Friday Follies ...
(Pre St. Patrick's Day Edition)

Welcome to the weekend at LONG last.

Down here in the "underbelly" of this city (or it that the CROTCH?) ...for the days all pretty much run together, because the local aborigines tend to be nothing, if not repetitious in their shenanigans, but we'll talk about that in just a few.

The Summit City weather today will be rather mild, with more clouds than sun, a bit of rain later, (perhaps snow overnight) and temps climbing into the 40s, with little wind (except in City Hall) to speak of.

I think we can finally consider stowing the shovel and rock salt until late fall...just not too far away in case of some freak event.

Meanwhile, back at the District House...

*** We here in fort Wayne FINALLY made it to HOMICIDE NUMBER EIGHT! (last night).

And we might even see number NINE, if things take a bad turn at the hospital.
At THIS rate, we're looking at over 30 for the year.

Actually, we had THREE noteworthy shootings in the past 36 HOURS...it's just that some news sources are only reporting the last two, but we'll take them one-by-one, in chronological order here.

*** Event One - This occurred late Wednesday evening, around 2230 hrs in the 4300 block of Warsaw St. 

(( From WPTA - Apparent Warsaw Street Drive-By Shooting
March 14, 2013
Updated Mar 14, 2013 at 8:38 AM EDT
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (www.incnow.tv) -
Fort Wayne police are investigating an apparent drive-by shooting shortly before 10:30 Wednesday night on Warsaw Street.
Officials say a man was sitting in his car when someone drove by and began shooting at him.
After the attacker’s car left the scene, the man drove from Warsaw Street to McKinney before realizing he had been shot.
He was taken to a local hospital. The only thing police know about the shooter is he was driving a dark colored car. ))
*** Event Two - This happened last night around 2000 hrs in the 2200 block of McKee Street on the ...(...all together, gang...)...SOUTHEAST SIDE of Ft. Wayne.
And here's the story link from WANE:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/local/one-dead-in-southeast-side-shooting

This time, whoever shot the victim...made it COUNT.

The recently-deceased, one Demarcus Adams, 23 had been shot (in the abdomen) JUST last month, (15 February) and was last reported in FAIR condition.
And here is that story link:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/crime/police-respond-to-friday-morning-shooting
Now, I wonder IF Damarcus had a RAP SHEET?
(and so do you)
Demarcus E. Adams - black male - 5'7", 180lbs
====================
02D04-0803-CM-001760 Adams, Demarcus E 03/24/2008
Allen Superior Court 6 CM - Criminal Misdemeanor
Decided NEVER RECEIVE LICENSE
FAILURE TO USE LIGHTS
02D04-0903-MC-000601 Adams, Demarcus E 03/24/2009
Allen Superior Court 5 MC - Miscellaneous Criminal
Decided P.C BURGLARY
P.C. RESIDENTIAL ENTRY
02D04-0905-FD-000435 Adams, Demarcus E 05/05/2009
Allen Superior Court 4 FD - Class D Felony
Pending RESIDENTIAL ENTRY
====ADDRESSES====
708 Columbia Ave
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
2023 Webster
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
===================
And in case you want some of the "Mama-Drama", here is THIS story from the J-G:
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130315/LOCAL/303159982

Denise Trigg, mother of the deceased said to reporters that the shooting stemmed from a FEUD between the M.O.B. gang and another group called the "2500 block" (which should make it EASY for the FWPD to locate those mooks).
She states that her son was not involved with the gang culture (Really? Damn near everyone down here IS to SOME degree - they're just in DENIAL), but was targeted because others thought he was involved in a shooting death last month in which an 18-year old man was found in a vacant lot near Emily and Smith Sts. (See, it PAYS to stay in school and LEARN things, like WHO you are SUPPOSED to be shooting.)
As mentioned earlier...last month, Adams was shot in an alley taking out the trash (which is something the FWPD should be doing a LOT MORE of).

*** Event Three - a shooting of a man in a car on the SE side (where else?), that left one in critical condition.

Here's this story link:

http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/crime/police-investigate-another-shooting-victim-critical

THis took place around 0300 hrs, and witnesses reported hearing gunshots and called dispatch.

