Ban Hammer

3 elementary school teachers arrested in alleged assault of disabled student SWAIN COUNTY, N.C. — Three teachers at an elementary school in Western North Carolina have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the assault of a disabled student. On Tuesday, Swain County Sheriff Brian Kirkland announced the arrests following a joint investigation with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The investigation began after a report was received from the Superintendent of Swain County Public Schools concerning the treatment of a student with a disability at East Swain Elementary School. As a result of the investigation, Donita Waldroup Guest, Melody Stroupe Cloer and Kathryn McKenna Shaver were arrested and charged. Guest, who is a teacher, was charged with the following: Two counts of felony assault on an individual with a disability Felony second-degree kidnapping Four counts of misdemeanor assault on an individual with a disability Guest was booked into the Swain County Detention Center without bond. Cloer, who is a teacher's assistant, was charged with felony assault on an individual with a disability. She was booked into the Swain County Jail under a $25,000 bond. Shaver, who is a teacher, was charged with misdemeanor assault on an individual with a disability. She received a $3,000 bond. more at https://www.wyff4.com/article/elementary-teachers-assault-disabled-student-arrests/70597767

BRYSON CITY, N.C. (WLOS) — Three employees at Swain East Elementary School are facing charges following an investigation into an abuse case involving five students with disabilities, according to the Swain County Sheriff's Office. “Yes, as of now, we do have five victims,” said Brian Kirkland, Swain County Sheriff. “We’re still working this case very aggressively in partnership with the State Bureau of Investigation.” While the three women charged mentioned on the school's Facebook pages of their involvement with the school’s Behavioral Support team, warrants describe the allegations of abuse. Each woman is charged with offenses involving different student victims. more at https://wlos.com/news/local/swain-east-elementary-school-employees-facing-charges-sheriffs-office-child-victims-abuse-justice-families-community-investigation-active-ongoing-felonies-misdemeanors-assault-allegations

of course they do.

the department of defense was renamed - google can help find the memo. war is declared by congress. have they declared war? nope............ precision munitions = surgical strike.

prices jumped from $2.29 a gallon to $2.89 overnight here in kansas.

for that, we have helios.

cue tbone level joke: if you are bald in front, you're a lover if you are bald in the back, you're a thinker if you are bald in both the front and back, you think you're a lover.

seen on facebook

no he didn't. maybe the secretary of war did............ and where is it written that a surgical strike can only happen once and on one day?

a surgical strike does not equal a new war.

bad jokes!

it should be interesting to see how well the taliban uses what uncle joe left them.

Judge revokes probation, sends Capitol graffiti suspect to prison for 5 years NORMAN, Okla. (KOKH) — The man accused of spray painting anti-ICE graffiti at the Capitol will spend the next five years in prison. On Wednesday, Shelby Lang Smith was sentenced to five years in prison for violation of probation. Smith, a registered sex offender, had violated the terms of his probation for his 2022 convictions of soliciting sexual conduct with a minor by use of technology. Court records indicate he failed to abstain from accessing the internet and had also failed to abstain from substance use. more at https://okcfox.com/news/local/judge-revokes-probation-sends-capitol-graffiti-suspect-to-prison-for-5-years-shelby-lang-smith-anti-ice-governor-kevin-stitt-oklahoma-cleveland-county-norman

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Pakistan declared “open war” Friday on Afghanistan, after the two South Asian neighbors traded overnight attacks in a sharp escalation of their long-running dispute. Both sides claimed to inflict heavy damage in the renewed fighting, which threatens to further destabilize a region where terrorist groups such as the Islamic State and Al Qaeda are trying to remobilize. Tensions between the two countries, which share a 1,600-mile border, have been simmering for months as they struggle to maintain a Qatar-mediated ceasefire they reached in October, with occasional cross-border skirmishes. Pakistan, which is struggling with a surge in militant attacks since the United States withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, says the attackers are using Afghanistan as a base. The Taliban, which seized power as the U.S. withdrew, denies harboring militants. The latest violence began Thursday night when the Taliban launched what it called retaliatory attacks on military installations in northwest Pakistan. more at https://www.nbcnews.com/world/afghanistan/airstrikes-hit-afghan-capital-kabul-hours-afghanistan-attacks-pakistan-rcna260882

some day, it will dawn on them

i think this hero deserves his own thread.

Retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams, 100, received the Medal of Honor on Feb. 24 for his heroic actions in 1952 when he shot down four Soviet MiGs during a 35-minute dogfight, an aerial feat never achieved previously or since. In November 2017, an American Legion Magazine story first reported Williams’ achievement after he was sworn to secrecy for more than a half century. Williams, a member of American Legion Post 416 in Encinitas, Calif., is the oldest recipient to ever wear the medal. He was a special guest of President Trump during the State of the Union address, sitting next to first lady Melania Trump, who placed the medal around his neck. “Heroic American aviator, Navy fighter pilot Royce Williams served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, flying more than 220 missions,” Trump said. “In 1952, Royce was in the dogfight of a lifetime. His squadron was ambushed by seven Soviet fighter planes. And despite being massively outnumbered and outgunned, Royce led the takedown of four enemy jets and almost destroyed the others. Vanquishing his adversaries while taking 263 bullets to his own plane. His story was secret for over 50 years. He didn't even tell his wife. But tonight, at 100 years old, this brave Navy captain is finally getting the recognition he deserves.” more at https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/honor/2026/february/legionnaire-royce-williams-receives-medal-of-honor

it will be going up again in another month or so as they are on winter blend right now - summer blend has more expensive additives.

$2.26 a gallon here in kansas

they probably thought it was a prank call, a chimp asking for an at home windshield replacement.........

i call them AAP's - ammo attracting persons.

lots of flung poo to clean up.

Mar-a-Lago shotgun-wielding madman ID’d as Austin Tucker Martin, a North Carolina golf course artist The crazed gunman who was shot dead after trying to enter Mar-a-Lago with a shotgun and a gas can has been identified as a North Carolina artist who was reported missing by his mom. Austin Tucker Martin, 21, of Cameron, North Carolina, was killed by law enforcement in the early hours of Sunday morning, law enforcement sources told The Post. He was reported missing by his family to authorities on Saturday. more at https://nypost.com/2026/02/22/us-news/mar-a-lago-shotgun-wielding-madman-idd-as-north-carolina-golf-course-artist/