Hottie of the Week Christina Walsh aka Capri Anderson

Charlie Sheen has really good taste in women but really poor judgement when it comes to how to have fun with them. Case in point the 22 year old Ms. Walsh better known as Capri Anderson, whose quote "I'm not a prostitute" pretty much says it all, found herself naked and locked in Mr. Sheen's closet when the NYPD officers arrived at Sheen's hotel room last month.

Makes you wonder if something isn't wrong with Charlie Sheen after all the girl is Cedar Post's hottie of the week!

What Politicos Like Charlotte's Edwin Peacock, The 3rd Should Not To Tweet

Years ago I worked for a company whose president, filled the company's monthly newsletter with details of his personal life in a section titled "The View from The Top".

He often wrote about family events, trips and vacations, rather than focus on company issues. His tales of spending Christmas skiing the Swiss Alps, his summer free diving in the islands, and hunting big horn sheep in Montana during the winter, are a good example. He wrote about shopping with his wife in London, and New York, and his travels were always sprinkled with some "A" list celebrity encounters just for good measure.

No one in the main office, myself included, had enough backbone to suggest he tone it down. In fact, he believed everyone loved hearing about his trips and all the trouble he went to surprise his wife with that brand new Mercedes for her birthday.

For some reason he never thought about how the people who made his lifestyle possible might feel reading about his lavish spending.

He never understood that to most of his employees watching a football game, having a couple of cold beers and a pizza with close friends qualified as a "hell of a good" weekend.

So along the same lines I can't help but wonder why in the world our Charlotte City Councilman Edwin Peacock, III is tweeting away about his trip to Pebble Beach and his run this weekend in the Big Sur Half Marathon.



@EdwinPeacockIII: Beginning the 17 Mile Drive & now @ the Links @ Spanish Bay on our way to see Peeble Beach. Golf overlooking 30 ft surf. Amazing!

@EdwinPeacockIII: Kids flirting in 50 degree surf w clothes on & no fear! We're just below the Pebble Beach course! http://yfrog.com/65jbyuj

@EdwinPeacockIII: In Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA in search of former Mayor Clint Eastwood. No sightings yet. Maybe that's a good thing.

@EdwinPeacockIII: Pre game warm up underway here for the Big Sur Half Marathon Monterrey Bay CA. Oceanside course looks incredible. Start in 20 min. RunFast!

@EdwinPeacockIII :Stats: MMOB (moi), Big Sur Half Marathon in 1:45:02. MMMOB-Madame Chi (my wife) 1:57:09! The race was breathtaking. Scenic beyond belief!

@EdwinPeacockIII: The official Big Half Marathon medal. A very Northern Cali piece of art! http://yfrog.com/2cn0oij

No doubt it was a great weekend for Councilman Peacock, his wife Amy and their family. His 1:45 time for a half marathon is pretty impressive and the scenery around Big Sur I'm sure is stunning this time of year.

But most of us spent our weekend, raking leaves, mowing the lawn, wondering where our kids will go to school next year, how we'll pay our mortgage if we get a property tax increase and how we'll stretch the $50.00 we have in our checking account until pay day.

While all that Edwin Peacock III could concern himself with this weekend was how great the west coast is and how well he did in the Big Sur Half Marathon.

But that's ok the rest of us worried about the future of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and how much it will end up costing taxpayers, we wondered about the shadyness at CMPD, Mecklenburg County DSS ongoing mess, and how we are going to pay for a light rail system and trolly car none of us will ever use.

Cedar's advice, save the bragging for the company newsletter.

Not Exactly a South Carolina License Plate You See Every Day

Photo by the Author Location Springdale Race Park Camden, South Carolina

Interesting Night Driving Tour of Uptown Charlotte

Watch for Cedar's Black SUV making a rolling right turn on red about 6:41.

Props to @lbstewart for the tweeted heads up on this short video.

Saturday Odd and Ends

Zahra Baker - You most likely didn't miss the sad news that Hickory Police believe that they have located the remains of Zahra Baker.




Cedar Posts first covered the story of the missing young girl back in October, but as the news coverage began to build, it was decided to leave the hype to the Nancy Graces of the world.

Friday's announcement brings a very sad end to a chapter in North Carolina history. A chapter we would all just as soon forget. This is clearly North Carolina's Susan Smith.

Veterans Day - Is an odd holiday of sorts. It has been celebrated all week long although it was officially on Thursday. It is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world, falling on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. Why November 11? Well because World War I formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when Germany signed the Armistice agreement.



Veteran's Day, Veterans' Day or Veterans Day? - While these spellings are grammatically acceptable, the United States government has declared that the attributive (no apostrophe) rather than the possessive case is the official spelling.

Cedar's recent take on two veterans is here and here.

A live video feed from the American Cemetery at Normandy is here.

American Soldiers Who Never Came Home - The opening scenes from the movie Saving Private Ryan remind us all that some of our heroes are buried in France. But unless you look past the media coverage and hype you really can't comprehend how many of our fallen are buried in foreign soil.

The some of American Cemeteries in Europe

Aisne-Marne, France
Ardennes, Belgium
Brittany, France
Brookwood, England
Cambridge, England
Corozal, Panama
Epinal, France
Flanders Field, Belgium
Florence, Italy
Henri-Chapelle, Belgium
Lorraine, France
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Manila, Philippines
Meuse-Argonne, France
Mexico City, Mexico
Netherlands, Netherlands
Normandy, France
North Africa, Tunisia
Oise-Aisne, France
Rhone, France
Sicily-Rome, Italy
Somme, France
St. Mihiel, France
Suresnes, France

A complete data base from the American Battle Monuments Commission is here.

CMPD Using Portable Scanners to ID Latinos

Interesting subject matter that seems to have been passed over by the "Local Paper" and other Charlotte Media. Translated from the European Press Photo story posted on November 13, 2010 and is here. Note my spanish is pretty rusty.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department is testing a portable fingerprint reader that helps identify people who lack documents.



Since the start of November, officers from various divisions of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), have been using the devices which are about the size of a cell phone.

