the flat-screen television, while Megan Lewandowski’s lucky number landed her a dorm fridge to take to college. Kimberly Holliday won a GoPro camera, and Jacey Voris got tickets to ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
One of the most coveted senior prizes each year, a kayak, went to Jon Miller who was also celebrating his 18th birthday. At classroom awards on the Monday after lock-in, senior Keen Jones took home a microwave oven.
The plentiful gifts seem to drive home what organizers hope to convey: “The message sent to us is that our school is a family, and that our teachers really care about the students,” said Anna Cobb. “It allows us to have fun together and see teachers when they’re a little more laid back.”
Continued high attendance among all the grades at RHS showed organizers that the effort is well worth it. Attendance is free, even for guests from other schools, which helps to stretch a family’s dollar after covering prom-related expenses.
To keep everyone fed and hydrated, this year’s lock-in required 35 Jet’s pizzas, 14 cases of drinks, 100 juice boxes, a pound of coffee, and 200 biscuits from Brevard’s new Bojangles restaurant.
Students know not to miss the party, where memorable moments are made every year. Organizer Julie Queen said, “I love seeing the students come in Monday morning with their T-shirts on, and laughing about having such a great time.”
With a long track record of success, she said that donors and former students have learned to set their spring clocks according to the all-nighter as well.
“It is a very rewarding feeling to have alumni tell you what fond memories they have of the lock-in,” said Queen. “I have even had some call and ask for ideas because they want to replicate it in other places.”
Board of Education member Betty Scruggs arrived Sunday morning to provide moral support during the home stretch and found what she expected after attending in 2014: with some students playing basketball, watching a movie, or playing electronic games, several had also given into sleeping.
“I am delighted with all the students and staff members who participate in the lock-in,” said Scruggs. “It builds community and great memories more than any other single event.”
“They create a well-planned evening of activities in a fun and safe environment, all because of their passion for RHS and commitment to service,” she added. “This lock-in could not happen without a vast number of hours and tremendous amount of phone calls Julie Queen and SRO Greg Stroup make throughout the school year. What a difference they make!”
These and many other pictures can be found on the school system's photo website at flickr.com/tcsnc/sets under "RHS After-Prom Lock-In 2015."
Rosman High School and the organizers wish to thank all their donors and the following sponsors who made the 14th Annual After-Prom Lock-In possible:
Appalachian Construction of Pisgah Forest, Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard College, CARE Coalition – Promoting a drug free community. Comporium, Dalton Insurance, Ecusta Credit Union, Farm Bureau Insurance, Fraternal Order of Police—NC Lodge #14, French Broad Trailer Park, Jiffy Lube, M&B Industries, NC National Guard, NC Farm Bureau, Petit’s Paint and Body, RHS Athletics, RHS students, parents, faculty, and staff, RHS Tiger Club, State Farm Insurance – Meredith Baldridge, Self-Help Credit Union, Sheriff David Mahoney, The Fitness Factory, Toxaway Grading, Transylvania Youth Association, United Way, and the Transylvania Co. Sheriff’s Office.
© 2015, Transylvania County Schools. All rights reserved.
ROSMAN, NC (May 16-17, 2015)—For fourteen years, Rosman High School students have voluntarily locked in with teachers and schoolmates for fun, food, and fellowship after the prom. It’s reasonable to ask why students, after spending the evening together and with many other options available, keep this tradition going.
Attending for three or four years straight suggests that these Tigers are convinced: getting locked in, not up, is more than a vote for safety. It offers unique opportunities that only come around one night a year. And at midnight after the Rosman High School prom on May 16, about 170 students once again packed the gym for fellowship and fun.
Senior Megan Lewandowski has attended three times. “I’ve always loved the lock-in, and I might probably just go home otherwise,” she said, “but now I’m at the age where people are starting to party, and I appreciate the effort made by our school to keep people out of trouble. Plus, you get to throw dodgeballs at teachers!”
All Rosman High students are invited, whether they attend prom or not. “I think the biggest advantage is getting to spend time with friends and teachers,” said RHS junior Anna Cobb, who has attended for three years. “We are able to go to school the next week and talk about the fun we had together, and laugh at our ‘tired’ personalities.”
Taking over Boshamer Gymnasium at Brevard College, as they do each year, provides abundant choices for attendees. From sports, such as dodgeball and 3-on-3 basketball, to leisure, in movie rooms or hallways lined with sleeping bags, students sprawl into suitable spaces and pass the night in safety.
Along with students who locked in within 30 minutes after the prom, 46 adults enlisted for some or all of the night. That number included 24 from Rosman High, seven from RMS, three from the TCS central office, several parents, and others from Brevard High, Blue Ridge College, the National Guard recruiter’s office, and the Sheriff’s Department.
School Resource Officer Greg Stroup has organized the event since it began, and fellow SRO’s Desirée Abram and Michael Hall were on hand as well. Sheriff David Mahoney enlisted as both target and marksman, right alongside teachers and administrators, for a grueling dodgeball match.
Students have plenty of options after the prom, such as sleepovers and bonfires, which they put aside to join the lock-in. Officer Stroup said that thinking of creative ways to help kids stay safe has always been the goal of the event, and thanks to community support it continues to work today.
“What a wonderful opportunity it has been to offer this activity for 14 years to our kids on such a special night,” said Stroup. “If it was not for the generosity of the community, this event would not be possible.”
Brevard College offers free use of the athletic building, and almost 70 donors provides prizes or cash donations. Transylvania Youth Association generously offered $1,000 to support the event, and even more goes each year to the T-shirts again provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
Every student enjoys pizza and soda or water throughout the night, and is assured of winning a door prize from gift certificates to swag offered by dozens of local businesses. Larger gifts reserved for a seniors-only drawing provide a bonus for locking in after the last prom of a student’s high-school career.
Among the seniors, Dillon Zachary won the flat-screen television, while Megan Lewandowski’s lucky number landed her a dorm fridge to take to college. Kimberly Holliday won a GoPro camera, and Jacey Voris got tickets to ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
One of the most coveted senior prizes each year, a kayak, went to Jon Miller who was also celebrating his 18th birthday. At classroom awards on the Monday after lock-in, senior Keen Jones took home a microwave oven.
The plentiful gifts seem to drive home what organizers hope to convey: “The message sent to us is that our school is a family, and that our teachers really care about the students,” said Anna Cobb. “It allows us to have fun together and see teachers when they’re a little more laid back.”
Continued high attendance among all the grades at RHS showed organizers that the effort is well worth it. Attendance is free, even for guests from other schools, which helps to stretch a family’s dollar after covering prom-related expenses.
