House Majority Whip Steve Scalise re- mained in critical condition Wednesday after a man unleashed a barrage of gunfire early in the morning at a park in Alexandria, Virginia, as Republican members of Congress held a morning baseball practice. Four others were also wounded, the Washington Post reported. President Donald Trump said the gunman, identified as James Hodgkinson III, 66, from Illinois, died after a shootout with police, two of whom were wounded in the gun battle. The attacker was a member of a group called “Terminate the Republican Party” and a supporter of 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, according to Hodgkinson’s Facebook page. For the full story, see page 9. ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY JUNE 15, 2017 High of 89 Low of 76 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 MORE THAN MONEY: THIEVES STEAL SENSE OF COMMUNITY SPORTS | PAGE 15 ACADEMY SPORTS CLUB WINS U-13 FA CUP Personal Insurance In 1984, customers knew us as BritCay. In 2017, they and the next generation still do. Your insurance cover with BritCay is supported by a group of companies managing $390 million in insurance and pension contributions. More cover, more benefits, more security. BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International Ltd. : insurance, health, pensions, life Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp WORLD NEWS AT LEAST 12 DIE IN LONDON APARTMENT BUILDING FIRE LONDON (AP) – They banged on windows, screamed for help, and dropped children from smoky floors in a desperate attempt to save them. Terrified residents of the Grenfell Tower said there was little warning of the in- ferno that engulfed their high-rise apartment building and left 12 people dead – a toll that officials said would almost certainly rise. The blaze early Wednesday in the 24- story building in west London’s North Kens- ington district also injured 74 others and left an unknown number missing. A ten- ants’ group had complained for years about the risk of a fire. For the full story, see page 11. GUNMAN WOUNDS U.S. LAWMAKER, 4 OTHERS Sky-high standards for Cayman Airways cabin crew Mandatory makeup and weight restrictions for CAL cabin crew JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com With their glossy red lipstick, neatly pulled-back hair and sen- sible shoes, Cayman Airways cabin crew are among the most immaculately turned out atten- dants in the business. The look and style of the national carri- er’s front-line employees is no accident, however. Everything from flight at- tendants’ hairstyles to their weight and the length of their fingernails is carefully regu- lated through rules laid out in a 14-page “appearance and grooming” handbook. Employees can face disci- plinary action and even dis- missal if they fail to keep their weight within set limits, ac- cording to the latest regulations, issued June 12. According to the guidelines, seen by the Cayman Compass, all cabin crew will be required to attend an “evaluation inter- view” every six months to dis- cuss any problems relating to health, weight, appearance and grooming. “A cabin crew member’s weight will be in proportion to their height. Failure to comply will lead to termination of employment due to the safety Advertisers grapple with local challenges in global marketplace KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Through the rise of digital publishing avenues, once-isolated island nations like Cayman now have a direct line to global au- diences and a real opportunity to shake up the world of advertising. Speaking at the Kimpton Seafire Re- sort on Grand Cayman, Google AdWords digital marketing ambassador Josh Weum described a revolution of small pub- lishers poised to take on big business and claim much larger market shares. Innovative advertising tools like YouTube Director and virtual reality technology have made once-inaccessible technology publicly available, he explained during the fourth annual Cayman Islands Marketing Profes- sionals Association conference. “That’s where I think the internet is so great for people here in Cayman. You are in an isolated area, but with the technology we have now, you can reach the entire world as if you were on the mainland. So I re- ally feel like the internet gives these small businesses a real opportunity,” he said. Established players who rely on tra- ditional advertising tools may soon find themselves left behind by more daring and experimental newcomers, he said. The in- ternet now provides unprecedented control over messaging, audience targeting and ad timing, favoring those who are willing to test new mediums. “If I’m a travel company in Cayman and I want to appeal to a certain type of con- sumer, maybe someone with a little more PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Google’s Josh Weum and Alan Dart make the case for digital advertisers in once-isolated nations like the Cayman Islands. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » CAR CRASH VICTIM DIES A YEAR AFTER ACCIDENT Thomas Rupert Hubbell, 44, the son of the late pilot and scuba diving entrepreneur Tom Hubbell Sr., died Monday of injuries he sustained in a one-car smash in June 2016. Mr. Hubbell Sr. was killed in a De- cember 1977 plane crash in Cayman. For the full story, see page 5. 2 LOCAL&REGIONAL THURSDAY JUNE 15, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS SATURDAY, JUNE 17th, 8PM A Contemporary Evening Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 THE MUMMY 3D (PG13) 1:20 2D VIP I 5:00 I 7:00 2D VIP I 9:00 2D CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS (PG) 12:30 I 2:40 I 4:00 I 6:20 BAYWATCH (R) 1:20 I 4:05 I 7:00 I 10:00 A FAMILY MAN (R) 1:00 I 3:55 I 6:45 I 9:45 WONDER WOMAN 3D (PG13) 3:55 2D VIP I 8:10 I 9:30 2D VIP PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES 3D (PG13) 12:35 2D I 3:30 I 6:30 2D I 9:45 - THURSDAY - SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. 640-FILM (640-3456) LESF GYM AND SAUNA IS FOR YOU! INFOLIFEEXT@GMAIL.COM You did your best today, let’s repeat tomorrow Pulse gunman’s wife asks for count to be dropped ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – The wife of the gunman who opened fire at a gay night- club in Florida is asking a judge to dismiss one of the counts she’s facing. Noor Salman is arguing that an obstruction charge against her was filed in the wrong venue. The motion requesting the charge to be dropped was filed Monday, as people in Florida and beyond hon- ored the 49 victims at Or- lando’s Pulse nightclub, exactly one year after the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Salman’s husband, Omar Mateen, declared his alle- giance to the Islamic State group during a three-hour standoff with police before SWAT team members killed him in a shootout. Salman was charged with aiding her hus- band, and obstruction for allegedly misleading investigators. The obstruction charge was filed in a federal dis- trict that covers Or- lando, but she’s accused of misleading investi- gators during an inter- view in Fort Pierce, which is in the Southern Dis- trict of Florida. “Thus, this court should dismiss the obstruction of- fense for improper venue,” the motion said. “This case has insufficient con- tact with the Middle Dis- trict of Florida to meet the constitutional require- ments for venue.” Salman has pleaded not guilty and is being held in jail pending her federal trial in Orlando next March. Court records show prosecutors, defense attor- neys and the trial judge are already working on