The Micale Family Moves On

The Micale Family Moves on

On March 1, 2015, Anthony & Brent Micale, lost their Mother and Wife, respectively, and Kimberly Johnson was also killed, and taken from her family when a house fire tore through the Micale home. Brent was spared, escaping out of a window, and Anthony was at a friend’s house that night, thankfully.

Losing one’s home and possessions is one awful thing in itself, losing a Wife and Mother, and a friend only adds more weight to the grief. No one can ever know what Brent or Anthony have went through, but the community responded with as much love, help, and support as they could. Having raised tens of thousands of dollars, it made it easier to regain some of the material things lost, and provide a new, safer home for Anthony. Brent did just about as good, if not better than any other man put in that position.

In May, local business owners John & Judy Clark, owners of WCNX Radio Inc. here in Middletown, arranged it so that Anthony could go to White Plains, New York, to see the WWE Live, and meet with his hero, John Cena. Mr. Cena was incredibly generous with his time and autographed anything he wanted, and yes, Anthony even go to wear the WWE World Championship Belt, and take all the pictures they wanted. They all had a great time.

Nothing will bring back Cheryl or Kimberly, but we hold them in our hearts forever. It’s our profound memories of them that will get us through this world, until one day, we are reunited with them. Brent and Anthony are very close to us here at, In Middletown We Trust, and we love them, and wish the all the best in the new year to come.

Confusing Justice

Justice is what you would think everyone should be afforded, at the most basic of levels in our society. It’s expected. And yet, we hear stories time after time of people who are wrongly convicted. Executed for crimes they are found to have been innocent of. And at the very least, arrested for crimes they are not guilty of. That’s where we find ourselves in this story, and beyond actually. It starts with a nasty divorce, where accusations are made, and a family is destroyed. And it lands with a man going to prison, for what I am not convinced was a crime. In fact, I’m not sure what it was, but it certainly didn’t fit the definitions of the crimes they said this man was guilty of.

Ted Taupier is a friend of ours here at, In Middletown We Trust, which has exactly zero relevance, because we will go to the same lengths for anyone, provided they are cooperative, and provide us with all documentation of their story. Ted did do all of this, way beyond the minimum amount of information. It had got to a point where I had so much information, I was confounded how to proceed. So, for that, we thank Ted for the background information. I’m not going to bore all of you with every twist and turn of how this came to be where we are, though we need a starting point.

Ted’s story began with something so common, that occurs every day, without much notice; A Divorce. Yes, a very nasty divorce, brought upon by Ted’s wife, Tanya, and while Ted certainly wasn’t happy about the circumstances, he knew that it was bigger than Tanya, and himself. They had two beautiful children that were bound to suffer some of the fallout from the divorce. Tanya had hired a Criminal Defense Attorney as her Divorce Attorney, and this was evidently a calculated move, because she hired Chris Morano, the Ex- Chief States Attorney. Her opening shot in the divorce was to bring charges against Ted for Voyeurism. You see, during the course of their marriage, they had made many sex tapes, and now she claimed that they were made without her consent. Chris Morano pushed for the warrant in Middletown, Telling Barbara Hoffman that he had seen the evidence, and there was enough for an arrest. So yes, Ted was arrested on Voyeurism charges.

No actual evidence was ever produced, and this occurred in 2012. In the last 3 years, it has been kicked to 4 different prosecutors, and no charges were ever brought for a conviction. This becomes relevant later on as well. Ted managed to maintain some semblance of dignity through this, though he did lose some contracts for the company he owned. He also retained custody of his two children. The story takes an unusual turn on August 22, 2014 though. It was this date where Ted, emailed 6 people, allegedly in anger, and in a numbered list of 10 bullet points, stated different facts about distances from Judge Bozzuto’s house (The Judge handling his divorce), bullet drop rates, and other facts relating to the nature of ballistics of high power rifles. I’ve personally read the email, many times in fact. While I can say it may have been written in anger, and have an angered tone to it, it never threatened anyone. It surely mentioned Judge Bozzuto’s house. It never mentioned Judge Bozzuto though. This becomes important in a moment.

One of the 6 people whom the email was sent to, grew concerned and forwarded it to the Judicial Marshals, who immediately classified it as a threatening letter, and began proceedings to pass it on to the State Police, so they could arrest Mr. Taupier. On August 27^th, record timing it seems, the Cromwell Police removed the Taupier Children from the Cromwell School System, so that they could be transferred to their mother’s custody. I can’t make these things up, so here’s the YouTube Video: http://youtu.be/JMDdceGIbrM

Ted Taupier was arrested by the Connecticut State Police on August 30, 2014 for Breach of Peace, and 2^nd Degree Threatening, of which he bailed out on $35,000 Cash, and had no bail conditions. On September 2, Ted’s bail was raised to $1.25 Million Dollars, and 47 Bail Conditions were added. Though it took some time, Ted was able to post bond, and two of those bail conditions where that he have GPS Monitoring, and he be placed on house arrest.

