7.4 Quake Kills 48 in Guatemala

A 7.4 earthquake struck Guatemala, Wednesday morning.

It occurred one hundred and one miles southwest of the capital, Guatemala City.

At least forty-eight people were killed, with hundreds more injured.

Government offices in the state of San Marcos were amongst the buildings totally destroyed by the quake.

Two thousand soldiers have been called up to help with the relief and search and rescue efforts.

The quake was felt throughout Central America and as far north as Mexico City, around seven hundred and fifty miles away.

Colorado Police Searching for Man Who Shot at Cops

Police in Colorado are looking for a man who took shots at three officers, in two separate incidents.

Just after midnight, Tuesday morning, two Denver police officers pulled over a vehicle for a traffic stop.

When they approached the car, they were fired upon.

As they took cover, the driver sped away.

The scene was repeated Wednesday morning, for a Westminster officer.

Both agencies reported the vehicle as a silver or grey, four door 2000 Cadillac Deville.

Westminster police said it had red trim on the back and a temporary license, while Denver officers said it had black tinted windows and a South Dakota license plate, 49CAR9.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic or Native American male, approximately mid 20s to 30s with long dark hair.

Blue to Gold: ARMY Pfc Brandon L Buttry

ARMY Pfc Brandon L Buttry, nineteen, of Shenandoah, Iowa, died November 5, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.
The grim news about Brandon Buttry filtered to his one of a kind family in Shenandoah, Iowa, Monday.

His parents, Don and Pam Buttry, heard first. They passed the news to Brandon's thirteen brothers and sisters, a mix of biological and adopted children who hail from four different countries but for years shared the family's one bathroom. Aunts and uncles, cousins and friends and the members of Memorial Baptist Church heard the news, too. Brandon is gone, they told one another. He was killed in Afghanistan.

And then the Buttry family mourned just as they have traveled and learned math and waited in line for the bathroom. Together.

“They really are an amazing family,” said Steve Buttry, Brandon's uncle. “They are devastated. But they have a strong faith and a strong family, and they will get through this.”

Buttry, nineteen, died in Afghanistan while standing guard atop a watchtower, his uncle said.

The Department of Defense confirmed his death on Tuesday. According to the military, Buttry died in action Monday while serving in the Kandahar province in Afghanistan.

This much is certain: Brandon Buttry will be remembered by one of the largest and most close-knit families in the state of Iowa.

Don and Pam Buttry had three biological children when they saw a TV program about children starving and suffering in Romania at the end of the Cold War.

They tried and failed to adopt from Romania, so instead they adopted five children from South Korea, one child from Vietnam, one from Guatemala, three from Alabama. And Brandon, from Iowa.

There are fourteen children in all, ranging in age from thirty-six to eleven. Until the family added onto its house, Brandon shared a bedroom with several other children, his uncle said. And until the family added its second bathroom, Brandon shared it with every other member of the household.

The family trekked cross country together several times, piling off a tan passenger van in matching orange T-shirts to cheer on older sisters Missy and Mandy at their cross country and track meets. Missy Buttry became one of the best long-distance runners in the country in the early 2000s, qualifying for the US Olympic Trials and finishing eighth in the trial's five thousand meter event in 2004. She's married to Andrew Rock, who won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics.

During the week, Don and Pam Buttry home school the adopted children, teaching reading and math to a cross cultural brood that included several children with physical and mental disabilities.

On Sundays, any child living in the Buttry household or visiting home attends services at Memorial Baptist Church, filling up a section of back pews so regularly that Pastor Mike Brogan gave it a name. The Buttry Corner.

After church, Don, a former employee of Eaton Corp., often plants himself in front of the TV and cheers on the Minnesota Vikings. So do most of his children.

But not Brandon. He rooted on the Philadelphia Eagles and trash talked his siblings.

“He had a bit of a contrarian streak in him,” said Steve Buttry, a former World-Herald reporter who is now an editor for Digital First Media. “A twinkle in his eye. A mischievous smile on his face.”

