Picture: My younger brother took this picture at on of the Battle Creek trails in St. Paul, Minnesota on October of 2010
Happy New Year..2011!! Wow, what a year! What did you thought about 2010? Before we enter the "new year", I (Sal) would like to take some time to reflect on God's blessings (share them here) of this past year. We sometimes easily forget what we did each year unless we STOP and think about what happened in our "busy" lives. During these holidays, I like to take advantage of the "break" and share with others "what happened in 2010"..
Some highlights this past year..
-January:
Hired some friends from my local church (Morris, MN) to help do the major work or remodeling my basement.
-April:
Went to my "first Minnesota Twins game" at Target Field
-May:
Memorial Weekend finger injury (dislocated right "pinky") from playing catch (football), which doctors told me will take 6 months to heal
-July:
Joined 3 of my students (ESL) on a 3-day weekend trip to the scenic places around Mount Rushmore, South Dakota
-August
Seeing our community opening their resources by starting new weekly church services for the growing "Spanish-speaking" population in making it a better place in "welcoming" them
Got the opportunity to do my passion for teaching ESL at the college I attended at for a week during UMM International Student Orientation. Many of them are from China!!
UMM International Students at the Dragon Boat Races (Meet #2)in Starbuck
Skunk trying to find a place to hibernate in my yard
Picture: I am with a friend (Chris T.) from my local church, who was part of the annual homeschool winter play ""Genesis The Story of Creation to the Call of Abram of Ur"" (see more pics) on a "wintry" Friday (December 10th of 2010).
My New Year's Resolution is the same like every past years, which is to be more "Christ-like" (body, soul, and mind) with God's help....in my daily personal relationship (e.g. reading the Bible, prayer, fellowship, praising-worshiping, etc..)..Also, to be more of a "peacemaker" in all situations in my daily surroundings through 2010!
Today (Friday, December 31st of 2010) during my 1 1/2 weeks of "winter break", I decided to write down some "goals" (see purpose-driven life) I've been pondering about this past week. Here are some:
-praying for financial provision to finish my "basement remodeling" (e.g. finished my basement to start renting, get double-pane windows for my living room this summer, finish the north section of insulating my external basement walls, etc...) project (monthly if possible)
-continue helping "reaching out" to the growing "Spanish-speaking" community in Stevens County
-build current and future relationships (family, friends, co-workers, etc.)
-take advantage of the "opportunities" to make "peace-reconciliation" with everybody in every situation
-Give God the glory in "everything" I do (e.g. work, family, leisure, etc..)
-continue teaching what I know and learning in life with others (e.g. niece, nephew, ESL/GED students, Sunday School, blogs, etc..) "younger' than me
-"try" to take every opportunity spending quality time with the people around me after my last 2 months of 2010 having 4 people "leave this earth behind" and wishing I could've did certain "activities" and spent more time with them
"Heavenly Father, thank you for a blessed 2010! Despite the challenges I and many others faced this past year, help us remember the many blessings on what we should be thankful for. Forgive us of our sins and mistakes we did, especially if it affected others. Give us strength for a "blessed" 2011 and show us how we can be a "blessing" to others around us in our daily life. In Jesus' "mighty" name..AMEN!!-Sal's Prayer for the New 2011 Year
A UMM graduate is named Chief Justice of the state’s Supreme Court, a black bear becomes the talk of the town while hanging out in a tree for a few days, and Charlie Battery soldiers return after another deployment overseas. Here’s part one of our recap of the area’s top news stories in 2010 "March 2010
•The University of Minnesota, Morris men’s basketball team won the 2010 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference tournament championship. The Cougars defeated St. Scholastica 83-49 at the UMM P.E. Center to claim the post-season trophy.... Morris in 2009: What Happened Around Here?, Part II, Published January 01 2010
Area National Guard soldiers prepare for their second deployment to a war zone, Stevens County Commissioners drop controversial plans to build a jail, and Morris auto dealers escape closure. Here's part two of our recap of the area's top news stories in 2009
*see GoodnewsEverybody: MiddleEastern Iraqi of Iraq Outreach Morris in 2010: What Happened Around Here? - Part 2 Published January 07 2011 morrissuntribune.com
A wind storm topples trees and disrupts the county fair, Morris ethanol plant reopens after almost two years as DENCO II, and Stevens County’s new courthouse and Law Enforcement Center is officially dedicated. Here’s part two of our recap of the area’s top news stories in 2010 "July 2010
•A half-summer of detour driving ended for Morris-area motorists when traffic resumed on Highway 9 between the Pope/Stevens county line and Benson. The project included milling and paving and replacements of culverts.
•The 26th annual Prairie Pioneer Days celebration in Morris began July 9, with the book sale at the Morris Public Library. The festivities concluded July 11 with the Grand Parade.
•Sonia Meyer was named the recipient of the 2010 Emerson Volunteer Award from the Miss Minnesota organization, which each year recognizes an outstanding volunteer within the program. Meyer was recognized for her many years of volunteer service to the Miss Morris/Miss Midwest pageants, which are part of the Miss Minnesota and Miss America programs.
•The Morris Area School District approved putting a $500 per pupil operating levy on the November election ballot
•Renee Kloos, 47, a who has been cancer-free for 10 years, was the honorary chair of Stevens County’s 2010 Relay for Life on July 16 at Pomme de Terre Park.
