Latest news with #MemorialDay
CBS News
16 hours ago
- CBS News
Body of 26-year-old LA County woman missing since Memorial Day located in Sequoia National Park
The body of a Los Angeles County woman missing since Memorial Day was found at a national park in Northern California last week, according to authorities. Jomarie Calasanz, 26, of La Puente, was reported missing on May 25 when she was "swept into the river while recreating with friends and family in Sequoia National Park," according to a social media post from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Despite weeks of searching, officials said that their efforts were limited due to unsafe river conditions and technical terrain. Crews still continued to proactively search the area in and around the Kaweah River by utilizing drones, dive teams, swift water teams, K9s and ground searching, officials said. At one point, they searched a "point of high interest" less than a mile from where Calasanz was last seen, but dangerous high-water flows prevented crews from finding her. Calasanz's body was found on July 24 and she was identified on Monday. "Water flow calculations were continually monitored, and it was determined July 24 would be the first and best opportunity to safely locate Jomarie," authorities said. "I am extremely grateful for the coordination, support, and determination by the Tulare County Sheriff's Office and our NPS team, in the continued search for Jomarie," said a statement from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Superintendent Clay Jordan said. "I hope this brings some level of closure to the family."
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'How do you function': Parents talk of the death of their son in Green Memorial Day parade
At a memorial garden dedicated to children who died, Daniel and Jennifer Schultz of North Canton talked July 29 about the loss of their 13-year-old son, Matthew Schultz. Matthew died May 26 after falling off a parade trailer during the Green Memorial Day parade. The memorial stone for Matthew at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Green won't tell you the tragic details of the accident, or the painful details of his family's recovery. It's a story of grief and faith, family and community, whispered by every stone engraved for a child who died far too young. In the background, the sounds of children playing on a nearby field filtered through as they spoke. Two months after Matthew fell, his parents said they are still processing, still looking for a return to a routine although things will never be the same again. "How do you survive? How do you function?" Jennifer said. One way to begin is to accept that Matthew, they said, is in a better place. "He wanted to be famous, but he also wanted to get to heaven and be with God," Daniel said. Star Wars, Legos and a smile for a friend Jennifer said Matthew was born with a condition called tetralogy of Fallot, comprised of four issues in the structure of the heart. 'He had four procedures throughout his life at the Cleveland Clinic," Daniel said. His last was Christmas Eve, five months before the parade. Prior to the procedure in December, Matthew was characteristically mischievous. "He liked to pull pranks," Daniel said. "(He was) joking around with us and his grandparents." Jennifer said Matthew loved martial arts, but was constrained in sports by his condition. Overexertion or contact sports like football were off the table. His mother said Matthew's condition also limited his stamina and he was affected by weather extremes. Still, he was a positive child who loved to play Star Wars and Legos, his father said. "If he knew a friend was having a hard day, he would reach out to his friend with a smile," he said. Matthew and his 9-year-old sister Sophia were close, and their relationship was a classic brother-sister one, Jennifer said. "They drove each other crazy, but were each other's best friends," she said. "He was a better person than me," his father said. 'I still ask God every day, "What is your will for us?" ' Daniel and Jennifer Schultz said nothing could prepare them for the event on May 26. They've had to take it step by step, relying on family, friends, their North Canton parish and the wider community for support. The Rev. David R. Durkee, pastor at Queen of Heaven, approached them early, and an anonymous donor provided for the memorial stone in the memory garden. At North Canton Middle School, Matthew's schoolmates plastered hundreds of Post-it notes, pictures and handwritten notes on his locker. A Gofundme raised more than $100,000 for the Schultz family. "It truly takes a village to raise a child, and we're fortunate to have that," Jennifer said. But the questions still come, the grief lingers. "It solidified my faith, but I still ask God every day, 'What is your will for us?' " Jennifer said. A passage from the Catholic Bible in Wisdom of Solomon, Chapter 4:12, provided some solace, Daniel said. It was read at Matthew's funeral. "But the righteous, even if they die early, will be at rest," the passage begins. 'His story is not over, yet' Two months after their world changed forever, Matthew's parents say they hope that time, counseling and memories of their son will help lay the path for a sense of normalcy. It helps that school for Matthew's sister starts in August, they said. "The new routine will start to come," Daniel said. They've been blessed with employers who permitted a leave of absence, they said. "Neither of us has been back to work yet," Daniel said. That will come with the new routine they're building day by day. That, and a sense that Matthew's presence is still with them. "His story is not over, yet," said his father. Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@ Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj or Facebook at This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Parents reflect on son, 13, who died in Green Memorial Day parade
