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 or 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 GOOD
Police Officer Finishes DoorDash Order After Arresting Delivery Driver
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"I know I'm not who you were expecting," a Sioux Falls police officer says in video captured by her doorbell camera. "Your driver got arrested for some things he had to take care of, so I figured I'd complete the DoorDash for you."
Elsinger got the wrap, curly fries, turnovers and drink from Arby's that she had been anticipating. However, she didn't expect Sioux Falls' finest to deliver it to her.
The delivery driver had been pulled over for a traffic stop and had an outstanding warrant, Sioux Falls Police Department Public Information Officer Sam Clemens told CNN. Clemens confirmed it was Buhr who helped complete Elsinger's delivery.
DoorDash says it works closely with law enforcement and runs background checks on all drivers.
"We're grateful to the law enforcement officer for stepping in and ensuring this customer received their order," a DoorDash spokeswoman said in a statement.
This story had a happy ending for everyone but the delivery driver who had to go to jail.
SARA FELTNER 7/5
BARBARA NICHOLS 7/16
SUSAN HUGHES 7/26
HAPPY WORK ANNIVERSARY!
We all learned about Independence Day in elementary school: on July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence, which proclaimed the United States to be a free nation.
But not everyone was free. Nearly a century later, Black people remained enslaved throughout the country. And many Americans still haven't learned about the day that celebrates their freedom, Juneteenth.
WHAT IS JUNETEENTH?
The Emancipation Proclamation, which legally freed all slaves in the United States, went into effect on January 1, 1863. But slavery didn’t just disappear. Slave owners often ignored the order, and it took many states months or years to comply with the federal law.
Two and a half years later, approximately 250,000 people remained enslaved in Texas. On June 19, 1865, an announcement was made by Major General Gordon Granger:
"The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.” — General Orders, Number 3; Headquarters District of Texas, Galveston, June 19, 1865.
Texas Juneteenth Day Celebration, 1900 (Austin History Center, Austin Texas Public Library).
Despite the announcement of freedom, slavery was still not fully abolished in Texas, or the United States. Some Black people remained in captivity, and many more became victims to systems designed to mimic slavery through imprisonment, segregation, and violence.
Still, the day of that announcement became known as Juneteenth (“June” plus “nineteenth”). Officially, Juneteenth National Independence Day and also known as Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, and Black Independence Day.
Juneteenth was first formally celebrated in Austin, Texas in 1866, and would continue to be celebrated through the end of the nineteenth century. However, resistance to these events made finding public spaces to gather difficult. Black communities began purchasing areas to guarantee a safe space to hold commemorations, such as Emancipation Park in Houston.
Martha and Pinkie Yates in a buggy decorated for a Juneteenth celebration in the early 1900's, Houston, TX (Houston Library).
This original copy of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment are on display in the “Slavery and Freedom” exhibit in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Celebrations date back to 1866, at first involving church-centered community gatherings in Texas. They spread across the South and became more commercialized in the 1920s and 1930s, often centering on a food festival. Participants in the Great Migration out of the South carried their celebrations to other parts of the country. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s eclipsed the Juneteenth celebrations, but they grew in popularity again in the 1970s with a focus on African American freedom and African American arts. Beginning with Texas by proclamation in 1938, and by legislation in 1979, each U.S. state and the District of Columbia have formally recognized the holiday in some way. The holiday became international with its adoption in certain parts of Mexico. Juneteenth is celebrated by the Mascogos, descendants of Black Seminoles who escaped from slavery in 1852 and settled in Coahuila, Mexico.
Juneteenth celebratory traditions often include public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, singing traditional songs such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Lift Every Voice and Sing", and the reading of works by noted African American writers, such as Ralph Ellison and Maya Angelou. Some Juneteenth celebrations also include rodeos, street fairs, cookouts, family reunions, park parties, historical reenactments, and Miss Juneteenth contests. When Juneteenth became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, it was the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was adopted in 1983.
Juneteenth is celebrated in Cincinnati, OH in Eden Park with food, live music, a flag parade, barbecues and lessons on the history of slavery and Black people in America in 2020.
A Juneteenth parade in Philadelphia, 2019.
Young dancers performing at the Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival, Los Angeles, CA on June 18, 2022.
These young women celebrated their culture by playing the African drums during the "Juneteenth in da Rock" festival on
June 18, 2022, in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The 150th Juneteenth Celebration in Emancipation Park, Houston, Texas.
Juneteenth Celebration, June 19, 2020
Grant Park, Chicago, IL
"Juneteenth is more than just a celebration with music and food, it’s the very foundation of the story and history of our people in America. Juneteenth is a time to pay homage to our ancestors, recognize the past and share programming and education opportunities about the experiences of Black Americans," said Quantia Fletcher, director of the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.