To keep everyone fed and hydrated, this year’s lock-in required 35 Jet’s pizzas, 14 cases of drinks, 100 juice boxes, a pound of coffee, and 200 biscuits from Brevard’s new Bojangles restaurant.
Students know not to miss the party, where memorable moments are made every year. Organizer Julie Queen said, “I love seeing the students come in Monday morning with their T-shirts on, and laughing about having such a great time.”
With a long track record of success, she said that donors and former students have learned to set their spring clocks according to the all-nighter as well.
“It is a very rewarding feeling to have alumni tell you what fond memories they have of the lock-in,” said Queen. “I have even had some call and ask for ideas because they want to replicate it in other places.”
Board of Education member Betty Scruggs arrived Sunday morning to provide moral support during the home stretch and found what she expected after attending in 2014: with some students playing basketball, watching a movie, or playing electronic games, several had also given into sleeping.
“I am delighted with all the students and staff members who participate in the lock-in,” said Scruggs. “It builds community and great memories more than any other single event.”
“They create a well-planned evening of activities in a fun and safe environment, all because of their passion for RHS and commitment to service,” she added. “This lock-in could not happen without a vast number of hours and tremendous amount of phone calls Julie Queen and SRO Greg Stroup make throughout the school year. What a difference they make!”
These and many other pictures can be found on the school system's photo website at flickr.com/tcsnc/sets under "RHS After-Prom Lock-In 2015."
Rosman High School and the organizers wish to thank all their donors and the following sponsors who made the 14th Annual After-Prom Lock-In possible:
Appalachian Construction of Pisgah Forest, Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard College, CARE Coalition – Promoting a drug free community. Comporium, Dalton Insurance, Ecusta Credit Union, Farm Bureau Insurance, Fraternal Order of Police—NC Lodge #14, French Broad Trailer Park, Jiffy Lube, M&B Industries, NC National Guard, NC Farm Bureau, Petit’s Paint and Body, RHS Athletics, RHS students, parents, faculty, and staff, RHS Tiger Club, State Farm Insurance – Meredith Baldridge, Self-Help Credit Union, Sheriff David Mahoney, The Fitness Factory, Toxaway Grading, Transylvania Youth Association, United Way, and the Transylvania Co. Sheriff’s Office.
© 2015, Transylvania County Schools. All rights reserved.
Wait for me! In 2011, NASA's robotic mission Juno launched for Jupiter from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA. Last week, Juno reached Jupiter and fired internal rockets to become only the second spacecraft to orbit our Solar System's largest planet. Juno, tasked with studying the jovian giant over the next two years, is in a highly elliptical orbit that will next bringing it near Jupiter's cloud tops in late August. Of course, the three-year-old pictured was not able to catch up to the launching rocket. Today, however, five years later, he is eight-years-old and still chasing rockets -- in that now he wants to be an astronaut. via NASA ift.tt/29TCcfx
In this video, it shows a very stormy evening in San Jose, CA. Very strong & gusty southerly winds (and rain) were observed as this strongly awaited atmospheric river/storm system’s main cold front makes ‘landfall’ in the Bay Area. This was the strongest storm so far this season for the area. Conditions looked like a tropical storm! Even the Sierras were looking at feet of snowfall before all this is said & done. This evening was just the 1st part of the storm. More heavy rain & wind was in store for the state over the next day or so as this atmospheric river was forecast to inch back north towards the South Bay the very next day... Things would finally calm down by Friday. Stay safe out there guys! (Footage taken during the overnight hours of January 26-27, 2021)
*Weather forecast/update: A strong Pacific storm, or atmospheric river, was expected to bring periods of moderate to heavy rain to the region. This system was forecast to arrive by Tuesday (Jan 26) & was to bring periods of heavy rain & high winds. This will likely result in an increased risk of mudslides over steep terrain, debris flow over wildfire burned areas, as well as localized ponding of water in low-lying areas. Up to 3 inches of rain was expected in urban areas & 3-7 inches possible over higher terrain. The entire area from Napa south thru Monterey & San Benito Counties would get a good soaking from this atmospheric river. Latest model guidance suggests the coastal slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains & Big Sur look to be the primary target of the heaviest rain. On top of this, a high wind watch was also in effect during the period. South winds 20-30 mph with gusts up to 50-60 mph are possible. North Bay, San Francisco Bay Shoreline, East Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, and the South Bay will all be affected. Timing of the strongest winds are forecast to happen Tuesday evening thru Wednesday morning as this strong system’s cold front sweeps thru. Damaging winds can blow down trees & power lines which may result in power outages… Stay tuned to the latest forecast for the most up-to-date weather info online…
ROSMAN, NC (May 16-17, 2015)—For fourteen years, Rosman High School students have voluntarily locked in with teachers and schoolmates for fun, food, and fellowship after the prom. It’s reasonable to ask why students, after spending the evening together and with many other options available, keep this tradition going.
Attending for three or four years straight suggests that these Tigers are convinced: getting locked in, not up, is more than a vote for safety. It offers unique opportunities that only come around one night a year. And at midnight after the Rosman High School prom on May 16, about 170 students once again packed the gym for fellowship and fun.
Senior Megan Lewandowski has attended three times. “I’ve always loved the lock-in, and I might probably just go home otherwise,” she said, “but now I’m at the age where people are starting to party, and I appreciate the effort made by our school to keep people out of trouble. Plus, you get to throw dodgeballs at teachers!”
All Rosman High students are invited, whether they attend prom or not. “I think the biggest advantage is getting to spend time with friends and teachers,” said RHS junior Anna Cobb, who has attended for three years. “We are able to go to school the next week and talk about the fun we had together, and laugh at our ‘tired’ personalities.”
Taking over Boshamer Gymnasium at Brevard College, as they do each year, provides abundant choices for attendees. From sports, such as dodgeball and 3-on-3 basketball, to leisure, in movie rooms or hallways lined with sleeping bags, students sprawl into suitable spaces and pass the night in safety.
Along with students who locked in within 30 minutes after the prom, 46 adults enlisted for some or all of the night. That number included 24 from Rosman High, seven from RMS, three from the TCS central office, several parents, and others from Brevard High, Blue Ridge College, the National Guard recruiter’s office, and the Sheriff’s Department.
School Resource Officer Greg Stroup has organized the event since it began, and fellow SRO’s Desirée Abram and Michael Hall were on hand as well. Sheriff David Mahoney enlisted as both target and marksman, right alongside teachers and administrators, for a grueling dodgeball match.
Students have plenty of options after the prom, such as sleepovers and bonfires, which they put aside to join the lock-in. Officer Stroup said that thinking of creative ways to help kids stay safe has always been the goal of the event, and thanks to community support it continues to work today.
