Kim_Carrigan's Blog

Back in September, I posted a blog about a family in Brockton that was searching for their dead mother's wedding rings. The woman died at Brockton Hospital, and between the time she passed away and her body was taken to the morgue, her fingers were broken and her rings stolen. The family was devastated! They begged the public to help.

I am so happy to report to you, the rings have been returned! Apparently, the crook decided it wasn't such a great idea, after all. The rings were mailed to the hospital and are now back with the family.

They may never know who took the rings but maybe -- just maybe -- that person learned a lesson and will never pull a stunt like that again!

Every Monday this month on the FOX25 Morning News, I'm doing a story on Breast Cancer. The idea is to inform our viewers about the fight against the disease and to make them more aware of the issue.

This week, I spoke to an oncologist from Dana Farber Cancer Institute about the progress traditional medicine has made during the past decade. Dr. Ann Partridge gave the medical world a B and said she feels good about the way research is progressing. The Doctor told me, while more women are being diagnosed with the disease, more women are living longer, healthier and productive lives.

Dr. Partridge made me feel good about the way research is going, but she was also realistic...She told me that we are still a long way from preventing the disease and that some women are still not taking the advice of so many doctors....early detection is the key!

Next week I'll tell everyone about some companion treatments that doctors are suggesting for their patients. Treatments that will help enhance the effectiveness of traditional methods.

Sometimes good intentions go terribly wrong!  I believe the members of the Board of Selectmen in Oxford, Mass, have good intentions. 

At some point, the Board voted to move Halloween to a Saturday or Sunday if it falls on Friday.  The reason, safety.  Apparently the Board believes traffic increases dramatically on Fridays in Oxford and it's not safe to have the little people out going door-to-door.

Okay, I get the idea that on Friday night folks are out moving around more than they might be on... oh let's say... Wednesday.   I also know the chances of running into a drunk on a Friday night might be higher than... oh let's say... Monday.   But aren't most little kids out between 5-7?   Most drunks I've encountered are just getting started at 7:00... and what makes the Board members in Oxford think there are fewer drivers on Saturday night?

Listen, here's my suggestion: Remind drivers that Friday, October 31st is Halloween.  Put up signs, banners and posters.  Remind kids that they must wear reflective gear and can't just dart across the street.  And everyone be mindful that a safe Halloween is the only way to go... Oh,  and an October 31st Halloween is also the only way to GO! 

Did you hear about the dad in Indiana who fought off the intruder in his daughters' bedroom? Dad hears his teen daughter scream in the middle of the night. When he arrives in her room, he finds a 52-year-old naked man standing there with a knife. Dad tackles the guy and holds him down while Mom calls police.

When authorities arrive, they find the intruder in cardiac arrest. He dies. It's determined he had a pre-existing condition. Oh yeah, it's also determined he's a sex offender who failed to register.

Looks like Dad will not be charged..however, the police captain said in a news conference that it was a "sad story"..and in the end, no one wins. REALLY! The guy was a sex offender and it appeared he was about to offend again. He had not registered and was running from police.

Hate to be so "hard core" but it seems to me this was a win/win situation.

Are you nervous about the economic situation in this country? I sure am. State Treasurer Tim Cahill was on the Fox 25 Morning News Friday talking about the trickle down affect and how the problems on Wall Street are already affecting Maine Street. Cahill says the state won't have enough money to pay its bills next week if a bailout doesn't occur immediately. When the state comes up short, it has to borrow money..but no one is lending. The Treasurer says cities and towns in the bay state won't receive the funding they are expecting... and that spells trouble in our neighborhoods. Our schools and fire departments. Our police stations and libraries. There will be layoffs and cut backs. The Treasurer says we are in a mess..and headed to a bigger one.

Please Washington, put Presidential Politics aside. Put personal wins and losses aside. Put the fighting and back stabbing and favor calling aside. We need our Government to work for us. We don't need finger pointing right now..there will be plenty of time for that. And I believe there will be plenty of blame to go around! But right now we need help and we need it fast!

Are you nervous about the economic situation in this country? I sure am.

Have you heard the story about the Brockton woman who died at a Brockton hospital and between the time she passed away in a room and her body was taken to the morgue, her wedding rings were stolen?

Now, her family is so upset! The hospital, Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center, says it is doing all it can to find the rings. How sad! Can you imagine standing next to your loved one's death bed, watching them take their last breath and then having to worry about taking their wedding rings with you because someone will break their fingers and take the momentos?