•University of Minnesota forestry experts and students teamed with Morris residents to survey city trees and gather information intended to aid the city's forestation efforts in the future. The surveys, which are being conducted in six regions in Minnesota, are the first of their kind in the U.S. For the first time, forestry experts will be teamed with community volunteers to gather the information on trees on both public and private property in the city.
•Adair Horgen, of Morris, received the Northwest District Advocate for Choral Excellence Award from the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota. The ACE award is an honor for people across Minnesota who do outstanding work for their communities, serving the choral art.
•The 40th Horticulture Night and the West Central Research and Outreach Center’s dedication were July 29. The WCROC recently completed a year-long renovation of the center.
•The Steven and Lori Kill family is the Stevens County’s 2010 Farm Family of the Year. Seventy-three families from around the state, one from each participating county, have earned the honor. The family lives on the farm where Steve grew up. His parents started farming in the 1940s. The Kills have three children, Lauren, Shauna, and Kurtis.
•Over 800 people and nearly 500 motorcycles were registered for the 5th annual LTD Motorcycle Tour honoring fallen area vets. By the time the tour arrived in Morris, over 825 people were involved. The annual ride is in memory of Staff Sgt. David Day, Sgt. Jesse Lhotka and 1st Lt. Jason Timmerman, who died in Iraq on Feb. 21, 2005.
•Work began on East 2nd Street at Atlantic Avenue. The project includes repairs and replacements of water mains, sewers, roadway and curbs and gutters. The project began in the spring at the City of Morris water treatment plant. Workers continued past the Regional Fitness Center and the University of Minnesota, Morris campus.
•Shanda Arbach was crowned Miss Morris Area at the 35th annual scholarship program. Tabitha Klages will represent the community as the Morris Area Ambassador. Rachael Sands was named Miss Midwest Minnesota. Kacy Nehowig is the Miss Midwest Minnesota 1st Runner Up.
August 2010
•George Fosgate, professor emeritus of theatre arts at UMM, appeared in the Aug. 1, episode of the TNT television series “Leverage.” Fosgate reported that his scene with actress Gina Bellman was “early and brief” in episode eight, The Boost Job.
•Federated Telephone, a rural Morris telecommunications cooperative, was awarded almost $3 million through the Recovery Act broadband program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Federated received $2,987,274 to establish a Fiber to the Premise (FTTP) voice, video and data network.
•A brief but strong wind and rain storm rattled Morris residents and, undoubtedly, had others making calls to insurance agents. The wind storm also caused the brief evacuation of West Wind Village. Several large trees were blown down around Morris.
•Three new teachers will be working in the Morris Area School District this year.
Heidi Hoffmann is a new kindergarten teacher at Morris Area Elementary School this year, Holly Bjorklund is the new Family and Consumer Science (FACS) teacher at Morris Area High School, and Austen Miller will be a new 2nd grade teacher at MAES.
•Morris-area folks attending the Minnesota State Fair had a chance to see performances by two winners of the Morris Kiwanis Talent Show. Rachel Coler and William Pelowski took first place in the Talent Show this year, and Lyric Trio -- which is comprised of Sydney Beyer, Beth Holland and Laura Kuhn -- placed second. Both acts performed at the State Fair's amateur talent competition in St. Paul.
•Paige Strand was crowned the Donnelly Threshing Bee Queen and Sara Stallman as princess. Little Miss Donnelly is Bailey Armstrong, while Logan Mau was crowned the Little Miss Princess.
September 2010
•History is always full of surprises. That was true when the 1956 Stevens County Courthouse time capsule was opened at the county History Museum in Morris. To be historically accurate, the 1956 time capsule is actually the 1957 time capsule. The envelope contained newspapers – the Morris Sun and Morris Tribune, two issues of the Hancock record and a copy of the Chokio Review – three photographs, a District Court calendar and a copy of the county’s 1956 financial statement. The mild surprise came when it was discovered that the newspapers in the capsule were dated either March or April 1957.
•The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians selected a University of Minnesota, Morris alum, Dr. Richard A. Wehseler, as its 2010 Family Physician of the Year. Wehseler, a biology and English major, is a 1991 UMM graduate. A family physician in the area for 12 years, Wehseler practices at the Affiliated Community Medical Centers New London clinic.
•The third-annual Feed My Starving Children food packing event surpassed its goal of 200,000 meals. The meal total reached 215,000 when volunteers had to stop because they ran out of packing boxes. More than 1,100 people volunteered to pack meals, which are distributed to starving people in Haiti.
•Adair Horgen, Della Conroy and their musical “Friends” entertained an appreciative audience during the 6th annual Adair, Della & Friends concert at the Morris Area Concert Hall.
•The sale of the DENCO ethanol plant was completed, and its new owners had the plant operating by Oct. 1. The new company, DENCO II, hired 30 employees, and financing for the new plant is coming from, in large part, area farmers and producers. The plant suspended operations in Jan. 2009.
•Enrollment at the University of Minnesota, Morris increased by more than 5 percent for 2010, with total enrollment of new and continuing students at 1,812, a six-year high. Applications to Morris for fall 2010 enrollment set an all-time high. New students on campus this fall include 419 first-year students, up more than 3 percent over last year, and 134 transfer students, up 30 percent over last year.
