Murder in Newtown, Connecticut: a List

I'll have the weekly post ready later this evening.

You probably know about the mass murder in Connecticut. The crime quickly became international news.

Newtown, Connecticut, was home to 27,605 people in 2010. (Welcome to Newtown, CT (newtown-ct.gov) the town's website)

That's nearly seven times as many folks as live here in Sauk Centre: but it's still a small town by American standards.

I haven't seen the sort of 'how could this happen in a small town' editorializing that followed earlier school murders. Maybe folks have gotten used to the idea that small town America isn't immune to what troubles the world.

Murder is Wrong

I'm angry and upset about what happened: but ranting about wouldn't, I think, do any good.

This is just a suggestion but many folks in and around Newtown, Connecticut, are hurting: and prayer is an option.

So is contributing to a support fund:

• Sandy Hook School Support Fund
  c/o Newtown Savings Bank
  39 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470
  (via United Way of Western Connecticut)

I know nothing about that fund, apart from 'what I've read in the papers.' I recommend checking out any charity before giving.

A List

Killed Friday morning, December 14, in Newtown, Connecticut:

• Mother of killer
  • Nancy Lanza
    • Female
• At Sandy Hook Elementary School
  • Students and staff
    • Charlotte Bacon
      • Female
      • February 22, 2006
    • Daniel Barden
      • Male
      • September 25, 2005
    • Rachel Davino
      • Female
      • July 17, 1983
    • Olivia Engel
      • Female
      • July 18, 2006
    • Josephine Gay
      • Female
      • December 11, 2005
    • Ana Marquez-Greene
      • Female
      • April 4, 2006
    • Dylan Hockley
      • Male
      • March 8, 2006
    • Dawn Hochsprung
      • Female
      • June 28, 1965
    • Madeleine F. Hsu
      • Female
      • July 10, 2006
    • Catherine V. Hubbard
      • Female
      • June 8, 2006
    • Chase Kowalski
      • Male
      • October 31, 2005
    • Jesse Lewis
      • Male
      • June 30, 2006
    • James Mattioli
      • Male
      • March 22, 2006
    • Grace McDonnell
      • Female
      • November 4, 2005
    • Anne Marie Murphy
      • Female
      • July 25, 1960
    • Emilie Parker
      • Female
      • May 12, 2006
    • Jack Pinto
      • Male
      • May 6, 2006
    • Noah Pozner
      • Nale
      • November 20, 2006
    • Caroline Previdi
      • Female
      • September 7, 2006
    • Jessica Rekos
      • Female
      • May 10, 2006
    • Avielle Richman
      • Female
      • October 17, 2006
    • Lauren Rousseau
      • Female
      • June 1982
    • Mary Sherlach
      • Female
      • February 11, 1956
    • Victoria Soto
      • Female
      • November 4, 1985
    • Benjamin Wheeler
      • Male
      • September 12, 2006
    • Allison N. Wyatt
      • Female
      • July 3, 2006
  • Killer
    • Adam Lanza
      • Male
  (source: Connecticut State Police, via FoxNews.com and Associated Press; FoxNews.com)

Related posts, in another blog:

• "Connecticut School: Mass Murder and Prayer"
  A Catholic Citizen in America (December 14, 2012)
• "Original Sin and the Unfairness of Gravity"
  A Catholic Citizen in America (July 11, 2012)
  Particularly
  • Sin, God, and a "Distorted Image"
• "Murder at a Sikh Temple: Why I Care"
  A Catholic Citizen in America (August 9, 2012)
• "Mourning Aurora's Dead: Good News, of a Sort"
  A Catholic Citizen in America (July 23, 2012)
• "The Power to Hurt: Or Help"
  A Catholic Citizen in America (June 27, 2012)

Bad Check, Bad Idea; and Soo Bahk Do

Sunday, January 22, 2012. As I've said before, Minnesota doesn't have a climate so much as it has weather. So far this month, we've had sub-zero temperatures, a high around 55 degrees, clear skies, dull gray overcast, and several varieties of precipitation.

Interesting as all that is, it doesn't photograph well, so I dug through the archives and found this set of photos from about two years ago (January 20, 2010):


Fog and frost: on just about everything. January 15, 2010.


