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Kraut Caper Keeps Cars Corralled

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Drivers Left With Sauer Taste

A SAUERKRAUT TRANSPORT TRUCK was involved in a messy accident Tuesday morning in the German state of Hesse shortly before 5 am.  The driver of the kraut-carrier misjudged the speed of a car directly ahead and drove into the rear of the car.  A second truck failed to react in time and crashed into the rear of the kraut transporter.

All photos via FNP

The secondary crash cause several hundred bags of sauerkraut to be flung out onto the highway where they splatted open in the sub-freezing weather.  The chopped kraut and the juices all froze almost immediately onto the pavement making an unnavigable slippery mess.

Shovels or brooms were no use on the stubborn chopped vegetable and the highway department had to send a salt truck out to cover and thaw the frozen mess.  The autobahn had to be completely shut down causing a 10-kilometer backup while the vegetables and vehicles were all removed from the crash scene.

The lanes were finally reopened at 9 am.  The woman driving the car was slightly injured and the two truck drivers were not injured at all.  The damage estimate was 157,000 Euros.

Franfurter Neue Presse has the STORY.

Hat tip:  Christian Lewalter.

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Posted by on February 8, 2012 • Filed under: current events, Fire Rescue Topics, News • Tagged: , ,

Last Surviving Veteran of World War I Passes

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They're All Gone Now

THE LAST KNOWN SURVIVING UNIFORMED VETERAN OF WORLD WAR I has passed away in England.  It was announced today (Tuesday) that Florence Green of King's Lynn died in her sleep in a nursing home on Saturday, just two weeks shy of her 111th birthday.

According to published news releases,  Green joined the fledgling Royal Air Force in September 1918 at age 17 and served as a mess steward at two air bases in Norfolk.  Two months later the Armistice was signed ending the war, but she continued in the RAF until the following July.

The dear lady never mentioned her service in later years until a researcher at the UK military archives discovered her records.  On her 109th birthday the RAF honored her with a visit from a wing commander and a representative mess steward of today who brought a cake.

Mess Steward Hannah Shaw visited Florence in 2010
to help celebrate her 109th birthday.  (Ministry of Defence photo)

Her mind was alert and nimble right to the end.  On her 110th birthday someone asked her what it was like to be that old, and she replied, "It's not much different than being 109, I guess."  Her husband Walter died in 1970 and since then she lived with her oldest daughter, now 90, until the end of this past November when she entered the nursing home.

BBC News has the STORY.
The Associated Press has more details HERE.

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Posted by on February 7, 2012 • Filed under: culture, current events, News • Tagged: , , ,

Ferrari Formula 1 – winter edition

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Snowmaggeden in Europe

Two years ago we were in the middle of Snowmagedden. A Delayed Meet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010 picture from dcfd.com

Europe has been smacked hard by snow. According to Associated Press's Frances D'Emilio, Italy is issuing government snow shovels to handle the up to 8" snowfall, the worst they have experienced in 26 years.

Snow on the racetrack

Scuderia Ferrari tweeted this picture of their racetrack:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That has not slowed down preparation for the next Formula 1 season. Here is a sneak preview of their latest vehicle:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Better ground clearance than their non-snow version, that appears to use as snow shovel as a aerodynamic aid:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on February 5, 2012 • Filed under: cars, News, weather • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Car Crash Kills Fire Chief and Injures Assistant Chief in Pennsylvania

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No Chance to React

THE FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA (near Erie) FIRE CHIEF and Assistant Fire Chief were traveling to a training session at 7 pm Thursday evening when a car coming the opposite direction crossed the center of the roadway and struck them head-on.

David Flint  (WICU-TV)

The crash killed Chief David Flint and seriously injured Asst. Chief Sharon Petri.  The driver of the other car, Joshua Nickerson, 29, was treated for minor injuries and released.

The Erie Times-News adds:

Flint was taken to UPMC Hamot, where he was pronounced dead at 8:14 p.m. An autopsy conducted Friday determined that Flint died of blunt-force trauma to the trunk, Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook said.

WFXP-TV

Flint was not wearing a seat belt, state police said. A passenger in Flint's car, 40-year-old Sharon C. Petri, of Edinboro, also was unbelted, police said. Petri was taken from the accident scene to UPMC Hamot. She was listed in fair condition on Friday, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Nickerson was taken to Hamot for treatment of moderate injuries. He was later released from the hospital. Nickerson was wearing a seat belt, police said.

Flint had been the fire chief for six years.

WJET-TV has more plus a good video report HERE.