This all seems quite extreme for a case with questionable evidence. The evidence was actually very simple: It was the email that Ted sent on August 22^nd, and if you use that to put up against the actual state statute for threatening, it doesn’t qualify. It doesn’t meet the burden of proof, at all. Given this, when Ted was given the option to Plead Guilty on a Plea Bargain, he said absolutely not! And I can’t blame him. He took it to trial, and in front of Judge David Gold, who I know to be a fair Judge typically, he was summarily found guilty, taking the option of having the Judge decide his innocence or guilt, instead of going through the lengthy process of jury selection. As I said, even to this writer, a layperson, the email did not define a threat. His sentencing was due to have been on December 8^th, 2015, though it has been continued a number of times now for reasons I’m not clear on.

What is also still hanging out there, is the Voyeurism Charge, that nothing was ever done with. Still, nothing has ever been done with it. Perhaps it will get thrown out once Ted is sentenced, but no one really knows. The real question is, what happened to justice? Ted Taupier is a homeowner and tax payer, and a former business owner. He can certainly become one again, but at the moment he has been tried and convicted, for threatening, when he clearly did not do the actual crime. What this smells of is one Judge covering for another, just because they’re all part of the same good ol’ boys club, and justice be damned. Ted Taupier’s life was already being negatively affected when this divorce began, and now, apparently he has no rights, laws have been specially written for him, and when his sentencing comes up- whenever that actually is- Ted will be going to prison, where you the taxpayers will pay $138 per day to care for him, for up to 6 years. A man ruined. A family ruined. A father ruined. And children left without their father when they need him the most.

I’m not writing this because I want you to feel sorry for one man, rather I want you to feel sorry for society, because when judges can convict people and send them to prison on a whim, just because he wants to, more or less, I want you to feel sorry for society, because this isn’t the America I grew up in.

Inmate’s Food Post Raises Hell

Earlier today, we posted a picture on Facebook, of food, that an inmate in a Correctional Facility could purchase, and is popular around the holiday’s, and the long and short of it: People went ape shit! We regularly share our posts in different groups, relating in everything from “I grew up in Middletown, CT”, to “CT Conservatives”, and everything in between. It gets our posts out there for people to read, and at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. What became very clear, very quickly, is nobody really gives a damn about inmates, or what they eat, and basically they’re sub- human, and should be fed gruel and toilet water.

The other resounding feeling that was related, was we wouldn’t feel that way if we were victims of these criminals. I’m sorry, did I miss something? How does anyone know that any of us here at, In Middletown We Trust, aren’t victims of violent crime?

Speaking for myself, someone attempted to murder me in 2012, and that person received 22 years in prison for it. But I forgave that person before he was sentenced, and I said it to his face. It wasn’t one of those I’ll forgive him to God, and he’ll get his punishment. No, that man is going to serve his punishment knowing he doesn’t hold that power over me, and he’ll remember me forgiving him before he was sentenced.

The original goal of that post wasn’t to raise all sorts of hell before Christmas, but to get people to be thankful for what they have. Most of you failed miserably. You showed what is wrong with this world. Hate. You didn’t even show common decency for the simple fact that inmates are people too. Human Beings that make mistakes, the same as you and me. The difference? They got caught, and you didn’t. Everyone, everyday, breaks laws that people are sitting in prison for right now. In a world full of problems, you added to them, instead of trying to show kindness, and maybe create some peace.

But you don’t need me to tell you this, because deep down you already know it, and the forgiveness you seek is between you and God. I’ve said my peace. I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday. Merry Christmas.

Connecticut to open prison for inmates of ages 18 to 25

So, we shared this story this afternoon from the Hartford Courant, and then the Middletown Press came out with the story as well. I agree, the prisons in Connecticut, are just that, prisons. In no way are they Correctional Institutions, as they would have you believe by the name of basically every facility in the state, and yes, they are terribly overcrowded, due mainly to the Judicial System’s malicious use of incarceration for low level, non- violent, offenders, causing said overcrowding.

Believe it or not, there are, on a regular basis, inmates sleeping on the floor of gymnasiums, and other larger rooms, that they may or may not describe as “Dorms”. What this is in reality is, 120 Men or Women, grouped together, sleeping in a 4 inch thick mattress, on the floor, and they share 3 toilets, and the same number of showers. You can say what you want, that these are criminals, and they deserve what they get, and so on and so forth, but we tend to forget one major thing: They’re human beings!!!

