Category Archives: Freedom

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Premier healthcare alliance today announced that Freedom Medical Inc. of Exton, Pa. has been added to the peak use rental equipment agreement. Freedom Medical Inc. joins University Hospital Services Inc. of Edina, Minn.

Effective February 1, 2012, the agreement is available to acute care and continuum of care members of Premier.

About the Premier healthcare alliance, Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient

Premier is a performance improvement alliance of more than 2,500 U.S. hospitals and 81,000-plus other healthcare sites using the power of collaboration to lead the transformation to high quality, cost-effective care. Owned by hospitals, health systems and other providers, Premier maintains the nation's most comprehensive repository of clinical, financial and outcomes information and operates a leading healthcare purchasing network. A world leader in helping deliver measurable improvements in care, Premier has worked with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the United Kingdom's National Health Service North West to improve hospital performance. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier also has an office in Washington. http://www.premierinc.com. Stay connected with Premier on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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Freedom Medical Inc. Added to Premier’s Peak Use Rental Equipment Agreement

Freedom Fund Gala

The Snohomish County Branch of the NAACP will hold its 3rd Annual Freedom Fund Gala to honor people of color for their services to the community Saturday at the Embassy Suites in Lynnwood.

The gala will be hosted by Q13 Fox TV reporter Angela King and the keynote speaker will be Rosa Franklin, Washington's first African-American state senator.

Tickets for this year's gala dinner are $75 each or $650 for a table of 10. For more information, go to http://www.naacp-snoco.org.

All about orcharding: Tree fruit expert Gary Moulton will lead a class on orcharding from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Ed's Apples in Sultan, 13420 339th Ave SE just off Highway 2.

The cost is $80 per person and includes a catered box lunch.

WSU Extension research has led to new, disease-resistant cultivars and updated methods of pruning, pest control and fertility management.

Topics include the basics of tree fruit production, varieties and different kinds of fruit, rootstocks, nutrient management, pest management, irrigation, orchard layout, pruning and harvest indices.

Enrollment is limited. Registration and prepayment is required to hold a spot.

To register online, go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/210022, download the form at http://www.snohomish.wsu.edu/ag/workshops/Pomology2012.pdf and mail with your check, or contact Karie Christensen at (425) 357-6039, e-mail christensen4@wsu.edu.

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Front Porch: NAACP Freedom Fund Gala on Saturday

If you’ve been persecuted or harassed by the FBI in the past, you have good reason to celebrate. The FBI can no longer utilize GPS tracking technology to monitor movement without a warrant to do so. The Supreme Court has ruled that no GPS tracking can take place in an investigation without a proper warrant being secured first. This prompted the FBI to turn off about 3000 devices that were currently in use.

Apparently, this is a game changing ruling for the U.S. Justice Department who has been employing this tactic for quite some time. Most typically, the GPS units are affixed to the underbody of vehicles to keep tabs on a suspects movements.

FBI General Counsel, Andrew Weissmann reports that retrieving the devices has not been easy since the order was handed down to deactivate them. In many cases, a warrant must be issued to have them turned back on so they may be located and recovered.

According to Weissmann, the case of the United States VS. Jones (The litigation which yielded the ruling), is going to have Justice officials scrambling to adhere to the new finding. If it is trespassing to place tracking devices on a vehicle, there could be further implications based on current practices.

Weissmann explains:

“From a law enforcement perspective, even though its not technically holding, we have to anticipate how it’s going to go down the road,”

I guess it isn’t really a big deal to the general population, but I feel that if the government wants to track the movements of an individual, they should have probable cause. If that’s the case, obtaining a warrant shouldn’t be too difficult.

In my opinion, the general public has been letting people in powerful positions abuse our resources for far too long. We pay every public employee’s salary with our tax dollars, and the people should reserve the right to call them out on abusive and costly practices.

Last week, I reported on the disgraceful insider trading that is going on with our lawmakers, and this ‘GPS tracking without warrants’ is another case of government waste and hypocrisy. Stop using our tax dollars to violate the laws you helped create Uncle Sam. Thank you Supreme Court.

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Freedom From FBI Tracking Devices Is Here

EMMA DANGERFIELD

A survey being circulated to gauge the Kaikoura community's opinion on freedom camping has been met with criticism from councillors and local businesses.

The survey was compiled by Kaikoura District Council staff before new bylaws on freedom camping are introduced, after the Freedom Camping legislation brought in last year.

