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Moni scores 25 in North Dakota State's 91-62 win against Wisconsin-Stout
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A fight broke out at midfield after Michigan stunned No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday as Wolverines players attempted to plant their flag and were met by Buckeyes who confronted them. Police had to use pepper spray to break up the players, who threw punches and shoves in the melee that overshadowed the rivalry game. Ohio State police said in a statement “multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray.” Ohio State police will investigate the fight, according to the statement. After the Ohio State players confronted their bitter rivals at midfield, defensive end Jack Sawyer grabbed the top of the Wolverines' flag and ripped it off the pole as the brawl moved toward the Michigan bench. Eventually, police officers rushed into the ugly scene. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said he understood the actions of his players. “There are some prideful guys on our team who weren't going to sit back and let that happen,” Day said. The two Ohio State players made available after the game brushed off questions about it. Michigan running back Kalel Mullings, who rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown, didn't like how the Buckeyes players involved themselves in the Wolverines' postgame celebration. He called it “classless.” “For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game," he said in an on-field interview with Fox Sports. “It’s just bad for the sport, bad for college football. But at the end of the day, you know some people got to — they got to learn how to lose, man. ... We had 60 minutes, we had four quarters, to do all that fighting.” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said everybody needs to do better. “So much emotions on both sides," he said. "Rivalry games get heated, especially this one. It’s the biggest one in the country, so we got to handle that better.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballThe NFL wished Taylor Swift a Happy Birthday with a TikTok of her and Travis Kelce’s most memorable moments—on and off the field. Kelce’s employer posted the video of the singer and his relationship, which already has racked up over 1 million views. The caption read, “Karma is the guy on the @Chiefs saying happy bday to me.” The clips showed Kelce and Swift celebrating his wins at games, the pair at her concerts, and her glitzed out in Chiefs gear. “If you told me 2 years ago I would be following the NFL on tiktok and not falling asleep everytime a game is on TV... never would’ve believed it,” wrote one commenter. “Happy birthday Taylor. Thank you for uniting the Swifties and the Football Fans together in the name of art and sport,” another wrote. Swift has been seen at many Chiefs games since the beginning of her relationship with the tight end, with him visiting her at some of her tour dates. karma is the guy on the @Chiefs saying happy bday to me 🎶 #taylorswift #traviskelce #nfl #kansascitychiefs Saturday Night Live alum Pete Davidson , known best to some for his past relationships with Kim Kardashian , Ariana Grande , Kate Beckinsale , and more famous women, now says he doesn’t want to be known as “this f---ing loser who just dates people,” in a new interview for W Magazine . to promote his new role as creative director for colorful sock brand Doublesoul, Davidson told the outlet his feeling that he was one of “a handful of celebs every couple of years” that the media “destroys,” after multiple run-ins with tabloids over his famous exes. “For some reason, I’m one of the people they chose to go after,” he said. But, he added, “It’s actually, in a way, a blessing, because it allowed me to take a step back and evaluate things. What do you want to be? Who are you?” Davidson said he only wants to be seen publicly “when it’s movie, stand-up, charity, or business ventures” and to focus on his stand-up career. “I’m someone who is from Staten Island, wanted to do stand-up, and if I got to do anything else because of stand-up, it was a miracle.” Posters are a great way to celebrate your favorite fandom. But if you’re looking for that real “WOW!” factor, nothing beats Fathead . For 17 years, Fathead has been an industry leader in officially licensed graphic wall art across sports and entertainment. You can even create personalized products, making big-head cutouts and life-size wall decals from your own photos. Installing the decals is a breeze. Unroll the decal and lie it flat. Wipe down your wall with a damp cloth. After the wall is dry, peel off the decal backing and apply it slowly, smoothing out any bubbles as you go. Need to adjust? No problem— Fathead decals can be peeled off and reapplied easily. No matter your favorite football team, Fathead