SIDE STREETS: Woman spends 33 years watching her neighborhood

A steady rain, punctuated by frequent downpours, couldn't dampen Charlotte and Ken Mock's enthusiasm Tuesday night.

"We stay pretty close," Charlotte said of the nine families on Pastime Place. "I always encourage neighbors to talk to each other when there's a problem. We might have a rub going on, but we'll get it taken care of.""I went up and hollered: 'Can I help you?' and he dropped a bag and ran," she said. "There were tools in his bag."Another time, Ken saw an intruder while walking the dog and scared him off. Turns out the stranger was a look-out for a burglar in the neighbor's house."I always go and meet the new neighbors," she said. "It's really important to get them on board and feeling comfortable."Please follow me on Twitter and Friend me on Facebook"It encourages neighbors to get to know each other" Charlotte said. "By getting to know each other, you can help each other. It makes you more aware."That raised awareness has paid off several times over the years for the cul de sac."We've had a few situations like that," she said.Between cloudbursts, they dried their chairs and lit a fire in their pit and called their friends on Pastime Place in Village Seven to share dessert, sing happy birthday to a neighbor and observe National Night Out.Charlotte nurses the relationship by welcoming new families whether they are new owners or folks moving into rental properties on the street. She bakes cookies and takes a map identifying all the neighbors.One time, she and Ken spotted a man walk up to a neighbor's window.Why work so hard, I asked Charlotte, to protect the neighborhood?Bringing neighbors together makes it easier to solve issues that crop up.The Mocks are big believers in the Neighborhood Watch program. How big? Charlotte, 69, has been block captain since 1978!"We feel we averted at least a couple burglaries," she said.That's 33 years of building "phone trees" and introducing new neighbors to the group and hosting meetings at least three times a year and, most importantly, keeping an eye on the area.There are more reasons the Mocks stay active in Neighborhood Watch, which counts about 700 similar groups in Colorado Springs and El Paso County.-(See photos of the happy, soggy bunch on my blog.)"After we moved in, we heard about Neighborhood Watch," Charlotte said. "It sounded like a good idea so we formed our group.""This is the way things worked when I was growing up," she said "Everybody helps a little bit. That's the way it oughta be."

Please follow me on Twitter and Friend me on Facebook

Exert Caution When Handling Fire Pits

Everyone loves a good campfire, and fire pits recreate this ambient experience admirably. As a heat source, cooking tool and social gathering place, fire pits are fun and functional. But whenever dealing with an open flame, safety is paramount. Being prepared can be the difference between a good time and an unforeseen accident.

As with any open flame scenario, always, always keep a fire extinguisher nearby. If you do not own one or are out in the woods, a bucket of water will do in a pinch. Ideally, anything with a spray nozzle works best so that you may aim and concentrate water where it is needed. Whatever you use, keep it within sight. Along that same vein, keep any flammable substances like kerosene and aerosol cans far away from heat. Lastly, do not stack firewood formations too high as they are likely to topple over as the wood burns. A teepee or log cabin configuration is proven to be especially sturdy when arranging logs.Fire ExtinguishersIgniting a fire is where a most people run the risk of endangering themselves. The most natural and safest way to start a fire is by using a simple and homemade fire starter (dry lint placed into cardboard egg cartons works especially well), then by using kindling and tinder to build up the fire so that it is easier to control. If you insist on using an accelerant of any kind (like kerosene) always keep in mind the adage �less is more.� You can always add more later on as needed, but your eyebrows won�t grow back so quickly if you start with too much. Many recent models of fire pits run on propane or natural gas so they require less constant attention, and many of these also come with built in safety shut-off mechanisms and pilot lights as an added safety measure.When you�re finished enjoying your fire pit, caution must still be exhibited when breaking everything down. Never ever move logs or fire pits that are still burning, glowing from embers, or have not fully cooled down to the touch. Not only do you risk burning yourself, but in the case of standing fire pits, the unit could fall over and catch something else on fire.Starting Your FireToolsPokers and other tools are especially handy when dealing with fire pits. Log pokers are good for moving and rearranging logs that may have fallen or are precariously positioned. Other tools, including shovels and brushes, are more useful when cleaning up afterwards and do not necessarily help much as far as safety measures.The most authentic type for a true camping, outdoorsy experience, wood burning fire pits are the way to go. They�re also, however, the hardest to control, and for this reason there should be basic steps taken to assure your safety. To differentiate, the most rudimentary of fire pits are handmade and consist of a dirt circle surrounded by stones. Models for purchase are more varied in design, and some, like the popular chiminea, come with chimneys. In any case, attention is the most important factor when burning wood. Do not leave open fires unattended for an extended period of time.Wood PitsDismantlingSmokePlacementUnfortunately, smoke is an avoidable part of the process when it comes to wood burning fire pits. Though difficult to control, try to keep away from and the direction in which the smoke is blowing and inhaling its fumes for obvious reasons. Smoke is a carcinogen and is especially harmful to individuals with respiratory ailments, including asthma. Some models of fire pit do actually come with a wind break which helps to control the amount of and direction in which smoke wafts.