New York Post
2 days ago
- General
- New York Post
Inside ‘busy season' for hero local Coast Guard crew
These boots-on-the-ground rescues start from thousands of feet in the air. The busy season is just ramping up for the US Coast Guard's Air Station Atlantic City crew, which patrols the skies and conducts search-and-rescue operations from the Long Island Sound to the Chesapeake Bay, crew members told The Post in an exclusive interview Monday. Advertisement 'It was kind of a slow start to our busy season … but it's been picking up lately,' said Cmdr. Randall Slusher, a pilot whose team's coastal coverage includes that of the Big Apple, Jersey Shore and Long Island almost daily. 7 Coast Guard pilots Randy Slusher (left) and Tyler Smith of Air Sation Atlantic City pose after flying up the Jersey Shore to Manhattan on Monday. Aristide Economopoulos He said the colder spring months staved off droves of recreational boaters until after Memorial Day weekend — then all heck broke loose. Advertisement 'There's a lot of people out on the water this time of year, all trying to use the same space,' Slusher said. 'We'll have everything from boat crashes to jet skis getting stuck to people in the water, especially when riptides are heavy.' The eight-chopper fleet's more dramatic search-and-rescue operations involve crew members using giant baskets and slings to hoist people to safety while also regularly picking up and flying cruise-ship passengers for emergency medical treatment. It's not uncommon for training crews to be diverted to rescue missions while in the air, either. During Manhattan's Fleet Week in May, the team's own demonstration was diverted for an actual offshore search mission. Advertisement And 'last year, we had a case where the crew was doing a normal training on Saturday morning and upon coming back, saw someone … in the water, and we pulled him out,' pilot Lt. Tyler Smith said. 7 Petty Officer Adam Timberlake, a flight mechanic, makes adjustments while flying over the Hudson River. Aristide Economopoulos 'We've recently had a few cases where you're flying around and seeing someone clinging to a boat or clinging into a jet ski,' Smith said. He said one of his most memorable saves involved rescuing two boaters in February when their vessel capsized off the coast of Staten Island, killing three other passengers. Advertisement The air station also assisted in search and rescue operations during the Baltimore bridge disaster in March. 'When you have to rescue people that really need help, it's hard to beat that — it's a rewarding experience,' Slusher said. 7 'I think our mission is so unique: We're a military branch, and lifesaving is our goal,' Timberlake told The Post. Aristide Economopoulos The jumpsuit-clad heroes provide air space security during presidential travel and major tri-state area events such as United Nations summits, too. In the wintertime, the crew even provides aid to duck hunters who frequently get stuck on the water, Slusher said. Jet ski incidents in particular have exploded recently, he said. Last week, the crew hoisted two jet skiers stuck in South Jersey marshland. 7 Slusher (left) and Smith return to Air Station Atlantic City after flying their MH-65 Dolphin helicopter. Aristide Economopoulos Slusher said one memorable incident occurred in 2016 when a pair of New Jersey teens stole their parents' jet skis and took them for a joy ride through the mud. Advertisement 'The cabin of the helicopter was a [muddy] disaster,' Smith recalled of the teens' rescue. 'I think they took a shower … and we gave them clothes so their mom could come pick them up.' False-alarm and prank distress calls are unfortunately a regular issue the crew has to deal with, too, he said. Prank calls can happen multiple times a week, but the crew still must treat every instance as if it were a real emergency, Slusher said. 7 Coast Guard rescue swimmer Hunter Ruddell, 24, talks about how he saved an elderly couple and their two dogs from a marooned boat in November. Aristide Economopoulos Advertisement 'We spend a lot of time flying on those,' he said. 'Very rarely is it actually someone in distress.' Petty Officer Adam Timberlake, a flight mechanic who inspects the crew's choppers before and after each flight, said, 'I think our mission is so unique: We're a military branch, and lifesaving is our goal.' For 24-year-old helicopter rescue swimmer Hunter Ruddell, his first two years on the team have been nothing short of eventful. 7 Ruddell rescued a seasick boater from choppy Long Island Sound waters on Oct. 7 before driving the boat back to shore himself. Courtesy of Hunter Ruddell Advertisement In October, Ruddell drove a distressed boater in the Long Island Sound back to shore after the boat's operator fell ill and his ship was taking on water, he said. The rescue operation also doubled as the first time Ruddell had ever operated a boat. 7 Ruddell (right) and his colleagues rescued two adults and their two dogs in the Chesapeake Bay in November. Courtesy of Hunter Ruddell 'I had no idea how to drive a boat, I was just holding onto the steering wheel making sure we were going in the right direction,' the Florida native said. 'But the crazy thing is … I didn't have my phone, so I just followed my [smart] watch the entire time. Advertisement 'There's crazy days, but it's really fun,' he added. Roughly a month after the Long Island rescue, Ruddell and his crew members pulled two elderly boaters and their two dogs to safety after they were beached for hours in rising tides on Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. '[The boat operator] wasn't following the correct path, and they got caught at low tide,' he said. 'Everyone was alright, but they would've gotten hypothermia if they were there for much longer. 'You can't really train for the cases that you're gonna get,' Ruddell said. 'You really have to adapt, and overcome the cases that you do get.'