HEALTH & WELLNESS is a feature with the goal of finding simple and easy ways to make ourselves just a little bit healthier every day. None of us are getting any younger and thanks to the pandemic, many of us have developed some unhealthy habits, are dealing with unwanted weight gain and anxiety. This series will offer simple steps to take to help improve our overall health.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS IDEAS
In the last two years, we have all experienced new challenges that have affected our mental, physical, and social well-being. Many of us have felt tired and stressed, 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.
DRINK SMOOTHIES
Most of us need to add more fruits and vegetables to our diets. Fortunately, smoothies are one of the healthiest and most versatile drinks you can find. You can make your smoothie any way you like. Try using your favorite fruits for a sweet smoothie or use spinach to take the healthy quotient up a notch on your smoothie. Select fresh ingredients such as bananas, oranges, and carrots, or frozen items like berries or chopped greens. Drinking a smoothie is an easy way to fill in the gaps in your daily nutrition.
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EAT ORGANIC FOODS WHEN POSSIBLE
Organic foods are good for you and for the planet. The benefits of choosing organic include better nutrient content and less chemicals on your produce. When possible, pick organic produce, meats and cheeses at the grocery store. Farmers’ markets, co-ops, and local farms are great places to find organic options.
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READ BOOKS
A good screen-free activity to add to your bedtime routine is reading a book. Reading is a relaxing activity you can do anywhere and at any time. It is known to reduce stress levels by giving your brain a break from life's worries. It offers a great form of escapism. Reading exercises your brain and keeps your memory in prime condition. Reading at night or before bed can even help you fall asleep.
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FIX YOUR POSTURE
Good posture can promote good form when exercising, helping you to avoid injuries while active. According to Harvard health experts, good posture means having your shoulders and hips even, chin parallel to the floor, and weight evenly distributed on both feet. If you’re feeling a little out of balance, simple exercises can help to improve your posture. Focus specifically on stretches and activities that build muscle strength and improve your balance.
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TAKE A DAILY PROBIOTIC
A healthy gut means a healthy you. Keep your body balanced by taking a daily probiotic supplement. Probiotics (the friendly kind of bacteria and yeasts) are what help us digest food, produce vitamins, eliminate toxins, and more. Much of our immune system is based in the gut, so good digestive health means good holistic health.
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MINIMIZE YOUR SUGAR INTAKE
Cutting back on sugar in your diet can help you lose weight and improve your overall nutrition. Sugar comes in a lot of different forms. Check the nutrition label on packaging for ingredients such as sucrose, glucose, fructose, corn syrup, or hydrolyzed starch. All of these are sugars. A simple way to cut back on sugar is to make healthier choices in the store. Pick fresh, organic produce instead of processed foods.
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Establishing healthy habits is a challenging but important part of maintaining your wellness. Small actions and simple activities like these 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.
Danielle Rose Horner
This pretty baby is Danielle Rose Horner, Aaron and his wife's new bundle of joy. She was born on March 21, 2022, weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces, and was 20.5 inches long. At her three-month check-up, Danielle was almost 14lbs and 23 inches.
Aaron say everyone is adjusting to their new family unit and her big brother, Paul, 5 1/2, can’t wait until baby Danielle can walk.
Congratulations to the Horner family on the birth of their adorable baby girl. We wish you joy, wonder and some sleep!
A very happy Dobby is all smiles after being adopted into a loving home.
Before & After Rescue Dog Transformation
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 a little 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.
Dobby before being rescued. She was sad, sick and weak.
Dobby
Dobby was adopted into her forever home directly from the streets of Portugal at around two years old. At the time she was severely malnourished, dehydrated and suffering from ringworm. Her parents fed her by hand every few hours for weeks until her health returned. Now, she's happily living in her forever home with her feline siblings. Dobby's family says that taking in a rescue the way they did can get costly but say that it was worth every cent.
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. 🐾❤️
1. What do you see once in June, twice in November, and not at all in May?
Answer: The letter "e."
2. What word is pronounced the same if you take away four of its five letters?
Answer: Queue.
3. What can fill a room but takes up no space?
Answer: Light.
4. What is so fragile that saying its name breaks it?
Answer: Silence.
5. What five-letter word has one left when two letters are removed?
Answer: Stone.
6. What has branches, but no fruit, trunk, or leaves?
Answer: A bank.
7. What word contains 26 letters but has only three syllables?
Answer: The alphabet.
8. What do you bury when it's alive and dig up when it's dead?
Answer: A plant.
9. What can't talk but will reply when spoken to?
Answer: An echo.
