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OCTOBER 2023 THE
COMMUNITY CONSCIENCE
Teacher of the Month: MIKE STEELE
My teacher of the month, Michael Steele, goes back a ways, back to the 1980–81 school year and my fifth grade.
Our school had outgrown the main building so Mr. Steele’s class was placed outside in a temporary or “portable” structure. He made the most of it. He made it feel like home. As I look back, the early ’80s were the last time that I felt completely safe, both at home and at school. Ford Elementary is in Tucson, Arizona, where I lived until my family moved to Spokane, Washington. My father was a United States Border Patrol agent and he spent the first 10 years of his career on the southern border. I distinctly remember Mike Steele’s class as he read to us for about 20–30 minutes after lunch, every single day. We took fluoride rinses a couple of times a week, and he joined us in the practice, swishing the pink fluid in our mouths to keep cavities away. I still taste that nasty flavor. Mike Steele was a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan and loved baseball. I will never forget when he rode his bicycle to one of my ball games and consoled me as I hit into a double play to end the game. He explained, “If you hadn’t hit the ball so hard, there is no way they would have doubled you up.”
class was just for the best students. He calmed our nerves when we took standardized tests that were a very big deal in the 80s.
He would play against me one-on-one in basketball, spotting me 11 in a game to 21. He did not take it easy on me, and I earned every point I ever got. I don’t know if I ever beat him, but when I did score, I knew it was a legitimate basket and that felt extremely good. He had a way of talking about current events that we could understand and was completely apolitical. I knew he was a Christian but I could never tell you what denomination. I don’t look back at 1980 and 1981 as necessarily a better time. Right now is the best time you have ever known if you make it so. However, Mike Steele had a way of allowing us to have one foot in childhood while easing our way into our teenage years. I cannot remember a specific class or specific lesson. I just knew that Mike Steele made being 10 and 11 years old a lot of fun.
More than anything else, he made an effort to make all of us in the class feel special. He reminded us that the fourth/fifth grade combined
Thank you, Mike Steele, this month’s teacher of the month. (1981)!
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this newsletter and tell them to give us a call at 406-587-3720 . We greatly appreciate it.
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FROM APPLICANT TO ARRESTED: The Fugitive Who Applied for a Police Job
question, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” a new meaning. After taking Johnson into custody, the police proceeded to search her property. Incredibly, they found two credit cards in her possession they believed were stolen. Police added credit card theft charges to Johnson’s already considerable rap sheet. To make matters worse for her, the sheriff’s office also contacted Johnson’s former employer, the United States Postal Service, which launched its own investigation into her conduct. As of October 2022, Johnson was being held in a Hudson County jail awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania for the most serious charge against her. It’s unclear why she thought applying for a law enforcement position with outstanding warrants was a wise career move, but at least she made her would-be coworkers’ jobs easy that day.
check before hiring — or that this office specializes in resolving outstanding warrants. When processing her application, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office discovered the active bench warrant in Pennsylvania. The routine investigation also found 10 additional active bench warrants in Jersey City, New Jersey; Johnson had allegedly failed to appear on traffic charges. Most employers in this situation would probably move on to the next applicant, but the sheriff’s department decided to call Johnson in for an “interview” instead. Unsurprisingly, they had no
Even most criminals need traditional employment to pay the bills, but Zyeama Johnson looked for work in all the wrong places. Perhaps Johnson imagined her previous experience with law enforcement would give her a leg up in her application to the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office in New Jersey in 2022. But unfortunately for her, all of Johnson’s past and future involvement with the police would be on the wrong side of the law. Johnson was looking for a legal way to earn a living when she applied for a job as a security guard at the sheriff’s office. But her past money-making ventures
allegedly involved fraud, and she had failed to appear in a Pennsylvania court on the charges. Presumably, Johnson did not realize
intention of hiring her and arrested the fugitive on the spot. It gave the standard interview
a police station would perform a background
Unlock the Secrets of a Calming Bedtime Routine
Does it always seem like your kids get a burst of energy right before bedtime? After a jam-packed day, your child’s pent-up stress and energy will likely spike when it’s time to head to bed. The key is implementing a consistent bedtime routine to help them transition into sleep mode. Try therapeutic techniques to soothe your child for a full night of shuteye. Squeeze ’em tight (add pressure). Just like you would swaddle a baby, you should wrap your kids up like tiny burritos! When you add pressure that squeezes them tight, your child’s tactile and proprioceptive senses are activated, which creates a sense of calm and relaxation. You can also do this with weighted blankets, tight cuddles, or by tucking them in nice and snug with pillows placed around them to add more pressure. Get them warm and cozy. Warmth is another element that can increase calm and signal bedtime! Put their
blankets in the dryer so they’ll have them nice and warm when it’s time to lie down. Additionally, you can give them a warm drink with a straw, as the warmth not only relaxes them but the straw also encourages sucking motions, which are incredibly soothing for children. Create gentle movements. Repetitive and rhythmic movements like rocking back and forth generate vestibular input for the nervous system. This will help your children feel comfortable and ready to sleep! You can try these motions by rocking them on a yoga ball for a few minutes, reading a bedtime story in a rocking chair, or sitting with them in a porch swing or hammock right before bed. Turn the screens off. We already know that looking at screens harms our sleep, so why would that be any different for children? Decrease screen time as the day advances and completely turn off any screens at least two hours
before bedtime. Not only do you want to cut these harsh lights, but you should also add comforting ones! Unwind in dim lighting as the day ends, and place lava lamps or a night light in your children’s rooms to help soothe them. Also, adding a white noise machine or playing calm music can do wonders! Combine these therapeutic methods to create the perfect bedtime routine that will have your energetic kiddos in bed without a hitch.
