Pompeii
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Rockdale Falls, near Falls Creek, taken in November 1980 > Tom Bukousky
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Cindy Williams, star of 1970’s sitcom “Laverne & Shirley,” dies at 75
Posted: January 30, 2023
Updated: 5:31 PM KUSI Newsroom
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Cindy Williams passed away at 75 on Jan. 31, 2023, in Los Angeles.She was an American actress and producer who’s most famous works included her roles in “Laverne & Shirley”, “Happy Days”, and “American Graffiti”.
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Mary Teresa Zappia, age 100, of DuBois, PA died Saturday, January 28, 2023 at Christ the King Manor.Born on February 17, 1922 in DuBois, PA, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Frances “Fannie”(Kinner) Zappia, founders of the Zappia Bakery in DuBois, PA.
Mary Teresa was a graduate of DuBois High School and had been a co-owner of the Zappia Bakery.
She was a member of St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church where she served as a Eucharistic Minister and was a member of the Altar and Rosary Society, a member of Christ the King Auxiliary, the DuBois Hospital Auxiliary and also served as a volunteer at the hospital. She enjoyed listening to music.
Mary Teresa was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
She is survived by one nephew; Dr. Charles Zappia & his wife Mary Jane of San Diego, CA; a niece in law Marlene Zappia of DuBois, PA; one great nephew Joseph Zappia, III, of DuBois, PA three great nieces; Dr. Gina Amrhein & her husband Justin of Oakdale, PA, and Angela Zappia and Gabriela Zappia of San Diego, CA; a great-great niece Adeline, and a great-great nephew Colton.
Mary Teresa was preceded in death by one sister Cora Latessa, four brothers; Lewis, Nunzio, Francis and Joseph Zappia Sr., and one nephew Joseph C. Zappia, Jr.
Visitation will be held on Friday, February 3, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. at the Baronick Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 3, 2023 at 10 a.m. from St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church with Msgr. Richard Siefer as celebrant.
Burial will follow in St. Catherine Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences can be sent to http://www.baronickfuneralhome.com/condolence
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One Thing, Jesus Christ.
Fr. Ben Daghir Will Post Weekly Articles HERE Every Monday!
Article 7 - Second Series - January 30th, 2023 by Fr. Ben DaghirArticle:
I graduated from Elk County Catholic High School in 2011. Eleven years later, I was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood for the Diocese of Erie by Bishop Lawrence T. Persico on May 27, 2022. I have often asked myself, “Why am I on this path as opposed to another?” With that question in mind, I will now share part of my vocation story.
I do not have a Saint Paul type of story in which my whole world was instantly turned upside down and my worldview was radically changed. Instead, my vocation story is much more even keel and is filled with thousands of moments which gently directed me to the priesthood.
It took me a while to notice the trajectory of my life, but once I did - I never looked back.
I grew up playing sports, hunting, fishing, and doing various other activities. I dated in high school and, as a result, had my eyes set on being a husband and a father as I walked out of Elk County Catholic High School and dreamed of the future. I then went to college and found myself interested in academics (such as the field of education, philosophy, theology, languages, and various other disciplines). Most importantly, I found myself talking with Christ in a very honest, real, and personal way. Sometimes, I thought about sainthood, especially the virtues of the saints.
I also found myself incredibly happy as a single man which somewhat startled me once I realized the obvious.
There is a spiritual principle that is worth sharing at this moment: the obvious is always most important. Most people, when discerning their respective vocations (or considering a serious life decision) look for the complex and even mysterious while trying to connect the dots that are not always visible. Instead, we should always state the obvious even if it startles us.
Here was the obvious for me toward the end of my four years at Saint Vincent College: I was happy being a single man, I fell in love with the core disciplines which one finds in seminary, nothing interested me more than the field of education, I knew that I loved people, and I found myself actually thinking about the priesthood. I also was intellectually introduced to Pope St. John Paul II who helped to form my worldview. Again, these were “obvious things” that I had to recognize and accept.
My whole life was pointing toward the priesthood which became even more obvious once I entered the seminary. I was able to reflect back and see the gentle and consistent call to be a priest throughout various aspects of my life: family, friendships, hobbies, experiences, passions, failures, setbacks, fears, academics, interests, goals, and much more.
Of course, the journey has not been perfect.
I am a sinner. My worldview needs to constantly be improved and renewed with the Gospel. I have often missed the obvious and even ignored it in my life (sin always seeks to have us confuse, ignore, and avoid the obvious). Also, the priesthood, although widely accepted in St. Marys, Pennsylvania, is not as enthusiastically received within other circles. As a result, there were several moments while on the journey to the priesthood in which I had to step back and pray, “God, please help me to come to know the Cross and to accept it.”
