WASHINGTON, May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole today presented Detective Randall Abbott of the Hartford, Wis., Police Department with the Missing Children’s Law Enforcement Award for his successful investigation of a child neglect case.  Deputy Attorney General Cole recognized Abbott at the annual National Missing Children’s Day commemoration honoring missing children, their families, child advocates and others who protect children, held in the Justice Department’s Great Hall.

“Protecting children is one of the important jobs we have,” said Deputy Attorney General Cole. “There is no rest for a parent who has lost a child, and there should be no rest for any of us who are in a position to help. There may not be any words we could offer that would ease their pain, but we can and will offer our support – and all the tools at our disposal to help families of missing and exploited children. I am honored to recognize those who work on the front lines to rescue children and bring them home safely.”

In 2004, staff at the Aurora Medical Center in Hartford, Wis., reported to Abbott that Angela and David Schmidt, parents of a newborn daughter, had possibly sold their previous children at birth.  Before Abbott could intervene, the Schmidts gave the infant to Denise Novotny, who took her to Missouri. Abbott investigated the case for the next five years, working with numerous agencies in both Wisconsin and Missouri, and learned the girl lived in impoverished conditions and suffered from malnutrition and inadequate medical care.  Abbott coordinated with Missouri agencies to remove the girl from the home and to arrest and prosecute Novotny and the Schmidts.  A foster family adopted the girl following the arrests.

In May 2011, David Schmidt was convicted of one count of failure to support a child, a felony offense, and one count of refusal to provide a birth certificate, a misdemeanor.  Angela Schmidt and Novotny were both convicted of two misdemeanor offenses: neglecting a child and refusal to provide a birth certificate. 

President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25, 1983, the first National Missing Children’s Day to remember Etan Patz, a six-year-old boy who disappeared from a New York City street corner on May 25, 1979.  Missing Children’s Day honors his memory and the memories of children still missing.

More information about the event and other honorees can be found at www.ojp.gov. The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed by Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary Lou Leary, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

SOURCE Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs

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WASHINGTON, May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole today presented Gregory Schiller, an assistant state attorney in Florida, with the Missing Children’s Child Protection Award for his central role in the conviction of a sexual predator and for his efforts to update Florida‘s child pornography laws.  Deputy Attorney General Cole recognized Schiller at the annual National Missing Children’s Day commemoration honoring missing children, their families, child advocates and others who protect children, held in the Justice Department’s Great Hall. 

“Protecting children is one of the important jobs we have,” said Deputy Attorney General Cole. “There is no rest for a parent who has lost a child, and there should be no rest for any of us who are in a position to help.  There may not be any words we could offer that would ease their pain, but we can and will offer our support – and all the tools at our disposal to help families of missing and exploited children.  I am honored to recognize those who work on the front lines to rescue children and bring them home safely.”

As a member of the Palm Beach County Sexual Predator Enforcement Unit that investigates and prosecutes online predators, Schiller was instrumental in securing the conviction of Robert Coletto.  In 2010, Coletto was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography while on probation for sexually abusing an eight-year-old girl.  Schiller coordinated a strong forensic case against Coletto and secured a 25-year prison sentence.

Following Coletto’s sentencing, Schiller led efforts to have the state legislature amend Florida‘s statute to make not only possession of child pornography a crime, but also intentional viewing of child pornography.  In the spring of 2011, he addressed the Florida state legislature, arguing that Florida‘s law against child pornography was outdated and needed to be amended to cover individuals who view child pornography without downloading it and those who hide their collections online.  Both houses of the legislature passed the amendment unanimously and Gov. Rick Scott signed the bill into law.  The law led to arrests throughout Florida of individuals who, without it, would continue to victimize children today.   

President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25, 1983, the first National Missing Children’s Day to remember Etan Patz, a six-year-old boy who disappeared from a New York City street corner on May 25, 1979.  Missing Children’s Day honors his memory and the memories of children still missing.

More information about the event and other honorees can be found at www.ojp.gov.