•Promise of the Prairie: Education in Three Acts, a new documentary created by University of Minnesota, Morris Media Services, explores three very different educational institutions that have all made their home on the same plot of land—the Morris campus. The yearlong project culminated with its inaugural screening during Founders Weekend when the campus celebrated UMM’s 50th birthday and the West Central School of Agriculture’s 100th anniversary of its founding.
•This summer's David F. Day Memorial Scholarship Fishing Tournament helped provide scholarships to two Morris-area youth, Kelsey Greenwaldt and Missy Ascheman, and a third scholarship to another student pursuing a degree in criminal justice.
•The time capsule for Stevens County's new courthouse was set. County Commissioners and the staff and volunteers from the county History Museum watched the 70-pound stainless steel capsule set in an interior wall in the entry of the courthouse building.
The capsule contains many items and records reflecting present-day life in the county, as well as the contents of a time capsule from the 1956 courthouse building that was opened this summer. The new capsule is expected to be opened in 50 years.
•King Travis Rinkenberger and Queen Shadow Olson reigned over the homecoming festivities at Morris Area High School.
October 2010
•A special event honoring the late Raymond J. Lammers, professor emeritus of theatre at the University of Minnesota, Morris, was Oct. 9. The recently renamed Raymond J. Lammers Proscenium Theatre was dedicated in conjunction with Homecoming.
•Representatives from Aveda got a look at the first harvest of cipher, an oilseed crop the company hopes can one day be used in its line of personal care products and reduce its uses of imported oils. The Twin Cities-based personal care products company, began a partnership with the ARS Soils Lab in Morris in 2009.
•Bill and Adair Grommesh and their two children, who suffer from significant medical problems, moved into their new Moorhead home that was built as part of the TV show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Morris Area graduate Eric Smith designed the home and also worked as a project manager on the home building project.
•Thomas McRoberts passed away Oct. 11. The well-respected educator at the University of Minnesota, Morris was a fixture on campus for 34 years.
•A farming accident caused up to 600 gallons of anhydrous ammonia to be spilled in a field on the north edge of Morris, prompting authorities to evacuate a portion of the community. The spill resulted in a plume of gas which was slowly traveling east. Authorities closed roads and evacuated approximately 250 people form homes and businesses in the northeast section of town. No injuries were reported.
•A Stearns County judge on Oct. 21 sentenced a man to six years in prison for a DWI that happened five years after he killed a Morris-area woman while driving and coming down off a methamphetamine high. John Wayne Jensen, 24, was convicted of criminal vehicular homicide for the May 1, 2004, death of 71-year-old Ellen Anderson. Jensen was arrested again in August 2009 after an officer reported seeing his vehicle weaving on Minnesota Highway 23 near Paynesville.
•A dedication ceremony was held Saturday at the Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity home on West 7th Street. Taking the keys to the home were Christina, Fiona, and Patrick Reimers.
November 2010
•Mark Dayton won the Minnesota gubernatorial election but it wouldn’t be confirmed until a recount later in the year. Locally, Jeanne Ennen and Phil Gausman were elected to the Stevens County Board of Commissioners, and Twig Webster and Jeff Miller were reelected to the Morris City Council and Sheldon Giese was reelected as Morris Mayor. Two locals, Jim Thoreen and Bennett Smith, were defeated by Bill Ingebrigtsen and Torrey Westrom in the the District 11 Senate and District 11A House races, respectively. Incumbents Kurt Gartland and Lory Lemke and former Morris Area School Board member Laura Carrington were elected, and the district’s levy question was approved.
•Hunters in rural Stevens County on Saturday discovered the body of a man tentatively identified as Jack Leroy Eisel, who was last seen in November 2004 before he walked away from a Hancock group home. Stevens County Sheriff Randy Willis said the body was tentatively confirmed as Eisel's based on identification found on the body and from clothing he was wearing when reported missing in Nov. 26, 2004.
•Dan Tiernan and Roy Reese represented Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta Saturday at the Class A State Cross Country Meet at St. Olaf College. Tiernan finished in 59th place with a time of 17:25.9. Reese was 98th in 18:05.0.
•The University of Minnesota, Morris’ Linda Keller repeated as the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference’s women’s individual cross country champion, headlining a group of 12 student-athletes to earn all-conference accolades.
•University of Minnesota, Morris students in Beginning Modern Chinese placed in the 2010 Cheng & Tsui SuperStar Karaoke Contest for Chinese Language Students and Teachers. The students, taught by Nan Gao, teaching specialist in the Division of the Humanities, created videos for their entries. They were top-10 finalists in both the solo and group categories of about 150 entries.
•Morris Police Officer Jared Dittbenner received a Safe & Sober Challenge Coin Award commending his work in making sure Morris citizens are safe on the road. A limited number of challenge coins were awarded in Minnesota in 2010. The coin is given to those who go above and beyond as they promote traffic safety in the community.
•Muriel Eggebraaten was selected as the Morris Area 2010-2011 Teacher of the Year by the Morris Teachers’ Association. Eggebraaten teaches 5th grade at Morris Area Elementary and is in her 28th year of teaching. Becky Hennen was voted the Morris Area School District Support Staff Member of the Year for 2010-2011. She is a media manager in the elementary school and is in her 36th year with the district.
•Brian Giese will remain Stevens County Coordinator on a fulltime basis. The county Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to keep the County Highway Engineer in the coordinator's position. The board earlier in the year offered the job to one candidate who turned it down. The board opted to not offer the position to two other candidates who were interviewed twice.