I am also well aware of the mass exodus of individuals leaving the Catholic Church in our Pennsylvania region. While many people are walking away from the Church, I find myself walking into it as a priest. It occurred to me several years ago that I was heading in a direction that was (and still is) against the cultural grain. In many ways, my priesthood is oriented toward the obvious within our part of the world - people are leaving the Church and something must be done about it.
The most important thing is that we need to connect with people in a profound, compelling, and authentic manner. I couldn’t think of a more challenging and obvious mission for our time.
Again, the obvious is always the most important.
Fr. Ben Daghir========================
Fr. Ben Daghir is a priest for the Diocese of Erie. He is a graduate of Elk County Catholic High School in Saint Marys, Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, and St. Mary's Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland. He considers writing one of his favorite hobbies.
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Three Dog Night - Black and White
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Good morning. I’m so envious of you folks who are having wonderful skies…we have another grey one this morning. So….when you don’t have a pretty picture, you post the farm that’s just up the hill from my house, here in Wellsboro.
It’s a pretty enough photo in color, but I think the black and white rendition really shows off why you chose black and white for a photo. One of our photo club members says you don’t just turn any photo black and white, you turn only those who have the prerequisites, black and white..….so here it is… in all its glory. Hope you enjoy! Have a good day! > Linda Stager > in Tioga County, Pennsylvania.
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On 1/29/2023 at 9:07 AM, Pompeii said:
Just another... "This CAN NOT be REAL!!"
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This is why so many doctors and others see Fauci as “Doctor Death”. And there’s more to come. https://t.co/OyI1fMzBGz
— Lara Logan (@laralogan) January 29, 2023
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Nicole Diane Shaffer, Age 40 of DuBois, PA died Thursday, January 26, 2023 at her home.
Born on December 25, 1982 in DuBois, PA, she was the daughter of Barry A. Shaffer and Brenda J. (Kear) Mangus. Her parents survive and live in DuBois, PA.
Nikki was a daughter, sister, wife and mother. Her mother Brenda was her best friend, her confidant. They spent countless hours together. There was comfort, support, and laughter in those hours that meant the world to Nikki. She told her mother she was so very proud and blessed to have had her as a mother.
Her dad Barry, Brenda and her stepmother Amy will always remember their daughter’s brilliant blue eyes that sparkled, her smile that lit up the room, and her contagious laughter that was like a song from her heart, as will her husband, children, and all that have known her.
Nikki battled severe chronic pain for many, many years. The last three years continued to get immensely worse. She went to many doctors over the years, hoping that there would be a solution or that she could receive something to help with the abhorrent pain that plagued her body for so many years. Nikki pushed and fought for all those years to do her best to live a normal life for her husband, children, and mom. She gave all of herself to her family, sacrificing her own comfort so others could enjoy the life she could not have herself due to her health complications. “I was blessed to have such a beautiful, caring person as my wife. She will forever be in my heart. I will love her forever and always,” her husband David said.
Nikki was so proud of the husband, son and man her first born Gavin had become. She told him that he made her realize as a young mother how strong she was. Nikki was proud of her twin child Sage for being who they truly are, full of love and compassion for others. “Keep fighting for everything you believe in and stand for. You’ll do amazing things in your life, you’ve got it in you. You went from my 4lb 4oz preemie to an amazing adult and human being. I’m sorry I won’t be here physically to watch you grow and change, but I will still be watching over you,” Nikki wrote in one of many letters to her loved ones. Nikki was proud of the amazing young woman her other twin daughter Skyla had become. “Keep being a sweet, kind, caring girl and keep that big heart of yours full of love. I love you, my sweet, beautiful, blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty.”
“I love you more than anything in this world. I tried to stay but can’t take this pain anymore. I’m tired. It has beaten me. I am sorry for how this will affect all of you, my intent isn’t to hurt others. I just want to be pain free. Please never forget how much I love all of you. I am sorry, really sorry. This is not the fault of any of you. I will see you all again someday. Love you, forever and always,” she closed off.
Nikki was not selfish in her decision, she fought as hard and as long as she could through her pain that not only ravaged her body physically, but also broke her mind and spirit. She researched endlessly for answers. She did everything she could to advocate not only for herself but many others who suffered daily like her. Due to the Opioid Epidemic, there was no door that opened that would let her get the relief she so desperately wanted and deserved. After years of struggling, living with her chronic pain, and losing hope that someone would ever take her pain seriously enough to fight alongside her for a solution, her body and soul were broken beyond repair, resulting in her decision to end her life, to end the suffering.
She could no longer fight her chronic pain without the medication needed to help ease it so she could continue being the amazing daughter, wife, and mother she so loved being. So, I ask you, where are the advocates for those who cannot go on another minute due to their excruciating pain and the doctors that will take them seriously?
