Published Sunday, Mar. 12, 2017, 12:33 am

Front Page Sports Liberty, No. 9 St. Johns split baseball doubleheader

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A sacrifice fly by third baseman Trey McDyre provided the Liberty Flames with a 7-6, walk-off victory over the No. 9 St. Johns Red Storm in game two of a doubleheader, Saturday at Liberty Baseball Stadium.

After Flames relief pitcher Zach Clinton stranded the go-ahead run at third in the top of the ninth inning, first baseman Sammy Taormina opened the home half of the ninth with an opposite field double and moved to third on a single by second baseman Andrew Kowalo. Red Storm reliever Gavin Hollowell then hit left fielder Jake Barbee to load the bases. McDyre followed by lifting a fly ball to right field to plate Taormina and give Liberty the 7-6 victory.

With the win, Liberty splits its doubleheader with St. Johns. The Red Storm took game one, 4-2. Liberty moves to 9-6 on the season, while St. Johns falls to 12-2.

The visiting Red Storm took a short-lived lead in the top of the third. With one out, designated hitter Gui Gingras singled and second baseman Josh Shaw drew a walk. Left fielder Michael Donadio followed with a two-run double for a 2-0 edge.

In the bottom of the inning, the Flames sent 11 men to plate and scored a season-high six runs to take their first lead of the three-game series. McDyre and designated hitter Payton Scarbrough began the uprising with back-to-back singles. St. Johns right-hander Michael LoPresti then walked shortstop Josh Barrick and center fielder D.J. Artis to force in the first run of the frame. Catcher Matt Allen followed with a RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.

An error on Red Storm third baseman Kevin Buckley on a grounder by right fielder Will Shepherd scored Barrick and gave Liberty a 3-2 lead. Taormina then plated Artis with a sacrifice fly to up the Flames advantage to 4-2. Two batters later, Barbee lined an opposite field double into the left field corner to bring home Allen and Shepherd for a 6-2 lead.

St. Johns countered with two runs in its next at bat. First baseman John Valente, who had three hits in the contest, singled with one out and scored on a double by shortstop Jesse Berardi. Later, an infield single by right fielder Mike Antico brought home Berardi, cutting Libertys advantage to 6-4.

The Red Storm tied the contest with single runs in the seventh and the eighth. In the seventh, center fielder Jamie Galazins two-out single scored Donadio, who walked to lead off the inning. In the eighth, Berardi walked to lead off the inning and came around to tie the game at 6-6 on a sacrifice fly by Shaw.

Right-hander Zach Clinton moves to 1-0 on the year. The fourth Liberty pitcher of the contest, the redshirt sophomore pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and walking a batter.

Hollowell drops to 0-1. The reliever gave up one run on two hits over the 2 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked two.

Liberty collected eight hits in the contest. Taormina had two hits to lead the Flames. St. Johns had 12.

Up Next: Liberty will host the Saint Josephs Hawks, Tuesday at Liberty Baseball Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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Liberty, No. 9 St. John's split baseball doubleheader - Augusta Free Press

By Adam Conn The Columbus Dispatch

How do you stop a train?

It was a question coach that Jack Hoogeveen asked Saturday afternoon after Olentangy Liberty, which went into the third period trailing by a goal, got bulldozed by Toledo St. Francis for five goals in an 8-2 loss in a state tournament semifinal at Nationwide Arena.

Hoogeveen was referring to Kevin Hack (three goals, three assists) and Warren Natyshak (two goals, one assist), who combined for 22 shots and logged a plus-13 rating. The Knights (26-6), who attempted 58 shots on goal, advance to the final for the second time in three seasons.

We knew they had guys that can lug the puck and attack our (defense), Hoogeveen said. We knew their strength and we had trouble with it in the end.

The Patriots (32-8), who were limited to 21 shots on goal, weathered 13 first-period shots before one got past goalie Logan Senhauser. The Patriots tied it with 49 seconds remaining when Kent Stadulis chipped a pass from center ice to James Bursinger, who broke free for a wrist shot past the glove of Jacob Coward.

In the waning seconds of the first, however, Hack stole a clearing pass and snapped one over the glove of Senhauser to reclaim a 2-1 lead for the Knights.

What gets us there is our gray-zone passes, where we're just dumping the puck when we're trying to get it out, said Senhauser, who made 50 saves.

Liberty opened the second with a goal by Ron Ambrosia 38 seconds in. But once again, in the final minute, the Knights answered when Hack's backhander was stopped but settled neatly on Natyshak's stick for the winning goal.

It's deflating, Bursinger said. Like we've got to go out there and start all over again. We were able to do it for a while, just couldn't do it enough.

Natyshak scored his second goal 2:24 into the third, Ben Mitchell added a short-handed goal 5:44 in, and Gabe Barrow scored 90 seconds later. Hack then tallied an empty-netter two minutes later with Liberty on a 6-on-3 advantage, on a shot that sailed three-fourths the length of the ice. He earned the hat trick with three minutes remaining, also short-handed.

We tried to pull the goalie (on a two-man advantage) and steal some 'mo,' but they got the empty-netter. Talk about deflation. Hoogeveen said.

St. Francis outshot Liberty 21-9 in the second period, 22-7 in the third and won 39 of 62 face-offs.

Cleveland St. Ignatius 4, Hunting Valley University School 3, 3OT: Brian Kurtz scored 11 seconds into the third overtime, and St. Ignatius (28-7-2) rallied to defeat University School (28-10-1) in a state semifinal. St. Ignatius scored twice in the third.

aconn@dispatch.com

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High school boys hockey | Olentangy Liberty falls in state semifinal - The Columbus Dispatch

FRANKFORT The tears will dry, and the pain eventually will fade away. Then all that will be left is the legacy.

For the third straight season, Liberty Christian said goodbye to one of the greatest players in program history Saturday night.

Ronny Williams drained a 3-pointer on the final shot of his high school career, then buried his head in his jersey as the buzzer sounded. He walked that way moments later with his teammates to the locker room.

But he was back on the floor after Lafayette Central Catholic celebrated a 69-54 victory at Case Arena that gave Class 1A's top-ranked team its first regional title since 2013.

While the Knights made plans for next week's semistate, Williams greeted friends, family and former teammates on the court where he and his senior teammates have enjoyed so much success.

In the past four seasons, the Lions won 84 games. The loss in the regional final snapped a string of 11 postseason wins overall and seven in a row at Case Arena.

Seniors Williams, Trajan Dixon, Peyton Quinn and Osiris Crumes also helped the program extend its string of sectional titles to six. And, of course, they were a part of the school's first state championship in any sport a year ago.

