The Good, the Bad & the Ugly is a Council Chronicle series that offers a glimpse at unusual stories in the news around the world. They are intended to provoke thought, inform and elicit a range of emotions from joy, outrage, anger, amusement to hope. These are a summary of stories worth knowing. Each month we will feature a story of the Good, the Bad & the Ugly around the globe. If you come across a news item that falls into any of these categories, please email it to me for possible inclusion in the monthly e-newsletter.
THE BAD
FLORIDA TRUCK DRIVER USES COMPANY CREDIT CARD TO BUY $31K WORTH OF LOTTERY TICKETS
A Florida truck driver thought he deserved an employee bonus and decided to purchase over $31,000 worth of lottery scratch-off tickets using his company's credit card. The owner of All Phase Paving discovered thousands of dollars of unrecognized purchases on the business credit card from September 2023. He then contacted the police. Only three people had access to credit cards tied to the company’s bank account, and police quickly traced the charges back to Johnson.
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
When confronted, Johnson admitted to purchasing "a couple thousand dollars" worth of scratch-off tickets with All Phase Paving's company card. An owner at one of the convenience stores he frequented told police that Johnson regularly drove his work truck to the store and purchased the lottery tickets. The former employee spent a total of $31,693 at various convenience stores using the card.
Johnson was arrested and charged with scheme to defraud.
BYE WARREN. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
If Warren had a winning lottery ticket, do you think he would be able to keep the money and use it on a defense attorney? 🙄
CINDY FOWLER 3/7
AMY LUCKETT 3/11
SOPHIA WHITE 3/15
DONNA PURVIS 3/20
MICHAEL GARTON 3/23
SARA FELTNER 3/28
BRIAN POWELL 3/29
JUSTIN SOFORO 3/29
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
TRUTH BOMBS are described in the urban dictionary as surprising but true statements. A fact or piece of knowledge that, when told to a listener, is devastating to the listener's argument or world view.
New Yorker Seth Phillips has gained a cult following for his truth bombs that protest anything from loud engines, phones that shatter easily, “x” in espresso, and other very specific, small things that add up to our daily lives. He has a over 7.5 million followers on social media. Phillips has gone mainstream enough that fashion brands are selling "Dude with Sign" shirts in their collections.
And, of course, there’s always something new to protest. Such as, hot coffee in summer or verifying you’re not a robot online. Those of us who have had enough of everything will get a chuckle out of this series.
SLOW-COOKER CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE
Crock pot cooking is my favorite way to cook. I love using the crock pot, also known as a slow cooker, for Fall and Winter meals. I get up in the morning, put my ingredients in the crock pot, set it and forget it. The house is filled with the most amazing aromas as you go about your day.
It's an easy, hands-off way to cook healthy, filling, flavorful meals. An added bonus to crock pot cooking is the easy clean up. There's not a lot of pots and pans to clean after dinner is done. These meals are also great for those days when you get home in the evening, your lunch is a distant memory, and your stomach is letting you know it’s ready to be filled ASAP! All you have to do is plate your food, maybe toast some bread or throw together a salad to accompany your meal and dig in!
SLOW-COOKER CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE
Cook this corned beef in a slow cooker all day, and you're guaranteed success and no more dry corned beef. Serve with bread for a warm and satisfying meal. Enjoy.
INGREDIENTS
10 baby red potatoes, quartered
4 large carrots, peeled and cut into matchstick pieces
1 onion, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
4 cups water
1 (4 pound) corned beef brisket with spice packet
6 ounces beer
½ head cabbage, coarsely chopped
DIRECTIONS
1. Place potatoes, carrots, and onion into the bottom of a slow cooker; add water and place brisket on top of vegetables. Pour beer over brisket. Sprinkle spices from the packet and cover.
2. Cook on High for 7 hours; stir in the cabbage and cook for another hour.
I'm ready to chow down.
1. Saint Patrick didn’t wear green. His color was “Saint Patrick’s blue.” The color green became associated with St. Patrick’s Day after it was linked to the Irish independence movement in the late 18th century.
2. There isn’t any corn in the traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal of corned beef and cabbage. The name is a reference to the large grains of salt historically used to cure meats, which were also known as “corns.”
3. Irish immigrants began observing St. Patrick’s Day in Boston in 1737 and the first St. Patrick’s Day.
4. Saint Patrick was born “Maewyn Succat” but changed his name to “Patricius” after becoming a priest.
5. Every year since 1952, the Irish Prime Minister presents the U.S. president with a crystal bowl of live shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day as a symbol of the close ties between the two countries.
President Barack Obama & Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen with a bowl of shamrocks, 3/15/16.
