A CELL FOR A CELLSheriff’s deputies in Rogersville, Tenn., say that as Jason Anthony Arnold, 29, and James Keith Benton, 38, planned out a burglary, a snitch was relaying every word to police dispatchers. The snitch: Arnold’s cell phone. “Apparently with this type of phone if you hold down the number nine it automatically dials 911,” Detective Eve Jackson explained. It was in Arnold’s pocket. At some point, the phone dialed the emergency number “and Central dispatch heard everything they said.” Deputies did a stakeout on the target car dealership and swooped in once the late-night burglary started. “You can imagine their surprise,” Jackson said. (Kingsport Times-News) … It likely wasn’t any more of a surprise than any other criminal feels when busted. Don’t they all figure they’ll get away with it?OH THOSE POLITICIANSFlorida State Sen. Mandy Dawson wanted to join fellow legislators on a trip to Africa. The others paid their own way, but Dawson ordered an aide to solicit donations for the trip from lobbyists. When her aide told her that was against the law, she ordered the aide to do it anyway. Dawson was previously in trouble for altering a prescription to get extra painkillers, but avoided prison by going to drug rehab. This time, for soliciting and accepting cash, she was reprimanded in public by the Senate — and kicked off the Senate ethics committee. “I hope you will accept my humble and sincere apology if my actions have in any way compromised the integrity of this body,” she said. (Miami Herald) …”If”?SAFETY EQUIPMENT NIXED IN FAVOR OF SEVEN KITCHENS?The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has not upgraded equipment at many airports because it can’t afford it all. The TSA says that’s why its screeners sometimes miss guns, knives and other items passengers carry through security checkpoints. Yet TSA employees at a new operations center in Herndon, Va., spent $500,000 on artwork and silk plants for their offices, a government auditor says. The building and its furnishings, which houses just 79 employees, cost $19 million, including a $350,000 gym, seven kitchens with restaurant-grade appliances, and $63,099 worth of cable-fed TVs. Even “low level” employees have large private offices. David Stone, the center’s manager, says the new building and its decorations are “worth every dollar spent.” (Washington Post) … to whom?-www.thisistrue.comRUMORS
- Louie’s Pizza (a downtown favorite) is looking at Falcon
- A new veterinary clinic in the town proper – pet acupuncturist?
- More on Wal-Mart: Okay, we keep hearing that Wal-Mart is looking at Falcon, but there is nothing confirmed – FOR NOW, IT IS JUST A RUMOR.
- On May 16, it was reported in the Gazette’s business section that “talk continues about Wal-Mart moving into fast-growing Falcon.” They mentioned developer Greg Timm, who maintains that Regency Centers of Florida is scheduled to close on 16 acres in Falcon in June. Timm said Regency is planning a grocery store anchor. Of course, Timm also told the NFH months ago that King Soopers was certain and the grocery store had demanded a new Meridian Road. We’ll see.
