Family

There’s lots of pets to be adopted from CatBugs Pet Rescue and Clay County Animal Control -- we couldn’t fit them all in the newspaper! Can you help them out and help them find loving homes?

Can’t adopt now? Pass this on to someone who can!

These pets are available through CatBugs Pet Rescue, 673-5813. Pets are fostered in private homes, examined by a vet, vaccinated and altered before adoption. Animals are available for viewing and adoption at the Orange Park/West Jax PetSmart from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays. E-mail June at catbugno1@comcast.net or visit www.catbugs.petfinder.com.

Lady is a female adult lab mix.

Tanzie is a female adult border collie mix.

Olivia is a young female Persian.

The public needs to know that immediately following a recent incident, Sheriff Beseler arrested his own step-son.  Now that's law enforcement... putting public safety ahead of his personal interests.  Seriously, folks, Sheriff Beseler may be the most honest, capable Sheriff that this county has ever had.  He doesn't make excuses, he just does the job.  GO SHERIFF BESELER! 

Bitterness, hatred and the desire for revenge slowly but completely corrode from within the vessel which carries them.  They are the fuel of an agonizing process of self destruction, and a certain recipe for discontent.

Righteousness heals, strengthens and sustains.  Do not go forward blindy, oblivious to reality or in a pollyanna fashion, but cherish and nourish those things that are good within themselves: Among them are truth, honesty, self respect and compassion. 

Character is who you are when no one is watching.  It is normal, and even acceptable, to occasionally make mistakes and to unintentionally stray from righteousness.  Even the most competent of captains regularly correct their ways when their ships head off course.

I received an email last night from a Parent of one of the girls in the Folio Story. It was very short but meaningful, a "Thank You" for the support.  Earlier in the day yesterday the Mother in me was very much preoccupied with these girls, their sisters, their friends and I wanted so much to try and say something to help.  Since I now know that at least one of them knows these blogs exist I have my chance. 

Girls,

First and foremost always remember that you are truly unique in this world although it sometimes doesn't feel that way.  You are precious to your Creator as well as your earthly Parents, regardless of what you do, and that is called unconditional love.  Always remember that many horrible things can happen to your physical body, but they cannot truly touch the essence of who you are, you are flesh, spirit and soul.  You and only you have the power to not allow the core of your being to be damaged.  It is difficult sometimes to not allow negative thoughts and emotions to seep in, the biggest hurdle in taking control over your life is to forget that it is a DAILY CHOICE.  Remember each day is a gift, and a new beginning, even with a job, each day you have to get up and make that choice to go to work.  It is this way when tragedy and adversity comes to reside in your life.  Each day, each moment that you smile, or laugh, do something for someone else, or yourself is a victory.  So, each day you have to make the choice, and the effort to value who you are by realizing that what you have experienced can make you stronger, and that YOU TRULY are the only person that has the control to make that choice.  So much of life that we fear is a lack of control, when you believe and accept that you are truly all powerful in how you let things effect you your life will change forever, but the daily choice to do so must always be made.

For some reason male nature has always been attracted to violence and to continously having to prove their strenght and abilities. It's a "power" thing that has been cheered through the years by society and even by parents.

Males have to fit in a "pattern": they have to be strong, able to stand to adversity and above all, they have to "prove" that they are MEN. Not complying with this profile, it is taken as a sign of weakness and among other things it could make them a target of cruel jokes. Sometimes, it could even create a false reputation that will chase them for the rest of their life, unless of course, they can prove their manhood.

It starts with the human basic need to belong, the need to be a part of a group of people who appreciates us and straightens our self esteem. Positive results have been achieved through the years integrating low-self esteem individuals to encouraging groups improving the way they look at themselves and reassuring their personalities so the can be completely self sufficient and walk with that safe feeling through life.

However, there is always a negative side of this basic need to belong that has been exploded since the world was created. Troubled minds who gather followers to executed the actions they don't dare to do. Minds who take advantage of the weak and low self-esteem individuals who desperately search for appreciation, recognition and popularity.

It is a scary feeling, your heart stops and your worst fear paralyzes you from head to toes: your kid was just next to you and now is gone! You start screaming your kid's name first not to loud but then you realize that someone might have taken him (her) and you get totally insane!

In crowded places like a big store or an amusement park a lost kid becomes an easy pray for predators, who usually blend in the crowd waiting for an opportunity like this.

It takes a second for a kid to disappear! A quick thinking could save your kid of being abducted. Panic would only act on your disadvantage and waiting too long trying to find you child in the crowd will only delay help.

For years our schools have been teaching our children to read, to write, and other subjects to provide them with the necessary knowledge to successfully graduate from High School.

However, crucial subjects which are part of every citizen's life, have been left aside not considering the fact that without these "subjects" our kids are growing in complete ignorance of the laws that rule our society. Rules that will affect them soon or later, in one way or another.

We teach our kids what is right and wrong, the same way our parents did to us 20 years ago! The truth is that, ever since, the laws have become more and more complex and they have extended to touch the limit of juveniles too.

We all grew up breathing the Romeo and Juliet mentality. A couple of teenagers crazy in love trying to defend their love from society. Romantic? Maybe...for other times.

The truth is that the spontaneous relationships from the past have been buried through the years under law suits and today the school sweet harts better be very careful or the modern Romeo might end up behind bars with a label of SEX OFFENDER for the rest of his life.

On January 18Th of 2006 a Task Force for Juvenile Sex Offenders prepared a report to review this law. This report was submitted to the Governor and the Florida Legislature in order to modify the Juvenile Sex Offenders Florida Law as it reads today:

As painful as it sounds, Florida is the fourth state in the US where the child pornography over the Internet accounts for the largest volume of cyber crime. According to Bill McCollum, Attorney General for the state of Florida: "The state authorities know very well the dangerous activities that on line child predators engage in and the amount of risks children face". Therefore, severe new laws have been implemented as October 2007 to protect our children against Internet predators and to prevent children sexual exploitation.

Thanks to these new laws these criminals will face maximum sentences extended three times more to fifteen years. These laws are not only against predators who solicit kids through the Internet but also for those who own child pornography.