​*You know that place between sleep and awake, that place where you still remember dreaming? Between Bed and that First mug of Coffee, that place where you aren't quite ready for a shower? That's where the TV turns on and Eyes tune into the local CH 68 For news and weather. Somehow you find yourself here as the scene comes up.* 

*Standing at the familiar sight of the Coast Guard Dispatch Center where numerous uniformed DEA officers are unloading what looks like large tubs sealed with red "Evidence Seal" tape is Kaylynn Garcia, the camera panning around to show several other men being loaded into a large Police truck to be taken away*  

Kaylynn: "Campbell returned to port after a two month counter drug cruise with Coast guard naval officers and DEA officials on board.  During this time they have seized an estimated one-hundred Sixty million dollar haul in illegal drugs.  Primarily cocaine and Heroin that was being smuggled on board numerous vessels.  As you can see behind me the crew of the last ship seized in this endeavor are being taken away for processing and questioning, and the narcotics will be held as evidence and eventually disposed of."  

*The Screen shows some file footage of video taken of the Various drugs piled up outside the containers as if on display with many bricks of the illegal substances before cutting back to Kaylynn*  

Kaylynn: "The Coast Guard and DEA report that no agents were killed in the two month endeavor, and only one injured when he slipped on a wet deck and fell on his side fracturing his arm in the process. Live from Coast Guard Bay area dispatch, I'm Kaylynn Garcia."  

*The camera cuts back to the main news desk with Ariana Bening and Raymond Wages* 

Raymond: "Quite an impressive haul. Nearly two hundred million in illegal narcotics.  Bet that put somebody in a bad mood south of the border."  

Ariana: "Not all drugs come from south of the border Ray."  *She smirks as he rolls his eyes a bit*  "But speaking of things that do come across the borders.  Here's Tammi Bean filling in for Wilbert Woods with the latest weather coming in from Canada and all points south.  Tammi?" 

*The camera pans over to Tammi standing in front of the weather map...holding her hand up with a little Sock puppet on it making "Rawr Rawr" Noises and Miming the puppet biting at the Precipitation radar clouds.  Wearing her usual revealing outfit just this side of shameless with low front and high skirt, and a scarf about her neck that in front of the Screen blacks out her neck and part of her shoulder as being part of the background.  Poor girl hasn't learned not to wear green in front of the screen yet.*  

Tammi: "Rawr...Rawr...Chomp Chomp take that green stuff....Hrm?!?"  *She looks up blinking as somebody tells her that's her cue*  "Oh...OH!  HIIIII Everybody! "  *She turns and waves the sock puppet at the screen it's eyes googling all over the place as she does*  "That's right we have lots and lots of weather coming in...I really don't know where we're going to put it all! Hopefully we can give a lot of it away before we get filled up with all this.  Anyway! "  

*She Smiles big and moves like Vanna White to motion to the board...Remembering the Sock puppet and taking it off her hand to stick down her front so she has a Googly-eyed monster bursting out of her ample cleavage*  

Tammi: "So for today we have Really really good temperature circles.  Like lots of them even with all the rain and clouds.  getting to be in the Eighty-five little circles by the afternoon!  But the rain keeps coming all through the day making it really difficult to enjoy the heat.  Tomorrow those clouds stick around but let up to be just cloudy in the afternoon with the temperature sending us lots of little circles, getting near ninety of them! But with a lot of humidity...That's going to make my hair look all poofy....Heh...Poofy...POOOfy..." 

*She seems to drift off a bit stroking her hair and then blinks*  

Tammi: "Oh yes...Wednesday is when the sun comes back for tanning with light clouds all over and ninety three little circles as the high amount.  But Thursday has to be a buzzkill and bring back rain and clouds and other showers with only Seventy Nine little circles for us."  *She pouts and stops bouncing a bit but the googly eyes on the puppet keep moving*  "And Friday isn't much better with bringing in some thunder storms and cold winds only Seventy Five little circles expected that day.  which is still a lot but not nearly as good as Wednesday.  Then Saturday and Sunday come along to save the day with sunshine and back to Eighty nine and Ninety Eight little circles to make for a big happy weekend! So lets everybody say Yaaay for Wednesday and Saturday and Sunday for being great and booo on Thursday and Friday for not playing nice!"  