"These seniors left us a huge gift, and that gift is that the cupboard is not bare for next year," Liberty Christian coach Jason Chappell said. "They care about the program, and they worked really hard to help develop these young guys. So those players are going to be better for it. That's great leadership."

Chappell asked the three seniors on the floor in the final period Williams, Dixon and Quinn if they wanted to come out and receive a final curtain call from the fans. They all declined in favor of playing out their final minutes.

"That just shows their character," Chappell said. "I'm so proud of them."

The championship tilt itself began to turn in the second quarter when the Knights used an efficient inside-out attack to knock down six 3-pointers and outscored Liberty Christian 21-10. That left the Lions with a 34-22 halftime deficit.

Liberty Christian (13-15) twice got within seven points in the third quarter but couldn't make a sustained run.

The Knights (21-6) took a 52-38 advantage into the final period and led by as many as 21 before the final buzzer sounded.

Avery Denhart and Jacob Page scored 19 points each to pace the victors. Ben Tharp and Carson Barrett each added 10 points, with Barrett a 6-foot-3 freshman also pulling down 10 rebounds.

"The first game took something out of us," Chappell said. "But LCC is a great team. They really work the ball around, and they're selfless on offense. It didn't go our way, and we struggled to execute our game plan. That happens.

"LCC's a great team, and they're ranked No. 1 for a reason."

Williams finished his marvelous career with 23 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. That followed up a triple-double of 15 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the 65-48 victory against Seton Catholic in the semifinals.

Dixon was the only other Lion in double figures with 16 points.

Long after the fans had left the arena, while a custodian with a leaf blower worked the bleachers, Williams and Dixon waited at one end of the court.

As the victorious Knights left the floor, each stopped and shared mutual congratulations with their opponents.

The final member of the parade was a 2-year-old child who ran as fast as tiny legs would allow in Williams' direction. The point guard bent down to embrace the child.

Then he rejoined Dixon and walked off the court for the final time.

"It's the end of their high school careers, but it's not the end of our relationship," Chappell said. "What will make me proud is to see them become great men of God, be strong in their marriages and strong in their work ethic. And I know these guys are going to do exactly that."

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Knights snap Liberty Christian's postseason streak - The Herald Bulletin

By Ray Stein The Columbus Dispatch

Mark Marinelli and his Olentangy Liberty wrestling team came to the state meet with designs on making history by becoming central Ohios first big-school team champion.

That blueprint likely was scrapped on the tournaments first day when four Liberty wrestlers lost their opening matches, putting the Patriots in an early hole that only deepened when three-time champion Kyle Lawson lost in a quarterfinal Friday.

But Marinelli and his crew still were able to make a statement on behalf of Columbus-area wrestling at Value City Arena, becoming the first Central District team to finish with more than 100 points in the big-school team standings.

Led by state champion Brakan Mead and seven other wrestlers who made the podium by finishing among the top eight, Liberty totaled 122 points 27 more than it scored a year ago and good enough for third place, matching the best-ever finish by a central Ohio team in Division I.

As usual, Lakewood St. Edward won the big-school team title, with 151 points. It was the Eagles 31st state title and 19th in the past 21 years. Elyria was second with 128.5, passing Liberty with only four matches remaining.

We came here to win, Marinelli said. We have a 10-year plan, and this year we thought wed have a great chance. A couple of matches got away.

But the Patriots masked any disappointment about missing the big prize by reveling in their resilience and their 27-point improvement from 2016, when they also placed third.

Its a real good team, Marinelli said. I told them, Im going to wake up tomorrow and have a coffee and a doughnut and the suns going to come out whether we win or lose. So why not make it taste a little better?

The Patriots tried to make it as sweet as they could Saturday, which began with them trailing Elyria by 19.5 points.

Worse, the Patriots learned before Saturdays matches that Lawson, who won the 160-pound title for Liberty as a junior and two previous titles for St. Paris Graham, would not wrestle because of an injury suffered in a consolation match Friday.

He hurt his knee on a whip-through, Marinelli said. His meniscus locked up on him. He wanted to wrestle (Saturday) but we wouldnt let him.

So Lawson defaulted to a sixth-place finish, but big performances by his teammates in consolation matches helped the Patriots overtake Elyria by the start of the championship-match session.

We had a real good morning, Marinelli said. Thats when you know your team is focused.

Trevor Lawson, Kyles younger brother, finished third at 170 pounds, and sophomore Connor Brady did the same at 152. Jordan Rosselli (120) and Mike Ezenekwe (220) placed fourth, and Blake Saito (106) was seventh.

Brady was especially key after losing to eventual state champion David Carr of Perry in the second round. Not only did Brady win all four of his consolation matches, but he recorded pins in each of them, racking up valuable bonus points.

I came out there trying to score the most points I could, Brady said. I was hoping to wrestle in the final, but that didnt happen. We wanted to win, too, but that didnt happen, either. So we worked to get the next-best thing.

Meads title at 113 pounds helped keep Liberty in front, but Trey Grenier was beaten in the 145-pound final and three of Elyrias four finalists won titles to pull ahead.

(Friday) I said we cant win them all. And this morning we tried to, Marinelli said. Im proud of them.

rstein@dispatch.com

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High school wrestling | Title out of reach, Olentangy Liberty still excels - The Columbus Dispatch

From a balcony with a view to the Kremlin, Major Manhoff shot the only known independent footage of Stalins funeral. By Mike Eckel, Wojtek Grojec, and Amos Chapple

U.S. Army Major Martin Manhoff had been in Moscow for more than a year when on March 5, 1953, after several days of ominous reports in the Communist Party mouthpiece Pravda, it was announced that Josef Stalin had died.

There is no written record in Manhoff's files of his reaction to the Soviet dictator's death. What the assistant army attach did leave to history, however, was the only known independent footage of Stalin's funeral procession.

Manhoff's films, shot in full color, show hundreds of soldiers dressed in long trench coats forming a lengthy cordon for Stalin's body to be brought to Red Square. A procession of dozens of dignitaries members of the Politburo and other high officials is seen carrying massive funeral wreaths.

Stalin's funeral procession has been seen before but not like this. Shot from a balcony of the U.S. Embassy, Martin Manhoff's raw footage of the event provides a colorful and unfiltered view of the procession that brings out the humanity behind the scenes.

One close-up shows the casket draped in red and decorated with Stalin's trademark military cap, and featuring what appears to be a window for viewing his face. The casket is carried on a caisson, pulled by a team of horses and escorted by soldiers carrying bayonet-fitted rifles. They are followed by hundreds of people. Other historical images shot by official Soviet photographers show the pantheon of Communist leaders who either served as pallbearers or escorts: Nikita Khrushchev, Lavrenty Beria, Vyacheslav Molotov, and others.