The nine devices, produced by ID Software Company of Georgia, are connected to a database at the Mecklenburg County Jail, and within minutes, can identify the subject's criminal records and arrest warrants.

According to Sergeant Nelson Bowling, supervisor of the pilot program, which runs until December, obtaining fingerprints is "voluntary."

"We will not force anyone," said Bowling. "Our goal is to know who we're dealing with, and to see if the device gives us the correct information."

Without the device, the officers when officer question an individual who lacks a valid ID they run the risk of being offered a false name.

"For now, the service is very limited, we don't have access to state, federal, or immigration databases . If the individual in the past was arrested in Charlotte, is all the data that we can know," he said Bowling.

Since 2006, North Carolina has not issued driver's licenses to immigrants without Social Security and papers that prove their legal status, leaving them in "limbo" being unable to prove their identity to the authorities.

Furthermore, a large number of foreigners in the state do not have a passport from their country of origin.

With the implementation of the 287g program via the Mecklenburg jail four years ago, which identifies and places in deportation proceedings illegal immigrants arrested for any crime, immigrants have avoided contact with the police.

However, a significant amount of more than 9,000 illegal immigrants booked under the 287g deportation program arrived at the jail after CMPD officers arrested them for minor traffic infractions, 25 percent of which had no identification.

CMPD has reiterated that the biggest problem with Hispanics is that they can not prove their identity to the officers and therefore must be brought to a detention facility to be identified.

The police chief, Rodney Monroe, has acknowledged that this has become a problem for the department in dealing with the Hispanic community, and in part has "deteriorated" the relationship with the implementation of 287g.

Although Monroe has not admitted that the fingerprint detector would be a "solution" for the undocumented to avoid the possible deportation when they are detained, he said that it is a tool to "expedite the work of the police."

It remains at the discretion of the officer to imprison a person after they voluntarily put their fingerprints on the device, or simply issue a fine for the offense.

Bowling emphasized that at present many Hispanics have agreed to be digital review and none have been arrested.

For the officer Daniel Hernandez, Hispanic CMPD chief liaison, if an illegal alien does not "owe nothing to the courts, they need not fear."

"This is a way that the police are looking to help the immigrant community but now we understand that there's some fear and uncertainty," he said Hernandez, a Mexican.

Bowling further explained that the scanners are not used to "collect" the footprints of individuals but only to compare to police records.

"This does not solve the root problem that our people have no access to an ID. We must work with local authorities to accept other documents such as the Mexican matriculate consular," said Ruben Campillo, director of community affairs Latin American Coalition.

Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina (ACLU) has requested CMPD policies followed by the unit to implement the program.

In 2008, the ACLU questioned the use of readers by the Police Department of Los Angeles (California), under the premise that the finger prints can not be collected unless the person is arrested.

Cedar Posts Update: FOX News Charlotte's Morgan Fogarty interviews CMPD Major Rick Williams about the scanners here and her April report is here.

CMPD's Major Vicki Foster Heads Down the Hall to Become Acting Deputy Chief

Commentary

Scuttlebutt on a Friday Night how lame. Looks like the memo is for real, Chief Monroe has promoted Vicki Foster to acting Deputy Chief in charge of Investigative Services Group at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

I honestly hope this is a hoax, hell it has to be an hoax.

Musical Interlude

Admittedly I’m stealing this idea from Jeff Taylor at Meck Deck except his musical interludes relate to his posts, this relates to nothing.

WARNING: Watching this video may cause you to have an uncontrollable desire to grow a beard, move to Waco Texas and join a cult.

That or at least you’ll be whistling this song all weekend.



Speaking of Weekend, hope you have a great one and look for Cedar Posts at the Colonial Cup Races in Camden Saturday. Clues biggest pot of chili, lots of beer and many happy faces.

Peace - Out!

Tweet of the Week!

@coreyhutchins:S.C. man, apparently under influence of magic mushrooms, can't remember how mouse ended up in his rectum after burglary http://bit.ly/anIynG

Cedar Says: Don't you get tired of hearing "Only in South Carolina"? But the above story has no other explanation and that makes it the "Tweet of the Week"!

Major Trouble at CMPD

Seems a couple of CMPD Majors have found new ways to get into trouble.

First up a certain un-named Major has apparently stepped into hot water while unknowingly passing a fake $100 dollar bill. If reports are true this Major, when confronted with the bill not clearing the “pen test” simply paid with a couple of legit Jackson’s and failed to report the problem to anyone until several days later.

This might explain yesterday’s visit by the United States Secret Service to CMPD Headquarters.

In another rumor concerning CMPD Majors:

As if the Carolina Panthers weren’t having a bad enough season, one CMPD Major reportedly Larry Blydenburg was spotted snagging players gloves and hats from the team bench after Sunday’s 34-3 loss to New Orleans.

Apparently when challenged about the items hidden in his jacket the Major replied “Everyone does it”. No word on an arrest, suspension or termination. But Cedar Posts really doubts there is much of a market for Panthers memorabilia on eBay these days. No harm No foul but oh so stupid!

Cedar Posts suspects Blydenburg will be booted from the CMPD Reserve Unit, though he can't be fired as he is already formally retired from CMPD.

Veteran's Day (Navy Humor)

In honor of Veterans Day Cedar Posts offers a brief look at a year aboard the US Navy's oldest commissioned warship the USS Constitution.

The U. S. S.. Constitution (Old Ironsides), as a combat vessel, carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers).

However, let it be noted that according to her ship's log, "On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum."

Her mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping."

Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum.

Then she headed for the Azores, arriving there 12 November where she provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine.

On 18 November, she set sail for England.

In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each ship.

By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted.

Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, where her landing party captured a whisky distillery and transferred 40,000gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn.

Then she headed home......

The U. S. S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whisky, and 38,600 gallons of water.

GO NAVY!

Cedar Posts The Unknown Soldier a story about a Marine.

