Lawyer: Bradley Manning is doing well in prison

BALTIMORE A lawyer for Army Pvt. Bradley Manning, who now goes by the name of Chelsea Manning, said in a blog post on Thursday the soldier is doing well as he goes through processing at the military prison at Fort Leavenworth.

David Coombs wrote that he spoke on Wednesday with Manning while he goes through the three-to-four-week period known as indoctrination at the Kansas prison. Coombs, who lives in Rhode Island, also said he plans to travel there in the coming weeks to meet with medical staff and the leadership in the quest to allow Manning to receive hormone therapy and other treatment for his gender dysphoria -- the sense of being a woman trapped in a man's body.

Coombs went on the "Today" show last week, a day after Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison for giving government secrets to WikiLeaks, to announce that Manning wants to live as a woman named Chelsea and begin hormone treatment as soon as possible.

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"These requests address a serious medical need of Chelsea and are consistent with the general medical community's practice of adequate medical care for those with gender dysphoria," Coombs wrote.

It is Army policy not to provide such treatment; soldiers diagnosed with gender dysphoria are administratively discharged. But Manning cannot be discharged until he completes his prison sentence and exhausts all appeals of his court-martial findings.

When asked by The Associated Press on Thursday whether Manning has yet requested treatment, Coombs said in an email it was too soon to provide additional information. He told the AP earlier in the week that if the Army refuses to pay for it, Manning would pay, but it is not clear whether the prison will allow that.

Army Medical Command spokeswoman Maria Tolleson said soldiers are allowed on a case-by-case basis to pay for procedures not covered by the military's medical insurance program, such as elective cosmetic surgery. Manning was diagnosed with gender dysphoria by two Army behavioral health specialists before his trial, but Tolleson said in an email that patient medical records are reviewed and prisoners are re-evaluated when they move to a new facility. She said Army providers use nationally recognized standards found in the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.

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Coombs wrote on his blog that he told Manning during their conversation Wednesday of the public's response to the "Today" show announcement, and of the decision by several news organizations, including AP, to refer to him by his new name.

"Chelsea was very happy to hear of these developments. She requested that I relay how grateful that she is for everyone's understanding and continued support," Coombs wrote.

Coombs also said Manning has already made some new friends at the prison "who accept her for who she is."

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Armstrong retirees meeting in Bradley

• BRADLEY

Armstrong retirees

Armstrong retirees will meet at 1 p.m. on Sept. 4 at The Family House Restaurant in Bradley.

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Bradley Manning's lawyer gives more details on client's desired gender change

PROVIDENCE, R.I. Army Pvt. Bradley Manning, who now prefers to be called Chelsea Manning, decided to announce the desire to live as a woman the day after sentencing took place because a military prison said publicly it would not provide hormone treatment, his attorney said Monday.

Attorney David Coombs told The Associated Press that Manning had known for a long time he would make such a statement but, "She wanted, essentially, for the media surrounding the trial to dissipate."

Manning did not want people to think the statement was insincere.

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"People might think it was an effort to get further attention," said Coombs, who lives in Providence, R.I.

Coombs said he and Manning knew the Army might not provide hormone treatment, but they were hoping the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., would allow it since Manning had been diagnosed with gender-identity disorder by an Army psychiatrist who testified at his trial.

It wasn't until they read a Courthouse News Service story that Manning decided to make the announcement. The story quoted prison spokeswoman Kimberly Lewis saying the prison would not provide hormone therapy. It was published Aug. 20, the day before Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison for leaking mountains of classified material to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.

"It was Chelsea's intent to do this all along," Coombs said. "It was only after Fort Leavenworth had said that they would not provide any sort of medical treatment that we decided not to wait."

Coombs said he hoped the military prison "will simply do the right thing" so Manning will not have to sue in military or civilian court.

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Coombs said at this point, Manning does not want sex-reassignment surgery and expects to be kept with men in prison. The Fort Leavenworth prison is all-male. He said Manning is exploring changing names legally and would request that the military recognize the new name.

Coombs said he had seen online people objecting to taxpayer-funded hormone therapy and said if the Army won't pay for it, Manning will.

Hormone therapy, which typically involves high doses of estrogen to promote breast development and other female characteristics, can help Manning, Coombs said.

"It's just to be comfortable in her own skin," Coombs said.

He described it as similar to ensuring someone with high blood pressure gets medication.

Coombs also said on his blog Monday that Manning chose Elizabeth as his middle name, replacing Edward.

Coombs said Manning knows there is the potential for confusion with the name change, and said Manning expects to be referred to as Bradley when it has to do with events prior to sentencing, the appeal of the court-martial and the request for a presidential pardon. Prison mail must be addressed to Bradley Manning.

"There's a realization that most people know her as Bradley," Coombs said. "Chelsea is a realist and understands."

Manning was demoted from private first class to private at sentencing. Manning will be dishonorably discharged when the soldier finishes the prison sentence. The earliest Manning could be released on parole is 2020.

Coombs also said the Bradley Manning Support Network is changing its name to the Private Manning Support Network. The group has raised more than $1 million and is paying Manning's legal expenses.

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Bradley Manning's lawyer gives more details on client's desired gender change

PROVIDENCE, R.I. Army Pvt. Bradley Manning, who now prefers to be called Chelsea Manning, decided to announce the desire to live as a woman the day after sentencing took place because a military prison said publicly it would not provide hormone treatment, his attorney said Monday.