As much as it may pain you all to hear this, 95% of Inmates are going to get out of Prison at one point or another. When you “Warehouse” Inmates instead of actually reforming them, you contribute to the problem, not solve it. Prison is not, and it never was intended, to be a place to warehouse people that broke the law, and remove them from society. Here’s a reality check; Prisons, or Correctional Institutions, are part of Society whether you agree or not. It’s a fact. And as part of society, we have a responsibility to reform these men and women, through programs in drug rehabilitation, domestic violence, mental health, sexual behavior, or whatever other issue that bring people to break the law, and end up in prison in the first place. Currently, we don’t do that, and we have a recidivism rate of 50%. It there a wonder why? Absolutely not. Because no one cares.

Now, we are going to build a prison for Inmates between the ages of 18 and 25 years old, for what Connecticut’s Correctional Commissioner, Scott Semple, says “The prison also would protect those inmates from abuse and manipulation by older prisoners.”

I’m sorry, Mr. Semple, but perhaps you just landed in that job straight out of high school or college, because that reasoning, is f!$%ing idiotic! I can imagine that the average person doesn’t know what it’s like in Connecticut’s Prison’s, and that’s about the most unfortunate thing about this whole thing, because if you did, as Mr. Semple I hope would, you would know that that kind of thing rarely happens anymore. Again, I’m sorry to disappoint, but prison in Connecticut is nothing like you’ve ever seen on TV or in the Movies. Connecticut Prison’s are businesses, where employee’s go to work, mostly the Correctional Officer’s themselves, and their job is to watch over, and respond to any problems. Period. Other than that, prison’s, from an inmates point of view, operate like any other community. There are rules and lines you just don’t cross, and you live your life in accordance with those rules, until your time is done. Then you go home, hopefully to never return. No one there is taking advantage of anyone. Fights do happen rarely, because let’s face it, disagreements happen, like they do anywhere. As to other heinous acts that you’d imagine happening; it really doesn’t, because it isn’t tolerated by those same “older inmates” that Mr. Semple is trying to protect the younger ones from.

My prediction: Well, ask anyone who works, or has worked at Manson Youth Institute in Cheshire, CT. That facility is the same type of facility that’s being described here, and the overwhelming opinion is that the “Kids” at M.Y.I., as it’s often referred to as, is pure anarchy. The kids there only have so much oversight from the Correctional Officer’s, and staff, and left to run their own “community”, I’ll go out on a limb and say that the most fights, assaults, thefts, and overall Administrative Directive Violation’s, occur at this facility. And now you want to make another one. Good luck with that.

Well, no one is bothering to reform any inmates anyway, so why should anyone be worried that the State is building another facility, where, if it runs anything like M.Y.I., parents may not get their “kids” back, because someone serving a life sentence, and happens to be under 25, has now stabbed another inmate to death. This is the reality we are dealing with people. Don’t hate the player, hate the game. 

Christmas is That Crazy Time of Year!

Christmas, as I see it

 By Libertatem Orator

Yeah, I’m not immune to it either. I’m feeling the Christmas spirit lately, but it’s caused me to reflect on Christmas’ from the past. Make no mistake, Christmas is a commercial holiday. Yes, there is the traditional Catholic and Christian view that December 25^th marks the birth of Jesus, the Christ, or Messiah (for those of you not in the theological know), although it’s widely debated that Jesus was born actually in later March, or Early April. Well, for those that don’t know, Christmas is what it is, when it is, due mainly to the Winter Solstice, and the pagan holiday where the sun remains along the same horizontal line for 3 days. So, the Church hitched on to this, and bang! December 25^th it is!

Thoroughly confused yet? Sorry about that. But yes, that is how Christmas came to be December 25^th. Back to what I originally said though, today, it is a commercial holiday. We are more concerned about celebrating the birth of the newest X-Box, rather than the birth of Jesus. And just recently, within the last couple decades at least, Black Friday has proved it, hands down. Or hands in fists, if you want that Tickle-Me-Elmo. Ok, I’ll admit, I went one year, just because I had to see the insanity for myself. And when I pulled up to Best Buy at 4am, and there was a row of tents already lined down the front of the store, I knew the proverbial cheese, had slid off the cracker of humanity.