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed by Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary Lou Leary, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

SOURCE Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs

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SAN FRANCISCO, May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — When game maker Doug Arduini received a cease and desist order from the largest board game company in the country, he agreed to stop selling his award-winning game, change the name and start all over. However, with no cash flow, he turned to crowd funding to save the day.

His inspiring story has a lesson worth learning for all entrepreneurs who find themselves in a cash flow crunch.

“I had orders for my game in hand from our distributor and the best way I could think of to meet new orders was to change the name of our game, and redesign the artwork to fit the new name,” said a hopeful Arduini. “Because I had already spent $130,000 of my own money dealing with the legal issues on our previous game’s name, I was not sure where to turn. Then a colleague told me about Kickstarter.com and I knew I’d found the answer to my prayers,” said Arduini excitedly.

Arduini thinks big. He is an electronic engineer with a passion for writing and developing games that turn serious learning into fun. He sees a need and fills it and began his quest with a solid purpose to turn important things people need to know into fun and create games with a social purpose.

His original game was called Non-Trivial Quest. Now it is called Non-Trivia Quest. It helps kids and adults learn things like history, geography, finance and math. The concept is noble — as kids grow up into adulthood, they need to know these things to be well-rounded, good communicators and to fit into society. The game is not a test, but an education and experience. It is intended to open up discussions, be interesting, and improve memory and develop awareness.

“I started working on Non-Trivial Quest in the summer of 1987. After I took early retirement from Cisco Systems, I thought I could finish the game in three months, but quickly discovered it would take me several more years. I finally introduced the game in March, 2011.”

Arduini’s first lesson for entrepreneurs is that things take longer than you think, but you can always go from hopeless to hopeful.

“If you run into cash-flow problems as we did, this economy makes it tougher to find funding. However, a brilliant site like Kickstarter.com really changes the name of the game for entrepreneurs,” said Arduini.

Kickstarter.com is a crowd funding source that breeds success for millions of small business owners. Create just the right video, ask for the pledges of money and when backers think your idea is worth funding, you’re on your way to a brand new product and business success. In return, the backers receive rewards tiered to their pledges. In Arduini’s case, the rewards for your Non-Trivial Quest pledge includes limited editions of the original game, free apps, and limited editions of the new board game.

Creator Arduini must reach his goal of $20,000 to redesign his extraordinary game into video apps and a new board game.

You can help and get your reward before June 14, 2012 on Kickstarter.com at http://tinyurl.com/7keml5t.

SOURCE Doug Arduini

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With classic storytelling, gorgeous artwork, immersive audio, and charming interactions, Dragon Brush will engage, inspire, and delight.

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BROOKLYN, N.Y., May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ — Innovative app developers Small Planet Digital have partnered with John Solimine, of Spike Press, and Andy Hullinger to create Dragon Brush, an irresistible, interactive storybook for iPhone and iPad, based on a Chinese folktale.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120523/CG12675)

With narration by Matt Berninger and music by Aaron Bryce Dessner—from the acclaimed band, The National—Dragon Brush follows the adventures of Bing-Wen, a young boy who loves to paint. When given a magical brush that makes drawings come to life, Bing-Wen must use his art and his wits to outsmart the greedy Emperor.

Follow the adventures of Bing-Wen as he tries to stay one step ahead of the Emperor and his henchmen, and use the Magic Brush for good (and for mischief).

Readers can:

* Help Bing-Wen’s drawings come magically to life

* Create their own drawings with Dragon Paint

* Find special inkpots in the story and add them to Dragon Paint

* Discover interactive elements and tap, swipe, or tilt on every page

“It is tremendously gratifying to partner with talented writers, artists, and musicians, many of them from Brooklyn, to create original experiences for these amazing devices that are changing the way we read and interact with stories,” said Gavin Fraser, CEO of Small Planet Digital. “We’re looking forward to many more partnerships like this and putting more great apps onto smartphones and tablets.”

“I’m really happy to be a part of Dragon Brush,” remarked Matt Berninger of The National. “It was a chance to work with some old friends, including John Solimine and the folks at Small Planet. This story has all my favorite things: waterfalls, magical dragons, and the sound of my own voice.”