Frost. Lots of really delicate frost. January 15, 2010.


Around 11:00 a.m., clearing. Not much wind, happily. January 15, 2010.


County Road 17, near the Sauk River. January 15, 2010.

Someone tried passing a bad check at the Palmer House: which was very imprudent, since the person was already wanted for several serious felonies. The police came, made an arrest, and life went on. This week's Sauk Centre Herald has more about that: also high school guidance counselor Bryce Zieman's resignation; and other news.

My wife is practicing for her black belt in Soo Bahk Do. It's actually a midnight-blue belt, but that takes longer to say. She's with the local Soo Bahk Do group this evening, along with my son and #3 daughter: and, I gather, some of the younger students who are testing for their white belts. I think I got that straight.

Beautiful Bright Blue Skies, Estate Tax SNAFU, New Gospel Book

Sunday, October 2, 2011. We've had those typical Minnesota autumn days: crisp air, clear skies, ridiculously cheerful sunlight.


Blue sky, trees turning color: a picture-postcard autumn day. September 27, 2011.

We've also had those typical Minnesota autumn days: chilling air, grim skies, not a ray of sunlight under the gray roof of clouds.


Ungers: stock liquidation sale in progress. September 27, 2011.

Unger Furniture, downtown, has been running radio ads this week: they're selling the entire inventory, to pay estate taxes.

On a happier note, Our Lady of Angels church has a new Gospel Book.


New/replacement Gospel Book at Our Lady of the Angels church. October 2, 2011.

Dr. Mayer, the dentist - and I hope I've spelled the name right - donated the new book, in memory of his wife, done in the same style as the one that got stolen. It's good to have one again.


I turned 60 on Friday, and am still enjoying these balloons. October 1, 2011.

I've been distracted this weekend: for a happy reason. I turned 60 on Friday, and celebrated the event with my family.

September 11, 2011: Drought in Texas, Clear Skies in Minnesota, Life Goes On

Sunday, September 11, 2011. School has started, so the regular mid-afternoon rush down South 9th to Ash is part of the daily schedule again. We've been having picture-postcard weather, which is great for taking photos: not necessarily good news for crops. Still, it could be worse: Folks in Texas are not having a good year.


U.S. Drought Monitor. (map adapted from The Drought Monitor, National Drought Mitigation Center, Lincoln, Nebraska, used w/o permission) Tuesday, September 6, 2011.

Folks took care of the worst of that July 10th storm's cleanup as soon as the wind and rain let up, or the day after. I've seen tarps over a few roofs: good enough, I trust, to get the homeowners through winter, giving them time to work out finances for a more permanent patch.

Jitters Java, downtown, is one of the business with storm-stressed signage. They've got a pretty good temporary fix set up: a sort of easel at the bottom of the sign's apparently-undamaged mast.


Jitters Java sign: 'some assembly required.. September 9, 2011.

Our Lady of Angels' Gospel Book hasn't been replaced. I don't know how long that'll take. The things can't be cheap: but of all the useless things to steal - - - who's going to buy the thing intact? The book's gold cover is real: but the gold was a thin layer of anodized gold, no more than a few microns thick. I doubt it'd be worth the trouble, trying to scrape the metal off.

Oh, well: we're getting by okay. This morning I learned that for the time being the church will be unlocked during weekday mornings and afternoons: nice for folks who'd been in the habit of stopping in.

Today's the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attack. New York City's put on an event for the occasion. We're not New York City: Our observances have been more along the lines of flags at half-staff.


Our Lady of Angels, Labor Day Sunday. September 4, 2011.

That's what I've got for this week. See you next Sunday!

(Unofficial) Last Day of Summer, Theft from Church

Sunday, September 4, 2011. This is going to a short entry. I've had a big week: but not much of it had to do with Sauk Centre.

We're in the middle of Labor Day Weekend, the unofficial end of summer. It's been one of those nearly-perfect days: not particularly hot, and clearish skies. Except when it rained.


Our Lady of Angels, Labor Day Sunday. September 4, 2011.

