The Murder of Somer Thompson and Capture of Her Killer

The Murder of Somer Thompson and Capture of Her Killer On October 18, 2009, 7-year-old Somer Thompson was walking home from her Orange Park, Florida school with her twin brother and 10-year-old sister when she disappeared. Her body was found two days later 50 miles away in a landfill in Georgia. Florida Searches for Somer Thompson Somer Thompson was a mere 4-foot, 5-inches tall and weighed 65 pounds on the day that she went missing. Her hair was in a ponytail, tied with a red bow and she was carrying her favorite purple Hannah Montana backpack and a lunchbox. She was walking with her siblings and friends, but then when some in the group got into an argument, she separated from them and walked ahead by herself. It would be the last time Somer Thompson was seen alive. Investigator immediately suspected foul play and issued an Amber Alert. Police interviewed more than 160 registered sex offenders who lived within a five-mile radius of where Somer disappeared.   Clay County Sheriff Sgt. Dan Mahla called the investigation an all-out search. Working all night, the search included canine units, mounted police, dive teams, and helicopters with heat-sensing technology, Mahla said. Somer Thompsons Body Is Found On October 21, 2009, a childs body was found in a landfill in Folkston, Georgia, just across the Florida state line near where Somer Thompson vanished. Searchers found the body of a young white child at the landfill after sorting through more than 100 tons of garbage. They were not acting on a tip. They followed garbage trucks working Thompsons neighborhood to the site. Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler said it was a standard operating procedure in a missing person case for police to begin following garbage trucks and search nearby landfills. Pornographer Arrested in Somer Thompson Case A Florida man, who was being held on child pornography charges in Mississippi, was charged with the murder of Somer Thompson. Jarred Mitchell Harrell, 24, faced multiple charges in connection with the murder. Harrell has been in custody in Mississippi since February 11 and was extradited to Florida. Harrell faced a possible death sentence for charges of premeditated murder, sexual battery of a child under 12 and lewd and lascivious battery, according to court records. But Harrell was arrested in Meridian, Mississippi on a Florida warrant on more than 50 charges related to the sexual assault of another girl which he allegedly videotaped. He entered a not guilty plea to the charges. Press reports said at the time of Somers disappearance, Harrell was living with his parents in a house that was on her route to and from school. Harrell ultimately faced three trials: one for the molestation of the 3-year-old, one for the murder of Somer Thompson and another for child pornography.   Somer Thompsons Killer Gets Plea Deal Harrell avoided the death penalty by accepting a plea deal. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole after agreeing to drop his right to appeal the sentence later. Somers family members agreed to the plea deal, prosecutors said. After entering his guilty plea, Harrell listened to several victim impact statements, including one from Somers twin brother Samuel. You know you did this, and now youre going to jail, Samuel Thompson told Harrell. Somers mother, Diena Thompson, who attended every court hearing in the case, told Harrell he would never find peace. No Peace in the Afterlife Your punishment does absolutely not fit your crime, she said. Remember now, there is no safe place for you. You do not have an impenetrable cell. There will be no peace in the afterlife. Court papers show that on Oct. 19, 2009, Harrell lured Somer into the Orange Park, Florida house where he was living with his mother on the route on which she walked from school. There he sexually assaulted her, killed her and put her body in the garbage. Harrell pleaded to first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual battery in the Somer Thompson case. But he also pleaded to possession of child pornography and several other sexual-related charges in connection with an unrelated case involving a 3-year-old. The child was a relative of Harrells, according to court records. House Where Somer Died Is Destroyed On Feb. 12, 2015, Orange Park firefighters burned to the ground the house where Somer Thompson was killed. The Somer Thompson Foundation purchased the property and it was used for a live training exercise after the purchase. Burn, baby, burn, said Somers mother, Diena Thompson, after she tossed a flare inside the brick home while several hundred bystanders looked on. The home, owned by Harrells mother, became vacant after his arrest and ended up in foreclosure when the foundation bought it and offered it to the Orange Park Fire Department for a training exercise. Thompson said burning the house brought her family relief. I get to burn their house down, Thompson said. Im the big bad wolf this time knocking down your door, not the other way around. Its really nice to know that Im not ever going to have to drive in this neighborhood again and see this piece of trash. She said she hoped the property will be turned into something positive for the community one day.

