The Catalyst » News

Coast Guard Rescues 10 from Burning Fishing Boat

Kate — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:26:16 +0000

On Sunday, April 21, 2012, in Honolulu, Hawaii, a Taiwanese fishing ship caught on fire and forced the crew members to abandon their ship. The crew made a radio call about the fire when it was about 700 miles west of Guam. A U.S. Navy search aircraft was stationed at Kadena Air Base in Japan and flew to the site where eight people were in a life raft, and two more were on the bridge of the burning ship. The Navy crew threw life rafts to help the two left behind. The Coast Guard used a GPS-based system to locate ships around the area to help out the burning vessel. They directed a cargo ship 40 miles away to come pick up the crew members. Coast Guard Lt. J.G. Richard Russell said that the crew, made up of two Taiwanese and eight Indonesian nationals, was returning to China aboard the Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship.

Rick Devries, ’13, Staff Writer

Zimmerman Released

Kate — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:25:35 +0000

George Zimmerman, who was in jail for killing a teenage boy, Trayvon Martin, was released after midnight on the morning of April 23. His release was only three days after his hearing in which he apologized to Martin’s parents for the shooting. He said that he did not know he was just a kid and could not tell if Martin had a firearm with him. He was released after posting a 150,000 dollar bond. Other conditions for his release include: no contact with the Martin family and no possessing a firearm. Prosecutors argued that Zimmerman should not be released, or the bond should be set at one million dollars. Zimmerman has been taken to an undisclosed location, and Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara, said the location needs to remain a secret.

Austin Lloyd, ’12, Staff Writer

Costa Rica Girls

Kate — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:24:54 +0000

Christopher Camacho has brought attention to the U.S. State Department because of the disappearance of his two young daughters. The mother of the two girls has taken the children to her native Costa Rica. She told her husband that she was just taking the girls to Costa Rica to visit their grandparents.

Soon after their departure, the wife decided that she no longer wanted to be married and the kids weren’t coming home. Camacho says she doesn’t pick up the phone or return his emails. Channel 2 Action News obtained a copy of the lawsuit Camacho and his attorney has filled out in Cobb County. The lawsuit shows that Camacho has temporary custody, but he said that it doesn’t hold much weight if the girls are out of the country.

Amani Elkhatib, ’14, S taff Writer

New Zealand Zookeeper Killed by African Elephant

Kate — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:24:13 +0000

On Wednesday, April 18, 2012, in Auckland, New Zealand, an African elephant killed a zookeeper who was caring for her at the Franklin Zoo. The elephant was retired after performing in circuses for decades. According to the National Geographic magazine, African elephants are the world’s largest land creatures, and they can live for up to 70 years. Jumbo is the sole elephant at the New Zealand Zoo, and she arrived four years ago after performing in circuses for three decades. The zoo built a new enclosure for her in 2010. The police were called to the zoo that afternoon. Wednesday was a public holiday in New Zealand, but the zoo was open. It isn’t clear whether any visitors saw the attack. More information about the attack will be released when the woman’s family has been informed.

Rick DeVries, ’13, Staff Writer

Officers Testify at Trial of Man Accused of Killing Jennifer Hudson’s Relatives

Kate — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:22:44 +0000

Grammy-winning singer, Jennifer Hudson, had to recall the horrific that occurred on a rainy day in October, 2008, when her mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and her brother, Jason Hudson, 29, were shot to death. The singer’s 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, was found dead three days later in an abandoned vehicle. William Balfour, her former brother-in law, was charged with all the three murders, however has not pleaded guilty.

Sgt. Richard Dowling, who was the first officer to arrive at the scene, said that he found Hudson’s mother down lying face down with a gunshot wound on her back. Dowling afterwards found her brother on a bed, and testified that he had difficulty identifying the man because he had been wrapped in blankets.

An acquaintance of Balfour, Abdullah Smith, testified that Balfour once told him that he was having marital problems and that he wished he could beat up Jason Hudson but never heard him threatening his wife, Donerson or Julian.

On Monday, April 23, Hudson broke down in tears recalling the murders of her relatives. “None of us wanted her to marry him,” she said of her sister’s decision to marry Balfour. “We did not like how he treated her.” She talked about the last time she saw her family together and when she found out about the deaths. “I did everything in my power to get home,” she added as she testified while identifying her relatives’ bodies for authorities. “Where he was, I tried not to be,” she added.

Julia Hudson, the singer’s sister, took a stand as she said that Balfour threatened to kill her family after she told him she did not want to be with him. “If you leave me, you’ll be the last to die. I’ll kill your family first,” she said as she quoted what Balfour had told her. Balfour has been charged with one count of home invasion, although his lawyer said that there is no forensic evidence linking him to the shooting.

