Heroes of Borderline

What happened and the rest of the story at Borderline Bar and Grill

Already the headlines are leading with "veteran" "Marine" but is is also a story of heroes.

The following came from live updates on CNN

People lined the streets as a procession of officers escorted the body of a hero Sgt. Ron Helus, who died trying to save people.

Hundreds line up to donate blood in Thousand Oaks

There are currently over 200 people in line at La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks, waiting to donate blood to victims of last night’s mass shooting, according to school officials.

Thousand Oaks Mayor Andy Fox had pleaded earlier Thursday for blood donors to step forward.

The school had previously scheduled a blood drive on campus - but pivoted to gathering donations specific to this incident.

Donors are encouraged to make appointments at 877-25-VITAL.

Recent college grad killed in shooting "heroically saved lives"
From CNN's Amanda Watts and Hollie Silverman
Justin Meek, 23, was among the people killed in the Borderline Bar & Grill shooting in Thousand Oaks, California, according to California Lutheran University President Chris Kimball.
In a statement, Kimball said Meek was a recent graduate and "heroically saved lives in the incident."

Strangers were trying to save others and officers rushed with other first responders. All of them putting the lives of others ahead of their own.

The thing is, headlines make everyone focus on the shooter being a veteran, without ever once considering the rest of his story, or the simple fact that a veteran committing mass murder is very rare.

The thing is, he was a hero too, because he was willing to die to save others. The fact that he pulled out a gun and shot so many strangers should not be a reflection on other veterans. 

This kind of thing is very rare because they are more likely to harm themselves than anyone else.

This kind of a thing, this should be a reflection on all of us. If this is the outcome after putting his life on the line, and the outcome of so many others who perish after service, then all of us should be wondering what we did not do about any of it.

Vietnam Veteran Warns Others of Mile High Singles

Colorado veteran charged nearly $10,000 by dating service

FOX 31 News
BY SHAUL TURNER
NOVEMBER 5, 2018

DENVER -- Vietnam War Veteran Wesley James Nelson says he didn't want to be alone, so he turned to an agency called Mile High Singles to find love.

The company is run by Sheryl McDowell. Nelson says, “she called herself the Love Doctor and I'd have a personal concierge to take care of me as if I would be in a five-star resort. I’d be meeting really classy ladies.”

Nelson showed his bill, which featured a program fee of $8,995 plus other costs totally totaling $9,114, he says.

"I about fell over I told her I can't afford this then boy she really laid it on.” Then, Nelson charged the fee on his credit card. He says he never went on one date.

Others have come forward to lodge complaints. An investigation in 2017 revealed Mile High Singles changed its name from Great Expectations after being investigated by attorneys general in Washington and Arizona.
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The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall Escort Apopka FL

Family Fun Festival
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall

Escort in Wednesday Nov 7th at 10am
Opening Ceremony Wednesday evening at 6 pm - AHS Band Tribute
Thursday and Friday - Opening a 9 am for school class visits
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will be open to the public from Wednesday 11/7 at 6 pm through Sunday 11/11 at 8 pm. It will be open 24 hours per day.

92 veterans will be part of the 116th session of Congress

The number of vets in Congress appears headed down again

Military Times
By: Leo Shane III
November 7, 2018

WASHINGTON — After Tuesday’s midterm contests, the number of female veterans and younger veterans in Congress are rising but the overall number of veterans in Congress remains on a steady decline.

Navy veteran Mikie Sherrill greets voters during a candidate forum in New Jersey on Oct. 9, 2018. Sherrill is one of 17 new veteran candidates to win a congressional seat in Tuesday's midterm elections. (Mary Altaffer/AP)

In a contentious election which saw Democrats take over the House and Republicans add to their majority in the Senate, 77 veterans won elections across the country. Combined with 15 incumbent veterans in the Senate who did not face election, that guarantees at least 92 veterans will be part of the 116th session of Congress in January.

As of Wednesday morning, 10 races involving veteran candidates were still undecided. If all of those veterans were to win — an unlikely scenario, given the unofficial results at press time — that would still only match the 102 veterans who were in office at the start of the 115th session.

