Stay Safe

South Burlington ranked safest city in America; Vermont ranked safest state [Video]
►
Categories
Home Based Business

South Burlington ranked safest city in America; Vermont ranked safest state [Video]

A new report by WalletHub.com has ranked South Burlington, Vermont, the safest city in America. Burlington, Vermont, ranked not far behind as the fourth safest city.The personal finance company compared just over 180 cities across 41 different factors that were grouped into three main categories: home and community safety, natural disaster risk and financial security. In terms of home and community safety, WalletHub said South Burlington ranked first “in part because of its safe roads.””It has one of the lowest pedestrian fatality rates in the country along with the 13th-lowest percentage of uninsured motorists,” according to WalletHub.The report also found South Burlington has the ninth most EMTs and paramedics per capita. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Employment, South Burlington also has the lowest unemployment rate in the country (1.9%). The study also found the city is safe from certain natural disasters like flooding, tornadoes and wildfires, compared to others across the U.S.Jessie Baker, South Burlington city manager, said this ranking is a good sign the work the city is doing is paying off. Its a nice kudos to our community. You know, we have hundreds of staff and hundreds of volunteers who work every day to make this community really, really strong. And I think its a recognition of that work and the shared vision we have for our community,” Baker said.WalletHub said Burlington ranked fourth because of its community safety measures, protection against natural disasters and financial protections for residents. Meanwhile, the personal finance company is shining an additional light on the Green Mountain State, ranking it the safest state in the country. The WalletHub study found Vermont had the second-highest percentage of parents who feel they live in safe neighborhoods (77%), the seventh-most neighborhood watch groups per capita, and some of the lowest levels of crime like aggravated assaults, murders and thefts per capita. Vermont also has the second lowest unemployment rate (2.2%) of any state in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The report also found Vermont has “the seventh-best road quality in the U.S. It has the 11th-fewest traffic fatalities per 100 million miles traveled and the seventh-fewest pedestrian fatalities per capita.”

Eldridge boy is Hawkeyes Kid Captain [Video]
►
Categories
Home Based Business

Eldridge boy is Hawkeyes Kid Captain [Video]

A 12-year-old boy from Eldridge who was diagnosed with cancer is the Hawkeyes Kid Captain of the Week. Our Quad Cities News Photojournalist Mike Coln spoke with Hudson Ferriss mother, Traci Ferris, who shared how doctors discovered Hudson was ill. He was nine years old. we were on vacation for spring break in Florida, Traci []

Betty Rae’s KCMO burglary suspect has long criminal record [Video]
►
Categories
Home Based Business

Betty Rae’s KCMO burglary suspect has long criminal record [Video]

A 78-year-old man who detectives said admitted to burglarizing a River Market ice cream shop and spending the money on drugs and gambling has a long criminal history.Kansas City, Missouri, Police arrested John Heckman at a Kansas City, Kansas home following the burglary at Betty Raes early Sunday morning,The entire incident was captured on surveillance video.First and foremost, thanks to the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department for their hard work, and the detective that we met, and the people that worked alongside him were great to us. They communicated with us all along the way. So, we’re thankful for their effort, and we’re super excited that we got this individual, at least for today, off the streets, said Matt Shatto, Betty Raes owner.Missouri Court records show Heckman has pleaded guilty in 10 different felony cases since 1997.In November 1997, Heckman pleaded guilty to stealing in Platte County and was sentenced to three years in prison.Burglary guilty pleas followed in Jackson County in 2000 and 2003 cases.In 2004, Heckman pleaded guilty to tampering with a motor vehicle but was released from custody by court order in January 2008.That release also followed a 2005 case when Heckman pleaded guilty to stealing a motor vehicle.He was given shock incarceration in that case releasing him from prison on probation.In 2009, Heckman pleaded guilty to theft and then that same year also pleaded guilty to a separate case of burglary and property damage.He also pleaded guilty in a 2018 burglary case.Last year, he pleaded guilty in two separate Jackson County cases.The most recent one was in May 2023 when Heckman pleaded guilty to three burglary counts and was sentenced with the other 2023 case to seven years in prison.Missouri Department of Corrections records show Heckman is serving that sentence on eleven different burglary counts and a theft of more than $750 count.Theres no explanation about why he was released from custody on that sentence.Attempts to get an answer so far have been unsuccessful.I think what it says is that we’re not treating property crimes as seriously as we should, said Henry Service, a Kansas City criminal defense attorney who has no connection to Heckmans case.Service said hes had clients have their cases dismissed after being accused of property crimes.There’s no doubt that Kansas City, Missouri, has a crime problem. And so, you’ve got to weigh the property crimes against, bigger and more dangerous felonies. And as a result, the property crimes people, get overlooked, he said.What about the system is so badly broken that’s creating this repetitive nature of these crimes, and it continues to be the idea that we are not holding people accountable for their actions, Shatto said.The burglary at Betty Raes early Sunday morning is the second one in the last month.The one in September was also captured on surveillance video.So far, theres been no arrest in that case.Shatto said the two burglaries with stolen cash and repairs have cost him more than $10,000.