A man was found along the 3300 block of Reed St, and was transported to hospital.

A short time later, police found an abandoned car at the intersection of Colerick and Bowser, several blocks from where the shooting apparently took place.
Police believe the victim was shot IN the car, and then pushed out onto Reed St.
(( Update - 1200 hrs - The victim has been confirmed as having DIED in the hospital.))
Here's the link:
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/crime/police-investigate-another-shooting-victim-critical
Yeah, we could easily surpass THIRTY homicides this year.

BTW, the car appears to be a 1995 white Chevy Caprice (gonna check my list and photos for associated houses in our area where this car might have stopped).

So, it's easy to see we DEFINITELY have a PROBLEM down here, and it's NOT getting ANY better, is it?
Maybe we can state that the problem ALSO rests with such people as:
--FWPD Chief York
--Mayor (King) Henry
--Glynn Hines - 6th district councilman
--FWPD Quadrant Captain Garry Hamilton
ALL of these people share the BLAME for the conditions down here,...make NO mistake.
They have done little (if anything) to change the status quo of this part of the city...and it certainly SHOWS, doesn't it?
That kinda makes it a lot rougher for decent folks to LIVE down here...folks such as Wifey and myself (and I'm sure more than a few others).
But, it's NOT like I've been saying such things will happen...because they HAVE, and they will continue unless and until SOMETHING is done about it...something definitive.....something permanent.

*** And to make things down here just a wee bit more interesting, I found THIS in the alley behind the house.

That's right...someone short-dumped a f$cking BIG SCREEN TV in the alley...talk about your EYESORE, hmm?

Hey, at least it wasn't another D/B, right?
(but I COULD accommodate ANY of the locals if they would prefer that)
THIS is the kind of stuff that NEVER makes the news, and SHOULD, because it's things such as THIS that lead to lots larger things (like dead bodies and lots of shootings).
A moral and societal breakdown in this city...to be sure.

I'd wager that NONE of the people involved in ANY of the recent shootings legally BOUGHT their firearms...and that they also NEVER had a REAL background check in order TO purchase a gun, because they would have FLUNKED it...outright!
Yet, THEY still get guns...and create mayhem...and leave dead people in their wake...and for WHAT?
A stinking chunk of a ghettohood?
Well, the Hispanic bangers are loving this, because right now, all THEY'RE doing is supplying the drugs to the blacks...
And when enough of the black bangers off one another, and the local gangs become chaotic, THEN the Latino mobs will move in, and we get to do the turf-war gig all over again...with lighter-skinned thugs...how fun will THAT be, hmm?
People can always run to the burbs (which caused MOST of this problem), but we're fast running OUT of burbs to run to, aren't we?

Sooner or later, law-abiding people will HAVE to take a stand, and I say the earlier, the better.
And as long as we have a thriving STREET PHARM trade in this area, we WILL enjoy the CRIME that sails in it's wake.
I have stated that for YEARS, and told the former Quadrant Captain it WAS coming like a rising tide.
My question is how HIGH does the tide have to get before we know we're DROWNING?

*** Lastly today, Sunday is St. Patrick's Day - a day when we ALL take a bit o'the Irish for ourselves.

Here's the WIKI on it (in case 'ya need remindin'):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick's_Day

It's one of those nice holidays...not AS nice as say EASTER or CHRISTMAS, but it's more "fun" than anything, and yet is an important day in the Catholic church.

I like the observances more than the rowdy drunkenness anyway.
The NYC parade is always fun, and if Nanny Doomberg marches (as mayors always do) there should be a LOT of cat-calls in the crowd...richly deserved, too.

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. (and of engineers)

So, boil up some cabbage, corned beef,  and potatoes, and pour a tall brew (Guinness, Smithwick, Bass or Harp will do nicely) and enjoy the day.

And let's end this week with a traditional Irish blessing:

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May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields and,

Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

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Do have yourselves a great weekend.

Be well, make a difference to someone today, and always...

Stay SAFE out there, America.