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Posted by on February 4, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, current events, News, rescue, Rescues • Tagged: , , ,

Ambulance Official Charged in Land-Flip Deal

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Outside Bidders Excluded

A MISSOURI AMBULANCE DISTRICT OFFICIAL has been arrested and charged with misdemeanor insider information for a land-flip that he profited from in March 2011.  The president of Northland Regional Ambulance District in Platte County, Kevin Rawlings, 40, is accused of buying land and reselling it to his own ambulance authority knowing that they were planning on building a new station in the area.

Kevin Rawlings

The Kansas City Star reports:

According to court records, Rawlings purchased 34 acres in April 2010 for $130,000. He resold 1.5 acres to the ambulance district in March 2011 for $175,000.  Prosecutor Eric Zahnd said Thursday that Rawlings allegedly made $144,000 from the transaction.

Land that sold for $58,000 per acre  (NBC News)

There was no record that the agency had the land appraised at that time, court records stated. However, an appraisal in November 2011 put its worth at $30,600.

Rawlings was elected board president in 2006. He knew as early as 2008 that the district wanted to build a new station near Route U at the Camden Point exit.

According to the ambulance board minutes, Rawlings instructed the District's executive director to look for sites in the area where he had purchased the property.  When the Board "called" for bids, Rawlings was the only bidder.

The dubious activity first came to the taxpayers' attention back in March 2011 when NBC News filed this video report that detailed the entire transaction:

 

The Kansas City Star has more details HERE.
The St. Joseph News-Press has MORE.
Northland Regional Ambulance District WEBSITE.

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Posted by on February 3, 2012 • Filed under: crime, EMS Topics, News, Videos • Tagged: ,

Another VFD Officer Goes to Jail

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This Time Was a Record-Setter

A FORMER SOMERSET COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, VFD president was sentenced Tuesday after admitting that he had stolen $820,000 from his fire company.  Henry Swincinski, 61, was president of the Windber Volunteer Fire Company from 2002 through 2010 when he pilfered the funds using his authority to access the bank account.  He had been a member of the VFC for 35 years.

The Somerset Daily American reports:

Swincinski was sentenced to 11 1/2 to 23 months in Somerset County Jail followed by seven years of supervised probation for 56 counts of theft by deception, all third-degree felonies. He must perform 200 hours of community service when he is released. (He was also ordered to repay the FD $810,000 restitution…..ed.)

In February 2010 Paint Township police charged Swincinski with 974 counts in two cases that involved taking funds meant for the fire company and Northern EMS and putting them in his own pocket. The multiple charges were for the offenses of theft by deception, receiving stolen property and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received from 2002 through 2010.

When the department was suddenly not paying its bills, Swincinski blamed it on the "hard times" and told the members that they would have to hold more fundraisers and make more money.

The Windber Fire Company was organized in 1899.

Read the detailed report in the Daily American HERE.
Windber Fire Company WEBSITE.

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Posted by on February 2, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, crime, current events, News • Tagged: ,

74+ Dead in Self-Inflicted Mass Casualty Incident

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Untold Hundreds Injured

AT LEAST 74 PEOPLE WERE KILLED and hundreds more injured when a riot broke out at a soccer game in Port Said, Egypt, Wednesday night  The home team, el Masry from Port Said had just won its match against el Ahley, a superior and favored team from Cairo, 3-1, when hundreds of "fans" poured out of the stands onto the soccer pitch and began brawling.

Xinhua

The players from the two teams ran to the safety of the locker rooms with the assistance of stadium security people, but two players were still injured before they could get off the field.

el-Ahly players run for their lives to the locker rooms  (Xinhua)

This video posted by Youm7 News opens with the el Ahley players being chased off the field:

 

Xinhua News reports:

Due to insufficient security, most of the fans entered the stadium with sticks in their hands and supporters of the two rival teams started fighting each other.

The riot was caused by some insulting posters carried by the Ahly fans, Nile TV reported. One of the posters read "Port Said is like rubbish and it has no men."

Chief of Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Hussein Tantawi, ordered two military helicopters to transfer the players, fans and the injured to the capital Cairo.

Egyptian Prosecutor General Abdel Maguid Mahmoud ordered an investigation into the riot. The parliament will hold an emergency session Thursday over the incident.

The rioting spilled out of the stadium into the surround streets forcing shops to close and bar their doors.

In Cairo, another match was being held between Zamalik and Ismaily.  During their half-time break, news of the riot in Port Said was delivered to the stadium officials and it was decided to cancel the second half of the match in case the rioters were planning on spreading the protest to the other stadium.  When it was announced to the fans in attendance that the rest of the match was cancelled, they began to riot, setting fires throughout the stadium.