ques- tions to ask potential ju- rors. A proposed question- naire was filed under seal with the court this month. As many as 1,000 potential jurors will have to answer an extensive questionnaire to be sent out with sum- mons in September. Prosecutors have said Salman accompanied her husband when he cased lo- cations for potential ter- rorist attacks, knew ahead of time that he was plan- ning the attack and misled FBI agents about what she knew about her husband’s plans. Salman’s attorneys have denied the allegations against her and say she was abused by her husband. Salman was charged with aiding her husband, and obstruction for allegedly misleading investigators. Noor Salman The Honda Civic that was used in armed rob- beries of two George Town gas stations early Tuesday morning was recovered by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. The older model Honda was located Tuesday eve- ning in the Prospect area. RCIPS officers are still investigating three heists that occurred in quick succession Tuesday morning. The Honda was believed to have been used in the hold ups at Brown’s Esso in Industrial Park at 4 a.m. and at Brown’s Esso on Shamrock Road in Red Bay at 4:40 a.m. The third robbery, be- lieved to be separate from the other two incidents, happened at Mr. Arthur’s store on the George Town waterfront around 9 a.m. Tuesday. The robbery suspects were armed in all three incidents, but no one was physically hurt. No ar- rests had been reported by press time. Police find vehicle used in armed robberies GUATEMALA CITY (AP) – A magnitude 6.9 earthquake in western Guatemala near the border with Mexico caused moderate damage to homes, triggered some landslides across highways and injured at least one person early Wednesday, officials said. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the tremor was cen- tered 5 miles southwest of Tajumulco, Guatemala, about 69 miles below the surface. Guatemala’s emergency coordination agency said the quake struck at 1:29 a.m. local time in the de- partment of San Marcos west of the capital near the Mexican border, but was felt throughout the country. The country’s National Civil Police said one person was injured in San Sebas- tian Retalhuelu in southern Guatemala when part of a church collapsed. Julio San- chez of the volunteer fire- fighters said the man, who was passing by the church when the earthquake struck, was receiving care. Authorities reported several departments, or states, without electricity. The region of the epi- center is mountainous and sparsely populated with communities scat- tered around the base of the dormant Tajumulco vol- cano. Most residents are small-scale farmers or run small businesses. The epicenter was 13 miles west of San Marcos, Guatemala, which has about 25,000 residents. MAGNITUDE 6.9 QUAKE REPORTED NEAR TAJUMULCO, GUATEMALA Doctors disagree over Webster’s medications Psychiatrists reach differing opinions CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Jurors in the Errington Webster indecency trial heard evidence on Tuesday and Wednesday about pre- scriptions the defendant was taking last year and opinions as to whether their interaction with other substances could have affected his behavior. Webster had not yet com- pleted his evidence concerning the charges against him: three counts of indecent assault of a girl who was 13 at the time of the incidents alleged, and one count of gross indecency, based on a video the girl took in June 2016. Justice Charles Quin al- lowed three expert witnesses to interrupt the evidence of the defendant because of their professional commit- ments elsewhere. Dr. Marc Lockhart was the first witness to discuss medi- cation. He was called by de- fense attorney Steve McField. Dr. Lockhart, psychiatrist at the Cayman Islands Hos- pital, said he had seen Web- ster four times. He based his conclusions on these meetings and Webster’s report of what had happened on the day the video was taken. He also con- sidered the account of Web- ster’s wife and an analysis of the prescriptions Webster was taking – Amlodipine for high blood pressure, and Atorvas- tatin for cholesterol – along with other substances Web- ster said he had ingested. Webster had already told the court that he was on a liquid fast for several days. On the day of the inci- dent in question he drank a bottle of Guinness Stout, took the blood pressure medicine at 9 a.m. and another dose at noon. He drank four pints of a juice mixture referred to as “belly fat flush” that included grapefruit juice. Dr. Lockhart indicated that the second dose of blood pres- sure medicine should not have been taken. He said Webster reported no awareness of per- forming any sexual act that day. Webster’s account was one of disorientation and di- minished functioning. The psychiatrist ran a com- puter program to see if there were any side effects from a mix of grapefruit juice and the Amlopidine. He also had a list of ingredients in the belly fat flush, but not their quantities. Crown counsel Darlene Oko asked if the interaction of these ingredients with the prescribed mediation could have affected Webster’s cogni- tion and behavior. Dr. Lockhart replied, “I feel there’s a rea- sonable possibility that this could have occurred.” He said the combination of substances ingested could have affected Webster’s general functioning to where he could possibly not have recalled what happened. Dr. Lockhart said he had read the statements made by the defendant and the com- plainant. He had not watched a video of Webster making a withdrawal at an ATM on the day the girl’s video was made nor had he watched the girl’s video. He said Webster told him the video must have been fab- ricated to get him out of the election. Webster has previ- ously identified himself as a politician. The doctor said Webster “did not recognize the actions in the video as being actions of himself.” He said the grapefruit juice would increase the effect of the blood pressure medica- tion, which would then cause a drop in blood pressure and that could cause confusion and dizziness. Ms. Oko called Dr. Wade Myers, a psychiatrist from the U.S. Asked to comment on Dr. Lockhart’s evidence, he re- plied, “We have reached dif- fering opinions.” He said he could not find sufficient evidence to sug- gest that Webster was having any adverse effects from taking twice the amount of prescribed medication, the belly fat flush and the Guinness Stout. Dr. Myers said he had read the statements of the defen- dant and the complainant, the assessments by Dr. Lock- hart, the more than 1,000 text messages between the complainant and the defen- dant, and he had watched the videos. He interviewed Webster for 90 minutes ear- lier this week. He said the interaction of the medication and other substances, if there were side effects, would cause head- ache and dizziness, “not com- mitting acts out of your reg- ular character.” He did not accept that Webster would have had a 10-minute memory loss and then his memory became normal again. He said Webster could be pretending to not re- member what happened in order to minimize his respon- sibility for what happened. It was pointed out that Dr. Lockhart had had more time to analyze what had happened. “Yes, but I had the benefit of seeing the video,” Dr. Myers replied. He said he did not believe there was any com- pelling evidence that taking belly fat flush led to any de- lirious state or Webster being out of his mind. The third expert witness was forensic toxicologist Dr. William Lee Hearn, who was giving evidence about drugs and interactions of sub- stances. His evidence had not been completed by press time. Justice Charles Quin allowed three expert witness to interrupt the evidence of the defendant because of their professional commitments elsewhere.