The survey asks questions such as: How long have you lived in Kaikoura, and do you work in or own commercial visitor accommodation – questions councillor John Macphail said were misleading.

"What does it matter how long people have been here or what business we are in?" he said. "The average ratepayer is going to be asking: `What the hell are you asking that for?'."

Councillor Neil Pablecheque agreed, saying there were too many irrelevant questions.

"All we want to know at the end of the day is do we want freedom camping."

Gerald Nolan, owner of Top 10 Holiday Park, said the council had missed the point when it came to freedom camping. Allowing freedom camping in town would result in the ratepayer picking up the tab for sewer, water, refuse and monitoring costs, and local campgrounds would employ fewer people and spend less on local services.

He too agreed the survey was loaded and questioned the need for the council to know how many guests he had staying at his campground.

"[The] survey asks no questions regarding the financial impact on the community if freedom camping is allowed," he said. "This community relies on the tourist dollar to create employment and retain services for our economic and social betterment ... there is only one winner in this debate and that is the free camper who wants our community to pay for their holiday."

Mr Nolan said true freedom camping did not mean parking in car parks and urban streets and he did not believe such campers spent much money in town at all.

Councillor John Diver also said at last week's meeting that the survey was also flawed because it did not include a map to show the areas council could and could not control – much of Kaikoura land is controlled by the Conservation Department or Environment Canterbury.

The survey is being issued with the rates, and can also be found at the council offices or library. It must be completed and returned by March 16, and will help the council to determine whether or not a bylaw is introduced, and who will pay for monitoring if a bylaw is introduced.

- The Marlborough Express

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Freedom camping survey 'flawed'

SYDNEY, Feb 27 (Reuters) - A-League club Gold Coast United will continue to defy Football Federation Australia (FFA) and send their players out in a strip bearing the slogan “Freedom of Speech” for the remainder of the season.

The FFA considered cancelling Gold Coast’s match against Melbourne Victory at the weekend because of the slogan, which replaced the logo of club sponsors Hyatt on the front of the team’s shirts.

The row is muddied because of the ongoing war of words between outspoken club owner Clive Palmer and the FFA and its chief executive Ben Buckley.

Club chief executive Clive Mensink said on Monday that the FFA had “overreacted” to the use of the slogan, which he said was being used to highlight the plight of refugees.

“It is public knowledge that Mr Palmer’s group of companies are in a legal dispute with the Hyatt and, as a result, the club wasn’t comfortable playing with the Hyatt brand on the playing strips,” Mensink said in a statement.

“It was suggested internally that as a replacement, something non-controversial would serve as a message to the broader community.

“We currently have two African refugees playing for the club who have experienced what it is like to live in a country fighting for freedom of speech.

“We thought it was an innocent term as we all recognise in Australia that freedom of speech is something we all respect.”

The FFA issued a statement on Saturday saying the club, currently bottom of the 10-team league with four rounds remaining, was in “material breach” of its Club Participation Agreement (CPA) over the use of the slogan.

“The club did not have FFA approval for usage of the slogan on the playing strip and on stadium signage as required under the terms of its participation in the A-League,” Buckley said.

“FFA directed the club not to use the slogan on the playing strip or in signage… The club declined to comply with the FFA direction and proceeded regardless.”

Palmer, a billionaire mining magnate, said last week that soccer was a “hopeless” game and that he preferred rugby league, a comment which Buckley condemned as “offensive to the players, coaches, administrators and volunteers who are the life and soul of Australian football”.

Mensink said the slogan had nothing to do with the row.

“It is our constitutional right to embrace this message and we don’t believe FFA should have the power to intervene,” Mensink added.

“Fans and the public deserve to know and have the right to freedom of speech, and it’s a slogan which will keep until the end of the season and possibly next season as well.”

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by John O’Brien)

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Australia club to defy league over 'freedom of speech'

Freedom's Carol Byrnes led almost the entire series of 11 dives to take the 3A girls portion of the District 11 diving championships Saturday at Emmaus.

Byrne, who finished third in the LVC meet two weeks ago, easily outdistanced her nearest competitor, Amanda Zerphy of Parkland, 406.20 to 387.70. Courtney Fox of Nazareth finished third with a score of 343.50.

On the boys side, Jacob Lenhart of Parkland repeated his triumph in the lVC meet. Like Byrne, he led through the final eight dives after duking it out with Easton's Brandon Roman through the first three. Mitchell Keller of Parkland finished second, 40 points behind his teammate.