The chief of the military police vowed to track down those responsible and arrest them.

The Sydney Morning Herald has an extended report HERE.

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Posted by on February 1, 2012 • Filed under: culture, current events, Mass Casualty Incident, News, Videos

500 first responder runs a day

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GPS smartphone app + ambucycles = immediate response

Among the high-minded discusion and topless protest at the World Economic Forum in Davos was a presentation by Eli Beer, Chief Coordinator of United Hatzalah (Rescue).

Creating a Network of Heros describes the process of empowering 1,700 volunteers in Israel to immediately respond to a life-threatening medical emergency.

United Hatzalah's ambucycles are a solution when ambulances that needs to arrive quickly to save lives are unable to travel through congested traffic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The volunteers have an ambucycle with AED and first aid kit. They have a GPS application in their smart phone that displays the location of the emergency

From their website:

United Hatzalah of Israel is an independent non-profit fully volunteer Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Organization that assists in responding to medical emergencies throughout Israel.

The primary role of United Hatzalah volunteers – trained and certified as EMTs, Paramedics and MD’s – is to provide an immediate response within 2-4 minutes from the onset of an incident: establishing a life-saving bridge of medical care; transmitting vital information to control centers and once the local ambulance service arrives, working alongside its crew to enable a swift transfer to hospital. United Hatzalah's education department is an innovative leader in the fields of public health, safety and accident prevention training.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on February 1, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, EMS Dispatch, EMS Topics, News, Technology & Communications, Urban Commander, Videos • Tagged: , , , ,

The Heart and Soul of the Pontiac Fire Department

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Godspeed to the members of the Pontiac, Michigan, Fire Department

April 23, 1883 – January 31, 2012

After nearly 180 years, "Pontiac Fire Department" will no longer be the name on the side to the engines or on the front of the Stations, but it will be the name that every pontiac fire fighter past and present will never forget because it is in our heart and soul.

Once a pontiac fire fighter always a pontiac fire fighter.

http://youtu.be/CL8MHzpSTPE

Pontiac Fire Department's Last Day

PONTIAC (WXYZ) – A lot of history hangs in the halls of Pontiac’s main fire station. Pictures showcase the brave men who risk their lives daily for their community.

Tuesday, a photographer documented the last day the building will be running as part of the Pontiac Fire Department.

Wednesday morning, the Waterford Fire Department will take over and respond to calls in the city of Pontiac. A decision made by an Emergency Manager to cut costs.

Read more of Tara Edwards article HERE

History of the Pontiac Fire Department

http://youtu.be/noBc9aC-G-w

According to the agreement, the top 13 Pontiac firefighters will be granted the opportunity to take early retirement rather than working until their 25th year. The 44 remaining firefighters are eligible for employment with Waterford Township. The city of Pontiac will grant them one-time bonuses of up to $15,000.

Leslie Shepard (2012 January 4) Pontiac firefighters accept Waterford service pact. SpinalColumn

There were 57 Pontiac firefighters. Tara Edward's article today stated that 42 firefighters got jobs at Waterford.

In the FY 2009 – 2010 budget there were 103 approved positions, shrinking to 80 positions in the FY 2010 – 2011 budget. 22 of the 23 positions eliminated were firefighters.

In 2010 the city police department was disbanded, replaced with Oakland County sheriffs.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on January 31, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, News, Urban Commander • Tagged: , , , ,

B shifter quarterly starts second year

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Volume 2, Issue 1, hits the intertubes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Blue Card Subscribers:

Check out B Shifter’s latest installment at http://bshifter.com/SelectMagazines.aspx.

Our latest installment features Joe Starnes discussing flashover causes and prevention. Some firefighting friends from Oz talk about the Australian fire service—complete with a lessons-learned tale of communications gone wrong. Bruno introduces two new reader-response columns, and Vincent Dunn discusses fire-supression techniques in single-family residences. Lots of free downloads! Take a look!

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Posted by on January 30, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighting Operations, News, Training, Training & Development, Urban Commander • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Promotional Opportunities

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Child Porn Claims Another One

A HOUSTON, TEXAS, FIRE CAPTAIN HAS RESIGNED following his arrest and incarceration for possessing child pornography and "inappropriate online contact" with an underage girl.

Saul A. Fiszer

Saul Fiszer, 49, was arrested earlier this week and placed on leave.  He has been with the HFD for 18 years but volunteered to resign on Friday.  He has been in jail since Tuesday on $20,000 bond that apparently nobody is willing to post for him.

The Houston Chronicle reports:

On Jan. 10, Fiszer's wife found a frequently called number on his cellphone, according to court records. Posing as him, she began texting the number.