CMPD South Division Officers Step Up to Combat Theft From Autos

Officers Robert Vandergrift (left) and J.D. Russell, are working on the campaign against auto larceny. Photo by Jessica Milicevic

From the "Local Paper"

According to Officer J.D. Russell, the community coordinator for the South Division, larceny from vehicles is one of the top crimes in south Charlotte.

In the past six months, there have been 95 reports of larceny from a vehicle in south Charlotte.

The division has watched these numbers grow and decided to take preventative measures as the holiday season approaches.

"During the holiday season is when we see the most cars getting broken into," said Russell. "Instead of waiting for cars to get broken into and then giving (citizens) tips on safety, we wanted to get a head start and let them know now."

The campaign consists of a police check-point from 5-7 p.m. twice a week. The officers park at various intersections in a selected neighborhood and pass out fliers to the drivers.

"The fliers have safety tips on the back, but the picture on the front is the most important part," said Russell. "It gives people a visual of what could happen to their cars."

The picture depicts a car window that has been shattered, the inside of the car completely cleaned out.

Russell said it's not people from the area who are breaking into cars, but teenagers from other parts of the city.

"Property values are high here," said Russell. "It's the reason teenagers come here to break into cars; they know they can get expensive items to resell."

Today, the CMPD South Division Officers will be in Raintree from 5-7 p.m. Police will be meeting with community members before the checkpoint begins at 4:45 p.m. at the Raintree Clubhouse.

Wednesday's Wild, Weird and Wonderful

Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board - File this under "wild", Last night CMS voted to close Waddell High School and 9 other schools and make changes that will ultimately affect nearly every Mecklenburg family that has school age children. But that wasn't the news. The news was how CMS handled the cost cutting move and the nut parade that went on before the vote. Arrests, shouting, insults and charges of racism abounded.

The board voted 5-4 to close Waddell High and make it the new home for Smith Language Academy, a K-8 magnet. Most other efforts to block or revise the plan failed, often with the board's only two black members on the losing end of votes. More can be found at the "Local Paper" which is here.






At least the CMPD show of force that was used during the last CMS Board meeting was kept to a minimum. With suits and CMS police removing protesters instead of CMPD officers.

The highlight of the crazy evening was omnipresent nut case and Mecklenburg County Commissioner Vilma Leake asking "If you say it isn't about race, it isn't the truth, why aren't Myers Park, Elizabeth on the hit list? then adding "We can't take anymore".

Cher Calls Sarah Palin Dumb - Cher has always been just a little "weird", but Wow if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black. (Note to PC people - That's an old saying has nothing to do with race) Considering she claims she forgets that her daughter is now more or less a man. More about Cher talking smack about Sarah Palin, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Chaz here and Cedar's encounter with the former Governor here.

Awesome Campus Libaries - On those nights when you're hunched over your books, over-tired, over-caffeinated and counting down the hours until your paper is due, take a break to look around -- you might be in one of the most beautiful college libraries.

Campus Grotto compiled a list of the ultimate breathtaking study spots in America. Duke and Virginia made the list. Huffington Post has photos of the top ten here.

Best news in libraries (if your graduation year is not preceded by a Zero) if you ask Cedar Posts is the death of the card file and the Dewey Decimal Classification system.



If your a library purist your already screaming "We still use it". Cool thing about the Internet and google you don't need the DDC and that is "Wonderful".

St. John's Episcopal Church is hosting a Service of Hope for anyone touched by cancer this Sunday November 14th at 5pm. The Service is open to the public and will be followed by a reception.



The Cancer Care Ministry of St. John's invites you to help us celebrate what our Lord Jesus Christ has given us - HOPE

Please invite your friends, neighbors, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers in a celebration of HOPE.

Cancer Care Ministry Holy Eucharist

St. John's Episcopal Church

Sunday, November 14, 2010 at 5:00 pm.

1623 Carmel Road Across from
Charlotte County Day School
704/366-3034

Mystery Missile was an Opps?

The Pentagon says it wasn't theirs, if not then someone fired off a missile, not just a over sized bottle rocket mind you but a full fledged ICBM sized rocket, that roared into the sunset just off the Southern California coast on Monday.

Spokesmen for the Navy, Air Force, and other military organizations said they were looking into a video posted on the CBS News that shows an object shooting across the sky and leaving a large contrail, or vapor trail, over the Pacific Ocean.


The video was shot by a KCBS helicopter, and was not the home made variety.

"Nobody within the Department of Defense that we've reached out to has been able to explain what this contrail is, where it came from," Pentagon spokesman Col. Dave Lapan said.

Cedar Says: Holy SHIT! Anyone who has been around Navy warships will tell you that missile was BIG, it wasn't an father and son weekend project. It was either an opps (so that's what that button is for), or a show of force from someone. The idea that it could be terrorists is doubtful after all most hodgies only get thier IEDs right about 50% of the time. So who else has the USA pissed off lately. The list is long and distinguished.

Another thought is a aircraft contrail, but I like the show of force from China way of thinking.

Below a Trident SLBM Looks pretty much the same to me.



VS a Navy Standard Missile Below


The US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) launches a Standard Missile-2

Tuesday's Check This Out!

Photo By Richard Uhlich Mecklenburg EMS

MedCenter Air- I was up in the truck the other day and MedCenter One was talking to Union County. There was a multi vehicle accident with entrapment and both One and Three (out of Rock Hill) were requested.

The LZ coordinator was on the other end. I don't normally "read the mail" but there was a huge disconnect between the helo pilot, a women, and the guy on the ground.

I don't know a thing about MedCenter Ops but I'd guess the girl was in the right seat, because she was always several seconds before she would answer.

MedCenter One comes up on the radio and announces that they are "four minutes out" and it is apparent MedCenter One is doing the talking for both Helos because MedCenter Three came up on the same channel only once or twice.

I won't go in to all that was said but, what concerns me is that Union County had no clue what they were doing. First off there was a lot of radio chatter coming from the LZ and it was clear the right seat had her hands full an was in no mood for idle chat. When asked where to land the LZ coordinator replied anywhere you want to.