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JUNE 15, 2017 POLICE: PAIR OF OVERNIGHT BURGLARIES REPORTED A George Town wa- terfront business and a Savannah restaurant were hit by burglars sometime Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service confirmed. Police were alerted to a break-in at the Digicel store on North Church street around 4:30 a.m. Officers said a glass panel at the front of the store was smashed and some electronic de- vices were taken. The second incident was reported around 6 a.m. in Savannah. A small restaurant on Homestead Crescent be- hind the Rubis gas sta- tion was broken into and a television and some food taken. No one was hurt in either break-in and both incidents occurred when the businesses were closed. Both incidents are under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call the RCIPS. Cayman server ‘lucky to be alive’ after E. coli scare JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Cayman Islands server who was left in a coma after a severe bout of food poi- soning while backpacking in Vietnam says she is “lucky to be alive.” Sarah Jane Waddell, 21, worked at Craft bar and res- taurant on West Bay Road before leaving the island in May to travel around Europe and Asia with fellow Craft employee Tomasz Ryk. But she became seriously ill after a meal at a restau- rant in Hanoi and was rushed to hospital. Her condition de- teriorated and she went into a coma for six days. Doctors believe she suf- fered from a severe bacterial infection, E. coli, which trig- gered “septic shock” causing heart complications. She came out of a coma on Sunday and hopes to fly home to Canada in the next few days to continue her recovery. Family and friends in Canada and Cayman raised $15,000 in a whirlwind campaign to help pay her medical bills and flights for her family. She said she was over- whelmed by the show of support. “I am the luckiest girl in the whole world,” Ms. Wad- dell said. “Nobody thought I was going to live, but with Cayman by my side I did. “I have truly never got so much support from anyone in my life. It’s so hard to ex- plain the love I can feel from Cayman, from so far away. They all saved my life, truly.” She said she is adjusting to walking again after nearly a week in a coma. She has been told she could have long-term heart damage as a result of the illness, but she is otherwise expected to recover fully. She added that Mr. Ryk, who returns to Cayman in July, helped save her life, taking her to the hospital, paying her medical bills out of his own pocket and staying with her every day in hospital. Jasmin Muratagic, a bar- tender at Craft, said Ms. Waddell had worked at the bar for around a year be- fore leaving to go traveling. He said she had made many friends in Cayman and ev- eryone had been shocked to hear what happened. “She is a great girl and one of my best friends here in Cayman,” he said. “It is un- believable what happened. She has a lot of friends here and everyone tried to raise some money and do what we could to help.” Sue Lee, a family friend in Burlington, Ontario, who or- ganized the GoFundMe cam- paign, said she was over- whelmed by the contributions from all over the world. “She is a beautiful soul, so it didn’t surprise me that so many people wanted to sup- port and contribute, but it has put my faith back in hu- manity,” she said. Ms. Waddell said she is unsure whether she will re- turn to work in Cayman once she has fully recovered. “That is to be determined if my parents ever let me out of their sight again,” she said. On Tuesday, Sarah Jane Waddell was able to step outside for the first time in more than a week after she was in a coma for six days in Vietnam. Former Craft server Sarah Jane Waddell came out of a coma over the weekend.The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. Just how low can an individual sink? To that pri- mordial question, some local criminals have provided an ugly answer. (Hint: Paramecia exhibit more evolved behavior.) As if Tuesday’s three armed robberies – of two Esso stations and Mr. Arthur’s iconic waterfront store – weren’t evidence enough, the burglaries of George Town Primary School and the office of Cayman Islands Meals on Wheels prove there truly is no honor among thieves. Mr. Arthur’s 80-year-old proprietor Arthurlyn Scott told a Cayman Compass reporter the store has been robbed and burgled so many times over the years that she is getting used to it. That’s a shameful way for a well-established and well-loved business owner to be treated. Perhaps even more shameful is the damage inflicted upon George Town Primary School, where burglars entered, broke down a kitchen door and made off with a safe containing food tickets and money. The safe and its contents may have been recovered, but it will take a long time for the school community to recover their sense of security and faith in their fellow man. And then there’s Meals on Wheels. What kind of person would destroy property and steal money from a volunteer program that feeds more than 215 needy elderly people every day, interrupting the charity’s delivery of hot meals to seniors in the wake of the crime? Don’t these crooks have any heart, or con- science, at all? Don’t they have grandparents? Would they steal food from their own Grandma, too? As the charity’s director Beulah McField told the Compass, if the thieves had truly been needy, they had only to walk in the front door and say so. Meals on Wheels would have been happy to help. In response to such despicable acts, we have no words (… almost). Some might try to excuse the miscreants’ behavior as being due to drug addiction or unemployment, but most people living in even the toughest of cir- cumstances make do without preying on innocent children, needy seniors and hardworking neighbors. No, whatever evil, selfish or unthinking impulse would drive someone to commit such acts has little to do with inebriation or need. It is a violation of public trust and social order that goes far beyond the definition of “property crime.” Anyone who harbors a criminal from justice shares culpability for the crime. Whoever “knows” who stole from Meals on Wheels, but who doesn’t “speak up,” is also guilty of depriving Grandma. Sadly, these most recent attacks on benevolent organizations are not the first Cayman has seen and suffered. Over the years, burglars and thugs have targeted school buildings, churches and charitable groups – stealing computers, electronics or a little cash, and leaving behind broken glass and shattered illusions. We’ll say it again: Despicable. One consolation is that there are so many more people in our community who are driven to give instead of take. We remember well the spontaneous outpouring of support for the Cayman Islands Cancer Society just a few years ago, after some lowlifes stole hundreds of dollars raised by selling Christmas cards created by children, and intended to help people ill with cancer. (How low, indeed?) Once word spread about that theft, donations flooded in, making up for the loss many times over. We urge and expect the community to rally around the organizations recently victimized by crime, too. We can do our part to reinforce the idea that Cayman is a strong community, filled with generous people who care. The police, meanwhile, have