The film then peers from a distance into Red Square, where crowds of officials mass in front of Lenin's Mausoleum to hear eulogies by the Politburos leadership. Stalins embalmed body is later interred in the mausoleum next to the body of the Soviet leader he succeeded, Vladimir Lenin.

Manhoff's films appear to be one of a kind. Most, if not all, news reels of Stalin's funeral including those used in Western news programs like the BBC used Soviet state footage, the best example being the 1953 official documentary called Velikoye Proshchaniye, or The Great Farewell, produced by the Central Studio for Documentary Films.

Tap/click any image to view the gallery full-screen.

To be sure, Manhoff was filming while officially working as a U.S. government employee, and there is good reason to believe that the footage was viewed by U.S. intelligence agencies looking for hints of who might succeed Stalin.

What makes it stand out is its raw, unedited quality, an unfiltered look at a tectonic moment in Soviet history.

One scene Manhoff shot from his vantage point at the then-U.S. Embassy shows crowds streaming across nearby Manezhnaya ploshchad, as hundreds of people rush to the bottom of Kremlyovsky proyezd, the short incline leading up to Red Square.

Other footage shows soldiers standing guard on Kremlyovsky proyezd jumping up and down and clasping their arms in an attempt to stay warm on a cold March day, something thats unseen in any official films.

Such unfiltered views of Soviet life highlight the uniqueness of the Manhoff Archive, according to Douglas Smith, the Seattle-based historian who discovered the collection and provided exclusive access to RFE/RL.

Tap/click any image to view the gallery full-screen.

Manhoff "captured this everyday quality, both in his photographs and his movies," Smith says. "It gives it a human quality that is missing from any other depiction."

Receive an e-mail announcement when we publish the next installment of The Manhoff Archives. Your e-mail address will only be used for this purpose, and won't be stored after the entire project is released.

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Liberty Elementary Student Council members raised $750 to assistAdopt-A-Dog, which helps place animals in new homes.

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Pam Tharp, Correspondent 11:02 a.m. ET March 11, 2017

Liberty Elementary students raised money to help Adopt-A-Dog.(Photo: Supplied)

LIBERTY, IND. Liberty Elementary Student Council members have displayed their entrepreneurial abilities again, raising $750 to assistAdopt-A-Dog, which helps place abandoned dogs in new homes.

A project of the Union County Foundation and Liberty Elementary School,five local non-profit groups were invited to submit a grant application earlier in the school year. Student councilmembers carefully considered each application, said Danka Klein, the foundations executive director.

The students decided to help the local animal shelter, she said. Over the winter, the students carried out several fundraisers and their hard work truly paid off."

RELATED:Liberty Elementary helps Union County Library rest

Their fundraising surpassed their$500 goal, with students collecting$750, Klein said.

Last week, Adopt-A-Dog officials received a check for $1,500, which includes the money raised by the students plus matching funds provided by the foundation, Klein said.

Before Adopt-A-Dog was formed, Union Countys dog warden often had to euthanize stray animals because ofa shortage of new owners. Adopt-A-Dog has expanded its search for dog owners beyond county limits and has volunteers who also work to keep the animals in good conditionto improve the possibility of adoption.

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Liberty students raise money to help stray dogs - Palladium-Item

Wikileaks has just published over 8,000 files they say were leaked from the CIA, explaining how the CIA developed the capacity to spy on you through your phone, your computer, and even your television. And Wikileakss Julian Assange claims these Vault 7 documents are just one percent of all the CIA documents they have.

The media will be combing through these for weeks or months, so now is a perfect moment for us to reconsider the role of privacy, transparency, and limited government in a free society.

Weve put together a quick list of the six best Learn Liberty resources on government spying and whistleblowing to help inform this discussion.

1. War Is Why Were Being Watched

Why is the US government spying on its citizens in the first place? Professor Abby Hall Blanco says that expansive state snooping at home is actually the result of Americas military interventionism abroad:

2. Is Privacy the Price of Security?

Yes, you may think, the government is snooping on us, but its doing that to keep us safe!

Thats the most common justification for sweeping and intrusive surveillance, so we held a debate between two experts to get right to the heart of it. Moderated by TK Coleman, this debate between Professor Ronald Sievert and Cindy Cohn, the Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, was inspired in part by the revelations about NSA surveillance leaked by Edward Snowden in June 2013.

3. Freedom Requires Whistleblowers

People are already drawing parallels between the Snowden leaks and the Vault 7 revelations. If the leaks are indeed coming from a Snowden-like whistleblower, that will once again raise the issue of government prosecution of people who reveal classified information to the public.

Professor James Otteson argues that a free society requires a transparent government, and whistleblowers play a key role in creating that accountability. Otteson also sounds a warning that should resonate with many Americans today:

Maybe youre not concerned about the invasions of privacy that the federal government agencies are engaging in because you think, Well, I havent done anything wrong. What do I have to fear? Maybe you think, I like and support this president. I voted for him.

But what about the next president? The powers that we let the government have under one president are the same powers that the next president will have too.

What if the next president is one you dont support? He, too, will have all the power that you were willing to give the president you now support.

4. Encryption Is a Human Rights Issue

Documents from Vault 7 suggest that the CIA has been so stymied by encrypted-messaging apps, such as Signal and Whatsapp, that it has resorted to taking over entire smartphones to read messages before they are sent.

That turns out to be a costly, targeted, and time-consuming business that doesnt allow for mass data collection. But for decades, government officials have tried to require tech companies to give the government a backdoor into their encryption. In Encryption Is a Human Rights Issue, Amul Kalia argues that protecting encryption from government is essential to our safety and freedom.

5. The Police Know Where You Live

It turns out that its not just spy agencies that have access to detailed information about your life. Ordinary police officers have it, too, and they often face little supervision or accountability. As Cassie Whalenexplains, Across the United States, police officers abuse their access to confidential databases to look up information on neighbors, love interests, politicians, and others who had no connection to a criminal investigation.

Surveillance is a serious issue at every level of government.

6. Understanding NSA Surveillance

If youre ready to take your learning to the next level, check out ourcomplete video course on mass government surveillance with Professor Elizabeth Foley. In it, youll learn what you need to know to make sense of the NSA scandal in particular and mass surveillance in general.

See the rest here:

Why we're being watched: Top 6 Learn Liberty resources for understanding the new CIA leaks - Learn Liberty (blog)

ANDERSON Last year, Dallas Burko had a really good view as Liberty Christian reeled off 12 straight wins down the stretch to claim the Class 1A state championship.