She is survived by her husband of 23 years, David Lingenfelter, Jr.; a son, Gavin Lingenfelter & his wife Haley of Glen Campbell, PA; twin daughters, Skyla & Sage Lingenfelter of DuBois, PA; a brother , Chad Shaffer & his wife Julie of State College, PA; a sister, Kasey Reed & her husband Ray of DuBois, PA; a step mother, Amy S. Shaffer of DuBois, PA; and step brothers, Chad Vroble of Punxsutawney, PA, and Lee Vroble & his wife Vanessa of DuBois, PA.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Harry & Audrey Shaffer, and maternal grandparents, Yvonne & Burt Kear.
There will be no public visitation and all services are private.
Although flowers are appreciated, memorial contributions can be made to the family.
The Baronick Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences can be made to http://baronickfuneralhome.com/condolence
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WHO'S IN THE NEWS:
▫️Police say man gave child water bottle that made her dizzy at Cobb park, sexually assaulted her (VIDEO)
Police said the suspect, identified as Douglas Darch, gave the child what she thought was a sealed bottle of water and drank it. Soon after, she started to get dizzy. Darch has been charged with aggravated assault, child molestation, cruelty to children and terroristic threats.
» https://www.wsbradio.com/news/local/police-arrest-man-they-say-sexually-assaulted-child-cobb-county-park/XE5OWGMXVBGD7D65XS36KLAJTI/
» https://news.yahoo.com/police-man-gave-child-drugged-214715832.html▫️Four men have been charged with possession of child pornography after ongoing investigations conducted by the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office
https://www.cbs42.com/news/crime/man-charged-with-over-40-counts-of-child-pornography-among-4-arrested-in-etowah-county/▫️Former police recruit found guilty of child sexual assault
BELVIDERE, Ill. — Brian Sample, 41, of Poplar Grove, a former Byron Police recruit already serving time for the sexual assault of a female trainee, was found guilty this week of charges of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child. According to the Boone County State’s Attorney’s Office, a public school student disclosed the offenses after a presentation on Erin’s Law, a child sex abuse program required in Illinois schools.
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/former-police-recruit-found-guilty-of-child-sexual-assault/▫️Ex-police officer charged with sexual abuse of girl
LAMAR, Mo. — The Barton County prosecutor has filed child sexual abuse charges against a former Carl Junction police officer convicted 10 years ago of possessing child pornography. Seth P. Wilkins, 39, of Jasper, was charged Jan. 18 with first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse of a 9-year-old girl.
https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/ex-police-officer-charged-with-sexual-abuse-of-girl/article_98eecdfa-9dc8-11ed-8585-9f59e2a37e04.html▫️Alleged child predator, Putnam City Schools worker, arrested after sting operation
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — On Sunday, the Oklahoma City Police Department detained 44-year-old Robert Brian Davis after the group Predator Poachers set up a sting operation.
https://ktul.com/news/local/alleged-child-predator-putnam-city-schools-worker-arrested-after-sting-operation-robert-brian-davis-oklahoma-police-department-predator-poachers-district-rumble-alex-rosen-sodexo-potential-pedophile-arrest-sw-43rd-st▫️Cops hunt Oregon torture suspect jailed in Vegas kidnap case
SALEM, Ore. — Police in southern Oregon were searching Thursday for a man accused of torturing a woman he held captive, less than two years after he was convicted in Nevada of keeping another woman in captivity for weeks before the victim managed to escape. Grants Pass Police Chief Warren Hensman said in a telephone interview that he finds it “extremely troubling” that the felon is wanted in an attempted murder instead of still being behind bars for the Nevada crimes. Benjamin Obadiah Foster, 36, is now charged in Oregon with attempted murder, kidnapping and assault.
https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/police-oregon-fugitive-kidnapped-woman-like-2019-17744979.php▫️Warrant served for Cumberland County child sex abuse suspect
LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Lower Allen Township Police Department says a warrant has been served for a child sex abuse suspect. Lower Allen Township Police says a 10-year-old victim reported the abuse on May 3, 2019, saying there were multiple alleged instances of physical and sexual abuse. Police say following a “lengthy investigation,” an arrest warrant was issued for 41-year-old Roscoe Roy Jr. on December 27. A warrant was served on January 27. Roy Jr. has been charged with rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault, and strangulation, according to the Police Department.
https://www.abc27.com/local-news/warrant-issued-after-child-reported-sexual-physical-abuse/▫️Man charged with kidnapping teen from Hawaii beach appears in court (VIDEO)
KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii — Duncan Mahi, the man charged with kidnapping a Big Island teenager in September, appeared in court on Thursday morning. Court documents, released after Mahi’s arrest, told of the frightening 22 hours that the teen was held captive.
https://www.khon2.com/hawaii-crime/alleged-big-island-kidnapper-appears-in-kona-court/▫️23-Year-Old Man Gets 16 Life Sentences For Raping And Sodomizing Minors
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Convicted serial rapist Dominic Yocco learned Thursday that he’s going to prison for the remainder of his life. A St. Louis County judge sentenced him to 16 consecutive life sentences. Extra court security was at the sentencing hearing to keep the peace between the victims’ families and Yocco’s family. A jury convicted Yocco in September 2022 on 16 counts of rape and sodomy of girls between 14 and 16 years of age.
