Latest news with #Stotts
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Dresden man acquitted on rape charges after his wife was found guilty on lesser charges
ZANESVILLE – A Dresden man has been acquitted on seven sexual abuse charges originating from a three-person sexual relationship in March 2024. The jury found Wesley James Stotts, 40, not guilty on three counts of rape, first-degree felonies; three counts of sexual battery, third-degree felonies; and gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony; according to court documents. The trial ended on May 21. Stotts was indicted on Jan. 8, along with his wife, Ashton Whitney Stotts, 37, who was also accused of the same seven crimes. Ashton was found guilty on three counts of sexual battery after a trial May 29. The case's one female victim alleged that she was drunkenly raped by both during the encounter, noted Samuel H. Shamansky, a Columbus-based attorney representing Stotts. He was also counseled by Donald L. Regensburger. "Wesley was extremely grateful for the manner for which Judge Cottrill ensured a fair trial," Shamansky noted. He also applauded the jury for its ability to follow instructions and produce a fair environment. The prosecutor's office had no comment. Wesley and Ashton were both booked and briefly detained in the Muskingum County Jail Feb. 10 on $100,000 bonds. More: Zanesville police waiting for autopsy results of skeletal remains found on Adams Street Shawn Digity is a reporter for the Zanesville Times Recorder. He can be emailed at sdigity@ or found on X at @ShawnDigityZTR. This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Dresden man not guilty of rape; wife found guilty on lesser charges
Epoch Times
23-05-2025
- Epoch Times
Nostalgic Beauty: North Carolina Woman Photographs Abandoned Houses—Here Are the Shots
Laura Stotts drives thousands of miles between her family's homes in Utah and North Carolina, and along the way she makes wide detours to feed her pet passion—exploring and photographing old abandoned buildings and ghost towns. Stotts is certain of one thing: She's alive for a reason, and that reason is to document forgotten places through her camera. For Stotts, preserving their memory is tied to her former bout with addiction and teetering on the brink of death. ' God has performed a miracle in my life and saved me,' she told The Epoch Times, speaking of a trauma that nearly killed her in 2016. In encountering abandoned homes across America that date from colonial times to as late as the 1950s, Stotts felt a spiritual connection with past lives 'in every fiber of my being,' she said. She's even bonded with people who had lived here. This past winter, she explored a cluster of some 30 old log cabins from the 1700s in Idaho, where Mormon pioneers first settled along the Oregon Trail—a long ribbon of ruts cutting westward through the valley. The town, called Chesterfield, began to decline after a Pacific Union railway bypassed the town in the 1880s and made the trail obsolete. Chesterfield, Idaho. Courtesy of Laura Stotts Chesterfield, Idaho. Courtesy of Laura Stotts Chesterfield, Idaho. Courtesy of Laura Stotts Chesterfield, Idaho. Courtesy of Laura Stotts Chesterfield, Idaho. Courtesy of Laura Stotts Toting her camera and fueled by nostalgia for simpler times, Stotts trudged through the snow to photograph the stout red-brick schoolhouse and much older sagging cabins. Related Stories 3/14/2025 2/28/2025 ' They look the same as the primitive log cabins from the late 1700s on the east coast,' she said. 'You can very much get a feel of just how hard life was for them, just to be surviving in these very remote towns in these snowy conditions.' Winter snowdrifts in Chesterfield were said to tower over the houses and bury them, with buildings 'snapping' in the cold. As the town began declining, it was also plagued by drought, the 'Chesterfield faded like a photograph left in the sun,' Stotts said. 'The creaking of the windmill felt like their final lament.' She said it's 'a miracle' that the buildings are still standing. On her journeys, Stotts has visited over a thousand abandoned homes and buildings across dozens of states, including North Carolina where she now lives, in the city of Winston-Salem . Tied to these places, her own story of survival started here nine years ago. Renewed Sense of Purpose After a failed suicide attempt, Stotts found a new purpose knocking on doors. Her intention was to ask permission to photograph an abandoned home, but she soon met Mr. Nanney, a 98-year-old living in a tiny shack who owned a vine-covered house nearby. He became her best friend. An abandoned home in Tennessee. Courtesy of Laura Stotts A general store in Cleveland County, North Carolina. Courtesy of Laura Stotts Laura Stotts with Mr. Nanney. Courtesy of Laura Stotts An abandoned farmhouse at an undisclosed location. Courtesy of Laura Stotts Laura Stotts poses in an abandoned home. Courtesy of Laura Stotts ' I hear this guy opening up like 10 deadbolts from top to bottom on his door,' Stotts said. 'He allowed me to come in, and I introduced myself, and I'm like, 'Hey, I want to know what your story is.'' Hearing his story lit a fire in Stotts. From then on, she couldn't find enough doors to knock on to hear more stories that would otherwise die with these folks and their homes. ' It was a new addiction for me,' she said. 