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TAKE A BREAK
THE REVENGE OF THE RONIN Unveiling the Historic Massacre of Kira Yoshinaka
Never has there been a tale of revenge so blood-filled and epic as the 47 Ronin. Honorable and loyal to the end, these samurai warriors proved their dedication to their master in an incident that would become immortalized in Japanese literature, theater, and film. So, what led these samurai on a vengeful rampage? It started in April 1701, when nobleman Asano Naganori, also known as the lord of Ako, was treated with complete disrespect and arrogance by Kira Yoshinaka, a court official. After holding back his anger, Asano finally snapped. Asano revealed his sword and attacked Kira in the middle of the palace’s main hall. Although Kira lived to tell the tale, Asano broke court rules and was ordered to kill himself. Following the court’s ruling, Asano ended his life on April 21, 1701. After his demise, Asano left behind his faithful 47 samurai, whose status was lowered to ronin (samurai with no leader). Crushed by his death, the ruthless men created a plan. The 47 Ronin laid low for two years by dispersing and living in “retirement.” The years passed, and the men were able to lower Kira’s guard. At this point, one of the ronin had reached his 80s and could not participate in the vengeful plan. However, the remaining 46 men raided Kira’s estate on an early January morning in 1703. They fearlessly battled Kira’s samurai and decapitated Kira. The ronin then carried his head in a basket for miles to their deceased lord’s grave.
HOMEMADE PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE
Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com
Save money this October with this delicious homemade pumpkin spice latte that will taste better than any store-bought coffee. Ingredients
Authorities were intensely conflicted on how to treat the vengeful massacre. While it broke the shogun’s rules,
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice • 1 tsp vanilla extract • Whipped cream for topping (optional)
• 2 shots espresso (or 1/2 cup freshly brewed coffee)
the act followed the respected samurai warrior code. Yet, in the end, all 46 men were ordered to kill
• 1 cup milk of choice • 3 tbsp pumpkin purée • 1–2 tbsp maple syrup
themselves via self- disembowelment, hara-kiri . The ronin ranged in age from 15 to 77 years old. After their deaths, the ronin became
Directions 1. In a small pot on medium heat, heat milk until simmering but not boiling. 2. Make your espresso (or coffee) and pour into a large mug or Mason jar. Add pumpkin purée, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla and stir until well combined. 3. With a milk frother, froth the heated milk until foamy. Then, pour into your pumpkin espresso mixture and top with whipped cream. For decoration, you can sprinkle more cinnamon or pumpkin spice on top!
legends and were buried alongside their master, Asano Naganori. You can visit this famous site at Sengakuji Temple in Tokyo.
406-587-3720 • 3
Foust Law Office
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
www.lucasfoustlaw.com 406-587-3720 Fax: 406-879-4400
3390 South 30th Avenue Bozeman, MT 59718
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Teacher of the Month
1 2
Fugitive’s Job Hunt Backfires: Arrested During Interview!
Tips to Soothe Your Energetic Kids Before Bedtime
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
3
The Legendary Tale of the 47 Ronin
The Troubling Saga of Sherri Papini’s Disappearance
4
THE SHOCKING TRUTH BEHIND SHERRI’S KIDNAPPING REVEALED
In 2023, Sherri Papini was charged with false statements and mail fraud and sentenced to 18 months in prison for her long-winded lies that wasted police resources and federal financial assistance. Her story resulted in numerous innocent Hispanic women being wrongly questioned by authorities. But now, these women can rest easy knowing the case is finally closed.
story horrified the community and made many Hispanic women fear wrongful persecution. At the time, male DNA was found on Sherri’s clothing, despite her insistence no men were involved in her kidnapping. Years later, in 2020, the authorities used genetic DNA technology to track down the man, Sherri’s ex-boyfriend, James Reyes. This was when Sherri’s tale began to fall apart. Reyes was questioned by police, who exposed the truth about Sherri’s vanishing act. He revealed that Sherri told him her husband, Keith, was abusing her, and she needed his help to escape. She convinced him to brand her, but all her other injuries were self-inflicted. Reyes had no idea about Sherri’s fabricated story involving two Hispanic kidnappers. At first, Sherri stuck with her story when questioned again but eventually admitted it was all a hoax.
Sherri Papini vanished out of thin air in November 2016. The day she went missing, her husband, Keith Papini, came home expecting to see his wife and kids but found the residence eerily empty. Keith called the children’s day care to ask when his wife picked them up, but they informed him she never did. While the kids were safe, Sherri was missing. Three weeks passed before Sherri was finally found alone on a freeway nearly 146 miles from her home on Thanksgiving Day. She was cut and bruised, her long hair chopped short, and her back branded with a Bible verse. When the police questioned Sherri, she was hesitant and frightened. She claimed two Hispanic women abducted her, took her to an unknown location, chained her up, and tortured her before planning to traffic her. The
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