» https://illicitdeeds.com/2023/01/23-year-old-man-gets-16-life-sentences-for-raping-and-sodomizing-minors/
» https://fox2now.com/news/fox-files/23-year-old-serial-rapist-not-eligible-for-parole-until-106/
▫️2 Dale County residents sentenced for sexual exploitation of a child
DOTHAN, Ala. - Two Dale County residents have been sentenced for federal sexual exploitation of a child charges. 52-year-old Jason Hason Bright of Ozark was sentenced on January 25 to 40 years in prison for the sexual exploitation charge as well as a charge of receipt of child pornography. Bright’s co-defendant, 34-year-old Tiffany Diane Hughes of Ozark, was sentenced back on December 4 to 20 years for just the sexual exploitation charge.
https://www.wsfa.com/2023/01/26/2-dale-county-residents-sentenced-sexual-exploitation-child/▫️Scientology's leader goes missing as lawyers try to serve him with human trafficking suit
Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige is allegedly trying to dodge lawyers who are trying to serve him in a trafficking lawsuit, the lawyers say. TMZ reports that Miscavige "eluded process servers a whopping 27 times" at Scientology offices in Los Angeles, California, and Clearwater, Florida. Staffer at both locations reportedly keep refusing to accept the suit, saying they have no idea where Miscavige is. The suit is brought by three former members of Scientology's Sea Org, alleging that they were forced into the church as kids and forced to work into adulthood for low wages. "What's weird about Miscavige's alleged disappearance is that some people believe his wife, Shelly, has also vanished. She was reported missing in 2013 by ex-Scientologist Leah Remini, who is one of the org's chief critics," TMZ's report stated.
https://www.rawstory.com/scientology-lawsuit/▫️Fayetteville prostitution sting results in nine arrests
» https://www.cityviewnc.com/stories/9-people-arrested-in-prostitution-ring-at-motel-on-skibo-road-police-say,26097
» https://www.yahoo.com/news/fayetteville-prostitution-sting-results-nine-215722701.html▫️HSI San Juan Arrests 3 Men on Child Exploitation Charges
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents with the support of the Puerto Rico Department of Justice and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau arrested three men charged with production of child pornography, transportation of minors to engage in sexual criminal acts, coercion and enticement of minors and possession of child pornography, respectively.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-pr/pr/hsi-san-juan-arrests-3-men-child-exploitation-charges▫️Schuyler man arrested for human trafficking four children
SCHUYLER - According to the Colfax County Attorney’s Office, 24-year-old Celvin Lopez Cabrera was arrested for sex trafficking of a minor, sexual assault, pandering, child pornography, visually explicit depiction and enticement of a child, and solicitation involving four children aged 14 to 17-years-old.
https://www.norfolkneradio.com/news/schuyler-man-arrested-for-human-trafficking/article_e8633578-9e82-11ed-bdf5-e765dd3b84f8.html▫️Mayville Man Charged With Sex Trafficking Of A Minor
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that William A. Quinones, 48, of Mayville, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and sex trafficking of a minor.
» https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/mayville-man-charged-sex-trafficking-minor
» https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/chautauqua-county-man-accused-of-sex-trafficking-a-minor▫️Man arrested in connection with teen trafficked from Mavs game
On Jan. 26, 2023, Dallas Police said officers with the US Marshal Task Force arrested Emmanuel Cartagena for the sexual assault of a child.
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/investigates/emmanuel-cartagena-man-arrested-after-teen-girl-trafficked-from-dallas-mavs-game/287-a3258316-859f-4e5e-9221-594a2c73d1cd▫️4 Smith County men accused of seeking sex with minor arrested in undercover operation
Four Smith County men accused of seeking sex online with a minor were arrested following an undercover law enforcement operation, police documents show. Matthew Blake Organ, 44, of Whitehouse, James Amos, 54, of Flint, Delano Roosevelt Phelps, 89, of Tyler, Jose Ernesto Hernandez, 37, of Tyler, were all charged with solicitation of prostitution of a person under 18.