Fiszer's wife "found that the person texting her from the cellphone was a 14-year-old female who resided in Casper, Wyo., and referred to Fiszer as 'Daddy,' " the records state.

Confronted by his wife, Fiszer "admitted to her that he had been chatting online and trading pictures" with the teen, according to records.

Fiszer told police that he tried to kill himself by running a hose into his vehicle from its exhaust, but the suicide attempt failed when he ran out of gas.

Houston police confiscated Fiszer's laptop and media storage devices that held pornographic images and a video of children, investigators said. Officials said they found at least 450 images of child pornography.

KTRK-TV adds:

Fiszer's wife told investigators that she contacted the girl's parents as well as police in Wyoming to report the incident. Police there confiscated the girl's cell phone.

According to court documents, Fiszer's wife confronted him about the girl and she said he admitted to her that he had been chatting online and exchanging lewd pictures with the girl. The wife also told authorities that she had previously destroyed Fiszer's old laptop after she discovered he had been chatting with other women on the internet.

KTRK also filed this video report:

 

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Posted by on January 28, 2012 • Filed under: crime, current events, labor, News, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

No more seasonal employees at da’ Shore

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A summer resort town grows up

A cryptic post in TheWatchDesk (TWD) indicates the end of an Eastern Shore tradition.

 

 

 

 

 

This is first post from 73fire74. TWD is more known for busting chops than breaking news, but ….

No announcement posted on the city's employment page. 

We posted last year's job annoucement on January 5. (Mark Brady, PGFD PIO, took this surf rescue picture while off-duty.)

Work at 'da Shore

The town has been growing, and the combined efforts of the volunteers and career fire-ems seem to result in significant growth of the department.

New station and new rigs

A new Station 5 replaced a garage-with-a-toilet in West Ocean City, dedicated in September 2011.

 

 

 

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Two KME Predator pumpers were delivered in December:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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New Engine 2 and Engine 1 (OC announcement).

These rigs join the 2009 KME's assigned to Engine 16 and Engine 4.

There also is a fireboat under construction, a first for the town.

Pretty cool!

Mike "Fossilmedic" Ward, a seasonal employee in 1974.

A "back in the day" reflection in  Beach Patrol First Responders (August 21. 2007)

Correction: The 2011 surf rescue picture was taken by PGFD PIO Mark Brady, picked up by WUSA9 for article. Thanks to Dave Statter for keeping me accurate! Other pictures from OCVFD website.

Posted by on January 28, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, EMS Topics, Funding & Staffing, News, Vehicle Operation & Ambulances • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Update – Mysterious Misconduct Lands Firefighter in Jail

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Updated:  Charges Laid Out in Open Hearing Friday Morning.  Scroll Down.

A HALIFAX, MASSACHUSETTS, FIREFIGHTER was arrested Thursday afternoon on undisclosed charges and later released on bond.  Matthew Paris was picked up around 4 pm on a warrant and will face an arraignment this morning (Friday).

Halifax Fire Station

Hallifax Fire Chief William Carrico confirmed that one of his FF's has been arrested and said that he will issue a press release later this morning.  News reports are saying that Paris was charged with misconduct on the job, but nothing specific is known yet.  (Scroll down for update that outlines the charges.)

WCVB-TV Ch. 5 posted this video report last night:

 

FF Paris was hired on a part-time basis in 1998 and since 2000 has been a full-time firefighter with the department.  Halifax has six officers, six full-time fireghters and 16 paid-on-call FF's.

The Enterprise has MORE.
Halifax Fire Department WEBSITE.

Update, 1:30 pm Eastern:

Facing a judge in an open hearing Friday morning, Paris heard the charges laid against him for lewd acts committed on a minor.  Specifically, he was charged with two counts of open and gross lewdness, one count of accosting or annoying a person of the opposite sex, and one count of distribution of obscene material to a minor after he allegedly exposed himself and talked about sex to a 14-year-old.

Paris in his court appearance
on Friday.  (NECN image)

Prosecutors said the girl and her parents reported to police four separate incidents with Paris that happened between last summer and last week. The girl said the last incident happened last Friday.

He is being held on $10,000 bail.

NECN filed this video report from the courtroom:

 

The Wicked Local has more details HERE.

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Posted by on January 27, 2012 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, labor, News, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

Deputy VFD Chief Ambushed, Shot in Pennsylvania

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Ex-Wife's Boyfriend Arrested

A VOLUNTEER FIRE OFFICER, GLEN RUSSELL, 43, of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, was getting out of his car Tuesday mid-day when he was suddenly ambushed by a masked man carrying a shotgun who fired on Russell.  Despite being hit several times, Russell managed to run into a nearby bank lobby seeking help.  The bank employees locked the door and called for police.