has a wall decal for them . Free Shipping The basketball season has just tipped off. Celebrate your favorite player with a life-size wall decal. Free Shipping From everyone’s favorite web-slinging New Yorker to the fourth-wall breaking merc with a mouth, Fathead’s superhero decals burst with vibrant colors. You’ll marvel at how they bring your walls to life. Free Shipping If you buy something from this post, we may earn a small commission. The iconic sitcom Malcolm in the Middle will hit screens for the first time in 18 years, with a limited run of four episodes set to premiere on Disney+ . Frankie Muniz, who will reprise his role as Malcolm, announced the reboot Friday, along with Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek, who play his parents. The original creator of the show will also return as a writer. The new series follows Malcolm returning home with his daughter for his parents’ 40th wedding anniversary, according to Deadline . Christopher Kennedy Masterson, who played the eldest brother Francis, and Justin Berfield, who played the middle child Reese, are likely to be asked to reprise their roles. Though it’s unlikely that Erik Per Sullivan, who plays the youngest brother Dewey, will make an appearance. He quit acting in 2010 and has not appeared at any reunions. Malcolm in the Middle first premiered on Fox in 2000 and ran for seven seasons. Its success as a family comedy is credited with paving the way for other single-camera sitcoms. Legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers is finally opening up about his strained relationship with his family. In his new documentary, Aaron Rodgers: Enigma , Rodgers explained that he has “stunted emotional intelligence” because of the lack of open emotion in his home growing up. “I think I saw my dad cry when my grandfather passed. And that might have been it,” Rodgers shared. “There wasn’t space for emotion.” Rodgers’ brother, Jordan, first opened up about the family’s rift during his time on The Bachelorette in 2016. During a hometown date with his now-wife JoJo Fletcher, the family explained that while they “miss” Rodgers, they no longer have a relationship with him. In a 2017 profile with The New York Times , Rodgers’ father, Ed, confirmed that he hadn’t spoken to his son in three years. “Fame can change things,” he said. At the time, Rodgers said he didn’t want to talk about his family publicly. In the doc, Rodgers spoke about his family while participating in an ayahuasca ceremony. The quarterback said the psychedelic drug allows users to “model a new way of thinking about masculinity, or what it means to be a man.” Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Consuming cannabis as an adult feels very different than doing so as a fresh-faced 21-year-old—so why should your smoking habits make your space feel like a disheveled college dorm room? NWTN Home’s collection of chic smoking essentials offers a more elevated way to enjoy cannabis in the comfort of your home. NWTN Home is a smokeware brand bringing craftsmanship to the cannabis industry by designing what they call “homeware for the high-minded.” Its weed-associated products are built to double as elegant and functional houseware items , helping you upgrade your home into a full smoking sanctuary. Plus, they make the perfect holiday gifts for your favorite creative cannabis connoisseur! This hand-poured, marbled ashtray rests atop a sleek melamine rolling tray and includes a helpful brass tool that can assist in your rolling process, making it the perfect blend of form and function. This standout stackable flower pot ashtray set is a surefire solution to keep your space clean—and your houseguests impressed. No cannabis collection is complete without something to smoke out of! These avant-garde gravity bongs are inspired by vintage housewares and designed to seamlessly blend into your barware and greenware set-ups. Released bodycam footage shows Paris Hilton’s ex-fiancé, Chris Zylka, in a chaotic brawl with police after a failed carjacking. Police in a Cleveland suburb first responded to reports of a shirtless, barefoot man walking in traffic in freezing temperatures on Dec. 4, local outlet WKBN first reported. Zylka was found in the middle of an intersection, where he allegedly tried to break into a woman’s car. He pointed a cell phone at the cops and began foaming at the mouth, leading officers to believe he was under the influence of drugs, according to the police report. Footage shows Zylka struggling with police officers and resisting arrest even after being tasered in the leg twice. He was then put in an ambulance by paramedics. The actor is now facing felony charges of assault and attempt to commit an offense, as well as misdemeanor disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and aggravated menacing. Hilton and Zylka started dating in 2017 after being friends for