He was behind the camera.

Burko, who played for the Lions C Team last season, was tasked with filming the varsity teams games, usually from a vantage point as high up as he could go in whatever gymnasium they were playing in that night.

But today, as Liberty Christian takes on Seton Catholic in the first round of the Frankfort regional, Burko isnt the one doing the filming hes the one being filmed.

The junior has been a critical part of another successful postseason run for the Lions, averaging 14.3 points and shooting 60 percent from the field while adding 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals last week in their three sectional wins over Southern Wells, Cowan and Wes-Del.

Its unreal, Burko said after Liberty Christian defeated host Wes-Del, 66-44, last Saturday to claim the schools sixth straight sectional title. I never thought this would happen in my life. But its just unreal, man.

Burko, a forward, is one of two juniors on this years Lions team that have made the leap from C Team in 2015-16 to varsity starter this season, joining guard Isaiah Brees, who has also been able to step his game up during the postseason so far. After averaging 4.6 points per game during the regular season, Brees averaged 9.3 points per game in the sectional, shooting 53 percent from the field including converting 3 of 6 shots from 3-point range.

He had 11 points, two blocks and a steal in the sectional clincher against Wes-Del.

Brees is a kid, first game of the season hes in the bathroom puking because of his nerves. Hes so scared, Liberty Christian head coach Jason Chappell said after the game. And look at him tonight. Hes a gamer. So Im extremely proud.

The emergence of guys like Burko and Brees has allowed Liberty Christian to continue its recent run of postseason success; though this years squad is considerably different than last years, which averaged 73.2 points and had four players Franklin Nunn (20.2), Caleb Hardy (17.7), Ronny Williams (16.5) and Greg Dixon (13.1) average at least 13 points on their own.

Gone this year are Nunn, Hardy and Dixon, and while Williams has certainly picked up the pace averaging 23.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.2 steals this season the Lions have had much more of a roller-coaster regular season, entering todays game with a 12-14 overall record and an average of just 61.9 points.

Williams said this years Lions squad makes up the difference by playing just a little bit harder, both on offense and on defense. It wasnt uncommon to see a huffing-and-puffing Liberty Christian player diving on the court or going coast-to-coast in sectional action last week.

We cant rely on our athleticism or our size like last year, Williams, a senior, said. This year, I feel like we have a lot more heart and more team bonding nothing against them but this year its just been about making the young guys better. Like Dallas, he went from being the video guy last year to starting center. Trey Davis, he went from being on the C Team at the beginning all the way to being in the rotation with us.

To tournament veterans like Chappell and Williams, however, the mission now is to convince the rest of the squad that simply winning another sectional title isnt good enough.

After cutting down the nets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse last year, they said getting back to that stage is the only acceptable outcome.

Its survive and advance, Chappell said. And thats what we have to do (today): survive and advance.

Standing in their way is a Seton Catholic (15-11) team that already defeated Liberty Christian, 66-63, on Jan. 13 in Anderson. North Vermillion (8-18) takes on Class 2A No. 1 Lafayette Central Catholic (19-6) in the other regional semifinal in Frankfort.

The team were playing next, they beat us by three in our house. So weve got to take that personal, Williams said.

They beat us by three, Chappell said. We want them. We want them bad.

Continued here:

Role players step up for Liberty Christian - The Herald Bulletin

The West Liberty-Salem community will come together to show their gratitude to the school staff and first responders who were a part of the Jan. 20 shooting at the high school.

The community will hold the West Liberty-Salem Strong Appreciation Luncheon from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Champaign County Fairgrounds, featuring food, speakers and a kids zone.

RELATED:West Liberty suspect asked victim to shoot him, report says

Ely Serna, 17, has been accused of sneaking a shotgun into West-Liberty Salem High School on Jan. 20 and shooting 16-year-old Logan Cole twice. Authorities said Logan was shot in the chest and the side in one of the schools bathrooms. He isstill recovering from the wounds but has returned to classes part-time.

The community has come together since then and decided to honor the schools staff and first responders with a luncheon.

We wanted to show the appreciation and the love that they deserve to have because of how they handled it, said Seth Merriman, a parent of two students in the district and member of West Liberty Strong.

They reached out and took care of the children during that stressful time, he said.

I have an 8-year-old son and a 10-year-old son, theyre in the third and fifth grades, said Merriman. They were shocked. They were kind of baffled that it had happened. Altogether they were pretty calm and everything was OK and I believe its because of the way the school handled the situation.

Merriman said school staff kept the childrens mind off it by keeping them in a safe environment and distracting them with movies until they were released to him.

He hopes the luncheon will show the staff and first responders how grateful he and others are.

The cost of the event is $10 and that includes four kids zone passes. Proceeds from the event will go to the staff and first responders and Merriman said from there they will decide how they would like to spend it.

Those passes will allow children access to games, face painting among other things while the luncheon is taking place.

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West Liberty to honor staff, first responders from school shooting - Springfield News Sun

DELPHI,Ind. -- Who were Liberty German and Abigail Williams?

In a press conference on Thursday, Libertys grandfather gave the world a glimpse into the lives of the two slain Delphi teens.

Abby and Libby loved each other, said Mike Patty. This horrible crime has torn a hole in our families that will never heal.

Patty's remarks were the first public statements made by either family since the girls went missing on February 13 and were ultimately found dead the next day. Hethanked law enforcement and the community for their support.

There are too many ways to count how our lives will forever be impacted, said Patty. Its the small things that hurt the most.

Things like yelling that dinner is ready, or its time to get up for school calls he said now go unanswered.

Patty remembers his granddaughter and Abby as two close friends who enjoyed the outdoors and playing softball together.

Just the day before all of this happened they had their equipment out playing catch and working on their batting in the backyard, said Patty. They will never get to play a single inning again.

Because of their love for softball, a tournament has been organized in their memory.

PREVIOUS |Softball tournament organized for Delphi girls|Scholarship fund named after Liberty German

Patty said no one could break the bond the two girls shared even their killer.

They stuck together. I dont know exactly what happened out there that day, but I imagine there was probably an opportunity for one, or both, to separate and try to make a break different ways, but those girls loved each other, said Patty. They were good friends, neither one of them left each others side.

Patty recalled a phrase that Libby often used when asked to do something like pick up her shoes, I will in a minute, she would say.

Hes now asking the public togive her that one minuteand to study the photo and listen to the audio that police have released to help find the girls killer.

Someone out there knows this person or persons. Hes someones neighbor, coworker, family member, friend, husband or acquaintance, said Patty.

