Southwest

99-year-old WWII veteran launches career as children’s book author: ‘Reading is a foundation’

Published

3 years ago

March 9, 2022

Press Room

99-year-old WWII veteran launches career as children’s book author: ‘Reading is a foundation’

NEWNow you can hearken to Fox Information articles!

A 99-year-old World Conflict II veteran has made a brand new profession for himself by writing kids’s books.

Sam Baker, 99, from Scottsdale, Arizona, joined the Marine Corps in 1942, simply 4 months after the assault on Pearl Harbor.

When he returned to civilian life within the fall of 1947, Baker joined the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, which is now the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Baker labored for NOAA for 30 years earlier than he retired.

On the age of 95, Baker determined to take up writing.

MICRO-PREEMIE BORN 11.5 OUNCES CELEBRATES 1ST BIRTHDAY AFTER 127-DAY STAY IN NICU

Baker advised Fox Information Digital that his son inspired him to write down his first kids’s ebook, “The Foolish Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm,” which was revealed in 2018.

The ebook relies on tales Baker used to inform his kids a few worm named Herman once they have been rising up.

Sam Baker, a 99-year-old World Conflict II veteran, has began a brand new profession for himself writing kids’s books.
(Ruby Rideout)

In 2020, Baker revealed his second ebook, “Oscar the Mouse,” primarily based on Baker’s personal childhood.

“After I was a teenager, anyone gave me a white rat as a pet,” Baker mentioned.

Baker added that regardless that folks at all times “cringe” when he tells them he had a pet rat, his rat “was the cleanest factor you ever noticed.”

“She and I used to have a superb rapport,” Baker mentioned. “However my mom wouldn’t let me take her in the home, so I needed to construct a cage for her exterior.”

Sam Baker joined the Marine Corps in 1942 and served during World War II. He is pictured in 1944.

Sam Baker joined the Marine Corps in 1942 and served throughout World Conflict II. He’s pictured in 1944.
(Courtesy of Sam Baker Books)

After he wrote “The Foolish Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm,” Baker mentioned he was reminded of his beloved pet rat and determined to write down a ebook about her, too.

WOMAN’S EMOTIONAL GIFT TO HUSBAND SHOWING NEWBORN WITH HIS LATE FATHER GOES VIRAL

As an alternative of a rat, although, he selected to alter the character to a mouse, “as a result of folks settle for mice over rats,” Baker mentioned.

Baker mentioned his third ebook will observe Oscar the mouse by way of extra adventures. Baker advised Army Households Journal that the ebook is anticipated to be revealed later this yr.

Baker told Fox News Digital that he wanted to write children's books to help inspire young people to read, because "reading is a foundation for all other learning."

Baker advised Fox Information Digital that he needed to write down kids’s books to assist encourage younger folks to learn, as a result of “studying is a basis for all different studying.”
(Ruby Rideout)

Baker’s personal journey with studying had its challenges. He advised Fox that his academics taught him to learn utilizing the sight say methodology, which made it tough for him to learn. He mentioned he didn’t be taught phonics till he was an grownup.

Nonetheless, he mentioned he developed a love for studying within the ninth grade when he needed to write a dozen ebook experiences in a single yr.

One other important second in Baker’s journey to turning into a kids’s ebook writer was a few years later, when his eldest daughter, Sally, was simply 3 years outdated.

10-YEAR-OLD MAKES CHEMO COMFORT BAGS FOR PATIENTS AFTER SEEING GRANDFATHER FIGHT CANCER

On the time, Baker mentioned, his spouse used to learn to Sally day by day, and in the future, Sally determined to learn to Baker.

“She had me sit on the sofa, she obtained her favourite kids’s ebook, climbed into my lap, confronted away from me, learn me the entire ebook, closed it with authority, circled and gave me the most important smile,” Baker mentioned.

Sam Baker’s first book, "The Silly Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm," is based on the stories Baker used to tell his children when they were growing up. The book came out in 2018.