years. He proposed in early 2018 during a ski trip in Aspen, Colorado, but they called off their engagement in November that same year. Vanderpump Rules alum James Kennedy is refusing to apologize for his domestic violence arrest . “We are in the process of conducting our own investigation into the allegations levied by the Burbank Police Department against James,” Kennedy’s attorneys said in a statement to the Daily Mail . “We understand that there were no injuries and we are hoping that, after careful review, the city’s attorneys will decide not to file formal charges.” Police were called to Kennedy’s home on Tuesday because of an argument between Kennedy and a woman. That night, Kennedy attended Kathy Hilton’s Christmas party with girlfriend Ally Lewber, though it’s unknown if she is the victim. Police told People that after an investigation, they arrested the reality star for misdemeanor domestic violence. He later posted $20,000 bail. A source at the Christmas party told People that Kennedy was acting “super aggressive.” “He was acting so erratic, running back and forth to the bar and body-checking people along the way,” the source alleged. “He appeared inebriated. Spent the evening mostly alone but when he did speak to people, he appeared irritated and rude.” A doctor has rubbished Brandi Glanville’s scary medical theory about her “deflated” face , saying he’s concerned about an infection that started via an injection. The 52-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum claims doctor s told her that it may have been caused by “a parasite that jumps around my face.” But Dr. Terry Dubrow, from Botched , has said he’s “concerned about an infectious process”. He told TMZ : “It’s an infectious process or a foreign body reaction to something she’s had injected.” A foreign body reaction is the response of biological tissue to any foreign material in the tissue, despite it often being inert and nontoxic, according to ScienceDirect.com Dubrow added: “Brandi needs a diagnosis... she has to figure out if there’s a microorganism in there. It’s not gonna be a parasite, it’s not gonna be something she ate... it’s going to be something that got into her bloodstream though, and seeded some foreign body.” Dubrow thinks Glanville either has a micro bacterium, a type of bacteria, or a fungus, a type of organism. Sick it! pic.twitter.com/hrtAzRwOCW A Buckingham Palace maid was arrested this week after she allegedly went “crazy” following a staff Christmas party which saw glasses and punches thrown in a London bar. A report in The Sun said as many as 50 royal servants gathered for an after-party following drinks at the palace Tuesday when the maid, 24, took a swing at a bar manager, threw glasses, and was ultimately arrested for common assault, criminal damage, and being drunk and disorderly. She was released after 24 hours with a fine. “The group walked in and this one girl just got hysterical,” a source told The Sun . “She started smashing glasses and abusing our staff members, so we had to call the police. I’ve never seen one person get that crazy during a night out. She was on another level.” A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident outside the workplace involving a number of Household staff who had previously attended an early evening reception at the Palace. While this was an informal social gathering, not an official palace Christmas party, the facts will be fully investigated, with a robust disciplinary process followed in relation to individual staff and appropriate action taken.” Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Apparently, boosting prostate health can actually be pleasurable—at least, that’s what premium sexual wellness brand MysteryVibe says. The Molto, an ultra-slim and bendable prostate vibrator designed by a doctor, is engineered to be the same size and width as a doctor’s finger and to mimic similar motions to that performed during an exam, allowing for not only intense prostate (the prostate is often hailed as the male ‘G-spot’) and anal stimulation but also a release of prostatic fluids. According to the brand, some studies have found that excess prostatic fluid can lead to inflammation and pressure, so not only is this a sex toy , but it’s also possibly an investment in your prostate health. Think of it almost like a lymphatic massage for your prostate—except one that can give you intense orgasms, too. Made with body-safe silicone, the multifunctional and gender-fluid vibrator is powered by one “anatomically-placed” motor that delivers potent yet precise vibration to the anus and prostate without feeling bulky or inflexible. It’s a great sex toy for those new to anal play or who are looking for an ultra-sleek vibrator with possible health-boosting benefits. The prostate vibrator is equipped with 16 vibration settings and eight pre-set vibration patterns, allowing for superior