The good news though, friends, is I believe, with this passing year, we are seeing the demise of Black Friday, because it’s just not what it was anymore. So, I predict, that Black Friday is suffering from a slow death. Perhaps we can get back to celebrating good times with friends and family once again, without worrying about having to take a second mortgage to finance your child’s must have toy’s. After all, that’s what Santa is for anyway, right? Let him foot some of the bill!

Now, don’t jump on me, because the whole, “Is he real, or isn’t he real? Thing. All I have to say is that guy did miracles for the 7 year old Autistic Child on Facebook yesterday. So, he’s real. Case closed. Now, this whole organization, In Middletown We Trust, is a politically motivated website, mainly conservative, but we’re all for the greater good, no matter the side. So, with that said, you can’t think of Christmas’s past, without thinking about what happened in 1989. I was a younger man back then (weren’t we all?), but right before Christmas, the Berlin Wall came down, and with it the Iron Curtain fell. Until very recently, my family had a very elderly relative that lived in Bremen, Germany, and she lived to the great age of 99, God Bless her. This of course means that she was exposed to all the unfortunate realities of being German in the 20^th Century. So, I know it’s been 26 years now, but let’s be glad that among all the other problems we have in this world, communism really isn’t on our radar much anymore.

This Christmas, I thank God for being an American. I thank him for giving me the freedoms given me; to write articles like this. To argue my case, and be granted due process when I have a grievance. To be free to say, Thank you God! Many people in this world don’t have these most basic of freedoms. I’m thankful that I’m able to give back where I can, and maybe make someone smile once in a while. I’m thankful to have a job, and a roof over my head, and food in the fridge, when so many others have none of that. Maybe you don’t have a lot, but be thankful for what you do have, and if you have the ability, pay it forward and help out someone else. So, it’s with great pleasure that I have the freedom, to say may you all have a Merry Christmas!

(And if you’re offended by the Starbucks Cup- get a Sharpie, and some Creativity!)

Remembering Pearl Harbor

Remembering Pearl Harbor

By Brian E. Clark

This isn’t going to be a long diatribe on how great of a loss we suffered on that fateful Sunday Morning, December 7^th, 1941. It is true, it was a national tragedy, and 2,403 men and women died that day. It was this unfortunate incident that finally pushed us in to World War II, where, again, hundreds of thousands of American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines were killed and wounded, with many more civilians senselessly murdered for no purpose but evil. But it was our participation in this war that ended that tyranny, and stopped that evil, and restored freedom around the world once again. It’s this day, among many others, that remind us, that freedom comes at a cost. God Bless those that served.

Books Through Bars

 Books Through Bars

By Brian E. Clark

As we covered yesterday, I am an Advocate for anyone who finds themselves behind a Defense Table in a Courtroom. My Advocacy doesn’t stop there, because I may be one of the last people on the face of the earth that recognizes if Society takes the measures to lock someone up, that society has a responsibility to reform that person in a Correctional setting. Unfortunately, our current situation with the Connecticut Department of Corrections, no one is being reformed, and certainly no one is being corrected. People are being warehoused. Plain and simple, and I wish I could say otherwise, but that’s the facts.

The total population counts as of 12/1/2015, is 16,025 incarcerated inmates, and at a cost of $138 per inmate, per day, our cost is $2,211,450 per day. And that is a cost to “warehouse” people. And let us not forget that fact, these are people. These are mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters. Somehow, we as a society have gotten away from our responsibility to actually reform these people. However, that is a story for another time. Now that I’ve wowed you with some insane numbers and costs. Let’s get to why we are really here: Books.

I’m only going to concentrate on one facility, Hartford Correctional Center, where I have the most contacts, and where most inmates are pre-trial, meaning they are waiting for a disposition in their case. Hartford CC, however, is one of the facilities with the least amount of services. There is no school unless for GED, and you have to be under 21 years old. There is no library, and besides Religious Programs, there are few other services available.

As an Advocate, I work closely with the Catholic Chaplain, Sister Jerilyn Hunihan, to provide paperback books for the inmates there. We both accept donations of Paperback Books, and I’m here to break it down how you can help us out during the Holiday season. If you have any amount of Paper Back Books; It doesn’t matter the topic. Fiction & Non- Fiction, please contact me at clarkofmiddletown@live.com, and I will arrange with you either you dropping them off to me locally, or I can come to you, or we can meet. The other option is the Sister lives in Higganum, and we can arrange for you to meet with her. We really need books! All books that enter Hartford Correctional Center, come through Sr. Jerilyn, who then distributes the books to the inmates. Please help us this Holiday season! These inmates are hungry for knowledge, and reading helps to educate them, and can possibly change the way they live their lives after they are released. We would appreciate it greatly! Thank you, and have a Blessed Christmas Season! 