6. Saint Patrick is credited for driving the snakes out of Ireland, but according to the fossil record, Ireland has never been home to snakes as it was too cold to host reptiles during the Ice Age. The surrounding seas have kept snakes out since.
7. Despite his Irish notoriety, Saint Patrick was British. He was born to Roman parents in Scotland or Wales in the late fourth century.
8. Did you know St. Patrick’s Day is actually a religious holiday? This Christian feast day honors St. Patrick, a patron saint, and apostle of Ireland.
9. The seven St. Patrick’s Day symbols are shamrocks, the color green, leprechauns, parades, corned beef and cabbage, green beer and the harp. These symbols celebrate Irish culture and show Irish pride in general.
10. In Chicago, the Plumbers Local 110 union dyes the river Kelly green for St. Patrick's Day. The dye lasts for around five hours.
Chicago River, dyed green for St. Patrick's Day.
The reproachful look your dog gives you when they smell another dog's scent on you.This look translates to "how dare you come in here smelling like another dog. Your betrayal cuts like a knife." 😔
1. Would you rather have an Easter egg hunt in the backyard or go on a scavenger hunt inside the house?
2. Would you rather have traditional ham or roast lamb for Easter dinner?
3. Would you rather do Easter egg decorating or Easter egg dyeing?
4. Would you rather wear Easter-themed pajamas or Easter-themed socks?
5. Would you rather spend Easter gardening and planting flowers or indoors crafting Easter decorations?
Bunny Wreath by Erica.
6. Would you rather host an Easter Brunch or Easter Dinner?
7. Would you rather spend Easter Sunday hunting for hidden eggs or go to a fun Easter fair with games and rides?
8. Would you rather organize an Easter picnic in a beautiful garden or a cozy Easter movie night with blankets and pillows?
9. Would you rather have a family talent show or a karaoke night for your Easter gathering?
10. Would you rather have a pet bunny rabbit or little baby chick?
A bunny rabbit & chicks. Too cute.
Swiffer & Vileda AFTER their grooming transformations.
BEFORE & AFTER RESCUE DOG TRANSFORMATIONS
According to ASPCA, a staggering 6.3 million companion animals enter animal shelters every year in the US. Every year, more than 900,000 of those animals are euthanized (300,000+ dogs and 500,000+ cats). It is so heartbreaking to know that many of these animals never get a second chance at life.
Who can resist a heartwarming makeover, especially when it involves a sweet dog? Whether they were abandoned, lost or mistreated, these down-on-their luck dogs were in dire need of a loving presence in their lives. That's where caring animal shelters, pet rescues and foster parents come into the picture. With lots of love and much-needed TLC, these rescue dogs started thriving — inside and out. These before-and-after transformation pictures speak for themselves. Hopefully, it will inspire you to adopt a rescue pup of your own.
Swiffer, age 10 and Vileda, age 13 BEFORE they were placed in a foster home.
These two senior pups are Swiffer, age 10 and Vileda, age 13. They were rescued by an organization and placed in a foster home to await adoption by their forever families. I hope these seasoned fur babies find the loving forever home every animal deserves.
Swiffer and Vileda went from looking like mops to dogs after their haircuts. LOL
Please consider adopting a pet from your local animal shelter or a pet rescue if you have room in your home and heart for a new furry family member. Trust me, you'll be so glad that you did. 🐾❤️
EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY 3/1
READ ACROSS AMERICAN DAY 3/2
ORLD WILDLIFE DAY 3/3
NATIONAL OREO DAY 3/6
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 3/8
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS 3/10
RAMADAN BEGINS 3/14
WORLD SLEEP DAY 3/15
PATRICK’S DAY 3/17
CERTIFIED NURSES DAY 3/19
SPRING BEGINS 3/20
WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY 3/21
WORLD POETRY DAY 3/21
NATIONAL PUPPY DAY 3/23
PALM SUNDAY 3/24
GOOD FRIDAY 3/29
EASTER SUNDAY 3/31
American Red Cross Month
Essential Tremor Awareness Month
National Ethics Awareness Month
National Nutrition Month
National Social Work Month
National Women's History Month
Women's History Month is an opportunity to celebrate all the women in our history who pioneered, sacrificed and fought long and hard for women's rights. It's a chance to remind ourselves how far we have come and how much we still need to accomplish to advance the women's empowerment objective. The focus on this month exists to educate and to remember that there is no limit to what women can accomplish. In an attempt to do that, here are ten Women's History facts you may not know about women's history in this country and those that sacrificed so that we can enjoy the privileges that today's generations may take for granted. Happy Women’s History Month!