When you�re finished enjoying your fire pit, caution must still be exhibited when breaking everything down. Never ever move logs or fire pits that are still burning, glowing from embers, or have not fully cooled down to the touch. Not only do you risk burning yourself, but in the case of standing fire pits, the unit could fall over and catch something else on fire.

Champion Minerals' Drilling at Fire Lake North Nears Completion and Continues to Delineate High-Grade Zones of Coarse-Grained, Specular Hematite-Rich Mineralization

CHAMPION MINERALS INC. (TSX:CHM)(FRANKFURT:P02) ("Champion", or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results recently received for diamond-drill holes completed at the Fire Lake North Project. Highlights of assay results from nineteen new holes are detailed in Table 1, including eight holes drilled in the proposed East Pit area ("East Area"), five holes drilled in the proposed West Pit area ("West Area"), and six holes drilled in the Don Lake area ("Don Lake").

The re-interpreted fold geometry and additional potential resources generated from the results of the 2010-11 definition drilling at the East and West Areas are expected to produce significantly differing pit shells and final pit designs from the 2010 model. The new pit designs will likely contain increased in-pit resources and reduced strip ratios, which in turn will positively impact the Project Economics that are expected in the forthcoming PEA update, scheduled for completion by the end of Q3-2011.The definition drilling at both the East and West designed pit areas continues to intersect wide intervals of iron formation containing distinct zones of high-grade, coarse-grained, specular hematite-rich mineralization.At the West Area, the latest phase of drilling is nearing completion, with 4 drill rigs completing their current holes. Drillhole FLN11-60 intersected 120.70 m grading 26.3% FeT, including an interval of 87.8 m grading 34.6% FeT, in the eastern limb of the synform. Geological logging of drill hole FL11-76, completed on the same section, intersected both the upper (eastern) and lower (western) limbs indicating that the synform is overturned to the east. Sampling and assay results are pending for drillhole FL11-76.Drilling at Don Lake is complete, with 16 holes drilled during 2011. Geological modelling of the Don Lake zone is complete and resource modelling has commenced. The drilling at Don Lake was designed to outline additional iron resources with the objective of establishing a third potential open pit on the Fire Lake North Property.

The re-interpreted fold geometry and additional potential resources generated from the results of the 2010-11 definition drilling at the East and West Areas are expected to produce significantly differing pit shells and final pit designs from the 2010 model. The new pit designs will likely contain increased in-pit resources and reduced strip ratios, which in turn will positively impact the Project Economics that are expected in the forthcoming PEA update, scheduled for completion by the end of Q3-2011.

Patio Fire Pit: 5 Great Ways To Use Fire Pit For Enjoyment And Cooking

Patio fire pits are a great way to further your family enjoyment of the outdoors. Not only do they warm the soul with family fellowship time together, but a patio fire pit can add group participation to the event. Let�s eat!! What better way to benefit from time together than a meal. This is where a Patio fire pit can do double duty. A patio fire pit can be a place to meet together and work with one another to create a meal. Here are 5 suggestions for a meal or fun at the same time.