Business as Usual...

Business as Usual…

By Brian E. Clark

Something people may not know about me, is that I’m a Human Rights Advocate, in regards to prisoners, or inmates, if you will. What I’m ultimately referring to is the person that ends up at the defense table in a courtroom. Now that all said, I came in to doing this because I have witnessed through the years, that our Criminal Justice System is broken at its most fundamental of levels. Some, at this point, may be saying “What are you talking about? Bad people commit crimes and go to jail. The End. What’s so broken about that?” Well, that’s only a small responsibility of our Judicial system, and while we could expand on that, we’re going to take a different view of how things are today.

I had the pleasure of witnessing a Family Court Division Courtroom in full operation today, and this is where, post- divorce, and dealing with child support; be it contempt motions, or modifications, or custody issues, this is the section of the courthouse where nerves are raw, and drama is at the highest. And rightfully so, the decisions being made here are affecting families, mothers, fathers, and especially children. Now, that all said, I chose to write about this as opposed to Criminal Part A, or Part B Courts, exactly why I just said; the decisions made here, effect families. Real people, that are just trying to live their lives to the best of their abilities, and frankly, I’m not sure the court does everyone justice in these cases. But, I’ll explain, don’t worry.

Family Court is only one way I provide my advocacy services, I do criminal as well, in fact as recent as last night. But today, I found myself in Family Court, and let us keep in mind the season we are in; Christmas and the Holidays. Most of the cases called had to do with Child support, and in any given day, that is extremely typical. Sometimes one party hasn’t paid in sometime due to whatever reason, be it joblessness, or underemployment. Other times, one party is looking for more in the way of financial support, due to the change in work status with the other party. Either way, it always comes down to money. And I’ll say this: Kids cost money. I know, I have two myself. They’re not cheap. So, I get it.

Here’s what confuses the living daylights out of me though (And I saw it happen twice today), because (In these cases, the fathers were unemployed) and they could not pay their child support, due to their obvious unemployment situation, they were then incarcerated. Thrown in jail. I’m sorry, did I miss something? Because two men, did not have jobs, and therefore could not pay their child support, they were then, thrown in jail. In this case, until they could then pay, or 30 days, whichever came first. If someone is having difficulty securing employment, I’m pretty sure that throwing them in jail, may add a bump in that road. I can understand the reasoning behind incarceration for failure to pay, if there is evidence that they are just unwilling to pay. But it boggles my mind, how incarcerating someone is going to encourage someone in to paying child support. In fact, let’s leave alone the financial implications. Now, the child in question, has a father, that has been put in jail, ultimately removing a parent from that child’s life. I do not see how this can be productive in “achieving justice” for the child in question.

The second item I’d like to bring up, just because it’s been a concern of a lot of folks I’ve advocated for in cases such as this. The money that is paid in child support; that is cash money that can be spent on anything, and I do mean anything. How do we know that that money is being spent on the child it is intended for? For example: If you receive SNAP Benefits: That can only be spent on food, because that is what it is intended for. Though Child Support is free and clear cash, that has itemized list on what it can be spent on. In all reality, that money could buy cases of Scotch, and the child would never see a dime of it. What I propose is a system like the SNAP Program, where Child Support Payments that go through Child Support Enforcement, be limited to only be able be spent on items for the child.  Call it far- fetched, but it’s yet another example of how the system is broken.

The examples I brought up are small, small, examples of how the system is broken in my view. You may agree or not, but that’s what makes us a great nation. But the conversation needs to be started so we can move in the direction of correcting the wrongs. I’m sure these systems were put in place with the best intentions, but there’s always someone who will exploit, and circumvent the system, and turn it in to the crooked system it is. All I ask is we begin the conversation. Thank you.

Warming Centers Open In Middletown

Warming Centers to Open in Middletown

By Libertatem Orator

Warming Centers will be available in the City of Middletown, at the South Congregational Church beginning tomorrow, and working in conjunction with the Church of The Holy Trinity, at 381 Main Street, and will operate through April 2^nd. The South Congregational Church, at 9 Pleasant Street (opposite of The South Green), will operate from Nov. 29 to Dec. 12; Jan. 10 to Feb. 6; and March 6 to April 2. The Church of The Holy Trinity will operate Dec. 13 to Jan. 9; and Feb. 7 to March 5.

Free breakfast will be provided daily at St. Vincent de Paul, 617 Main St., beginning at 7 a.m. The warming center is sponsored by the Mayor’s Taskforce on Homelessness with funding from the Middletown Health Department and in-kind services donated by River Valley Services. For more information, call 860-344-0097, ext. 11.