Essential Red Maple Tree Information

Essential Red Maple Tree Information The red maple (Acer rubrum) is one of the most common, and popular, deciduous trees in much of the eastern and central U.S. It has a pleasing oval shape and is a fast grower with stronger wood than most of the so-called soft maples. Some cultivars reach heights of 75 feet, but most are a very manageable 35 to 45 ft. tall shade tree that works well in most situations.  Unless irrigated or on a wet site, a red maple is best used north of USDA hardiness zone 9;  the species is often much shorter in the southern part of its range, unless it is growing next to a stream or on a wet site.   Landscape Uses Arborists recommend this tree over the silver maple and other soft maple species when a fast growing maple is  needed because it  is a relatively tidy, well-shaped tree with a root system that stays within its boundaries and limbs that do not have the brittleness of other soft maples. When planting the species  Acer rubrum, make sure it has been grown from local seed sources, as these cultivars will be adapted to local conditions. The outstanding ornamental characteristic of the red maple is its red, orange or yellow  fall color  (sometimes on the same tree) lasting several weeks. Red maple is often one of the first trees to color up in autumn, and it puts on one of the most brilliant displays of any tree. Still, trees vary greatly in fall color and intensity. Species cultivars are more uniformly colored than the native species.   The newly emerging leaves and red flowers and fruits signal that spring has come. They appear in December and January in Florida, later in the northern part of its range. The seeds of red maple are quite popular with squirrels and birds. This tree is sometimes confused with red-leaved cultivars of  Norway Maple. Tips for Planting and Maintaining The tree grows best in wet locations and has no other particular soil preference, although it may grow less  vigorously  in alkaline soils, where chlorosis may also develop.  It is well-suited as a street tree in northern and mid-south climates in residential and other suburban areas, but the bark is thin and easily damaged by mowers. Irrigation is often needed to support street tree plantings in well-drained soil in the south. Roots can raise sidewalks in the same manner as silver maple, but because the red maple has a less aggressive root system, it makes a good street tree.  Surface roots  beneath the canopy can make mowing difficult. Red Maple  is easily  transplanted and is quick to develop surface roots in soils ranging from  well-drained  sand to clay. It is not especially drought tolerant, particularly in the southern part of the range, but selected individual trees can be found growing on dry sites. This trait shows the wide range of genetic diversity in the species. Branches often grow upright through the crown, forming poor attachments to the trunk. These should be removed in the nursery or after planting in the landscape to help prevent branch failure in older trees during storms. Selectively  prune  trees to retain branches that have a wide angle from the trunk, and eliminate branches that threaten to grow larger than half the diameter of the trunk.   Recommended Cultivars In the northern and southern end of the range, make sure to consult with local experts to choose cultivars of red maple that are well adapted to your region. Some of the most popular cultivars are as follows:   Armstrong:  A 50-ft.  tall  tree with an upright growth habit, almost columnar in shape. Its canopy is 15 to 25 ft. wide.  It is somewhat prone to splitting branches due to tight crotches. Glossy leaves turn a bright shade of red in fall. Appropriate for zones 4 through 9.  Autumn Flame:  A 45-ft. tall cultivar with a round shape and above-average fall color. Canopy is 25 to 40 ft. wide. Appropriate for zones 4 through 8.  Bowhall:  Roughly 35 ft. tall when mature, this cultivar has upright growth habit with a canopy 15 to 25 ft. wide. It grows best in acidic soil and is appropriate in zones 4  through  8. This is a cultivar that works well as a bonsai specimen.  Gerling:  About 35 ft. tall when mature, this densely branched tree has a broad pyramidal shape. Canopy is 25 to 35 ft. wide. Appropriate for zones 4 through 8.  October Glory:  This cultivar grows 40 to 50 ft. tall with a canopy that is 24to 35 ft. wide. It has above-average fall color and grows well in zones 4 through 8. This is another cultivar that can be used as a bonsai. Red Sunset:  This 50-ft.-tall  tree  is a good choice in the South.  It has a brilliant red color, with a canopy 25 to 35 ft. wide. This tree can be grown zones 3 through 9.  Ã¢â‚¬ËœScanlon’:  This is a variation of Bowhall, growing 40 to 50 ft. in height with a canopy 15 to 25 ft. across. Turns bright orange or red in fall, and grows well in zones 3 through 9.  Ã¢â‚¬ËœSchlesinger’:  A very large cultivar, rapidly growing to 70 ft. with a spread as much as 60 ft. Beautiful red to purple-red fall foliage that holds its color for as much as a month. It  grows in  zones 3 through 9.  Ã¢â‚¬ËœTilford’:  A globe-shaped cultivar that grows up to 40 ft. in height and width. Varieties are available for zones 3 through 9. The  variety of  drummondii  is ideal for zone 8. Technical Details Scientific name: Acer rubrum (pronounced AY-ser Roo-brum).Common name(s): Red Maple, Swamp Maple.Family: Aceraceae.USDA hardiness zones: 4 through 9.Origin:  Native to North America.Uses: An ornamental tree usually planted lawns for its shade and colorful fall foliage;  recommended for buffer strips around parking lots or for median strip plantings in the highway; residential street tree; sometimes used as bonsai species.   Description Height: 35 to 75 feet.Spread: 15 to 40 feet.Crown uniformity: Irregular outline or silhouette.Crown shape: Varied from round to upright.Crown density: Moderate.Growth rate:  Fast.Texture: Medium. Foliage Leaf arrangement: Opposite/subopposite.Leaf type: Simple.Leaf margin:  Lobed; incised; serrate.Leaf shape:  Ovate.Leaf venation: Palmate.Leaf type and persistence:  Deciduous.Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches.Leaf color: Green.Fall color: orange; red; yellow.​Fall characteristic: showy. Culture Light requirement: Part shade to full sun.Soil tolerances:  Clay; loam; sand; acidic.Drought tolerance:  Moderate.Aerosol salt tolerance:  Low.Soil salt tolerance:  Poor. Pruning Most red maples, if in good health and free to grow, need very little pruning, other than training to select a leading shoot that establishes the trees framework.   Maples should not be pruned in spring when they will bleed profusely. Wait to prune until late summer to early autumn and only on young trees. Red maple is a large grower and needs at least 10 to 15 feet of clear trunk below the bottom branches when mature.