December 2010
•Garrison Keillor announced that “A Prairie Home Companion” would be performed at the University of Minnesota, Morris on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011. “A Prairie Home Companion” first visited Morris in 2006. With a filled-to-capacity Physical Education Center, the show included Keillor’s signature monologue—The News from Lake Wobegon, performances by the UMM Concert Choir, comedy sketches, and music.
•The Stevens Soil & Water Conservation District named Mark and Deb Erickson as this year’s Outstanding Conservationists in Stevens County. After many years of conventional farming, Mark and Deb now focus solely on raising grass-fed cattle. They raise the cattle on two sites: their farm in Rendsville Township and the home farm of Deb’s family in Morris Township.
•Eric Riley, a senior at Morris Area High School, was selected to be on the 2010 Minnesota Vikings All-State Football Team, presented by the Minnesota Army National Guard.
Riley received on-field recognition during halftime of the Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills game Sunday, Dec. 5. He was a three-year starter for the Tigers playing both linebacker and running back.
•The University of Minnesota, Morris Welcome Center received the 2011 Minnesota Construction Association’s Special Recognition Award. The MCA annually recognizes a project that was completed as a result of “resourceful blending of construction techniques and professionals.” Completed in February 2010, the Welcome Center formerly served as the Community Services building and is listed on the National Register for Historic Places.
•Morris Area High School in Morris was one of only six agriculture programs nationwide that received the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) Outstanding Middle/Secondary Agricultural Education Program Award Dec. 1 at the NAAE annual convention in Las Vegas.
•Morris-based Superior Industries announced it would acquire Hancock Concrete on Jan. 1. Hancock Concrete was founded in 1917 by Henry Schmidgall. The Hancock-based company serves Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Dakotas with pre-cast concrete products including box culverts, arch and round pipe, manholes, and landscaping block.
•Argie Manolis, of Morris, earned the Morris Human Rights Award for 2010. Each year, the Morris Human Rights Commission selects a nominee who is making an impact in the community concerning human rights. Manolis was nominated and chosen for the award based on her work and advocacy on behalf of many issues in the community.
•Stevens County’s newly renovated courthouse and new Law Enforcement Center was dedicated during a ribbon cutting at the the new facility. The public took tours of the facility following the dedication. Retiring Board of Commissioners chairman Don Munsterman thanked those involved in the project that was 10 years in the making, in particular past and present commissioners who were involved in the county’s largest building project. Work began on the $11 million project in Oct. 2009. Finishing touches are being completed, and county staff will be moved back to the new facility beginning Dec. 20.
•The University of Minnesota, Morris’ planned second wind turbine will allow campus officials to predict fairly accurately what energy costs will be for the next 15 years. Lowell Rasmussen, UMM’s Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance and Facilities, said the second turbine could be constructed by the end of January 2011.
"
"1 Opening day at Target Field
In what would become the story of the summer, the Twins opened Target Field in April to rave reviews and a sound victory over the Boston Red Sox. It was an unseasonably warm and sunny April afternoon, and the auspicious start was a sign of things to come.
2 12 men in the huddle/Brett Favre's interception
After overcoming plenty of adversity during the NFC title game, the Vikings were on the verge of reaching the Super Bowl for the first time in more than three decades. We all know what happened next, and it's a moment that will be etched in the consciousness of Vikings fans along with Drew Pearson's push, Gary Anderson's ill-timed miss and every other heartbreaking memory.
3 Brad Childress fired
Less than a calendar year after bringing the Vikings to the brink of that Super Bowl, head coach Brad Childress -- who often drew the ire of fans, even in good times -- was fired after a 3-7 start to a season in which the organization was "all-in" to win a championship. He was replaced, at least on an interim basis, by defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.
4 Metrodome roof collapses and Vikings play at TCF Bank Stadium
It was a literal exclamation point on a season during which the roof had already, figuratively, caved in on the Vikings. When a giant snowstorm made their home unplayable, the Vikings -- after first playing a home game in Detroit -- turned to TCF Bank Stadium for their first outdoor home game in exactly 29 years. A big snow on game day and a 40-14 loss to the Bears followed.
Fox Sports - Metrodome Roof Collapses.m4v
*see GoodnewsMinnesota.info- Outdoors: Fall "
5 Lindsey Vonn wins gold medal
Lindsey Vonn, who honed her skiing craft on the slopes of Buck Hill in Burnsville, lived up to the Olympic hype by taking home a gold medal in the downhill. Vonn, who overcame a bruised shin, also won a bronze in the super-G.
6 Jim Thome's big home runs
While Target Field itself was the biggest story for the Twins in 2010, slugger Jim Thome provided many of the team's signature moments. Perhaps the biggest was his mammoth walk-off home run off White Sox lefty Matt Thornton on Aug. 17, which helped propel the Twins to their sixth division title in the past nine seasons.
7 Tim Brewster fired/Jerry Kill hired
With the Gophers languishing in 2010 with only a single victory, head coach Tim Brewster was fired in the middle of the season. A search for his replacement -- one filled with wild speculation and plenty of opinions -- led to the hiring of Jerry Kill from Northern Illinois. Initial skepticism from fans has generally given way to optimism.