When they couldn't find the location the LZ keep saying we see you. Not we are at your 9 O'clock 2 miles. I don't want to offend anyone one but if I was MedCenter I'd be on the phone to someone just as soon as I shut down. If Union County needs a little refresher on LZ operations they can give me a call I'd be glad to help out.

Play of the Day! I know you've already seen this but...



CMPD Says Crime is on the Increase - Yes you read that correctly. Monday afternoon WBTV reported "Car break-ins are on the rise across the Queen City but Charlotte- Mecklenburg police say crooks are getting bolder, targeting you where you think you're the safest.

Police are doing everything they can to get the word out even going door-to-door handing out fliers. They say car break-ins are a crime of opportunity and you can be a victim anywhere even if its in your own driveway." More at WBTV.

File This Under No Way - Deputies had expected a routine B&E call, what they got was an angry naked guy with a mouse stuck up his back side. No Kidding! More bizarre details from Live 5.

CMPD Chaplain Story - CMPD command staff continue to stoke the Us vs Gay dust-up without saying so. CMPD isn't saying much and what is being said comes from Major John Diggs as the mouth piece for Chief Monroe. You can watch Diggs looking rather uncomfortable here on News 14. The Story has gotten big coverage from Coast to Coast, and CMPD's handling of the story makes Charlotte look pretty backwards.

Best Letter to Editors - Leave it to the "Local Paper" to print poignant, thought provoking letters:

Warning! Gay police chaplain may infect the rest of us!

I can only support the Christian ministers who decided to quit volunteering as police chaplains due to the fear of getting gay germs from the other volunteer chaplain. I, too, have been sitting home wearing an aluminum foil hat and vocalizing my support for the flat earth society ever since I saw a person I believe may have been homosexual standing on South Boulevard.

Can you imagine how many conservative preachers will become flagrant homosexuals if we allow gay people to walk in our midst? Heaven help us.

William D. Charnock - Charlotte

Cedar's View - I don't have an argument against Gay people. I know a few men who are openly "Out" gay and while I consider them friends, they live odd drama filed lives. Nothing is easy for them, every set back is a travesty. While they would like to be accepted as who they are, they go to extremes to say who they aren't.

Do I understand being Gay? No, I just can't see looking as some guy's hairy ass and thinking to myself "yum yum". As far as lesbians, now that I get! As long as they are both hot. Which they never are. And for the transgender crowd, other than the Bird Cage with Robin Williams it is not funny or entertaining its sad. Chaz Bono still looks like a freak.

On the other hand, I have a gay friend of nearly 20 years. A couple of years ago his life long partner died after a long illness. And I have to admit there was no doubt that relationship was based on the strong and deep love they shared.

CMPD Radio System Back Up Power Fails to Come on Line Again / The Sounds of Silence

From WSOC: The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s radio system failed for several minutes on Monday morning.

It was the second time in the last week that the department had had problems with the system. For about 10 minutes last Monday morning and about eight minutes this morning, all radios for police and other county agencies stopped working.

There have not been any reports of police officers not responding to or missing calls because of the problem. Officers’ Blackberrys and laptops still worked during the time their radios were down.

The department does a weekly test of the radio system every Monday morning. As part of the test, the system runs off batteries and then switches to a generator. Last week, the generator didn’t kick on. Officials put fixes in place and said the generator worked when tested on Friday.

This morning, officials said they think the generator worked, but the system failed because the batteries didn’t switch to it. They are working to figure out why the switch didn’t happen.

I swear I'm not making this part up: To keep the system from going down next Monday Morning and having the press call it a threepeat CMPD command will not run the weekly test next Monday. Instead they will run the test on a Saturday or late at night. That should fix the problem. Brilliant. - Cedar

The Game Changer

It took some doing but the truth seems to finally be falling into place.

The CMPD Chaplain Unit has functioned autonomously within the Charlotte Police Department since its founding. All members are un-paid non sworn volunteers who provide comfort, counseling and spiritual guidance to CMPD officers and victims of crime.

The unit has included members of every religion, sex, race and sexual orientation for a number of years. The Rev. Frances Cook has been a member of the unit for some time and she has openly ministered to Charlotte’s LGBT community for as long as anyone can remember.


CMPD Chaplain Fran Cook

Other members of the Chaplains Unit come from a broad range of religions, beliefs and guiding principles.

Rev. Floretta Watkins is an extreme left and radical pastor with The Siegel Avenue Presbyterian Church in Charlotte’s Belmont neighborhood. Pastor Watkins is well known as an outspoken minister who promotes acceptance of homosexuality and disregard for the bible’s literal interpretations regarding that subject.


Rev. Floretta Watkins

(How extreme is Pastor Watkins? Cedar Posts has dug up a video interview from the Public Access Cable Channel 21 show "The Soap Box Reel Talk for Reel People". The original video has since been removed from the show's web site. However the video has resurfaced here. The video has a graphic offensive contact warning so you have been forewarned. Cedar's Thoughts: The video is extremely painful to watch but doesn't get crazy until she starts talking about voodoo.)

At some point during the summer Rev Watkins applied to join CMPD’s Chaplain Unit.

Up until now the CMPD directives stated that “Chaplains are appointed by the Chief of Police and must be recommended by an active senior chaplain”. Additionally they must, satisfactorily complete a thorough background investigation (including driving record and history, criminal records, drug testing).

According to more than one source Rev. Watkins was, at least on paper, more than qualified. However, “she interviewed horribly for the position. Her role as an activist also concerned the chaplain unit deeply. They felt she would not be serving as a chaplain out of a desire to help the officers, but instead would use it as a platform for her activism. She also could not or would not tell the chaplains what her spiritual beliefs were, when she was specifically asked".

It was also noted that she was unprofessional in her interview as well. Ultimately the chaplains were not comfortable with bringing her aboard and rejected her application. Accordingly the senior chaplain refused to submit her name to Chief Monroe for approval.

At this point the consensus is that Chief Monroe stepped in.

In a statement released last week CMPD officials stated: “The Volunteer Coordinator Unit of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department “now” has the responsibility of vetting all of the department’s volunteers, including those interested in serving as chaplains. The screening and selection process for our volunteer chaplains rests with the Volunteer Coordinator Unit and Major John Diggs”

The press release went on to say: “Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe is not part of the selection process for our volunteer chaplains….”