1. While most patio fire pits come with a grill, who needs one to do up some hot dogs? What a fantastic summer time meal. A package of dogs, a package of bins and chips equals an instant meal. Throw in a few carrot sticks or other raw veggies and you have a decent meal. With very little prep work everyone will be happy they were there.While all these things that can be done the first step is to have a patio fire put. The second step is to make sure you use it with safety and caution. Always have a way to contain the fire. Keep children away unless supervised. Never leave a fire going without someone in the area. Enjoy the extended time a patio fire pit will give to your family and friends.4. The ideas come from the fact that most of the patio fire pits come equipped with a grill. This is handy when the wood turns to coals and anything you would use an outdoor grill for can now be done on a patio fire pit. Hamburgers certainly come to mind next. Easy to fix with little need for a lot of prep work. Even to make the easiest using frozen burger patties work well. A potato or pasta salad with this makes a perfect outdoor meal.5. There is not better purpose for a bed of coals and grill on a patio fire pit than laying on a one inch thick rib eye steak. A few minutes on each side and a perfectly done steak. Only one more thing that could be done to enhance the flavor of a good steak is to smoke it a little. While any fruit wood, apple, orange, pear wood is great pecan, hickory or mesquite would do quite well. Soak the chips for a while in a bucket of water. Throw them on right before putting on the steak and let the smoke begin. A trick I picked up on a while back is to finds an old pot or pan lid that you can cover the meat while it is cooking. This will circulate the smoke around the meat while it is cooking. This will help to intensify the smoke flavor while using a patio fire pit.2. After a meal by using the patio fire pit everyone wants dessert. Well break out the marshmallows. Give all the kids a metal skewer with a cool handle and step back. There is not a kid from three to ninety three who hasn�t had a fun time with a fire and trying not to burn the marshmallows.

While all these things that can be done the first step is to have a patio fire put. The second step is to make sure you use it with safety and caution. Always have a way to contain the fire. Keep children away unless supervised. Never leave a fire going without someone in the area. Enjoy the extended time a patio fire pit will give to your family and friends.

English Scouts' home a castle in Sweden

Byline: HAZEL ETTIENNE

"We are building castle battlements and a courtyard with a fire pit. We have a great hall complete with shields and armour."The castle and all its components were transported to Sweden by road for the beginning of the Jamboree this week.[bar] KING OF THE CASTLE: Stuart Moorhouse of Huddersfield, one of the West Yorkshire Scouts amongst those building a medieval castle in Kristianstad, Sweden, as preparations for the start of World Scout Jamboree get under way (S)Some 38,000 scouts from almost every country in the world have arrived at the site in Rinkaby.SCOUTS from West Yorkshire are among those constructing a medieval castle in Kristianstad, Sweden as preparations for the start of World Scout Jamboree get under way.The builders include Nicola Bartlett and Stuart Moorhouse, from West Yorkshire, who said: "We have been planning and preparing for this for 18 months. The wood we are using is all recycled. We have practiced building parts of it at our base in Yorkshire but now it's really exciting to see it taking shape between a Swiss Chalet and the Lichtenstein Snuggery."They will be able to taste British favourites such as Cornish pasties, mushy peas, cream teas and even a full English breakfast, all in the setting of the Medieval castle!Graham Earnshaw, a leader from Huddersfield who is leading the project, said, "We came up with the theme 'An Englishman's home is his castle' and the idea just grew from there.

[bar] KING OF THE CASTLE: Stuart Moorhouse of Huddersfield, one of the West Yorkshire Scouts amongst those building a medieval castle in Kristianstad, Sweden, as preparations for the start of World Scout Jamboree get under way (S)

Officer shoots pit bull while responding to domestic dispute

A Colorado Springs police officer shot and killed a pit bull on Monday when it attacked him while he tended to a domestic dispute.

No one was injured in the incident. The two people involved in the dispute were detained, and Humane Society was still mulling charges Monday afternoon.The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region took away a second pit bull that officers had corralled.The officer fired seven rounds at the pit bull, killing it in the hallway of the Tiburon Apartments, 1330 Potter Dr., said Colorado Springs police Sgt. Chuck Potter.The officer heard screams coming from inside a second-story apartment around 1:30 p.m. and pushed open the door, police said. When he did, the pit bull then rushed towards him and was shot.

The shooting marks the second time in a little more than a week that an officer has fatally shot a pit bull. The dog was killed on July 31 when it came at officers "in an aggressive manner" while they tried to detain a man in the 4100 block of Shining Way.