Brandon Buttry had wanted to join the US Army since childhood and discussed his decision several times with Brogan in the months before he left for boot camp in January.

“He just wanted to serve his country and make a difference,” Brogan said Monday. “He felt like joining would allow him to contribute something to America. It's probably about that simple and that complicated.”

Buttry is the 157th service member with ties to Nebraska or Iowa who has died in the post September  11 wars, according to newspaper records.

He is only the second Nebraskan or western Iowan to die in Afghanistan this year. That's down markedly from 2011, when the Iowa and Nebraska National Guards sent thousands of soldiers to that country.

But that relative lack of violence is little solace to the Buttry family.

Since Pfc. Brandon Buttry shipped to Afghanistan in August, his mother, Pam, has sent out email messages with photos and updates she's gleaned from phone calls. She has always included a reminder asking his friends and family to pray for his safety.

“I think she was always worried about getting the news that we got today,” Steve Buttry said.

Blue to Gold: ARMY Spc. Brett E. Gornewicz

ARMY Spc. Brett E. Gornewicz, 27, of Alden, New York, died November 3, in Paktia province, Afghanistan.
Army Specialist Brett Gornewicz of Alden and two other reservists were killed while inspecting an area for roadside bombs on Saturday.

Gornewicz was home on leave in August. He didn't talk much about Afghanistan, but loved spending time with his family and friends. Monday night, his close friends described the Army Specialist as a selfless person with a great sense of humor, and a special affection for the Army

Steve Zinter said, "As kids, he always had the camouflage and BB guns and dress up and run around the house doing that kind of thing."

Gornewicz, of the 444th Engineer Company headquartered in Oswego, had served a tour in Iraq before electing to go to Afghanistan.

Andrew Smith said, "He had the opportunity to give up the Army, but once he found out that some of his brothers from the previous tour were going back, he told us he wanted to go back with them."

On November 3, Gornewicz' Humvee was struck by an improvised explosive device. He and two other soldiers from New York State, Army Spc. Ryan P. Jayne from Campbell and Staff Sergeant Dain T. Venne from Port Henry, were killed. His lifelong friends in Alden have taken it very hard.

Brian Peebles said, "I couldn't feel my stomach. It just caved in, and I didn't know what to feel, so I immediately told my wife, and just kind of stared for a minute. Didn't know what to do."

Gornewicz played varsity baseball and JV football at Alden, where he graduated from in 2003, and was always described as a team player.

Andrew Bermel said, "He was a great guy. He would do anything for anybody. He always had a way to come in to wherever we were and just brighten up the spot."

Gornewicz a girlfriend, Nicole, and hoped some day to raise a family. His family is in Dover, Delaware, awaiting his final homecoming.

Blue to Gold: ARMY Spc. Ryan P. Jayne

ARMY Spc. Ryan P. Jayne, twenty-two, of Campbell, New York, died November 3, in Paktia province, Afghanistan.

The body of Army Spc. Ryan P. Jayne will not be returned home to Steuben County for four to seven days, his father said Tuesday. “We’re hoping it will be on the short end,” Paul Jayne said.

Jayne’s body was flown to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Tuesday. Once Jayne’s body is returned home, there will be a viewing in Corning, Paul Jayne said. Jayne’s body will then be cremated, his father said.

Jayne, a 2008 Corning East graduate, was one of three upstate soldiers killed Saturday by an improvised explosive device in Paktia province, Afghanistan. Also killed were Staff Sgt. Dain T. Venne, twenty-nine, of Port Henry, and Spc. Brett E. Gornewicz, twenty-seven, of Alden. All three men were assigned to the 178th Engineer Battalion, 412th Theater Engineer Command in Oswego.

“His mother and I should not have to bury our oldest child ... There is no more honorable, dignified way to go than serving your country,” Paul Jayne said Monday.

Jayne served as a combat engineer and a driver. His crew cleared roads and hunted IEDs.

Jayne lived with his brother in Canisteo and was recently home on a ten day leave. He left to return to Afghanistan late last month.