Glen Russell

The Reading Eagle continues:

(Russell), a Berks County real estate agent was ambushed and shot by his ex-wife’s lover as he arrived for a counseling appointment with his former wife at a Spring Township office complex, according to court documents available today.

Glen Russell, 43, of Pottstown was shot multiple times with a shotgun by Christopher Yingling, 41, of Birdsboro about 11 a.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of Spring Commons Professional Office Village, 2917 Windmill Road, police said.

Russell told police that Yingling had shot him, and Yingling was arrested about two hours later at his workplace in Cumru Township with the help of Cumru police, investigators said.

Christopher Yingling  (Angstadt / Reading Eagle)

WFMZ-TV filed this video report Tuesday evening:

 

The police have not found a motive yet from Yingling who is being held on $150,000 bond charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault.

Glen Russell is a long-time member and a Deputy Chief of the Limerick Fire Company in Montgomery County.  He remains in critical but stable condition in the hospital today.

The Reading Eagle has the details of the story along with an eyewitness' account of the shooting HERE.

Limerick Fire Company WEBSITE.

Hat tip:  Radical Ron

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Save on Select Sony Cameras from Amazon
Starting at $89.00

CLICK HERE to view the choices and to order yours.

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Posted by on January 25, 2012 • Filed under: crime, current events, News, Videos • Tagged: , ,

Bonnie’s Tommy Gun Brings $130 Grand

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Pair of Notorious Guns Auctioned Off Saturday

TWO GUNS LEFT BEHIND BY BONNIE & CLYDE when a police raid on their Joplin, Missouri apartment caused them to flee, were sold at a Kansas City auction house Saturday for $210,000.

On Friday Firegeezer REPORTED HERE on the upcoming auction and we included some brief history on the two firearms, one a Thompson submachine gun and the other a 12-gauge Winchester shotgun.  The machine gun is the only "Tommy" gun that the Barrow gang is known to have carried.

Mayo Auction photo

The guns were seized by the raiding policemen on April 13, 1933, and kept as spoils by one of them who later gave them to the great-grandfather of the people who sold them this week.  This marked the first time they had ever been sold since they were stolen and kept by Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.

Both items were sold fairly quickly and the same bidder won both guns, paying $130,000 for the Thompson and $80,000 for the Winchester.  The successful telephone bidder was not identified publicly other than as "an East Coast gun collector."

This brief video shows the guns on display at the auction room just prior to the sale:

 

For more information on the guns' histories, refer to the Firegeezer story HERE.

In an article on the sale after its conclusion, the Joplin Globe wrote:

The weapons are believed to be among those seized after a raid April 13, 1933, at the outlaws’ apartment hideout near 34th Street and Oak Ridge Drive in Joplin.

Five lawmen in two cars, armed only with handguns, descended on the apartment, and a bloody gunfight ensued. Two of the lawmen — Newton County Constable John Wesley Harryman and Joplin police Detective Harry McGinnis — were killed. Clyde Barrow, Buck Barrow and fellow gang member W.D. "Deacon" Jones were injured.

After the raid, police confiscated guns, a camera and personal items from the apartment, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. The film in the camera, which was developed by The Joplin Globe at the time, was of special interest. The images on the film, which include some with the guns, were the first to identify the outlaws. Historians say the publication of those images in newspapers across the country spelled the beginning of the end for the duo.

Read the entire article HERE.

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Posted by on January 23, 2012 • Filed under: culture, current events, Guns, News • Tagged: , , , ,

Bonnie’s and Clyde’s Guns To Be Sold Saturday

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Cultural Artifacts on the Auction Block

SERIOUS GUN COLLECTORS (AND FANS) ARE streaming into Kansas City today so that they can attend the Mayo Auction & Realty Co.'s major firearm auction on Saturday.  More than 100 firearms on consignment will be sold beginning at 10 am.

The star offerings in this show are two guns owned by the infamous Bonnie Parker & Clyde Barrow, the Depression-Era criminals who traveled the mid-west holding up banks and killing nine police officers along with dozens of innocent civilians.

The weapons coming on the block are a Thompson sub-machine gun treasured and used by Bonnie Parker that was the only "Tommy" gun that the gang ever owned.  The other is a 12-gauge Winchester shotgun model 1897.

all photos via Mayo Auctions

The guns were left behind in a Joplin, Missouri, hotel room when police raided the gang.  They escaped by a hair, but left behind a weapons cache and a camera.  One of the raiding officers took the Tommy gun and the 12-gauge along with the camera for souvenirs.  When the film in the camera was developed, the photos were of the couple in various "crime guy and moll" poses that have since become iconic.