»▫️Juvenile facility employee arrested, charged with child sexual abuse
Wesley Allen, 40, was arrested in Logan on Jan. 26 on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, several counts of forcible sexual abuse, object rape, and obstruction of justice.
https://www.abc4.com/news/northern-utah/juvenile-facility-employee-arrested-charged-with-child-sexual-abuse/▫️NYPD files kidnapping, sex-trafficking charges in connection with Staten Island emergency response
Justin Dixon of Carrol Street was charged by police with child sex trafficking and kidnapping, according to the police statement. Police were informed that Dixon allegedly forced a minor to engage in prostitution.
https://www.silive.com/crime-safety/2023/01/nypd-files-kidnapping-sex-trafficking-charges-in-connection-with-staten-island-emergency-response.html▫️Cumberland County man raped child, duct-taped her to punching bag: Police
Roscoe Roy, 42, who most recently has been living in the Harrisburg area, was charged Friday in Cumberland County with three felonies: with rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child, strangulation; and two misdemeanors: indecent exposure and indecent assault; for abusing the child in 2018.
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2023/01/cumberland-county-man-raped-child-duct-taped-her-to-punching-bag-police.html .▫️Former Onondaga County Sheriff's Deputy commits suicide after child sexual abuse arrest
Alexander Nicholson, 46, was recently arrested after an investigation of sexual allegations regarding a minor.
https://cnycentral.com/news/local/former-onondaga-county-sheriffs-deputy-commits-suicide-after-child-sexual-abuse-arrest▫️Ex-cop charged with sexual abuse of 9-year-old girl
A former Carl Junction, MO police officer who was convicted 10 years ago of possessing child pornography faces new charges of sexual abuse against a nine-year-old girl. On Jan. 18, Prosecutors in Barton County charged 39-year-old Seth P. Wilkins with first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse of a victim less than 12 years old, according to electronic records from the Barton County Circuit Court.
https://theblackwallsttimes.com/2023/01/27/ex-cop-charged-with-sexual-abuse-of-9-year-old-girl/▫️Blackfoot man who compared young girls to pizza convicted on child porn charges
POCATELLO — After a three-day trial, a federal jury has found a 41-year-old Blackfoot man guilty of distribution and possession of child pornography. In testimony and evidence presented at trial, Hornof used the Kik messenger app to talk with an undercover officer in North Carolina. Hornof shared videos and images of child pornography with the officer. In a previous story EastIdahoNews.com reported, the North Carolina detective’s case file said Hornof mentioned he’d had sexual contact with young girls. Hornof would refer to the girls as pizza and would refer to their age by how aged the cheese was.
https://www.eastidahonews.com/2023/01/blackfoot-man-who-compared-young-girls-to-pizza-convicted-on-child-porn-charges/ -
Just another... "This CAN NOT be REAL!!"
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Journey - Don't Stop Believin' (Live 1981: Escape Tour - 2022 HD Remaster)
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Fun morning with our DuBois JV and Varsity players coaching future DUBOIS Beavers ballers at Little Dribblers!!
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Just another... "This CAN NOT be REAL!!"
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Maurice E. “Mo” Simmons, Age 78 of DuBois, PA died Friday, January 27, 2023 at Penn Highlands DuBois Hospital.Born on March 25, 1944 in DuBois, PA, he was the son of the late Maurice O. and Kathryn (Pinchock) Simmons.
On August 6, 1971, he married his wife of 51 years, Marsha (Parry) Simmons. She survives.
Mo was a member of the first graduating class of DuBois Central Catholic High School in 1962. He attended Penn State University graduating with degrees in Engineering Technology and Education. He was a life member of the Penn state Alumni Association.
Mo retired after a 30-year career with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. He later worked for Hormel Foods, DuFast Transit, and Cegedem.
He was active in the community having served on numerous school and civic committees and boards.
Mo was a life member of the DuBois Volunteer Fire Department and the Goodwill Hose Company #5 and held numerous offices in those organizations. He was the editor of the DuBois Volunteer Fire Department’s 100th Anniversary Commemorative Book. He was also a member of Friendship Hose Company and the Central District Volunteer Firemen’s Association.
He was a member of St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church where he was instrumental in helping Fr. Ernest Daily establish the first parish council. He also served as a money counter, eucharistic minister, and cemetery board member.
In his earlier years, he enjoyed softball, bowling, golf, and shooting. Mo was a member of the Handgunners, Inc.
For many years, Mo was a youth baseball coach in the DuBois Little League and DuBois Central Catholic, and, for a time, was an associate scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He enjoyed following the lives of the young men who had played for him and remained in contact with many of them over the years.
Mo was an avid fan of Notre Dame, Penn State, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cleveland Indians.
