Author: iexposedus

CORONAVIRUS INFO PROVIDED BY DR. JIM HARRIS – 5/21/2020

May 21, 2020

May 20, 2020 – Today we have 11 additional positives to report in Harrison County. That brings our total to 223 in HARRISON COUNTY

May 21 Tyler Newspaper:

Smith County coronavirus cases increased by three Wednesday for an active case count of 49, according to the Northeast Texas Public Health District.

Total confirmed positive cases in Smith County are at 195.

In Smith County, there are 49 active coronavirus cases, 142 recovered patients and four coronavirus deaths.

 

Tyler hospitals are currently treating 24 patients from East Texas for the coronavirus.

Of the 195 cases, 161 are in Tyler, nine in Flint, six in Whitehouse, six in Lindale, four in Troup, two in Bullard, two in Overton, two in Arp and one each in Hideaway, Winona and rural Smith County near Mineola.

One hundred and sixty-two cases are a result of community spread and 33 are travel-related.

Here is the breakdown of cases:

• 0-20, 14 cases

• 21-40, 74 cases

• 41-59, 61 cases

• 60-79, 42 cases

• 80 and over, 4 cases

Of the 195 cases, 100 are men and 95 are women.

Tyler hospitals are currently treating 24 patients from East Texas for the coronavirus. Some of those patients may not reside in Smith County.

Through May 18, a total of 3,418 tests were performed on patients from Smith County.

PLEASE STUDY THE SMITH COUNTY (TYLER) DATA ABOVE. THESE ARE NOT JUST A BUNCH OF OLD FOLKS OR NURSING HOME PATIENTS WHO ARE POSITIVE FOR COVID 19 OR PATIENTS UNDERGOING TREATMENT IN A HOSPITAL. MOST OF THESE POSITIVE TESTEES ARE WALKING AROUND IN TOWN AND MANY ARE WORKING. 135 OF THE CASES ARE UNDER 60. ALL AGE GROUPS NEED TO TAKE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES….IF YOU ARE GETTING AROUND, YOU NEED TO STAY AWAY FROM GRANDMA. THERE ARE ESTIMATES THAT THERE ARE 40 CARRIERS WHO ARE UNTESTED FOR EVERY POSITIVE TEST OBTAINED. MAYBE MORE? BE CAREFUL THE PANDEMIC IS NOT OVER.

 MARSHALL HAS A HIGHER PROPORTION OF ILLNESS AND POSITIVE TESTS THAN SMITH COUNTY DOES.

Swimming during the pandemic: What the CDC wants you to know before you hit the pool

Hospitals in four East Texas counties, including Harrison, to receive remdesivir to treat COVID-19

FROM THE HOUSTON PAPER: Using cellphone data, national study predicts huge June spike in Houston coronavirus cases

Houston is one of several cities in the South that could see spikes in COVID-19 cases over the next four weeks as restrictions are eased, according to new research that uses cellphone data to track how well people are social distancing.

The updated projection, from PolicyLab at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, found that traffic to non-essential businesses has jumped especially in Texas and Florida, which have moved aggressively to reopen.

America’s Patchwork Pandemic Is Fraying Even Further    JHarris: Medically, this article is sound and VERY important and worth reading carefully. You don’t have to agree with the author’s political or sociological opinions.  His explanation about the timing and patterns of disease spread in the U.S. is proving to be very accurate, and I agree with him.  Incidentally, were I young and unemployed, I’d learn how to track medical cases, and when I got good at it, I’d start my own tracking company — like the “Danile Boone and Sam Spade Trackers, LLC.”

