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Geezers Get Into Cane Fight – No Charges Filed.

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Old Boys Will Be Old Boys

TWO GRUMPY OLD GUYS IN ATHENS, Georgia, had a dispute Tuesday over a $5 debt.  The 74-year-old man who was owed the money hopped into his wheel chair and rode it over to the trailer park where the deadbeat lives.  The Athens Banner-Herald picks up the story:

The 74-year-old who supposedly owed the money called 911 at about 5 p.m. to report the disabled man arrived with his small dog, named Benji, and threatened to shoot him. When officers responded, they found the door to the man’s trailer wide open with him sitting inside with no clothes on, police said.

Witnesses told officers they saw the two men arguing in the trailer’s yard, and that both men waved canes or walking sticks at each other, police said; one witness said the 74-year-old threw a crutch at the wheelchair-bound man.

Things had cooled down by then and the police chose not to arrest anybody.

Firegeezer speculates that maybe they have been watching too much YouTube:

 

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Slain Fire Chief’s Widow Arraigned – Trial Date Set

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Pleads "Not Guilty"

REBECCA "BECKY" BRYAN WAS FORMALLY ARRAIGNED ON MURDER charges Tuesday, accused of killing her husband Fire Chief Keith Bryan last September 20.  The Nichols Hills, Oklahoma, fire chief was shot in his own home and Rebecca reported to the police that a man intruded into the house and said something about not being hired before killing him.

Her story quickly fell apart when detectives found the gun, ammunition and gloves inside the clothes dryer.  Several witness statements also refuted her story and she was arrested two days later and charged with first-degree murder.  Firegeezer reported on the crime and following activities at the time and you can read the story and following events HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.  She has been held without bail since then.

At yesterday's appearance Bryan, 53, pleaded not guilty to the charges.  The judge set a motion hearing for June 26 and ordered her to remain jailed.  He also set a tentative trial date for September 10.

The Oklahoman has this latest REPORT.

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Top Brass Thanks the Firefighters

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An Annual Tradition

EACH YEAR, THE FAIRFAX COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE fully participates in the Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy events, primarily through the Fill-the-Boot campaign that runs for four days over the holiday weekend.  This is done with the full support and encouragement of the County Board of Supervisors, and the Fire Chief's office sees that every accommodation is made to make for a successful weekend.  This is a large part of why the FRD is always in the top five departments for amount of money raised each year.

One of the encouragements delivered by the Fire and Rescue administration is a reward for the station shift that raises the most donations per capita in the department.  One day is selected and the winning shift gets to sleep in at home and be with their families while a full crew of white shirts and multi-bugles show up to staff all the apparatus.  It's not very often you get to see a deputy chief pull the handline and take it in.

Joel Kobersteen, Information Officer of Firefighters and Paramedics Local 2068 tells us about this years winners:

The "Fill in" Crew:

Front row: Deputy Chief Michael Reilly, Technician Michael Macario, Firefighter Jason Pryor
Back row: Captain II Reggie Johnson, Captain II Steve McFarland, Assistant Chief Garret Dyer,
Captain Cindy Brown, Deputy Chief J.J. Walsh, Deputy Chief Keith Morrison,
Lieutenant Craig Schellhammer, Captain Tim Fowler 
(IAFF Local 2068 photo)

On May 14, 2012 uniformed members of the administrative staff and communications section of Fairfax County Fire & Rescue gave the crew from Fire Station 5, C-shift 12 hours off and staffed the apparatus themselves. This was done to recognize 5/C for their tremendous job being the highest raising station and shift per capita during the 2011 Labor Day Weekend Fill the Boot campaign to benefit the Greater Washington Muscular Dystrophy Association. Station Captain Fred Brandell, who is also the Shift Captain at 5/C, inherited the "MDA Fevered shift" from the previous Station/Shift Captain Tyrone Harrington and has since run with it.

Captain Brandell's shift makes an annual pilgrimage down to the MDA Summer Camp in Leonardtown, Maryland where they show the campers around fire apparatus, swim, eat and play with the campers and staff a dunk tank along with now Battalion Chief Harrington. Fire Station 5/C has been the per capita leader for last five years, last year collecting $14,911, which works out to $1,656 per person for the 9 person crew.

Congrats to 5-C, and to the great folks in the "ivory tower" who enthusiastically show up every year to spell the crew.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue WEBSITE.
Local 2068 WEBSITE.

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Congratulation EHS Graduates!

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Class of 2012

Prior to our reorganization, I would use my faculty web page to recognize and celebrate the achievement of students enrolled in the Emergency Health Services program.