“What a wonderful opportunity it has been to offer this activity for 14 years to our kids on such a special night,” said Stroup. “If it was not for the generosity of the community, this event would not be possible.”
Brevard College offers free use of the athletic building, and almost 70 donors provides prizes or cash donations. Transylvania Youth Association generously offered $1,000 to support the event, and even more goes each year to the T-shirts again provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
Every student enjoys pizza and soda or water throughout the night, and is assured of winning a door prize from gift certificates to swag offered by dozens of local businesses. Larger gifts reserved for a seniors-only drawing provide a bonus for locking in after the last prom of a student’s high-school career.
Among the seniors, Dillon Zachary won the flat-screen television, while Megan Lewandowski’s lucky number landed her a dorm fridge to take to college. Kimberly Holliday won a GoPro camera, and Jacey Voris got tickets to ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
One of the most coveted senior prizes each year, a kayak, went to Jon Miller who was also celebrating his 18th birthday. At classroom awards on the Monday after lock-in, senior Keen Jones took home a microwave oven.
The plentiful gifts seem to drive home what organizers hope to convey: “The message sent to us is that our school is a family, and that our teachers really care about the students,” said Anna Cobb. “It allows us to have fun together and see teachers when they’re a little more laid back.”
Continued high attendance among all the grades at RHS showed organizers that the effort is well worth it. Attendance is free, even for guests from other schools, which helps to stretch a family’s dollar after covering prom-related expenses.
To keep everyone fed and hydrated, this year’s lock-in required 35 Jet’s pizzas, 14 cases of drinks, 100 juice boxes, a pound of coffee, and 200 biscuits from Brevard’s new Bojangles restaurant.
Students know not to miss the party, where memorable moments are made every year. Organizer Julie Queen said, “I love seeing the students come in Monday morning with their T-shirts on, and laughing about having such a great time.”
With a long track record of success, she said that donors and former students have learned to set their spring clocks according to the all-nighter as well.
“It is a very rewarding feeling to have alumni tell you what fond memories they have of the lock-in,” said Queen. “I have even had some call and ask for ideas because they want to replicate it in other places.”
Board of Education member Betty Scruggs arrived Sunday morning to provide moral support during the home stretch and found what she expected after attending in 2014: with some students playing basketball, watching a movie, or playing electronic games, several had also given into sleeping.
“I am delighted with all the students and staff members who participate in the lock-in,” said Scruggs. “It builds community and great memories more than any other single event.”
“They create a well-planned evening of activities in a fun and safe environment, all because of their passion for RHS and commitment to service,” she added. “This lock-in could not happen without a vast number of hours and tremendous amount of phone calls Julie Queen and SRO Greg Stroup make throughout the school year. What a difference they make!”
These and many other pictures can be found on the school system's photo website at flickr.com/tcsnc/sets under "RHS After-Prom Lock-In 2015."
Rosman High School and the organizers wish to thank all their donors and the following sponsors who made the 14th Annual After-Prom Lock-In possible:
Appalachian Construction of Pisgah Forest, Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard College, CARE Coalition – Promoting a drug free community. Comporium, Dalton Insurance, Ecusta Credit Union, Farm Bureau Insurance, Fraternal Order of Police—NC Lodge #14, French Broad Trailer Park, Jiffy Lube, M&B Industries, NC National Guard, NC Farm Bureau, Petit’s Paint and Body, RHS Athletics, RHS students, parents, faculty, and staff, RHS Tiger Club, State Farm Insurance – Meredith Baldridge, Self-Help Credit Union, Sheriff David Mahoney, The Fitness Factory, Toxaway Grading, Transylvania Youth Association, United Way, and the Transylvania Co. Sheriff’s Office.
© 2015, Transylvania County Schools. All rights reserved.
ROSMAN, NC (May 16-17, 2015)—For fourteen years, Rosman High School students have voluntarily locked in with teachers and schoolmates for fun, food, and fellowship after the prom. It’s reasonable to ask why students, after spending the evening together and with many other options available, keep this tradition going.
Attending for three or four years straight suggests that these Tigers are convinced: getting locked in, not up, is more than a vote for safety. It offers unique opportunities that only come around one night a year. And at midnight after the Rosman High School prom on May 16, about 170 students once again packed the gym for fellowship and fun.
Senior Megan Lewandowski has attended three times. “I’ve always loved the lock-in, and I might probably just go home otherwise,” she said, “but now I’m at the age where people are starting to party, and I appreciate the effort made by our school to keep people out of trouble. Plus, you get to throw dodgeballs at teachers!”
All Rosman High students are invited, whether they attend prom or not. “I think the biggest advantage is getting to spend time with friends and teachers,” said RHS junior Anna Cobb, who has attended for three years. “We are able to go to school the next week and talk about the fun we had together, and laugh at our ‘tired’ personalities.”
Taking over Boshamer Gymnasium at Brevard College, as they do each year, provides abundant choices for attendees. From sports, such as dodgeball and 3-on-3 basketball, to leisure, in movie rooms or hallways lined with sleeping bags, students sprawl into suitable spaces and pass the night in safety.
Along with students who locked in within 30 minutes after the prom, 46 adults enlisted for some or all of the night. That number included 24 from Rosman High, seven from RMS, three from the TCS central office, several parents, and others from Brevard High, Blue Ridge College, the National Guard recruiter’s office, and the Sheriff’s Department.
School Resource Officer Greg Stroup has organized the event since it began, and fellow SRO’s Desirée Abram and Michael Hall were on hand as well. Sheriff David Mahoney enlisted as both target and marksman, right alongside teachers and administrators, for a grueling dodgeball match.
Students have plenty of options after the prom, such as sleepovers and bonfires, which they put aside to join the lock-in. Officer Stroup said that thinking of creative ways to help kids stay safe has always been the goal of the event, and thanks to community support it continues to work today.
“What a wonderful opportunity it has been to offer this activity for 14 years to our kids on such a special night,” said Stroup. “If it was not for the generosity of the community, this event would not be possible.”
Brevard College offers free use of the athletic building, and almost 70 donors provides prizes or cash donations. Transylvania Youth Association generously offered $1,000 to support the event, and even more goes each year to the T-shirts again provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
Every student enjoys pizza and soda or water throughout the night, and is assured of winning a door prize from gift certificates to swag offered by dozens of local businesses. Larger gifts reserved for a seniors-only drawing provide a bonus for locking in after the last prom of a student’s high-school career.
Among the seniors, Dillon Zachary won the flat-screen television, while Megan Lewandowski’s lucky number landed her a dorm fridge to take to college. Kimberly Holliday won a GoPro camera, and Jacey Voris got tickets to ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
One of the most coveted senior prizes each year, a kayak, went to Jon Miller who was also celebrating his 18th birthday. At classroom awards on the Monday after lock-in, senior Keen Jones took home a microwave oven.