'T hese homes are disappearing fast.' In the years since, Stotts's journey has been punctuated by sublime moments in forsaken places and by friendships with all-but forsaken folks. Sometimes, the feelings of nostalgia she experiences in these abandoned homes are so strong that the visions they conjure from the past are unmistakable. Other times they're downright haunting, such as an early visit to a mid-1900s house in North Carolina. 'A s soon as I set foot on the grounds of this home, outside of my car, it's almost like a full-body experience,' she said. She recalled the sensation she felt, both conjured and real: 'The sun shining on my skin. It's the smell of the flowers, it's the wind, it's imagining the mother and the father outside of the home hanging clothes on the line.' The house, Stotts discovered, was owned by one of two wealthy Italian brothers who both built homes and, in an epic sibling rivalry, tried to outdo each other in lavishness. This abandoned home in North Carolina was owned by one of two wealthy Italian brothers. Courtesy of Laura Stotts An undisclosed location. Courtesy of Laura Stotts A log cabin at an undisclosed location. Courtesy of Laura Stotts An undisclosed location. Courtesy of Laura Stotts An old Dodge in Buke County, North Carolina. Courtesy of Laura Stotts An undisclosed location. Courtesy of Laura Stotts An undisclosed location. Courtesy of Laura Stotts An undisclosed location. Courtesy of Laura Stotts An undisclosed location. Courtesy of Laura Stotts An undisclosed location. Courtesy of Laura Stotts There were other times where Stotts says she felt repelled by a house as if by a supernatural force. 'Remember being a kid and trying to take the opposite ends of two magnets and pushing them together and it's impossible? I started feeling that. That's the only way I know how to describe the feeling walking into this home,' she said, speaking of one dilapidated 'oversized' house from the mid-1800s with tall doors and a huge porch with pillars. She said she found the 'negative energy' in the house 'overpowering' and decided she'd best make her exit, even though she normally doesn't 'buy into that feeling.' To tell their story, Stotts has done extensive research on the places she's been. Using 'Find a Grave' and 'Ancestry' apps, she uncovered names like Martha Simmons, who was 16 when she got married and moved into the log cabin her husband, Joel Simmons, built in 1870 in Stokes Country, North Carolina. Stotts paid the cabin a visit. The Simmons cabin in North Carolina. Courtesy of Laura Stotts The Simmons cabin in North Carolina. Courtesy of Laura Stotts Inside the Simmons cabin in North Carolina. Courtesy of Laura Stotts The Simmons cabin in North Carolina. Courtesy of Laura Stotts 'The 1880 census lists Joel as a farmer, likely growing tobacco or crops to support their growing family,' Stotts said, adding that the couple had 12 children. 'As tiny as the cabin is, it was hard to imagine such a large family living in such tight quarters.' To honor their story, Stotts created a family tree for the Simmonses, listing Martha, Joel, and the children: Rilla, Calvin, Mary, Powell, Fletcher, Frannie, Martha, James, Robert, John, Joel, and Roy. Stotts, who is now seven years sober, says a miracle saved her life and now she's repaying the favor. 'At one point I felt like my existence and my story didn't matter anymore,' she said. 'I t's just been a very beautiful thing over the past 10 years to be able to be engaged in this endeavor of photo-documenting history and people's stories.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists raise concern as eerie phenomenon spreads across US coastlines: 'We're about 50 years behind'
The Chesapeake Bay has taken on a haunted appearance. Our overheating planet is helping turn the region into a graveyard for cedar and pine trees, per Knowable Magazine. As the world warms, driving sea levels higher, saltwater is encroaching along the world's coasts and into its estuaries. The seawater invasion can overtake the freshwater that gives life to deciduous trees. It is happening in the Chesapeake Bay, and it isn't going unnoticed. Scientists released a report on the salinization that is impacting coastal ecosystems. "The impact of saltwater intrusion on coastal forests and farmland is typically understood as sea-level-driven inundation of a static terrestrial landscape, where ecosystems neither adapt to nor influence saltwater intrusion," according to a study conducted by an international team of scientists. "Yet recent observations of tree mortality and reduced crop yields have inspired new process-based research into the hydrologic, geomorphic, biotic, and anthropogenic mechanisms involved." "When a lot of these forests die back, instead of being replaced with a native salt marsh ... what's actually taking its place is a phragmites marsh," University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne forest ecologist, and coauthor of the Annual Review of Marine Science article, Stephanie Stotts, told Knowable Magazine. The Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center describes phragmites, also known as common reed, as "a tall, densely growing perennial grass that can