Lacking that resource, let me tell you know how happy and proud I am of the following folks:

Master of Science in Health Science: Emergency Services Management

Kashif Cheema

Andrew Mader

 

Bachelor of Science in Health Science: Emergency Health Services  (also called EMS Management )

Michael Beller

Aaron Botteron

Paul Cissel

Andrew Ecker

Bobbie Rogers

Heather Shymansky

Ronald Taylor

 

Because these are distance education programs, I will be meeting many of these students for the first time this weekend.

Except for locals Paul and Ronald :)

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Rude Fire Chief Appeals His Dismissal

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He Said He Was Going to Do It

The former Fairfield Township (Ohio) Fire Chief David Downie has filed an appeal of his dismissal with Butler County Common Pleas Court.  On May 4, Firegeezer reviewed the controversial firing of the man who had been the fire chief for 26 years.  He never had any complaints about his running of the FD, but he has an abrasive personality and the township board apparently couldn't take it anymore.  Read our review with links to previous articles HERE.

Enquirer photo

It was disclosed yesterday (Thursday) that Downie's lawyer, Jeffrey Silverstein filed an appeal on his behalf of his dismissal.  The Cincinnati Enquirer tells:

"We are appealing the decision,’’ said Jeffrey Silverstein, Downie’s attorney. "We want his job back, with back pay."

In the one-paragraph appeal filed May 9, Silverstein asked the court to determine whether there were sufficient grounds to fire Downie. The case has been assigned to Judge Craig Hedric but no hearing date has been set.

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Court Orders San Fran. Fire Chief’s Salary Garnisheed For Failure to Pay Spousal Support

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Stopped Making Payments When Hubby Went to Jail

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, FIRE CHIEF Joanne Hayes-White has been having difficulties with her ex-husband whom she divorced three years ago.  Following their 2009 split, she has been paying $3,300 a month from her $302,000 salary for alimony.  But she recently stopped after her ex went to jail leaving her in sole charge of their three children.

Chief Hayes-White  (OpenSF image)

The San Francisco Chronicle reports:

Hayes-White says she stopped paying support about 14 months ago, after an incident in which her ex-hubby, Robert "Sean" White, grabbed and choked one of their sons while in a booze-fueled rage.  In December, he pleaded no contest in San Mateo County Superior Court to a misdemeanor charge of child endangerment and cruelty. He is serving his sentence on a county sheriff's work detail and living in a rehab house.

Last week, White went to San Francisco Superior Court demanding that the chief resume the spousal support she was ordered to pay when the couple divorced in 2009.  On Friday, Judge Ron Albers signed an order to start deducting the payments from her $302,000 annual salary, though it does not appear to cover the more than $40,000 in backlogged payments.

In an interview, Hayes-White said she had stopped making the spousal payments because of the growing costs she has incurred raising their children.

The chief also says White has not fully lived up to his end of their divorce settlement, including paying for half of the family health care costs and showing he has made a "good-faith effort" to find work.

Read the full story in the Chronicle HERE.

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Chevrolet Announces New SS Performance Sedan

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Will compete in 2013 NASCAR and arrive in showrooms as 2014 model

DETROIT – Chevrolet today announced the return of a V-8 powered, rear-wheel-drive performance sedan to the U.S. lineup, the Chevrolet SS. The SS will also be Chevrolet’s next NASCAR Sprint Cup racecar and will debut in its race configuration at the 2013 Daytona 500.

The limited production version of the Chevrolet SS will be a 2014 model and will arrive in dealer showrooms in late 2013. It is the first time in 17 years that Chevrolet will offer a rear-wheel-drive sedan for sale in the United States.

Chevrolet has a long history of using the SS (Super Sport) designation on high-performance models of some of its most enduring nameplates. The SS designation first appeared in 1957 on a Corvette prototype race car built under the guidance of Zora Arkus-Duntov with the plan to enter it in the Le Mans 24-hour race.

The first production vehicle offered with an SS option was the 1961 Impala – 453 were built with the performance upgrades which included a modified chassis and suspension, power brakes, a steering column mounted tachometer and unique wheels and tires. The latest SS model in the Chevrolet lineup is the fifth-generation Camaro, which debuted in 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Chevrolet SS will be a derivative of the award-winning global rear-wheel-drive architecture that spawns performance vehicles like Chevrolet Camaro and Holden’s upcoming VF Commodore. The much anticipated Australian-built car will benefit from significant technology advances which enhance overall performance.

“As a passionate race fan and performance enthusiast, I am thrilled that Chevrolet will deliver a true rear-wheel-drive NASCAR racecar in the SS that is closely linked to the performance sedan that will be available for sale,” said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America. “The Chevrolet SS is a great example of how GM is able to leverage its global product portfolio to deliver a unique performance experience that extends beyond the track. I am personally looking forward to driving it.”

