Lost Lake Tribune April 2013

House Committee Wants Administration's Intelligence on Dead Boston Bombing Suspect

A Republican-led House committee is asking the Obama administration for all information on the Boston bombing suspect once suspected of engaging in terrorist activities, saying the tragedy marks another intelligence failure and raises “serious questions about the efficacy of the federal counter-terrorism efforts.”

The letter was sent Saturday by the House Committee on Homeland Security to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, National Intelligence Director James Clapper and FBI Director Robert Mueller.

In the letter, Committee Chairman Rep. Mike McCaul says bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev appears to be the fifth person since 9/11 to participate in a terror attack, despite being under FBI investigation. McCaul, R-Texas, said the incidents “raise the most serious questions about the efficacy of the federal counter terrorism efforts.”

Tsarnaev, 26, was killed early Friday morning in a police shootout. His 19-year-old brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was captured by police that night and remains in the hospital. 

The older Tsarnaev was interviewed by the FBI in 2011 before a six-month overseas trip, including time in Russia. In addition, he posted jihadist material on his social media site.

On Saturday, two U.S. law enforcement officials said the FBI was acting on information from the Russian intelligence security service that Tamerlan Tsarnaev was a follower of radical Islam.

“Yet Tsarnaev remained at liberty in this country to conduct the Boston attack, and it took days to publicly identify him as a suspect,” wrote McCaul, who wants the information by Friday.

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., a committee member who also signed the letter, asked “Why didn’t the FBI go back and look at this?”

Still, the agency got some bipartisan support Sunday for its intelligence work and finding the bombing suspects. “The FBI did its due diligence,” Rep. Mike Rogers said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Rogers, R-Mich., a former FBI agent, also suggested Tsarnaev could have made overseas trips under an alias.

Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin told NBC the FBI and related agencies need more resources. “We need to invest in the resources necessary for law enforcement,” said Durbin, who acknowledges the Boston attacks might be a call for a review of U.S. intelligence efforts.

Two bombs place Monday near the Boston Marathon finish line killed three people and injured more than 180 others.

McCaul identified the others in the terrorist category as Anwar al Awlaki, David Headley, Carlos Bledsoe and Nidal Hasan. 

He said Faruq Abdulmutallab also attempted a terror attack despite being identified to the Central Intelligence Agency as a potential terrorist. The so-called “underwear bomber” attempted to blow up a U.S. airliner on Dec. 25, 2009.

Al Awlaki was an American-born Al Qaeda member killed in a 2011 U.S. drone attack in Yemen.  Headley is a Pakistani-American who pleaded guilty in 2010 to participating in terror attacks including the 2008 Mumbai, India, attacks that killed 164 people.

Bledsoe was born in Tennessee and converted to radical Islam before a 2009 attack on a military recruiting station in which he fatally shot an Army private.

Hasan, born in Virginia, is the Army officer accused of fatally shooting 13 people in 2009 at a military base in Fort Hood, Texas.

Information Gathered from: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/04/21/house-committee-wants-answers-about-bombing-suspect/#ixzz2R9iaFxU7

Two People Shot in West-End Toronto Bank Robbery

A 22-year-old female bank teller and a male customer were shot during a bank robbery Sunday afternoon on St. Clair Avenue West.

Toronto police said the heist happened at 12:20 p.m. at the Toronto-Dominion Canada Trust branch at 2555 St. Clair Avenue West, just east of Jane Street. There were numerous customers and employees when the shooting occurred inside the branch, which is open on Sundays, police said.

Staff Inspector Mike Earl of the Toronto Police Hold-Up Squad said that two black males in their early twenties entered the bank with a semi-automatic handgun and a rifle. “They took over the bank,” said Staff Inspector Earl. “They vaulted the counters, removing money.”

The armed robbers asked everybody to get down on the floor. When one customer “was not complying immediately, or fast enough for his demands,” the man with the handgun fired his weapon, said the inspector.

A bullet from this round struck a teller in the left leg. She was later taken to a local hospital.

As the suspects exited the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash, the customer who had not moved fast enough followed them out into the parking lot of the plaza where the bank is located, said Staff Inspector Earl. A struggle ensued between the customer, a man in his early fifties, and the man with the handgun. The customer got shot in the abdomen and had to be transported to a trauma centre for surgery.

“This is a brazen, cowardly act to take over a bank like this armed with fully loaded weapons, and then to fire the weapons in the bank is very rare,” said Staff Inspector Earl.

The victims’ injuries are not life threatening, according to Toronto EMS.

Police were at the scene for several hours interviewing witnesses.

The suspects, described as having a medium build, escaped in a 1998 Green Honda Civic, which was reportedly stolen overnight, said Staff Inspector Earl. The suspect with the rifle was wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, a quilted winter vest and white jeans. The other suspect with the handgun was wearing a Chicago White Sox hat, a black hoodie and light blue jeans.