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
International Festival of Kutiyattam begins on July 29
To commemorate 60 years of Kutiyattam's institutional journey, the Department of Kutiyattam at the Kerala Kalamandalam Deemed to be University for Art & Culture is organising the International Festival of Kutiyattam (IFK-2025). This landmark event celebrates the classical Sanskrit theatre's legacy and its evolution within a public academic institution since its formal inclusion in Kalamandalam six decades ago. The festival will be held at Kalamandalam campus, Cheruthuruthy, from July 29 to August 2, 2025. Over the last sixty years Kerala Kalamandalam has significantly contributed to the sustenance of the world's oldest living Sanskrit theatre tradition, nationally and internationally, through its repertoire and academic excellence. The five-day event brings together practitioners, scholars, and enthusiasts from across the world. The festival will be inaugurated by by eminent dancer Padma Subrahmanyam on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in the presence of B. Ananthakrishnan, Vice-Chancellor of Kerala Kalamandalam, P. Rajeshkumar, Registrar, and a gathering of distinguished artists and scholars. The opening day will also include a seminar session on Natyashastra, setting the tone for the academic depth and artistic excellence that define the festival. Major Highlights of IFK-2025 include daily performances by leading Kutiyattam artists including Padmasree Kalamandalam Sivan Nambuthiri, Kalamandalam Ramachakyar, Ammannur Kuttan Chakyar, Kalamandalam Girija, Kalamandalam Eswaranunni, Usha Nangiar and Kapila. There will academic sessions with the participation of experts. Guru Painkulam Ramachakyar Memorial Day will be observed on July 31, commemorating the late guru's impact on the art form with a floral tribute, memorial conference, and performances. As the world's oldest surviving Sanskrit theatre tradition, Kutiyattam occupies a unique place in global heritage. Its preservation owes much to cultural pioneers like Guru Painkulam Ramachakyar and institutions like Kerala Kalamandalam, whose rigorous training programmes, academic inquiry, and curated performances keep the art alive and relevant.
UPI
2 days ago
- Health
- UPI
Girl, 9, dies after incident in Hersheypark's wave pool
July 25 (UPI) -- A 9-year-old girl died after being in distress at Hersheypark's wave pool near Pennsylvania's state capital of Harrisburg. The incident occurred Thursday at The Boardwalk water park, which also includes slides and a lazy river. The Shore wave pool is 378,000 gallons, the largest in the state, and is up to 6 feet deep. Hershey Enterainment & Resorts Company didn't give details on what happened. "From the moment our lifeguard team recognized that a child was in distress, they performed an immediate rescue, followed by continuous, coordinated life-saving efforts by our lifeguards, on-site first responders and medical personnel," CEO John Lawn said in a message. The girl was taken to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, "where despite everyone's tireless efforts, the child did not recover," Lawn said. Authorities did not identify her. In an updated statement Friday, the park said the wave pool within The Boardwalk will remain closed that day "out of respect for the family and deep appreciation of our team members who worked so valiantly in their efforts to save the life of the guest." Ten lifeguards were dedicated to the wave pool at the time of the incident, the park said. Also, complimentary life vests were available. On Thursday, Lawn said park employees were investigating the incident. "The safety of our guests has always been our highest priority," he said. "In the coming days, we will conduct a thorough internal review and cooperate with authorities." The park was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1927 "as leisure grounds for employees of Hersehy's Chocolate Factory," according to the park's website. The 121-acre amusement park includes 15 roller-coasters. It is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. "To every family who visits Hersheypark, please know this: your safety and well-being drive each decision we make," Lawn said. "We will thoroughly investigate this tragedy and honor the memory of this young guest by continuing our focus on ensuring the safety of our guests at Hershepark."