*The camera cuts back over to Aria and Ray who are trying to keep from laughing it seems*  

Raymond: "As always Tammi, thank you and well done."  *The camera focuses more on Ray as Ari covers her Mic and holds her hand over her mouth to muffle her giggles*  "have you visited Arcadia Park recently?  If so you might have seen new signs put up prohibiting Electric Bicycles on certain trails.  With that story we go to Dean Knopinski.  Dean?"  

*The camera cuts to Dean holding his microphone with one hand, a Electric motor powered bicycle with his other hand standing in front of the sign prohibiting electric or other motorized vehicles o the trail behind him*  

Dean: "Thanks Ray.  Electric bicycles have become increasingly popular here in the last couple of years, especially with people who don’t have as much strength or stamina as they used to but would still like to cycle around the park. The Rangers say that's fine, so long as they stick to the paved roads such as Big Loop, Small Loop or any of the Gravel firetrail roads.  But electric bikes are not permitted on the park’s 45-mile network of carriage roads."  

*The camera shows a Overview map of the park indicating which roadways are listed as such marked out in brilliant Orange on the relief with Dean speaking in voiceover*

Dean: ~Voiceover~ "Park regulations state that the carriage roads are closed to all motorized vehicles except for sections of roads where snowmobiles are allowed. Originally conceived and designed as a way of enjoying the mountains and lakes separate from motor vehicles.  Visitors can travel the historic carriage road system with its bridges and gatehouses and have a truly unique experience free from the distraction of motor vehicles. The ban applies to 
modes of transportation with internal combustion engines and to electric vehicles such as Segways, eBikes and hoverboards."  

*As each method is listed a Image of them appears on the screen with a "No" X Marking them out as the Image Cuts back to Dean on the trail entrance*  

Dean:  "The management challenge has been in determining what constitutes a motor vehicle. Electric bikes are equipped with a lithium-ion battery and a motor that supplements the rider’s own muscle power, providing an extra boost. You can set it up for whatever terrain you’re riding, If it’s hilly, there’s a power mode that helps get you up over the hills. It’s about being able to make the hills without moaning the whole time." 

*he demonstrates the different settings on the handlebars and then Climbs on the bike Starting to move away as the camera keeps on him* 

Dean: "So the next time you want to take grandpa or Grandma out for a ride make sure you OMPH!!! ~~BLEEEEP~~"  

*He curses as the bike propells him into a low hanging branch near the edge of the pathway.  Clotheslining him and sending him falling backwards...Keeping his Grip on the handlebars the bike topples up on it's hind wheel and flips with him landing on top of him and Still running with a WHRRRRRR noise kicking up some dirt and gravel.  The Camera cutting back to the News Desk*  

Raymond:  "I'm sure he'll be fine."  

Ariana:  "One of the stories we have been following is a Hike on sales tax coming before the State legislation when it comes to the selling of Recreational marijuana. Several localities still have it legalized for recreational sales, and now representatives at the state level, many from districts that have enacted a moratorium on it, are pushing legislation to add an additional sales tax on it similar to the hike done to cigarette sales over the past years. There's no word on whether the governor will sign this legislation if it passes or not.  We'll have a full story on that after the break."  

Raymond:  "Also after the Break.  Cruise Ship Moratorium for docking. Why you may be waiting a long time before seeing the big ships pulling up and disembarking passengers. Whale Deaths Raise Concerns. Oceanographers are concerned about six whales on the critically endangered list having been found dead, what this may mean and the suspected cause. Also the Skipper finally sentenced for shooting a seal. And of course Nacho Mama's Vandalized with numerous posters stuck to the outside with the words 'Szechuan sauce matters!' So far no group has taken responsibility or claim for this or what it means.  More on that and more, after these messages.  "

~Cut to Commercials~ 

    We've seen several calls for justice lately but the stories from concerned citizens have yet to slow. Is Asphyxiation Point reaching a breaking point and spiraling into chaos? We've had months of discord and about the time we think it is safe to step outside our doors again, we are swiftly corrected with a shoot out or bombing or torturous kidnapping. 