8 Randy Moss returns, and departs
It was a whirlwind that turned into a tornado. Brought in via trade to add life to a sluggish offense, former Vikings star Randy Moss lasted exactly four games (three of them losses) in his second go-round with the team before being cut. Included among his transgressions: failing to go at full speed all the time and melting down over a catered meal.
9 Joe Mauer signs long-term contract extension
There was a time when this was the only story about which anybody here could think. Though many considered St. Paul native Joe Mauer signing an extension was a foregone conclusion, the longer negotiations went the more people wondered. In the end, he inked an eight-year, $184 million deal a couple of weeks before the start of the season.
10 Brett Favre's streak ends
The iron man of football saw his streak of 297 regular-season starts come to an end because of an injury. It was another tough moment in a season in which the Vikings quarterback came back after three teammates flew to Hattiesburg, Miss. -- only to fall well short of recapturing the magic of 2009.
Honorable mention: Kevin Love's 30-30 game; Jayson Ness wins NCAA wrestling title on a last-second move; Lindsay Whalen returns to Minnesota with the Lynx; Justin Morneau's concussion; the Wild's sellout streak ends; Gophers men's basketball team makes Big Ten tournament final and gets an NCAA bid; Ron Gardenhire is chosen Manager of the Year; U of M's Gabriele Anderson takes second in 1,500 meters at NCAA outdoor track and field championships; Brock Lesnar loses the UFC heavyweight title; Nebraska joins the Big Ten in the Gophers' division."
"t’s not easy being a Minnesota sports fan these days. The Vikings broke our hearts again last January, the Twins won another division, but went meekly into the night in three straight to the Yankees, the Wild and Wolves aren’t sniffing around the playoffs and perhaps the best Gopher program, John Anderson’s baseball team doesn’t have a place to play now that the Metrodome has collapsed.
How do we look back at the 2010 sports year in Minnesota?"
"The year in news -- confounding, terrifying, and compelling.
Extreme weather and natural disasters brought life to a standstill throughout much of the world: earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, volcanic eruptions in Iceland, and record floods in parts of America and Asia. Manmade disasters in mining and oil drilling also inflicted tolls on the nation's confidence in workplace standards and technological prowess.
As wrenching as the devastation was on the ground (or in deep waters), the outpouring of global goodwill and human ingenuity kept up hope. And, in a troubled year, 33 miners who emerged after a record 68 days were triumphant testimony to a country's single-minded devotion.
National pride was also at play in the world of sports. A stunning year started with the Winter Olympics, but the high point was the World Cup, when soccer fans, seasoned or fledgling, took a 30-day summer break to witness an exciting clash of nations.
On the domestic front, the clashes were also bruising. In American politics, the Obama White House pushed through sweeping reforms and stimulus dollars, but quite a few local governments and citizen groups resisted what they perceived as big government spending. A midterm election intensified the nose-to-nose politicking, and the November results promise a mix of gridlock, wrangling, excitement, and hope for the months ahead.
—Vera H-C Chan"
"The year 2010 started on a somber note, with a catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. The BP oil spill dominated headlines from April through September. But, as we saw in Chile, the year also had its share of triumphs. "
"From massive leaks of secret, scandalous documents to a World Cup that was literally buzzing with regional flair, these 10 news stories were tops in 2010.
WikiLeaks sprang onto the Internet scene back in 2007, but its three damning document dumps this year sent Washington scrambling for cover and raised controversial questions about where the line is drawn between freedom of information and espionage. On July 25, the site released some 75,000 U.S. military documents pertaining to the Afghanistan War, some containing damaging leaks about confidential Afghan informants. On Oct. 22, WikiLeaks released the largest leak of U.S. military documents in history: nearly 400,000 Iraq war documents that showed higher civilian casualties and torture by Iraqi forces. And on Nov. 28, the site started publishing more than 250,000 diplomatic cables that embarrassed or infuriated foreign governments........
U.S. Combat Operations in Iraq End
After seven and a half years of conflict, the overthrow and death of dictator Saddam Hussein, and arduous conflict that saw extremists trying to take advantage of the fragile government in Baghdad, President Barack Obama declared on Aug. 31 that U.S. combat operations in the country had drawn to a close. It wasn't until November in the government-less country that parties reached a deal that gave Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki another four-year term while attempting to iron out disputes between the Shiite and Sunni coalitions. The death toll stands at 4,746 coalition deaths, as well as tens of thousands of Iraqi soldiers and insurgents. Operation New Dawn is working toward all U.S. troops leaving the country by Dec. 31, 2011....
*see GoodnewsEverybody: MiddleEastern Iraqi of Iraq Outreach
"Current News' Andrew Fitzgerald presents the top 10 headlines of 2009. Which stories made the list? Was it Balloon Boy or was it the war in Afghanistan? Or was it both? Take a look and comment below sharing which stories you felt were at the top of your list for 2009..."
It’s not that 2010 was uneventful. Far from it: it was a year of defining events, from a landslide election to an earthquake in Haiti. There were movements in the culture war here in the United States and in the shooting war in Afghanistan.
But 2010, perhaps even more than other years, was a year in which the stage was set. Now, what the stage was set for, that’s the real question. Will the events of 2010 lead us out of our economic malaise, or plunge us in deeper? Will the election shift the country from a more liberal direction toward a return to conservative values? We may not know for years to come, but we can know what actually happened this year, and here are some of the major events of 2010. "Historic health care reform signed into law
President Obama signed the historic health care bill on March 23—a bill opposed by conservatives in part because it includes federal funding of abortions.