take over large areas, displacing native vegetation and reducing habitat quality for fish and wildlife." Trees die slowly; sometimes, it takes several decades for them to perish. It will take a long time for us to see the full consequences of these lifeless forests. "We're about 50 years behind," said Stotts, per Knowable Magazine. Ghost forests are the remains of a once-vibrant woodland ecosystem that has succumbed to the poisoning of encroaching saltwater. Forests have morphed into marshes during prior periods of rising sea levels. Scientists point out that marshes have some positive attributes. They are home to oysters, clams, shrimp, and certain bird species. The problem with ghost forests is that they can disrupt the carbon cycle. In other words, forests absorb more carbon pollution from the atmosphere than they release. After trees die, they can eventually contribute to the heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere, fueling even more warming. Living trees can also act as a buffer to storms. Ghost forests increase the vulnerability along coastlines to erosion and storm surge. While extreme weather events have always existed, experts have found that the human-induced climate crisis supercharges these events, putting our communities in even more danger and devastating ecosystems. The saltwater encroaching along the world's coastlines is accelerating as our overheating planet drives rising seas. Moving away from dirty energy sources to renewable options will help cool our planet and reduce the rise in sea levels. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Scientific studies can help illustrate how the buildup of heat-trapping gases in our atmosphere is impacting our planet, but getting the word out by exploring critical climate issues and talking to family and friends about them to raise awareness is important. So is supporting politicians who are fighting for the future of our planet. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
USA Today
28-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Grizzlies coach candidates: Who could Memphis target to replace fired Taylor Jenkins?
Grizzlies coach candidates: Who could Memphis target to replace fired Taylor Jenkins? Show Caption Hide Caption Who does Gordon Hayward think will win NBA MVP this season? Former NBA player Gordon Hayward has his choice between Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for MVP, and make it clear who he thinks should win. Sports Seriously The Memphis Grizzlies are 44-29, tied for the fourth-best mark in a very tough Western Conference. Taylor Jenkins had posted a .539 winning percentage and was about to clinch his fourth postseason berth in six seasons. Yet, Friday, in a somewhat stunning move, the Grizzlies fired Jenkins — the winningest coach in franchise history — with nine games left in the regular season. The Grizzlies had lost five of their last seven games and had been sliding down the Western Conference standings, but the timing nonetheless remains questionable. It also raises the question if Memphis can attract a clear upgrade at head coach. Here are eight possible replacements the Memphis Grizzlies may consider to replace Jenkins: David Adelman, Nuggets lead assistant coach Serving as Denver coach Michael Malone's lead assistant, Adelman has drawn head coaching interviews in recent hiring cycles and figures to be one of the top assistants available. The son of former NBA coach Rick Adelman, David spent the majority of his life around the NBA. Known to be an offensive-minded assistant, Adelman has evolved his father's legacy of turning big men into attacking centerpieces; Nikola Jokić has become one of the dominant forces in the NBA and the Nuggets lead the league in points in the paint per game (58.2). The second-ranked team? The Grizzlies, averaging 56.4 per game. Terry Stotts, Warriors lead assistant coach What Adelman lacks in head coaching experience, Stotts has in abundance. Stotts, 67, has been an NBA head coach for 13 seasons. The Warriors hired Stotts this past offseason with the aim of reinvigorating Golden State's offense; by and large, he has delivered. Known for his ability to develop and work with guards, Stotts was instrumental in the development of Damian Lillard with the Trail Blazers and has a reputation for working well with a team's stars. Still the Blazers' second-most winningest coach, Stotts would pair well with dynamic Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant. Tuomas Iisalo, Grizzlies interim coach If Memphis wanted to go the internal route, Iisalo, a former Finnish player, will be the option. The Grizzlies appointed him to be the interim coach for the remainder of the season, which can often be a trial run for aspiring coaches. He joined the Grizzlies this offseason when Jenkins overhauled his assistant coaching staff. Iisalo built his reputation in Europe, where he led Paris Basketball to a 22-1 record last season, winning the EuroCup championship and EuroCup Coach of the Year in his first season with the organization. Iisalo leaned on transition offense, pushing the ball up the court, something the Grizzlies have embodied in his one season in Memphis; the team ranks first in the NBA in pace (103.85). Sam Cassell, Celtics lead assistant coach This would be a hire