His favorite activity was spending time with his wife and family. In addition to his wife Marsha, he is survived by a son Michael Simmons & his wife Amy of Manheim, PA; a son Matthew Simmons & his companion Lauren Judge of DuBois, PA; a brother, Robert Simmons & his wife Sandy of Jackson, TN; grandsons, Benjamin& Jacob; as well as nieces and a nephew, Steve Simmons.
Mo was preceded in death by his brother, Thomas Simmons.
There will be no public visitation.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 10 a.m. from St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church with Msgr. Richard Siefer as celebrant.
Burial will follow in St. Michael Cemetery.
Memorial donations can be made to DuBois Central Catholic, P.O. Box, 567, and/or the DuBois Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 408, and/or St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, 116 South State St., all of DuBois, PA 15801.
The Baronick Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences can be mad to http://www.baronickfuneralhome.com/condolence
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“I think we need to just call this out on the bullshit it is.”
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“Falsely accuses a bunch of legitimate right-leaning accounts of being Russian bots.”
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“Virtually any conclusion drawn from it will take conversations in conservative circles on Twitter and accuse them of being Russian.”
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These are quotes by Twitter executives about Hamilton 68, a digital “dashboard” that claimed to track Russian influence and was the source of hundreds if not thousands of mainstream print and TV news stories in the Trump years.
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The “dashboard” was headed by former FBI counterintelligence official (and current MSNBC contributor) Clint Watts, and funded by a neoliberal think tank, the Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD).
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The ASD advisory council includes neoconservative writer Bill Kristol, former Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, ex-Hillary for America chief John Podesta, and former heads or deputy heads of the CIA, NSA, and the Department of Homeland Security.
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News outlets for years cited Watts and Hamilton 68 when claiming Russian bots were “amplifying” an endless parade of social media causes – against strikes in Syria, in support of Fox host Laura Ingraham, the campaigns of both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.
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Hamilton 68 was the source for stories claiming Russian bots pushed terms like “deep state” or hashtags like #FireMcMaster, #SchumerShutdown, #WalkAway, #ReleaseTheMemo, #AlabamaSenateRace, and #ParklandShooting, among many others.
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The secret ingredient to Hamilton 68’s analytical method? A list: “Our analysis has linked 600 Twitter accounts to Russian influence activities online,” was how the site put it at launch.
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Hamilton 68 never released the list, claiming "the Russians will simply shut [the accounts] down." All those reporters and TV personalities making claims about “Russian bots” never really knew what they were describing.
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Twitter executives were in a unique position to recreate Hamilton’s list, reverse-engineering it from the site’s requests for Twitter data. Concerned about the deluge of Hamilton-based news stories, they did so – and what they found shocked them.
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“These accounts,” they concluded, “are neither strongly Russian nor strongly bots.”
“No evidence to support the statement that the dashboard is a finger on the pulse of Russian information ops.”
“Hardly illuminating a massive influence operation.”
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In layman’s terms, the Hamilton 68 barely had any Russians. In fact, apart from a few RT accounts, it’s mostly full of ordinary Americans, Canadians, and British.
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It was a scam. Instead of tracking how “Russia” influenced American attitudes, Hamilton 68 simply collected a handful of mostly real, mostly American accounts, and described their organic conversations as Russian scheming.
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Twitter immediately recognized these Hamilton-driven news stories posed a major ethical problem, potentially implicating them.
“Real people need to know they’ve been unilaterally labeled Russian stooges without evidence or recourse,” Roth wrote.
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Some Twitter execs badly wanted to out Hamilton 68. After Russians were blamed for hyping the #ParklandShooting hashtag, one wrote:
“Why can’t we say we’ve investigated… and citing Hamilton 68 is being wrong, irresponsible, and biased?”
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Yoel Roth wanted a confrontation. “My recommendation at this stage is an ultimatum: you release the list or we do,” he wrote.
However, there were internal concerns about taking on the politically connected Alliance for Securing Democracy.
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“We have to be careful in how much we push back on ASD publicly,” said future White House and NSC spokesperson Emily Horne.
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“I also have been very frustrated in not calling out Hamilton 68 more publicly, but understand we have to play a longer game here,” wrote Carlos Monje, the future senior advisor to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
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So the “legitimate people,” as one Twitter exec called them, never found out they’d been used as fodder for mountains of news stories about “Russian influence.” Because the #TwitterFiles contain the list, they’ve begun finding out.
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“I’m shocked,” says Sonia Monsour, who as a child lived through civil war in Lebanon. “Supposedly in a free world, we are being watched at many levels, by what we say online.”
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“I’ve written a book about the U.S. Constitution,” says Chicago-based lawyer Dave Shestokas. “How I made a list like this is incredible to me.”
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“When I was growing up, my father told me about the McCarthyite blacklist,” says Oregon native Jacob Levich. “As a child it would never have occurred to me that this would come back, in force and broadly, in a way… designed to undermine rights we hold dear.”