According to Mayo Auctions, the sellers' great-grandfather, M. L. Lairmore who was in law enforcement at the time, was given the two guns by another peace officer who had seized the weapons after a raid on the pair in Joplin, Missouri in April of 1933.

The guns have been in the family of Mark Lairmore and his sisters, the sellers, from Springfield, MO., ever since the unknown Depression-era police officer gave them to their great-grandfather.  For the past 35 years they have been on loan to the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department's museum where they have been on display.  The family has now decided to sell the weapons and consigned them to this auction to be held on January 21.

Mayo's WEBSITE HERE has a series of close-up photos of the weapons for inspection purposes and more information about them.  They will also be accepting bids via internet if you want to get the shift to pitch in and try for one.

Update:  Results of the auction sale have been posted HERE.

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Posted by on January 20, 2012 • Filed under: culture, Guns, News, shopping • Tagged: , , , ,

Morning Lineup – January 20

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Friday Morning – The Music World Mourns Today

Johnny Otis died Tuesday, it was announced yesterday.  The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer was 90 years old and largely unknown to the current generation that is under 50 years of age.  But he was a giant in the music world during his heyday as a songwriter, performer, disc jockey, band leader, record producer and on and on.

Born John Veliotes in December 1921 to Greek immigrant parents, his father ran a grocery store in a predominantly black neighborhood of Berkeley, California, where he became immersed in the black music culture and steered his personal ambitions in that direction.  He began his career as a drummer in a Rhythm & Blues band and started writing songs also, many of them becoming standards in the R & B genre such as So Fine and All Night Long.  It was in 1958 that he wrote and recorded the monster hit that made his fame nationwide, Willie and the Hand Jive.

As a record producer and D.J. he "discovered" several budding performers and set them on the path to stardom, inluding Hank Ballard, Etta James, Little Richard, and Jackie Wilson, to name just a few.  His accomplishments led to his introduction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and was as deserving as any others enshrined.

We are fortunate that his early "music video" of him performing his signature song Willie and the Hand Jive has been preserved and posted on YouTube.  Otis is the singer and pianist in this classic performance:

 

For detailed obituaries of Johnny Otis, read these:
Los Angeles Times 
Washington Post
New York Times

Let's jive on over to the apparatus and get the equipment checked out now.  I'm going to get some groovy coffee going before we meet back in the day room in a little while.

Update, 4 pm:
It was announced today that Etta James (mentioned above from being discovered by Otis) passed away today at age 73.  More in the Los Angeles Times HERE.

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Posted by on January 20, 2012 • Filed under: culture, morning lineup, News • Tagged:

A Ticket to Free Parking

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All You Need is an Ambulance

MERCHANTS ALONG East 34th STREET IN BROOKLYN, New York, got to wondering about an ambulance that was parked in front of an expired parking meter recently.  The vehicle that has ambulance markings, emergency light bars, and an ambulance license plate had been there several days when on January 6 a shopkeeper took a peek inside.

Joe Cartelli and the "lost" ambulance.  (Brooklyn Courier / Solomonson)

He found that it wasn't stocked with a patient cot and medical supplies, but instead contained a ladder and an assortment of construction materials.  The Brooklyn Courier continues:

"It’s in front of a parking meter, and it’s full of ladders, tool boxes and sawdust, but the meter maids and the cops pass it by," said Joe Cartelli, who owns VJ Discount Variety Store on E. 34th Street where the vehicle is parked. "They think it’s just an ambulance. People were coming in and asking me, ‘What’s up with the ambulance?’" Cartelli said. When the merchant went to check it out he saw power tools and ladders inside, but no gurneys or medical equipment.

Cops arrived on Jan. 10 and ran the plates, telling Cartelli that the vehicle was still registered as an ambulance. The cops slapped a summons on the vehicle, but didn’t have it towed.

"They told me there was nothing they could do," Cartelli said. "I guess they didn’t want to be bothered."

The ambulance hadn’t been towed (away) by Monday night. Cops from the 63rd Precinct say they are trying to find the vehicle’s owner and ensure that it hasn’t been reported stolen. Once that’s done, the vehicle will be taken away, a precinct community affairs officer explained.

Firegeezer supposes that there is a lesson there, but can't figure out what it is.

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Posted by on January 17, 2012 • Filed under: ambulances, EMS Topics, News • Tagged: , ,

Pre-Historic Tree Burns in Florida

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Florida?  Who Knew?