Attorneys general from 13 states immediately filed a lawsuit challenging the law. Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is heading up the lawsuit that was filed in federal court in Pensacola, Fla., to “protect the rights and interests of American citizens.”
South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Michigan, Utah, Pennsylvania, Alabama, South Dakota, Louisiana, Idaho, Washington and Colorado also joined in the battle.
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com LA: Clinic, Doctors, Hospital, Medical, Physicians, Pre-Med, etc... "Social issues still matter
With the economy in a recession and unemployment near 10 percent, many pundits—even those on the socially conservative side of the continuum—said that social issues don’t matter as much this year as they have in the past.
Election tsunami
The election tsunami that ultimately crashed ashore in November was seen gathering steam for months. Early in the year, three prominent Democrats announced that they were not going to be running for their seats this year. Sen. Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat, said he wanted to write books. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., told reporters it was just time for a change. Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter announced that he would drop out, because he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Charities flock to Haiti
Haiti was already the poorest country in the western hemisphere, and then on Jan. 12, it was hit by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas.
Saving marriage
Las Vegas promotes itself by saying that “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” Those in politics have a similar saying: “What happens in California doesn’t stay in California for long.” That’s why liberal groups have long seen California as a battleground state for getting liberal, often anti-Christian initiatives off the ground.
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Biblical views regarding human sexuality also came under fire this year because of efforts to repeal the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy regarding homosexuals in the military.
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Social Issues-Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Homosexual, Sodomy, Transexual, etc.. Outreach "
The Ground Zero Mosque
The latest attempt to halt the construction of a mosque near Ground Zero in New York has come to an end, resulting in the denial of a motion to declare the site a historic landmark. The Cordoba Initiative, an organization whose goal is to repair Muslim-West relations through a return of an “atmosphere of interfaith tolerance and respect,” purchased the site one year ago. The final purchasing price was $4.85 million dollars, which they reportedly paid in cash.
Christian aid workers killed
While the psyche of most Americans concentrated on the U.S. economy in 2010, Christian aid workers around the globe continued to be persecuted for the cause of Christ.
On Aug. 5, 10 members of a Christian aid group affiliated with International Assistance Mission were killed in an attack in Afghanistan, where the ministry has been serving since 1966. Among those killed were Tom Little, 61, the team’s leader and optometrist of New York; Dan Terry, 63, from Wisconsin; Cheryl Beckett, 32, from Ohio; Brian Carderelli, 25, from Virginia; Tom Grams, 51, from Colorado and Glenn Lapp, 20, from Pennsylvania. The others victims were from Afghanistan, Germany and Britain. Two Afghan members of the team survived.
Age of millennials
In an age of polls and surveys, it’s hard to know which ones to pay attention to, and which ones to ignore. But this one jumped out this year: Two-thirds of Millennials, those ages 18 to 29, call themselves Christians, but fewer attend weekly services according to numbers from Lifeway Research.
"2010 was a year of marriage meltdowns, insect invasions and America's hippest octogenarian. From revolutionary technology to environmental tragedy, take a look back at this year's biggest news, top celebrities and most buzzed-about trends with Year End Hot Searches.
* Bedbugs - Top Health
* Tiger Woods - Top Celebrity
* BP Oil Spill - Top News
"For not only leading the New Orleans Saints to the first Super Bowl title in the franchise's history, but also for helping lead the city of New Orleans' rebirth after the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, quarterback Drew Brees is the recipient of Sports Illustrated's 57th Sportsman of the Year award. Brees will be honored at a ceremony Tuesday evening in New York City....
Brees and his wife, Brittany, showed love for New Orleans when the city felt abandoned by so many others. Not only did Brees help the Saints make the playoffs in his first year in the city and begin the four-year climb to last year's title, but he also threw himself into helping the city recover, and its people to feel like they were not alone. "He symbolizes the people of New Orleans in many, many ways,'' says NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. "Drew believes in that community. He believes in doing what's right. He's one of the most genuine people I've ever met.''
Upon settling in a home in Uptown New Orleans, Drew and Brittany Brees established The Brees Dream Foundation, with the goal of "Advancing research in the fight against cancer and providing care, education and opportunities for children in need.'' In the ensuing years, Brees's foundation has helped raise more than $6 million, primarily in and around New Orleans, but also in San Diego (where Brees began his career and played five seasons with the Chargers) and West Layfayette, Ind. (where Brees played college football at Purdue, and met his wife in 1999).
"New Orleans was the perfect fit for Drew,'' says Brian Schottenheimer, who coached Brees in San Diego and is now offensive coordinator of the New York Jets. "There were questions about Drew and there were questions about New Orleans. But things happen for a reason.''
The steady revival of New Orleans owes to the efforts of many civic leaders, but none are more visible than the quarterback of the city's beloved Saints, so long lovable losers, but now on top of the football world. "You could see it in Drew from the beginning,'' says Billy Miller, who joined the team with Brees in 2006 and played four seasons. "He had this attitude that just said: `If I lead, people will follow.'''
Most poignant of all, Brees has dug deep roots in a city that opened its arms when he was wounded. He and Brittany have two sons: Baylen, who will turn two in January; and Bowen, born Oct. 19. Two weeks ago Brees held Bowen in his arms and said, "Life is a miracle.''