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Even Twitter execs were stunned to read who was on the list. Wrote policy chief Nick Pickles about British comic @Holbornlolz: “A wind-up merchant… I follow him and wouldn’t say he’s pro-Russian… I can’t even remember him tweeting about Russia.”
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I’m listed as a foreign bot?” said conservative media figure Dennis Michael Lynch. “As a proud taxpaying citizen, charitable family man, and honest son of a U.S. Marine, I deserve better. We all do!”
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Consortium editor Joe Lauria too was angered to find he was on the list, which targeted voices across the spectrum: “Organizations like Hamilton 68 are in business to enforce an official narrative, which means excising inconvenient facts, which they call ‘misinformation.’”
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What makes this an important story is the sheer scale of the news footprint left by Hamilton 68’s digital McCarthyism. The quantity of headlines and TV segments dwarfs the impact of individual fabulists like Jayson Blair or Stephen Glass.
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Hamilton 68 was used as a source to assert Russian influence in an astonishing array of news stories: support for Brett Kavanaugh or the Devin Nunes memo, the Parkland shooting, manipulation of black voters, “attacks” on the Mueller investigation…
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These stories raised fears in the population, and most insidious of all, were used to smear people like Tulsi Gabbard as foreign “assets,” and drum up sympathy for political causes like Joe Biden’s campaign by describing critics as Russian-aligned.
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Incredibly, and ironically, these stories were also frequently used as evidence of the spread of “fake news” on sites like Twitter:
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It was a lie. The illusion of Russian support was created by tracking people like Joe Lauria, Sonia Monsour, and Dave Shestokas. Virtually every major American news organization cited these fake tales— even fact-checking sites like Snopes and Politifact.
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Twitter didn’t have the guts to out Hamilton 68 publicly but did try to speak to reporters off the record. “Reporters are chafing,” said Horne. “It’s like shouting into a void.”
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Roth was offended by the idea that tweets on certain themes suggested subversion. “Can we talk about how incredibly condescending…? If you talk about these themes, you must have been duped by Russian propaganda.”
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Again, even Roth, like most Twitter execs an ardent Democratic partisan, saw that the Hamilton scheme would lead people “to assert that any right-leaning content is propagated by Russian bots.”
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At least two other research institutions that used similar methodologies – and were cited as sources in news stories – were also criticized in Twitter email correspondence. http://36.at/
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MSNBC, Watts, the Washington Post, Politico, Mother Jones (which did at least 14 Hamilton 68 stories), the Alliance for Securing Democracy, and the offices of politicians like Dianne Feinstein all refused comment, unless this counts:
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This was an academic scandal as well, as Harvard, Princeton, Temple, NYU, GWU, and other universities promoted Hamilton 68 as a source:
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Perhaps most embarrassingly, elected officials promoted the site, and invited Hamilton “experts” to testify. Dianne Feinstein, James Lankford, Richard Blumenthal, Adam Schiff, and Mark Warner were among the offenders.
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The mix of digital McCarthyism and fraud did great damage to American politics and culture. News outlets that don't disavow these stories, or still pay Hamilton vets as analysts, shouldn't be trusted. Every subscriber to those outlets to write to editors about the issue.
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For more from the #TwitterFiles, follow @BariWeiss, @LHFang, @ShellenbergerMD, @TheFP, and others. Twitter had no input into this story. Searches were conducted by a third party, so material may have been left out.
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For more on this story, read the detailed new story at http://racket.news
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And a special thanks to @0rf for putting together video for this segment - much more to come.
END OF THREAD 🔼
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WHO'S IN THE NEWS:
▫️Clovis Police arrest 6 men they say were attempting to lure girls to hotel
The SET (Special Enforcement Team) detectives have been posing as girls on social media and are targeted by male suspects. On Friday evening into Saturday morning, SET detectives assisted by the Department of Justice and Fresno County’s Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC), arrested the men who are accused of going there to meet a girl they were targeting for human trafficking.
» https://vnexplorer.net/undercover-operation-at-hotel-in-clovis-results-in-6-human-trafficking-arrests-s7440183.html
» https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/crime/six-men-have-been-arrested-in-clovis-for-human-trafficking/▫️Valley sex stings produce two felony arrests
YOUNGSTOWN — Separate investigations by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force have resulted in felony charges against two men accused of seeking sex with juveniles. Additionally, the task force conducted other undercover sting operations that targeted 14 individuals who were attempting to buy sex.
» https://www.vindy.com/news/local-news/2023/01/valley-sex-stings-produce-two-felony-arrests/
» https://www.heraldstaronline.com/news/local-news/2023/01/mahoning-valley-task-force-arrests-2-men-suspected-of-seeking-sex-with-minors/▫️Prostitution Sting Snares 15 People In Moreno Valley
Three females were offered resources "to assist them in getting out of this dangerous lifestyle," the Riverside County Sheriff's department said.