their own parts to play – identifying, locating and arresting – so that these cold-blooded criminals, and their abettors, are swiftly brought to justice before judges and juries. More than money: Thieves steal sense of community THURSDAY JUNE 15, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS LETTER TO THE EDITOR Cleaning Cayman’s beaches I have a few thoughts on beach cleanup efforts, de- bris that washes up, and ef- fective ways of beautifying and keeping our environment clean over the long term. I clean beaches because a pol- luted beach offends me. However, I’m not fooling myself. Cleaning a beach is not doing much to halt pollution. In fact, the people who visit the clean beach enjoy it without an awareness of the marine debris problem, and how we all, including myself, contribute to it. They bliss- fully come and go, with a smile and without a clue as to how littered the beach was and how much effort was spent on cleaning it. So how should we pro- ceed if our immediate aim is to beautify our beaches on the Cayman Islands? We can have a competition to encourage participation of residents. I hope that suc- ceeds, really, because beach cleaners will at least become aware that marine debris ex- ists in huge, unmanageable amounts. But I think that a competition misses the more important target of creating long-term clean beaches. Shouldn’t we be ad- dressing the causes of ma- rine debris on the Cayman Is- lands? And can’t we come up with better ways of involving people, especially our youth, in efforts to not only clean it up, but to live in a way that does not contribute further to the problem? I am not a resident of the Cayman Islands. My regular beach clean-up efforts will not win me any points. How- ever, even if I were eligible for this current incentive, and please pardon the pun; I would not stoop to pick up beach trash for a com- petition. I do it for free, just to enjoy a clean beach that others may also enjoy. I am a resident of this planet. It occurs to me that our target should be finding a long-term solution to marine debris. One way to address that personally is to limit purchases of single-serve or single-use plastic containers. Companies will con- tinue to produce plastic con- tainers as long as we buy them. But we consumers have the power now to limit plastic production. We can help today by making our own beverages, or bringing along our own water, and carrying the drinks in reus- able containers. This is in- convenient; but not difficult. Granted, it is not the single solution to the problem of marine debris. However it will lessen the amount of plastic that pol- lutes our oceans and remains in them, or floats up onto our beaches. It’s something you and I can begin to do today. Pause every time before purchasing a plastic con- tainer, and think of your op- tions. If you have none, buy it! But if you can create an option, do that! Help today to address the causes of ma- rine debris. And as for incon- venience; must we wait until the oceans have died to fully understand what inconve- nient really means? Another way to target the real problem, long term, is through education of our children. They bring the les- sons home to their parents and communities. It is for our children that we must create, maintain and pre- serve clean environments. And the children can even lead the way, teaching fami- lies how to develop habits that serve to protect, not de- stroy, our islands. Competition may involve residents of the Cayman Is- lands in cleaning up our beaches. But how many com- petitions are we willing to pay for? And when the new winds come to blow more trash up onto our beaches, who will get out there and pick it up for nothing? It will be those citizens of the world who care about the planet. Isn’t a beautiful and habitable environment enough of a reward? For there is no one who will put forth greater effort for pro- tecting our environment than those who have learned to love the land and oceans. Our children’s participa- tion in preservation efforts is inspired best through op- portunities for personal ex- perience of natural beauty and by adults mentoring and modeling effective action. Give each child a personal reason to take on the respon- sibility of becoming a care- taker, not an exploiter, of our islands and our world. Who can care for that which he does not love? By instilling a love for the en- vironment in the new gen- eration, we truly address the causes of this currently “in- convenient,” and eventually life-threatening, marine de- bris disaster. Susan Ploplys I was appalled at the importation of exotic spe- cies into Cayman. I love the Cayman Islands, and we brought our “westie” dog with us one winter when we came. We followed the pro- gram for six months in order to bring him. (I agree with the program.) So to have exotic spe- cies imported into Cayman troubles me. Unfortunately we know that Miami is known as a terrible base from which to ship anything. (That is why we use Delta from Atlanta and always ship cargo from Tampa.) Thank you for your cov- erage of the islands, which I miss every day that I am not there! Rosemary Woolley LETTER ‘Appalled’ by pet smuggling PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman, KY1-1108 Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” When the new winds come to blow more trash up onto our beaches, who will get out there and pick it up for nothing?5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JUNE 15, 2017 COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS Making a difference Thank you, Kirk Office for helping us build a stronger community! The YMCA of the Cayman Islands Corporate Founders campaign is raising funds to firmly root the Y locally and establish a solid foundation for lasting impact. We are dedicated to building strong communities by focusing on character development and the core values of honesty, caring, respect, responsibility, and faith. To learn more, contact Vanessa Hansen at vhansen@ymcacayman.ky ymcacayman.ky (345) 926.9622 IT’S MY Y’ FOR GIVING BACK! “At Kirk Office, we feel it’s our duty to be involved in giving back to the local community. We’re proud to support the Cayman Islands YMCA and their commitment to making Cayman a better place to live, work and play.” RUBY LEVEL FOUNDER Son of well-known Cayman family dies from accident injuries Thomas Hubbell, 44, succumbs to wounds a year later BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Thomas Rupert Hub- bell, the son of Cayman avi- ation and scuba diving pi- oneer Tom Hubbell Sr., died Monday from inju- ries suffered in a June 30, 2016 car crash. The younger Mr. Hubbell was a passenger in a vehicle involved in the one-car crash on Shamrock Road near Spotts Dock last June. According to a po- lice report, a Toyota Tercel drove off the road into a utility pole around 5 p.m. on June 30. Both men were trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated. Mr. Hubbell had been in critical condition since the accident. He succumbed to his injuries on Monday eve- ning, June 12. According to police, 23-year-old Anthony W. Scott Jr. was charged with dan- gerous driving in connection with the crash and is cur- rently before the courts. Mr. Hubbell worked at the National Roads Au- thority and was a resident of Bodden Town. He is the younger half-brother of longtime Cayman Cabinet Office man- ager Tim Hubbell. Thomas Rupert Hubbell was 5 years old when his fa- ther died in a small plane crash at Owen Roberts Inter- national Airport. The Dec. 13, 1977 crash killed