Attorney David Coombs told The Associated Press that Manning had known for a long time he would make such a statement but, "She wanted, essentially, for the media surrounding the trial to dissipate."

Manning did not want people to think the statement was insincere.

Play Video

"People might think it was an effort to get further attention," said Coombs, who lives in Providence, R.I.

Coombs said he and Manning knew the Army might not provide hormone treatment, but they were hoping the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., would allow it since Manning had been diagnosed with gender-identity disorder by an Army psychiatrist who testified at his trial.

It wasn't until they read a Courthouse News Service story that Manning decided to make the announcement. The story quoted prison spokeswoman Kimberly Lewis saying the prison would not provide hormone therapy. It was published Aug. 20, the day before Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison for leaking mountains of classified material to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.

"It was Chelsea's intent to do this all along," Coombs said. "It was only after Fort Leavenworth had said that they would not provide any sort of medical treatment that we decided not to wait."

Coombs said he hoped the military prison "will simply do the right thing" so Manning will not have to sue in military or civilian court.

Play Video

Coombs said at this point, Manning does not want sex-reassignment surgery and expects to be kept with men in prison. The Fort Leavenworth prison is all-male. He said Manning is exploring changing names legally and would request that the military recognize the new name.

Coombs said he had seen online people objecting to taxpayer-funded hormone therapy and said if the Army won't pay for it, Manning will.

Hormone therapy, which typically involves high doses of estrogen to promote breast development and other female characteristics, can help Manning, Coombs said.

"It's just to be comfortable in her own skin," Coombs said.

He described it as similar to ensuring someone with high blood pressure gets medication.

Coombs also said on his blog Monday that Manning chose Elizabeth as his middle name, replacing Edward.

Coombs said Manning knows there is the potential for confusion with the name change, and said Manning expects to be referred to as Bradley when it has to do with events prior to sentencing, the appeal of the court-martial and the request for a presidential pardon. Prison mail must be addressed to Bradley Manning.

"There's a realization that most people know her as Bradley," Coombs said. "Chelsea is a realist and understands."

Manning was demoted from private first class to private at sentencing. Manning will be dishonorably discharged when the soldier finishes the prison sentence. The earliest Manning could be released on parole is 2020.

Coombs also said the Bradley Manning Support Network is changing its name to the Private Manning Support Network. The group has raised more than $1 million and is paying Manning's legal expenses.

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Bradley railroad show next stop for teacher-turned-collector

More than 40 years ago, a Kankakee grade-schooler brought his teacher a railroad lantern without its glass globe — something that re-ignited a passion first kindled for mathematics teacher Clayton Rattin when he was a schoolboy himself at Wichert.

The love of all things railroad.

At Wichert, decades ago, the schoolhouse was just a bit west of the local asparagus cannery and the railroad siding that served it. "I'd go down to the railroad at recess and watch the steam engines back cars in the siding," Rattin recalled of his first railroad thrills. "Of course, I had to run back after lunch."

When his student brought him the incomplete railroad lantern in 1969, Rattin contacted collector Gil Irps, of Aroma Park, who said he didn't have the globe required to restore the Wabash RR lantern, but that half a dozen collectors were planning a sale in his yard and might have one.

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Model railroad show, Bradley

•BRADLEY

Model railroad show

The Illinois Central Historical Society will be hosting its annual meeting starting 9 a.m. Friday and Aug. 24, with guest presentations during the event at the Quality Inn & Suites by Choice Hotels, 800 N. Kinzie Ave., Bradley.

Admission to the train show is free and open to the public. There will be a 6 p.m. dinner by reservation only. Registration for the meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. A model train and railroad memorabilia show will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 24 and a guest speaker.

For more information, visit icrrhistorical.org, call Randy Take at 630-649-8709 or email randytake2@aol.com.

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Motorcycle crash hasn't slowed Bradley automotive artist

Keith Kibbons doesn't just make lemonade from lemons. He can turn a potential disaster into a work of art.

The 35-year-old mechanical genius from Bradley has been expressing himself in various forms of transportation since 1999. And two months ago, he moved his artist workshop, Kustom Kreations by Kibbons, to its new home at 980 N. Washington St. in Kankakee.

Inside the garage, the artist's work includes a customers' 1970 Camaro, sure to be a future car showstopper. On the other end, there's a four-door pickup truck that Kibbons describes as "jacked to the moon." It's now getting some special paint features.

But out in front of the shop sits the one-of-a-kind motorcycle that tells the story of Kibbons' escape from serious injury.

"It was a 2004 Harley-Davidson that I made into my own personal bike," he explained. "I like to take my [7-year-old] son Neiko on rides with me.

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Bradley Beach man charged with sexual assault

BRADLEY BEACH — A 46-year-old borough man has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman in a residence who was asking for train money, authorities said.

Al-Jihad Muhammed has been charged with sexual assault, Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Clark said. Muhammed is being held in Monmouth County Jail in Freehold in lieu of $200,000 bail.

The assault is believed to have happened after the victim made the request for train money, Clark said. After the request, the attacker forced the woman to have sex with him. The victim and her attacker were acquaintances, Clark said.

The Asbury Park Press asked the Monmouth County Prosecutor?s Office for a photo of the suspect, but they refused. State law allows authorities discretion in releasing suspect photos, but they often refuse to do so, saying they are prohibited by the Monmouth County Prosecutor?s Office.

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