   In the last few weeks, I've tried to reach out to the officers of our town and get some answers on these events. Sadly, I was dodged by most until Officer Eli Vicente kindly set aside some time to speak with me. While he did mention that the cells below had been nick named "Hotel Yheng" before Captain Ming Yheng stepped up, he did say that the officers have been working almost day and night to keep the citizens of Asphyxiation Point safe. He also somewhat repeated Captain Luke Morningstar's sentiment that the police rely on the people as much as we rely on them, but it seems the people have "this  Bonnie and Clyde hero worship of terrible people, a fascination with serial killers. And they aren't bad people, they just... have these... fetishes." If we expect our fine officers to aid us, we have to help them by giving statements and not withholding evidence. There are many cases that just get forgotten because witnesses will not step forward and victims change their minds about pressing charges. 

   Another officer finally came forwards as well, but wishes to remain anonymous. The officer did notify me that the DA will be moving forward with some of the backlogged cases so that some of these criminals can finally meet justice. The first of these cases will be auto shop owner, Xelan Morgath, who is to be brought up on charges of kidnapping, criminal threatening, and disorderly conduct. The other case is Asmus Zero who is being charged with murder in the first degree, assault with a deadly weapon, assaulting a police officer, and resisting arrest. 

   When I contacted District Attorney Martinho Larsson, he stated he didn't have anything on his desk at the moment and declined any further comments. Perhaps he is just doing his job and not giving out information that could alert these criminals? Maybe he is not going to pursue criminal action against known felons? Could it be the information the officers gave me is false?

    One concerned citizen sat down with me the other day and when the subject of the Immortals came up they mentioned " Anyone with the last name Zero or Calhern should would likely be a concern to the public. The medical director at APH is a high official in the group. Since he is running the group and the hospital he has hired on a number of others that are known attackers and rapists. As far as I know they are able to come and go as they please. They also have access to medical files and patients when they are most vulnerable making APH for the most part unsafe and corrupt."

    With all the conflicting information and the recent bombing, its time to dig a little deeper. I went straight to the center of some of these stories and asked Dr Gael Zero to speak with me on these matters and he willingly obliged. 

Kara Dumitru: "As head of the local hospital, have you seen a rise in patients? Are you adequately equipped to handle all the shootings and things like the van bombing the other day?" 

Gael Zero: "So far we are able to handle the difficulties, and when there is a complication to big for us, there are stronger equipped hospital in reach. Criminality has always been a high factor why my beds are filled"

Kara Dumitru:  "There are some whispers about town that some of these criminal responsible for the victims in your bed actually work on your staff? Is this true? Do you require any sort of background checks in your hiring process?"

Gael Zero: "When I hire my staff, yes, I do a check upon them, criminal records, where they come from, if their reference is honorable or not. However, no matter how hard I do try to fend corruption, its not always in my control"

Kara Dumitru: "I guess another side of the question is do any of your patients get favoritism over others?"

Gael Zero:  ""I don't really like what you are insinuating here, every patient is equal and every one gets fair treatment regardless what happened, or where they come from"

Kara Dumitru: "Its my job to ask the uncomfortable questions so, there are rumors you are associated with a group called the Immortals. Is there any truth to that?"

Gael Zero: "That rumor comes from many sides and usually I give the same answer as I normally give. Some are family and.. family you can't pick. I do not approve what they do, however up until now, I have not turned my back against them either. And yes, I said up until now" 

    Some of my questions seemed to offend Dr Zero but, some of the officers had not been to pleased either. It is understandable that, for legal reasons, not all information is available to the public but this muddled mess of truth and lies leaves the citizens at risk.  We here at the Times promise to keep digging and reaching out! If you have any information regarding criminal activity, please report it to the police first then give us a call!