  “—The patchwork is not static. Next month’s hot spots will not be the same as last month’s. The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is already moving from the big coastal cities where it first made its mark into rural heartland areas that had previously gone unscathed. People who only heard about the disease secondhand through the news will start hearing about it firsthand from their family. “Nothing makes me think the suburbs will be spared—it’ll just get there more slowly,” says Ashish Jha, a public-health expert at Harvard…..“It’s inevitable that we’ll see stark increases in infections in the next weeks,” says Oscar Alleyne of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. The experiences of other countries support that view. Success stories like South Korea, China, Singapore, and Lebanon all had to renew or extend social-distancing measures to deal with new bursts of cases. And they had all restrained the virus to a much greater extent than the U.S., which despite having just 4 percent of the world’s population has 31 percent of its confirmed COVID-19 cases (1.5 million) and 28 percent of its confirmed deaths (92,000)…..The better strategy is not to try and prevent the virus from traveling, but to build a public-health system nimble enough to catch it when it arrives. Don’t build one big wall; instead, ready a thousand nets….

AND NOW FOR SOME GOOD NEWS:

BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN NEW YORK    Thanks to Edmund Burton

COLLINS PUN FOR THE DAY: She was only a whiskey – maker, but he loved her still.


GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK.  CLICK ON “COMMENT” TO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK or use one of the alternative methods for providing feedback.

click here to CLOSE THIS PAGE

CORONAVIRUS INFO PROVIDED BY DR. JIM HARRIS – 5/20/2020

May 20, 2020

May 19, 2020 – Today we have no new cases to report and 5 new recoveries. That’s the good news. I also must report 3 new fatalities. Thank you all for your continued prayers for these affected families. We remain at 212 total cases, our fatalities have increased to 22, our recoveries have increased to 39 and our current cases have dropped down to 151.

As businesses and activities begin to return to normal, don’t forget to act responsibly and take precautions for your safety and those around you. In an earlier Facebook post today I provided additional information about the Governor’s latest directive.

 
 

Some newly opened schools in France close again as a small number of new infections emerge.

 
EXCELLENT AND PRACTICAL GUIDE ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW. READ IT ALL
“…you’ll have to try to make an informed decision about what’s safest for you and others… “It depends on your own health, your age, preexisting conditions, how much risk you’re willing to tolerate, and the benefit that the activity could provide to you.” Another crucial variable: how much risk you might be introducing for everyone else around you.
 
Turkey’s pandemic strategy hinges on hazmat-suited gumshoes
Case tracking works if reliable testing for the virus is available. 
 
FROM JOHNS HOPKINS:
The New York Times continues to track state-level COVID-19 incidence, with a focus on state policies regarding social distancing. This tracker has been updated to differentiate between states that have relaxed social distancing measures statewide and those that have done so on a regional basis. After holding relatively steady for several weeks—approximately April 7-26—Texas has reported increasing incidence over the past 3 weeks, including a record high daily incidence (1,801 new cases) on May 16. Texas’ “stay at home” order expired on April 30, and non-essential businesses, including restaurants, barbershops/salons, retail stores, gyms, and movie theaters were permitted to reopen. Texas’s COVID-19 incidence was beginning to increase when the statewide order expired, and it has continued that trend in the weeks since. Texas also reported its 2 highest daily death totals on May 14 and 15—58 and 56 new deaths, respectively. Notably, Texas’ testing capacity has increased as well, more than doubling since the “stay at home” order expired. The positivity ratio decreased over that time, from approximately 6% to 4.5%. 

 
 

Cases in and around Harrison County

City of Marshall New Declaration of Local Disaster — May 19, 2020

[Marshall, Texas, May 19, 2020]

[Marshall, Texas] Mayor Terri Brown has issued a New Declaration of Local Disaster and Public Health Emergency Related to Communicable Disease on May 19, 2020. The declaration shall continue in effect until the Marshall City Commission terminates its consent to the continuation of this declaration or until the Mayor terminates this declaration, whichever occurs first.  This declaration is a direct reflection of Executive Order GA-23 issued by Governor Greg Abbott on May 18, 2020.