If the cloudy facts are correct, in other words the chaplains rejected Rev. Watkins by some reports unanimously and refused to submit her name to Chief Monroe. They did so based on the CMPD directives and felt they were within their rights to do so. Chief Monroe didn’t like that, changed the game and re-wrote the rules to suit his needs.

As one recent comment on this blog said: "There are NO universal DIRECTIVES anymore....no one knows what is going on. People can't look to a directive to guide them, to make an impartial decision. It has all become personal with Rodney, his own little game book with his own little rules. Which, by the way, change on his whim. There are no impartial decisions with Rodney, all of his decisions are simply personal with no thought to qualifications."

So it seems the Chaplain in question resigned after having the rules yanked out from under him and others followed in support. Doing so allowed Chief Monroe to claim diversity of race and sexual orientation, and allowed the Chief to distance himself from the sudden melee by stating he wasn’t involved.

The point that Chief Monroe re-wrote the rules to force the Chaplain Unit to accept Pastor Floretta Watkins a known lesbian seems lost at the "Local Paper's" editorial board. The most recent latest comment is here.

Finally on a troubling note, that last paragraph of the assumed CMPD Memo addressed to FOX News reads:

"Lastly, we would like to emphasize that the unofficial blog site, which was quoted in your story, is not a credible source of information. The information published on this site is not fact based. As a blog, the users and subscribers can write anything they wish, regardless of validity. It is our hope that a responsible and ethical news organization would examine all of their sources before publishing a story. The fact is, the citizens of Charlotte deserve to receive accurate facts and information, especially as it relates to the law enforcement agency that serves them."

So there you have it the official word from Rodney Monroe is this Blog is BS!

Hottie of the Week Miss Butter Almost

This week's hottie is a runner up in last Friday's Miss Butter 2010 Pageant. Props to Brotha' Fred of 96.1 A.M.-Mayhem for pointing out this hottie was his fav.

But Brotha' Fred "was not a judge". So we are making her our Hottie of the Week!

You can see more of the 2010 Miss Butter contest by visiting CarolinaNightLife.com or 96.1

CMPD's VCAT Unit Takes Down Murder Suspect At Bobcats Game

VCAT takes down Earle Barranco at the Cable Box Saturday night, the only note worthy highlight in the Bobcats 91-88 lost to the Magic.


Earle Barranco Photo Meck County Sheriff

More from the local paper:

A man wanted in a deadly shooting at a diner in New York City was arrested Saturday night at a Charlotte Bobcats game.

Members of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police's Violent Criminal Apprehension Team arrested 24-year-old Earl Barranco during the game, according to WCNC-TV, the Observer's news partner.

Undercover officers took down Barranco in one of the VIP areas of the arena before 8 p.m., but police didn't have more details on the arrest Sunday morning.

Barranco, 24, was in Mecklenburg jail Sunday morning with no bond, awaiting an extradition hearing.

Police say Barranco shot 28-year-old Corey Scott twice in the head and three times in the back after a confrontation at Good Stuff Diner on 14th Street in New York City, killing him instantly two weeks ago.

The New York Daily News reported that the shooting may have been sparked by a debt. Barranco and Scott knew each other.

Surveillance video taken from inside the diner shows Scott and several friends walking into the restaurant and confronting another group sitting in the back, the Daily News reported.

Barranco was said to have friends in Charlotte and fled here after the shooting.

It's unclear how police figured out he would be at the Bobcats game.

Barranco gets a lot of press in New York, there is this from a 2007 stabbing and this from the murder on October 29, 2010. Then there is the property tax report as of January 1, 2009 which is here. Could it be the same Earle Barranco?

Kudos:

Excellent work by Violent Criminal Apprehension Team earns the unit a major shout out and a NAVY Bravo Zulu.

Turn Turn Turn

Much to my disappointment, we have rushed head long into winter, skipping past fall and straight into scraping windshields on frosty mornings.

The first signs on winter have dropped into my backyard and like the Sunday paper in my drive way there is almost a noticeable thud accompanying the unanticipated cold to my world, for I am not ready.

Funny thing us humans, we know its cold but for some reason we have to see first hand.

It is an hour before sunrise when I step over two black piles of fur curled nose to tail in my kitchen and open the back door. The first cold of winter flows across the floor and two heads pop up with a look that says, “are you crazy?”

I step into the chilly darkness of my deck, the cold nose pressed against the back of my leg is a sudden reminder of why I don’t wear shorts in winter.

My two Labs look to me for approval, my “go on” is all they need before they bound down the stairs and slip into the blackness of a Carolina night. They’ll spend the next several minutes nose to the ground checking out whose come and gone during the night.

They are invisible to me, but I stand watch the dutiful doggie parent looking into the blackness for any signs of trouble. Thankfully my warm cup of coffee makes standing watch bearable but just barely.

The four legged duo, that I can not see, I clearly hear, as they move in tandem along the edge of “their” yard. They pause just briefly at each tree, then with leaves trailing in their wake they sprint to the next. Again and again, the stop and smell check this check that, is repeated. They are checking for anything different, anything at all that might need further investigation or heaven forbid a good roll around on the ground to get the sink all over my doggie self and bring it home, move.

I’m amazed at how things have changed, the morning dew along the wrought iron rails is gone in its place cold frosty metal. Gone are the sounds of frogs and crickets, the silence broken only by a Freightliner truck with one bad tire moving along the interstate. The sound fills the cold pre dawn air.

I listen and try to determine if the truck is moving west or east but it’s hard to tell, there are things that sound alone can not tell us except that in the cold air sounds that have been missing are now surprisingly clear. The road is more than four miles away and the truck now five minutes later its bad tire still rhythmically thumping the concrete pavement seems no further down the road.

How strange that while I have this troubling sense that life is rushing by the truck in the far off distance seems to be standing still, despite the fact that I know better.

Winter is a time of reflection, a sobering reminder that to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose.