There was something missing this morning at Our Lady of Angels church. Someone stole the Gospel Book, and the votive candle money. The loose-change-plus-bills in the candle boxes doesn't hurt all that much. The Gospel Book? I'll miss that. (More, in "Loving Our Neighbors: Even the One Who Stole the Gospel Book," A Catholic Citizen in America (September 4, 2011))

Now we have to start locking the church when it's not in use. This is the second time something's been stolen. Disappointing.

The good news is that nobody got hurt.

Telephone Cramming Links, Summer Clouds, and Enjoying Summer

Sunday, August 21, 2011. The Sauk Centre Herald is running a story about a scam that's costing us about $2,000,000,000 dollars. That's nationally: The Chicago Sun-Times published an editorial about cramming, and why Congress should let the FCC get the new rules they want. (Chicago Sun-Times (August 3, 2011))

Basically, cramming is a company getting your telephone service provider to add a little to your bill. Cramming companies often work through a middleman, and keep their bogus charges low enough to avoid getting noticed. That's the idea, anyway: checking your monthly bill for charges you didn't authorize is a good idea.

Here's more about telephone cramming:

• FCC
  • "Cramming - Unauthorized, Misleading, or Deceptive Charges Placed on Your Telephone Bill"
    Fact sheet
• Office of the Attorney General, Minnesota, Lori Swanson
  • "Attorney General Swanson Sues Telephone Bill 'Crammer'"
    Press Release (January 7, 2011)
  • "Your Legal Rights: Don't Get 'Crammed'--Avoid Unwanted Charges on Your Phone Bill"
    Fact sheet

Enough of the 'public service announcement.'

Once again, I've got photos to show off.


Much depends on what a person decides to notice. There's an empty sidewalk, a lawn with some bare ground: but look closer - - -. August 21, 2011.


- - - There's also a set of cheerful sunflowers in bloom. August 21, 2011.


This morning at Our Lady of Angels church. Just
one word: Aww. August 21, 2011.


Summer clouds south of the Sauk Centre School. August 21, 2011.

I see that Sauk Centre Public School's
open house is August 30: a week from Tuesday. Classes start September 6 - and the first two-day vacation is October 20 and 21. Why there's a vacation there I
didn't see.

I plan to get out and enjoy summer while it's still here. Maybe next week will have more days like today. Or, maybe not.

Snow, Holiday Decorations, and - Cattle Rustlers?!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010. Christmas is advancing relentlessly. No: That's not quite the way I should put it. We've got about two and a half weeks before Christmas, which can be expressed as a countdown of shopping days, or Advent reflections.


A little frost on the trees, a little snow coming down. December 8, 2010.

I haven't gone into The Wax Pot, in the professional building on Main and South 4th, but it might be a new business. Or maybe I just missed the sign until this week: that's happened before. Anyway, I gather that The Wax Pot specializes in 'waxing' - a process which makes me glad that I'm a man, and expected to have hairy hands.


The Wax Pot: nifty name. December 7, 2010.

Sauk Centre's streets are spiffed up for the holidays: Garlands over the streets, (strings of) lights on the (street) lights. I'll want to get out after dark with a camera before it all goes back into storage.


Garlands over Main, downtown - with a touch of snow. December 7, 2010.

Then there's the lead story in this week's Sauk Centre Herald.

Normally, I think it's fine when young people display initiative and an entrepreneurial spirit. Like the young men who wanted to run their own dairy operation. Or, rather, like someone else: who would have had the good sense to buy or borrow the cattle. Not steal them.


Cattle Rustlers. Really. December 7, 2010.

Good news: The animals apparently are okay - and back with their owners.

Bad news: Those kids are facing very serious criminal charges.

Good news: We don't hang rustlers from the nearest tree.

Bad news: Felony theft is not a minor offense. The teens are looking at maybe 10 years in jail and a $20,000 fine - with another fine for possession of stolen property.

What, if anything, were they thinking?! Cattle, even young ones, are big, bulky animals: and don't just pop up out of the ground. How they thought they could explain 17 calves in a barn is beyond me.

At least they didn't steal from their neighbors and assume nobody would notice: the calves were stolen in Douglas, Todd and Stearns Counties, the older of the kids, 19, is from around Rothsay, the other, 16, is from Barnesville.

