Congresswoman Debbie Dingell leads 'Out of the Darkness Community Walk' for suicide prevention at EMU Friday.

Photo Purple Walrus Press.

By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

Approximately 200 EMU students and faculty participated in the 'Out of the Darkness Walk' for suicide prevention on the campus of Eastern Michigan University Friday afternoon, September 29 in Ypsilanti. Congresswoman Debbie addressed the crowd of participants before leading the march that wound its way through campus.

The march began at 4 p.m. near Bob's Lakehouse situated adjacent to the EMU Student Center. 72 backpacks, each backpack representing 15 college students who die by suicide every year, were displayed in rows on the pavilion next to the Boathouse.

Students, faculty, and Debbie Dingell were intent on sending a strong message about the importance of suicide prevention. The march was the result of a partnership between Eastern Michigan University's suicide prevention grant and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. You can donate at the Foundation website.

Photos Purple Walrus Press.

Ypsilanti Township resident concerned about family in Puerto Rico.

By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

Dolly Tittle of Ypsilanti Twp is deeply concerned about the well-being of her family in Puerto Rico which has been devastated by Hurricane Maria. Dolly, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico, is a Lecturer the University of Michigan Ann Arbor.

Since Hurricane Maria Hit Puerto Rico ten days ago Dolly has been unable communicate with her family due to the fact that the vast majority of the island has no power. Within the last day someone did inform Dolly that her family and relatives are ok, but that information contains painfully little news and leaves room for much speculation. According to Dolly, "Ok means they are alive, but I am not sure if they have food, water, and medicine."

On Wednesday, September 27, Dolly sent a letter to Congresswoman Debbie Dingell requesting a waiver on the Jones Act. This is an excerpt from Dolly's letter to Debbie Dingell.

"This last week has been very difficult to watch the news and see what is happening after hurricane María.  I heard from someone that my relatives are ok.  OK means they are alive, but I am not sure if they have food, water, and medicine.  I know for sure that they don't have anyway to communicate because cell towers are down.  And I know that they haven't had any power since Hurricane Irma.

I am writing to ask you to help in any way you can so that Puerto Rico can receive the help they need.  As you may know, Senator McCain is trying to get a waiver for Puerto Rico from the Jones Act.  The Jones Act is a 1920 law that only allows ships made in the USA to deliver goods to the island.  As a result, products that come from nearby countries, need to stop first in the USA, unload and load into a USA ship and then come back to the island.  Even some of the products produced in PR are re-purchased by PR from the USA.  If PR doesn't have the manufacturing needed to package the goods, the island ships the goods to the USA to be packaged and end up paying more for their own products."

My stepfather who passed away in 1992 was a Chief in the Navy and Helicopter pilot during Vietnam.  My father in law who lives there is retired from the Navy and also from working as a Communication Specialist at Roosevelt Roads Naval Base. My brother is serving in the Army National Guard and is in training camp in Virginia preparing for his second deployment to the Middle East on 2018.  My uncles were Korean vets and my cousins have served multiple times in Afghanistan.  I write this because our people have served this country and some of them have died for it.  

I ask you again to please do something to help Puerto Rico, in addition to help from FEMA, getting a waiver from the Jones Act would help decrease the cost of goods and speed up the recovering time."

Firefighter of the year award 2017 for Ypsilanti Fire Department Lt.

By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown

According to the City of Ypsilanti, Lt. Ken Hobbs of the Ypsilanti Fire Department has been selected as the Firefighter of year. This great honor was awarded to Lt. Hobbs by the Board of Membership of the Washtenaw 100 Honors. The award is given for dedication, bravery and service to the citizens of Washtenaw County.

'Out of the Darkness Community Walk' for Suicide prevention Eastern Michigan University campus Friday, Sept.29.

By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell will be leading the 'Out of the Darkness Community Walk' advocating for suicide awareness on the campus of Eastern Michigan University Friday, September 29 at 4 p.m. Students, faculty and members of the community will have the opportunity to walk with Congressman Dingell and send a strong message about the importance of suicide awareness. The walk will begin near Bob's Lakehouse located adjacent to the EMU Student Center on the EMU campus.

 According to EMU, the suicide prevention walk is a result of a partnership between Eastern Michigan University's suicide prevention grant and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Congresswoman Dingell will be offering remarks prior to the walk.

The public is encourage to participate in Friday's march.

Parola Perspective: GOP has lied themselves into a corner.

By Brooks Parola. Purple Walrus Press.

Whether it's health care, taxes, foreign policy, or DACA, in their attempts to pander to their racist, extremist base, the GOP has lied themselves into a corner! Made big promises regarding repeals, and "reforms" that they cannot possibly implement without doing serious damage!

Since there are only a handful of moderate conservatives in office, when will the moderate conservatives, and proud "independent" voters of this country get off their asses, and start woking toward making the GOP a more moderate party that will do as John McCain suggested: "work with Democrats to get things done"?