The photo and audio Patty referenced are two key pieces of evidence that Indiana State Police said Liberty German captured on her cell phone the day that she died: A photo of a man policehavelabeled a suspect in the girls' murders and audio of a man's voice saying "down the hill."You can listen to that recording below.

Patty said it doesnt surprise him that Liberty left police with that evidence because photography was one of her passions. It was the reason the girls were on the Monon High Bridge that Monday afternoon.

Shes kind of a photo buff anyway, thats why the girls were out there taking pictures, said Patty. Thats why they were out there in the first place to catch thescenery.

Police said more than 11,000 tips have been received by investigators and they are looking through each one. They are still encouraging people to submit any information they may have to the Delphitip lineat (844) 459-5786 or 1-800-225-5324 (800-Call FBI).

FULL DELPHI COVERAGE |Indiana's 'Singing Contractors' record emotional tribute to Delphi murder victims|ISP: Do not use social media to report tips on murders of Delphi teens|Don't share the Delphi suspect 'sketches'|FBI moves to larger space for Delphi case|Delphi girls murdered: What is the evidence?|New audio could help solve Delphi killings| Delphi murders have parents watching kids closer|Report Delphi tips to police, not social media|Security concerns on Delphi trails after murders|Dont share the Delphi suspect sketches|German family friend: She was a good kid|See somebody walking near Delphi? Call police|Prosecutor: Dont harass people about Delphi|ISP on Delphi murders: "Everyone is a suspect"|PHOTOS: Motorcycle fundraiser for families of Delphi murder victims|Search warrant served at Delphi home in connection to teen murders, no arrests made|Friend of killed Delphi girl: I question everything|State Police say an Amber Alert would not have done any good|A look at the property where the bodies of two missing teen girls were found|ISP wants to speak to this man and anyone who was near Delphi trail when two teens went missing|Community in shock after bodies of two missing teens found|Community concerned about safety as police search for suspect in death of teens|MAP: Where the two bodies of the teen girls were found near Delphi, Indiana|Why wasnt an Amber Alert issued when girls were reported missing in Carroll County?|Delphi Timeline: Teen girls found dead after disappearing while hiking|Two bodies found during search for Carroll County teens|MISSING: Two 13-year-old girls dropped off to go hiking near Carroll County trail

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Delphi Indiana: Who were Liberty German and Abigail Williams? - WRTV Indianapolis

Published Friday, Mar. 10, 2017, 10:26 pm

Front Page Sports No. 9 St. Johns edges Liberty, 5-4, in 10 innings

Join AFP's 112,000+ followers on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube Subscribe to sports and news podcasts on iTunes News, press releases, letters to the editor: augustafreepress2@gmail.com Advertising inquiries: crystalabbegraham@gmail.com Phone: 540-949-6574

Despite overcoming two deficits, the Liberty Flames fell to the ninth-ranked St. Johns Red Storm, 5-4, in 10 innings, Friday afternoon at Liberty Baseball Stadium.

The Flames erased a 3-0 Red Storm advantage with three runs in the seventh and answered a run by St. Johns in the top of the eighth with a run of their own in the bottom half. However, the host Flames were never able to take a lead in the contest.

Flames catcher Matt Allen had a season-high three hits and two RBI in the contest.

Liberty drops to 8-5 on the year. St. Johns moves to 11-1.

The visiting Red Storm took a 1-0 lead in their opening at bat. First baseman John Valente, who had three hits in the contest, led off the first inning with a triple. Two batters later, right fielder Anthony Brocato lifted a fly ball to center field, plating Valente for an early advantage.

Liberty pitcher Evan Mitchell and St. Johns starting pitcher Sean Mooney held their opponents in check over the next four innings, allowing two hits each during the first five innings.

After Mitchell worked out of a bases loaded and one out jam in the fifth, St. Johns extended its advantage in the sixth. With one out, left fielder Michael Donadio doubled and third baseman Robbie Knightes reached on an error by Flames third baseman Dylan Allen. Both runners then moved into scoring position on a ground out by center fielder Jamie Galazin. Pinch hitter Gui Gingras followed with a two-out single, scoring both runners for a 3-0 edge.

In the seventh, Liberty struck for three runs to tie the contest. Center fielder Jack Morris opened the home half of the inning with a walk and moved to second on a fly out by left fielder D.J. Artis. Matt Allen followed with a single to plate Morris with the Flames first run of the game. Left fielder Jake Barbee then singled and later scored along with Allen on a two-out single by first baseman Sammy Taormina which knotted the game at 3-3.

The Red Storm and Flames exchanged single runs in the eighth. With two out in the top of the inning, Gingras, who had three hits in the contest, hit his second home run of the year, to give St. Johns a one-run edge at 4-3.

Trey McDyre, who entered the contest in the sixth inning as a pinch hitter, singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Cam Locklear to open the home half of the eighth. Pinch hitter Jonathan Embry walked and Artis singled to load the bases with one out. Matt Allen followed with a run-scoring single to even the score for the second time at 4-4.

St. Johns scored what proved to be the winning run in the 10th. Donadio led off the inning with a single and stole second with one out. Two batters later, Gingras singled to left to score Donadio for a 5-4 edge.

In the bottom of the inning, Liberty tried to rally, moving the tying run into scoring position. With two outs, both Artis and Matt Allen were hit by a pitch. With Matt Allen at second, Red Storm reliever Aaron Herr retired the next batter to seal the 5-4 victory.

Liberty reliever Shane Quarterley, the last of three Flames to pitch in the contest, falls to 2-1 on the year. He gave up an unearned run on four hits. Quarterley struck out five.

Herr moves to 1-0. The fifth Red Storm pitcher, the right-hander pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 innings, striking out three.

Hits were even in the contest at 10 apiece. Liberty committed two errors, while St. Johns made one.

Up Next: St. Johns and Liberty will meet in a doubleheader, tomorrow at Liberty Baseball Stadium. The first game is scheduled to start at 12 p.m.

Here is the original post:

No. 9 St. John's edges Liberty, 5-4, in 10 innings - Augusta Free Press

It's always a good time for pizza. South Park's popular Italian eatery, Buona Forchetta, will expand into Liberty Station with a new location opening on March 15.

Eater San Diego shares the top stories of the week from San Diegos food and drink scene, including the upcoming expansion of a popular eatery headed to Liberty Station, plus the debut of a new distillery.

Buona Forchetta Sets Opening Date in Liberty Station After a long wait, the beloved South Park restaurant will officially open its new Liberty Station location on March 15. Open for lunch and dinner, the Italian eatery centers around two wood-fired pizza ovens, but the menu also features homemade pasta and Northern Italian specialties.