Sam Baker’s first ebook, “The Foolish Adventures of Petunia and Herman the Worm,” relies on the tales Baker used to inform his kids once they have been rising up. The ebook got here out in 2018.
(Courtesy of Sam Baker Books)

Nonetheless, the ebook had been the other way up, Baker mentioned. Regardless, he hugged her and gave her a kiss for her achievement.

Seeing his daughter so happy with herself “demonstrated to me her will to be taught to learn,” Baker mentioned. “And it stayed with me.”

Apart from his son’s encouragement, Baker mentioned he was impressed to write down kids’s books to encourage children to learn.

“Studying is a basis for all different studying,” Baker mentioned. “If you happen to don’t know the best way to learn, you’re going to have a tough time studying.”

“If I might simply get one little one to be taught to learn, that might be price all the issues and the prices,” Baker added. “I’m not making any cash. I don’t wish to generate profits. I need kids to be taught to learn.”

Learn the complete article from Here

Los Angeles, Ca

La Niña: Los Angeles sees second-driest period in history, data shows

Published

6 hours ago

January 1, 2025

Press Room

La Niña: Los Angeles sees second-driest period in history, data shows

Los Angeles will end the year shattering records after enduring one of its driest periods in history, a result of La Niña’s lingering effects, weather officials said.

Despite beginning the year with historic rainfall levels, an extended dry spell has covered Southern California since spring, bringing severe drought conditions that have fueled several large wildfires in recent months.

In the downtown L.A. metro area, from May 6 to Dec. 31, the area only received 0.16″ of rain, making this seven-month stretch the second driest in L.A. history, according to data from the National Weather Service.

The only period that topped this dry stretch was in 1962 when the downtown area received only 0.14 inches during the same seven-month span.

The driest periods recorded for the downtown L.A. metro area from May 6 to Dec. 31:

Rank	Ending Date	Total Precipitation: May 6 to Dec. 31
1	1962-12-31	0.14
2	2024-12-31	0.16
3	1903-12-31	0.45
4	1929-12-31	0.47
5	2017-12-31	0.52
6	1958-12-31	0.55
7	1917-12-31	0.64
8	1975-12-31	0.68
9	1956-12-31	0.92
10	1980-12-31	0.98

Data from the National Weather Service

During a La Niña year, winter temperatures are warmer than normal in the south and cooler than normal in the north. The phenomenon can have global impacts on weather, wildfires, ecosystems and more, according to NWS.

“During La Niña events, trade winds are even stronger than usual, pushing more warm water toward Asia,” NWS explained. “Off the west coast of the Americas, upwelling increases, bringing cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface. These cold waters in the Pacific push the jet stream northward and tend to lead to drought in the southern U.S. and heavy rains and flooding in the Pacific Northwest and Canada.”

In recent years, the weather pattern has brought severe drought conditions to Southern California, fostering dangerous conditions for wildfires.

In the coming new year, a chance to break the dry spell may arrive soon with a potential storm system headed for California around New Year’s Day or in the first week of January, according to Todd Hall, a senior meteorologist at the NWS offices in L.A. and Oxnard.

Los Angeles, Ca

FAA probing near-collision involving Gonzaga basketball team charter jet at LAX

Published

14 hours ago

December 31, 2024

Press Room

FAA probing near-collision involving Gonzaga basketball team charter jet at LAX

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – The FAA is investigating an incident at Los Angeles International Airport where a private jet carrying the Gonzaga University men’s basketball team nearly crossed a runway as another plane was taking off.

The close call occurred last Friday afternoon and was livestreamed by Airline Videos.

The Key Lime Air jet was told to stop by air traffic controllers as a Delta flight took off.

“When the Embraer E135 jet proceeded to cross the hold bars, air traffic controllers told the pilots to stop,” the FAA said in a statement. “The jet never crossed the runway edge line.”

No injuries were reported.

The livestream included audio of the controller urgently saying, “Stop, stop, stop.”