Central Catholic swept the 2A competition, with both Nick Crouse and Nicole Sagle handily winning their halves of the meet.

"It was a tough competition," Byrnes said. "I'm usually the one who finishes third or second, but today I came out on top. It's due to all my hard work."

Byrnes qualified for states last year by finishing third in the district meet. Last year three District 11 divers were invited. This year only two in each division qualify.

"Some days you're on and some you're off," she said. "I just practice all the time. I'd better do better at (states at) Bucknell. I'll have to plan my dives better and put all my higher DDs (degree of difficulty) up front so I'll be sure of making it through all three rounds."

Byrnes dives with a brace on her left wrist. "I had surgery on the wrist about a year ago and I wear the brace for absorption when I hit the water."

Zerphy said she thought she had a rougher start in this meet than in the LVC meet. Even still, she led after the first round of dives.

"Carol definitely deserved to win," Zerphy said. "She works really hard. No one trains to come in second, but sometimes you have those days. It wasn't that good a day. I was nervous. This is the first year I actually had a chance to go to states."

"I was pretty happy with my scores," Lenhart said. "I had a couple of off dives, but that happens. I can improve a little bit at Bucknell. I think my experience at Bucknell will help. States was rough last year."

Lenhart scored 427.15 to 380.55 for Keller. Roman finished third with 355.85, after a poor fourth dive dropped him from first place to fourth.

"I'm really happy with how I finished," Keller said. "It wasn't my best score. There were a lot of nerves today and I had trouble getting it together. Jake's a great teammate and he helps me out a lot. I'm happy to have him as a teammate."

On the 2A side, Central Catholic's Nick Crouse could have waved off his final three dives and still won. Crouse led through the entire 11-dive program and also had the best dive in 10 of those dives, ceding to runner-up Dennis Bonner of Salisbury on the penultimate dive.

"Most of my dives were pretty good today," Crouse said. "I think I can improve on them. Hard practice and trying my hardest is probably why my dives were on today."

Crouse scored 410.0 to 284.75 for Bonner. Blue Mountain's Lyle Luckenbill finished third with a score of 200.85.

There was a scare in the eighth round when Schuylkill Haven's Jackson Fleagle hit the board with his legs on a spin. He was forced to withdraw and left the pool area with bandages on his left foot and right ankle.

In girls 2A competition, Central's Nicole Sagl led through the entire 11-dive program, much as Crouse did on the boys' side. She scored 404.85 to 322.75 for second place finished Melody Maclaughlin of Southern Lehigh.

"I was comfortable today," Sagl said. "I had trouble on my reverses, but everything else I thought was really, really good. I' ve never experienced states before, so I'm looking forward to it."

"I was a little off in some of my dives, but I felt comfortable throughout," Maclaughlin said. "I feel good about going back to states and hope I do better than last year. I think I can do a lot better out there than I did today."

John Heilig is a freelance writer

District 11 3A Girls Diving Championship

1: Carol Byrnes, Freedom, 406.20. 2: Amanda Zerphy, Parkland, 387.70. 3: Courtney Fox, Nazareth, 343.50. 4: Tiffany Keiper, Parkland, 340.60. 5: Kelsey Jehls, Easton, 338.80. 6: Julia Molloy, Allen, 307.36. 7: Brooke Fox, Nazareth, 292.40. 8: Maddy Hain, Parkland, 289.20. 9: Serena Speer, Emmaus, 288.20. 10. Meagan Ybarra, Nazareth, 287.55.

District 11 3A Boys Diving Championship

1: Jacob Lenhart, Parkland, 427.15. 2: Mitchell Keller, Parkland, 380.55. 3: Brandon Roman, Easton, 355.85. 4: Andrew Bock, Emmaus, 350.50. 5: Josh Anderson, Parkland, 311.65. 6: Steve Suender, Pottsville, 283.50. 7: Jaylen Banks, Parkland, 280.90. 8: Clint Speer, Emmaus, 247.85.

District 11 2A Girls Diving Championship

1: Nicole Sagl, Central Catholic, 404.85. 2: Melody Maclaughlin, Southern Lehigh, 322.75. 3: Danielle Juritsch, Blue Mountain, 303.00. 4: Emily Marshall, Southern Lehigh, 288.05. 5: Kelsey King, Southern Lehigh 251.10. 6: Lorissa Luckenbill, Blue Mountain, 237.65. 7: Caitlin McGarry, Schuylkill Haven, 218.30.