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<  GM Press release >>>>>>>>>

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Earlier articles:

Silly Season … Super Sport Performance Chevy

“New” Chevrolet will be 2013 NASCAR racer

“I got this”

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A parody that could have been done in your fire station

Enjoy the silliness.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Promotional Opportunities

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More Space at the Top Comes Available

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THE FORMER CHIEF OF the Caribou (Maine) Fire and Ambulance Department was indicted last week on three counts of unlawful sexual contact, one count of unlawful sexual touching and three counts of assault.  The crimes all took place in Caribou and apparently a city employee is the complainant against Chief Roy Woods, 67.

Roy Woods  (Aroostook Republican photo)

The Bangor Daily News reports:

Woods resigned in January after 44 years with the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department, including 21 years as the head of fire, ambulance and emergency management services for the city. According to a copy of his resignation letter, Woods said he was resigning for "medical reasons."

However, Caribou City Manager Steven Buck issued a statement indicating that he accepted the resignation "in lieu of termination" after an investigation into a complaint filed against the fire chief by a city employee.

"An independent investigation into the personnel matter was conducted with an expanded scope," said Buck. "After extensive review and evaluation of the results of the investigation, my own evaluation and after reviewing these evaluations with Woods and a subsequent review of his responses, I accepted his immediate resignation."

Read the detailed story in the Bangor Daily News HERE.

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IRVING, TEXAS, FIRE CHIEF MARIO MOLINA was placed on administrative leave last week for undisclosed reasons.  However, it is strongly believed that it is connected to an FBI investigation into corruption.  The Dallas Morning News is reporting:

The move came weeks after a former mayor said two FBI agents questioned him about the chief’s alleged attempts last year to secure an employment contract in exchange for reversing unpopular disciplinary decisions against two department employees.

City spokeswoman Susan Rose did not respond Tuesday to questions about what prompted Molina’s leave or who made the decision to suspend him. Molina reports to City Manager Tommy Gonzalez. Rose also did not respond to questions about whether the chief is on paid or unpaid leave.

Chief Molina

At a politically explosive council work session in March 2011, Molina accused council members of putting political pressure on him to reduce the punishments of two firefighters that angered rank-and-file department employees. The meeting preceded council elections. The firefighter association’s political arm was considered a major force in city elections at the time.

(Former Mayor) Gears, who was up for re-election, said Molina offered to "take care" of the discipline issues that angered firefighters if he would help provide the chief job security through an employment contract.

The Dallas Morning News goes into greater detail about the chief's conflict with his firefighters in their STORY HERE.

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A FORMER NEW HAMPSHIRE FIRE CHIEF was sentenced to jail yesterday (Monday) after pleading guilty to a Christmas Eve arson.  Bradley Eldridge, 51, was the fire chief in West Ossipee, N.H., until March 28, 2011, when the West Ossipee Fire Precinct Commission removed Eldridge "for cause" during an executive session.

The Boston Herald tells us:

Eldridge was sentenced to three years with all but 90 days suspended for setting a fire in the barn of William Day Jr. on Porterfield Road in Porter.  Day wasn’t home, but a family across the street called the fire in and was able to extinguish it before firefighters arrived, according to Assistant District Attorney Joseph O’Connor. No one was injured and the animals in the barn survived.

O’Connor said Day was dating Eldridge’s ex-wife, and that Eldridge had made threats that he would "make Mr. Day suffer." A camera caught a man pulling up in a car that looked like Eldridge’s car and entering the barn just before the fire was reported.

When questioned, Eldridge admitted to setting the fire, and admitted he had been drinking heavily when he decided to start the fire, O’Connor said.

Read the full story in the Herald HERE.

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Broken Hydrant Brings Down Gas Station Canopy

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Red Light Runner Triggers Chain Reaction

IN PANORAMA CITY, CALIFORNIA, a dolt drove his car through a red light and then collided with a delivery van and a third vehicle.  The van in turn, sheared off a fire hydrant in front of a gasoline station and sent a gusher about 90 ft. into the air. 

KABC-TV

The water mostly came down onto the canopy over the pumps and before the city crews could get it shut off, the canopy collapsed.

KABC-TV

No word on the total damage costs, but it will be substantial.

KABC-TV posted this video from the scene that includes surveillance video of the collapse:

 

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Formula 1 racecar destroyed in garage fire

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Winner of Spain Formula 1 race, may be related to the KERS energy system.

Shortly after winning today's Formula 1 race in Barcelona, Spain, a fire erupted in the Williams garage.