For some reason the Pete Seeger song covered by the Byrds in 1965 and adapted entirely from the Book of Ecclesiastes is on my mind. Yet this morning’s purpose seems unclear.

I listen for the truck again and its gone.

Two sets of thundering paws racing up the stairs of my deck bring my wandering mind back home again.

Another season, other page to turn and two cold noses with otter tails that thump rhythmically across the wooden deck to remind me of my purpose, to provide large amounts of doggie food.

CMPD Responds to the Chaplain Dust-Up

The first week in November has been a handful for CMPD public relations staff as the news of CMPD Chaplains jumping ship hit the internet and then the airwaves.

CMPD released two letters to sources other than Cedar Posts and posted by Charlotte's QNotes. One undated memo addressed to "Dear CMPD Chaplains" with Chief Monroe's name at the bottom and the another undated and unsigned "Response to Fox News Story". Since it is unsigned, undated and without a speck of contact information it is impossible to tell who distributed the letter.

The Response to Fox News Story seems to be directed to Fox. Both are worth the read to understand CMPD's spin on the facts.

Another perspective can be found at QNotes where Matt Comer gives a time line of the breaking story.

QNotes points out that Floretta Watkins is not "Out" so they have removed her name in all but two places. Cedar Posts doesn't know if Rev. Watkins is gay or not, or "Not Out" or "Out" and frankly it shouldn't make a difference.

What does make a difference, is that at least 1 half of the CMPD Chaplain Unit quit over her acceptence as a Chaplain.

As Cedar Posts has pointed out the Chaplains left because Chief Monroe re-wrote the directives to bring aboard Floretta Watkins. A point lost at the "Local Paper".

In Search of the Facts Ma'am Just the Facts

A big thank you to everyone who spoke up about CMPD’s Chaplain resignations, including Fox News Charlotte’s Morgan Fogarty who ran down the facts and provided the encourgement to keep digging.

In uncovering the facts, Cedar Posts contacted CMPD Major John Diggs (who you might recall from a post back in April which is here), Rev. Foretta Watkins, former Chaplain Fogarty, CMPD’s public affairs office and others prior to posting the “teaser” on Tuesday. The teaser brought forth a cascade of information and emails, while the official CMPD sources chose not to respond.

While much of the information has now been confirmed by CMPD the spin out of the department is somewhat diametrically opposed to the facts as we know them.

We are concerned that CMPD’s lack of transparency extends far from the expected law enforcement roles. We have noted the "spin" given the Police Reserve Unit, Marcus Jackson, the Fuel Pizza sex scandal, Valerie Hamilton case, firing of certain officers, the Chief’s law enforcement tests and now the Chaplain Unit.

This extreme lack of transparency leaves much of the fact finding to “crowd sourcing” via this blog and others. Crowd sourcing means, there are times when Cedar Posts gets it wrong, but the majority of the time Cedar Posts is dead on.

It’s a thankless job for the most part, blogging away about things that should be reported and exposed gets little respect, or kudos. You’ll notice that of the main stream media Fox News, The Charlotte Observer, WBT Radio, WBTV news, only Fox names the source as Cedar Posts. But the real sources are the men and women who are concerned enough about their police department to speak up.

Providing information to Cedar Posts is not without risks. Recently individuals who have posted comments on the Cedar Posts blog were sent letters by an attorney representing CMPD Major Vicki Foster and her long time fiancee Melvin Key. At issue was information and a youtube video posted on this blog about a business that Foster and Keys are involved with, a business that many feel violates CMPD and State of North Carolina law enforcement directives.

You can expect that the threats directed at posters and commentators on the Cedar Posts blog will continue, because some people fear the truth.

To those who embrace the truth - thank you!

There is not a truth existing which I fear... or would wish unknown to the whole world.
- Thomas Jefferson

Friday Odds and Ends

Congressman Bob Etheridge - You might remember US Congressman Bob's violent outburst and assault on two college students earlier this year. There was little coverage by the main stream media after that but his Republican challenger Renee Ellmers ran a grass roots campaign and beat Etheridge by 2,100 votes. Etheridge has of course called for a re-count. You can watch Bob go nuts here and support Renee's effort to throw out the old goat and close the door on his recount challenge here, it will be the best $25.00 you ever spend.

General Stanley McChrystal - The retired former commander of US forces in Afghanistan will lead a 66 mile bike ride Saturday. The ride called "Honor the Warrior" and sponsored by the Military Family LifeStyle Charitable Foundation, is one of several events in the Charlotte area to mark Thursday's Veterans Day.

That event starts at 7:40 a.m. with colors posted at Mint Hill's Fairview Park near Interstate 485 and N.C. 218. After a brief ceremony, riders will set out at 8 a.m. for the 66-mile ride, the first of three rides - McChrystal, 56, leading the way.

"He wouldn't have it any other way," said Rick Cantwell of Charlotte, who's known McChrystal since West Point and served with him in Army special operations at Fort Bragg. "Stan's always been up for a challenge. He's getting it." More at the Daily Fish Wrapper which is here.

Veterans Parade - Charlotte has a strange habit of having parades far from the day the parade is paying tribute. So get off the couch and climb out of your metal box and come uptown for the annual Veterans Parade on Saturday.

The parade steps off at 11 AM from 7th and North Tryon streets uptown. Runs south on Tryon to 3rd Street and takes a left to Marshall Park. The parade will include 100 marching bands, Shriners and their cars, veterans and 1,000 Boy Scouts and 400 Girl Scouts. Military trucks and Humvees.

Angel Tree - Cedar Posts will carry the Salvation Army's Angel Tree on the right hand side of the blog from now until Christmas. The Angel Tree is just one of many ways you can help make Christmas special for someone less fortunate this year. Look for more about the Salvation Army's work here in the comings weeks.

Colonial Cup Camden, SC - If you're a life long Carolinian you certainly know about the Carolina Cup, the annual spring sundress and college frat house party that features a couple of steeple chase horse races. The sister event to the Carolina Cup is the Colonial Cup which is next weekend at the Springhill Race Course in Camden. Just one hours drive straight down 521 south of Charlotte. This considerably more family ordinated event features wagon rides, the US Army's Golden Knights parachute team six races over the steeple chase fences. Details are here.