The TD Bank Group released a statement about the incident.

“Our first priority is always the safety of our customers and employees and we sincerely regret that anyone was hurt,” said the statement. “It’s our understanding that the injuries are not life-threatening and we are making support available to ensure the well-being of any customers and employees involved in the incident.”

Approximately 175 robberies take place in Toronto’s financial institutions each year. There were a 150 such incidents reported in 2011, according to statistics maintained by the Toronto Police.

Information Gathered from http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/04/21/two-people-shot-in-west-end-toronto-bank-robbery/

Twins Extend Win Streak to Four

CHICAGO - Josh Willingham atoned for an earlier misplay with a tiebreaking three-run double in Minnesota's four-run seventh inning, leading the Twins to a 5-3 victory over the slumping Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Aaron Hicks singled in a run and Justin Morneau had a bases-loaded walk as Minnesota swept a pair of weekend games against Chicago to stretch its winning streak to four. Friday night's series opener was postponed by rain.

Scott Diamond (1-1) pitched six effective innings, keeping the Twins in the game while they struggled to score against Gavin Floyd. Diamond allowed two runs, one earned, and four hits in his first start since he made his season debut in a loss to the New York Mets on April 13.

Jeff Keppinger had two RBIs for the White Sox, who have lost three in a row and four of six. Adam Dunn hit his third homer, snapping a career-worst hitless streak of 31 consecutive at-bats.

Chicago led 2-1 before Hicks drove in Trevor Plouffe with a single to right against Matt Lindstrom (1-1) in the seventh. Minnesota went on to load the bases when Donnie Veal issued a two-out walk to Joe Mauer, and Willingham drove the first pitch from Jesse Crain deep to center to give the Twins a 5-2 lead.

Dunn connected against Josh Roenicke in the bottom half, belting a drive to center, but Jared Burton worked the eighth and Glen Perkins finished for his fifth save in five chances.

The White Sox wasted a terrific start by Floyd, who allowed one run and three hits over six innings in a marked turnaround from his shaky beginning to the season. The right-hander dropped each of his first three starts while yielding 11 earned runs in 15 2-3 innings.

Chicago went ahead 1-0 in the fourth, making the most of a flub by Willingham. Alejandro De Aza led off with a drive to left that went off Willingham's glove as he backpedaled to try to make the catch.

De Aza, who was credited with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scampered home on Keppinger's bouncer to shortstop. The White Sox then put two more runners on, but Dunn struck out and Alex Rios was cut down trying to steal third in an inning-ending double play.

Dunn went 1 for 4 with three strikeouts. The burly slugger is 7 for 65 with three walks and 26 strikeouts in 17 games this season.

NOTES: Mauer went 0 for 3 with two walks, ending a 10-game hitting streak.

Twins OF Chris Parmelee was out of the lineup but was available after he was hit by a fastball from White Sox reliever Matt Thornton on Saturday. "He definitely took a good one right in the elbow," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He's sore."

 RHP Kevin Correia (1-1, 2.95 ERA) is slated to get the ball for the Twins when they host Miami in the opener of a two-game set on Monday night. Correia will be opposed by Ricky Nolasco (0-2, 3.86). 

Information Gathered from: http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/204006901.html

Senior Editor Deals with Minnesota’s Late Snowfalls

Ben Fugate is not the only Minnesotan who wants the snow to stop but he is one of few who have gone to great lengths to prevent the snow from halting his lifestyle. The Lost Lake Tribune Senior Editor went with two friends and their two young children to Bible Baptist Church on Sunday, April 14. The 160-mile trip from Minneapolis to Neillsville, WI was fraught with heavy rain all the way to the church. Then the precipitation turned to heavy snow during Bible Baptist’s 42nd anniversary service.

Pastor Kevin Holland of First Baptist Church in Goodrich, MI spoke during the Sunday School hour and Morning Service. Pastor Holland pastored Bible Baptist from 1994-2000 before planting two churches in northern Wisconsin. Ben Fugate’s family—Pastor Mark Fugate, Mrs. Sara Fugate, and Aaron Fugate—were glad to see their son and brother on that special day.

After the delicious church meal, Fugate and his friends headed back to Minnesota. The return trip was even worse than the morning commute. The roads were covered with snow and ice, with few exceptions, from Neillsville to the Eau Claire area. Once west of Eau Claire, the weather turned back to straight rain and the trip finished smoothly.

Benjamin Fugate then attended the evening service at his new church, West River Road Baptist in Brooklyn Park, MN. He became a full-fledged member after giving his Christian testimony.

On Thursday night, the Twin Cities received a half foot of heavy snow. Senior Editor Fugate attempted to drive his car to work in downtown Minneapolis. However, his car could not get up the hill on Fugate’s cul-de-sac. Fugate then walked four miles to a gas station where a patrol officer from his security company finally picked him up. Blowing snow and dangerous conditions could not stop Ben from reporting to his post, albeit, an hour late.