Reported by Kara Dumitru

      Everyone knows the Aristocrat is a classy little place to have a drink and that there is something else going on just beneath the surface that only their members know about. One concerned member of this elite establishment has said she spotted roaches the other day. Could they have made their way over from Fredericks or could it be the poor owner of Frederick's had to deal with an escapee roach from the Aristocrat?

Reported by Kara Dumitru

Have you heard any rumors? Seen anything intriguing? Send me a line!

     Early Tuesday morning I got a call from a very concerned citizen stating one of our known local criminals was seen going into Muffin Tops with a bag and leaving without it. Could it be they are selling the owner a little extra something to go into our daily muffins? Is that Cinnamon crumble really as innocent as it looks?

Reported by Kara Dumitru

Have you heard any rumors? Seen anything intriguing? Send me a line!

​Dodgy Delivery delivers anything! Flowers, chocolates, and teddy bears for any occasion, flaming bags of dog poo, death threats, break-up notices, booze and pizza when you are 2 drunk 2 drive, blow-up dolls when you are lonely! Come by the store on the corner of 2nd and Canal St. and talk to Joji Bluebird or leave a message in the mailbox and she will contact you. Let her customize your next delivery! 

ATTENTION Asphyxiation Point Residents:

Friends and family of a local missing man are requesting the help of all AP citizens in the search for their lost brother. They ask that you watch out for a man, 7' tall, 220 lbs. He has blonde hair and blue eyes. He goes by the name Vinnie.

Gone missing 6.19.2017; concerns are raised that this man is having a nervous breakdown. So, approach with caution. But the family is offering a reward. $500L for information leading to the whereabouts of their brother or $5000L for anyone that brings them home.

Have information? Contact Pawn it Off at (603) 555-7496.

On Tuesday, July 11th, 2017, an explosion was heard throughout Asphyxiation Point. It rattled windows, shook the ground and sent a black plume into the air that could be seen for miles. But what's more, it shook the foundation of friendship and family for a lot of Asphyxiation Point residents as several people were severely injured.

The explosion was a bomb. One that targeted the van belonging to Zero brothers Pest Control at the corner of 2nd and Beacon. Garrett and Kaiden Zero were in the vehicle at the time of the explosion. Both men are in critical condition at Asphyxiation Point Hospital. One of them still having yet to undergo surgery to repair a break in his spine that might leave him paralyzed if not successful, according to my sources in the hospital.

~Wednesday July 12, 2017

*Once more viewer, you find yourself, the remote in hand, feet up on the couch, Second cup of morning coffee at hand and thus you tune into everyone's favorite local source for news and weather together, AP Local 68, the picture starting with Jeannie Webb standing out on a seaside dock wearing a rather revealing bikini top and behind her several different names such as "Caribou Dancer" and "Magic Bus" along with what has to be time scores keep shifting on a scoreboard*  

Jeannie: "...Oh Another time penalty applied...at this point the International One Design starts tomorrow is going to be anyone's guess as to who is going to take first place.  I'll make sure to keep everyone updated on my Chatter and our Website.  This is Jeannie from the Halfway point in Northeast harbor!"  

*The camera cuts back to the Main News Desk with The familiar faces of Raymond Wages  and Ariana Bening sitting there. * 

Raymond: "Thanks Jeannie.  As you say it's anyones Game at this point.  It'll be interesting to see how things turn."  

Ariana: "And as the boats turn and go so does our seasonal weather.  To give you a update on what to expect this week if you plan on going out and doing anything, Here's Wilbert Woods."  

*The camera cuts on over to Wilbert standing in front of his usual weather screen.  The brace still in place on his back though it seems he's moving a bit better now*  

Wilbert: "Thank you Ari.  Looks lie this week is fairly usual for this time of year if a bit hotter than normal.  Today we have light clouds and winds with the temperature getting up to a Fairly impressive ninety two, dropping back to seventy eight as nighttime settles in.  Thursday, more clouds and a high in the upper eighties, overnight the temperature drops back to the Sixties as we get occasional pop up showers."  

