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Garry Marshall Remembered: He Made Us Laugh see story on page 9.
PERMIT NO 00005
July 27, 2016 Vol. 9 No. 60
ISIS Kills Priest
Jacques Hamel, the 84-year-old Catholic priest slain in an ISIS attack in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, France.
‘Killers chanting in Arabic film priest’s throat-slitting’: Details about French church attack By Desert Star Staff An attacker that stormed a French church and slit an 84-year-old priest’s throat has been identified as Adel Keramiche. He was known to police and had travelled to Syria several times. A witness says the killers videoed the act while chanting in Arabic. Speaking anonymously, a nun told Le Figaro that the terrorists rushed in suddenly. “I left when they began to attack Father Jacques. I do not
even know if they realized that I was leaving,” she said. Another nun, Sister Danielle, told BFM TV that the attackers “recorded themselves.” “They did a sort of sermon around the altar, in Arabic. It’s a horror,” she said. Here is what is known about the atrocious murder so far. Attackers: Police say two people were involved in the attack. According to French prosecutor Francois Molin, one of
the attackers was named as Adel Keramiche, 19. The identity of the second perpetrator still remains unknown. According to Le Figaro, one of the assailants had vowed to commit such an act beforehand. “He talked about Islam and things like this should be done,” Le Figaro quotes a man, whose identity was not disclosed, as saying. “He told me – I’ll commit an attack on a church,” the man went on to say.
French channel BMF TV cited one of the witnesses as saying that both assailants spoke Arabic. Weapons and location: Police say the 84-year old priest was killed with a knife. One of the attackers was found to have been carrying an explosive belt made of aluminum foil and three knives, Molin said. Another also carried a weapon made of aluminum and a backpack containing a fake explosive device, he added.
The killing took place in the small town of St-Etienne-duRouvray, a suburb of the city of Rouen in northern France. French Leexpress reports that the town had been on the radar of authorities in 2014, when several people were arrested there for attempting to travel to Syria. Philippe de Villers, a former French presidential candidate, told RT that the fact that a place Continues on Page 6
City of Indio announces appointment of new Fire Chief 30-Year Firefighting Veteran Jorge Rodriguez to Lead Department
By Desert Star Staff INDIO, CA. – CAL FIRE has hired Jorge Rodriguez to become its new East Desert Division Chief serving the City of Indio, it was announced today. A 30-year firefighting veteran, Rodriguez formerly served as Battalion Chief/Acting Fire Marshall for the Cove Communities in Palm Desert, as well as Fire Chief for the city of Menifee, CA. “We’re pleased to announce the appointment of Jorge Rodriguez as the new
East Desert Division Chief,” said Indio City Manager Dan Martinez. “He brings more than three decades of leadership and experience fighting fires throughout Southern California to the City of Indio.” Rodriguez began his career in 1985 as a seasonal firefighter in Lake Elsinore, CA. In 1987, he was promoted to full-time firefighter in Temecula, CA. He returned to Lake Elsinore a year later and was promoted to Fire Apparatus Engineer. In 1999, Rodriguez became Fire Captain
at Oak Glen Camp, where he continued to serve until 2003. “Having spent significant stretches of my career in the Inland Empire and the Coachella Valley, I’m very excited to return to the desert in this capacity,” said Rodriguez, who is married with four adult children and five grandchildren. “I look forward to serving this growing community and maintaining optimal safety for all of our residents.” Jorge Rodriguez