District 11 2A Boys Diving Championship

1: Nick Crouse, Central Catholic, 410.10. 2: Dennis Bonner, Salisbury, 284.75. 3: Lyle Luckenbill, Blue Mountain, 200.85. 4: JJ Apostolico, Central Catholic, 194.05. DNF: Jackson Fleagle, Schuylkill Haven.

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Byrnes leads Freedom to 3A title

Of all the quad-A boys basketball teams in Pennsylvania that qualify for postseason, only one ends its season with a win. That would be the team that is crowned state champion in Hershey.

Freedom was one of the many that fell short. The Patriots dropped a heartbreaking 47-45 decision to Parkland Saturday night in the District 11 Class AAAA quarterfinals at Easton Area Middle School.

It's doubtful that if Freedom had won Saturday it would have kept winning all the way to Hershey. But somehow it's rather shocking that a team that put forth such a magical season could have it end so soon.

Freedom, Parkland and Emmaus are arguably the three best teams in District 11 and the quirky playoff system landed all three of them in the same bracket.

Therefore, it was a foregone conclusion that at least one of the three wasn't going to the state playoffs.

"It's a shame, but that's just the way the brackets fell," Freedom coach Joe Stellato said. "It was two good teams going at it. Unfortunately we're going home."

As they have all season, the Patriots left it all on the floor Saturday night. They were a Jarrod Dilts 3-pointer away from advancing to Wednesday's semifinals against top-seed Emmaus.

When the ball left Dilts' hand, the trajectory looked perfect. The ball rattled the cylinder before agonizingly dropping off at the buzzer.

Parkland's Rob Dvoracek, a Temple football recruit, snatched the rebound with one second left and flung the ball toward the rafters. The buzzer sounded while the Trojans and their fans rejoiced in a wild celebration.  

"I thought it was in," Stellato said afterward. "It was a great look. He's a great kid and he deserved it. Unfortunately it just didn't fall for him."

Freedom was involved in a seemingly endless string of white knucklers (barn-burners) this season, and this reporter had the great fortune of covering many of them. I honestly can't recall seeing a team that played more high intensity, down-to-the-wire games than the Patriots the past couple months. "I knew this was a magical year," Stellato said. "There was something special going on in our locker room. The hardest thing to swallow is I don't get to coach the seniors on Monday."

The team was a joy to watch. They played the game with passion and integrity and never backed down until the clock read 0:00.

Stellato will dearly miss seniors Joe Lococo, Jordan Young, Tajmire Flood and Dilts.

"This is the toughest group of kids I've ever been around," Stellato said. "They're just tough kids physically and mentally. I just hope the younger guys learned by watching (the seniors)."

The raucous "Freedom Family" student cheering section turned out in large numbers all season and showed its support right to the end Saturday. After the game, the students appropriately began a "Freedom Family" chant that exemplified the best in good sportsmanship.

It was a season to remember for Freedom and one it might not duplicate for quite some time. It was also a season that ended just a little too soon.

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Freedom High School boys basketball team left it all on the floor

Freedom camping is permitted at Waterfall Creek, west of Wanaka. Photo by Barry Bruce.

Queenstown Lakes' freedom camping bylaws are being revisited to allow infringement fines to be enforced in line with the Freedom Camping Act of 2011.

Instant infringement fines of $200, or up to $10,000 for serious offences such as emptying a campervan sewage tank in a rest area, took effect on August 30 and enforcement began on September 16.

Freedom campers without self-contained vehicles can only stay overnight at licensed camping grounds or in designated camping areas, while those with toilet-equipped vehicles can camp anywhere outside the "no freedom camping" zones.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council introduced its freedom camping control bylaw before the Act was introduced and could issue infringements through transitional provisions of the Act.

However, these transitional provisions will be repealed on August 30, and in order to continue to issue infringements, the QLDC must make a new bylaw under the Act.

The Freedom Camping Control Bylaw 2012 will come before Tuesday's QLDC meeting and a report from community services general manager Paul Wilson recommends council adopt it for consultation.

It would differ from the present bylaw by extending the no freedom camping zone west of Wanaka to Glendhu Bay, extend the zone west of Queenstown from Sunshine Bay to Moke Lake Rd and extend the Queenstown zone east of Joe O'Connell Dr to Glenda Dr.