The plentiful gifts seem to drive home what organizers hope to convey: “The message sent to us is that our school is a family, and that our teachers really care about the students,” said Anna Cobb. “It allows us to have fun together and see teachers when they’re a little more laid back.”
Continued high attendance among all the grades at RHS showed organizers that the effort is well worth it. Attendance is free, even for guests from other schools, which helps to stretch a family’s dollar after covering prom-related expenses.
To keep everyone fed and hydrated, this year’s lock-in required 35 Jet’s pizzas, 14 cases of drinks, 100 juice boxes, a pound of coffee, and 200 biscuits from Brevard’s new Bojangles restaurant.
Students know not to miss the party, where memorable moments are made every year. Organizer Julie Queen said, “I love seeing the students come in Monday morning with their T-shirts on, and laughing about having such a great time.”
With a long track record of success, she said that donors and former students have learned to set their spring clocks according to the all-nighter as well.
“It is a very rewarding feeling to have alumni tell you what fond memories they have of the lock-in,” said Queen. “I have even had some call and ask for ideas because they want to replicate it in other places.”
Board of Education member Betty Scruggs arrived Sunday morning to provide moral support during the home stretch and found what she expected after attending in 2014: with some students playing basketball, watching a movie, or playing electronic games, several had also given into sleeping.
“I am delighted with all the students and staff members who participate in the lock-in,” said Scruggs. “It builds community and great memories more than any other single event.”
“They create a well-planned evening of activities in a fun and safe environment, all because of their passion for RHS and commitment to service,” she added. “This lock-in could not happen without a vast number of hours and tremendous amount of phone calls Julie Queen and SRO Greg Stroup make throughout the school year. What a difference they make!”
These and many other pictures can be found on the school system's photo website at flickr.com/tcsnc/sets under "RHS After-Prom Lock-In 2015."
Rosman High School and the organizers wish to thank all their donors and the following sponsors who made the 14th Annual After-Prom Lock-In possible:
Appalachian Construction of Pisgah Forest, Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard College, CARE Coalition – Promoting a drug free community. Comporium, Dalton Insurance, Ecusta Credit Union, Farm Bureau Insurance, Fraternal Order of Police—NC Lodge #14, French Broad Trailer Park, Jiffy Lube, M&B Industries, NC National Guard, NC Farm Bureau, Petit’s Paint and Body, RHS Athletics, RHS students, parents, faculty, and staff, RHS Tiger Club, State Farm Insurance – Meredith Baldridge, Self-Help Credit Union, Sheriff David Mahoney, The Fitness Factory, Toxaway Grading, Transylvania Youth Association, United Way, and the Transylvania Co. Sheriff’s Office.
© 2015, Transylvania County Schools. All rights reserved.
"Operation Track Sweep," an intensive two-week, system-wide of the tracks at all of the system’s 469 stations gets underway at 14 St on Mon., September 12, 2016.
Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit
Edited Mars Express collage of images of Mars' Valles Marineris, the largest (known) canyon in the Solar System.
Image source: www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/The_Solar_S...
Original caption: Earth’s Grand Canyon inspires awe for anyone who casts eyes upon the vast river-cut valley, but it would seem nothing more than a scratch next to the cavernous scar of Valles Marineris that marks the face of Mars.
Stretching over 4000 km long and 200 km wide, and with a dizzying depth of 10 km, it is some ten times longer and five times deeper than Earth’s Grand Canyon, a size that earns it the status of the largest canyon in the Solar System.
Seen here in new light and online for the first time, this bird’s-eye view of Valles Marineris was created from data captured during 20 individual orbits of ESA’s Mars Express. It is presented in near-true colour and with four times vertical exaggeration.
A wide variety of geological features can be seen, reflecting the complex geological history of the region.
The canyon’s formation is likely intimately linked with the formation of the neighbouring Tharsis bulge, which is out of shot and to the left of this image and home to the largest volcano in the Solar System, Olympus Mons.
The volcanic activity is revealed by the nature of the rocks in the walls of the canyon and the surrounding plains, which were built by successive lava flows.
As the Tharsis bulge swelled with magma during the planet’s first billion years, the surrounding crust was stretched, ripping apart and eventually collapsing into the gigantic troughs of Valles Marineris.
Intricate fault patterns have also developed due to the imposing extensional forces; the most recent are particularly evident in the middle portion of the image and along the lower boundary of the frame.
Landslides have also played a role in shaping the scene, especially in the northern-most troughs, where material has recently slumped down the steep walls. Mass wasting has also created delicate erosion of the highest part of the walls.
Strong water flows may have reshaped Valles Marineris after it was formed, deepening the canyon. Mineralogical information collected by orbiting spacecraft, including Mars Express, shows that the terrain here was altered by water hundreds of millions of years ago.
Vermont Rail System's Champlain Valley Dinner Train returns north to Burlington at Depot Road in Ferrisburgh on a hazy early-August evening in 2024. Leading back after switching directions in Vergennes was VTR 313, a former New Jersey Transit EMD GP40FH-2.
The London Underground (also known as the Tube or simply the Underground) is a public rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and parts of the home counties of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex. The system serves 270 stations and has 402 kilometres (250 mi) of track, 55% of which is above ground. The network incorporates the world's first underground railway, the Metropolitan Railway, which opened in 1863 and is now part of the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines; and the first line to operate underground electric traction trains, the City & South London Railway in 1890, now part of the Northern line.[4] The network has expanded to 11 lines, and in 2012/13 carried 1.23 billion passengers, making it the twelfth busiest transit system, behind New York City, Paris, and Cairo, among others.[citation needed]
The system's first tunnels were built just below the surface using the cut and cover method. Later, circular tunnels – which give rise to its nickname the Tube – were dug through the London Clay at a deeper level. The early lines were marketed as the UNDERGROUND in the early 20th century on maps and signs at central London stations. The private companies that owned and ran the railways were merged in 1933 to form the London Passenger Transport Board. The current operator, London Underground Limited (LUL), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London (TfL), the statutory corporation responsible for most elements of the transport network in Greater London.
As of 2012, 91 per cent of operational expenditure is covered by passenger fares.[5] The Travelcard ticket was introduced in 1983 and Oyster, an electronic ticketing system, in 2003.