the elder Mr. Hubbell, 54, and the pilot he was training. Mr. Hubbell Sr. was one the first four people to offer diving and snorkeling trips in Cayman, starting in 1961, and also spearheaded ef- forts to renovate and reopen Pedro St. James. He was known at the time of the plane crash as one of Cayman’s most able flight trainers.Thomas Hubbell Summerfest welcomes everyone on June 19 JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Bodden Town Her- itage Committee is in- viting the public to Sum- merfest on Monday, June 19 – the Queen’s Birthday public holiday. The event, which will take place at the Bodden Town Harry McCoy Sr. Com- munity Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., will feature a fancy hat parade, local and inter- national performances and musical acts, crafts, an ap- pearance by the Bodden Town Festival Queen, tours of historic homes, and food and drinks. Mary Lawrence, chair- woman of the Bodden Town Heritage Committee, said the festival is usually held in May, and known as MayFest, but because of the run-up to the May 24 general elections, the committee postponed Mayfest and decided to hold the event on the Queen’s Birthday holiday instead. “We changed the name to Summerfest because it’s now June,” Ms. Lawrence said. “Tickets that were sold for the Mayfest event will be honored at Summerfest.” “It’s an annual family- oriented outdoor event with music, arts and food. The or- ganizing committee’s aim is to promote harmony among Cayman’s diverse nationali- ties and give various com- munities an opportunity to socialize together. It’s going to be a fun day for ev- eryone,” she added. Ms. Lawrence said the event is the committee’s an- nual fundraiser for upkeep and maintenance of the park. Admission to Summer- fest is free, but donations to- ward the park’s enhancement are encouraged. “We keep dong a lot of things there to keep in good shape so it can be safe for the public to use,” she said, adding that the committee recently covered the stage so bands can play while being sheltered from rain and sun. Raffle tickets will be on sale for $25 each. Prizes in- clude a round-trip air- line ticket for two, 22 yards of gravel and a cash prize of $1,500. The Bodden Town Heri- tage Committee works to pre- serve the district’s history and artifacts for later genera- tions to enjoy. “The organizing committee’s aim is to promote harmony among Cayman’s diverse nationalities and give various communities an opportunity to socialize together.” MARY LAWRENCE, chairwoman, Bodden Town Heritage CommitteeThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. THURSDAY JUNE 15, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, JUNE 15 HUMANE SOCIETY QUIZ: Join the monthly trivia quiz to raise money for the Humane Society. Hosted at Fidel Murphy’s, 7 p.m., by Dhara Levers. $10 per person entry fee. CHAMBER COURSE: Intellectual Property Basics: Copyright, Trademarks & Patents. 9–11 a.m., Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. $175 for members, $225 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. SATURDAY, JUNE 17 QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY: The Cayman Islands will celebrate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s official birthday today with a brief ceremony at the Legislative Assembly at 9 a.m. Attendees are asked to be in place by 8:30 a.m. The annual Garden Party follows, 10-11:30 a.m. on the front lawn of the Governor’s residence. All are invited. DARKNESS TO LIGHT: Free Red Cross training program for parents, teachers and others who work with children. 9-11:30 a.m. Gain knowledge and skills to prevent/deal with child sexual abuse. Pre- registration required. Contact vrm@redcross.org.ky. DADURDAY: Celebrate Father’s Day with Dadurday from 1-6 p.m. at The Crescent at Camana Bay. Games (including beanbag toss, ladder ball, foosball, jumbo Jenga and more) with prizes, crafts including kite-making. SUNDAY, JUNE 18 FATHER’S DAY: Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church invites all to our Father’s Day Service at 11 a.m. MONDAY, JUNE 19 BODDEN TOWN SUMMERFEST: Harry McCoy Sr. Park, Gun Square. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free admission. MayFest tickets will be honored. Raffle tickets, $25. First prize, $1,500. Local and international food, drinks, performances. Fancy dress and hat parade. Crafts. BRAC CELEBRATION: The Brac District of the National Trust invites everyone to the Queen’s Birthday Celebration 4-6:30 p.m. at the Heritage House, Northeast Bay. Afternoon tea, raffles, plant sale, art show, and split the pot. Tickets are $7 at the door. All funds benefit the National Trust Cayman Brac Land Fund. TUESDAY, JUNE 20 SEAFARERS SOCIAL: The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association advises members that the March social takes place tonight at 7 p.m. in the Seafarers Hall, 11 Victory Ave. Prospect. Buses will be provided from West Bay Town Hall at 6 p.m. A bus route has been added in George Town, leaving the Public Library parking area at 7 p.m., stopping at Cayman Compass building and the Airport Foster’s. The bus is marked Bobo $1 Public transport and is blue in color; there is no charge. BE INFORMED – WASHINGTON BRIEFING: U.S. Relationship with Caribbean. 3–5 p.m. Free. Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21 DISASTER MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Free. Marriott Beach Resort. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: Situational Self Leadership. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. $350 for members, $425 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. THURSDAY, JUNE 22 CHAMBER COURSE: Essentials of Supervision – Developing Your Team. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. $150 for members, $225 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. SME WORKSHOP: New Cayman Islands trademarks & design laws explained. 5:30–7:30 p.m. Free. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. SATURDAY, JUNE 24 MANGOES AT THE MUSEUM: Local food and mango products, mango-peeling competition, arts and crafts, bungee jumping, rock climbing. Cayman Islands National Museum on the waterfront, from 3-7 p.m. Free admission. DEALS ON WHEELS: The Red Cross Mobile Thrift Shop will be in West Bay. 6-10 a.m. at the Lord’s Church Compound, junction with the West Bay Town Hall. Items available include clothing and shoes for children and adults, ladies’ accessories and bags, linens, household items and more. SUNDAY, JUNE 25 FRIENDSHIP: Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church invites all to Friendship Sunday Service at 11 a.m. and Singspiration at 7 p.m. TUESDAY, JUNE 27 TALK ABOUT TURTLE MEAT: Megan Hogseth speaks about “The Sailor’s Soup Pot in the 17th and 18th Centuries – Sea Turtle Meat Consumption & Trade” at 6 p.m. at the National Museum. $10 admission includes refreshments and admission to all exhibits. Season pass to speaker series, $50. FRIDAY, JUNE 30 BUSINESS SEMINAR: Business incubation and innovation – a nexus for small island countries. 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Free. Government Administration Building, Room 2112. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. SATURDAY, JULY 1 COMMUNITY SUMMER SALE: Eastern Avenue, 6 to 9 a.m., in the parking lot next to Mandy’s Linens. All are invited to make extra cash from unused clothing, toys, books, electronics and more. Register for a space to sell goods. Contact bigheartscayman@gmail.com or call 324-7724 to arrange collection or to register by phone. $25 per space, with all proceeds for community projects. Sellers may bring their own tables, chairs, tents or rugs, but these items can be provided for a fee. SUNDAY, JULY 2 GRADUATES SERVICE: Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church invites all to the graduates service at 7 p.m. MONDAY, JULY 3 FISHING TOURNAMENT: Burnis and Dale Ebanks’s Barkers Bay Fishing Tournament, Catch & Release. No registration fee but bring your own fishing lines/bait along with chair or beach towel. Fishing starts 9 a.m. Break/refreshments, 10:30 a.m. Tournament finishes 11:30 a.m. Prizes at noon. All are invited to come and enjoy a day of reminiscing, refreshments and relaxation. For more information contact Eziethamae, 929-9932. GENERAL INTEREST CELEBRATING FATHERS: The Family Resource Centre has launched a Responsible Fatherhood “Be a Dad Daily” campaign to celebrate good fathers throughout the rest of June. Children are invited to either email the Family Resource Centre or log on to its Facebook page to write about the ways in which their dads are there for them, using the hashtag #beadaddaily. Alternatively, participants can email or upload a picture with a caption of these doting dads. The best responses will receive a prize. To enter, send submissions either to frc@gov.ky or post them on www.facebook.com/ familyresourcecentre. HUMANE SOCIETY THRIFT SHOP: The shop has moved to Venetia Plaza, next to China Village. The thrift shop is open Tuesday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed on Sunday and Monday. Phone 945-5596. DVDL REPLACES TEMP PLATES: The Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing is replacing all Temporary Registration Plates. Customers who have been contacted by the department are asked to collect their new registration plates. They are reminded to bring the temporary registration plates, windshield coupon (if not expired) and log book. HIGH SCHOOL PTA: The John Gray High School PTA seeks sponsors, vendors and volunteers for its June 24 summer fair and raffle. Money raised will assist students going overseas to represent the school and country in track/ field, swimming, fine arts, academics and more. The PTA invites applications from visual and performing artists, food vendors and volunteers. Email ptajghs@ gmail.com for registration form. If you have a product you would like to sell at the fair, sign up. Booths are $50 and $75. CONTRACTORS REGISTRATION: The deadline for residential and building contractors is June 30; trade contractors’ deadline is Aug. 31. BETHESDA COUNSELLING CENTRE: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 68 Mary St. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. LOST DOGS: The Department of Agriculture and veterinary students of St. Matthew’s University provide an online list of dogs housed at the Department of Agriculture Animal Rescue Shelter in Lower Valley. Anyone missing a dog can check www.smustudents.webs.com. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Email humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or call 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards etc., in good condition always needed. RED CROSS THRIFT SHOP: The Thrift Shop opening hours are Tuesday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Friday hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed evenings. Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers are needed. Tuesdays at the Truman Bodden Complex at 5:30 p.m. for track/field, football and bocce. No experience necessary, just a smile and patience. Wednesdays at Lions Pool 10:15–11 a.m. You do not have to swim, just be able to walk in water chest-deep. Thursdays at First Baptist Church for basketball, 5:30–7 p.m. Saturdays, volunteers needed for Adult Special Olympic swim conditioning at CIS pool 9:30–10:30 a.m. Deck support and in-water swimming assistance needed. For more information, contact Penny McDowall at 516-2578 or pjmcdowall@gmail.com. OPEN STUDIO: Every Thursday 10 a.m. till noon and every Monday 1-4 p.m. at Watler House Studio on grounds of Pedro Castle. Offered by Visual Arts Society to adults/ youth who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere. Contact info@visualartcayman.com. COMMUNITY CHESS: Tuesdays 5-8 p.m., West Indies Wine Company. Join the Cayman Chess Club for a complimentary chess class and open challenges weekly. Anyone can learn to play and enjoy chess, even beginners. ARTISANS MARKET: Camana Bay every Wednesday, noon till 8 p.m. Visual Arts Society artists display arts, crafts, paintings, prints, hand-crafted jewelry and ceramics for sale. Email info@visualartcayman.com. OPEN CANVAS: Wednesdays. Visual Arts Society supports this event at KARoo Restaurant in Camana Bay. 7-11 p.m. No fee, easels provided. Contact info@ongart.com or jar.was@gmail.com. MUSEUM TOURS: The National Museum provides guided tours for students and school groups free of cost. Students will gain an understanding of Cayman’s geological formation, flora and fauna, seafaring and rope-making heritage, political history and more. Contact the museum to book a tour in advance at 949-8368 or email info@museum.ky. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Celebrate Father’s Day a day early on Saturday, June 17, with various activities from 1-6 p.m. at The Crescent at Camana Bay.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JUNE 15, 2017 FLOWERS SEA SWIM 2017 PHOTO CONTEST TAG YOURSELF FIND YOUR PHOTO AT www.caymancompass.com/contests PHOTO CONTEST ENTER TO WIN • A trip for 10 on the Swimmin’, Chillin’ & Grillin’ new Red Sail Catamaran, Spirit of the Islands. Includes $150 US bar tab and barbeque lunch. AND • Dinner for 4 including 2 bottles of wine from The Beach House Restaurant at The Westin Grand Cayman. ENTRY DEADLINE: 5PM, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21The islands’ most-trusted news source 2 THURSDAY JUNE 15, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS opulence or someone who lives in a certain area, with the targeting options we have now, you’re really not stuck,” he said. “Considering the iso- lated nature of this country and the people that are here, that gives a huge advantage. Whereas before, I couldn’t imagine trying to market a business without those solu- tions from a place like this. “It really gives an advan- tage to folks in places like Cayman because it really is no different. As a consumer, I don’t recognize that you’re not from my area if you’re of- fering me something digitally.” Unprecedented global reach can create local chal- lenges, however. Cayman’s advertisers must also re- member to keep pace with their home community, said Miami-based marketer Luis Montero, president of “the community.” With more than 100 na- tionalities, Cayman’s modest 60,000-person population represents a much larger, global conundrum for mar- keters and advertisers. Com- panies seeking to stay cul- turally relevant must strike a delicate balance between mass appeal and indi- vidual relevancy. Harkening back to the day’s theme, “storytelling, content and authenticity,” Mr. Montero encouraged ad teams to bravely venture into the cultural fringe and re- think consumer identity. He described a “new multi-everything America,” in which the No. 1 hit song, “Despacito,” is sung in Spanish and Indian-Amer- ican comedian Aziz Ansari has become a resounding voice of a generation. “I think the whole concept of identity is changing, espe- cially with the younger gen- erations that are more multi- cultural and