It would also remove the no freedom camping zone on the western shore of Lake Hawea as the land is not under council control and the zone could not be enforced under the Act or bylaw.

Mr Wilson's report said council was satisfied the 2011 bylaw had made "significant changes to the behaviour of the majority of responsible freedom campers visiting the district".

The number of freedom campers within no freedom camping zones had dropped, while camping in fully self-contained vehicles "continued to be popular", to the extent that overcrowding problems were experienced in Sunshine Bay, Queenstown and Waterfall Creek, just west of Wanaka.

Submissions on the proposal will be accepted until April 13, to be heard by a subcommittee of councillors in May.

It will come back before the council on June 26, possibly in an amended form, and if adopted would come into effect on July 1.

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Freedom camping bylaws revisited

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire -02/24/12)- Marketing Freedom continues to reign across Western Canada following a ruling by the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench today that upheld the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act.

"Western farmers are pleased with the Court's decision today," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "Our Government knows that producers need market certainty as they move forward and this decision allows farmers the best possible opportunities to succeed as they transition to an open market."

The Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act is now law and farmers can forward contract their wheat and barley with buyers of their choice for delivery beginning August 1, 2012. The CWB also remains a viable, voluntary marketing option for farmers of all commodities in all parts of Canada. Giving Western Canadian farmers marketing freedom will build a stronger overall economy by attracting investment, encouraging innovation and creating value-added jobs.

"We are working with farmers, the grain value chain, the CWB and provincial partners to ensure an orderly transition to a dual-marketing system that encourages entrepreneurs to seize new markets, increase sales, and drive the economy," added Minister Ritz. "The Harper Government remains focused on doing what is best for the agricultural sector by giving farmers the right to choose how they market their grain."

In his decision, the judge accepted the Crown's arguments in their entirety and found that the requirement for a producer plebiscite (section 47.1 of the former Canadian Wheat Board Act) did not apply to the new Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act (Bill C-18).

On December 16, 2011, the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench denied the initial request for an immediate injunction on the implementation of the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act.

The Government's top priority remains the economy, and Canada's agriculture industry plays an important role in creating jobs and keeping our economy strong. Modernizing grain policy in Canada will allow the Western Canadian grain industry to contribute even more to economic growth through the entrepreneurial energy of wheat and barley farmers.

Additional information can be found at http://www.agr.gc.ca/freedom.

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Harper Government Applauds Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench Ruling on the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act

24 February 2012 Last updated at 06:49 ET

Dame Shirley Bassey is to receive the honour of freedom of the city of Cardiff, it has been announced.

The decision was taken by Cardiff councillors on Thursday.

Leader Rodney Berman said the honour recognised Dame Shirley's contribution to Wales, the Welsh capital, showbusiness and her charity work.

The 75-year-old singer was made a Dame in 1999, and will be performing at a special concert to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June.

Mr Berman said: "The work she has done in promoting Cardiff and Wales is priceless. It is hard to think of someone from such a humble upbringing in Butetown and Splott who has gone on to become such a huge international star.

"She has never forgotten Cardiff when it has come to helping us mark milestone events in the city - such as the opening of the Rugby World Cup in 1999 and the concert at the Millennium Stadium to mark the start of the 2010 Ryder Cup.

Continue reading the main story “Start Quote

I for one cannot think of a more worthy candidate to receive this award”

End Quote Rodney Berman Leader, Cardiff Council

"I will personally never forget seeing Dame Shirley steal the show in her Welsh flag dress at the concert to mark the official opening of the National Assembly for Wales."

The council leader said Dame Shirley's charity work deserved recognition in itself.

He added: "Whether that's for the scholarship which bears her name at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama or for her long-standing and very generous association with the Noah's Ark Appeal for the Children's Hospital of Wales as Patron, she has done much to help others in Cardiff over a number of years.

Dame Shirley will become only the 61st person to be given the freedom of Cardiff in the 116 years since the first award was made.

She will be joining an illustrious list of recipients that include Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul II and Princess Diana.

Highest honour

The honour was last given to an individual in 2006, when it was awarded to the former president of the Welsh Rugby Union and Victoria Cross recipient, the late Sir Tasker Watkins.

While the freedom of the city does not confer any special privileges, it is the highest honour that the council can award.

Arrangements are now being made for a special ceremony to mark the honour, and will take place later in the year.

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Dame Shirley wins freedom of city