Daily Archives: August 21, 2015

Trump takes heat from Bergdahl lawyer for calling him a traitor

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Defense attorney for Bowe Bergdahl—Eugene Fidell—is publicly berating Donald Trump for remarks in which he calls Bergdahl a “…dirty, rotten traitor.”

According to a report in the Army Times, Fidell said that Bergdhal cannot respond to the comments because he is currently under an Article 32 investigation to determine if charges should be brought. Fidell said that Trump’s remarks threaten Bergdahl’s right to a fair trial.

The remarks were in response to a video released by the Wall Street Journal of a town hall meeting in which Trump said:

We get a traitor named Bergdahl, a dirty, rotten traitor, who, by the way, when he deserted, six young, beautiful people were killed trying to find him.

Trump has used this example on his campaign trail over the past few months. In July he quipped that he would send Bergdahl back even if they do not want him.

Bergdahl disappeared in Afghanistan on June 30, 2009 and spent five-years in alleged captivity as a prisoner of war. He was traded for five Taliban terrorists. Fidell said that no soldiers were killed searching for Berghdahl.
soldiers-killed1The six soldiers in question are Staff Sergeant Clayton Bowen, 29, Private 1st Class Morris Walker, 23, Staff Sergeant Kurt Curtiss, 27, 2nd Lieutenant Darryn Andrews, 34, Staff Sergeant Michael Murphrey, 25, Private 1st Class Matthew Martinek

Bergdahl is now assigned to a desk job at U.S. Army North at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas while he awaits charges of once count of desertion with intent to shirk hazardous duty and one count of misbehavior before the enemy.

Swap meet still running

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640-SwapMeet-15-08-21-3 WILLIAMS — The Kiwanis Route 66 Street Market is still open and runs through Labor Day weekend. The Street Market is located on Route 66 on the west end of town across from the Williams Memorial Park. The proceeds from the event benefit the projects of the Kiwanis Club such as the scholarship program.

Police in Allentown under fire after wrestling 61-year old to ground

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Allentown, PENNSYLVANIA — The Photography is Not a Crime (PINAC) website is reporting on an alleged police brutality incident in Allentown, Pennsylvania against 61-year-0ld Jim Ochse. The incident apparently occurred on Thursday, August 13. Videos were posted a few days later.

Two videos were posted on YouTube which are going viral. The incident has brought out comments from both sides of the issue of police brutality. Supporters of police seem to contend that Ochse should have moved on when told while others wonder why it was necessary to put a 61-year-old on the ground.

A group called Lehigh Valley Copblock shared the video with the claim:

Allentown has been under heavy fire in recent months. The city has become so corrupt that the F.B.I. has even stepped in to investigate. As if things for the city are not bad enough with lawsuits and investigations, within the last week two videos have surfaced showing police brutality and illegal tactics.

The Allentown Morning Call reported that the incident was still under investigation. Mr. Ochse has apparently hired a civil rights attorney.

Workforce Flexibility act may give temporary DOI employees competitive edge

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500px-US-DeptOfTheInterior-Seal.svgWASHINGTON — The Land Management Workforce Flexibility act, H.R. 1531, has been signed into law. It is now Public Law No: 114-47. The bill was submitted by Representative Gerald Connolly [D-VA-11].

The Workforce Flexibility act makes an employee of specified land management agencies in the Department of the Interior serving under a time-limited, including a temporary, appointment in the competitive service eligible to compete for a permanent appointment in any land management agency or any other agency if:
(1) the original appointment was competitive,
(2) the employee has served under one or more time-limited appointments totaling more than 24 months without a break of two or more years, and
(3) the employee’s performance has been at an acceptable level.

It also provides that an individual appointed under the provisions of this Act becomes a career-conditional employee and acquires competitive status upon appointment.

The agency determining the eligibility of time-limited employees are required to waive age requirements for these employees unless age is essential to the performance of the duties of the position.

The law defines a former employee of a land management agency who served under a time-limited appointment and who otherwise meets applicable requirements to be a time-limited employee for purposes of this Act if:
(1) such employee applies for a position covered by this Act within two years after the most recent date of separation, and
(2) such employee’s most recent separation was for reasons other than misconduct or performance.

Persons interested in career positions in the Department of the Interior should check with Human Resources for more information.