Abate of Florida

Next State Meeting

Concert is canceled out of a fear of gang violence April 22, 2005 PORTLAND, Maine -- Portland police fear that a shooting this week at a tattoo parlor may have been the prelude to a turf war among motorcycle gangs and are planning a crackdown in hopes of preventing further violence.

Police Chief Michael Chitwood said he is boosting patrols in anticipation of a retaliatory attack following the shooting Tuesday of Dennis Towne, 58, of Denmark at the Portland Tattoo Shop. The bullet grazed Towne's groin before passing through his leg.

At Chitwood's request, Portland officials yesterday canceled a June 16 concert at the Portland Expo by country music performer David Allan Coe because of security concerns. Chitwood told officials that Coe, who is known as an outlaw musician, is a big draw for motorcycle gang members. Holding a concert that would attract large numbers of bikers in one location would serve as a magnet for violence between rival motorcycle gangs, he said.

Police believe the shooting was a premeditated attack by members of the Outlaws motorcycle gang on a group believed to be allied with Hell's Angels.

''We're not going to let them come in and shoot up our city," Chitwood told reporters Wednesday. ''It endangers an entire community."

The last time motorcycle gang rivalries flared, Portland police responded with a major increase in downtown patrols. For the most part, the conflict passed.

Chitwood said Tuesday's early afternoon attack appears to signal that the Outlaws are trying to expand their dominance into Maine.

A group of motorcyclists wearing Outlaws insignia on their clothing confronted three men wearing insignia of the Vietnam Vets Motorcycle Club, according to police. There was an argument, followed by a fistfight and then a gunshot.

Chitwood said there is no indication that the victim knew his attackers.

ASSOCIATED PRESS 

WHITE SPRINGS – Buddy Miller, a talented guitarist, singer/songwriter and producer, will perform at the 53rd annual Florida Folk Festival on May 28th. The Festival, held annually at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs, showcases artists and performers from across the nation.

Performing as a lead guitarist, Miller has fronted bands touring with Steve Earle, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. As a songwriter, Miller’s tunes have been recorded by Lee Ann Womack, Brooks and Dunn, Garth Brooks and the Dixie Chicks. He also has produced recordings for Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Jim Lauderdale, Emmylou Harris and others. Miller received a Grammy Award nomination in 2001 for best contemporary folk album for his first duet recording with his wife, Julie. His most recent album, Universal United House of Prayer, has received wide critical acclaim as a country gospel recording with an eye on worldly events.

Sponsored by DEP and Florida’s leading businesses, the 53rd Annual Florida Folk Festival will take place May 27-29, 2005 at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in historic White Springs, near the intersection of Interstates 10 and 75. Miller will open Saturday evening’s concert by headliner Emmylou Harris, joining more than 400 other artisans from across the nation.

Children under 6 are admitted free to the Festival, and a one-time charge of $4 admits children between the ages of 6 and 17 for all three days. Individual adult tickets are $20 a day or $40 for the weekend at the gate, and $15/$35 advance purchase.

Tickets are available at the State of Florida’s Nature & Heritage Tourism Center near Highway 136 and U.S. Highway 41 in White Springs, Florida. For credit card orders, call toll-free: 1-877-6FL-FOLK (1-877-635-3655). To order by mail, send a check or money order to the Nature & Heritage Tourism Center, P.O. Box 849, White Springs, FL 32096. Make the check payable to Florida Folk Festival.

When packing clothes in a suitcase, don't lay them flat, roll them instead. they take up less space and should be wrinkle free.

April 21, 2005 

This Travel Warning is being issued to update information on threats to American citizens and interests in Lebanon. It supersedes the Travel Warning for Lebanon issued November 18, 2004. 

The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to carefully weigh the necessity of their travel to Lebanon in light of the risks noted below. U.S. citizens in Lebanon are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Beirut where they may also obtain updated information on travel and security in Lebanon. See registration details below. 

Recent events in Lebanon underscore the need for caution and sound personal security precautions. Former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri was assassinated February 14, 2005, in a car bomb attack in which at least 19 other people were killed and many others seriously wounded. Syria subsequently pledged to withdraw from Lebanon. 

By Franco Ordoñez, 
Globe Staff |
April 24, 2005 An Ashland police officer quit his job last year after an internal investigation alleged that he had extorted a Harley-Davidson motorcycle from a local man.

Donald Weld Jr. of Ashland surrendered his badge, police uniform, and gun -- and the motorcycle -- in July when faced with possible criminal prosecution on charges of extortion, larceny, operating a motorcycle without a license, and failure to report a domestic assault, according to a recently released police report.

''Officer Weld extorted the property of [an Ashland man] by threatening to pursue legal action against him if he did not sign over the title of his Harley-Davidson motorcycle to Officer Weld," Sergeant David Whitney, who investigated the case, wrote in a July 14, 2004, report.

Whitney presented his findings to Weld at police headquarters on July 16, 2004. Later the same day, Weld resigned in a hand-written letter.

Weld could not be reached for comment. His father, Donald Weld Sr., declined to discuss the matter and said his son was out of state and unavailable.

When confronted with the allegations by the police, Weld denied he did anything wrong and said he had been given the motorcyle for helping a friend with a lot of mechanical work, the report said.

Emily LaGrassa, a spokeswoman for the Middlesex district attorney, said the case was never turned over to the district attorney for prosecution.

Neither town counsel Dave Thomas nor Police Chief Roy Melnick returned calls seeking comment on the case, first reported by the MetroWest Daily News. The internal affairs report was one of eight last year that were recently released to the media.

Weld had witnessed a friend of his assault a woman, the report alleged. Weld allegedly told his friend that he had been given five days of suspension by the police chief for not reporting the crime.

The friend tried to make amends, offering to call the police chief, give Weld a truck, or give him as much as $6,000 so he could take his family on vacation. Weld eventually accepted the Harley-Davidson, the report alleged.

Weld had been disciplined around that time for other reasons, including being found drunk while off-duty.

You want to avoid any contact with poison ivy. It's the oil in this plant that causes some people to develop a blister like rash which can be extremely itchy. This three leaf plant can be found grow- ing on the ground or growing up trees and rocks. If you have been exposed to poison ivy, wash up immediately with soap and cool water. There are special soaps and cleansers that help remove and minimize the spread of the oil. Tecnu is a popular brand. There are also many ointments to help dry up the rash and relieve the itching and discomfort associated with poison ivy. Ivarest is a popular brand. 
Learn to identify this plant and, if at all possible, avoid contact. Also avoid contact with contaminated clothes until properly laundered. The oil is still present and can again exposes you to this unwanted itch.