*The screen behind him shows the breakdown of temperatures and forecasts for the days each one highlighting as he speaks*  

Wilbert: "Friday we are back in the Eighties maybe hitting ninety during the afternoon, winds calming down and after midnight the rain slips back on in clearing up Saturday morning.  Saturday is hot muggy and Humid with temperatures in the Upper eighties, but with the humidity it'll feel like it's in the mid nineties.  The clouds stick around from Saturday on into Sunday, with the temperature cooling down to the upper seventies as random pop up thunderstorms show up across the bay area. Those Storms blow themselves out after midnight and going into Monday we have it hot humid and sunny in the upper eighties and low nineties.  Sunshine will be prevalent on Monday and Tuesday with light variable winds. he temperature in the afternoon will be high and dropping rapidly overnight so each day we wake up with the temperatures in the sixties.  Till Wednesday rolls around and the clouds roll back in helping moderate the temperature keeping it in the low to mid Eighties. "  

*The camera moves back on over to Raymond and Ari* 

Ariana: "Thank you Wilbert...sounds great...other than what the humidity is going to do to my hair."  

*She chuckles and the camera centers in on Raymond*  

Raymond: "Hitting a little closer to home. Lower town Asphyxiation Point was rocked yesterday by a explosion.  Outside of the greasy spoon diner near the last Chance gas station a vehicle reported to be a Van exploded yesterday afternoon.  Emergency crews were slow to respond and Only Four were reported injured by the blast.  One unnamed male who was treated at the hospital and released.  A Waitress at the diner who declined permission for us to use her name who was caught by some glass fragments from the window that broke.  And two unnamed persons who were near the van at the time of the explosion who are still not identified to our station.  The police have yet to issue a statement on the incident so instead we turn to our Criminology and Forensic Analyst correspondent, Sarai Segrest."  

*The camera changes to visual on a small desk and office with nondescript background.  Numerous textbooks are on the shelves behind some of them psychology books others History of Forensic analysis, and case-file studies.  All kinds of "light" reading for someone studying Forensics.  Sitting at the desk with her hands folded and a light smile is a somewhat round in the face woman who looks a bit younger than she might be because of the glasses and hairstyle.  She holds up a hand in a bit of a wave as the camera settles in on her*  

Sarai: "Thank you Raymond. Always a pleasure to provide whatever manner of insight I can for you. "  

*She adjusts some papers on the desk in front of her and addresses the camera directly*  

Sarai: "Yes well as many people know recently there has been a great deal of speculation about this group calling themselves Immortals who have it seems done a great deal of mayhem in Asphyxiation Point and the surrounding area. I've been researching which manner of terrorist groups they may be affiliated with and when asked by the television if perhaps this bombing is something they could have done.  The answer is possibly.  In my research I found a news story from Hathian mentioning a young lady who had a collar on her neck who went into the police station.  The collar had explosives in it. Which means that explosives are not outside the normal modus operandi of this group."  

*She picks up a printout of the clipping and reads a bit*  

Sarai: "One Briony Privette came into the police station claiming the collar was placed there by one of the Immortals, who stated that she belonged to them from this point forward. The collar was disarmed and safely disposed of by bomb specialists. after a tense period where they evacuated the building."  

*She sets the paper down and looks back at the camera*  

Sarai: "Naturally no detailed analysis can be done till the remains of the vehicle are examined but if I had to speculate I'd say that the explosion wasn't intended to be a car bomb. Your eyewitness in the diner stated that the Van had been driven up to where it was.  The driver got out and then the explosion. if it had been intended as some kind of assassination attempt they would ahve rigged the explosive o go off when the man was inside the vehicle. Simple reasoning says you don't want the target outside unless you have enough explosives packed inside to sink the entirety of the lower city. "  

*She smiles softly and taps her fingers on the desk while considering*  

Sarai: "If the case had been one of these exploding collars, then perhaps the driver was trafficking another victim captured who didn't believe the collar would explode, and tried to take it off and had the entire thing explode unexpectedly.  Or perhaps if it was an attempted terrorist act, the driver opened the back to check the detonator system and it went off without him intending for it to.  Mainly based on the fact that there's really nothing there worth blowing up.  One of the truisms of the job is that if you have a bomb you have someone wanting to make a statement. There's nothing of value that was damaged or could have been damaged down there, and the bomb wasn't rigged to explode with someone sitting inside the vehicle so that rules out both murder and intended statement.  Thus we are left with accidental discharge. Perhaps when they wake up and can provide a statement the driver can tell us what he intended to blow up or why.  Or if the Police investigation manages to find other human remains in the wreck, we may have a clue as to what may be going on there." 

