Showing posts with label Phoenix AZ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Phoenix AZ. Show all posts

Sunday, October 11, 2009

2 Dead 19 taken to hospital in "sweat lodge" tragedy

Lodge Victim Was in Shape, Family Says
By FELICIA FONSECA, AP

PHOENIX (Oct. 10) -- A 38-year-old New York woman who died after sitting in a sauna-like sweat lodge at a scenic Arizona resort was an avid surfer and hiker who was "in top shape," took self-improvement seriously and had a passion for art, a family spokesman said.

Kirby Brown of Westtown, N.Y., was one of two people who died Thursday evening after being overcome in the crudely built hut during a spiritual cleansing ceremony. Authorities on Saturday identified the other victim as 40-year-old James Shore of Milwaukee, who served as director of business development at an Internet marketing company in his hometown.

Nineteen other people were taken to hospitals, suffering from burns, dehydration, respiratory arrest, kidney failure or elevated body temperature. Most were soon released, but one remained in critical condition Saturday.

Brown had no pre-existing health conditions that would have kept her from participating in an otherwise safe activity, said cousin and family spokesman Tom McFeeley. That two people died and 19 others became ill at the Angel Valley Retreat Center indicates that "something went horribly wrong."
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Lodge Victim Was in Shape, Family Says

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Homeless Marine gave millions away


Richard Walters, a homeless man who lived in Phoenix, died two years ago. And he left behind a surprise: a $4 million estate. Courtesy Rita Belle



He just gave up all of the material things that we think we have to have. You know, I don't know how we gauge happiness. What's happy for you might not be happy for me. I never heard him complain.



- Rita Belle


Homeless Man Leaves Behind Surprise: $4 Million
July 27, 2009
Every day on NPR, listeners hear funding credits — or, in other words, very short, simple commercials.

A few weeks ago, a new one made it to air: "Support for NPR comes from the estate of Richard Leroy Walters, whose life was enriched by NPR, and whose bequest seeks to encourage others to discover public radio."

NPR's Robert Siegel wondered who Walters was. So Siegel Googled him.

An article in the online newsletter of a Catholic mission in Phoenix revealed that Walters died two years ago at the age of 76. He left an estate worth about $4 million. Along with the money he left for NPR, Walters also left money for the mission.

But something distinguished Walters from any number of solvent, well-to-do Americans with seven-figure estates: He was homeless.

Walters was a retired engineer from AlliedSignal Corp.; an honors graduate of Purdue with a master's degree; and a Marine. Walters never married, didn't have children and was estranged from his brother. But he wasn't friendless.
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Homeless Man Leaves Behind Surprise
linked from AOL News

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Phoenix Girl, 8, gang-raped by boys

The poor little girl is not being supported by her family. They are "embarrassed" of all things!


Girl, 8, gang-raped by boys
1:05
Phoenix police say an 8-year-old girl was gang-raped by boys ages 9 to 14. KTVK reports.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Police mourn off-duty death of officer


Police mourn off-duty death of officer
by Michael Ferraresi - Nov. 3, 2008 05:01 PM
The Arizona Republic


As police mourned fallen officer Shane Figueroa last week, they also reflected on the recent off-duty passing of another officer who worked in northeast Phoenix.

Jim Stenholm, a Desert Horizon Precinct officer with 13 years' experience, died at his home in Anthem on Oct. 24. He was 37 years old.

Stenholm's death hit Phoenix police nearly the same weekend Figueroa suffered fatal injuries after a suspected drunk driver collided with his patrol car as he responded to an emergency call in south Phoenix.


Stenholm's death leaves a void on a northeast Phoenix neighborhood enforcement unit, nicknamed the 'X-ray squad,' organized as a rapid-response team for areas north of Bell Road.

The 100 Club of Arizona, a local non-profit group that raises money to support law enforcement officers and their families, reported Stenholm's death on its Web site recently.

The cause of Stenholm's death has not been confirmed.
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Efforts under way to create Veterans Court in the Valley

Efforts under way to create Veterans Court in the Valley
KTAR.com - Phoenix,AZ,USA
Jim Cross/KTAR

Many United States soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have been unable to leave the battlefield behind them, and now an effort's underway in the Valley to help soldiers get through the court system.


Several groups are working to create a Veterans Court in Maricopa County. It would handle criminal cases involving all soldiers, but primarily it's designed to address the unique needs of combat veterans with post traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries suffered on the battlefield.

"They haven't gone off of being on full alert," said Bill Richardson, a former Mesa police officer and Marine veteran who is behind the idea.

Retired Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Fields is spearheading the effort.

Fields said veterans face special problems.

"These are people who were civilians, signed up to be part-time warriors, if you will, but now they're full-time warriors and part-time civilians... We're trying to get basically ahead of the curve, unlike we did for Vietnam, Korea, World War II."

Fields and Richardson said the Arizona Supreme Court, Superior Court, police departments and others are on board with one exception, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas.
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Thursday, September 18, 2008

Phoenix officer shoots man who confronted burglar

Phoenix officer shoots man who confronted burglar

Associated Press - September 18, 2008 10:44 AM ET

PHOENIX (AP) - Phoenix police say 1 of their officers shot and wounded a man who had been holding a burglar at gunpoint inside his home.

Sgt. Tommy Thompson says the incident late Wednesday happened as officers responded to a flurry of calls in an east Phoenix neighborhood, about shots fired, a wounded man who acted strangely after being let into a good Samaritan's home and finally, a break-in at a nearby home.
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Friday, September 5, 2008

Aaron Anthony Tierno, Iraq Veteran missing in Phoenix


Gila County Sheriff's Office

Aaron Tierno, 30, of Phoenix, has been missing for a week. He served in Iraq.


Iraq vet from Phoenix missing; SUV torched
33 commentsby Parker Leavitt - Sept. 5, 2008 12:25 PM
The Arizona Republic
A 30-year-old Phoenix resident and Iraq War veteran went missing near Globe last week, and his SUV was found torched, leading police, friends and family to scour the small town in search of the man on Friday.

Aaron Anthony Tierno was reported missing by his older brother Ralph on Wednesday, after he did not come home from his job at a construction site near the El Maguey mobile home park in Miami.

Tierno was working for Anderson Security at the Arizona Public Service construction site.


While Sheriff's officers continue to search for Tierno, anyone with information is urged to contact the Sheriff's Office dispatch at 928-425-4449.

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http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/09/05/
20080905abrk-globemissing0905.html


linked from ICasualties.org

Thursday, August 7, 2008

SUV carrying 19 rolls over kills 9

At least 9 dead in SUV rollover south of Phoenix

Thursday, August 7, 2008


(08-07) 11:42 PDT Florence, Ariz. (AP) --

A packed sport utility vehicle rolled over on a rural highway southwest of Phoenix, killing at least nine people Thursday, authorities said.

The SUV that rolled on State Route 79, about 80 miles southeast of Phoenix, had 19 people aboard, Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart Graves said. The other 10 occupants were injured and were taken to hospitals in Phoenix and Tucson.
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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/08/07/national/a103018D87.DTL&tsp=1