SoCal's First Female-Owned Distillery Opens in East Village Take a peek inside You & Yours Distilling Co., Southern California's first female-led distillery which just uncorked in East Village. Co-founder and head distiller Laura Johnson has created a stylish tasting room and bar to showcase her flagship vodka and gin through sample flights and cocktails.

Female-Led Distillery Opens in East Village

1920s Cuba & Mexico Inspires New Gaslamp Eateries Pairing up with downtown's Prohibition speakeasy are two new 5th Avenue restaurants influenced by the 1920s. Opening later this month, El Chingon will have a traditional Mexican taco shop menu, agave spirits and late-night DJs while the adjacent Havana 1920 will feature Cuban specialties and classic cocktails of the region.

Popular Japanese Eatery Expands in Kearny MesaWa Dining Okan, the Convoy Street eatery which specializes in Japanese home cooking and small plates, will open a second location later this month on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. Called Okan Diner, the much-larger eatery will serve a similar menu, including udon noodle dishes and Japanese rice pots.

Karina's Launches New Fast-Casual Mexican Seafood Concept Locally-owned Karina's Mexican Seafood, which runs several full-service restaurants in the South Bay, will open a fresh fast-casual version of the eatery on restaurant's row on India Street. Primarily a takeout spot, Karina's Ceviches and more will offer ceviche, seafood cocktails, tacos and burritos.

Candice Woo is the founding editor of Eater San Diego, a leading source for news about San Diegos restaurant and bar scene. Keep up with the latest Eater San Diego content via Facebook or Twitter, and sign up for Eater San Diegos newsletter here.

Published at 1:37 PM PST on Mar 10, 2017

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Eater San Diego: Buona Forchetta Launching Soon in Liberty Station - NBC 7 San Diego

Photo of Abigail Williams and Liberty German

Photo of Abigail Williams and Liberty German

DELPHI, Ind. For the first time since the deaths of two teens in Delphi, well hear from the family of one of the girls.

The grandfather of 14-year-old Liberty German will speak to the media at the Carroll County Courthouse at 10 a.m. Thursday. Its the first time anyone related to the girls has made a public statement since their bodies were found more than three weeks ago.

Liberty and her friend, 13-year-old Abigail Williams, went for a hike near the Monon High Bridge on Feb. 13 but didnt arrive at a prearranged meeting point later in the afternoon. They were reported missing, and their bodies were found a day later.

Police said foul play was involved in their deaths. Over the last few weeks, investigators have received thousands of tips and the reward for information continues to grow. Two key pieces of evidence released in the case include a photo of a man and an audio recording of a voice saying, Down the hill. Both pieces of evidence came from Libby Germans phone, police said.

Local investigators are working with the FBI to create a profile of the suspect. Police are still consideringthe possibility that the killer could be local.

While investigators have made progress in the case, theyre still waiting for the tip or piece of evidence that provides a breakthrough. Anyone with information should callthe Delphi Murder Tip Line at 1-844-459-5786. Tips can also be reported by emailing abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com.

Well stream Thursdays news conference live on FOX59.com and the FOX59 app.

40.586346 -86.674727

Link:

Family of slain Delphi teen Liberty German to speak Thursday morning - Fox 59

Liberty Mutual is laying off up to 360 technology workers, primarily in New Hampshire, as the insurance company aims to become faster at developing and introducing new products and services in a competitive market.

The Boston-based insurer told workers on Tuesday about the reductions, nearly 190 of which will be in New Hampshire. About 20 people will lose their jobs in Boston and Weston and the remaining layoffs will be elsewhere in the country, said John Cusolito, the companys spokesman.

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Among the positions being cut are business systems analysts, project managers, and quality assurance workers, he said.

Affected workers will be allowed to apply for other jobs within Liberty Mutual and for a 12- to 14-week coding program to expand their skills. Liberty officials were unsure how many workers affected by the cuts would eventually get other positions.

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Its never pleasant to affect people on a personal level like this, said James McGlennon, Liberty Mutuals chief information officer. We have no choice but to compete in the marketplace and get our products to the market more quickly.

The company has about 6,000 technology employees and plans to hire about 340 more this year. But the way they do their jobs is changing, he said.

Liberty Mutual has built smaller product teams in an effort to move faster, and workers need to have a broader range of skills, McGlennon said. For example, a software developer also needs to know how to test the product, he said.

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Liberty Mutual is moving away from the multi-year megaprojects, McGlennon said. No work will be outsourced as a result of the staffing cuts, company officials said.

Overall, Liberty Mutual is growing its workforce worldwide, Cusolito said. The company plans to hire about 5,000 workers this year and in five years expects to have added 25,000 workers, he said. Liberty Mutual currently has 1,600 open positions.

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Liberty Mutual layoffs technology workers in New Hampshire ... - The Boston Globe

Liberty Property Trust (LPT - Free Report) , the Malvern, PA-based real estate investment trust (REIT) has announced that it will develop a build-to-suit project for STIHL Southeast, Inc., at Liberty Park at AIPO in Orlando. Notably, STIHL Southeast, Inc. is the exclusive distributor of STIHL outdoor power equipment for Florida, Georgia, Alabama and portions of the Caribbean. The deal is likely to be accretive for Liberty Property going forward.

Currently, STIHL Southeast is a long-term tenant of Liberty Property at 2304 West Taft Vineland Road, a 75,000-square-foot building. The huge growth of independent servicing dealer network has necessitated the requirement of a larger distribution center. Close association with Liberty Property, has prompted STIHL Southeast roping in the REIT again for this project.

The 154,400-square-foot center will be situated in Tradeport Drive. STIHL Southeast has inked a long-term lease for the multi-use facility. This will include around 20,000 square feet of office space and a 25,000-square-foot climate-controlled order assembly area. The remaining area will be utilized for warehouse and distribution.

Currently, Liberty Property carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Shares of Liberty Property underperformed the Zacks categorized REIT and Equity Trust Other industry over the past three months. During that time frame, shares of the company lost 4.5%, whereas the industry gained 2.9%. Investors interested in the REIT and Equity Trust Other industry, may consider stocks like Global Net Lease, Inc. (GNL - Free Report) , CoreSite Realty Corporation (COR - Free Report) and CorEnergy Infrastructure Trust, Inc. (CORR - Free Report) . All these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here.

In the last 30 days, Global Net Leases funds from operations (FFO) per share for first-quarter 2017 escalated 11.1% to 60 cents.

In the last 30 days, CoreSite Realtys FFO per share for first-quarter 2017 increased 5% to $1.06.

CorEnergy Infrastructure Trust first-quarter 2017 FFO per share estimates moved up 4.7% to $1.12, in the last 30 days.