It’s been the objective of this writer, to eliminate homelessness in Middletown for quite some time, and while we have made some strides in that direction recently, with the group, The Connection, securing the site of Middletown Manufacturing on Stack Street in Middletown, to build a 19 unit low income housing apartment complex. While that’s a step in the right direction, it’s a far cry from what is truly needed to solve the homelessness issue in the City of Middletown.

I’d like to remind everyone that The Connection also runs The Eddy Shelter at 1 LaBella Circle, located near the grounds of Connecticut Valley Hospital. Their phone number is 860-343-5520. If you are homeless, or you have found yourself in between housing units, however you want to describe it, please call The Connection. These people can work miracles in your life, I have personally seen it. Another option is the Middletown Housing Authority, although not as miraculous, they can help as well. Call them at (860) 346-8671. The final option that may be able to help you is CRT, located on Hamlin Street, call them at (860) 347-4465.

I realize that the last paragraph reads more like a phone book than a news article, but here’s the point: I don’t much care if it helps you in the end. Homelessness is an epidemic in this country, and no, I don’t believe our civic leaders and government do enough to help. So, if I have to list a few phone numbers to help, so be it. Please stay warm this winter season. Please take care of yourselves. And those of us, that can help, let us help. The bell ringers are out there people! Drop a buck to help these people! That is all for now. Until my next diatribe, please be well, and be well to your neighbor. 

Happy Thanksgiving Middletown!

Happy Thanksgiving Middletown!

By Libertatem Orator

Middletown Residents, Happy Thanksgiving! It’s this day where we stop, and pause, and reflect on those things for which we are grateful for. Today, I want to go a different direction, however, and ask God, to help me remember the hungry, when I have food to eat. To remember the unemployed when I have work. To remember the homeless, when I am home. To remember the suffering, when I am in good health. Help me destroy my complacency, and help me show compassion. Help me to help others in any way I can. Help me respond to those who cry out, and meet their needs to the best of my ability.

There was a Holiday season, where I committed myself to blocking out all commercialism, and celebrate the Thanksgiving and Christmas season for exactly what they were meant for. Make no mistake, it was extremely difficult, but enormously rewarding. I’m not saying to do that, but maybe pay attention to the true meaning of the holidays, and maybe just once in a while, stop and reflect on what we were given as the ultimate gift so long ago. That of course relates to Christianity, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be for just Christians. No matter what religion we follow, or what our beliefs are, it’s never a bad idea to reflect, and give thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I am thankful for all of you. You make up my home city, and that, is irreplaceable.