control and customization. Plus, the device comes with access to a catalog of vibration patterns with the free MysteryVibe smartphone app. Best of all? Because the Molto vibrator is an FDA-registered class II medical device, it’s also FSA/HSA eligible. Is Melania Trump finally back in action? The incoming first lady is joining Donald Trump on Sunday for a private dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Akie Abe, the widow of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, according to reports. Her husband, who was assassinated at a political rally in 2022, reportedly won over Trump during his first term with the proven combination of golf and flattery. Trump and Akie Abe have stayed close, with the president-elect regularly calling her to check in, a source told CNN. Melania Trump is scheduled to attend Sunday’s dinner, her latest public appearance after being largely absent on the campaign trail earlier this year. She also accompanied her husband to the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday for Trump’s ringing of the opening bell. Melania has always been a somewhat reluctant first lady, and it’s still not clear how much time she plans to spend in Washington after Trump takes office in January. She did, however, tell Fox & Friends last week that at least she knows what to expect this time around. Trump is set to have a private dinner this Sunday with Akie Abie, the widow of the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a person familiar says. The dinner will take place at Mar-a-Lago and Melania Trump is expected to attend. Trump and Mrs. Abe have maintained a close... The woman who accused three Duke University lacrosse players of rape in 2006 has admitted she fabricated the entire story—18 years after her case captivated the nation before quickly falling apart. Crystal Mangum, the woman at the center of the scandal who is serving a prison sentence for the murder of her boyfriend years later, confessed to lying about the assaults in a new podcast interview. “I testified falsely against them by saying that they raped me when they didn’t and that was wrong, and I betrayed the trust of a lot of other people who believed in me, and made up a story that wasn’t true because I wanted validation from people and not from God,” Mangum told the podcast Let’s Talk with Kat . Mangum, who was working as an exotic dancer who performed at a lacrosse team party in March 2006, called the three lacrosse players she previously accused her “brothers,” and asked for their forgiveness. “I hurt my brothers, and I hope that they can forgive me, and I want them to know that I love them and they didn’t deserve it. I hope they can forgive me.” The charges against the three lacrosse players were dropped by then-North Carolina Attorney General (and current Governor) Roy Cooper in 2007. The Durham County prosecutor who charged the Duke students was eventually disbarred and convicted of contempt of court for giving the defense incomplete DNA test results that would have excluded the lacrosse players, local station WRAL reported at the time. More than 18 years after the Duke lacrosse allegations, Crystal Mangum admits that she made it all up. "I testified falsely against [the lacrosse players] by saying that they raped me when they didn't...I made up a story that wasn't true...I hope that they can forgive me." pic.twitter.com/3yMjbQTQXH
In conclusion, the release of the October Chinese Enterprise Credit Index highlights the continued progress and resilience of businesses in China, as they navigate through a dynamic and challenging environment. With a focus on sustainable growth, innovation, and good governance, Chinese enterprises are well-positioned to sustain the positive momentum in their credit performance and contribute to the overall economic stability and prosperity.FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb with two games remaining after their 2023 All-Pro receiver spent the second half of the season dealing with a sprained right shoulder. The team said Thursday that additional exams revealed enough damage to keep Lamb off the field Sunday at Philadelphia and in the final game at home against Washington. The team said surgery was not expected to be required. Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention a few hours before last weekend's 26-24 victory over Tampa Bay . The decision on Lamb means the Cowboys will finish the regular season with at least five former Pro Bowlers on injured reserve. Among the others are quarterback Dak Prescott, who was limited to eight games before a season-ending hamstring tear, and right guard Zack Martin. The seven-time All-Pro made it through 10 games before deciding on season-ending ankle surgery. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence didn't playing after Week 4 because of a foot injury, and cornerback Trevon Diggs battled a variety of injuries while playing 11 games before a knee injury ended his season. Lamb initially injured his right shoulder when it hit the turf hard twice in a 27-21 loss at Atlanta on Nov. 3. He kept playing and had at least 100 yards in each of his last two games — both victories — before getting shut down. The 25-year-old Lamb sat out the entire offseason and preseason in a contract dispute after getting career highs in catches (an NFL-best 135), yards receiving (club-record 1,749) and touchdowns (12) in 2023. The holdout finally ended with a $136 million, four-year extension in late August, but neither the Cowboys nor their star receiver could get that production going again this season. Dallas (7-8) is missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020, Lamb's rookie year. Lamb finishes the season with 101 catches for 1,194 yards and six TDs. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
Japan Tokyo Consumer Price Index (YoY): 3% (December) vs 2.6%
The young man's story serves as a powerful reminder that even in death, one can continue to give life. His selfless act will be remembered for years to come, inspiring others to follow in his footsteps and make a difference in the lives of those in need.Industry body CII on Sunday pitched for cuts in personal income tax rates and excise duty on fuel and introducing consumption vouchers in the upcoming budget to boost consumption. Engineering Exports Promotion Council (EEPC) has proposed a faceless GST audit system to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for "Domestic consumption has been critical to India's growth story, but inflationary pressures have somewhat eroded the purchasing power of consumers," said Chandrajit Banerjee, director general of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). "Government interventions could focus on enhancing disposable incomes and stimulating spending to sustain economic momentum." Persistent food inflation pressures impinge upon low-income rural households who allocate a larger share to food in their consumption basket, Banerjee said. Retail inflation fell to 5.5% in November, after rising to a high of 6.2% in October. Reducing excise duty on fuel, which constitutes a significant part of household expenses, would lower inflation and increase disposable income, CII said. It also suggested reducing the marginal tax rate for personal income up to ₹20 lakh per annum, which would encourage higher consumption and enhance tax revenue. "The gap between the highest marginal rate for individuals at 42.74% and the normal corporate tax rate at 25.17 %, is high," CII said in its release. Additionally, it proposed raising the daily minimum wage under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to ₹375 from ₹267, which would involve an additional expenditure of ₹42,000 crore. The annual payout under the PM-Kisan scheme should also be raised to ₹8,000 from ₹6,000, incurring an additional cost of ₹20,000 crore, assuming 100 million beneficiaries, the industry body said. 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CII suggested the introduction of consumption vouchers for specific items and timeframes. These vouchers could target Jan-Dhan account holders who are not beneficiaries of other welfare schemes. Banerjee highlighted a decline in household savings due to lower returns on bank deposits compared to equities and mutual funds, combined with higher tax burdens on interest income. To address this, CII recommended reducing the tax rate on interest income from deposits and shortening the lock-in period for fixed deposits with preferential tax treatment from five years to three years. EEPC India has proposed the introduction of a faceless goods and services tax (GST) audit system. "This system, by using technology and ensuring anonymity, will reduce compliance costs...(and) streamline procedures, allowing MSMEs to focus on growth and innovation," said Pankaj Chadha, chairman of EEPC India. Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is December 31, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
3. Costume and Set Design
As the show reached its climax, the comedian revealed the shocking truth behind Lady Tiana's character – she was not a mere figment of imagination, but a representation of the innate fears and uncertainties that women face in their daily lives. The comedian's unconventional approach to addressing the topic of female safety through a fictional narrative challenged the audience to reconsider their perspectives and assumptions about gender, power, and privilege.As travelers, it is essential to familiarize ourselves with safety procedures and protocols and to remain vigilant and cooperative in the event of an emergency. By working together and responding effectively to challenging situations, we can help ensure that air travel remains a safe and reliable mode of transportation.