Wednesday, Rain, Prairie Planting, and Missing Goose Decoys

Wednesday, June 23, 2010. I drove around the new(ish) residential areas on the east side of town, across the river, yesterday. There's one lot (at least) that's what would have been called a weed patch when I was growing up. Or, maybe, a patch of wildflowers.

That was then, this is now:


"Native Prairie Planting:" Sounds better than "weed patch, or even "wildflowers." June 22, 2010.

That "Native Prairie Planting" doesn't, to my untrained eye, look all that different from any other patch of open land around here does, after folks stop tilling it for a while. Which isn't too surprising, I suppose. It is a native prairie planting, after all.

Why it's between two residential lots on the east side, I've no idea.


East of town, part way to McCormic Lake. June 22, 2010.

I drove out of town, east, as far as McCormic Lake, hoping to get a picture or two. And see what the land looked like.

It's green: the result of the rain we've been having. Some of which came before I got back.


The vacant lots here are just vacant lots: no special signs to protect the weeds. Or wildflowers. This is maybe one street over from the prairie lot. June 22, 2010.

I see in this week's Sauk Centre Herald that Rick Kleinschmidt's two months into retirement from the Sauk Centre Fire Department: The paper did a feature on him.

On a more serious note, The D-Trading Post and Historic Town, east of Sauk Centre on the Lake Wobegon Trail, is missing three goose decoys. They were taken from a display there. From the Sauk Herald article, I gather that they were last seen on the afternoon of June 10, in the company of two teenagers.

Dick Young, who owns the D-Trading Post and H.T., would like the decoys back. The Herald article said that anybody with information should call the Sauk Centre Police Department ( (320) 351-7022), or the sheriff’s department ((320) 259-3700). I hope those goose decoys get recovered.

Nobody Wants a Rapist Next Door: and More, Mostly About Snow

Wednesday, February 24, 2010. First, the unpleasant news. I've got some nice photos, so stick around. Or skip over the next few paragraphs.

If Minnesota Department of Corrections (MN DOC) information is correct, Dustin Gene Ayres was released on Monday, and has probably moved into town by now. I can't say that I envy him. He's a Level 3 predatory offender: the sort of rapist who'd most likely to re-offend. He's also served his sentence, including whatever extra time he earned by violating parole the last time he was released.

Don't get me wrong. I think that second (third?) chances are a good idea. I also hope that nobody in town gives him a hard time because of what he's done in the past. It's possible that he'll change.

The Sauk Centre Herald had another couple of articles on Mr. Ayres, and related topics, this week. I wasn't pleased to learn that Stearns County is the #1 county for (relocated?) sex offenders, outside the metro area: but there's not much to do about that.

Something I read in the print edition of this week's Herald matches other information I've dug up. The recidivism rate for sex offenders is fairly low. On average. Mr. Ayres is in the category of people who are most likely to re-offend.

But there isn't much, given the way the law works today, that can be done. Apart from what MN DOC is doing: keeping a rather close eye on Mr. Ayres for the next decade, and limiting what he can do. Unless he breaks parole again, he won't just be wandering around town. As I said, I can't say that I envy him.

And - what I think is a very important point - we're allowed to know about him now. I can remember when that wouldn't have been the case. The American judicial system has started to realize that protecting people who don't break the law is important, too: and I think that's a good thing.

More, in "Level 3 Predatory Offender Coming: Photos and Links," Sauk Centre Journal Blog (February 19, 2010).


That Haiti fundraiser's banner is a little dated. It's about something that was scheduled Monday. And yes, that's a snowmobiler. February 24, 2010.

The chain link fence on the Lake Wobegon Trail bridge over Main Street ("Original Main Street" the signs say) is a sort of community bulletin board. Quite a few events get announced there.

Snow. We've had snow this winter. Lots of snow. A drift in my back yard just about covers two lawn chairs - and even after excavations, I have to bend over to reach the grill when I'm fixing burgers on the weekend. I figure I'm standing on at least a half-foot of compacted snow and ice.


The band shell by Sauk Lake. February 24, 2010.

Finding a place to put snow from the driveway and sidewalk wasn't a problem for us. We've got more yard than pavement, so it's just a matter of throwing - or blowing - it onto something that can stay covered until spring.


