OUR BAILOUT
President George W. Bush has overseen the collapse of the American free enterprise system as we know it, and he will go down as the worst president in this nation’s history. Republican Party Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, and Democratic Party nominee Barack Obama have put forth plans aimed at correcting the ship. Taxpayers, the people if you will, have thrown a $700 billion lifesaver to Wall Street, and more will surely be needed. However, none of the plans being floated goes far enough to get help immediately to the people. While banks are being provided help, those same institutions are not mandated to offer breaks to consumers, and this is shameful. Banks and mortgage companies should be required to renegotiate loans so families can remain in their homes. Then, any firm that receives taxpayers’ money should be prohibited from donating to political campaigns, candidates and/or causes. None of the money should be used to pay lobbyists, and all executive salaries should be subject to government review and oversight. Finally, an economic stimulus package should be provided where each American is provided $5,000, instead of the $600 in crumbs previously given. This would provide a jumpstart to the economy leading into the holiday season, which means jobs and winter survival for small businesses. While it would be expensive, it’s cheaper and certainly more effective than giving the money to the banks, where much of it will be used to pay dividends to foreign investors, which does little for us. No one is falling for that “trickle down” foolishness anymore, so put the money in the pockets of the people.
K9 SHOOTING
Wilmar Bolton and Larry Horne, both 20, are being held on multiple charges after they allegedly shot a police dog during a burglary in Homestead. When officers arrived on the scene, a shootout ensued. Bolton was hit several times, and the dog was also shot. The dog was treated and is recovering, and Bolton remains hospitalized in critical condition. A third suspect remains on the loose.
CHURCH INJUSTICE
Ken Jenne, the disgraced former Broward sheriff who was convicted of corruption, is now out of jail, and already has landed a plum job with a high-profile lobbying firm. Jenne is also fighting to get his $134,500-a-year, taxpayer-funded pension. When Jenne was up for sentencing, a number of people, including a contingent from Fort Lauderdale’s New Mount Olive Baptist Church, urged the judge to go easy on him, which he did. Ironically, Raymond Hicks and his family are members of New Mount Olive Baptist Church. Hicks is the former BSO deputy who spent time in a federal prison on what he calls “trumped-up charges,” at the hand of Jenne and other BSO brass. While serving more than a year in prison, the family lost its home, and had to scrape just to eat. After a year in prison, and a 30-day trial, Hicks was acquitted within minutes. Even after his release, Jenne still refused to rehire him to his old job, and the family’s suffering endures. Hicks’ lawsuit against the agency is pending. Ironically, Hicks says church leaders told him there was nothing they could do to help his situation, but they did go to bat for Jenne, the admitted crook.
MISSING SENIOR
William Thomas Hall, 86, is missing after leaving a doctor’s office this week in his tan 2005 Hyundai four-door sedan. He left the facility while his wife was waiting for him in the reception area. He suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease and was wearing eyeglasses, a green and white shirt, and tan pants. Anyone who believes they may have seen him is urged to call Boynton Beach police at 561-742-6100.
PUBLIC DISGRACE
U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, who represents Florida’s 16th Congressional district, is mired in a sex scandal, and he needs to go. Mahoney was elected in 2006 on a platform of morals and family values after Rep. Mark Foley resigned the seat over his own sex scandal. Mahoney apparently began an affair with a woman during the campaign, and then hired her. He has fired her, and gave her $121,000 to keep quiet about it all.
STUDENT DEATH LAWSUIT
The parents of 12-year-old Pateesha Clinch, a sixth grader who died at Westview Middle School in 2007, have filed a lawsuit against the Miami-Dade School District. Clinch was reportedly playing roughly with other students between classes, when she was pushed, hit her head, and died. An autopsy found that she had a rare heart condition, which may have contributed to her death, but no obvious trauma. Among other things, the lawsuit contends school officials failed to supervise the students.
KNIFE ATTACK
Michel Cherfrere, 49, of North Lauderdale, is being held on charges of attempted murder, aggravated child abuse and violation of a restraining order after he attacked his wife and her daughter with a knife, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office. Months after his wife obtained a restraining order against him, he rammed his truck this week into the side of a parked car occupied by his wife, Monise, 43, and her 11-year-old daughter, as they waited for a school bus, according to BSO. Both victims escaped the wreckage, but Michel Cherfrere then chased them down and began stabbing his wife, investigators said. The daughter tried to protect her mother. He briefly paused his attack to ingest some unknown pills before running after them as they fled, according to BSO. Neighbors intervened, and deputies arrived. The suspect and two victims were taken to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.
DISGRUNTLED DEPUTIES
Members of the National Federation of Public and Private Employees union, which represents nearly 3,000 Broward Sheriff’s Office detention deputies, staged a protest at BSO headquarters in Fort Lauderdale over stalled contract negotiations this week. They say they want raises similar to those provided to the road deputies.
DRUGS FOR HIT
Therese Batson, 44, and 23-year-old William A. Cook are being held in the St. Lucie County Jail with no bond after offering an informant drugs as a down payment to kill Batson’s live-in boyfriend and his brother, investigators say. Batson and Cook were seeking to obtain the men’s inheritances, according to law-enforcement agents. They also promised the informant a truck, a boat and a camper that belonged to the intended targets, after the job was done, investigators said.
FATAL NEW CAR CRASH
Maria Brunetti, a 90-year-old woman who was driving her brand new Dodge Challenger sports car, died after she careened into a pole. The car burst into flames, and her 47-year-old son, who was a passenger in the car, is in the hospital in serious condition.
INCEST CHARGES
Ronald Baker, 46, a Seminole Indian Tribe police officer, has been arrested on 10 counts of charges related to sexual battery after his mother walked in on him as he engaged in sex acts with his 17-year-old daughter, according to police. The teenager told police that Baker had been drugging her for years, that she would pass out, and that she did not know what happened during these periods. After his arrest, Seminole Police terminated Baker, and he is being held in the Broward County Jail on $200,000 bail. Book’em, Dano!
EJones@SFLTimes.com
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