In the fast-paced world of automotive innovation, one name that has been causing a stir is Deep Blue with the unveiling of their latest creation—the Deep Blue S09. Set to hit the market in 2025, this vehicle is already turning heads even before its official release, thanks to the recent publication of its official images.The best-selling video game "Minecraft" is to become a real-life destination, as part of a multi-million-pound deal between theme park operator Merlin Entertainments and video game developer Mojang Studios. Merlin said it had agreed an initial £85-million ($107.5-million) deal with the Swedish company to create attractions based on the game at its existing parks in Britain and the United States in 2026 and 2027. It then plans to expand the concept to accommodation, retail and restaurants, plus a ride based on the popular 3D sandbox game, before widening it out across the world. Merlin Entertainments chief executive Scott O'Neil called the deal "a significant milestone". "'Minecraft' is the best-selling video game of all time and this world-first will see fans experience its thrill and creativity in real life at theme parks and city center attractions in leading tourist destinations," he added. Kayleen Walters, vice-president, franchise development for gaming at Microsoft, which acquired Mojang in 2014, called it "an incredibly exciting step" which would help broaden the game's appeal. "Minecraft" is the best-selling video game of all time, with more than 140 million players each month. A live-action movie is due for release next year, while Netflix has also announced plans for an animated series. Merlin operates a number of leading theme parks and tourist attractions, including Legoland, Peppa Pig Theme Park and Madame Tussauds waxwork museum.In addition, developments in trade policies, market dynamics, and consumer preferences will also play a significant role in shaping the future of the pork market. The ongoing trade tensions between major pork-producing countries, changes in import and export regulations, and shifts in consumer preferences towards alternative protein sources could all impact the supply and demand balance in the market.
Some Centralia area residents living in the Fords Prairie neighborhood near Centralia High School and the banks of the Chehalis River are now questioning whether it's safe to drink the water coming from their own taps. Recent testing from wells in the area has shown dangerously high levels of nitrates in the water, but questions now remain, specifically what is causing it and how it can be remedied. More than a dozen residents were in attendance at the Centralia City Council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10, to voice their concerns over the contamination as both city and Lewis County staff were on hand for a presentation on the issue. The neighborhood is in Centralia’s urban growth area, meaning the city is in an interlocal agreement with Lewis County for jurisdiction in the area. The county is ultimately responsible under the current agreement. Currently, both city and county officials are working with neighborhood residents to test more wells on private property throughout the neighborhood, trying to pinpoint the source of the nitrate contamination in the area’s ground water. High nitrate levels in water are dangerous, especially to infants and adults with pre-existing health issues, as the nitrates can cause methemoglobinemia, also known as blue baby syndrome, according to the Cleveland Clinic. With blue baby syndrome, the nitrates are converted to nitrite in the stomach, which prevents red blood cells from carrying oxygen, leading to bluish skin discoloration due to low blood oxygen levels. This can cause a number of symptoms ranging from neurological development issues for infants to pale skin, fatigue, headaches, nausea, vomiting and more for adults. Chronic nitrate exposure can also lead to increased cancer risk and possible birth defects. As for what can cause high nitrate levels in water, it can be triggered by a range of factors from industrial waste, fertilizers, animal waste, wastewater and more. And while many of the residents in Fords Prairie do have septic tanks, they believe there is another source aside from the possibility of wastewater leaking from their septic tanks, as resident Amy White told the council during the public comment session. Through her own investigation, White stated city staff told her they had actually been seeing increasing nitrate levels in a monitoring well northwest of Fords Prairie going back to 2015. “The wells at (Fort) Borst Park are pure, I was told, so that showed city water that the contamination source was to the west of the park,” White said. “What large source could there possibly be on Fords Prairie? Well how about a 240-acre game farm, raising 40-to-45,000 birds every year. Do the math. That many birds produce around 200 pounds of poop every day.” White was referring to the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) Bob Oke Game Farm, which is located south of Centralia High School along Mt. Vista Road. She claimed staff told