Valid immediately on May 18, 2020, these local orders allow the following openings:

  • Massage establishments and other facilities where licensed massage therapists or other persons licensed or otherwise authorized to practice under Chapter 455 of the Texas Occupations Code, provided all facilities must ensure at least six feet of social distancing between operating work stations.
  • Tattoo studios, piercing studios, hair removal services, and hair loss treatment and growth services, provided all facilities must ensure at least six feet of social distancing between operating work stations.
  • Child-care services other than youth camps as described below.

Starting at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2020, in Marshall:

  • Dine-in restaurant services may operate at up to 50 percent of the total listed occupancy of the restaurant; provided, however, this applies only to restaurants that have less than 51 percent of their gross receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages. Interactive functions or exhibits, including child play areas, interactive games, and video arcades, must remain closed.
  • Bars and similar establishments that hold a permit from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission may operate at up to 25 percent of the total listed indoor occupancy of the establishment. Interactive functions or exhibits, including child play areas, interactive games, and video arcades, must remain closed.
  • Aquariums, natural caverns, and similar facilities (excluding zoos) may operate at up to 25 percent of the total listed occupancy or, for outdoor areas, at up to 25 percent of the standard operating limits as determined by the facility owner if permitted by the city. Interactive functions or exhibits, including child play areas, must remain closed.
  • Bowling alleys, bingo halls, simulcast racing to the extent authorized by state law, and skating rinks may operate at up to 25 percent of the total listed occupancy of the establishment; provided bowling alleys must ensure at least six feet of social distancing between operating lanes. Video arcades must be closed.
  • Rodeos and equestrian events may operate at up to 25 percent of the facility’s total listed occupancy or, for outdoor areas, up to 25 percent of the standard operating limits as determined by the facility owner. This policy does not permit a larger gathering, such as county fairs, where such an event is not authorized.
  • Drive-in concerts, under guidelines that facilitate appropriate social distancing, that generally require spectators to remain in their vehicles, and that minimize in-person contact between people who are not in the same household or car.
  • Amateur sporting events are eligible where there is no access to the general public allowed. All participants have tested negative for COVID-19 before the event. Participants are to be quarantined for the duration of the game, temperature-checked and monitored for symptoms daily, and tested again for COVID-19 at the end.

Starting at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, May 31, 2020, in Marshall:

  • Youth camps, including but not limited to those defined as such under Chapter 141 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, and including all summer camps and other daytime and overnight camps for youths.
  • Youth sports programs may begin practice on May 31, 2020, with only one parent or guardian in attendance and maintaining social distancing at each practice. Youth sports games may commence on June 15, 2020. At all games, spectators should avoid being in a group larger than ten individuals and maintain social distancing.

The City of Marshall “New Declaration of Local Disaster and Public Health Emergency” dated May 19, 2020, the City of Marshall maintains the requirement for food establishments within the city limits to have all employees wear a face mask at all times. Separate employees must perform cash handling functions and food serving functions.

In providing or obtaining essential services or reopened services, individuals and businesses should follow the minimum standard health protocols recommended found at www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus. As COVID-19 positive tests continue to rise, residents should implement social distancing, use recommended hand sanitizing, and maintain environmental cleanliness. Individuals are encouraged to wear appropriate face coverings.

The City of Marshall will perform inspections to verify the proper implementation of all policies and procedures. Failure to comply with any of the mandated provisions of this Order constitutes an imminent threat to public health. Per Texas Government Code §418.173, a person who knowingly or intentionally violates this Order commits an offense punishable by a fine up to $1,000.00. Each violation shall constitute a separate offense.

Best practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 include:

  1. Restrict physical contact and publicly used areas.
  2. Maintain Social Distancing with a safe distance of six (6’) feet between all individuals.
  3. Every person shall avoid large gatherings.
  4. Residents shall not visit nursing homes, retirement, or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.
  5. Regularly wash hands with warm soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  6. Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.
  7. If soap is not available, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  8. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. All persons should remain in the house if one person in the home exhibits symptoms.

GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK.  CLICK ON “COMMENT” TO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK or use one of the alternative methods for providing feedback.

click here to CLOSE THIS PAGE

Marshall Officers Answer The Call

[Marshall, Texas, May 14, 2020]


[Marshall, Texas] Positive Police-Community relationships can often become clouded by speeding tickets or arrest warrants. Still, one Marshall mother is proud to call attention to the vital work of the Marshall Police Department to assist her family in need during the COVID-19 stay at home orders.

Ms. Tawana Brown-Robinson is the mother of a 29-year-old son with special needs. Ms. Brown-Robinson stated, “my son had become agitated as he wants to ride his bus and enjoy the friendship of others, but he doesn’t understand that COVID-19 keeps us at home. He became very anxious, and I needed to call for police assistance due to his strength.”

Ms. Brown-Robinson gave testimony to the positive, caring interaction between her family and Officers Joshua Whitaker and Timothy Sipes of the Marshall Police Department. She shared, “when Officers Whitaker and Sipes arrived at my home, they were so professional. After talking to me, they spoke to my son in a calm tone. Days later, Officers Whitaker and Sipes made another visit to my home to check on the health of my son and ensure he was able to take his medication. When people expect negative interactions with police, it is a blessing to see their care for my family and neighborhood.”

Marshall Police Chief Cliff Carruth shared, “the actions of Officers Whitaker and Sipes are a prime example of Marshall’s commitment to building relationships within our community. The officers performed their duties during the initial call and then remained visible in the lives of the Brown-Robinson family by checking on the health and well-being of her son at a later date. This week is National Police Week. We are proud of these officers for their focus on collaboration with citizens, being visible in our city, and improving the competency of our department to serve individuals with special needs.”


GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK.  CLICK ON “COMMENT” TO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK or use one of the alternative methods for providing feedback.

click here to CLOSE THIS PAGE

Marshall Small Business Revolving Loans Tackle COVID-19

[Marshall, Texas, May 14, 2020]

Marshall Small Business Revolving Loans Tackle COVID-19

[Marshall, Texas] To assist businesses that are suffering from the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and helping companies to grow, the City of Marshall has allocated a portion of the funds from the CARES Act to create a small business revolving loan program.   The initiative of supporting a small business loan program is a goal that came out of the citizen-driven Mobilize Marshall plan. These efforts to assist new businesses and encourage existing businesses to grow would promote the creation of a “Cradle of Entrepreneurship” program within the City.

The City of Marshall Small Business Revolving Loan Fund is designed to assist small and emerging businesses with projected gross revenue of less than $1 million and employ 50 or fewer employees.  Companies must be located within the city limit of Marshall to apply.

Approved loans will not exceed the available funding in the revolving loan fund account and not exceed $10,000 or 75% of the total project cost, whichever is less. Approval for a small business revolving loan focuses on the character, credit, and reliability of the borrower. No predetermined percentage of equity will be required, nor is adequate collateral a determining factor, but loans will be secured by collateral when possible.

Eligible Loan Purposes:

•             Acquisition and development or improvement of land, easements, and rights-of-way.   Overhead expenses such as certifications, licenses, advertising, incorporation, insurance, etc.

•             Rent and utilities.

•             Training, technical assistance, business services (such as web site development, etc.) to increase the capacity of recipients to carry out or broaden services.

•             Labor expenses (excluding owner), business inventory and supplies.

•             Capital or equipment purchases necessary for the business operation.

The source of funding for the Small Business Revolving Loan Program is provided primarily through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Block Development Grant and through funds awarded to the City by a U.S. Department of Agricultural Rural Business Enterprise Grant.