Today in official publicity and in general, the term 'Tube' embraces the whole Underground system, not just the lines that run in deep-level tunnels.[6] The schematic Tube map, designed by Harry Beck in 1931, was voted a national design icon in 2006 and now includes other lines - the Docklands Light Railway and London Overground - as well as the non-rail Emirates Air Line. London Underground celebrated 150 years of operations in 2013, with various events marking the milestone.[7]
"EVA Astronaut Bruce McCandless II, is using a special power tool to conduct an experiment. His feet are anchored in the mobile foot restraints, which are connected to the Remote Manipulator System's (RMS) End Effector. The Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS-01A) serves as a test subject for McCandless's experiment. The SPAS-01A is located in the center of the open cargo bay. Behind him is the protective cradle for the Westar VI satellite."
The display reads:
MIM-23 Hawk - Homing All the Way Killer
Following just six years behind Nike Ajax, the MIM-23 Hawk revolutionized tactical anti-aircraft warfare and continues to influence the modern battlefield to this day. The Hawk was first fielded by the US Army in 1959 as a mobile medium-altitude, medium range surface to air missile. Hawk was the first system adopted by the US Army that had the necessary performance to handle the latest generations of Soviet high performance fighter and attack aircraft.
The Hawk system included four different radar systems to acquire, identify, and track incoming air threats. The Pulse Acquisition Radar (PAR) and Continuous Wave Acquisition Radar (CWAR) were used in tandem to acquire an incoming target. The Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) radar in the command post trailer would identify the incoming aircraft as friendly or hostile. Once the target was locked on, the semi-active radar homing missile would "ride" the radar beam from one of the battery's two High Power Illuminating Radars (HIPIR) to intercept the target.
Hawk's first combat deployment surprisingly came on US soil, when the 8th Missile Battalion (Hawk), 15th Artillery and 6th Battalion 56th Artillery deployed to Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Both units were awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for their performance during the crisis.
With the deepening US involvement in South Vietnam, two battalions of Hawks were deployed there in 1965 to provide low to medium altitude air defense for friendly forces and to deter the threat of Soviet-made IL-28 bombers, recently furnished to the North Vietnamese Air Force by the Soviets. The two Hawk battalions served continuously throughout the US involvement in South Vietnam and provided an effective air defense deterrent until they were withdrawn in 1972.
Hawk went through several upgrades during its time with the US Army. The Improved Hawk or I-Hawk increased the radar capabilities for all of the system's radars and added the MIM-23B missile. BY 1978 all Hawk systems in the Army inventory had been upgraded to I-Hawk and the introduction of the Product Improvement Plan (PIP) upgrades had begun as well. The three-phase PIP plan further modernized the Hawk system, replacing vacuum tubes with solid-state electronics and vastly improving the system's performance. The Hawk missile system that deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1990 with 2-1, 2-52 and 8-43 ADA was far different from those that went to Vietnam a quarter century before.
Hawk continued in US Army service until 1994 when it was completely phased out in favor of the MIM-104 Patriot. Hawk continued on with the US Marine Corps until 2002 when it was finally retired in US service, but it continues to be a significant weapon system throughout the world in service with a number of allied nations.
The M727 self-propelled Hawk launcher was intended to give the Hawk battery better mobility and faster time to incoming threats.
The MPQ-50 Pulse Acquisition Radar scanned for medium to high altitude threats, while the Continuous Wave Acquisition Radar searched for low altitude aircraft. The two systems working in concert could detect incoming aircraft at a range of 60 miles.
The MIM-23A weighed 1,300 lbs at launch and had a 119 lb HE blast / fragmentation warhead. It has a minimum engagement range of 1.2 miles and a maximum range of 16 miles. The engagement altitude envelope extended from a minimum of 200 feet up to 36,000 ft.
Taken December 11th, 2013.
Dwarf planet Ceres is the largest object in the Solar System's main asteroid belt, with a diameter of about 950 kilometers (590 miles). Ceres is seen here in approximately true color, based on image data from the Dawn spacecraft recorded on May 4, 2015. On that date, Dawn's orbit stood 13,642 kilometers above the surface of the small world. Two of Ceres' famous mysterious bright spots at Oxo crater and Haulani crater are near center and center right of this view. Casting a telltale shadow at the bottom is Ceres' cone-shaped, lonely mountain Ahuna Mons. Presently some 385 kilometers above the Cerean surface, the ion-propelled Dawn spacecraft is now returning images from its closest mapping orbit. via NASA ift.tt/20t6SaU
The AK-630 is a Soviet and Russian fully automatic naval close-in weapon system based on a six-barreled 30 mm rotary cannon. In "630", "6" means 6 barrels and "30" means 30 mm. It is mounted in an enclosed automatic turret and directed by radar and television detection and tracking. The system's primary purpose is defense against anti-ship missiles and other precision guided weapons. However it can also be employed against fixed or rotary wing aircraft, ships and other small craft, coastal targets, and floating mines. The AK-630 was one of the first ever CIWS systems: when it was developed, there were no Phalanx, DARDO or Goalkeeper systems; however, the long development time of the AK-630 partially negated this advantage. Once operational, this weapon system was rapidly adopted, with up to 8 units installed in every new Soviet warship (from mine-hunters to aircraft carriers), and hundreds produced in total.
The complete weapon system is called A-213-Vympel-A, which comprises the AK-630M Gun Mount, MR-123-02 Fire Control Radar System, and SP-521 Electrical-Optical Tracker. A single MP-123 radar system can simultaneously control two guns, either two 30 mm gun mounts, or two 57 mm gun mounts, or one 30 mm gun and one 57 mm gun. The radar system can engage aerial and surface targets at 4 km and 5 km respectively. The electro-optical system can detect a MiG-21–sized aerial target 7 km away, while torpedo boat–sized surface targets can be detected at a range of up to 70 km. Features include surveillance and tracking modes, high jamming immunity, laser range finder and TV optical sight. It is in operation on almost all Russian Navy ships from fast attack boats to the Kirov Battlecruiser.
The gun mount is fully automated, and can also be remotely controlled by an operator from either the control console or via a remotely mounted gunsight. It has a higher firing rate than both the Goalkeeper and Phalanx (Block 1 and older) CIWS systems. They are often mounted in pairs, with as many as four pairs mounted on the larger ships, providing an effective point defence system. However, like all gun-based CIWS, they suffer from short engagement times and the need for multiple volleys to effectively eradicate a threat.
(Text Wikipedia)
Noctua DH-D9L Tower Cooler. October 2022.
My two and a half year old web computer from winter 2020 had been behaving oddly and shutting down frequently. I downloaded NZXT Cam software to check the system's temperature and was horrified to find that the computer was idling at 70ºc and banging against the wall at 100ºc under load. Way too much for this modest build only used for web browsing and streaming. I took a number of steps to improve air flow through my case including cleaning out dust from the vent filters and replacing the stock case fans with better Noctua 95mm and 120mm fans. I also took out the ram sticks having tall heat spreaders that partially blocked the CPU area and replaced them with shorter profile Corsair Vengeance LPX ram. Since the stock intel cooling fan that came with the i7 cpu was not getting the job done I replaced it with this robust Noctua NH-D9L Tower Cooler. For good measure I installed a heat sink on the M.2 SSD system drive. The computer is now running at the balmy mid 20ºc to high 30ºc zone. Noctua case fans and cpu fans with their distinctive brown and beige colors (or is that ivory?) are butt-ugly but are among the best on the market.