1. FANNIE LOU HAMER (October 6, 1917 -March 14, 1977).
Hamer was an American voting and women's rights activist, community organizer, and a leader in the civil rights movement. She was the vice-chair of the Freedom Democratic Party, which she represented at the 1964 Democratic National Convention.
As one of the founders of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party in 1964, she became a national voice for integration and voting rights. She was beaten, threatened, forced to flee her home, shot at, and repeatedly arrested for her activism.
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2. The first Women’s History Day took place in 1909.
3. Women couldn’t get credit cards until 1974. Congress passed the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974, which allowed women to get credit cards in their own names.
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4. ELIZABETH BLACKWELL (February 3, 1821 - May 31, 1910).
Blackwell became the first woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S. She championed the participation of women in the medical profession and ultimately opened her own medical college for women.
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5. The 19th Amendment didn’t give all women the right to vote. Unfortunately, there were other laws that prohibited Native American, Black, Asian American, and Latina women from voting.
6. Women outlive men in almost every society. Scientists aren’t entirely sure why but think it might have to do with estrogen's ability to improve immune function and protect heart health.
7. ELIZABETH TIMOTHY (June 30, 1702 - 1757).
Timothy In 1739 Elizabeth Timothy became the first female in the American colonies to assume the role of publisher and editor of a newspaper in 1739.
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8. SHIRLEY ANITA CHISHOLM (November 30, 1924 - January 1, 2005). Chisholm was the first Black woman in Congress (1968) and the first woman and African American to seek the nomination for president of the United States from one of the two major political parties (1972). Her motto and title of her autobiography—Unbought and Unbossed—illustrates her outspoken advocacy for women and minorities during her seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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9. NELLIE TAYLOE ROSS (November 29, 1876 – December 19, 1977).
Ross was an American educator and politician who served as the 14th governor of Wyoming from 1925 to 1927, and as the 28th and first female director of the United States Mint from 1933 to 1953.
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10. SUSAN LA FLESCHE PICOTTE (June 17, 1865 - September 18, 1915).
La Flesche Picotte became the first Native American woman to earn a medical degree in the United States in 1889. She was also fluent in four languages — English, French, and 2 Native languages.
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“From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” – President Jimmy Carter
EDWIN ERNEST 3/7
BEN RENO-WEBER 3/16
PAT MULVIHILL 3/16
CALEB HOWARD 3/20
HAPPY WORK ANNIVERSARY TO ALL!!!
Examples of plant proteins.
In the last several years, we have all experienced new challenges that have affected our mental, physical, and social well-being. Many of us have felt anxiety, increased stress, and emotional exhaustion which is why wellness and self-care are more important than ever before. Our wellness journey is an ongoing one, and we have to prioritize our emotional and physical health. Here are some ideas to care for the many dimensions of wellness, so we can nourish our bodies and nurture our minds.
PLANT PROTEIN-RICH DIETS ARE LINKED TO HEALTHIER AGING IN WOMEN
Middle-aged women consuming diets that are high in plant protein are much less likely to develop chronic diseases compared to women in the same age range who eat a lot of meat according to a research study. The study began in the 1980's and continued for 30 years. The researchers looked at about 49,000 women with the average age of 49 years old. At the beginning of the study, the participants didn't have any of the common chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity or any physical or mental diseases.
After a three-decade period, the researchers followed up with the subjects and found that nearly 3,700 of the women had not developed those common chronic diseases. These women were called "healthy agers."
Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, and dietary fiber.
In the study, animal proteins came from beef, chicken, milk, cheese and seafood. Plant protein sources included bread, baked items, beans, cereal, fruits, mashed potatoes, nuts, pasta, peanut butter, pizza, and vegetables. I know bread might not be the first thing that people think of as a plant-based protein, but it can contribute to the total amount of protein people consume. Proteins in foods such as grains contribute to the overall protein consumption for plant-based eating diets. One cup of cooked pasta can contain up to 6 or 7 grams of protein. A slice of whole-wheat bread contains about 4 grams of protein.
The study findings indicate that women who had diets that emphasize plant protein are less likely to develop chronic diseases. Plant protein consumption is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and other chronic conditions. And it comes from food sources that typically contain high-quality carbohydrates, such as dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants.
Establishing healthy habits is a challenging but important part of maintaining your wellness. Small actions and simple activities can make a big difference in your holistic health. The holistic approach to health care focuses on the health of the entire body and mind and not just parts of the body.
I pray for equality, unity and peace in every city in our country. Equality for all people everywhere. I pray for justice for all those who have lost their lives needlessly and unjustly. I pray that all people, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status be treated with the dignity and respect we all deserve. I pray for change so that healing can begin in this country and around the world.
Amen.
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