Still, Veterans Campaign Executive Director Seth Lynn said he sees plenty of positives in Tuesday’s midterm results for veteran candidates.

“We saw an uptick in the number of non-incumbent veterans who got major party nominations this cycle,” he said. “We had an uptick in the number of women veterans. And we have a huge cohort of incoming veterans now.

“We’re seeing more of the younger veterans taking their place in Congress.”

Of the 77 election-night winners, 17 of them are new candidates. Lynn said that’s the biggest class of freshman veteran lawmakers since 2010.

Almost half of the veterans in Congress in January will be individuals who served after Sept. 11, 2001. Of the 92, 25 are Democrats and 67 are Republicans.
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After 8 Years in National Guard Iraq Veteran Dies

Heartbroken family searching for answers after veteran’s suspected overdose death

The Citizen's Voice
BY BOB KALINOWSKI
PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER 6, 2018

The Citizens’ Voice interviewed Houck the day his unit, Bravo Battery of the 109th Field Artillery, left for Iraq in September 2008 for a yearlong deployment. His twin sons, then 9-months-old, were in a stroller by his side for the departure.

A local family is mourning the death of an Iraq war veteran from a suspected drug overdose.

Stephen Houck, who served eight years in a local Pennsylvania Army National Guard unit, was found dead inside his Wilkes-Barre apartment on Thursday. He was 32.

Funeral services with military honors will be held today at the Kielty-Moran Funeral Home in Plymouth following a viewing 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

“I was so proud of him. I told him how proud of him I was,” Houck’s mother Gloria Blizzard said Monday about her son’s military service.

Houck, a Larksville native, is suspected of taking a lethal dose of the synthetic opioid fentanyl and heroin, she said.

Blizzard, 70, of Noxen Twp., reached out to The Citizens’ Voice to notify the paper about the military funeral and a police investigation into her son’s death.
read more here

Who won the mid-term election?

Who Won the 2018 Election?

While it is too early to determine how many people voted in this election, as it is, this election shows that the winner is America! 

People stood in line for hours to have their voice heard. 

And for some, they got pizza!

“Americans are hungry for democracy and are turning out in record numbers to vote,” reads the group’s website. “But that means long lines and sometimes empty stomachs, which might discourage these brave patriots from performing their civic duty.” 

As of Tuesday morning, the organization has sent 1,344 pizzas to 99 polling places around the country, according to its website. It’s raised about $65,000 this year to pay for the pies.

They volunteered for candidates they believed in.

Some voters voted even though the electricity was out in Tennessee.

 'A High Water Mark for Midterm Turnout.' 2018 Could Be a Historic Election for Voter Participation Early voting

As of early Tuesday morning, at least 33 million people have voted early nationwide, according to data collected by Catalist, a data company that works with Democrats and others, to compile counts of ballots cast before Election Day, either early in-person or by mail.

Women elected to office

At least 98 women will be elected to the House of Representatives -- 84 Democrats, 14 Republicans -- and 12 will join the Senate -- 10 Democrats, two Republicans -- according to the latest projections by ABC News.

There will be a lot of disappointed people this morning, but that happens with every election. Some win and some lose. When we do not use our right to vote, the country loses. 

 

But no matter who were the declared winners in the races we paid attention to, America is the winner because of all the people who voted! 

Chris Watts saved his own life after killing family with guilty plea

Colorado dad pleads guilty in killing of pregnant wife, 2 daughters

ABC News
By CLAYTON SANDELL, CAROL MCKINLEY EMILY SHAPIRO
Nov 6, 2018

A Colorado man arrested in the killing of his pregnant wife and two young daughters pleaded guilty Tuesday to all charges against him as his wife's family looked on, holding each other and sobbing.

In exchange for Chris Watts' guilty plea, the death penalty will not be considered, the Weld County District Attorney's office said. The victims' family agreed to those terms, the district attorney's office added.

Wearing an orange jumpsuit, shackles, and an olive green bulletproof vest, Watts told the judge he understood the plea agreement reached with prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to five counts of murder in the first degree, three counts of tampering with a deceased human body and one count of unlawful termination of pregnancy, prosecutors said.