Gonzaga was in Los Angeles for a game against UCLA.

“We understand that the incident at LAX is under investigation and we will review this information as it becomes available. Our team members aboard the aircraft were unaware of the situation as it occurred and we are grateful that the incident ended safely for all,” the university said.

A private jet is seen stopped on the tarmac moments after being called to an abrupt halt to prevent crashing into a Delta flight taking off on the LAX runway. December 2024. (Airline Videos Live)

Key Lime Air did not respond to the Associated Press’s requests for comment, and Delta reported no issues with its flight.

“Delta flight 471 operated as normal, and we are not aware of any communication from the FAA regarding this flight. We are cooperating with aviation officials on their investigation,” the airline said.

The Key Lime Air flight had taken off from Spokane International Airport earlier that day. The FAA continues to investigate the situation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Southwest

Texas teen allegedly killed rival competitor's show goat in act of jealousy

Published

22 hours ago

December 31, 2024

Press Room

Texas teen allegedly killed rival competitor's show goat in act of jealousy

A teenager in Texas is facing a felony charge after allegedly killing a rival competitor’s show goat a couple of months ago.

An arrest affidavit showed 17-year-old Aubrey Vanlandingham, who competes in livestock shows with her own goat, allegedly admitted to poisoning Willy, a younger competitor’s goat, CBS Austin reported.

Vanlandingham is accused of using a drench gun to force-feed Willy a toxic pesticide inside the Vista Ridge High School’s barn facility on Oct. 23, ultimately killing the 6-month-old goat, according to the outlet. Security footage allegedly showed the goat trying to escape the encounter.

The teenager was allegedly seen leaving Willy and returning to check on him two separate times during a two-hour period before calling the rival competitor’s mother to tell her the goat wasn’t doing well.

‘UNCOOPERATIVE’ TEXAS TEEN FOUND COVERED IN SOMEONE ELSE’S DRIED BLOOD AFTER CAR WRECK: SHERIFF

Aubrey Vanlandingham, 17, is accused of killing a rival competitor’s show goat by force-feeding it pesticide. (Williamson County Sheriff’s Office)

Willy died in his owner’s arms within 24 hours after experiencing convulsions and respiratory distress, CBS Austin said.

Vanlandingham allegedly admitted to killing her rival’s goat because she thought the 15-year-old was “a cheater,” the outlet reported from the arrest affidavit. She had tried to kill Willy before, but was unsuccessful.

Vanlandingham was also a show competitor with her goat, Lacey. (Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images)

Willy’s cause of death was determined to be organophosphate intoxication from phosmet, a pesticide used for external parasite control in livestock.

The mother of the 15-year-old girl told the DailyMail that Vanlandingham doesn’t appear to be remorseful.

“It’s all bizarre. We want justice served, we don’t want a slap on the wrist. We want to make sure that she is punished. At this point, we don’t feel like she thinks she’s going to be punished and she needs to be. She needs to take ownership for what she’s done,” she told the outlet, adding that they want her to go to jail and get mental help.

‘MONSTER’ FLORIDA TEEN KILLS PARENTS, WOUNDS DEPUTY IN SHOOTOUT: POLICE

A police investigation into Vanlandingham’s phone revealed that she allegedly searched for information on lethal doses of bleach for animals and poisoning methods, according to CBS Austin. She also allegedly searched “how to clear search history.”

The 15-year-old’s mother determined Vanlandingham’s alleged crime was fueled by jealousy, not cheating.

“You can’t even cheat when it comes to showing goats,” she told the DailyMail. “It makes no sense, so that’s where the jealousy really kind of falls into place.”

Goats arriving on trailer to livestock show

Goats arriving at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in Houston, Texas. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

Vanlandingham was charged with cruelty to livestock animals, which is a felony in Texas punishable by up to two years in prison. She was arrested on Nov. 22 and released on a $5,000 bond the same day, jail records show.

Her court date is set for Jan. 15.

Read the full article from Here