The Journal Record Business Briefs: August 10, 2011

Commission halts wastewater dumping in Bokoshe coal ash pit

Registration information is at www.ruralenterprises.com.The Women's Business Center of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma Inc. has scheduled a workshop, entitled "Business Essentials for 2011," from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 18 at the Sapulpa Chamber of Commerce in Sapulpa.The award is for construction of a center at Fort Polk, La., to provide child-care services for children 6 to 10 years old.Transcontinental offers senior notesCo-sponsors are Meridian Technology Center, Sherry's Business Success Services and the Women's Business Center of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma Inc.Program registration is $425 per person or $375 per person for a table of eight. A 10-percent discount is available for TU alumni. Registration information is at bus.collins.utulsa.edu/CEPD/ disney2011.asp.The proposed district populations are District 1, 201,250; District 2, 201,897; and District 3, 200,256.Disney Institute coming to TUCurrent and proposed district maps are at www.tulsacounty.org/ redistricting.Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. is offering $375 million of senior notes due 2041 to certain institutional investors.The workshop is co-sponsored by the Sapulpa Chamber of Commerce, Sapulpa Main Street, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension, Central Technology Center, Oklahoma Small Business Development Center and REI's Women's Business Center.Small business workshop set in SapulpaRegistration is $33. For registration information, call (405) 377- 3333.Asset Group Inc., Oklahoma City, has been awarded a $7.8 million contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Little Rock, Ark.Until a year ago, the wastewater had been used to settle fly ash dust at a site near Bokoshe. The site is operated by Making Money Having Fun LLC, which had been accepting oil and gas wastewater from northwest Arkansas and Oklahoma.The Oklahoma Corporation Commission on Wednesday ordered Thumbs Up Ranch to reapply for a permit to accept produced water from oil and natural gas wells.Versar Inc. of Springfield, Va., has been selected as prime contractor for up to a $45.4 million task order with the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment for remediation at Tinker Air Force Base."Facebook Fundamentals for Beginners" workshops are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 24 and 31 at Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater.Asset Group awarded contractTulsa County Commissioners will consider a plan for redistricting at the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Monday.Sherry Roden, Sherry's Business Success Services, will present the workshop.A year ago the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an administrative order against Making Money Having Fun for violating the Clean Water Act and had suspended the dumping of the wastewater.The subsidiary of Tulsa-based Williams Partners LP plans to use $300 million of the proceeds to repay 7-percent notes due 2011. The remainder of the proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes.The commission then suspended the shipments.The initial award totals $18.7 million, with options totaling another $26.7 million over the next nine years.Versar will work with CH2MHill and Battelle Memorial Institute for environmental cleanup at 34 sites across the base.Tulsa County to consider redistricting planSouthwestern Christian University is a private Christian liberal- arts university.The 2010 Census revealed that Tulsa County's population shifted in a way requiring different boundaries for the county commission districts. Tulsa County's population through the 2010 Census is 603,403. With the current boundaries, district populations are District 1, 206,001; District 2, 193,901; and District 3, 203,501.The Disney Institute's "Disney's Approach to Inspiring Creativity" will be presented Sept. 14 at the University of Tulsa's Allen Chapman Activity Center.Chasteen leaves SCU for Victory Church campusDewey Brandon, Oklahoma Tax Commission, and Linda Barnet, Oklahoma Main Street Center, will present the workshop.Facebook business workshops set in StillwaterThe fly ash is trucked 12 miles to the property from the AES Shady Point coal-fired power plant. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has oversight of oil and gas wastewater transportation and disposal sites in Oklahoma.Jon Chasteen, vice president for University Advancement at Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, has resigned to join Victory Church.Versar receives Tinker contractThe order on Wednesday said Making Money Having Fun operators will need to resolve all of the issues regarding contamination before they can reapply to resume operations, said Matt Skinner, OCC spokesman.Chasteen will serve as the campus pastor and administrator of a new Edmond campus that will open this fall. Victory Church also has campuses in Warr Acres, Norman, Corpus Christi, Texas, and South Africa.

Program registration is $425 per person or $375 per person for a table of eight. A 10-percent discount is available for TU alumni. Registration information is at bus.collins.utulsa.edu/CEPD/ disney2011.asp.