The loan application process will begin with a pre-application consultation with City Staff and a completed application with supporting documentation. For more information on application, please contact Morrison.wes@marshalltexas.net.

mLife True COVID-19 Testing Opportunity

[Marshall, Texas, May 13, 2020]

mLife, a privately held company in Marshall, has launched the mLife True device from concept to production within 30 days.  It is a coronavirus test kit, which is designed to be used anywhere, without a medical practitioner. It has a vial and a special preservative, and the specimen is delivered the next day to a lab with a capped bottle (resolving potential leak problems with other collectors). The current test is for detection of the virus based on viral RNA detection.  Antibody tests using the mLife True kit are under development. Results are expected within about twenty-four hours.  Working in Marshall, mLife heard the call for “back to work,” and this kit suits this application. 

The City of Marshall Cradle of Entrepreneurship program is designed to grow business from incubations to accelerators and finally thriving companies. This new program is assisting mLife in the recruitment of testing subjects as a component of the Cradle program, and helping mLife collect data for submission to the FDA as part of the approval process for an at-home kit. The ideal setting for initial testing is a group facility with a Registered Nurse or medical officer who has prescribed nasal swabs for likely symptomatic positives, and who are willing to try the much-less-invasive mLife True oral swab as a confirmation test. Then, mLife will provide funding for the lab testing of the prescribed nasal swabs and the mLife oral swabs at the same time.

Through this initiative, mLife hopes to make more coronavirus testing available to the market as soon as possible, and the city would like to make this one of the first successes of our Cradle program.

Visit mlifedx.com for more information. To register your facility’s interest in free testing participation, please contact Stormy Nickerson, City of Marshall Communications Coordinator, at (903) 934-7995.


GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK.  CLICK ON “COMMENT” TO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK or use one of the alternative methods for providing feedback.

click here to CLOSE THIS PAGE

Oak Lawn Golf Course Gearing Up for Tee Time

[Marshall, Texas, May 7, 2020]

[Marshall, Texas] The City of Marshall announces the opening of Oak Lawn Municipal Golf Course on Wednesday, May 13, 2020. Oak Lawn is a 9-hole course that is owned by the City of Marshall located at 4307 Victory Drive in Marshall. This opening date will allow staff to prepare the course for competitive play.

In order to protect the health of each player and the staff, there are stipulations that must be followed in order to use the facilities at Oak Lawn Municipal Golf Course.

•             Oak Lawn will be closed on Mondays and open all other normal business hours.

•             The only access to the clubhouse will be to pay fees. No socializing with other players inside the clubhouse.

•             Players must maintain social distancing suggested by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of 6’ between individuals not in the same immediate family.

•             Only one person is allowed per cart. Two individuals are allowed to utilize the same cart if they are in the same immediate family.

On the course, the City of Marshall requests everyone to follow the CDC guidelines to keep you and those around you safe, and to minimize any possible exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19). At Oak Lawn, workers urge our golfers to heighten their awareness on exposure to surfaces like flagsticks, golf balls, bunker rakes, tees, carts and scorecards. We all need to do our part to respect expert advice and make the right decisions to protect each other.

If you have any questions, please contact Stormy Nickerson at (903) 934-7995. Upon opening, please contact Oak Lawn Municipal Golf Course at (903) 935-7555.

Marshall New Declaration of Local Disaster – May 6, 2020

[Marshall, Texas, May 6, 2020]

[Marshall, Texas] Mayor Terri Brown has issued a New Declaration of Local Disaster and Public Health Emergency Related to Communicable Disease on May 6, 2020. The declaration shall continue in effect until the Marshall City Commission terminates its consent to the continuation of this declaration or until the Mayor terminates this declaration, whichever occurs first.  This declaration is a direct reflection of Executive Order GA-21 issued by Governor Greg Abbott on May 5, 2020.

Effective at 12:01 a.m. on May 8, 2020, these local orders allow the opening of hair salons, nail salons, cosmetology salons, barbershops, and tanning salons. Governor Abbott issued the following provisions in GA-21 in order for these facilities to be open.

•             One customer per stylist.

•             The appointment system is requested.

