PANAMA CITY NATION & WORLD | A10 CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES LA’s exclusive Bel Air neighborhood comes under siege from wind-whipped blazes Thursday, December 7, 2017 www.newsherald.com @The_News_Herald facebook.com/panamacitynewsherald 75¢ ‘TIS THE SEASON | A2 Pearl Harbor anniversary $185,000 GOAL Empty Stocking Fund nearing $60,000 Trump declares Jerusalem Israeli capital By Matthew Lee and Bradley Klapper The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Presi- dent Donald Trump shattered decades of unwavering U.S. neutrality on Jerusalem Wednesday, declaring the sorely divided holy city as Israel’s capital and sparking frustrated Palestinians to cry out that he had destroyed already-fragile Mideast hopes for peace. Defying dire, worldwide warnings, Trump insisted that after repeated peace failures it was past time for a new approach, starting with what he said was his deci- sion merely based on reality to recognize Jerusalem as the Army Air Corps veteran Ed Johnson speaks to The News Herald about being in the military when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Johnson seat of Israel’s government. now lives at Sims Veterans Nursing Home in Panama City. [PHOTOS BY PATTI BLAKE/THE NEWS HERALD] He also said the United States would move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, though he set no ‘We didn’t think such an attack would occur’ timetable. “We cannot solve our problems by making the By Collin Breaux for about two years when same failed assumptions and 747-5081 | @PCNHCollinB Japanese forces launched the [email protected] surprise attack against the See TRUMP, A12 U.S. Navy base in Hawaii. He PANAMA CITY — World traveled to Pearl Harbor and War II veterans Ed Johnson elsewhere in Hawaii after the and Ulysses Robinson were attack, calling it a “beautiful young men in their 20s when place.” Pearl Harbor was attacked in “We didn’t think such an 1941. attack would occur,” said The two, who are now Johnson, who served in the in their 90s and living at Army Air Corps during World the Sims Veterans Nursing War II. “It appears the people Home, recalled their mem- in authority were not ready ories of the historic event for anything like that. ... I on the eve of Pearl Harbor was surprised like everyone. I Remembrance Day. Neither didn’t know anyone in Hawaii was at Pearl Harbor during at that time. I know I had a LOCAL & STATE | A3 the attack, but they watched couple of men who wanted to it unfold — Johnson as a ser- go to Hawaii and they went. I ELEVATE BAY vice member and Robinson a was a first sergeant in those Army veteran Ulysses Robinson speaks to The News soldier-to-be. days.” District program Herald about joining the military after the attack on Pearl Johnson was in St. Louis surpasses 400 Harbor in 1941. and had been in the military See WWII, A6 classroom mentors Parker fi shing pier still in design phase Pier will be engineer with the Florida of more than $1 million in part of the program,” Bar- partially funded by Department of Environmen- grant money from the Deep- rett said. “Your sister city BP oil spill money tal Protection (DEP), gave the water Horizon oil spill, with Panama City proposed a Parker City Council an update the rest going to boat dock pier, as well as Gulf County By Collin Breaux on the project. Preliminary improvements. down at Windmark (Beach). 747-5081 | @PCNHCollinB plans call for a 10- to 12-foot- However, Barrett said We’re trying to address all SPORTS | B1 [email protected] wide lighted pier, open to the additional funding is needed of them. One of the concerns public at all hours. The pro- because of increasing con- that’s held us up a little bit is DREAM PARKER — A new fishing posed location for the pier, struction costs and other where will the money come pier under discussion since which is not intended to be factors, but that won’t neces- from. Additional money was COMES TRUE 2010 is moving forward at used for boating, is northeast sarily stop the new pier from originally budgeted for these Earl Gilbert Park. of the boat ramp, situated being built. piers. There could be as much Willie Taggart The city first applied for between the ramp and public “We have to begun to move as several thousand dollars reaches goal funding for the pier after beach. forward on the piers, and I more than was set forth.” of returning the BP oil spill in 2010. On In 2016, Parker received say piers because there’s two home to lead FSU Tuesday, Pearce Barrett, an $844,222 for the pier as part other piers involved in this See PIER, A6 Panama City News Herald Business ........................ A9 Obituaries ......................A5 TODAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Want to subscribe? Diversions ......................B6 Sports......................... B1-5 Rain; cooler Rain; cool Mostly sunny Call 850-747-5050 Local & State .............. A3-6 Viewpoints .................... A8 53° / 42° 50° / 34° 55° / 35° * ** A2 Thursday, December 7, 2017 | The News Herald READER FEEDBACK EMPTY STOCKING FUND TODAY IN HISTORY A Cove resident recently Today is Thursday, Dec. 7, the posted on social media that The Empty Stocking On the Web 341st day of 2017. There are 24 a twinkling elf and Christmas Fund began more than days left in the year. boxes were stolen out of his 30 years ago, when Salva- See all this year’s donations yard. The house belonged to tion Army board member at newsherald.com Today’s Highlight in History: his grandfather, and they’re Tommy Thomas and The On Dec. 7, 1941, during a series known for their impressive News Herald joined forces of raids in the Pacifi c, Impe- Christmas light displays. to bring holiday cheer to through Friday from 8 a.m. rial Japan’s navy launched a the area’s needy families. to 5 p.m. pre-emptive attack on the U.S. Wanda Solomon: “Good gravy, The first goal was $20,000. The News Herald runs a Navy base at Pearl Harbor in this is what happens when The fund’s target has list of contributions sev- Hawaii, killing 2,400 people, sparing the rod on these grown since and the cam- eral times during the week. about half of them on the youngsters has come to. They paign has raised more than You can make donations battleship USS Arizona. (The have little respect for other $4 million. This year’s goal anonymously, in the giv- United States declared war people’s property and walk is $185,000. er’s name or in someone’s against Japan the next day.) around like they are privileged Each year, when the goal memory. and are owed.” is reached, Bill Cramer On this date: Chevrolet Cadillac Buick $250 In 43 B.C., Roman statesman Tracy Forren: “Why can’t GMC donates an additional Clint and Rhonda Mayo and scholar Marcus Tullius people just leave other $5,000. Cicero was slain at the order of people’s things alone??? If you You can mail donations $200 the Second Triumvirate. want something, work and pay to either of these addresses: Laura Mitchell In 1787, Delaware became the fi rst for it!” The Empty Stocking Fund, state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. c/o The Salvation Army, $100 In 1842, the New York Philhar- Susan Eickhof: “ ‘He sees you P.O. Box 540, Panama City, Dr. and Mrs. Gary Carrier, $50 monic performed its fi rst concert. when you’re sleeping, he knows FL 32402; or The News in memory of Tony and Rita Phillip Smith In 1909, chemist Leo H. Baekeland when you’re awake ...’ Some- Herald, P.O. Box 1940, DeFilio, Martha Carrier and Eugene Crist and Janet Crist received a U.S. patent for Bakelite, one’s getting coal this year!” Panama City, FL 32402, or Claude R. Campbell and Nanette Crist the fi rst synthetic plastic. visit salvationarmypan- Anonymous, in memory of In 1917, during World War I, the Doctors in Miami faced an amacity.org, text 41444. Nancy Ann $25 United States declared war on unusual ethical dilemma when You also can drop off Steve and Pam Rudloff, in Barbara Strausbaugh Austria-Hungary. an unconscious, deteriorat- donations at The News memory of our parents In 1946, fi re broke out at the ing patient was brought into Herald, 501 W. 11th St., Joseph Winkeler, in memory Daily total: $875 Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta; the the emergency room with the Panama City, Monday of Bernard Winkeler Grand total: $59,312.62 blaze killed 119 people, including words “Do Not Resuscitate” hotel founder W. Frank Winecoff. tattooed across his chest. In 1967, the Beatles opened the Apple Boutique in London; the Brandi Christensen: “That venture proved disastrous, and person took it upon themselves the shop closed the following July. to permanently tattoo it, then CELEBRATE COMMUNITY In 1972, America’s last moon they must feel strongly about mission to date was launched it! Let them die.” as Apollo 17 blasted off from PICTURE PERFECT Cape Canaveral. Imelda Sarah Perritt: “In major Marcos, wife of Philippine Pres- tragedies, fi rst responders We want your photos: Post your photos to the News Herald Facebook page with your name, city of ident Ferdinand E. Marcos, was write pertinent information on residence and information about the photo. You can email photos to [email protected]. stabbed and seriously wounded bodies and patients in Sharpie. by an assailant who was shot What’s the difference?” dead by her bodyguards. In 1987, 43 people were killed Russian athletes will be after a gunman aboard a allowed to compete at the Pacifi c Southwest Airlines upcoming Pyeongchang jetliner in California apparently Olympics as neutrals despite opened fi re on a fellow pas- orchestrated doping at the senger, the pilots and himself, 2014 Sochi Games, the Interna- causing the plane to crash.