As the judge read each charge one by one, Watts pleaded "guilty," his voice sometimes cracking.
read more here

10,000 torches in remembrance of WWI's End

10,000-torch display in London marks 100th anniversary of WWI's conclusion

ABC News
By DAVI MERCHAN LONDON
Nov 6, 2018

An installation commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the end of World War I has opened in London.

Yeoman Warders, commonly known as a "Beefeaters," stand by after lighting the first of thousands of flames in a lighting ceremony at the Tower of London, Nov. 4, 2018.

Called "Beyond the Deepening Shadow: The Tower Remembers" and featuring approximately 10,000 torches, each illuminated every evening by more than 250 volunteers, is an act of remembrance for the lives lost during the war.
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Veteran in crisis faced off with Police Officers twice

Children safe after standoff in Haines City

The Ledger
Mike Ferguson
November 2, 2018

“Mr. Aponte-Ortiz served this country admirably and is dealing with issues that are unfortunately not uncommon among servicemen and women,” Elensky said. “We sincerely hope he’s able to get the help he needs and deserves.”

HAINES CITY — The Haines City Police Department was safely able to remove two children from a home after their father became suicidal during the early morning hours Tuesday.

According to police, the 911 call was made about 6:15 a.m. from Lourdes Aponte after her husband, Jose Aponte-Ortiz, 40, armed himself with two handguns and threatened to harm anyone who came into the Patterson Groves home, 9002 Orange Blossom Loop. The wife told police that Aponte-Ortiz is a U.S. Army veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.

According to the wife’s account, Aponte-Ortiz saw a shadow in the pantry which caused him to arm himself with at least two handguns. She also told police that she feared he would harm himself.

According to police, Aponte-Ortiz placed a bulletproof vest on himself and walked outside with guns pointed downward, but immediately shut the door and went back inside the home. Police used a speaker to try to lure the man out of the residence. He eventually walked outside, placed the firearms on the ground and walked backwards to police and was taken to Winter Haven Hospital under the Baker Act.

Aponte-Ortiz was released from the hospital about 3:30 p.m. after a psychiatric evaluation. More than an hour later, a risk protection order was obtained but Aponte-Ortiz was not found to be served, according to police. He has no criminal history.
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AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN.

Northern Mariana Islands Veterans Appeal Claims Get Fast Track

VA accelerates pending Veterans benefits appeals for victims of Super Typhoon Yutu

WASHINGTON — Today the U.S. Department of Veterans (VA) announced that it is prioritizing Veterans benefits appeals, effective Nov. 1, for victims in the Northern Mariana Islands who have been impacted by Super Typhoon Yutu.

VA’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals has determined that the significant effects of Super Typhoon Yutu were sufficient cause for the Board to advance the appeals for the Northern Mariana Islands municipalities determined to be disaster areas by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“During this season of intense weather systems, VA is continually assessing how we can best support our Veterans as they recover from natural disasters,” VA Secretary Wilkie said. “Just as it did with hurricanes Florence and Michael, VA’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals is prioritizing the benefits appeals claims process because it is the right thing to do.”

By regulation, the Board may advance appeals on docket (AOD) by a motion of the chairman if sufficient cause is shown. All Veterans and other appellants with an appeal currently pending before the Board whose addresses of record are in one of the affected municipalities will have their appeal automatically advanced on the Board’s docket.

No action from Veterans or appellants are needed if their addresses are current. The AOD for this storm is expected to last until April 30, 2019, and the Board will reassess the situation after that period has ended. For a comprehensive list of all affected AOD areas, visit: https://www.bva.va.gov/Natural_Disasters.asp.

In addition to Super Typhoon Yutu, VA also concluded that the significant effects of hurricanes Florence and Michael were sufficient cause for the Board to advance the appeals for counties in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia found to be disaster areas by FEMA.

The mission of VA’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals is to conduct hearings and decide disability benefits appeals for Veterans in a timely manner. For more information about the Board, visit www.bva.va.gov/.