International Business(Singapore) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

International Business(Singapore) - Essay Example The country is also a regional hub for wealth management as it ensures that there is enough revenue for the purchase of raw material and natural resources which are not available in the country. In view of this, the case study analyses Singapore’s international trade, explain how globalisation has affected its economy and its culture and evaluates the factors that are affecting its international business through SWOT analysis. Since the 1960s, research has shown that Singapore has improved in its export and import sector of the economy. It has been ranked as the 15th largest importer and 14th largest exporter in the world. International trade has a great impact on Singapore’s economy. Singapore adoption of export-oriented industrialisation made it easy for the country to succeed in the international market. Additionally, they have few barriers to the importation and exportation of goods and services. That means that the country has few trade barriers. The country also trades with the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) (Hinkelman & Shippey, 2004, p. 93). There are zero tariff rates which apply to some of their products. Additionally, they have six lines for alcohol beverages making it one of the best exporters of alcohol beverage. However, there are different import restrictions because of environmental, health, and security concerns. It considers free trade as an important factor which facilitates the grow th of the nation. Primarily, the United States is one of the largest Singapore’s trading partners. United States influences Singapore’s international trade (Koh & Lin, 2004, p. 56). From the sale of the manufactured goods such as the computer peripherals and electronics, the country imports natural resources and agricultural products. Singapore has limited arable land, thus; it depends on the aggro-technology park. Additionally, the country relies on

IIndividual Projec Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

IIndividual Projec - Assignment Example Today Hip-Hop is a way of life among many youths, a new culture that is deeply woven in all aspects of our daily life. Faced with myriads of challenges that range from unemployment, inequality, marginalization, lack of access to quality healthcare and many others, urban youth have been heavily impacted by these effects of industrialization and globalization. Most youth now identify with the Hip-Hop culture; it informs our understanding everything in our surrounding. For most youths, Hip-Hop is a way of life and a method through they understand the world. This is reflected in their choices of media to consume, books to read music, movies and games purchased. A lot of empirical data is available to show how Hip-Hop culture influences youths when it comes to learning (Carl and Virgil, 2014). Music is recognised significantly among the youth and as such is a very essential element of their culture. Many of us youth enjoy listening to and expressing our feelings through music. Research has shown Hip-Hop, R&B, Rock, Pop and Punk as the most preferred genres of music among the youth. Many youth and students will therefore spend their time listening to either of these genres of music at least every day. The lack of understanding of Hip-Hop by parents and other figures of authoring them admonish the youth for identifying with it and this in turn has compelled forced youth to deeply immerse in the culture (Sealey and Greene, 2010). Another very important element of the youth culture is their intimacy with video gaming. This is particularly influenced by the availability of internet with which youths can easily download or even play video games online. There is also the rapid increasing in the uptake of mobile phones, with lots of youth having access to mobile phones it is very easy to access the internet and play online video games from anywhere any time. This aids in advancing their embrace when it comes to video gamingm. In conclusion