Note: FFO, a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs, is obtained after adding depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses to net income. All EPS numbers presented in this write up represent FFO per share.

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Liberty Property to Develop Distribution Center for STIHL - Zacks.com

According to Republican Party orthodoxy, the federal government is a greedy, malevolent giant that must be contained before it swallows up states autonomy and imposes the liberalism of intellectual elites on real Americans who happen to be white, straight, evangelical Christians.

But the states rightscheerleaders and big-government foes have a serious hypocrisy problem: They consider federal intervention perfectly appropriate when it comes to forcing their own views on other people.

Take pot, for instance.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions believes states should not be allowed to legalize medical and recreational marijuana use as long as federal law bans it.

One of Sessions arguments is that having a checkerboard of different marijuana policies in the nation creates jurisdictional chaos and unwanted pot spillover from states where marijuana is legal into adjacent states where it isnt.

Sessions also argues that marijuana use increases crime, even though the opposite is true. Taking marijuana sales out of the hands of organized crime and drug gangs and instead making it a controlled substance can decrease the crime that comes with illegal activity and save a fortune in law enforcement and incarceration costs.

Not to mention that the criminalization of pot is largely to blame for the high rate of incarceration among young African-American males in cities such as Milwaukee.

So how will Sessions handle the marijuana issue? States rights?

States such as Colorado, where legal pot added nearly $2.4 billion and over 18,000 full-time jobs to the states economy in 2015, have a lot riding on the elderly ex-senator from Alabama.

When it comes to same-sex marriage and transgender bathroom rights, however, Sessions and the rest of his ilk embrace the state-based checkerboard: They believe that states should be able to create their own laws. Damn the evidence of the many legal problems that leaving it to the states caused for same-sex couples as well as local authorities before the Supreme Court struck down state gay marriage bans.

In Wisconsin, weve seen our Republican leaders wave the flag of liberty while centralizing control of municipal and county governments. Theyre all for individual liberty except for a womans individual liberty to control what goes on inside her body, the liberty of Wisconsinites suffering from Parkinsons disease to use marijuana to alleviate their symptoms, the liberty of consumers to order contact lenses from overseas, or the liberty of landowners to prevent oil companies from burying pipelines on their properties.

Municipal sovereignty has fared as badly under Republican control as individual liberty has. For example, Wisconsin municipalities cant set their own water quality standards or enact bans on firearms that are stricter than state laws. They cant change the minimum wage within their jurisdiction.

Wisconsin is tied with the other Republican states of Tennessee, Michigan, Louisiana and Florida for having the second largest number of state intrusions on municipal ordinance or authority. Those five areas concern: minimum wage, paid leave, ride sharing, municipal broadband, and tax and expenditure limits. North Carolina is the only state that undermines local authority in more areas than Wisconsin.

As a comparison, 21 states preempt local authority in two or fewer areas.

States rights and individual liberty are clearly not real Republican principles. Rather, theyre fig leaves, attempting to hide the imposition of their religious views and their lust for one-party rule. So when you hear that a Republican law is going to protect your states rights or your individual liberty, be afraid be very afraid.

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What Republicans really mean by 'states' rights' and 'individual liberty' - Wisconsin Gazette

Americas best craft whiskey is distilled right here in New England.

Sons of Liberty Spirits Co. of South Kingstown, R.I., was named American Craft Producer of the Year last week at Whisky Magazines annual awards ceremony at Brandy Library in New York City, the best of the 1,400 small distillers across the country.

Tiny Sons of Liberty produces but 60,000 bottles per year, and its spirits are available only in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, two factors which made its nations-best distinction all the more improbable.

I thought wed never win because we dont have a national brand, said Michael Reppucci, who founded Sons of Liberty in 2011. This honor shows that the people who are into whiskey and who read publications like Whisky Magazine are involved and have heard of us and respect what we do.

Sons of Liberty has proven an innovator in the spirits industry for pioneering both seasonal whiskeys and the connection between whiskey and beer. Its seasonal whiskeys include Gala Apple, Honey Chamomile and Pumpkin Spice.

Both beer and whiskey, meanwhile, begin life as a mash of malted grains. That liquid is fermented to create beer; that beer is then distilled to create whiskey.

Most distillers simply ignore the relationship. Few consumers know the relationship. Sons of Liberty celebrates the relationship.

The distillers Uprising American single malt is brewed much like a stout, with the deeply roasted malts that give the beer style its famously dark color and roasted flavor. Its then double distilled and aged in charred American oak with toasted French oak.

Battle Cry single malt uses rye and honey malt in the mash, and is then fermented with a Belgian-style Trappist ale yeast, adding to its dark fruit and spice character. Its distilled and aged in charred American oak.

True Born Gin Belgian Wheat Act begins with a brew of barley, wheat and oats. The mixture is then infused with spices and aromatics coriander, juniper, orange peel, lemongrass plus cascade and chinook hops.

Sons of Liberty also creates what Reppucci calls a family tree of products from the same mash.

Were making a stout, then distilling it to make whiskey, then aging the whiskey in oak, then bottling whiskey and aging beer in the same wood used to age the whiskey, Reppucci said. Nobody nationally is doing that. I think efforts like that are why were getting so much attention.

(Sons of Liberty Spirits Co., 1425 Kingstown Road, South Kingstown, R.I., 401-284-4006, http://www.solspirits.com)

Excerpt from:

Sons of Liberty toasted as best craft whiskey distiller in country - Boston Herald

WINDS UP TO 81 MPH DOWN TREES, POWER LINESWindstorm of 2017 | 0:48

What we know Virginia Butler

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Strong winds topple tree into dentist office in Irondequoit. Video by Shawn Dowd Shawn Dowd

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Wind gusts Wednesday afternoon surpassed 80 mph, downing trees and power lines, leaving nearly 100,000 people in the Rochester area without power. Wochit

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High winds knocked down trees and tree limbs and whipping up waves on Lake Ontario. Tina MacIntyre-Yee

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Windstorm of 2017

Wind storm whips Rochester

WATCH: Windstorm of the decade

RAW video: High winds down trees, power lines.

Dec. 27, 1889 Democrat and Chronicle.(Photo: Provided photo)

Wednesday's wind gusts had the Christmas light-bedecked wires swinging wildlyon the downtown Rochester Liberty Pole but at least the whole thing didn't come crashing down.

That's what happened Dec. 26, 1889, in another legendary windstorm. The pole, then made of wood, snapped into three massive fragments, bringing the wires down with it. It was 101 feet in height, 3 feet around at the base and sunken 7 feet into the ground.