ONE OF THE OLDEST TREES IN THE WORLD, a 3,500 yr.-old bald cypress located in Seminole County, Florida, burned down Monday.  The National Landmark long known as The Senator was discovered burning in the morning and initial speculation held that a set brush fire did it in.

WKMP image

But after it collapsed this afternoon a chief forestry fire investigator could look inside the trunk and he immediately ruled out the arson theory.  "The thought now is that the fire was due to a lighting strike about two weeks ago," said Steve Wright, a spokesman for the Seminole County Fire Rescue. "We think it was smoldering inside the tree and we only saw the blaze today, when it reached the top."

A visitor to the state park where the tree is located spotted the fire and called the FD shortly before 6 am.  The expanded dispatch brought tankers while the firefighters hand-laid over 800 ft. of lines to the tree.  At 7:45 am a 20-ft. section fell off the top and 45 minutes later more of the trunk collapsed. 

Only a smoldering stump remains after the last section of
the trunk collapsed this morning.  (Orlando Sentinel photo)

The tree once stood about 165 ft. high, but a 1925 hurricane took off the top 45 ft. leaving a 116-ft. trunk since then.  The property that is now the Big Tree State Park was donated to the state by Florida State Senator Moses Overstreet, hence the tree's nickname.  In 1946 the American Forestry Association bored a hole in the trunk to remove a test core and found the age to be 3,500 years.  A companion tree is not far from The Senator that remains today and is 2,000 years old.

Two men pose in front of The Senator in this 1920's photo
from the Florida State Archives to illustrate the size of the trunk.

WFTS-TV posted some raw video showing the tree burning:

 

The Orlando Sentinel has the STORY.

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Posted by on January 16, 2012 • Filed under: culture, fire, Fires, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Borough Council Seizes VFD Assets, Halts Operations

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Mayor Concerned About Dwindling Membership

THE ATLANTIC COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, Borough of Folsom seized the firehouse and property of the Folsom VFD early Thursday morning.  In a move reminiscent of last year's surprise shutdown of the Meadville, Pennsylvania volunteer station (see Firegeezer reports HERE and HERE), town officials removed the two firetrucks and equipment, then served the volunteer officers with a lawsuit that intends to take over the building and all remaining assets which the volunteer claim to "own."

WMGM-TV photo

WMGM-TV Ch. 40 reports:

"We've been in discussion with them for the last 12 months at least, about what we needed to see happen over there to sustain that fire company," said Folsom Mayor Thomas Ballistreri, about the move.

They mayor says a shared services contract between the borough and the nearby Collings Lakes Fire Department was just finalized Wednesday night by council members, which led to the actions taken at the department Thursday morning. "The situation basically arose out of financial constraints long with public safety concerns," said the mayor by phone, "The company has dwindled away over the last several years down to what I would call barebones staffing."

The company has 10-15 active members to serve the small Atlantic County community, but fire officials say that never prevented them from doing their job. "We've never missed a call," said (Volunteer Captain Kyle) Smith, "we've never had any issues, there's never been any major problems."

"The equipment they have is all public property, it's not their property," said Ballistreri, "the borough and the taxpayers own all their property."

Property the mayor says will likely be sold off eventually, with the money going into the borough's budget, another move in an escalating battle between the department and the borough's governing body.

Folsom VFD Facebook page photo

Read the entire report and a follow-up from Ch. 40 HERE and HERE.

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Posted by on January 14, 2012 • Filed under: current events, Fire Rescue Topics, fire stations, News • Tagged: , ,

Controlled Ka-Booms

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Some Photogenic Destruction This Weekend

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Con-Agra Flour Mill – Huron, Ohio

 

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Prudential Insurance Building – Houston, Texas

 

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Posted by on January 10, 2012 • Filed under: explosion, News, Videos

The News Ticker

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Some Additional Items Carried Over From the News Ticker

LODD in North Carolina:  The fire chief of Evans Crossroads VFD in Maxton, North Carolina, perished Sunday when he was involved in a vehicle collision while responding to an accident with injuries on the nearby Interstate highway.  Samuel Butler, 52, was responding in his personal vehicle and made a lane change to make a left turn when he was T-boned by a tractor trailer.

WRAL image

The Highway Patrol says that he was attempting to reach a crossover to reach the oncoming travel lanes when he pulled in front of the truck.  No charges were filed.  WRAL-TV provided this video report:

 

HALIFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA, has an unusual fire investigation facing it.  The rural county has had two historic homes burn in the past three weeks, and remarkably both were built by the same man in the 19th century. 

Gazette-Virginian photo

The Gazette-Virginian has the story and an 80-image photo gallery of the most recent fire HERE.