her the likely cause of the nitrate levels was leaking septic tanks, but stated her own was well-maintained and not leaking. White also recalled how shortly after she moved to the neighborhood in 2004, the game farm euthanized its entire flock to prevent the spread of disease to wild birds in the area, and the tens of thousands of dead birds were simply “buried on site,” on top of other questionable farming practices she’s observed. The game farm breeds and raises pheasants for hunters. It is named after the late Washington state Sen. Bob Oke. Originally opened in the 1950s as the Lewis County Game Farm, it was renamed the Bob Oke Game Farm in 2006 and is almost completely funded by WDFW pheasant hunting license fees, according to previous reporting by The Chronicle. Following public comment, Centralia Public Works Director Kim Ashmore and Lewis County Public Health & Social Services Director Meja Handlen gave a presentation addressing what the city and county know about the nitrate problem so far and what the next steps are in addressing this issue. According to Ashmore, Centralia staff have been testing wells in Fords Prairie since 1981 and did notice nitrate levels increasing in the area from 2017 to 2019 — where an increase of 2.8 to 3.42 milligrams per liter was observed. The maximum allowable limit of nitrate levels in water is 10 milligrams per liter, according to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, while state law mandates increased monitoring be conducted if the level rises above 5 milligrams per liter. “We started looking at what are potential contaminants out there besides septic tanks and stormwater catch basins, things like that,” Ashmore said. Then a monitoring well on Mt. Vista Road directly next to the Bob Oke Game Farm showed much higher levels starting in 2023 — first at 8.0 milligrams per liter and rising to 9.18 milligrams per liter. The city also drilled another monitoring well at the corner of Mt. Vista and Eshom roads in late 2023. Test results from that well have ranged from 9.12 milligrams per liter to well above the allowable limit at 30.8 milligrams per liter this year. “That’s when we invited Lewis County into this discussion,” Ashmore said. He added wells on private property have also been tested in the neighborhood, all with nitrate levels above 10 milligrams per liter. According to Handlen, the main areas of concern the county has are residences located on Mayberry, Rancho, Eshom, Prill, Mt. Vista, Cowlitz and Pheasant roads along with some residences on Borst Avenue. “This is an area of concern and impact of about 70 homes,” Handlen said. “When we look at this map, we want to be really cognizant of a plume zone.” Tests on Centralia High School’s water supply did not find high levels of nitrates. Handlen stated that Centralia’s drinking water aquifer is shallow with loose overlaying soils, making it vulnerable to nitrate contamination, and historically nitrate has always been present throughout the entire aquifer. As for what happens next, Handlen said she is working to try to get more residents in the area to allow for testing in private wells. So far, they have notified 70 private well owners in the area, tested 28 wells and are now monitoring 20 wells in Fords Prairie, with “about 10 that are private wells that have very high (nitrate) levels.” While results were still inconclusive, high nitrate levels appear to be clustered in an area generally downgradient of the monitoring well at the corner of Mt. Vista and Eshom roads — mainly from residences on Mayberry Road. “We don’t have all the data for everybody on, say Mayberry (Road), and that’s what we really need, to show all the homes together,” Handlen said. Once more testing is conducted and the contamination source is identified, then work can begin on remedying this issue, Handlen added. In addition to more testing to pinpoint the source of the nitrate contamination, county and city staff are working to fund installation of under-sink nitrate filters for residents, with $41,600 coming from a Washington state Department of Health grant, pending grant approval next month. Ashmore added the city has been in contact with both state legislators and the WDFW about this issue, and is planning a community town hall meeting next week. “Everybody’s aware of the issue and we’re all trying to find what is the right solution, but as Meja said, we need a little bit more data,” Ashmore said. While he didn’t announce the exact time, Ashmore said he was in talks with Centralia High School staff to utilize a room on Thursday, Dec. 19, for the town hall meeting, “sometime around 6:30 p.m.” An announcement will be made once the town hall meeting details have been finalized.Bond Vigilantes Upend France’s Debt Market: Credit Weekly Zhai Xiaochuan, a versatile forward for the Beijing Royal Fighters, has been a consistent performer on both ends of the floor. His ability to score inside and outside, as well as his tenacity on defense, have made him a key contributor to his team's success. In the 15th round, Zhai showcased his all-around skills and helped his team secure a crucial win.