•             If allowing walk-ins, customers are allowed to wait inside only if they are keeping six feet of separation.

•             There must be six feet of separation between all operating work stations.

•             Wearing facemasks is strongly recommended.

The current declaration also issued the opportunity for the opening of swimming pools on May 8, 2020, under the provisions listed below.

•             Indoor swimming pools may operate at up to 25 percent of the total listed occupancy of the pool facility.

•             Outdoor swimming pools may operate at up to 25 percent of normal operating limits as determined by the pool operator.

•             Local public swimming pools may be allowed to open if permitted by the City of Marshall.

Beginning on May 18, 2020, gyms and exercise facilities will have the opportunity to open with the following stipulations.

•             Gyms may operate at no more than 25 percent capacity (this doesn’t include outside activity). Showers and locker rooms must remain closed. Restrooms may be open.

•             Disinfect every piece of equipment after use by each patron.

•             Customers must wear gloves that cover their fingers at all times.

•             Must maintain social distancing of six feet inside the gym.

•             If a customer brings equipment, like a yoga mat, sanitize the material before and after use.

This declaration allows manufacturing facilities and office buildings that were not deemed essential services might choose to open in limited ways beginning on May 18, 2020.

•             Manufacturers may open with a 25 percent occupancy limitation and staggered workforce, if necessary.

•             Manufacturing employees must maintain a six-foot separation.

•             Achieve a six-foot separation between employees, or the employer must use controls like Plexiglas between work stations.

Businesses located in office buildings may also open on May 18. These businesses may open their offices to either five employees or 25 percent of the workforce, whichever is greater, provided that employees maintain appropriate social distancing.

GA-21 and this declaration have clarified the position on attending weddings and funerals in the State of Texas. Wedding and funeral venues and the services required to conduct weddings; provided, however, that for weddings held indoors other than at a church, congregation, or house of worship, the facility may operate at up to 25 percent of the total listed occupancy of the facility. Wedding reception and funeral services for facilities that operate at up to 25 percent of the full listed occupancy of the facility; provided, however, that the occupancy limits do not apply to the outdoor areas of a wedding reception or outdoor wedding receptions.

The City of Marshall “New Declaration of Local Disaster and Public Health Emergency” dated May 6, 2020, the City of Marshall maintains the requirement for food establishments within the city limits to have all employees wear a face mask at all times. Separate employees must perform cash handling functions and food serving function.

In providing or obtaining essential services or reopened services, individuals and businesses should follow the minimum standard health protocols recommended found at www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus. As COVID-19 positive tests continue to rise, residents should implement social distancing, work from home if possible, use recommended hand sanitizing, maintain environmental cleanliness. Individuals are encouraged to wear appropriate face coverings, but no jurisdiction can impose a civil or criminal penalty for failure to wear a face covering.

The City of Marshall will perform inspections to verify the proper implementation of all policies and procedures. Failure to comply with any of the mandated provisions of this Order constitutes an imminent threat to public health. Per Texas Government Code §418.173, a person who knowingly or intentionally violates this Order commits an offense punishable by a fine up to $1,000.00, confinement in jail for a term not exceed 180 days. Each violation shall constitute a separate offense.

Best practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 include:

1.            Restrict physical contact and publicly used areas.

2.            Maintain Social Distancing with a safe distance of six (6’) feet between all individuals.

3.            Every person shall avoid large gatherings.

4.            Residents shall not visit nursing homes, retirement, or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.

5.            Regularly wash hands with warm soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

6.            Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.

7.            If soap is not available, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

8.            Avoid close contact with people who are sick. All persons should remain in the house if one person in the home exhibits symptoms.


GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK.  CLICK ON “COMMENT” TO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK or use one of the alternative methods for providing feedback.

A HARD LOOK AT REALITY

By George Smith

Meanwhile, while we are getting goid at isolating, let’s take a hard look at reality.