digitally native. Where they’re from doesn’t define them. It’s about what they love,” he said. In a digital world, ad- vertisers can reach people easier than ever, but that does not mean they are con- necting with their audiences, he said. Political shake-ups like Brexit and the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president are forcing com- panies to rethink their com- munities. Such turmoil cre- ates an opportunity, he argued, pushing marketers to embrace an often cultur- ally tense world. “You can’t develop an overarching campaign and push it out to everybody be- cause you are going to be to- tally inauthentic,” he said. “Find something that’s shared. What are those pil- lars that bring everyone to- gether and how does it land in each of the communities in a relevant way?” In the Caribbean, cul- tural complexity likewise creates a daunting task for advertisers. Mr. Montero im- plored businesses to ex- plore regional identities and reach for overarching, yet au- thentic messaging. “In an ideal world, you’re developing a campaign that’s going to reach multiple com- munities across geogra- phies, especially in the Carib- bean,” he said. “We want to find some- thing that’s more of a mindset, something that’s a little bit more aspirational, that everyone can look at and see themselves reflected in. But then you have to land it in an authentic way.” Around 200 of Cayman’s leading marketing and ad- vertising professionals gath- ered at the CIMPA conference with the goal of promoting authentic and cutting-edge storytelling techniques. Local and international speakers shared the latest digital re- sources to tap into an ever- changing, global marketplace. Some of Cayman’s innova- tive media leaders took the stage, including Julian Foster of Foster’s Food Fair, Monica Walton of Vagabond Media Group and Rob Barton of Best of Cayman. The opening remarks were made by CIMPA Chairwoman Laura Skec. The local flair com- plemented an international lineup that brought in repre- sentatives from such power- houses as Google and digital entrepreneurs like CallRail and VaynerMedia. aspects involved,” the employee manual states. A list of suggested and maximum weights for male and female crew members is included with the guidelines. For a 5-foot, 4-inch-tall female, the recommended weight is 127 pounds and the maximum weight is 151 pounds. For a 5-foot, 10-inch male, the suggested weight is 172 pounds and the max- imum weight is 180 pounds. The manual states that these restrictions are because of space issues on the air- craft’s aisle and jumpseats. It states that suspen- sion of travel benefits and other disciplinary action, up to and including termi- nation, can follow if “safety is compromised” due to a crew member’s “excessive weight” and no medical con- dition is proven. The same consequences face employees who are ap- parently unwilling to imple- ment a “determined and on- going endeavor to reduce their body weight to within the required weight and time limits.” The manual also regu- lates hair length, makes lip- stick and makeup manda- tory for women, bans visible tattoos and urges employees to “remain free of disagree- able body odors.” The introduction to the handbook states, “As a repre- sentative of Cayman Airways and the Cayman Islands, it is important that each cabin crew member adopt and maintain the highest stan- dard of general appearance, conduct and presentation as required and stipulated by the company and in ac- cordance with the contrac- tual agreement between cabin crew members and the company.” It says there will be “dis- ciplinary measures” leading to “termination” for deviation from grooming requirements and uniform standards. A 16-point guide on fe- male hairstyles dictates that hair must be grown to such a length that it can be se- cured in a bun, and man- dates that employees take protective measures to avoid discoloration. No extreme styles, braids, dreadlocks or shaved heads are allowed, and men must get specific management ap- proval for any facial hair. Goatees and beards are not allowed, and mustaches may not extend beyond the corner of the mouth. For women, nails must be polished and of conser- vative length, “not exceeding a quarter inch from the tip of the finger.” A maximum of two rings, two bracelets and one pair of stud earrings are allowed for women; earrings are banned for men. Makeup is required to achieve a color-coordinated balance with the uniform, the manual states. “Tastefully chosen and skillfully applied makeup is required at all times while on duty. Use of base foundation, mascara, lipstick, blush and eye shadow are mandatory.” Cayman Airways is not the only airline to place strict restriction on the appearance of its cabin crew. According to an article in the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph, it is relatively common for air- lines to require flight staff to maintain a body weight in proportion to their height. Hawaiian Airlines re- stricts nail length to an eighth of an inch, according to the article, while Etihad Airlines requires its staff to have an “arm reach of 212 cm” (just under 7 feet). Indian airline Jet Airways is reported to require an un- married status for “inexpe- rienced” crew, while Qatar Airways recently relaxed its controversial policies under which cabin crew would be sacked if they became preg- nant or got married within the first five years of employ- ment, the Telegraph reported. Other guidelines are put in place for emergency situ- ations. Ireland’s RyanAir re- quires cabin crew to pass a swimming test, while Bra- zilian carrier TAM Air- lines reportedly puts its crew through jungle sur- vival training in case a plane goes down. Some of the restrictions are potentially subject to labor and human rights chal- lenges based on age, weight or gender discrimination. However, such legislation usually includes a carve-out for situations where such is- sues affect the ability of an employee to do the job. For example, Cayman’s Labour Law states that em- ployees cannot be discrimi- nated against or treated dif- ferently based on race, color, creed, sex, pregnancy, age, mental or physical disability. But a secondary clause states, “This shall not be con- strued as prohibiting the taking of any personnel ac- tion genuinely related to an employee’s ability to dis- charge the duties of the em- ployment in question.” Sky-high standards for Cayman Airways cabin crew A page of the new manual visually outlines the rules for the attire of female cabin crew. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Advertisers grapple with local challenges in global marketplace Laura Skec, chairwoman of CIMPA, delivers opening remarks at the conference Wednesday. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE “Considering the isolated nature of this country and the people that are here, that gives a huge advantage.” JOSH WEUM, digital marketing ambassador, Google AdWords 8 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY JUNE 15, 2017 Cosby jury deliberates for third day The jury in Bill Cosby’s sex assault case hunkered down for a third day of deliberations Wednesday, out of sight of the growing horde of media and onlookers assembled on the courthouse steps to await a verdict. Gunman who shot congressman had history of anti-GOP activity Shooter volunteered in Bernie Sanders’s campaign BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) – The gunman who shot a top GOP congressman and several other people Wednesday at a baseball practice outside the nation’s capital had a long history of lashing out at Re- publicans and once fright- ened a neighbor by firing a rifle into a field behind his Illinois house. James T. Hodgkinson, 66, wounded House Rep. Steve Scalise before he was fa- tally shot by police who had been guarding the House majority whip. In the hours after the at- tack in Alexandria, Virginia, a picture began to emerge of an attacker with a mostly minor arrest record who worked as a home inspector and de- spised the Republican Party. On Facebook, Hodg- kinson was a member of a group called “Terminate the Republican Party,” a fact that seemed to take on new meaning in light of an ac- count from South Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan, who said that as he was preparing to leave the baseball field, a man politely asked him whether it was a Democrat or Republican team before qui- etly walking off. Until recently, Hodgkinson ran a home-inspection busi- ness out of his house. His Facebook page shows that he was a fan of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an indepen- dent who last year made an unsuccessful presiden- tial bid. Sanders acknowl- edged Wednesday that Hodg- kinson had apparently been among many volunteers on his 2016 campaign. A search of online news- papers show that Hodg- kinson frequently wrote letters to his hometown newspaper, the Belleville News-Democrat, which pub- lished nearly two dozen let- ters between 2010 and 2012, many of which included complaints about the same theme: income inequality. Hodgkinson, who lived in the community just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, compared the eco- nomic conditions of the time to those that preceded the Great Depression and exco- riated Congress for not in- creasing the number of tax brackets and taking other tax reform measures. On May 14, 2010, he wrote: “I don’t envy the rich; I despise the way they have bought our politicians and twisted our laws to their benefit.” Less than a year later, on March 4, 2011, he wrote that Congress should rewrite tax codes to ease the tax burdens of the middle class. “Let’s get back to the good ol’ days, when our represen- tatives had a backbone and a conscience,” he wrote. Later that year, in Oc- tober 2011, he applauded the Occupy Wall Street pro- testers in New York and Boston, writing that the dem- onstrators “are tired of our do-nothing Congress doing nothing while our country is going down the tubes.” Hodgkinson also had ar- rests in his background for a series of minor offenses and at least one more se- rious offense. Court records show that his legal trouble started in the 1990s with ar- rests for resisting police and drunken driving. His most se- rious problems came in 2006, when he was arrested on a battery charge. James Hodgkinson protests outside of the U.S. Post Office in downtown Belleville, Illinois, on April 17. Hodgkinson was killed after shooting and injuring U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise and four others on Wednesday. - PHOTO: AP Rifle-wielding man wounds US lawmaker, four others A 66-year-old man unleashed a barrage of gunfire Wednesday at a park in Alexandria, Virginia, as Re- publican members of Congress held a morning baseball practice, wounding five people, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise. President Donald Trump said the gunman – identified by mul- tiple law enforcement officials as James T. Hodgkinson III from Illi- nois – died after a shootout with po- lice, two of whom were wounded in the gun battle. Scalise was critically injured and remained in critical condi- tion as of Wednesday afternoon, ac- cording to MedStar Washington Hospital Center. The wounded also include a con- gressional aide, a lobbyist and two Capitol Police officers. As people offered prayers for the victims, a profile began to emerge of Hodgkinson. A Facebook page believed to be his includes pic- tures of 2016 Democratic presi- dential candidate Bernie Sanders and rhetoric against Trump, in- cluding a post that reads: “Trump is a Traitor. Trump Has Destroyed Our Democracy. It’s Time to De- stroy Trump & Co.” In remarks made from the White House shortly before noon, Trump called for unity and commended the injured officers. “Many lives would have been lost if not for the heroic actions of the two Capitol Police officers who took down the gunman de- spite sustaining gunshot wounds during a very, very brutal as- sault,” Trump said. Trump said he spoke with Scal- ise’s wife and offered his full sup- port to the congressman’s family. He called Scalise a friend, patriot and fighter, and thanked the first responders who aided those on the field that morning. “We may have our differences, but we do well in times like these to remember that everyone who serves in our nation’s capital is here because, above all, they love our country,” Trump said. The incident unfolded shortly after 7 a.m. during the final practice before Thursday night’s scheduled charity game between Republicans and Democrats at Nationals Park. Players and bystanders described a horrific and prolonged attack in which wounded police officers re- turned fire, and Scalise, felled by a bullet to his hip, crawled across the field to get out of harm’s way. Capitol Police Chief Matthew Verderosa said his two wounded of- ficers are in good condition and do not have life-threatening injuries. House Speaker Paul Ryan identified the officers as special agents David Bailey and Crystal Griner. The FBI is now leading the inves- tigation. Verderosa said “it’s going to take a while to sort through all the details,” and Tim Slater of the FBI said that it is “too early to tell whether anyone was targeted …. It’s really raw now. We’re ex- ploring all angles.” But Hodgkinson’s political state- ments were immediately examined as a possible motive. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-South Car- olina, told reporters that he spoke briefly with a man he thinks was the shooter, and that he “asked me if the team practicing was a Democrat or Republican team.” Duncan added, “I told him they were Republicans. He said, ‘OK, thanks,’ [and] turned around.” Bernie Sanders, who ran against Hillary Clinton in 2016, said Hodg- kinson volunteered on his presiden- tial campaign, and he denounced the shooter’s actions. “I am sickened by this despicable act,” he said in a statement deliv- ered on the Senate floor. Shooter familiar to those in the neighborhood Those who frequent the area around the baseball field in Alex- andria said Hodgkinson had re- cently become fixture in neighbor- hood, reporting he was living out a gym bag and often was at the local YMCA, using a laptop, staring out a window in the lobby. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it is conducting emergency traces on one rifle and one handgun. Scalise’s office, in a statement, said the congressman was out of surgery by 10:30 a.m. The state- ment said the whip, before surgery, was in good spirits and speaking to his wife, Jennifer, by phone. “He is grateful for the brave actions of U.S. Capitol Police, first responders, and colleagues,” the statement said. Scalise, 51, who has been in Congress since 2008, is the third- highest-ranking House Republican and has around-the-clock Capitol Police detail. © 2017, Washington Post U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise is pictured on Tuesday on Capitol Hill. Police stage along the street near Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Alexandria, Virginia, after reports of shots fired on Wednesday. – PHOTOS: APNext >