Snow piled behind Jitters Java, downtown. And two guys on the other side of the street, probably discussing the utility system. February 24, 2010.

The city street department, and many (most?) businesses aren't in that position. There's been a whole lot of snow cleared off streets and parking lots this year: and it all has to go somewhere. In residential areas, at least some of it goes onto that rampart that grows at the edge of the street. Some parking lots have a few spaces piled high with snow. And, since nobody's using the band shell this time of year, a little is piled up on the edge of the parking lot there.

Finding a place to put snow from the driveway and sidewalk wasn't a problem for us. We've got more yard than pavement, so it's just a matter of throwing - or blowing - it onto something that can stay covered until spring.


A Christmas angel, half-buried in snow. This photo is almost crying for a caption, but I can't think of one. February 24, 2010.

I've heard people say that we're always talking about the weather, here in Minnesota. I don't want to disappoint out-of-staters, so: It's been a beautiful day today. Clear blue sky, sunlight sparkling on the snow, and not much wind. A little nippy: 11° below this morning. Fahrenheit. But hey: this is Minnesota!

"Trail Rapist," First Snowfall, and Christmas Decorations

Wednesday, December 2, 2009. We had a light snowfall today. Not enough to reach past the top of mowed grass, but I'm pretty sure we'll have more as the winter goes on.

Before getting on with the mostly-Christmas-related stuff, something more serious. One of the front page headlines in last week's Sauk Centre Herald read, "Trail rapist gets 12-year sentence". And, the results of an "On-Line Poll." The question was "What do you think of Ajqui's sentence?"

Of 110 responding,

• 86% considered the sentence too short
• 14% saw it as fair
• 0% indicated it was too long

That surprised me a bit: both the overwhelming number who thought it was too short, and nobody marking off "too long." The rapist is, after all, a relatively young man: and will be in his mid-thirties by the time he gets out. And, quite possibly, deported. But then, he raped a
14-year-old girl: and that's just plain not nice.

I had no idea how the court came up with that "12 year" figure. Which seems to me to be a bit, ah, compassionate: considering the probable effect that the rape will have on the life of his young victim. But then, when it comes to interpersonal relationships, I tend to have a bit more
sympathy with people who don't hurt others, than those who do.

I did a little checking, and found an interesting resource online:

INFORMATION BRIEF
Minnesota House of Representatives
Research Department
600 State Office Building
St. Paul, MN 55155
REVISED: September 2004

Mandatory Sentencing Laws

That link sends you to an 18-page pdf-format document on the State of Minnesota House of Representatives' website. I still don't know where the court came up with 12 years.

Well, I wasn't the judge: and all the facts didn't, I'm sure, get into the news. It's some consolation that there's a chance that the rapist will be restrained from wreaking havoc on the life of another teenage girl for a dozen years. Who knows? He may decide it was a bad idea, and not rape again. Stranger things have happened.

I've written about the 'Lake Wobegon Trail Rape' before:

• August 9, 2009
  
• August 2, 2009
• July 29, 2009

Moving along to more pleasant topics.

We've had a suggestion of snow before, but I think today's precipitation could count as the "first snow of winter." Mainly, since it's stayed around for a few hours. As I wrote before, it wasn't quite deep enough to top out the grass on neatly-mowed lawns. Sidewalks and side streets, though, were (nearly) covered.


First snow of winter? Okay, I'll say that's what it is. November 5, 2009.

Most businesses have some token of the holiday season up: and a few make sure that everybody who sees their place knows that Christmas is coming. Like P's and Q's, on south Main:


Candy canes, Santas, a whacking great snow globe, and: a penguin?! November 30, 2009.

There are all sorts of household displays, too. One of my favorites is on the south side, about a block off The Original Main Street. It's small, and simple: which is part of its charm. And, it's been up each season for years.


Simple, gets the point across: I like it. November 30, 2009.

Some households break out of the familiar decorative themes.


These may be the three biggest Christmas lights in town. December 2, 2009.

And, of course, there are a lot of ways to do a crèche display.


A very simple-looking manger scene. I plan to be back, after nightfall, when the lights are on. December 2, 2009.

Now, I'd better get some Christmas shopping done: that I said I'd take care of, last week.