Reality 1: The debt and deficit are at record levels, thanks to the Trump/GOP tax cuts, which made the rich  richer, big companies more profitable and allowed top management to get record big bonuses.

Reality 2: With the debt and deficit at already record levels in 2017, cutting taxes only increased the debt and  deficit, as did borrowing money for stimulus money. 

Reality 3: Trickle-down economics has never worked and never will.

Reality 4: The unemployment figure, thanks to the pandemic, slow response by the federal government and chaotic response on all fronts when the problem was finally acknowledged, is approaching that of the Great Depression. 

Reality 5: With millions out of work, less income taxes (much less!) are being collected.

Reality 6: The bipartisan stimulus money had enough loopholes and negligible oversight to guaranteed a big slice of the funds went to BIG businesses, BIG farmers and BIG special interest firms and GOP donors.

Reality 7: Money for pressing needs for American citizens — rural health care, fragile bridges across the nation and highway infrastructure.— will be non-existent because of realities listed above.

Reality 8: This administration and its party faithful are  more concerned about stock market numbers  and election poll numbers than in saving lives.

Reality 9: The officials of the Trump regime are more concerned about kowtowing to the president than in doing the right thing for the citizens of this nation and the world.

Reality 10: This president and his pride of lackeys will go down in history as the most unconscionable, corrupt, unempathetic, and malignantly ignorant administration in this nation’s history.

Reality 11: What else should we expect when the country is in the hands of a sixth-grade  bully who enjoys publicly ridiculing anyone who disagrees with him with derogatory nicknames — Fat Jerry, Pocahontas l, Sleepy Joe, Little Marco, etc. — and who is the definitive expert on every subject from space travel to the stock market to response to a pandemic and the proper treatments and medicines with which to combat it to the psychology of male/female relationships.

Looking with a non-critical eye, there are those who claim this country is blessed.

Reality 12: And, with those citizens, President Trump is well pleased.


GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK.  CLICK ON “COMMENT” TO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK or use one of the alternative methods for providing feedback.

click here to CLOSE THIS PAGE

1969 – My Year of Living Dangerously

CyberViewX v5.16.55 Model Code=65 F/W Version=1.00

By Ron Munden – May 6, 2020

I recently scanned a set of photographs I shot of a People’s Park march while attending the University of California, Berkeley.  I decided to google “people’s park Berkeley”.  Reading these articles brought back a lot of old memories – things that I have not thought about in many years. I decided to write them down.

I attended Berkeley in 1968, 1969, and 1970 – some part-time and some full-time.  There were protests on campus during all those years but 1969 was the most interesting and as it turned-out the most dangerous.  Here is what I remember.

First, I was never a protester.  Although by 1969 I had decided that the US could not win the Vietnam war and we needed to get out, the Navy was paying me to go to school so I did not think I should spend time protesting.  While I was a civilian, I thought I should act like the naval officers I knew and keep my thoughts to myself and support the current policies of the United States government.

Second, I considered myself a street photographer.  By this time, I had photographed war protests at UT Austin, Klu Klux Klan parades, Hell’s Angles and Black Panther events.  So, if there was a protest and I was in the area I was probably going to be at the event.

It seems like 1969 was a continuous set of protests at Berkeley.  

Early in the fall of 1968 some black group was always protesting something.  The details are not important.  All that is important is that their method of protesting was blocking students from walking through Sather Gate.  They formed a line, linked arms and would not let people pass.

I found out about this when I tried to walk through Sather Gate on my way back to the Naval Architecture building.  I was stopped and told that I could not pass.  Since I had come to campus from the shipyard I was dressed in slacks, a sports shirt and dress shoes.  I turned around and found another way to get back to the Naval Architecture building.

I was 25 years old at the time and not very mature. I did not want any black, white or green guy telling me I could not go though that gate.  When I got back to my apartment that night, I told the story to a friend that lived in the apartment above me.  He said he might could help me out.

