Humpday Happenings...
Another hot day in Fort Wayne, which means the A/C will be doing the "sweating", and not us.
(which would mean it's operating normally)
It must be true what they say about getting older and dealing with temperatures.
I know I find it hard to remain outside in 90 degree weather NOW, as opposed to when I was 12 years old, and wanted to play outside ALL DAMN DAY in this heat.
WTF was I thinking then?
Anyway, let's talk a stroll (inside where it's cooler) and see what's shaking today, shall we?
** Fort Wayne police are investigating a shooting on (where else?) the SE side of the city. The story follows:
Driver wounded in spray of bullets-Victim, 20, serious, denies knowing shooter Holly Abrams The Journal Gazette
Cathie Rowand The Journal Gazette
((A passenger-side window was shattered on a Buick driven by the victim of a drive-by shooting on Lafayette Street near Dalman Avenue.
A 20-year-old Fort Wayne man was seriously wounded Tuesday when a pickup truck driver pulled alongside his vehicle and opened fire.
The shooting was reported just before 5:30 p.m. near Lafayette Street and Dalman Avenue, said Officer Scott Tegtmeyer, city police spokesman.
Multiple shots were fired from a white pickup truck heading north as it weaved in and out of traffic on Lafayette.
Some of the shots struck a northbound Buick Century and its driver, Tegtmeyer said.
The shooting victim then headed west, stopping in the driveway of a home at 3116 S. Calhoun St., Tegtmeyer said.
The victim was taken inside, where he sat on a couch until paramedics arrived. He was then rushed to a hospital, where his condition was listed as serious Tuesday night, Tegtmeyer said.
The man’s name has not been released pending family notification. It’s unclear what prompted the shooting, Tegtmeyer said.
Police were able to briefly speak to the victim before he was taken to the hospital, and he denied knowing the shooter. Detectives plan to interview the victim after his condition improves, Tegtmeyer said.
Police interviewed a woman occupying the South Calhoun Street home, just south of Wildwood Avenue, but had no details on her relationship, if any, to the victim.
In the driveway of that home, the Buick sat riddled with at least five bullet holes and a shattered passenger-side window.
Gang activity has not been ruled out as a factor in the shooting, Tegtmeyer said.
"It certainly doesn’t appear to be a random act of violence," he said. "There is no proof or evidence that anybody in this vehicle (the Buick) fired back."
Police had not found the shooter as of Tuesday night, Tegtmeyer said.
habrams@jg.net))
That must have been one helluva "grudge" that pickup driver had with the driver of the that Buick...but drug dealing WILL cause that to occur , not that I'm saying that drugs WERE involved...I just know the (lack of) "quality" of the locals around here, that's all. But "if" this was some "random act of violence", then we're in for one LONG-ASS summer in the "badlands" here.
** The City Council was presented with the "plan" for moving the FWPD to some new "digs" (the old Wolf & Dessauer building) downtown. The council did not discuss it last night, but concerns are already surfacing, such as the COST to the taxpayers (gee, what was I saying YESTERDAY?), and what will happen to the neighborhood when police move from the CURRENT building at 1320 Creighton (wow...it's like deja-vu...all over again).
Some resident are expressing valid concerns, as well they should. Crime in the area near the current police HQ has NOT up and left town. There is STILL persistent criminal activity, especially at the EDEN GREEN apartments nearby. Other residents don't feel any less safe, should the police move from the building on Creighton (guess they got an "in" with the local thugs and won't be bothered).
Now, I firmly believe that the police in ANY city have the best resources at their disposal for fighting crime, and even doing the mundane tasks (like paperwork, for which there are reams of damn near daily).
I mentioned yesterday how Philly has their "roundhouse", and I think having the FWPD in some new digs would be in keeping with the times, but it SHOULD have occurred a lot sooner than this.
And yes, having the facility close to downtown (or in downtown proper) IS the way to go. Lots less hassle with prisoner transport, police access to courts (and we know officers just LOVE going to court for cases they're working...NOT), and efficiency when it comes to city-police interactions.
Curiously enough, the FWPD is exploring the possibility of having a "sub-station" in the Creighton area, to allay residents concerns about a potential rise in crime after the FWPD moves. And that's a damn fine idea.
Trouble with that line of thinking is...the FWPD USED to have substations around town.
We USED to have one over at Southgate Plaza.
Now, what we're seeing is a "revisiting" of that venue.
The FWPD recently opened an "outpost" up on E. State Street (to address rising crime along that retail corridor).
I think the FWPD should close down the Senate bar, and open an OUTPOST THERE...!
I know MY neighborhood would become a lot more "livable" real fast under such auspices.
Then again, I love to dream...the price is always right!
** Lastly, It is said that we lose close to 1100 WW2 veterans PER DAY (worldwide), and given the time that has passed since that war, it doesn't surprise me. Dad served in the CBI during WW2, and I lost him in 1978, so time makes no amends to anyone.
We still lose those vets daily, regardless of circumstances.
I want to talk about one of those veterans who died recently.
He was a WW2 Marine aviator (he flew F4U Corsairs), who also served in Korea (where he flew the OE-1 observation plane, which was unarmed and slower than molasses in January), and was personally decorated six times for his accomplishments.
Now at first glance, many would think that's not all THAT remarkable, as many vets were awarded citations and medals for their service in WW2 and Korea.
But our Marine was someone a bit more extraordinary that most.
He became an American icon.
He was a sidekick and dear friend of another television icon.
And, he was a mainstay in American homes for DECADES, thanks to the marvel we refer to as...television.
Ed McMahon has passed from us at the age of 86, and, like everyone that grows old, we know that sooner or later, the inevitable will occur.
So it was with Ed.
Here is the WIKI link for his life history, and it's a very good read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_McMahon
And here is a link to his military career:
http://www.militarymuseum.org/McMahon.html
Ed McMahon will always be best known as the "straight-man" for TV legend Johnny Carson, but he was ALSO a very important part of the yearly Jerry Lewis Telethon for MD. And he co-hosted TV's Funniest Bloopers with Dick Clark.
And yes, Ed even used to do ALPO commercials.
Ed McMahon seemed to never be at a loss for being able to find a job...chalk that up to marine training.
To me, he was always like the uncle you wish you had (if you didn't already).
You just knew he could be counted on whenever you needed him.
Can we say as much about ourselves these days?
Ah, but he was from a different era....a time when values meant a lot more than they apparently do today. And principles for living, born of a era when times WERE truly rough, were instilled in youngsters by their parents.
Like many personalities we grew up with, we like to believe that they will be with us forever, and yet, that will never be the case.
One by one, they pass from us, and with every passing, the world we ONCE knew becomes a bit more colder and distant.
It's like we feel that sooner or later, we'll wind up being totally alone.
...Until WE pass away.
I'd like to believe that death is but the beginning of a new journey for us all, and that we but turn another page in our existence.
And that somewhere much better, Ed and Johnny ARE together once again.
Stay safe out there, America.