10. What is taken before you can get it?
Answer: Your picture.
Oprah side-eye
Side-Eye Pics are a series of photographs of people or animals behaving strangely or annoyingly. They are doing things that make one pause and take a second look. Their actions are perplexing enough to those observing them to earn them the side eye.
Love is in the air.
JULY 4TH, INDEPENDENCE DAY
JULY 11TH, ALL AMERICAN PET PHOTO DAY
JULY 12TH, NATIONAL PECAN PIE DAY
JULY 18TH, NELSON MANDELA DAY
JULY 24TH, COUSIN'S DAY
JULY 29TH, NATIONAL LASAGNA DAY
JULY 30TH, INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FRIENDSHIP
NATIONAL PARK'S MONTH
NATIONAL PICNIC MONTH
UV SAFETY MONTH
1. The use of fireworks on July 4th dates back to 1777.
2. News of The Declaration of Independence started riots.
3. The 'Star Spangled Banner' became the National Anthem 117 years after it was written.
4. The 4th of July wasn't a federal holiday until 1870.
5. Not everyone in America was free on the 4th of July. Enslaved black people in America were not granted freedom until June 19, 1865, following the Civil War. Today, this date is celebrated as Juneteenth.
6. Only one U.S. President was born on the 4th of July. It was Calvin Coolidge who was born in 1872.
7. Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest began in 1916.
8. A 4th of July firecracker started the Great Fire of Portland, Maine in 1866.
9.Three of the U.S. Presidents have died on July 4th. Former Presidents Thomas, Jefferson and John Adams reportedly died just hours apart. Exactly five years later, James Monroe reportedly became the third U.S. President to die on the 4th of July.
10. Americans consume about 150 million hot dogs on July 4th each year.
NATHAN'S HOT DOG
4TH OF JULY TRIFLE DESSERT
This 4th of July Trifle Dessert recipe is sure to be one of everyone's favorites. It is filled with the goodness of Jell-O, pudding, angel food cake, fruit and whipped cream. The best part about this no bake dessert recipe, is you can prepare it the day before.
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1 package 3 oz. berry blue Jell-O
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1 package 3 oz. strawberry Jell-O
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2 cups boiling water
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1 cup cold water
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2 cups cold milk
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2 packages 3.4 oz. each instant vanilla pudding mix
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1 carton 8 oz. frozen whipped topping, thawed and divided
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1 pint fresh blueberries
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1 quart fresh strawberries quartered
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1 whole prepared angel food cake 8 to 10 ounces, cut into 1-inch cubes
PATRIOTIC TRIFLE DESSERT
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 whopping 7.5 million followers on social media. Phillips has gone mainstream enough that the fast fashion giant Zara has capitalized on his popularity by selling "Dude With Sign" shirts in their summer collection.
And, of course, there’s always something new to protest. Such as, hot coffee in summer or verifying you’re not a robot online. The Council Chronicle will now feature these truth bombs in each edition. Those of us who have had enough of everything will get a chuckle out of this series.
LOL
BARBARA NICHOLS 7/11
MARK FOX 7/13
AMY HOLTON STEWART 7/15
CHANELLE SMITH 7/20
NORMA MADDOX 7/21
SCOTT HARRINGTON 7/22
JARED TOWNES 7/29
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
'WOULD YOU RATHER' QUESTIONS ARE GREAT CONVERSATION STARTERS AND JUST PLAIN FUN.
1. Would you rather be a character in an action-packed thriller or a romantic comedy?
2. Would you rather be stuck on a train or a bus?
3. Would you rather be a part of an arranged marriage or spend your life as a single person?
4. Would you rather babysit a crying infant for a day or have an unwanted houseguest for a week?
5. Would you rather be locked in an amusement park or a library?
6. Would you rather sing like an opera star or cook like a gourmet chef?
7. Would you rather have your debt forgiven or have guaranteed good health for a decade?
8. Would you rather live the rest of your life as a monk or followed continuously by paparazzi?
9. Would you rather be able to breathe underwater or fly through the air?
10. Would you rather be given a lifetime supply of delicious food or books?
This series will feature a note left on a car windshield by a passive-aggressive driver who couldn't walk away without expressing exactly how they feel. These notes are downright hilarious and outrageous.
The condom is a nice touch to emphasize the writer's point, don't you think!?! LOL
PRAYER FOR EQUALITY, PEACE & UNITY
I pray for equality, unity and peace in every city in our country. Equality for all people in every country. I pray for justice for all those who have lost their lives needlessly and unjustly. I pray that all people, regardless of race, religion or socioeconomic status be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. I pray for change so that healing can begin in this country and around the world.
Amen.
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