October 24, 2022.
Grand Prairie, Texas.
Olympus Tough TG-6. 4.5-18mm F/2.0-4.9.
7.8mm ( =44mm) f/2.9 @ 1/10 sec. ISO 800.
Fresno State hosts nationwide advocacy day about water sustainability with Fresno State California Water Institute, Fresno Irrigation District, Fresno County Farm Bureau and the state water resources control board about how the water gets to citizens and the importance of the system’s sustainability. Jordan Agricultural Research Center, October 10, 2018, photo by Geoff Thurner, Copyright 2018.
U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet
E-3 SENTRY (AWACS)
E-3 Sentry celebrates 30 years in Air Force's fleet
Mission
The E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system, or AWACS, aircraft with an integrated command and control battle management, or C2BM, surveillance, target detection, and tracking platform. The aircraft provides an accurate, real-time picture of the battlespace to the Joint Air Operations Center. AWACS provides situational awareness of friendly, neutral and hostile activity, command and control of an area of responsibility, battle management of theater forces, all-altitude and all-weather surveillance of the battle space, and early warning of enemy actions during joint, allied, and coalition operations.
Features
The E-3 Sentry is a modified Boeing 707/320 commercial airframe with a rotating radar dome. The dome is 30 feet (9.1 meters) in diameter, six feet (1.8 meters) thick, and is held 11 feet (3.33 meters) above the fuselage by two struts. It contains a radar subsystem that permits surveillance from the Earth's surface up into the stratosphere, over land or water. The radar has a range of more than 250 miles (375.5 kilometers). The radar combined with an identification friend or foe, or IFF, subsystem can look down to detect, identify and track enemy and friendly low-flying aircraft by eliminating ground clutter returns that confuse other radar systems.
Major subsystems in the E-3 are avionics, navigation, communications, sensors (radar and passive detection) and identification tools (IFF/SIF). The mission suite includes consoles that display computer-processed data in graphic and tabular format on video screens. Mission crew members perform surveillance, identification, weapons control, battle management and communications functions.
The radar and computer subsystems on the E-3 Sentry can gather and present broad and detailed battlefield information. This includes position and tracking information on enemy aircraft and ships, and location and status of friendly aircraft and naval vessels. The information can be sent to major command and control centers in rear areas or aboard ships. In time of crisis, this data can also be forwarded to the president and secretary of defense.
In support of air-to-ground operations, the Sentry can provide direct information needed for interdiction, reconnaissance, airlift and close-air support for friendly ground forces. It can also provide information for commanders of air operations to gain and maintain control of the air battle.
As an air defense system, E-3s can detect, identify and track airborne enemy forces far from the boundaries of the United States or NATO countries. It can direct fighter-interceptor aircraft to these enemy targets. Experience has proven that the E-3 Sentry can respond quickly and effectively to a crisis and support worldwide military deployment operations.
AWACS may be employed alone or horizontally integrated in combination with other C2BM and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance elements of the Theater Air Control System. It supports decentralized execution of the air tasking order/air combat order. The system provides the ability to find, fix, track and target airborne or maritime threats and to detect, locate and ID emitters. It has the ability to detect threats and control assets below and beyond the coverage of ground-based command and control or C2, and can exchange data with other C2 systems and shooters via datalinks.
With its mobility as an airborne warning and control system, the Sentry has a greater chance of surviving in warfare than a fixed, ground-based radar system. Among other things, the Sentry's flight path can quickly be changed according to mission and survival requirements. The E-3 can fly a mission profile approximately 8 hours without refueling. Its range and on-station time can be increased through in-flight refueling and the use of an on-board crew rest area.
Background
Engineering, test and evaluation began on the first E-3 Sentry in October 1975. In March 1977 the 552nd Airborne Warning and Control Wing (now 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.), received the first E-3s.
There are 32 aircraft in the U.S. inventory. Air Combat Command has 27 E-3s at Tinker. Pacific Air Forces has four E-3 Sentries at Kadena AB, Japan and Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. There is also one test aircraft at the Boeing Aircraft Company in Seattle.
NATO has 17 E-3A's and support equipment. The first E-3 was delivered to NATO in January 1982. The United Kingdom has seven E-3s, France has four, and Saudi Arabia has five. Japan has four AWACS built on the Boeing 767 airframe.
As proven in operations Desert Storm, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Odyssey Dawn/Unified Protector the E-3 Sentry is the world's premier C2BM aircraft. AWACS aircraft and crews were instrumental to the successful completion of operations Northern and Southern Watch, and are still engaged in operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom. They provide radar surveillance and control in addition to providing senior leadership with time-critical information on the actions of enemy forces. The E-3 has also deployed to support humanitarian relief operations in the U.S. following Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, coordinating rescue efforts between military and civilian authorities.
The data collection capability of the E-3 radar and computer subsystems allowed an entire air war to be recorded for the first time in the history of aerial warfare.
In March 1996, the Air Force activated the 513th Air Control Group, an AWACS Reserve Associate Program unit which performs duties on active-duty aircraft.
During the spring of 1999, the first AWACS aircraft went through the Radar System Improvement Program. RSIP is a joint U.S./NATO development program that involved a major hardware and software intensive modification to the existing radar system. Installation of RSIP enhanced the operational capability of the E-3 radar electronic counter-measures and has improved the system's reliability, maintainability and availability.
The AWACS modernization program, Block 40/45, is currently underway. Bock 40/45 represents a revolutionary change for AWACS and worldwide Joint Command and Control, Battle Management, and Wide Area Surveillance. It is the most significant counter-air battle management improvement in Combat Air Forces tactical Command and Control history. The Block 40/45 Mission Computer and Display upgrade replaces current 1970 vintage mission computing and displays with a true open system and commercial off-the-shelf hardware and software, giving AWACS crews the modern computing tools needed to perform, and vastly improve mission capability. Estimated fleet upgrades completion in ~2020.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Airborne battle management, command and control
Contractor: Boeing Aerospace Co.