Now available on the App Store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dragon-brush/id525049909?mt=8

Small Planet Digital: www.smallplanetdigital.com

Dragon Brush: www.dragonbrushapp.com

Spike Press: www.spikepress.com

Andy Hullinger: www.andyhullinger.com

The National: http://americanmary.com/

Small Planet Digital is a Brooklyn, NY-based company specializing in mobile application design and development. They have created over 40 apps currently on the app store for clients like Disney Publishing Worldwide, General Motors, Time Inc., Hearst, Paramount Pictures as well as titles under their own label.

Small Planet apps have reached #118 times in the News, Lifestyle, Games, Entertainment, and Books categories, as well as two Apps of the Week. Two of their apps were featured in Apple’s best apps of the year list, App Store Rewind 2011.

John Solimine is an independent designer and illustrator living and working in Brooklyn, NY. Since 2002 his studio, Spike Press, has proudly worked with American Express, Nike, The Washington Post, and Conan O’Brien. His work has been featured in Communication Arts and Print Magazine.

Andy Hullinger lives in Evanston, Illinois with his wife, daughter, and son in a house full of good books and happy animals. He is the Department Chair of Web Design and Development at Harrington College of Design as well as a card-carrying member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Order of Merlin.

The National formed in 1999 and currently live in Brooklyn, NY. Their fifth album, ‘High Violet,’ is The National’s most critically acclaimed and fastest-selling album to date. Released in May 2010, it debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top 200, and prompted the New York Times to claim “The National is in a league of its own.”

Media Contact: Gavin Fraser, Small Planet Digital, 7188018230, info@smallplanet.com

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

SOURCE Small Planet Digital

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Airline offers service for children travelling alone within Canada

CALGARY, May 22, 2012 /CNW/ – WestJet today announced details of its new unaccompanied minor program. The
program launches following feedback from guests encouraging the airline
to unveil a service that allows children to travel alone.

Starting today, children can travel without a parent or guardian as a
part of WestJet’s unaccompanied minor program. The program is required
for children between the ages of eight and 11 and optional for children
ages 12 to 17. Restrictions apply to a child’s eligibility and full
details can be found at westjet.com/childrenstravelprogram 

“The unaccompanied minor program will help connect families around our
domestic network, help us remain competitive and contribute to our
friendly and caring brand,” said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive
Vice-President, Sales, Marketing and Guest Experience. “We are excited
to offer this program to the travelling public and look forward to
welcoming these little guests on board in the very near future.”

Under the unaccompanied minor program, a fee of $100 per child, per
flight, will be added to the fare paid. For this fee, the child will
remain in the care of WestJetters from the time they board the aircraft
until they are met by a parent or guardian on arrival. On flights with
live seatback television, unaccompanied minors will receive a set of
regular earbuds. On routes with buy-on-board service, children will
also receive a free sandwich or other buy-on-board items.

WestJet will accept unaccompanied minors on WestJet-operated domestic
flights that are non-stop or flights that do not require a change of
aircraft. This service is not available on connecting flights, flights
operated by code-share or interline partners or on WestJet Vacations
and WestJet Vacations Group bookings.

WestJet’s guardian fare program, which allows a guardian to accompany a child on their flight, will
remain available for booking and can be used for flights that do not
qualify under the unaccompanied minor program.

Guests interested in making an unaccompanied minor booking can do so now
by contacting WestJet’s Sales Super Centre at 1-888-WESTJET.

About WestJet
WestJet is Canada’s preferred airline, offering scheduled service
throughout its 76-city North American and Caribbean network. Inducted
into Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures Hall of Fame and named
one of Canada’s best employers, WestJet pioneered low-cost flying in
Canada. WestJet offers increased legroom and leather seats on its
modern fleet of 98 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. With future
confirmed deliveries for an additional 37 aircraft through 2018,
WestJet strives to be one of the five most successful international
airlines in the world.

Connect with WestJet on Facebook at www.facebook.com/westjet
Follow WestJet on Twitter at www.twitter.com/westjet
Subscribe to WestJet on YouTube at www.youtube.com/westjet

SOURCE WestJet

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