On Friday, Fugate celebrated his birthday by going to Qdoba in Plymouth and enjoying his usual order. Unfortunately, there was no Twins game to enjoy watching on that day.

Prayer and waiting in Texas town rocked by blast

WEST, Texas — The First Baptist Church in the Texas town where a fertilizer plant exploded is still off-limits, so the Rev. John Crowder put folding chairs in a hay pasture and improvised a pulpit on a truck flatbed. At the elementary school, an official carted extra desks and chairs into the only public school campus that's left.

This was Sunday in West. Four days after the blast that killed 14 people and injured 200 others, residents prayed for comfort and got ready for the week ahead, some of them still waiting to find out when — or if — they will be able to go back home.

"We have lost our friends and neighbors. We lost the safety and comfort of our homes," said Crowder, raising his voice over the whirr of helicopters surveying the nearby rubble from overhead. "But as scary as this is, we don't have to be afraid."

The explosion at the West Fertilizer Co. rocketed shrapnel across several blocks and left what assistant state fire marshal Kelly Kirstner described Sunday as "a large crater." A section of the flat farming town near the crater, including Crowder's church, is still behind barricades.

One school campus was obliterated, and on the eve of the return of 1,500 students to class for the first time since Wednesday's blast, Superintendent Marty Crawford said the high school and middle school also could be razed.

Nearly 70 federal and state investigators are still trying to determine what caused the fire that set off the explosion, Kirstner said. Authorities say there are no signs of criminal intent.

Robert Champion, the special agent in charge for the Dallas office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said experts plan to enter the crater in the next few days and start digging in search of an explanation.

"It's a slow process, but we're getting there," Champion said.

Slow is the normal way of life in West. But the past several days, for many of its 2,800 residents have melded into an anguishing and frustrating stretch of wait-and-hear — whether about the safety of family and friends, or the fate of their homes.

Six firefighters and four emergency medics were among the dead, and city officials announced that a memorial service would be held Thursday at Baylor University.

Professional organizations and family and friends on Sunday identified four of the first responders who died: brothers Doug and Robert Snokhous, who were both firefighters with the West Volunteer Fire Department; Jerry Chapman, a firefighter with the Abbott Volunteer Fire Department; and Kevin Sanders, who worked with West EMS and another area volunteer fire department.

At least one of the West volunteer firefighters who was killed, Joey Pustejovsky, was a member of St. Mary's Church of the Assumption that held a solemn first Mass since the blast.

Firefighters and emergency workers in bright yellow jackets knelt in the pews as the Rev. Boniface Onjefu recalled driving toward the fire after the explosion rattled his house.

"I stopped at the nursing home," Onjefu said. "I noticed a lot of people trapped. I assisted. I prayed with some and held the hands of some that needed comfort. I saw him in the eyes of everyone."

Said Onjefu, "God heard our prayers and prevented another tank from exploding."

Information Gathered from: http://news.msn.com/us/prayer-and-waiting-in-texas-town-rocked-by-blast?ocid=ansnews11

Editorial-

Again, President Obama has failed to stop terrorist attacks within our borders. Our 44th president has failed repeatedly to prevent terrorists from killing Americans. Although this instance was not premeditated by a terrorist group, it was still an attack by two men who were set on destroying an American tradition. The Boston Marathon is the best 26.2 miles any runner can ever experience. Although the Olympics may be even more impressive, the Boston Marathon does not limit itself to top-notch athletes. It is designed for people of all walks of life and all generations to get a chance and run through a historic city. This year’s running became a nightmare. With body parts flying and runners dying, the final results became little details about which no one even cared. To the best of my knowledge, nothing like this has happened in Bay State Capital since the Revolutionary War.

As soon as the smoke settles, we find out that the FBI is taking over the investigation. The FBI failed miserably in stopping this crime, why should they have the authority? What is wrong with Boston police who ended up sacrificing one of their own in the apprehension these Chechen brothers? Why not just let Massachusetts handle the investigation and trial? We know from the first article that the FBI had these men on their radar but did nothing about it. Both men should have been deported months ago for failing to act in America’s best interest when it came to their Russian ties. The FBI, an arm of the Obama Administration has failed to stop American terrorists. If the FBI wants to continue to have such great authority, then we had better have more stories like Illinois http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/04/21/illinois-man-tried-to-join-al-qaeda-linked-group-fbi-says/?test=latestnews and less like Massachusetts http://theweek.com/article/index/243026/the-boston-marathon-bombings-and-chechnyas-long-history-of-terrorism. If the FBI and President Obama continue to fail, the 50 states should be more than ready to take over in all crime and terrorism investigations and apprehensions.

Senior Editor Benjamin Fugate

The Lost Lake Tribune is the work of Senior Editor Benjamin Fugate and his assistants.