Power Plant: Four Pratt and Whitney TF33-PW-100A turbofan engines
Thrust: 20,500 pounds each engine at sea level
Rotodome: 30 feet in diameter (9.1 meters), 6 feet thick (1.8 meters), mounted 11 feet (3.33 meters) above fuselage
Wingspan: 145 feet, 9 inches (44.4 meters)
Length: 152 feet, 11 inches (46.6 meters)
Height: 41 feet, 9 inches (13 meters)
Weight: 205,000 pounds (zero fuel) (92,986 kilograms)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 325,000 pounds (147,418 kilograms)
Fuel Capacity: 21,000 gallons (79,494 liters)
Speed: optimum cruise 360 mph (Mach 0.48)
Range: more than 5,000 nautical miles (9,250 kilometers)
Ceiling: Above 29,000 feet (8,788 meters)
Crew: Flight crew of four plus mission crew of 13-19 specialists (mission crew size varies according to mission)
Unit Cost: $270 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars)
Initial operating capability: April 1978
Inventory: Active force, 32 (1 test); Reserve, 0; Guard, 0
Point of Contact
Air Combat Command, Public Affairs Office; 130 Andrews St., Suite 202; Langley AFB, VA 23665-1987; DSN 574-5007 or 757-764-5007; e-mail: accpa.operations@langley.af.mil
Scott Bolton briefs employees at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on the progress of the Juno mission to the planet Jupiter. Bolton is the principal investigator for Juno at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas.
NASA’s Launch Services Program, which is based at Kennedy, led the successful launch of the Juno spacecraft aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket Aug. 5, 2011 from nearby Space Launch Complex 41. Juno arrived at Jupiter on July 4, 2016, and will study our solar system’s largest planet until February 2018.
Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston
Vicksburg, Mississippi (est. 1825, pop. (2013) 23,542) • MS Delta
• aka Levee Street Depot • designed by D.H. Burnham & Co., Chicago
• example of both the Georgian Revival style's post-1900 influence on American public buildings & the increased prosperity of the of the Illinois Central (Gulf) railroad system's Mississippi corridor
• Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad —Wikipedia • Mississippi Valley & Yazoo Railroad Station —World of Decay • Yazoo & Mississippi Valley —Mississippi Rails
• rehabbed as restaurant & office facility, late 1970s • damaged by flood, 2011 • now Old Depot Museum
• Levee St. Station designated Mississippi Landmark, 149-VKS-0780-NR-ML, 2001 • National Register # 79001341, 1979
ROSMAN, NC (May 16-17, 2015)—For fourteen years, Rosman High School students have voluntarily locked in with teachers and schoolmates for fun, food, and fellowship after the prom. It’s reasonable to ask why students, after spending the evening together and with many other options available, keep this tradition going.
Attending for three or four years straight suggests that these Tigers are convinced: getting locked in, not up, is more than a vote for safety. It offers unique opportunities that only come around one night a year. And at midnight after the Rosman High School prom on May 16, about 170 students once again packed the gym for fellowship and fun.
Senior Megan Lewandowski has attended three times. “I’ve always loved the lock-in, and I might probably just go home otherwise,” she said, “but now I’m at the age where people are starting to party, and I appreciate the effort made by our school to keep people out of trouble. Plus, you get to throw dodgeballs at teachers!”
All Rosman High students are invited, whether they attend prom or not. “I think the biggest advantage is getting to spend time with friends and teachers,” said RHS junior Anna Cobb, who has attended for three years. “We are able to go to school the next week and talk about the fun we had together, and laugh at our ‘tired’ personalities.”
Taking over Boshamer Gymnasium at Brevard College, as they do each year, provides abundant choices for attendees. From sports, such as dodgeball and 3-on-3 basketball, to leisure, in movie rooms or hallways lined with sleeping bags, students sprawl into suitable spaces and pass the night in safety.
Along with students who locked in within 30 minutes after the prom, 46 adults enlisted for some or all of the night. That number included 24 from Rosman High, seven from RMS, three from the TCS central office, several parents, and others from Brevard High, Blue Ridge College, the National Guard recruiter’s office, and the Sheriff’s Department.
School Resource Officer Greg Stroup has organized the event since it began, and fellow SRO’s Desirée Abram and Michael Hall were on hand as well. Sheriff David Mahoney enlisted as both target and marksman, right alongside teachers and administrators, for a grueling dodgeball match.
Students have plenty of options after the prom, such as sleepovers and bonfires, which they put aside to join the lock-in. Officer Stroup said that thinking of creative ways to help kids stay safe has always been the goal of the event, and thanks to community support it continues to work today.
“What a wonderful opportunity it has been to offer this activity for 14 years to our kids on such a special night,” said Stroup. “If it was not for the generosity of the community, this event would not be possible.”
Brevard College offers free use of the athletic building, and almost 70 donors provides prizes or cash donations. Transylvania Youth Association generously offered $1,000 to support the event, and even more goes each year to the T-shirts again provided by the Sheriff’s Office.
Every student enjoys pizza and soda or water throughout the night, and is assured of winning a door prize from gift certificates to swag offered by dozens of local businesses. Larger gifts reserved for a seniors-only drawing provide a bonus for locking in after the last prom of a student’s high-school career.
Among the seniors, Dillon Zachary won the flat-screen television, while Megan Lewandowski’s lucky number landed her a dorm fridge to take to college. Kimberly Holliday won a GoPro camera, and Jacey Voris got tickets to ‘Dancing with the Stars.’
One of the most coveted senior prizes each year, a kayak, went to Jon Miller who was also celebrating his 18th birthday. At classroom awards on the Monday after lock-in, senior Keen Jones took home a microwave oven.
The plentiful gifts seem to drive home what organizers hope to convey: “The message sent to us is that our school is a family, and that our teachers really care about the students,” said Anna Cobb. “It allows us to have fun together and see teachers when they’re a little more laid back.”
Continued high attendance among all the grades at RHS showed organizers that the effort is well worth it. Attendance is free, even for guests from other schools, which helps to stretch a family’s dollar after covering prom-related expenses.
To keep everyone fed and hydrated, this year’s lock-in required 35 Jet’s pizzas, 14 cases of drinks, 100 juice boxes, a pound of coffee, and 200 biscuits from Brevard’s new Bojangles restaurant.
Students know not to miss the party, where memorable moments are made every year. Organizer Julie Queen said, “I love seeing the students come in Monday morning with their T-shirts on, and laughing about having such a great time.”
With a long track record of success, she said that donors and former students have learned to set their spring clocks according to the all-nighter as well.
“It is a very rewarding feeling to have alumni tell you what fond memories they have of the lock-in,” said Queen. “I have even had some call and ask for ideas because they want to replicate it in other places.”
Board of Education member Betty Scruggs arrived Sunday morning to provide moral support during the home stretch and found what she expected after attending in 2014: with some students playing basketball, watching a movie, or playing electronic games, several had also given into sleeping.