Rapist Pleads Guilty, Swine Flu's in Town: Not Exactly Mayberry, RFD, But I Love it Here

Wednesday, September 23, 2009. The headlines at the top of this week's Sauk Centre Herald are "Trail rapist pleads guilty" and "H1N1 is here / What to do to protect yourself" - and after that, a feature about Kevin Kerffeld's dealing with lung cancer.

The sky was as somber as the lead stories yesterday.


Ever have days like this? September 22, 2009.


Some trees were turning: but what I mostly noticed was the unsunny sky. September 22, 2009.

The "Trail rapist" pled guilty, with no plea bargaining. Turns out he's probably in the country illegally, and came here from Guatemala. Given the minimum sentence, 144 months (12 years), he probably won't be back in circulation for a while. Which is a bit of a relief.

Our Lady of the Angels' priest, Fr. James Statz, was the first person the victim met after the attack: my family is in that parish, which brings this incident a bit closer to home.

The paper gives some good, common-sense advice about not getting H1N1/Swine flu this year: Basically, wash you hands, don't get sneezed on, and don't sneeze on others.

I walked down to Coborn's this afternoon to get my annual flu shot. Which doesn't cover H1N1. Well, can't have everything. I'll just have to be a bit more careful than usual. (I've been keeping track of H1N1/Swine flu in one of my blogs, and collected a fair amount of information about the bug, and what's being done about it.)


Flu shots inside: I got the point. September 23, 2009.

There's something new inside Coborn's: a hand/handle sanitizer pole. The idea is to take one of the wipes, wipe it across the handle of the cart you take, and do your hands while you're at it.

By far not the worst idea I've run into.


Swab the handle and your hands? Yeah, it takes a few seconds: but I think it makes sense. So, apparently, did the folks who'd used the pole just before I took this photo. September 23, 2009.

The sky's cleared up today, I'm hoping to attract chickadees - plus a whole lot of sparrows - at the birdfeeder this winter.

News, Photos and Back Yards

Wednesday, September 2, 2009. One reason I've heard for reading the news is that it makes you feel better. Between fires, floods, earthquakes and the occasional or wild- or car fire started by a flaming squirrel: no matter what's happening to you, odds are there's someone who's worse off.

I'm not sure I believe that, but it makes a good story.

I see in this week's Sauk Centre Herald that two men have been charged in the July 20 burglary at the GreyStone Golf Club. Melrose's Meadowlark Golf Course got burglarized around the same time. And, apparently, vandalized. As if stealing wasn't enough. The Saint Cloud Times ran a short article on the arrests, too. Can't say I'm sorry they were caught: I just hope the damage done at GrayStone gets paid for, and the stolen goods replaced.

There's also an article, available online, about how the family of Bryan Silbernagel is coping with his suicide, back on July 11 (or 12, according to a Fergus Falls paper). I've had some personal experience with suicide, and appreciate what an unpleasant, awkward topic it is. Hats off to the Herald for printing that.

Time for something that's not quite so depressing.

Again in the Sauk Herald, I see that Emily Lahr was a runner up in this year's Princess Kay of the Milky Way contest.

My second-oldest daughter's getting married this Saturday, which is a pretty big deal for this family. And definitely not depressing.

School's starting next week, which is probably why I've been seeing more kids going by lately. And hearing more squealing tires.

Coborn's had a spot of color out front this week: pots of red and yellow (mostly) flowers.


Local color. September 1, 2009.

I spent some time, yesterday and today, driving around town: mostly on errands. I'm still impressed by the many ways people have of using their yards.


One big garden of a yard on the north side. September 1, 2009.


A quietly understated collection on south Ash. September 1, 2009.


This household moved their 'bathtub Madonna' - this year, I think. It's probably not, strictly speaking, a bathtub Madonna: but the effect is about the same. September 1, 2009.


Now that's the way to be a birdwatcher: buy one, set it out by the grill, and watch at your leisure. September 2, 2009.

Finally, the Sauk Centre Journal has a Blog, named, unimaginably enough, the Sauk Centre Journal Blog. Mostly, it'll just be a repeat of what's written here: but I'll put commentary and extra photos there from time to time.

---

And now I've got it copied over here.

I plan to be back tomorrow, with some more photos.