*She shrugs slightly and the camera cuts back to split between her office and the Newsroom*  

Sarai: "Until then all we can do is make suppositions and go from there."  

Raymond: "Thank you Sarai, I look forward to hearing some more of your research analysis in the upcoming featurettes."  

Sarai: "Always a pleasure" 

*The camera cuts away from her office and back to the main news desk*  

Raymond: "We will have updates on Sarai's Featurettes on our website and her video blog as she researches and digs into this current terrorist threat to our community. There's also a link to subscribe and keep up to date with her other projects."  

*The camera focuses a bit more on Ari as she adjusts her seating position* 

Ariana: “Dean Knopinski is out today due to blunt force trauma and mild concussion…” 

Raymond: “Well he did take a bit of a tumble down that hill…” 

Ariana: “And of course was fairly badly battered by those Mama Seals thinking he might go after their pups…” 

Raymond: “Didn’t help he took the flotation ring from the rescue crew right between the eyes, Anyway we wish him a speedy recovery.  Covering some more distressing news out of the statehouse is Kaylynn Garcia.  Kaylynn?”  

*The Camera splits to Show Kaylynn standing outside the statehouse wearing her official looking jacket and Press pass for the facility as it cuts to her entirely* 

Kaylynn: “Thank you Raymond. And in fact it is rather distressing news, just earlier the Health officials here at the State House confirmed that for the first time in twenty years the state has a case of measles. The fact that there are numerous locations that the public could have been exposed to this very contagious virus is troublesome.”  

*The camera cuts to several previously recorded shots of the press briefing done earlier with members of the Maine CDCP Showing images of the patient and various posters indicating locations in the state that may be at risk as Kaylynn continues in voiceover* 

Kaylynn: ~Voiceover~ “The individual who has not yet been named for privacy concerns seems to have contracted the disease while traveling overseas. The list below are the locations and times that the public may have been exposed to the patient and virus they are carrying. The list will also be available on our website as well as the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention website.”

*Scrolling along the bottom of the Screen are the following lists of locations and times: 
— Narrow Gauge Cinema, Farmington, Maine, 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 7
— Grantlee’s Tavern and Grill, Farmington, Maine, 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 7
— Farmington Farmers Market, Farmington, Maine, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 8
— The Kingfield Woodsman, Kingfield, Maine, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, July 9
— Restaurant la Chocolaterie, Lac-Megantic, Quebec, Canada, noon to 4 p.m. Monday, July 10
— Franklin Memorial Hospital Emergency Department, 8 to 10:30 p.m. Monday, July 10
— Franklin Memorial Hospital Laboratory, Midnight to 2:30 A.m., Tuesday, July 11

*The camera cuts back to Kaylynn standing in front of the Statehouse.* 

Kaylynn: “Health officials recommended that individuals who were potentially exposed review their vaccine history and monitor for symptoms. Those experiencing symptoms should contact their health care providers for instructions before arriving at the providers’ offices or at hospitals. This is to help keep those who may not have been inoculated or exposed from becoming so.  Symptoms of measles include a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a rash that begins on the head and spreads down the body. While most people recover from the virus, it can cause severe health complications including pneumonia, encephalitis and even death.”

*She tries not to put too much emphasis on the death part, but can’t really help it. Putting a smile back on her face as she continues glancing at the information card in her hand.*

Kaylynn: “Measles is so contagious that 90 percent of people who are not immune can catch it from being in close proximity to an infected person, and spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The measles virus can survive for up to two hours in the air and on surfaces. Infected people are contagious from four days before the rash begins through four days after it appears. Symptoms typically begin ten to fourteen days after exposure to the virus but sometimes up to twenty-one days later, so travelers may not realize they’re infected until after returning home!”