“I am delighted with all the students and staff members who participate in the lock-in,” said Scruggs. “It builds community and great memories more than any other single event.”
“They create a well-planned evening of activities in a fun and safe environment, all because of their passion for RHS and commitment to service,” she added. “This lock-in could not happen without a vast number of hours and tremendous amount of phone calls Julie Queen and SRO Greg Stroup make throughout the school year. What a difference they make!”
These and many other pictures can be found on the school system's photo website at flickr.com/tcsnc/sets under "RHS After-Prom Lock-In 2015."
Rosman High School and the organizers wish to thank all their donors and the following sponsors who made the 14th Annual After-Prom Lock-In possible:
Appalachian Construction of Pisgah Forest, Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard College, CARE Coalition – Promoting a drug free community. Comporium, Dalton Insurance, Ecusta Credit Union, Farm Bureau Insurance, Fraternal Order of Police—NC Lodge #14, French Broad Trailer Park, Jiffy Lube, M&B Industries, NC National Guard, NC Farm Bureau, Petit’s Paint and Body, RHS Athletics, RHS students, parents, faculty, and staff, RHS Tiger Club, State Farm Insurance – Meredith Baldridge, Self-Help Credit Union, Sheriff David Mahoney, The Fitness Factory, Toxaway Grading, Transylvania Youth Association, United Way, and the Transylvania Co. Sheriff’s Office.
© 2015, Transylvania County Schools. All rights reserved.
I admit I disliked fuji when it started. From the X100 to the XPro1, the camera system, despite its completely seducing color science output, was completely out of sync with my practice in terms of autofocus speed and file. Now the X system has matured into something that I find very hard to match for mirrorless camera photography.
The XT1 comes to solve pretty much all the problems I had with the system: AF and Camera Operations (once u get used to the nobs, hard to go back to menus) are reliable and quick, Lightroom 5.7 renders the file beautifully (with Classic Chrome) and the viewfinder is bigger than that of a full frame dSLR. Not only the camera is now a great camera, the lens system is superb in its consistency: the 14, 23 and 56 are great highly recommended lenses and perform equally marvellously in sharpness, colors and BOKEH while also looking darn good with the Fuji design language. Image quality wise, you get clean files at most of the modern ISOs 200-6400 (you can push the 6400 raw up to 12800 if u want without much penalty or color shifts).
The running cost of ownership is also even more interesting. The body goes for around 1K$ and the rest of the "super prime lenses" (you'd want to shoot prime with this one) go for 1k$ or less each. You can get yourself up and running for less than a full frame camera with equivalent quality lenses.The XT1 ain't still sunshine and rainbow though: It requires the extra grip to enjoy shooting with it, it is not light, the battery lasts as much as a film roll, you can't use exposure compensation on "manual" mode to shift the auto-ISO values, the RAW files are HUGE 30-40mb a piece, low-light AF works fast as long as you have a contrast zone to hunt for but then you also have a magnificent manual focus experience. Classic Chrome (also available in LR 5.7) redefines the fuji photography experience by offering a raw file free of color distorsions and true of natural colors as well as a butt load of great micro-contrast off the file.
All in all, I have to say that I fell in love with it. It is truly the best enthusiast mirrorless system I've come across and it's now well matured.
If you use a full frame dSLR: switching to fuji will depend if you want the premium lenses or the full frame IQ but can't afford the steep 2K$ per lens or 2-4K$ per body, also if you want to sacrifice the extensive "flash system" that dSLRs have.
If you are using a crop sensor dSLR: switching to fuji will depend if you want to keep investing in photography lenses and equipment and don't have to shoot unpredictable fast moving subjects, like birdies.
If you use a Sony: switching to fuji will depend if you are fed up with the teenage identity crisis unpredictability of the system's evolution (new tech = new "test" camera = no "conclusion" camera = less lenses for existing cameras = change the name). The A7 system will flourish to lead the mirrorless trend one day but before that day comes, you have at least until 2016.
If you use a m43 camera: switching to fuji will depend if are willing to drop a bunch of practical technical features: super fast AF (fuji is DARN FAST but m43 cameras are INSTANT FAST), video (I don't shoot video) or image stabilisation or clinical sharpness (fuji images are sharp! but not as pixel sharp as m43... I mean no camera is as pixel sharp as the m43 an) or the touchscreen af point selection... all this for an upgrade in image aesthetics that's a compromise of m43 compactness (somewhat) and passionated lens designs (m43's got good lenses but no "omg wow what the heck" lenses, sorry)
If you shoot film: This is IT. Film nobs, Film look, Film grain, Film output… on digital. This is fujifilm making a camera with the color science they apply on their negatives, all of it.
The first piece of Kinematics clothing, a 3D-printed nylon bodice, will be debuted in New York City this week at the opening of the exhibition “Coding the Body” at apexart. The bodice is composed of 1,320 unique hinged pieces and was 3D-printed as a single part. In order to fit the bodice into the printer and minimize the space it took up in the machine, the design was printed in a flattened form that was designed with Nervous System’s “Kinematics” folding software. The bodice was wearable straight out of the printer; no pieces were manually assembled and no fasteners were added. The back features integrated 3D-printed snaps for fastening the garment.
Applied a texture and poster edges filter to an HDR image of the Cable Bridge.
The Cable Bridge, officially called the Ed Hendler Bridge and sometimes called the Intercity Bridge, spans the Columbia River between Pasco and Kennewick in southeastern Washington as State Route 397. It was constructed in 1978 and replaced the Pasco-Kennewick Bridge, an earlier span built in 1922 and demolished in 1995.
The bridge is one of seven major bridge structures in the Tri-Cities area. The Blue Bridge (another Pasco/Kennewick bridge), the Interstate 182 Bridge that connects Pasco with Richland, the U.S. Highway 12 bridge over the Snake River (Pasco/Burbank), and three railroad bridges are the others.
The bridge is the first in the United States to use a 'cable-stayed' design and is constructed almost entirely of prestressed concrete. The bridge towers were constructed first, with the bridge deck, which was cast in individual segments, raised up and secured to each other.
The bridge was named after Ed Hendler, a Pasco, Washington insurance salesman who headed up the committee responsible for obtaining the funding for construction of the bridge. Hendler died in August 2001.
A controversial feature of the bridge was added in 1998, when lights were added to illuminate the bridge at night. Many thought this was unnecessary and a waste of both electricity and money. During a power crisis in 2000, the lights were turned off, but they were turned on for one night to honor Hendler's passing. Now the lights are turned on at night, and turned off at 2am.
In March of 2007, the old guard rail system on the bridge, which consisted of steel cables, was replaced with a more rigid system, consisting of steel rails bolted to the original system's mounts on the bridge deck. (Wikipedia)