The next time I went to class I wore my new outfit – blue jeans, a leather jacket and steel-toed boots.

I did get stopped again and was told I could not go though the gate.  I said, “I’m going through the gate.”   In the short pause that followed I calculated the trajectory of my steel-toe boot into the exposed shin of the guy immediately in front of me.  But the line parted and I walked through.  I never got to try out my new boots.

This protest ended in a week or so but my new outfit began my only outfit on days I was on campus.  Little did I know at the time, but the campus was about to become a war zone.

War protests began to increase at the beginning of 1969.  From what I saw there was a lot of yelling and foul language but no weapons on the part of the students.  I never knew what provoked the escalation on the part of the police but suddenly there was police officer presence on campus.  As I recall they were state troopers. Tear gas was used by the police.  I can state that as a fact because I was present when it happened on more than one occasion.

Then came the helicopter.  Many reports say it was tear gas.  I think it was pepper spray.  It makes no difference because both caused burning eyes and a runny nose.  Also helicopters tear gassing people is an imprecise science.  They couldn’t control where the wind carried the gas.  So, you could be sitting in class and your eyes would start burning because the gas would have gotten into the ventilation system for the building.

And then came People’s Park.

People’s Park was one square block of land located a couple of blocks off campus.  The land had been vacant for years.  A group of locals constructed a swing set and a couple of other structures on the property.  It was known as hippie park and then became People’s Park.  Everything was going fine until the University announced they were going to build a parking garage on the property.  There were protests and the police came down with a hammer.

I never understood why things escalated so quickly until recently.  The article, “The Battle for People’s Park, Berkeley 1969” provided the best explanation I have heard.  The article is now posted on the website.

Anyway, Governor Ronald Reagan ordered out the National Guard and they came on campus.  Now it was the National Guard that was blocking Sather Gate and this was really scary.

I know military discipline when I see it.  The security for Mare Island Shipyard was provided by Marines so there was a Marine barracks on the base.  I saw military discipline every day.

The California National Guard in 1969 was mainly comprised of guys who signed up so they could avoid the draft and going to Vietnam.  They were the keystone cops and in no way resembled a military unit.  This is the group that Reagan sent onto campus with live ammunition and fixed bayonets.

Let me make my point.

One day I was trying to get back to the Naval Architecture building and I found the path blocked by about 25 National Guardsmen with rifles and fixed bayonets.  I walked up to see why the route was blocked.  About 10 yards in front of the National Guard there was a group of four guys yelling at them.   About 5 yard behind the four guys was a group of students looking on just like me. 

One of the loudmouths make a particularly distasteful comment to one of the National Guard.  They broke formation and charged the loudmouth with fixed bayonets pointed at the loudmouth.   Wisely, the loudmouth breaks and runs as do the other three loudmouths and the students behind them.

By this time, the other 24 Guardsmen have all broken formation and are going in all directions chasing students.  When I noticed a Guardsmen moving toward me, I exited stage right with him in pursuit.  At 25 I was still a good sprinter.  Even in my steel-toed boots I left him in the dust.

Another day trying to get through graduate school.

With this as background

When I heard that the People’s Park protest had scheduled a march for Saturday, I thought there would be more confrontation between the protesters and the state troopers/National Guard – a perfect photo op.

Armed with my Nikon F and as much film as I could afford, a friend and I went to Berkeley to shoot.

Wow! I was surprised.  Overnight the mood of the protesters had changed.  They were the hippy flower children I had met in Haight Ashbury in 1967. There was no yelling at the police. When a marcher would pass a policeman they would hand him a flower.  When a marcher passed a National Guardsman some marchers put the stem of a flower in the barrel of the rifle being careful not to hurt themselves on the fixed bayonet.

This is the People’s Park march I photographed on that Saturday in 1969.


GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK.  CLICK ON “COMMENT” TO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK or use one of the alternative methods for providing feedback.

click here to CLOSE THIS PAGE