It had been tottering throughout the day in heavy wind, according to the next day'sDemocrat and Chronicle. The fire department was called, and a doughty firefighter named John McDermott clambered up the pole and tied a wire around it, hoping to secure it to the Sibley building.

No sooner had McDermott stepped back onto the ladder than: "the lofty pole ... swayed back once to the west and then with a slow lingering motion, while the hundreds of onlookers held their breath, fell obliquely across East Main Street, with the top pointing almost directly up East Avenue."

For more:

Rochester's windstorm of the decade wreaks havoc

Read: 911 center flooded with calls

Stay away from downed power lines

Freight train derails in town of Batavia

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RG&E power outage map

A carriage with a driver and two young men stood in the street directly in the pole's downward path, but a piece of it snagged on overhead electric wires and fell astray.

Many of the people gathered around took home splinters of the pole as mementos; the firefighters hauled away a large piece to carve into wooden canes.

That original wooden pole was first installed July 3, 1859, with a finely designed weather vane and ball on the top.

The current, 190-foot steel pole was installed in 1965.

Wind records from the 19th century are spotty, so it's difficult to know how hard the wind was blowing that day in 1889. The website thelibertypole.org pegs it at 72 miles per hour.

Read the full newspaper account here.

JMURPHY7@Gannett.com

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Remember when the wind blew down the Liberty Pole? - Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

New Yorkers were left confused late on Mar. 7 when the lights illuminating the Statue of Liberty turned off for more than an hour. (Editor's note: This video has no sound.) (AP)

Formore than an hour Tuesday night, a cloak of darkness covered Lady Liberty. Some of thelights that normally illuminate the statue went off before 11 p.m., leaving only her still-lit torch and crown visible to most in New York Harbor.

As one Twitter postopined, the timing was just too perfect. Definitely, tweeted another, an ominous sign of the times.

The near-blackout of the universal symbol of freedom was invested with great meaning on the Internet, with a consensus settling, more or less, on two interpretations.

Lady Liberty was either protesting President Trump generally and, more specifically, histravel ban just a day after he signed the revised executive order limiting entry to the United States from six Muslim-majority countries.

Or she was signaling her solidarity with #DayWithoutWoman, a strikescheduled for Wednesdaythat asks women to skip work to show the world what life would be like without them.

Give me your tired your poor your huddled masses but later. Were closed, one tweetsaid.Her lights were out because Trump has plunged our country into darkness,said another.

Ive been wondering how long before France asks @realDonaldTrump for the statue of liberty back as he clearly doesnt respect its symbolism, tweeted Jason Rumble.

Perhaps when her lights came back on, her forearm would display a Nevertheless, she persisted, tattoo, another tweetsuggested.Could it be that Lady Liberty one of the nations most recognizable female figures was participating in the Day Without a Woman?

Indeed, Womens March, organizers of A Day Without a Woman, were quick tothank the statue for standing with the resistance and going dark for the event.

Lady Liberty got the memo, the organizers addedin a tweet. Thats ONE MORE woman America CANNOT do without, another Twitter user wrote.

On the other hand, someone else suggested, perhaps Russian hackers were to blame.

Ultimately, the lights came back on at about midnight and the National Park Service, ever the spoiler, explained what might have happened, stressing that crews had not yet inspected the scene to establish a definitive cause.

The park staff suspected theoutage was related to ongoing work on a new emergency backup generator for Liberty Island, according to Jerry Willis, a public affairs officer for the NPS. To activate the generator a replacement for a generator damaged in Hurricane Sandy in 2012 park staff had prepared fora lighting outage later in the week, Willis told The Washington Post.

Willis suspected that a setting on the timer for the lighting system was changed, moving up theoutage.

Willis insisted it was not in any way related to the Day Without a Woman.

We dont use the lighting system to back any particular cause, he said.

Even after the truth came out, the timely quips continued.Comedian Aparna Nancherla tweeted: Apparently the Statue of Liberty lights went out due to a power failure. But I would argue women are also protesting due to a power failure.

Lady Libertys lights last went off for a prolonged period during Hurricane Sandy, when about 75 percent of the islands 12 acres was underwater, causing serious damage that would keep the island closed for eight months for repairs. Although the statue was unscathed,its lights turned off when the island lost electricity. It was later illuminated by temporary floodlights powered by a generator.

In July 2015, a newlight-emitting diode (LED) lightsystem was installed to do the job.

We know how important it is that she stays lit, so we do our very best to keep it that way, Willis said.

He said that given recent news, the symbol of Lady Liberty has been used quite a bit as of late and is at the forefront of a lot of whats going on in the world.

Last month, activists unfurled a banner with the words Refugees Welcome on the statues observation deck after the Department of Homeland Security began implementing Trumps crackdown on illegal immigration. The sign was removed more than an hour later.

The New Yorkers anniversary issue last month featured Libertys Flameout, a cover image of Lady Liberty lifting up an extinguished torch, in response to the opening weeks of the Trump administration.

It used to be that the Statue of Liberty, and her shining torch, was the vision that welcomed new immigrants. And, at the same time, it was the symbol of American values, said the artist, John W. Tomac. Now it seems that we are turning off the light.

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The Statue of Liberty went dark overnight and the timing was just 'too perfect' - Washington Post

Liberty Property Trust plans to raze the former Support Center for Child Advocates building at 19th and Cherry Streets, part of an assemblage of properties the developer has been acquiring in collaboration with Comcast Corp.

Liberty hopes to begin demolition next month on the two-story building at 120 N. 19th St., John Gatusso, regional director for the Malvern-based developer, said in an interview Tuesday.

The company has no immediate plans to develop the property, he said.

Liberty has acquired much of the block bounded by Cherry and Arch Streets, between 19th and 20th Streets, in arrangement with Comcast. Some have speculated that a third Center City office tower for the entertainment and technology company could be built at the site.

Liberty is nearing completion of the Comcast Techology Center, the company's second Philadelphiaskyscraper,to the southeast of those properties.

Published: March 7, 2017 4:22 PM EST

Over the past year, the Inquirer, the Daily News and Philly.com have uncovered corruption in local and state public offices, shed light on hidden and dangerous environmental risks, and deeply examined the regions growing heroin epidemic. This is indispensable journalism, brought to you by the largest, most experienced newsroom in the region. Fact-based journalism of this caliber isnt cheap. We need your support to keep our talented reporters, editors and photographers holding government accountable, looking out for the public interest, and separating fact from fiction. If you already subscribe, thank you. If not, please consider doing so by clicking on the button below. Subscriptions can be home delivered in print, or digitally read on nearly any mobile device or computer, and start as low as 25 per day. We're thankful for your support in every way.

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Liberty to demolish building on parcels acquired with Comcast - Philly.com