that's also geared toward guard play. Cassell, a 15-year point guard, has had assistant coaching stops with the Wizards, Clippers, 76ers and Celtics. Cassell has already drawn interest in previous coaching cycles. Given Boston's success, it feels like a matter of time before he's appointed as a head coach. Known for taking an honest approach with his players, Cassell has worked with stars like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, James Harden and Joel Embiid. Jarron Collins, Pelicans assistant coach If the Grizzlies wanted to address defense with their hire, Collins, a former center, could be a viable option. Collins, 46, actually interviewed for the Grizzlies coaching vacancy during the 2019 cycle, before the team hired Jenkins. Collins served as an assistant with the Warriors under Steve Kerr from 2014-21, becoming Kerr's trusted defensive specialist on staff. On staff for three championship teams in Golden State, Collins would almost certainly emphasize low-post defense with rookie Zach Edey and 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. Kevin Young, BYU head coach Though he made the jump to college this season, Young remains a coach with deep ties to the NBA, most notably his three seasons spent (2021-24) as the associate head coach of the Suns. Young worked closely with Suns star guard Devin Booker, helping him earn his first and only first-team All-NBA selection in 2021-22. In fact, that season, he helped Phoenix snap a 10-year postseason drought, with the Suns eventually falling to the Bucks in the NBA Finals. At BYU this season, he led the Cougars to a 26-10 record before Thursday night's loss against the Crimson Tide in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. Frank Vogel, Mavericks coaching consultant There's an argument to be made that Vogel should still be the head coach of the Suns, who fired him May 2024 after he spent just one season with the team. Vogel has since joined the Mavericks staff under coach Jason Kidd as a consultant. Vogel has 12 years of head coaching experience and led the Lakers to an NBA title in the 2019-20, COVID-19-impacted season. At his stops, Vogel has stressed discipline and attention to detail — traits the Grizzlies have lacked at times, as they're tied for second-to-last in the NBA in turnovers per game (15.9). And offensively, he asks his teams to rely on passing and off-ball movement to exploit defenses. Mike Brown, former Kings coach It was rather surprising when Sacramento fired Mike Brown on Dec. 27 after he compiled a .549 winning percentage with the team. If the Grizzlies chose to go with Brown, though, it would present something of a philosophical shift; Brown's teams have typically been in the middle of the pack of the league in pace. Nonetheless, Brown is an experienced coach who demands hustle and grit from his players, particularly on defense. That is one area where Sacramento has struggled this season without him; since the All-Star break, the Kings are dead last in defensive 3-point percentage, allowing teams to lace shots at an alarming 41.2% clip. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Upgrades on the way for Miami Seniors' Center
MIAMI, Okla. — A number of grants will help a fixture in Miami see a whole lot of improvements. 'Since I've been widowed, it has been the highlight of my life.' For nearly a decade, Pat Jones has made the Miami Seniors' Center her favorite place to be. 'I come out here twice a week, play Mexican train with some very good friends, new friends that I made since I became a member,' said Jones. What was once old will be new again, and Jones says she's all for it. 'I'm hoping that we have more activities for older people because we don't have a lot in this town.' 'We want to bring back more exciting, wonderful things at the seniors. We want their valued input and to hear what they'd like.' said Melinda Stotts, City of Miami Communications Manager. Grants funded by community organizations will pay for the roughly ninety-thousand-dollar improvement project. Lauria and Ashley's Law Passes First Committee Early voting contines today in Oklahoma ID of man found dead in Miami home released Feds clear Miami police officer in fatal shooting 'One of the most bizarre cases in my law enforcement career,' Missing Oklahoma teen spent nights in Wal-Mart toilet paper fort 'We took a good look at it, and the building was built in 1990-something. And so, our goal was to refresh it, to revitalize it, to make it a really amazing place,' said Stotts. Currently, the center offers a kitchenette, an on-site gym, and pool tables. The project plans to bring in new activities, games, events, and classes—something Jones says she's looking forward to. 'I love country and western dancing, which my friend and I took a course in when they had it at the Civic Center. I'm hoping they'll offer a course here,' said Jones. Upgrades also include redoing the floors, adding a fresh coat of paint, and installing a full kitchen with new appliances, which is currently underway. 'Making sure everyone has a good hot meal is so important. So that's part of this and part of why the city wanted to keep this is to make sure Doc's could keep their dedicated kitchen where it was,' said Stotts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