Time Change - The return to Standard Time takes place this weekend. Most of us hate the time change. Nothing worst that spending your day under the fluroesent bulbs driving home in the dark. But besides the pain of the time change what do you do with the extra hour? Sleep or use the extra hour doing something from that long avoided list? That's the poll this week.

Tweet of the Week!

This week's search for the "Tweet of the Week" didn't take long, all Cedar Posts had to do was look to the super cute and always funny Logan Stewart.

@lbstewart:1. Go to Google Maps. 2. Click 'get directions' 3. Type Japan as start point. 4. Type China as end point. 5. Read direction number 43.

Yes, do as Miss Logan says trust me, direction number 43 is worth the read. And that's why this is the "Tweet of the Week"!

FOX News Covers CMPD Chaplain Departures

You can read more at FOX News Charlotte's web site which is here and prior Cedar Posts regarding CMPD's Chaplains which is here.

CMPD’s Chaplain Unit Has Been All But Disbanded

According to several sources CMPD has been quietly disbanding the department's long standing volunteer Chaplain Unit.

Chaplains apparently no longer associated with CMPD are Jack Munday, Pastor Daren McGrew, Pastor Bill Fogarty, Rev. Rollo Leimer, Rev. Hugh Foy, and Kristina Franklin. The Rev. Frances Cook remains involved with the Gang of One program. One of the recently dismissed Chaplains had more than 15 years of service with the department.


Above: Jennifer Shelton the widow of slain Charlotte police officer Jeff Shelton is escorted into Calvary Church by Charlotte police Chaplain Bill Fogarty. Photo Credit Charlotte Observer

The reasons the clergy have left CMPD are unclear. But according to one source a dispute arose when Chief Monroe told the Chaplain Unit to open up volunteer applications to new members, specifically to bring aboard a friend of his, Rev. Floretta Watkins.


Rev. Floretta Watkins

Rev. Watkins was unanimously rejected by the Chaplain Unit after they reviewed her application and conducted an in depth interview, but Chief Monroe told the Chaplains they “would” bring her on.

According to one source: "On paper, she's more than qualified. However, she interviewed horribly for the position. Her role as an activist also concerned the chaplain corps deeply. They felt she would not be serving as a chaplain out of a desire to help the officers, but instead would use it as a platform for her activism. She also could not or would not tell the chaplains what her spiritual beliefs were, when she was specifically asked".

It was also noted that she was unprofessional in her interview as well. Ultimately the chaplains were not comfortable with bringing her on board and rejected her application.

According to several sources Folretta Watkins is a well known lesbian minister and a gay rights activist.

If the facts check out, the chaplains told Chief Monroe that they would resign if forced to accept Watkins, in part because their churches would not permit their association in a professional status with a homosexual minister.

While several of the Chaplains routinely minister to the LGBT community they are bound by certain rules of conduct. To many having an openly gay women in their ranks violated their own congregation’s rules of conduct.

When they tried to discuss this quandary with Chief Monroe he, as one source put it "promptly showed them the door".

In all eleven CMPD Chaplains may have been fired or resigned.

The Chaplains Unit has also reportedly seen a sudden and unexplained reduction in their responsibilities. According to sources, Chief Monroe recently informed the unit that they would no longer be dispatched to suicides, homicides, officer involved shootings, or anything else in which CMPD has typically reached out to Chaplains Unit for service.

However according to the source Chief Monroe would permit the Chaplains Unit to assist with officer funerals, weddings, graduations, invocations, and the like but only if formally asked.

CMPD brass has apparently told officers that the Chaplains Unit is to be replaced by the services of the Mecklenburg Mobile Crisis Team.

Mobile Crisis is a not-profit organization funded through Mecklenburg County taxes to provide counseling services on an as needed basis. The paid staff members are referred to clinicians and do not provide spiritual guidance.

About Mobile Crisis from CMPD:

The Mecklenburg Mobile Crisis Team is available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days/year. Mobile Crisis will either respond in-person or over the telephone. If a face-to-face meeting occurs, it may be in a person’s home, office, school, or other close setting as appropriate. Mobile Crisis services are delivered by qualified professional staff, and are delivered by one or more individual clinicians on the team.

According to one CMPD officer, the chaplains have always been a beneficial part of the department, routinely attending roll calls, and always on scene for homicides, suicides and other major events.

The volunteer chaplains have served the City of Charlotte for decades, not just for the officers but for the community they serve as well.

Many officers that Cedar Posts spoke to are upset that CMPD Chaplains will no longer be allowed at officer-involved shootings, and that instead officers will be given a toll-free number to call.

In the opinion of Cedar Posts, the disbanding of the Police Chaplain Unit has been handled much the same way as the Reserve Officer Unit was last year. Down low and dirty.

Cedar Posts contacted several officials at CMPD regarding the Chaplain Unit, none of our emails or phone calls were returned or responded to.

A Chaplain, to remember:



Perhaps the most beloved Chaplain of any department Father Mychal Judge, a Roman Catholic priest of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor, Chaplain Fire Department of New York, and the first recorded victim of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Wednesday's Check This Out!

Election 2010 - Cedar Posts failed to grasp the size of Mecklenburg County's democratic base. Andrew Murray won the DA job, but it was much closer than I expected. Jennifer Roberts won another term of the Mecklenburg BOCC and that was also unexpected. This also means another two years of Harry Jones and his financial follies. Finally Elaine Marshall carried Mecklenburg County with 52% of the vote.

Major Kudos - to Andrew Murray. I've known Andrew for many years, and enjoyed his company while in Charleston a number of times. The guys at USCG Sector Charleston also give up a big cheer for Andy. Chief Woods in particular. Bravo Zulu Commander Murray.