Blue to Gold: ARMY Staff Sgt. Dain T. Venne

ARMY Staff Sgt. Dain T. Venne, twenty-nine, of Port Henry, New York, died November 3, in Paktia province, Afghanistan.

Port Henry resident Dain Venne was killed in Afghanistan Saturday while serving with the U.S. Army Reserve. Venne, 29, was on patrol when a roadside bomb exploded, according to preliminary reports. Two other soldiers died with Venne when the bomb went off. His parents are Brian and Laura (Harris) Venne of Port Henry. His father is a longtime Moriah town justice. Laura is a teacher at Moriah Central School. Dain Venne was with the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division headquartered at Fort Drum, but reported to the Canton-Oswego U.S. Army Reserve Training Center. He had served one tour in Iraq and the current one in Afghanistan. The family was notified Saturday afternoon, according to friends. Venne was a graduate of Moriah Central School and was a student at St. Lawrence University in Canton when the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred. He enlisted in the U.S. Army soon after, friends said, in an effort to serve his country in a time of need.

Read more: http://sgt-jim.blogspot.com/2012/11/rip-staff-sgt-dain-t-venne-spc-ryan-p.html

Port Henry resident Dain Venne was killed in Afghanistan Saturday while serving with the US Army Reserve.

Venne, twenty-nine, was on patrol when a roadside bomb exploded, according to preliminary reports. Two other soldiers, Army Specialist Ryan P. Jayne and Army Specialist Brett Gornewicz died with Venne when the bomb went off.

His parents are Brian and Laura (Harris) Venne of Port Henry. His father is a longtime Moriah town justice. Laura is a teacher at Moriah Central School.

Dain Venne was with the US Army 10th Mountain Division headquartered at Fort Drum, but reported to the Canton-Oswego US Army Reserve Training Center. He had served one tour in Iraq and the current one in Afghanistan.

The family was notified Saturday afternoon, according to friends. Venne was a graduate of Moriah Central School and was a student at St. Lawrence University in Canton when the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred. He enlisted in the US Army soon after, friends said, in an effort to serve his country in a time of need.

Read more: http://sgt-jim.blogspot.com/2012/11/rip-staff-sgt-dain-t-venne-spc-ryan-p.html

Port Henry resident Dain Venne was killed in Afghanistan Saturday while serving with the U.S. Army Reserve. Venne, 29, was on patrol when a roadside bomb exploded, according to preliminary reports. Two other soldiers died with Venne when the bomb went off. His parents are Brian and Laura (Harris) Venne of Port Henry. His father is a longtime Moriah town justice. Laura is a teacher at Moriah Central School. Dain Venne was with the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division headquartered at Fort Drum, but reported to the Canton-Oswego U.S. Army Reserve Training Center. He had served one tour in Iraq and the current one in Afghanistan. The family was notified Saturday afternoon, according to friends. Venne was a graduate of Moriah Central School and was a student at St. Lawrence University in Canton when the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred. He enlisted in the U.S. Army soon after, friends said, in an effort to serve his country in a time of need.

Read more: http://sgt-jim.blogspot.com/2012/11/rip-staff-sgt-dain-t-venne-spc-ryan-p.html

Prairie View High School Student Killed in Car Accident

Brighton, Colorado police are investigating a deadly accident, which occurred Tuesday morning.

A vehicle driving southbound on Highway 85, lost control as it neared 144th Avenue.

After rolling multiple times and landing on the median, it finally came to a stop.

One of the passengers was declared dead on the scene, another was airlifted to the hospital, and the other two were sent by ambulance.

All four are students at Prairie View High School.

Election Coverage and Voter Intimidation Reporting

If my analysis and commentary hasn't influenced your decision yet, it likely is not going to.

So, it's time for casting votes, awaiting results, tracking exit polls,and looking for shenanigans from those who wish to suppress or influence voting in illegal, unethical or not-so-nice means.

So, while we watch the results come in from various sources including Watchdog.com and other Franklin Center affiliated media outlets, let's also keep an eye out and help report any suspicious activity.

