Brooklyn Center groups work together to donate books

By SARAH BINGAMAN SCHWARTZ - Sun Newspapers

(Created: Friday, March 23, 2007 9:43 AM CDT)

Brooklyn Center residents are willing to pitch in and help one another, and the city's organizations do so as well.

In the last few weeks, three groups got together to secure a book for every student at Evergreen Park World Studies Elementary.

Earl Simons, a volunteer at the school, got the ball rolling.

"Jennifer Jorde was starting a program at the school and wanted to know if the Lions would like to get involved," Simons said. "The Lions would get the books and the students would get them as awards in a game."

Simons said Brooklyn Center Lions did not have as much money as it used to, but he said he would give it a try.

So he called Diane Sannes with the Friends of the Brookdale Library.

"I knew the library had book sales every year," Simons said. "I contacted Diane about purchasing books from them before they get out to the public."

Simons suggested the Lions make a donation to the Friends in exchange for the books to give to the students.

"We were able to make a donation to take care of their projects, and they gave us the books," he said.

Sannes said the Friends would use the donation to fund summer children's programs at the library, including a LegoMania event, Read to Win teen program and purchasing Realia Learning Toys.

The 530 students will play Books for Bingo to win their book, said Jorde, a speech therapist at Evergreen Park.

"We have a celebration at the end of each quarter and the kids are given awards for their International Baccalaureate profiles," Jorde said.

Jorde was excited about the books for the students. She said they are great books, on all kinds of topics, and they are hardcover.

Simons said the whole plan just came together perfectly.

"It was kind of a small project, but everyone was pretty pleased with it," he said. "It just couldn't have fit better."

Simons has been a volunteer at the school for three years. He listens to students read during the "Early Eagles" before-school program.

"It's a lot of fun," Simons said. "There's a lot of energy with those young kids."

Kyrgyzstan gets opposition PM

President Bakiev faces the
threat of more street protests


By Natalia Antelava
BBC News, Almaty



The Prime Minister of the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan, Azim Isabekov, has resigned amid growing political turmoil.

A moderate opposition leader, Almaz Atambayev, has been named in his place.

The appointment, initiated by President Kurmanbek Bakiev, could be an attempt to appease his opponents, who have called for him to step down

It is the first time an opposition politician has been made a prime minister in Central Asia.

But is the appointment a sign of a healthy democracy, or of a weak government that is struggling to survive?

The Kyrgyz government says its doing its best to preserve stability, and that this appointment shows that President Bakiev is willing to compromise.

The move could indeed lower the political temperature, but it is not likely to satisfy Mr Bakiev's more radical opponents.

Protest threat

They are led by Felix Kulov, the president's former ally, who was until two months ago himself the prime minister.

In early April, Mr Kulov and his supporters plan to call for the president's resignation in street protests that they say will be similar to those that brought Mr Bakiev to power in 2005, when he ousted his predecessor Askar Akaev.

Since then, his critics say, Mr Bakiev has failed to deliver on promises to fight corruption and lift the country out of poverty.

Kyrgyzstan's political troubles are also of concern beyond its borders.

America's only remaining military base in Central Asia lies just outside the capital Bishkek. It is a crucial operation that supplies NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Dog Performs Heimlich Maneuver On Owner

POSTED: 12:02 pm EDT March 27, 2007
UPDATED: 9:18 am EDT March 28, 2007

CALVERT, Md. -- Toby, a 2-year-old golden retriever, saw his owner choking on a piece of fruit and began jumping up and down on the woman's chest.

The dog's owner believes the dog was trying to perform the Heimlich maneuver and saved her life.

Debbie Parkhurst, 45, of Calvert told the Cecil Whig she was eating an apple at her home Friday when a piece lodged in her throat. She attempted to perform the Heimlich maneuver on herself but it didn't work. After she began beating on her chest, she said Toby noticed and got involved.

"The next thing I know, Toby's up on his hind feet and he's got his front paws on my shoulders," she recalled. "He pushed me to the ground, and once I was on my back, he began jumping up and down on my chest."

That's when the apple dislodged and Toby started licking her face to keep her from passing out, she said.

"I literally have pawprint-shaped bruises on my chest. I'm still a little hoarse, but otherwise, I'm OK," Parkhurst said.

"The doctor said I probably wouldnt be here without Toby," said Parkhurst, a jewelry artist. "I keep looking at him and saying 'Youre amazing."'

Copyright 2007 by wbaltv.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

East Bethel man says snowmobiler "gunned" sled and hit him

Tim Kishel admits he lost it last night.

"It just breaks my heart when they tear things up like this and have no respect for my property," Kishel said.

According to Kishel, dozens of snowmobilers tore through and tore up the yard of his East Bethel home over the weekend. Last night he confronted one and said as he was walking up to the driver, the driver gunned the motor and hit him.

Kishel said the driver sped away and left him with bruises on his body and scratches on his head. Kishel said he called 911.

An army of snowmobilers took to the trails this weekend to enjoy the snow from last week's storm. Anoka County Sheriff's Deputy Tim Sink said he issued a lot of tickets.

"They're riding up closer into people's yards," Sink said. "Trying to find smooth spots is what they are doing. They need to stay down in the ditches."

Tim Kishel wishes they would. He says he recently spent three thousand dollars to improve his yard.

"We're trying to grow some pine trees and some natural prairie-type grasses," Kishel said.

Kishel put up several signs to protect the area but he said snowmobilers knocked them down. He said he's considering putting up a snow fence, but he believes that may get knocked down too.

Kishel said most snowmobilers who pass by his house are polite and that it's a small group that causes trouble.

"I try to be patient," Kishel said. "Sometimes I'm not that good at it."

Some see it as a snow storm while others...

Snow Storm 2007