*She looks back up at the Camera and continues smiling, not nearly as forced this time.* 

Kaylynn: “If you have your MMR vaccine then you are protected against all strains of Measles, and thankfully Maine has one of the highest vaccination rates in the country with nearly ninety six percent of all children vaccinated. From the State house in Augusta, I’m Kaylynn Garcia!” 

*The camera cuts back on over to the main news desk* 

Raymond: “Frightening stuff, and it really has been twenty years since the last case.”

Ariana: “That’s why it’s good to get your vaccinations.” 

Raymond: “Coming up after the break, Got some old electrical equipment gathering dust in your place? Find out where you can take it to be recycled at no cost to you. And the Tip credit bill finally signed into law, find out how this affects your lovely hostess the next time you go out.” 

Ariana: *Rolling her eyes a bit* “And now that the city board has turned down the proposal of more parking meters, find out what other ways the Parking Solutions task force intends to handle congestion during tourist season.  All that and more, after these words from our sponsors.”

*Cut to Commercials* 

When one thinks about a gym, one generally thinks about men. But Below The Belt Gym, as many of you know, has a new owner, and the owner is a female. Her name is Sonia. And she proves that women are just as fierce as any man.

I had the pleasure of getting a few minutes in with her and some of her trainers to see how things have been... shaping up (pun intended)... since the grand re-opening. Happily, I can report that they are doing great! I was met with a pleasant staff that was not only polite but also seemed to genuinely love working there. Which, in my opinion, would be helpful to any member when it comes to wanting to attend sessions.

Speaking of sessions, I asked Sonia about what all they are offering, and I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of options. Every AP citizen can find something that not only fits what they need but would also will fit their budget.

"The VIP program has been a big success. VIP members have twenty-four-seven access to any available trainer if they want to do morning work outs or late night training with a spotter or need an extra boost of confidence," says owner, Sonia. "Of course basic membership is also an option as well as flexible membership pay. There is a pay by what days you use for a flat fee a day that could be payed at the end of the month and then the bi weekly membership, monthly, and of course a cheaper fee if payed for a full year.  It is non refundable unless stated otherwise."

So, as you can see ... lots of options!

Trainer Donovan explains, "Really, there are a lot of options that this place can offer people. We don't have a ton of machines, but with free weights and our skilled trainers, we can replicate anything you might want to do without a lot of tweaking. Remember, you get out of your body what you put into it, and with us helping, we can put a lot into you to make you how you want to be."

Sonia went on to tell me about an upcoming fight they would like to plan. They are currently looking for the public to get involved, come in and train and participate and to make it a city-wide event. She says, "What I would like to see happen is participation.  Even if someone cannot fight, seats need to be filled, concessions need to be served and bets need to be organized. There is something fun for everyone so don't knock it until you try it."

So, if you're interested, hop on down to Below the Belt Gym and sign up! And if you are concerned about the temporary closing they had, Sonia assures me that it was a simple thing that is dealt with. As she says, "I want to put out there that despite the unforeseen obstacles, this gym is not going anywhere and neither am I." 

Contributed by Nora Adara (jstjdysl619)

Public Health Warning to APPD Officers and Fellow Citizens: 

Two APPD officers in the last week have tested positive for a sexually transmitted disease known as Chlamydia. We are not able to release the name of these individuals because of HIPPA. There fore we stress to any member of the community who has has sexual relations with anyone with a badge from APPD to please report to APH for testing. Both officers have admitted to having relations with several partners in the last few months. They will not release names with has lead to the release of this public health warning to the public. 

 Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics. You should begin taking them if tests show you have chlamydia or if you have been exposed to them, even though you may not have symptoms. Your sex partners will also have to be treated regardless of whether they have symptoms. Make sure your partner also seeks treatment. You should get retested after three months to make sure the infection has cleared, even if your partner has been treated.

On behalf of the Asphyxiation Point Hospital