What a sad state of affairs. I know it happens all the time...but who does this kind of thing? How do they live with themselves? I hope they find these jerks! Then I hope authorities make their identities known. Everyone should know who these "people" are.

Wow, is the sky falling?

First, the bottom drops out of the stock market. Next, I check my 401k, big mistake! Take a seat in the family room yesterday to watch the Patriots...My son kept flipping the stations saying, “When are the Patriots on?" That was a beating unlike any we have seen in years. And then, on a cloudy Monday morning, I'm reminded this is the first official day of fall. Gee whiz, how much can a gal take?

Actually, I can take a little more I guess.

It's these times when I turn to our Fox 25 Morning News pal Joe Malone. Joe seems to find the silver lining in every dark cloud. This morning he said on the air he believes the markets will turn around and we will all see our savings return...he sites history...the U.S. economy always makes a rebound. Joe is convinced that the Patriots will also be back. He's predicting a restful but refocused by-week....and a 12-4 season for the Pats. And finally this morning, Joe reminded me that fall is actually my favorite time of year. The days are crisp and generally beautiful. Mother Nature gets out her paint bush and colors the landscape. Joe says keep your eye on the ball and don't think about what's next...Just enjoy right now.

I'm taking a page for the Joe Malone handbook. Look at the bright side...it could be a lot worse!

We had a story on the FOX25 Morning Show about actor Matt Damon handing out food this past weekend to hurricane victims in Haiti.

Haiti has been hit very hard by a number of hurricanes this season, including Ike. I feel terrible for those folks and I do think it's nice that Damon is shining some light on their situation. Those people certainly need help.

However, the residents who live along the coast of Texas are also hurting as a result of hurricane Ike. Why wouldn't Matt Damon go to Texas where people know him, and hand out food and water to the residents there? Why not use Texas as a pulpit to remind the world that many people in the western hemisphere are affected by the hurricane?

Instead, Matt Damon goes to a country where most people don't know who he is, hands out supplies and makes it appear that he has forgotten the victims in this country. I don't get it. Had he gone to Houston, he could have helped both locations with one stop. Remember Matt, charity starts at home!

I must admit, I love football. My Dad loves football and I'm sure that's where my appreciation for the game started. I grew up with the Cardiac Cardinals in St. Louis. Went to a high school with a football stadium that seats 10-thousand and is known for its championship teams. Spent my four years at the University of Missouri helping the athletic department recruit football players. And now, my son loves and plays the game.

Still, I can't get over how scary the game really is. We all saw Tom Brady go down this weekend. A career at its peak is now on hold while he heals. Then word that a 16-year-old high school student from Holliston died Friday after being hit square in the chest during a scrimmage.

Unfortunately, injuries are part of the game. We certainly expect them while watching the NFL...but it's pretty tough to take when a young person is hurt while playing or even worse, killed. I still love the game, but every time I hear stories like these I stop and wonder: Is it worth it? Then I remember how many kids and high schoolers and college students and professionals are playing the game. Thank goodness, most of them walk off the field each week...some with their egos hurt, but, for the most part, their bodies are in tact. I love football!

John McCain names his running mate, the governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. Sarah who? I feel sure that's what lots of folks were saying last week when the much anticipated announcement was made.

Really, we don't know much about Palin. I'm sure she is a fantastic person who is well qualified to hold public office. I'm not sure how qualified she is to be the Vice President and I know she's not ready to be President!

Having said all that, I was very upset by the position Palin was put in last week when her name was announced. She stood in front of the faithful and essentially said she was the answer to Hillary Clinton. Sarah Palin told women not to worry about the issues and to vote solely on gender. She said she is the answer to the 18 million women who supported Clinton even though she and the senator couldn't be further apart on all the major issues.

Give me -- and all other women -- a break. Why do the Republicans assume that women were only going to vote for Clinton because she is a woman? Why would anyone assume that "any old woman" will do? Forget about the candidate's stand on a woman's right to choose. Forget about the candidate's stand on the war, the economy, taxes and education. How about health care and the environment?

No disrespect to Palin. She may turn out to be my hero, but I assure you, it won' have anything to do with her being a woman.

I've had enough of the bodybuilding FORMER firefighter. I understood why the media covered the Albert Arroyo story up until ... now. After all, this guy was taking full disability benefits from the fire department and appearing in body building contests. We were all amazed by the video and laughed every time we heard the word "disabled."