Kyron Horman: Missing for Over 5 Years, and Needs Your Help

By Brian E. Clark

Kyron Horman was 7 years old when he went missing from Skyline Elementary School, in Portland Oregon, June 4^th, 2010. He hasn’t been seen since. Why is that important to us here in Middletown, Connecticut? Because if your child went missing, you’d want someone in Portland, Oregon to be just as concerned. I have to admit, I was vaguely familiar with this case, when a new Facebook friend reminded me of it. I am a father myself, and I would be destroyed if my child ever went missing, and with this case, Kyron has been gone so long, that it is entirely possible that he traveled to this side of the country. He could be among us right now, and without knowledge, we wouldn’t know it. It’s a fairly complicated story, but one that needs to be told. Kyron, and his Step-Mother, Terri Moulton Horman, arrive shortly after 8am on June 4^th, 2010 at the Skyline Elementary School, for the school’s science fair. Ay 8:15am Gina Zimmerman, the PTA President arrives, and see’s Kyron and his Step-Mother in front of his exhibit. At 8:45am, Terri Horman leaves, reportedly after seeing Kyron walking towards his classroom. At 9am, another student see’s Kyron near the South Entrance of the school, according to Sheriff Dan Stanton, but later retracts that statement. At 10am, Classes begin, and Kyron’s homeroom teacher, Kristina Porter, reports him absent. It should be noted that this is the first time anyone reports Kyron absent, or missing, and Kyron is never seen again. At 1:21pm Terri Horman posts photos of Kyron at the science fair, on her Facebook Page. At 3:30pm, Terri goes to meet the bus, and discovers for the first time that Kyron was reported absent. It’s later revealed that Kaine Horman, Kyron’s father, is with Terri to meet the bus. At 3:46pm the Skyline School secretary calls 911 to report Kyron missing, and the police arrive simultaneously at the school and at the Horman home. I could continue to go on with the timeline, but needless to say, it is very involved, and rest assured that the alarm is sounded, search parties are formed, and searches of every inch of local land is searched, to no avail. In fact, nothing, no evidence is ever found of Kyron. Facebook pages are created, reward money is raised ($50,000), and a website is made (www.bringkyronhome.org), are all done. Later in June, it seems a huge rift is caused between Kaine, Kyron’s father, and Terri, his step mother. Although Terri was never charged or named as a suspect, she was given a polygraph. She was actually given three, and failed them all. Later, on June 26^th, 1 of 2,  911 calls come from the Horman home. The first was classified as a “threat”, the second a “custody issue”. What’s very clear is Kaine and Terri are done. Kaine takes Kiara, the couples 19 month old daughter, and leaves the house. In the following days, a restraining order is taken out against Terri Horman. There is a point on June 28^th, where People Magazine asks Terri Horman’s Father, whether his daughter will be arrested, and he replies “50/50”. July 8^th, Kaine Horman asks a Multnomah County judge to make Terri Horman vacate his house. On July 12^th, Criminal defense attorney, Stephen Houze,  notifies the court that Terri Horman will not contest her husband's restraining order or his push to force her out of their Portland home. Unfortunately, the timeline from here goes on for much longer that I can write here, but I’ll touch on the highlights. Kaine and Terri divorce. Kaine gets full custody of Kiara, their daughter. At one point, Desiree Young, Kyron’s biological mother, files a civil lawsuit against Terri Horman, seeking $10 Million in damages, and accuses Terri of kidnapping, and compels her to reveal what she did with Kyron. The suit is later dropped. Terri Horman tries on a few different occasions, failing each time, to have her name changed. To date, it’s cost the State of Oregon over a Million dollars to conduct an investigation in to the disappearance of Kyron Horman. No Evidence has ever been found. Perhaps it’s just speculation on my part, but I think the only person who can shed light on what happened to Kyron, is Terri Horman. On September 9^th of this year, Kyron would have turned 13 years old. As Thanksgiving approaches, his family will have yet another holiday without their son. We hold out hope that Kyron is alive out there. With the time that has passed, he could be anywhere. Please look at the picture, and if you think you’ve seen Kyron Horman, please call the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office at 503-261-2847. Help bring this boy home to his family.

15 Turkey Fryer Safety Tips from South Fire District

Everything is better deep-fried, and a Thanksgiving turkey is no exception. But with that delicious cooking method comes a myriad of risks.

According to data from State Farm, more cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year. November is the number one month for grease and cooking related fire and December is the second highest month.
https://learningcenter.statefarm.com/safety-2/15-turkey-fryer-safety-tips/

If you plan to deep-fry your holiday bird, be sure you know how to safely use the fryer, and take these precautions to protect yourself, your guests and your home:

 1. Keep outdoor fryers off decks, out of garages and a safe distance away from trees and other structures.

 2. Make sure the turkey is thawed and dry before cooking. Ice or water that mixes into the hot oil can cause flare-ups.

 3. Watch the weather. Never operate a fryer outdoors in the rain or snow.

 4. Place the fryer on a level surface, and avoid moving it once it’s in use.

 5. Leave 2 feet between the tank and the burner when using a propane-powered fryer.

 6. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid overfilling. Oil can ignite when it makes contact with the burner.

 7. Choose a smaller turkey for frying. A bird that's 8 to 10 pounds is best; pass on turkeys over 12 pounds.

 8. Never leave fryers unattended.

 9. Purchase a fryer with temperature controls, and watch the oil temperature carefully. Cooking oil that is heated beyond its smoke point can catch fire. If you notice the oil is smoking, turn the fryer off.

10. Turn off the burner before lowering the turkey into the oil. Once the turkey is submerged, turn the burner on.

11. Wear goggles to shield your eyes, use oven mitts to protect your hands and arms and keep a grease-rated fire extinguisher close by.

12. Skip the stuffing when frying turkey, and avoid water-based marinades.

13. Keep children and pets away from the fryer at all times.

14. Once finished, carefully remove the pot from the burner, place it on a level surface and cover to let the oil cool overnight before disposing.

15. Opt for an oil-less fryer. This uses infrared heat, rather than oil, to cook the turkey.


Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

- South Fire District

The Middletown insider returns!

When we had begun to plan our site out for development, it was a dark time in Middletown Politics. The Democrats had just ran away with the Election, and then suddenly, without warning, the Middletown Insider was shut down, due to mysterious, and conveniently timed complaints. We certainly had no ideas of taking over, but as time went on, things looked bleak. We had been in contact with the Insider’s staff regularly, and we’d approached them with the idea of this site, and frankly, we offered it to them to run as their own. They persevered, however, and there was talk of naming a new editor. We offered up Libertatem Orator, to take the place as the new editor. They made the right decision though, and named William Boylan, as their new editor, allowing us to proceed with our project, while they moved forward with theirs.