Anna Gnohan, ’12, Staff Writer

Bus Slams into Truck in China

Kate — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:22:03 +0000

On Sunday, April 22, a tour bus slammed into a box truck in eastern China, leaving 13 people dead and 21 injured. The bus was on its way from Shanghai to Changshu to a peony show at about 8 a.m. when the incident occurred. Some time later, the bus staggered across a highway barrier crashing with a truck heading in the opposite direction. Both the bus and truck flipped over after the crash. Seven people, including the driver, died instantly, and six others died later on at the hospital. Authorities are investigating what caused the incident.

Anna Gnohan, ’12, Staff Writer

Lamborghini SUV

Kate — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:21:30 +0000

At the Beijing Auto Show, Lamborghini unveiled its newest vehicle, the Urus. The car is named after the extinct Spanish bulls. The SUV is turbocharged with a V8 engine and has 600 horsepower. It also contains a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with an all-wheel-drive and paddle-shifting technology. The new car also has four seats, carbon-fiber interior, and LED fog lamps along with cameras on the mirrors that display rear-view images inside the vehicle. The Urus has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions of any SUV and is 16 feet long and five and a half feet tall with 24 inch tall wheels.

Critics claim the car looks like a combination off the Volkswagen Group platform and the Porsche Cheyenne. The car has some key Lamborghini factors, like the low weight and sharp front suspension, but lacks the upward-opening doors. The Lamborghini company hopes to sell around 3,000 a year for a price of around $200,000 per car.

Kate Croxton, ’13, Staff Writer

Man Dead in Lake Lanier Boating Accident

Kate — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:19:35 +0000

On Sunday, April 22, there was a tragic boating accident on Lake Lanier. 59-year-old Stephen Blake Jones from Duluth was killed in the accident. Jones was with a woman who was seriously injured in the accident. The woman’s identity remains unknown, and she is still hospitalized with injuries. The couple was in a 32-foot pontoon boat just after midnight when a ski boat struck them. Steven Parker and Ashley LeBlanc were aboard the 21-foot ski boat that struck Jones and his companion. The accident occurred just 200 yards from the face of the dam. Parker and LeBlanc reported that they hit an unknown object in the water and shortly after their boat began taking in water. The couple then swam to shore, unaware of what happened. A motorist was flagged down while passing by on Buford Dam Road and reported the collision to 911. The Gwinnett Fire Department and Emergency Services responded to the call. Parker and LeBlanc were taken to the hospital and released shortly after. Rescue boats, U.S. Army Corps, and the Forsyth Fire Department were included in the body search around the damaged boats. Jones’ body was discovered just 30 minutes after the search commenced. The second boat was discovered around five a.m. with the wounded woman aboard. Further investigation of this case is being conducted to find out whether or not safety lights, drugs, or alcohol are the cause of this horrible accident.

Natalie McQueary, ’12, Staff Writer

McCann Vanished

Kate — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:18:55 +0000

Madeleine McCann, a British toddler, went missing from a Portuguese holiday rental home five years ago and is still missing. Investigators continue to search for McCann and believe they have the best opportunity to find her. They’re not giving up just yet.

McCann was three years old when she went missing. She vanished while on a vacation with her parents Kate and Gerry McCann and her twin siblings. The parents say they went to eat dinner less than 500 feet away, and came home to realize that their daughter, Madeleine, vanished.

Investigators say that they are seeking to begin another search to find McCann, and they now believe that there is a possibility she is still alive. This is a result of uncovered information revealed from their latest research. With 28 directives and seven civilian support staff, they are handling the issue and hoping to find McCann.

Amani Elkhatib, ’14, Staff Writer

Woman Helps Imprisoned Parents Keep in Touch with Their Children

Kate — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:18:12 +0000

In 1999, Carolyn LeCroy founded the Messages Project. The Messages Project is a program that helps imprisoned parents stay in touch with their children. In 2008 LeCroy was named a hero by CNN, and since then her program has spread to five states. So how does the program work? LeCroy travels to the different prisons that are a part of her program and takes video messages of the parents to deliver to their children. The imprisoned parents have made videos ranging from reading bedtime stories, to saying an encouraging message. LeCroy’s project partner, Holly Robinson Peete, who is a former actress best known for her role in the Fox show ’21 Jump Street,’ believes that the videos help to lift the children up and show them that their parents still care about them. LeCroy and Peete are striving to expand the program to many more states than just five. LeCroy is truly a hero through the many inmates’ and childrens’ lives she has impacted in such a strong, emotional way.

Natalie McQueary, ’12, Staff Writer