FRANKFORT, ILLINOIS, BATTALION CHIEF Paul Kelch will have his driver's license suspended by the state at the end of this month.  He has had three moving violations within a year which automatically triggered a 6-month suspension.  Adding to his problems is an upcoming trial on January 24 for leaving the scene of a property-damage accident a few months ago.

The Southtown Star has the full STORY.

A SINKHOLE OPENED SUDDENLY under a sidewalk in Bryansk, Russia, plunging a toddler in a stroller to his death.  The child's mother was walking along the sidewalk on Sunday when the ground disappeared into a large, deep hole.  The mother was able to hold onto the edge of the hole while her husband, a traffic police officer who just happened to be nearby at the moment, pulled her to safety. 

The child's remains were not found until Monday.  BBC News has the details plus a video report showing the search and rescue team at work HERE.

ANOTHER PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER firefighter has been charged with arson.  Elizabeth Twp. (near Harrisburg) firefighter Jeremy Zink, 26, who is also 9-1-1 dispatcher has admitted to setting a fire in the home that he rented and lived in last month.

WTAE-TV has the story plus a video report HERE.

Thanks to Mark Donovan, Rich Hoyle and Peter Timken for assistance in preparing this report.

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Posted by on January 10, 2012 • Filed under: current events, Fire Rescue Topics, News

LODD – Italy

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Vehicle Accident Inside Firehouse

Updated:  Photos from Wednesday funeral added.  Scroll down.

A PAID-ON-CALL FIREFIGHTER IN CUGLIERI, Italy, suffered fatal injuries in his firehouse Sunday.  Luca Pinna, 38, was getting ready to perform some routine maintenance on one of the station's three engines when the truck suddenly began rolling and crushed him against the wall.  Pinna was quickly freed by his colleaues and transported by helicopter to the hospital, but the injuries were too severe and he died soon after.

FF Pinna is transferred from an ambulance
to the waiting helicopter.  (La Nuova photo)

Pinna was married and the father of a 3-yr.-old child.  The investigation has begun seeking the reason for the truck's unplanned movement.

La Nuova has the STORY.

Update:  FF Pinna's funeral was held on Wednesday.  These photos are from L'Unione Sarda:

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Posted by on January 9, 2012 • Filed under: current events, Line of Duty, News • Tagged: , , ,

Family Dispute Shoot-Out Leaves Florida Fire Lieutenant in Critical Condition.

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Unwitting Participant in Violent Confrontation

MARTIN COUNTY, FLORIDA, FIRE LIEUTENANT John Richardson, Jr., is hospitalized in critical condition and fighting for his life after being shot by his brother-in-law during a domestic dispute Sunday afternoon.

Lt. Richardson and his wife had joined other family members at his wife's sister's home to help her move out.  The sister, Ann Chason, 57, was making a fast move-out to get away from her husband, retired police officer Vernon Chason.  While the seven or eight people were loading Chason's possession up, her estranged husband Vernon showed up suddenly and entered the carport where Richardson and his wife were standing alongside Ann Chason.  Vernon then pulled out a pistol and fired at his wife, missing her and instead striking and killing Richardson's wife Pamela.

Richardson was also armed and returned fire killing Vernon Chason, but not before Richardson was also hit and critcally wounded.  Ann Chason was not injured in the exchange.

The Chason home located on their Arabian horse farm
in Martin County.  (WPBF-TV image)

The Palm Beach Post has the details of this complicated STORY HERE.

WPBF-TV also filed this video report:

 

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Posted by on January 9, 2012 • Filed under: crime, current events, News, Videos • Tagged: , , , ,

LODD – South Carolina

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Collapsed at the Pump Panel

DAVID CRENSHAW, A LONG-TIME VOLUNTEER firefighter and former fire chief died suddenly Monday morning at the scene of an auto wreck in Anderson County, South Carolina.

Crenshaw had driven a Pendleton Fire Department engine to the crash scene at 6:30 am Eastern and was found collapsed at the pump panel, apparently unwitnessed.  He was transported already in cardiac arrest and pronounced dead at the hospital.  The coroner stated that initial findings indicate a probable heart attack.

Mourning members immediately began gathering at the firehouse.  (WYFF-TV photo)

He had been a member of the PFD for 50+ years and served as their fire chief for 21 of them.  He was a retired deputy sheriff who also served one term as County Sheriff from 2004 to 2008.  He had just recently been elected to the Pendleton Town Council. 

WYFF-TV has the early REPORT.
The Anderson Independent Mail has MORE.

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Posted by on January 9, 2012 • Filed under: current events, Fire-ology, Line of Duty, News • Tagged: , , ,