The fire department's reaction, as well as comments made by the firefighters union, were all newsworthy and may have an impact on future department dealings. I was very interested in the hearings to determine whether Arroyo would be allowed to continue on disability or be fired from the department. And everyone looked forward to hearing his side of the story. (which by the way, did not sway my feelings about him one bit.)

NOW, GO AWAY! The guy is sticking to his story and the department has fired him. Really, as far as the media is concerned, this story is complete. Unless Mr. Arroyo is reinstated for some reason, this should be the end of the road for the bodybuilder and the media. ALL DONE, ALL SHE WROTE, GOODBYE!

Do you know this story out of Lynn.  Little 5-year old Giovanni Gonzalez was dropped off at his father's home in Lynn for a weekend visit.  When his mom went back for him on Sunday night, his father didn't answer the door.  She called police and when they arrived, they found Ernesto Gonzalez in is appartment and not cooperative.

Ernesto claimed he hadn't seen the child since the weekend before.  When questioned, he wouldn't say a word.  He's been arrested and charged with reckless endangerment of a child.   Meantime, police are frantically looking for little Giovanni.   His mother is heart broken.  She's begging for his return.   WHERE IS THAT CHILD?  Why would his father NOT cooperate with police?   I'm so afraid for that boy and I feel so sorry for his mother.   The Herald is reporting that Ernesto had been out of the little boys life..and only out of the goodness of her heart had the mother allowed Giovanni to visit him.

Lets all hope this little boy just ran away and the father just doesn't know where he is.  Lets all hope he walks out of the woods sometime soon and his mother can take him home.  Lets all hope he's alright!!!

Shame on you John Edwards!  

I have very little tolerance for a married man who has an affair. But to have an affair when you are a HIGH profile person like John Edwards and to think you're going to get away with it is just down-right stupid!

From the time John Edwards stepped on to the national stage, we, as a nation,  have learned more and more about his home life.  His son died in a car accident at a young age..leaving the family devastated.  Edwards and his wife struggled to have more children...the result, two adorable kids.  And of course we all know the battle his wife, Elizabeth, has waged against cancer.  Through all of this hardship, John Edwards has continued to drag his family through local, state and national elections.  His wife and kids have stood by him and smiled like the All American family.  Now they are being asked to do it again.  Word of his infidelity has spread like wildfire. Publicily, Edwards says he's beating himself up for the wrong he has committed.  His wife has allegedly forgiven him..infact, the two are scheduled to speak at Salem State College this fall. 

Now let me ask you this, can you imagine being Elizabeth Edwards?  How about his oldest daughter who is in her early 20's?   You've been out preaching the good of your husband/father.  The family man who has always put his family and the good of the American people first!   Was he thinking about the good of his family when he jumped between the sheets with a woman who is not his wife?   Was he thinking of the good of his family and all of us when he then ran for President, knowning this might come out? No thanks Mr. Edwards...I'll have someone else look out for my well being..Maybe Elizabeth should consider the same. 

   

Just want to take a minute to say THANK YOU MILLIS.  Wow, what a zip trip we had this morning.   When I say the town rolled out the red carpet, I mean the town rolled out the red carpet!!!!!!

Every town we visit treats us well..but this was an amazing experience.  It felt like a summer festival!   Hope all of you who came out had a great time...and thanks again for all the hospitality!

The last few days we have been crazy for State Police.  Three Amber Alerts in a matter of four days. 

First Clark Rockefeller allegedly took his 7-year old daughter during a supervised visit in Boston.  The child and Rockefeller are still missing. 

Then Rodlyn Petitbois is accused of taking his four children and their mother from a home in Lynn.  A house where a murder occured just a short time before the kids disappeared.   Petitbois was picked up 8-hours later in New York.  The kids and their mother are all fine.

Finally, some guy decided to grab his two year old daughter in Chicopee.   The child's mother had a restraining order against him.  Police say he has a violent past.  The father and daughter are still missing. (as of Thursday AM)

The question I pose to you is this,  do these men do this because they love their kids and want to be with them..or do they do it because they want revenge on someone else. I believe it's the later.   In almost every one of these cases, there is an adult woman who has a problem with the suspect.  Divorce, violent  past together, money...these are all reasons for some of these crazy men to take kids and run.  What makes me really sad is that the kids are always the victims.  I think in most of these cases, the men don't intend to hurt the kids...but when push comes to shove, you never know how these incidents might  turn out.