The Book of Acts Essay -- Religion, Bible

There has been much debate regarding who wrote the book of Acts. Professor Riggs of Auburn Theological Seminary said, â€Å"In recent years the tide of opinion has been turning, and is now strongly setting toward a first-century authorship† (Riggs, 38). The early view of the church states Luke is the author of Acts. External evidence agrees with tradition that Luke wrote the book of Acts. The early church fathers, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, and Eusebius, provide evidence that Luke is the author (Lea & Black, 282). The Muratorian Canon (A.D. 190) contains a list of books from the New Testament and lists the author of Acts and the Third Gospel as Luke. There is also internal evidence that points to Luke as the author. In both Luke and Acts, the author uses medical phraseology. In Acts 28:8, the father of Publius was sick with a fever and had a bloody flux. Other instances can be found in Acts 10:10 and 16:16 (Riggs, 41-42). Luke was a physician and that would explain why h e used medical terms when writing the book of Acts. Considering the external and internal evidence, Carson and Moo... The Book of Acts Essay -- Religion, Bible There has been much debate regarding who wrote the book of Acts. Professor Riggs of Auburn Theological Seminary said, â€Å"In recent years the tide of opinion has been turning, and is now strongly setting toward a first-century authorship† (Riggs, 38). The early view of the church states Luke is the author of Acts. External evidence agrees with tradition that Luke wrote the book of Acts. The early church fathers, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, and Eusebius, provide evidence that Luke is the author (Lea & Black, 282). The Muratorian Canon (A.D. 190) contains a list of books from the New Testament and lists the author of Acts and the Third Gospel as Luke. There is also internal evidence that points to Luke as the author. In both Luke and Acts, the author uses medical phraseology. In Acts 28:8, the father of Publius was sick with a fever and had a bloody flux. Other instances can be found in Acts 10:10 and 16:16 (Riggs, 41-42). Luke was a physician and that would explain why h e used medical terms when writing the book of Acts. Considering the external and internal evidence, Carson and Moo...