» https://mynewsla.com/crime/2023/01/25/fifteen-people-arrested-in-moreno-valley-sex-trafficking-sting/
» https://patch.com/california/banning-beaumont/prostitution-sting-snares-15-people-moreno-valley▫️Police: Daytona man charged with human trafficking and drug possession
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A Volusia County man is facing human trafficking and drug possession charges, according to the Daytona Beach police department. Police charged 48-year-old Derick Jones Sr. with conspiracy to commit human trafficking, deriving support from proceeds of prostitution, and numerous felony drug charges. Officials were made aware of Jones’ activities after several victims told investigators that they were being forced to commit prostitution and give the money they received to Jones.
» https://www.wftv.com/news/local/police-daytona-man-charged-with-human-trafficking-drug-possession/ZQ7U7YHG2ZHSHIQV7B6IBPX6NE/
» https://www.wesh.com/article/daytona-beach-police-man-trafficked-women/42672678▫️Irving Police Urge Possible Victims of Alleged Child Predator to Come Forward
69-year old Averil Cardwell was arrested last August after a 21-year-old woman alleged that he abused her for many years starting at age three. Since then four victims have been identified, dating back to 1986. Anyone whose child could have interacted with Cardwell is encouraged to contact the Irving POlice Department at (972) 273-1010.
» https://www.wbap.com/2023/01/26/irving-police-urge-possible-victims-of-alleged-child-predator-to-come-forward/
» https://www.fox4news.com/news/averil-cardwell-sex-abuse-victims-irving▫️'SICKENING' | Sex Offender Who Catfished Girl On Snapchat Groomed Victim For Years: DA
https://breaking911.com/sickening-sex-offender-who-catfished-girl-on-snapchat-groomed-victim-for-years-da/▫️Former Maui police officer convicted of child sex crimes settles with 2 victims
Brandon Saffeels, 37, was arrested in December 2021 after he offered to pay an undercover officer, who posed as a 13-year-old girl, for sex.
https://www.kitv.com/news/crime/former-maui-police-officer-convicted-of-child-sex-crimes-settles-with-2-victims/article_67c5f2b2-9cf6-11ed-9221-2f5980b957c7.html▫️Alabama deputies rescue teen human trafficking victim suffering broken collar bone; 2 arrested
Benjamin M. Sapp, 20, and Breanna Chanthanam, 20, both of Sacramento, California, were both arrested on Wednesday and each charged with human trafficking related to alleged profiting of an 18-year-old victim. According to the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department, the two were arrested during a traffic stop on Interstate 10 near the Florida state line.
https://www.al.com/news/2023/01/alabama-deputies-rescue-teen-human-trafficking-victim-suffering-broken-collar-bone-2-arrested.html▫️HSI Washington, D.C. investigation leads to convictions for 4 men who engaged in online child sexual exploitation enterprise | ICE
https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/hsi-washington-dc-investigation-leads-convictions-4-men-who-engaged-online-child▫️Former DeBary councilman one of two Volusia County men charged with child sex abuse
DeBary resident Daniel Tillis, a former city councilman, 76, is charged with lewd/lascivious molestation by a person 18 years of age or older on a victim less than 12 years of age, records show. Orange City resident Jacob Bloom, 32, also is charged with lewd/lascivious molestation by a person 18 years of age or older on a victim less than 12 years of age, records show.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/two-volusia-county-men-charged-174226153.html▫️Texas human trafficker sentenced in scheme to get girls to work at strip clubs, engage in prostitution
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Eric Laranze Taylor, 28, of San Antonio, was sentenced to 35 years in prison after a jury convicted him of human trafficking and 15 years in prison for aggravated promotion of prostitution.
https://www.kwtx.com/2023/01/26/texas-human-trafficker-sentenced-scheme-get-girls-work-strip-clubs-engage-prostitution/▫️Prolific Human Trafficker, Whose Victims Included Children And Foreign Nationals, Sentenced To 35 Years In Federal Prison
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced David Alan Quarles (51, Odessa) to 35 years in federal prison for conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, threats, fraud, or coercion; importation of an alien for the purpose of prostitution; transportation of an individual in interstate commerce for the purpose of prostitution; and using a facility of interstate commerce in aid of prostitution. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, for decades, Quarles recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, advertised, and maintained young women and forced them to have sex with men in exchange for money.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/prolific-human-trafficker-whose-victims-included-children-and-foreign-nationals
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Project Veritas: Pfizer Exploring "Mutating" COVID-19 Virus For New Vaccines
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