We, frankly, didn’t think it would work out for them. They’d had complaints in the past, however unfounded they were. But, it was enough to shut them down, a few different times. What we don’t understand, and it’s a valid point of confusion, is how they were allowed to be shut down. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights, are pretty clear documents. There is no deciphering that must be done. No code to be broken. It’s written in the best English possible, and when it says “free speech”, that’s pretty clear. “Freedom of Press” is another uncomplicated phrase. In fact, let’s just take a look at the First Amendment as a whole:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

Yup! Pretty clear, at least to me. I know Google has their own set of rules, but this is a document that trumps all the rules you want to make. I also happen to know that with Google, Facebook, and the like, that if you throw any kind of complaint at them, they’ll act first and ask questions later. It sucks for the guy who didn’t do anything, but it allows people who plainly just don’t like what someone says, to at least, get a temporary win in their column. The way that this process is handled seriously needs to be reviewed, because in the meantime, justice, and freedoms are tossed by the wayside.

We are happy that the Insider is back. And you can bet, if shenanigans happen like this again, we’ll be there to call it out, and I believe they’ll do the same for us. We all have to co-exist peacefully, and we will, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have the right to question our leaders when an issue arises. That’s how this country was founded. We may be getting further and further away from how things used to be, but you can rest assured, that someone is still on watch to protect our most basic freedoms. 

John Fitzgerald Kennedy: A Man We Will Never Forget

By Libertatem Orator

52 Years ago today, around 12:30pm, one of our greatest Presidents, was killed by an assassins bullet. Sure, there’s a hundred conspiracy theories out there on how, and why, it happened. What is not a theory, is a great man was taken from us. Not only our President, but he was a son, a brother, a husband, father, and uncle. Everyone lost on that fateful day.

Little known facts about JFK, that contributed to making him the great man we knew: First being elected to the House of Representatives in 1947, and serving in public office for the next 16 years, Mr. Kennedy never accepted a salary. He donated the salaries he was paid, including the $100K per year as President, to various charities. Another little known fact, is JFK failed his military physical exam, and used his father’s connections to be accepted, and serve in the Navy. Unfortunately, it turns a bit darker from here. As a devout Catholic, he was given last rites 4 times; 3 times before ever taking office. There were 4 other assassination attempts on his life before Dallas. He was, and still is, the only U.S. President awarded the Purple Heart. JFK was the only President to ever be outlived by his Grandmother. And, finally, eerily, the limo in which JFK was assassinated in, was cleaned, and used by other U.S. Presidents until 1977.

If John F. Kennedy was alive today, he would be 98 years old. Certainly not an impossible feat by today’s medical breakthroughs. We are led to believe that Lee Harvey Oswald was the one to kill the president. Maybe we’ll find out differently, maybe we won’t. To this writer, it doesn’t matter very much; a life was taken too soon. I can’t help but wonder how different history would have played out if JFK served out his term. Perhaps it’s just an opinion, but I think this world would have been a better place to live, if John F. Kennedy was allowed to live. 

We Will Not Be Silenced

By Libertatem Orator

November 5^th, 2015, two days after the election, a basic freedom was taken from us. The Middletown Insider, after being around for a long time, and popular enough to have well over 500,000 views, was shut down because of complaints. One can only speculate from who, or for what. The Insider was a fair site, that published mostly everything that was sent them. One of the last letters, written by Brian Clark, the Write In Candidate for Mayor, may have been the straw to break the camel’s back. Clark alleged that the Election was akin to a National Tragedy, such as 9/11. That may have been a little much, but it is true that keeping the Democrats in control of the City of Middletown, is a tragedy in itself. That, however is a story for another time.

The fact that the freedom of speech was taken away from the people of the Middletown Insider was the motivating factor that made us come out with, In Middletown We Trust. We are here to carry on the torch of freedom of speech, mainly for the Conservative movement, but we certainly will not turn anyone away that has a valid story or letter. We will not tolerate hate, violence, or threats. We intend to fully exercise our right of freedom of speech, within the limits of the law.

We can’t do this alone though. We want, and need you to send in your letters and articles on what concerns you about what is going on here in Middletown, and in the State of Connecticut. We have 4 more years of Democratic control here in Middletown, and knowledge is power. The more we expose the truth about what is really going on behind the scenes, the more we can keep our leaders accountable to the citizens of Middletown. It’s In Middletown We Trust, not Dan Drew and the Democratic leadership. Somehow, the word trust doesn’t fit in that sentence.