Saints QB Drew Brees talks about Jesus
"LITTLEHAMPTON, ENGLAND (ANS) -- Steve Legg editor of Sorted, the UK's only Christian magazine for men, is encouraging people to make it their New Year's resolution to enable him to reach even more people in 2011 particularly in the armed forces and prisons....
Steve says he's been overwhelmed by the continuing opportunities he's had to reach more people through Sorted in 2010: “This year we took the exciting step of having free copies available at 20 Tube and British Rail stations, as well as 80 universities and key corporate locations in the city of London. Also, we supply freebies to passengers and staff at Gatwick, Heathrow, Birmingham and Stansted Airports.
"We are now upping the print run to 30,000 an issue and are believing for 50,000 an issue within the next few months. The more we print, the more we can reach. It's a no-brainer really.
The first edition of Sorted for 2011 is now available and features Hollywood A-lister Sylvester Stallone and an amazing line-up including Michael J. Fox, Russell Brand, Cyrille Regis and Tyson Fury. It also has regular columnists which includes Bear Grylls, Ant Delaney, GP Taylor, Carl Beech, Lyndon Bowring and Lee & Baz.
Sorted really is taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth as it's also available throughout the world through iPhone and iPad's.
To order your subscription of sorted today go to: www.sorted-magazine.com
2010 Events of the year Top events of 2010
"Here are the list of events that occurred in order from January to October.
Jan.
A suicide bombing occurs at a volleyball game in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 95, and injuring over 100.
A 7.0-magnitude earthquake occurs in Haiti, devastating the nation's capital, Port-au-Prince. With a confirmed death toll over 230,000. It is one of the deadliest on record.
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 crashes into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after take-off from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, killing all 90 people on-board.
Feb.
An 8.8-magnitude earthquake occurs in Chile, triggering a tsunami over the Pacific and killing 497. The earthquake is one of the largest in recorded history.
Mar.
The Kasubi Tombs, Uganda's only cultural World Heritage Site, are destroyed by fire.
The ROKS Cheonan, a South Korean Navy ship carrying 104 personnel, sinks off the country's west coast, killing 46. In May, an independent investigation blames North Korea, which denies the allegations.
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Korean of Korea Outreach "
Apr.
The President of Poland, Lech Kaczyński, is among 96 killed when their airplane crashes in western Russia.
A 6.9-magnitude earthquake occurs in Qinghai, China, killing at least 2,000 and injuring more than 10,000
Volcanic ash from one of several eruptions beneath Eyjafjallajökull, an ice cap in Iceland, begins to disrupt air traffic across northern and western Europe.
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com European: Icelander of Iceland Outreach
"
The Deepwater Horizon oil platform explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, killing eleven workers. The resulting oil spill, one of the largest in history, spreads for several months, damaging the waters and the United States coastline.
A multi-day tornado outbreak across a large portion of the Southern United States. The outbreak was responsible for ten tornado-related fatalities. there were 88 confirmed tornadoes.
May.
Twenty-one are reported dead in Tennessee due to torrential rain and flooding. The Cumberland River, in Nashville crested at 51.86 feet in Nashville, a level not seen since 1937. Flooding left the Grand ole Opry house, Opryland resort, Oprymills mall, and the Bridgestone area and LP field in a tremoundus amount of water.
Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771 crashes at runway at Tripoli International Airport in Libya, killing 103 of the 104 people on board.
Air India Express Flight 812 overshoots the runway at Mangalore International Airport in India, killing 158 and leaving 8 survivors.
Jun.
Ethnic riots in Kyrgyzstan between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks results in the deaths of hundreds.[43]
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Asian: Kyrgyzsts of Kyrgyzstan Outreach
"Jul.
Wikileaks, an online publisher of anonymous, covert, and classified material, leaks to the public over 90,000 internal reports about the United States-led involvement in the War in Afghanistan from 2004 to 2010.
Heavy monsoon rains begin to cause widespread flooding in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Over 1,600 are killed, and more than one million are displaced by the floods.[
Aug.
Miners trapped in Chile.
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Latino: Chilean of Chile Outreach
"
Sept.
Seven people are reported to have been killed and around 100 are missing after a landslide in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Oct.
Thirty-three miners near Copiapó, Chile, trapped 700 metres underground in a mining accident in San José Mine, are brought back to the surface after surviving for a record 69 days."
Year in Review 2010: Earthquake in Haiti 12-30-10 (AP News)
"http://PoliticolNews.com -2009 Year in Review we highlighted the best of and the worst of news reports in politics, celebrities, and global world news"
Top 10 News Stories of 2009-
The events, people, and debates of the past year that have shaped, or will significantly shape, evangelical life, thought, or mission. Also: Top 10 news stories of the decade.
CT staff | posted 12/28/2009 09:43AM christianitytoday.com
"
1. The Great Recession reduces missionary sending and closes hundreds of Christian schools as layoffs hit World Vision, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Focus on the Family, Asbury Seminary, CT, and many other ministries.
2. Orthodox Anglicans launch a North American province as the Episcopal Church drops its moratoria on gay clergy and same-sex unions. The ELCA narrowly approves clergy in same-sex relationships, prompting conservative Lutherans to create a rival body. Methodistsand Presbyterians maintain their bans.
3. Religious groups agitate for health-care reform. Pro-life Democrats and Republicans in the House surprisingly succeed at adding a ban on taxpayer-funded abortions to the House reform bill, largely thanks to Catholic clergy's lobbying.