This is not meant to be directed at any single party or candidate. However, there have been several incidents of intimidation, suppression, fraud, and manipulation already reported.

First, there was a mural of one of the candidates painted on the wall of a polling station. That was a violation of state and federal campaign and electioneering laws. A judge ordered the polling station to cover up the mural or risk being unsanctioned. Reports are that the mural was covered up, but not very effectively.

In Ohio and Pennsylvania we've seen reports of the the Black Panther Party up to the same tricks they pulled in 2008 and 2010. They intimidated (and removed by force some of) the GOP-affiliated election station volunteers. After a few hours, a judge intervened and ordered the polling stations to allow the workers to return. Who knows how much damage was done in the interim.

In Houston, TX, alleged Black Panther affiliated members of the NAACP took over a polling station in Sheila Jackson-Lee's district. They passed out water while openly campaigning for candidates. They even allegedly harassed and made intimidating actions/statements towards those who seemed not in favor of their candidates. A legal suit has been filed.

In San Antonio, TX, at a polling location that is also an elementary school, there was open campaigning for a local proposition for raising the city sales tax in order to hire more pre-k teachers. The plan is to hire more teachers at an average of $70k a year in salary and benefits, then force parents to send their kids to the government schools' pre-k programs. The claim is that districts that will be bolstered by the tax increase will generate more students. However, there are programs available in those areas. For one reason or another, parents are not sending their kids there. Increasing taxes will not change that fact. All it will do is give more money to the union and create more union members. The polling place, being a school, has a lot of biased literature on the bill but had nothing providing the actual proposal, in full, with amendments.

At that same school, sign posters and campaign volunteers stayed outside of the perimeter. However, most signs for conservative candidates were damaged, defaced, or removed. Some were removed because they had been defaced with words not meant for the eyes of school-aged children.

I attempted to do a little exit-polling. I asked people if they voted. I asked if they had to present proof of identity. I asked if there was anything "hinky" or "suspicious". Most people were not interested in talking and would not even answer the "did you vote?" question. My intent was not to determine election results. There are plenty of people doing that already. I just wanted to know if the state election laws that require a photo ID were being enforced and how effectively.

Those who did answer all stated the same. They attempted to show their IDs and were categorically told not to do so. That raised eyebrows. I informed those people that they could report the violation to 855-444-6100. 

Breitbart.com is reporting numerous claims of intimidation, fraud, and other suspicious activity. In one of their reports, they found that an organization that was helping to register voters had shredded the applications of those who were registering "Republican". Their source even provided pictures. 

Other people have reported on Twitter other incidents of potential fraud. One individual attempted to vote and was told he voted two hours prior. He had not yet voted. Another went to vote and was told she had voted absentee. She never requested an absentee ballot and definitely had not received one.

Are these things more frequent these days? Most likely not. More people are just more aware. The age of new media and social media has enabled these incidents to be more publicized more rapidly. That is a positive occurrence as it will likely deter crimes that went unreported in the past.

It's your vote. Don't let somebody make it less valuable by cheating.

For live election coverage, please visit P-G Matuszak's Mental Aikido. Three different live stream election coverage options are available on the Election 2012 Live Stream Coverage tab. 

Three Israeli Soldiers Wounded in Firefight

Three Israeli soldiers were wounded when militants attacked their position.

The soldiers were guarding the border with Gaza, near Kibbutz Nirim, when a bomb exploded and shots were fired at them.

They repulsed their attackers, but no word has come of casualties on the other side.

Two of them were treated, for their wounds, on site, whilst one was helicoptered to Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva.

Fresno Shooting Leaves 3 Dead, 2 Wounded

A shooting at a chicken plant in Fresno, California left three people dead, on Tuesday, and another two injured.

The shooter, apparently an employee, came to work, and after being there for awhile pulled out a gun, and started shooting.

He was found dead at the scene, due to what is believed to be a self inflicted gunshot.

Two of his victims have died, while the other two are in critical condition.

Police found nothing at the shooter's home, and are trying to figure out what set off the shooting.