Locating Sexual Offenders

Today I received my first notification from the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Department that a convicted sex offender now lives in my area. The sheriff’s office offers the notification service through its website. The notification system works well. I received an email with information about the offender including his name, his address and a “view record” link to a page on the sheriff’s website. The record has his photo, physical description, offenses and comments. It also includes a map indicating his residence and its proximity to schools in the area. There is a similar service available on the Mahoning County Sheriff’s website.

I conducted an initial search for offenders in the area a few months ago but this is the first notification I have received. This is an important resource for anyone concerned about their immediate neighborhood. Parents can use the service to see who currently resides in their area and remain updated as time goes by. Neighborhood block watch groups can use this information to keep an eye on activity in these residences the same as they would at suspected drug houses or other dangerous locations.

At first I was concerned that there was a privacy issue regarding this information being available to the public. However, it occurs to me that the persons committing these crimes understand that registration and public notification are a consequence of their actions. Society has made it clear that crimes of a sexual nature, especially those propagated against pre-sexual children, are morally repugnant and that such crimes flourish where secrecy allows offenders to operate with anonymity. Therefore, notifying the public that potentially dangerous persons live in an area where their preferred type of victim lives is common sense.

As I have written here before, no one can take greater responsibility for our safety than we ourselves can. Checking the sheriff’s site and subscribing to these updates enables us to protect our families from a known threat. This useful tool allows us to point at a person and a residence and say to our children, “Stay away from there. A bad person lives there and they can hurt you. If they ever try to speak with you or grab you, run and tell someone.” Telling a child those things empowers them to stand up for themselves and understand when they could be in real danger. Taking away the secrecy of sexual abuse takes away one more tool these criminals can use to harm people.

New Obama Rumors!

That's right folks, we've got new Barack Obama rumors! Forget all those other emails your scaredy cat, redneck friends have been forwarding you. Forget about the one where they say Obama isn't patriotic because he doesn't wear a flag lapel pin or doesn't put his hand on his heart when saying the pledge of allegiance. Now that the primaries are over it's time to forget those tired old unsubstantiated stories and move onto some rumors with real meat. These are taken directly from Slate.com and deserve to be forwarded to everyone you know.

Right now! Come on, don't let me down. Ten people have forwarded me links to that idiotic popcorn cell phone video so let's get these out.

From: [Redacted]
To: [Redacted]
Subject: WHO IS BARACK OBAMA?

There are many things people do not know about BARACK OBAMA. It is every American's duty to read this message and pass it along to all of their friends and loved ones.

Barack Obama wears a FLAG PIN at all times. Even in the shower.

Barack Obama says the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE every time he sees an American flag. He also ends every sentence by saying, "WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL." Click here for video of Obama quietly mouthing the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE in his sleep.

A tape exists of Michelle Obama saying the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE at a conference on PATRIOTISM.

Every weekend, Barack and Michelle take their daughters HUNTING.

Barack Obama is a PATRIOTIC AMERICAN. He has one HAND over his HEART at all times. He occasionally switches when one arm gets tired, which is almost never because he is STRONG.

Barack Obama has the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE tattooed on his stomach. It's upside-down, so he can read it while doing sit-ups.

There's only one artist on Barack Obama's iPod: FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.

Barack Obama is a DEVOUT CHRISTIAN. His favorite book is the BIBLE, which he has memorized. His name means HE WHO LOVES JESUS in the ancient language of Aramaic. He is PROUD that Jesus was an American.

Barack Obama goes to church every morning. He goes to church every afternoon. He goes to church every evening. He is IN CHURCH RIGHT NOW.

Barack Obama's new airplane includes a conference room, a kitchen, and a MEGACHURCH.

Barack Obama's skin is the color of AMERICAN SOIL.

Barack Obama buys AMERICAN STUFF. He owns a FORD, a BASEBALL TEAM, and a COMPUTER HE BUILT HIMSELF FROM AMERICAN PARTS. He travels mostly by FORKLIFT.

Barack Obama says that Americans cling to GUNS and RELIGION because they are AWESOME.

Catching Up

I've been a little lax in posting lately due to work and other commitments so I'd like to catch up on some topics of interest:

The Windowless Stambaugh Building

After a couple of windows fell out of the Stambaugh building downtown, owner and developer Louis Frangos had work crews remove most of the building's remaining windows. About 400 of 531 were removed before the city put a halt to the activity. By that time the interior of the building had been exposed to the weather and birds were seen flying in and out.

My only question is, who removes windows without replacing them immediately? Where is the logic in exposing the building to catastrophic damage? Frangos says the intention was to replace the windows with light plastic or painted plywood but since none was installed I'm calling shenanigans on those plans. I will not go as far as some others who have suggested Mr. Frangos wanted the building damaged in a effort to have it demolished but something here is amiss.

Mayor Williams and his administration have worked out a plan to temporarily rectify the situation but it's clear this situation will require continued scrutiny.

I-80 Toll Road

The Pennsylvania legislature seems determined to hurt the economies of the Mahoning and Shenango Valley's by making Interstate 80 a toll road. Rep. Phil English had a meeting in Sharon, Pa to discuss opposition to the effort.

Local businesses are against the idea and with good reason. I am employed in the transportation industry and from personal experience I can tell you that further taxes will only hurt the economy. Trucking companies are already burdened by existing toll roads and diesel at almost $5.00 per gallon. Pennsylvania occupies a strategic location. Anything going to the northeast from the west or to the west from the east coast must use I-80 or the Pennsylvania turnpike.

Local companies will take a hit because it will cost more to transport goods. That cost will be passed to consumers so we will all pay more regardless of whether we use I-80 or not. Now is the time for this region to be as friendly to business as possible. Good jobs mean more incomes and more taxes collected from income tax. Property tax revenues will increase if the area becomes more desirable. Slapping a tax on I-80 is not going to make anyone want to develop business here, let alone drive through the area.

Our economy should not take another hit because Philadelphia needs a way to fund public transportation. Rising gasoline prices should provide all the incentive people need to get on a bus rather than drive.

More later.

New T-Shirt!

In my continuing mission to stimulate the Mahoning Valley economy through entrepreneurship, Tales From The Rust Belt proudly presents our latest creation, the "Never Go into Mommy and Daddy's Room Without Knocking!" T-shirt:

Prices vary depending on style starting at $12.99. Plus sizes are available. Click here and make the world a funnier place.