4. The Obama administration permits federal funds for embryonic stem-cell research and overseas groups that promote abortion, while cutting funds for abstinence-only education.
5. Deadly Gojra riots in August prompt a government examination, and fresh international criticism, of Pakistan's notoriously abused blasphemy laws.
6. Swine flu causes Christian churches worldwide to modify services. Egypt slaughters all pigs, devastating the livelihood of its Christian minority.
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Science: Biology, Animals, Biological Warfare, etc... "
7. Multisite churches and video-venue campuses evolve from megachurch experiment to near-default option as large congregations expand.
8. Zondervan discontinues the controversial TNIV and announces that an updated NIV translation will debut in 2011.
9. Gaza war hinders reconciliation efforts between Messianic Jews and Palestinian Christians. Believers continue to flee Iraq; Somalia's Christians almost entirely vanish.
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com GoodnewsEverybody.com: African: Somali-Somalian of Somalia-Soomaaliya Outreach "
10. Hispanic evangelical leaders debate boycotting the 2010 Census as a way to call attention to immigration reform. Meanwhile, the National Association of Evangelicals and other groups prepare for the immigration debate to reignite in 2010."
"25. Fast Track Oil Exploitation in Western Amazon
21. Recession Causes States to Cut Welfare
17. The ICC Facilitates US Covert War in Sudan
16. US Repression of Haiti Continues
15 World Banks Carbon Trade Fiasco
14. Congress Invested in Defense Contracts
8. Bailed out Banks and America’s Wealthiest Cheat IRS Out of Billions
7. Obama’s Military Appointments Have Corrupt Past
6. Lobbyists Buy Congress
3. Toxic Waste Behind Somali Pirates
2. US Schools are More Segregated Today than in the 1950s
1. US Congress Sells Out to Wall Street
Top 10 Sports Stories of 2010, allmediany.com 31 Dec 2010 09:25 AM
- by Jorge Vargas, Editor-in-Chief, and Rakibul Islam, Sports Staff Writer
The year in sports had a lot of stories with global impact. There were events like the World Cup that attracted followers from the farthest reaches of the world. There were news stories like NBA free agency that had fans on the edge of their seats for a mere announcement. And there were triumphs and tragedies like we’ve never seen. It’s hard to whittle the list down to just 10, but we tried to do that here. "
1. Spain wins 2010 World Cup, July 11...
"SCOTT DEPOT, WV (ANS) -- Our personal lives often come under attack. There is turmoil throughout the world. Our nation is dealing with numerous problems. Nobody and no place seem to be problem free.
What I mention applies to most any age group in one or more ways. They are not in any particular order – just things to consider. Questions and possible answers for consideration.
1. Want to lose weight? Quit eating so much. Cut the calories. Eat nutritious food. Drink lots of water.
2. Want to make better grades? Turn the TV, phone, facebook and computers off. Turn everything off except a good light and read the books. Complete the assignments.
3. Want more energy? You’re tired from sitting all day. Do some simple exercises like sit-ups, push-ups. Walk, run in place, ride a stationary bike, lift some weights. Walk on stairs, in your yard and on your street.
4. Want to learn more? Begin to read. Don’t have many books? Read the dictionary and a Thesaurus daily. Read class books, encyclopedias, newspapers, read your children’s schoolbooks.
5. Want friends? Be friendly. Choose friends wisely. Speak. Smile. Introduce yourself to anybody you want to meet.
6. Want a job? Start working for somebody who may not or cannot pay you. That’s a job. Others may be looking for somebody who wants to work. And will pay you.
7. Want more money? Use what you do have wisely. Most of us would be much better off if we cut out soft drinks and all alcoholic beverages, tobacco and drugs of any kind. Even candy, ice cream and any food overly rich in fat and sugar.
8. Check on your friends. Are they helping you be a better person and are you helping them? We become much like our friends and the people with whom we associate.
9. If you have a job, do it to the very best of your ability and prepare for a better one. There may be another job just ahead for those who are prepared and not afraid to work.
10. Improve your reading, writing, listening and mathematical skills. If you want something, prepare to receive it.
11. Find out about the world and your purpose in it by becoming well acquainted with the content of the book of Genesis, the first book in the Bible. It is foundational. Words you can count on and live by.
12. Read three chapters each day from the Book of Psalms and one chapter from Proverbs. Memorize the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-21 and Deuteronomy 5:1-22), Psalm 23 and the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). Study "The Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew, chapters 5, 6 and 7). Live according to Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
13. Have a good Bible dictionary, note pad and pen close by. The Bible I have used for many years of study (and I’ve had several of them) is the Thompson Chair Reference Bible. Currently, I am using it in the New King James Version. I also use it in the King James, the New International Version and many others. With these two books, the Bible and the dictionary, Bible study becomes enjoyable.
This is a “Baker’s dozen”. That comes from an old practice of the bakers adding an extra roll to each dozen sold to avoid any risk of penalty for short measure.
Life can be better, no matter how bad it is or has been, when we begin to live with some goals firmly established in our minds. We all can be better and do better. Happy New Year -- all of 2011!
-30- "
E-mail Forward from Tom W. (Canada)
THE TOP TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2010
1. The Bible will still have the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.
--Author Unknown
I am truly thankful that God is Faithful even when we are not.
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