Another Homicide - Around 9 PM Tuesday 911 dispatchers received a call regrading someone laying in the street at 619 Village Court, near Remount Road and I-77. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police spokeswoman Officer Rosalyn Harrington said paramedics pronounced the man dead when they arrived. CMPD also said the victim has been hit by a car and shot in the chest, though not necessarily in that order. Police have no suspects at this time.

Alvin Greene - Y'all laugh but goofy Alvin Greene received 356,924 votes in yesterday's election, without the support of the state's Democratic party. Honestly I think a lot of people should be ashamed how this was handled and how they mocked the man. Kudos to Alvin Greene for turning South Carolina's Democratic party of its ear. Cedar Posts expects not only a book deal but a new reality show. Greene Acres?

CMPD Turmoil - Nothing surprises Cedar Posts when it comes to Rodney Monroe, now news is spreading that the entire CMPD Chaplains unit has resigned over a dispute with Chief Monroe and his "inner circle". Seems they were at odds with the idea of bringing in an openly gay Chaplain. A check of the CMPD directory shows a blank entry for Chaplain but LGBT proponent Rev. Frances Cook's name is listed as being associated with the Gang on One program. Cedar Posts suspects there is more to this than CMPD is letting on to.

Major Props to FOX News Charlotte's Morgan Fogarty for bringing this to our attention.

WBT Radio Towers - The Charlotte icons located off Nations Ford road received an upgrade of sorts recently. I have no idea when, and just noticed the change while on a early pre dawn flight from Monroe to Charlotte. Gone are the flashing red lights, replaced with the blue/grey of "new and improved" LED flashing lights. The towers have long been a reference point to general aviation pilots making the hop from Monroe to Charlotte at night. The easy to spot grouping of three 428-foot Blaw-Knox diamond-shaped towers served as the "keep to the left" marker while making an approach to runway 36. FYI these towers are nearly 80 years old. More about these little noticed links to Charlotte's past is here.

Note: I know I'm a total dork for noticing this and finding the tech stuff interesting.

CIAA - Knowing that the fix was in, (errrr I mean votes), the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association announced on Tuesdat that they would continue the hold the February men's and women's basketball tournament in Charlotte. Look for the BOCC to spend more of your tax dollars to keep the CIAA happy and expect more free tickets going to county commissioners who support their cause. Sorry commissioner James the ticket Nazi Harry Jones says no free tickets for you!

Winners and Losers 2010

No need to vote today, the results are already in!

Just thank North Carolina's new "self" voting machines, they are so easy to operate even a cave man can do it.

No lie Kidos, the government knows best and now these high-tech machines vote for you.

We've looked at the tea leaves, studied the Ouija board, ran the numbers through our analytical quantum qualitative process, tossed out the high and low averages and double checked the trend lines.

So lets run through our winners and how we got there.

Winners

City of Charlotte Bonds - Voters are confused because of the "HEADS I WIN - TAILS YOU LOSE" selection on the touch screen. Bonds pass with 100% approval.

Richard Burr - Senior voters think Burr is Raymond Burr aka Perry Mason.

Nikki Haley - It is a close race but Haley wins after she promises to teach kama sutra at the governor's mansion on Wednesday nights.

Sue Myrick - Voters just want to see if she'll age more gracefully during the next two years.

Mel Watt - Promise of free 24"s for everyone gets out the vote.

Tommy Tucker - Tanya's younger brother had no real challenger.

Dan Clodfelter - Voters like his name.

Thom Tillis - Lake Norman voters think he's a county signer with a speech impediment who can't pronounce his real name Thomas.

Bob Rucho - Competition didn't stand a chance.

Tricia Cotham - Promises to have bake sales to balance state budget.

Beverly Earle - Village in Mecklenburg County named after her, all residents turn out to vote.

Becky Carney - Voters feared she would return to BOCC.

Rick Killian - George's younger brother. Voters thinking of free beer at Connolly's.

Jim Pendergraph - Most people thought he was a democrat.

Larry Kissel - The evil big guy ads did Harold Johnson in.

Harold Cogdell - See Clogfelter.

George Dunlap - Tire commercial brings out the vote.

Vilma Leake - Gives her acceptance speech even though polls are still open, must be returned to the Alzheimer's ward at CMC before 7PM.

Bill James - Gangster look black shirts big hit with South Charlotte constituents.

Neil Cooksey - Only a dozen people voted for Neil but he wins anyway, "go figure".

Corey Thompson - Beats out Murrey by 17 votes.

Chipp Bailey - Voters think he's a Republican.

Bill Constangy - His signs were everywhere, again big name recognition

Lisa Bell - Almost loses but, wiggles her way to a win in the final hours.

Andrew Murray - No one else wanted the job.

Mick Mulvaney - Wins after month long Spat with Spratt who demands a recall.

Jim DeMint - Wins but, Melvin Greene gets a stunning number of votes and runs again in 2012 as a Republican.

There you have it folks, and may God help us ALL!

Washington Post's Dana Milbank Cracks on Palin's Seinfeld Quip

Sarah Palin gets today's first mulligan for a critical mistake: revealing herself to be a Seinfeld fan. In an e-mail to the Daily Caller, Palin complained about a Politico article relying on - horror! - anonymous sources: "I suppose I could play their immature, unprofessional, waste-of-time game, too, by claiming these reporters and politicos are homophobe, child molesting, tax evading, anti-dentite, puppy-kicking, chain smoking porn producers."

Anti-dentite? Readers will - or should - recognize this as a reference to the 1997 Seinfeld episode in which Jerry tells Kramer about a "little dentist joke" he made that offended his dentist, Dr. Tim Whatley.

Kramer: "You think that dentists are so different from me and you? They came to this country just like everybody else -- in search of a dream."

Seinfeld: "Whatley's from Jersey."

Kramer: "And now he's a full fledged American."

Seinfeld: "Kramer, he's just a dentist."

Kramer: "Yeah and you're an anti-dentite."

Seinfeld: "I am not an anti-dentite."

Kramer: "You're a rabid anti-dentite.... Next thing you know you're saying they should have their own schools."

Seinfeld: "They do have their own schools."

Milbank gives mulligans to Alvin Greene and others here