Different Techniques For Providing Fresh Water To Arid Regions Of The World

IntroductionThe problem of water every year is becoming increasingly important, forcing scholars and political scientists talk about the inevitability of future conflicts over ownership of this strategic resource. Indeed, the population in the Middle East and Africa is growing at a rapid pace, and the sources of the water almost as quickly exhausted. Arid climate, uncontrolled population growth and other factors make water a truly â€Å"transparent gold » XXI century. Stocks worldwide oceanic and continental waters are 1.5 billion cubic kilometers; they are extremely high salt content and are not suitable for drinking. The share of fresh water in the world's total water is 2.53% or 31-35 million cubic kilometers. But those waters enclosed by the glaciers, which are in the form of air and soil moisture in the underground seas, are not available for development.Thus, humankind has conditionally 0.3% or 93.0 thousand cubic kilometers fresh water, which could be used for industrial an d economic goals. (USGS, 2011) According to figures published in August 2004 in a joint report by the World Health Organization and UNICEF more than one billion people still use unsafe sources of drinking water. Those most at risk are developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa area. African Bank experts estimate that for a radical improvement of rural water supply for the people of Africa to 2015 need to find at least $ 10 billion. In this case, 80 percent of Africans will be able to enjoy clean water, while continuing to be as massive investment in 2025 to normal water around the black continent.As pointed out by the International Water Management Institute, to solve the problem of water, it is needed to take urgent measures. In particular, to build reservoirs, use the rainwater harvesting, etc. The most acute problem of water shortage is for Africa and Asia as an arid regions and the purpose of this essay to provide and compare two possible way of solution such as desa lination and recycling.Backgroundâ€Å"Globally, water consumption over the past 100 years has increased by six times and will double again by 2050. Some countries have already run out of water and cannot produce food. The consequence will be even more widespread water shortages and soaring prices for this resource â€Å", – said the director of the International Water Management Institute Frank Rijsberman. (APEC  Water, 2011)Population(FAO Water, 2012)In the twentieth century the world's population has tripled. During this period, the consumption of fresh water has increased in 7 times, including at the municipal water needs in13 times. With this rise in consumption become the lack of water resources in many regions of the world. According to the World Health Organization, more than two billion people in the world today suffer from a shortage of drinking water. In the next 20 years, given the current trends of population growth and the world economy is expected to increa se demand for fresh water for at least 100 cubic kilometers per year.Water sources(IMSD, 2012)The 97% of water in our planet is saline water, the other 3% is fresh water. The surface water resource consists of ground water (30.1%), icecaps and glaciers (68.7%), and others (0.9%), such as water vapor and clouds. The biggest part of water that is used is found in lakes (87%), swamps (11%) and rivers (2%). Unfortunately, water problem in Asia and Africa are closely related to another equally important problem as food. Arab countries annually spend $ 50 billion just for agricultural irrigation. As the Minister of Egypt Water Resources Mahmud Abu Zeid said by 2025 90% of the Arab countries would fall below the â€Å"poverty of water resources.† To prevent this, need for a unified Arab strategy of water use. (5th World Water Forum Secretariat, 2009)Options of solutionsIn the oil-rich Arab countries went through the right, but expensive, deciding to allocate billions of dollars annu ally for the desalination of sea water. By some estimates, the Arabian country's now use about 70% of desalinate water.( NRC, 2010) However, the governments of most countries in Asia and Africa, such costs obviously can afford. Another way to save water is recycling. For example, for many years in Singapore does not throw waste water into rivers and the sea. All dirty water is recycled and cleared. Singaporeans are not only purifying sewage water. They desalinate sea water  and collect rainwater.DesalinationThe UN agencies, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the National Organization of more than 15 countries are engaged in desalination of ocean and sea water. This allows the most efficient way to absorb the wealth of the ocean water. Desalination of salt water is perspective because a large numbers of arid areas adjacent to ocean coast, or are close to it. Thus, ocean and sea water are raw materials for industrial use. Nowadays exist about 30 ways to of desalination of sea w ater. All methods of turning salt water into fresh water require more energy.In general, the share of electricity accounts for about half of the cost of desalination, the other half goes to the maintenance and depreciation of equipment. So, the cost of desalinated water depends mainly on the cost of electricity. (FWR, 2011) However, where is a lack of fresh water and exist the conditions for the desalination the cost factor recedes into the background. In some areas desalination is environmentally advantageous than bringing water from far away. Desalination of salt water is developing quite rapidly. As a result, every two or three years, the total capacity of installations doubled.RecyclingCleaning and recycling of industrial water is a key point in the cycle of water supply and sanitation. Standard cleaning contaminated industrial water will significantly improve the quality of water before re-use and avoid inappropriate use of potable water and a costly drain collection system in municipal wastewater. (Anglogold Ashanti, 2010) A problem that can be found this denial by people using of purified sewage water as the main source, but in the world there are countries which do not enjoy much of a choice.The only salvation for those countries is recycling water plants. In the case of the location on the coast, desalination is the option but if the sea is far and the country cannot afford the costs of desalination the recycling sewage plants is the good choice. Water passes membrane cleaning and disinfected with ultraviolet light: it is sufficient for industrial use. That portion of the water that goes into the water, further purified and mixed with water reserves in reservoirs, which are filtered and supplied to the taps.For instance, in Egypt they have Nile River and use its water but dirty water is  drained from the waste back into the Nile. (Ecopreneur, 2011) This kind of water cannot substitute drinking water but will significantly reduce the cost of transpor tation of drinking water and provide an opportunity for the use of recycled water in industry and agriculture for arid regions.ConclusionNowadays Asia, the Middle East and the most part of Africa has unstable supply of fresh water. Over the past forty years, the number of fresh water at the rate per person decreased by almost 60%. The main consumer of water is agriculture. Nowadays this sector accounts for over 85% of all available fresh water. Needs are increasing and the amount of water decreases. Today, almost 2 billion of people in more than 80 countries have a limited supply of drinking water. By 2025 nearly 50 countries with a total population of 3 billion people will face water shortages. (World Bank, 2007)Even with the abundance of rain that falls in China, a country half the population is not provided properly with drinking water in the regular mode. In such an acute shortage of fresh water is becoming especially popular desalination and water recycling as an alternative wa y to recharge. For the health and tone, people need clean and fresh water. Crude raw water is the cause of many human diseases, so people should not drink it. Water treatment is one of the most promising solutions to meet the needs of the population in the drinking water because groundwater resources are reduced, and rivers and lakes are on the verge of its existence.The ability of countries to solve problems related to climate change, and the issue of water, in particular, like many in the Middle East, is directly dependent on the will and determination of the political leadership of the region. (STS, 2012) Once, the King Hussein of Jordan argued that â€Å"the only question that Jordan would plunge into a war – is water.† The same opinion is shared by the former UN General Secretary, Boutros Ghali, the Egyptian, stated that â€Å"the next war in the Middle East will be over water.†

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