Sky Sports document the early moments, from Alpha side:

Extensive damage is caused as a fire breaks out at the back of the Williams team garage after they celebrated winning the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya on May 13, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain.

Sixteen people were injured when a fire broke out in the Williams team garage at the Spanish F1 Grand Prix.

Click here to access Sky Sports pictures.

Statement from Williams:

"After today's Spanish Grand Prix a fire occurred in the team's garage which originated from the fuel area.

"Four team personnel were injured in the incident and subsequently taken to the medical center. Three are now receiving treatment at local hospitals for their injuries, while the fourth has been released. The team will monitor their condition and ensure they receive the best possible care.

"The team, the fire services and the police are working together to determine the root cause of the fire and an updated statement will be released in due course.

"The Williams F1 Team would like to thank all of the teams and the FIA for their support in today's incident."

BBC Sports report from Charlie side, including the speculation on the KERS energy management system:

Andrew Benson, BBC Sports Chief F1 writer, has more details here:  Spanish Grand Prix: Williams crew injured in pit fire.

Three members of the Williams team were taken to hospital, while four Caterham mechanics were treated at the track's medical unit. A Force India team member was also treated on the site after suffering smoke inhalation

Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)

The acronym KERS stands for Kinetic Energy Recovery System. The device recovers the kinetic energy that is present in the waste heat created by the car’s braking process. It stores that energy and converts it into power that can be called upon to boost acceleration.

There are principally two types of system – battery (electrical) and flywheel (mechanical). Electrical systems use a motor-generator incorporated in the car’s transmission which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice versa. Once the energy has been harnessed, it is stored in a battery and released when required.

Mechanical systems capture braking energy and use it to turn a small flywheel which can spin at up to 80,000 rpm. When extra power is required, the flywheel is connected to the car’s rear wheels. In contrast to an electrical KERS, the mechanical energy doesn’t change state and is therefore more efficient.

Read more here:  KERS

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

State Police pull over radioactive firefighter

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The Now Normal creates a new dilemma

Amanda Cuda describes the latest twist in police and fire relations:

Mike Apatow was minding his own business Wednesday, driving to an appointment for work in Washington Depot when a state police car appeared suddenly and signaled for the Milford resident to pull over.

"I asked the officer `What seems to be the problem?' " Apatow said. "He said `You've been flagged as a radioactive car.' "

State Police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance confirmed that many of the state police cars have the radioactivity detectors. "It's part of our homeland security operations here," Vance said. "It's just another layer of public safety that we have in this state."

Read the article to get the rest of the story.

Photo: Contributed Photo / Connecticut Post Contributed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

see Radioactive man? Milford resident pulled over by state police (May 10, 2012) ctpost.com

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

Carroll Shelby dead at 89

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An American Legend

I was ten years old when my Dad took us to see one of the first Shelby Cobra sports cars at the Koons Ford dealership in Seven Corners. The showroom was packed with men and boys trying to get a good look.

The man

Carroll Hall Shelby was born in  Leesburg, Texas, son of a rural mail carrier. Was a flight instructor during World War II.

In 1952 he starts racing cars, finishing second at the 1954 LeMans driving an Aston-Martin DBR3 for John Wyer.

Sports Illustrated 1956 and 1957 "Driver of the Year."

Wins the 1959 LeMans driving an Aston Martin DBR1/300

Wins USAC driving championship in 1960 while physicians determine his chest pain is from angina.

Opens driving school at Riverside Raceway in California

source:  Carroll Shelby: An American Legend

 

 

 

 

Shelby American forms to produce Cobras (1961- 1967)

The first match of a Ford 260 V-8 and AC Ace is made in February 2, 1962, producing the Shelby Cobra.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

source: Shelby American Inc.

Originally built to be Corvette-beaters, Ford wanted to beat Ferrari.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The CSX2601 is an iconic championship racer which took the manufacturers crown in the FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) GT race class in 1965, holding the distinction of being the first American car to beat a Ferrari in world championship racing in Europe.

The 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra was one of only six built by Carroll Shelby to compete in FIA GT. It also features an experimental coupe body fitted to the Cobra chassis designed by Pete Brock which helped increase the car's top speed by 25 mph.

Source: Iconic 1965 Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe Could Fetch $15 Million at Auction  (World Car Fans.com)

The Legacy

Shelby's touch lead Ford to win LeMans, Mustangs to be race cars, Dodge Omni's to "Go Like Hell" and the DNA for the Dodge Viper.

His last car is a 1000 horsepower Shelby

 

 

 

 

 

 

A complex man who has affected North American performance vehicles for five decades.

Keith Martin, publisher of Sports Car Market and American Car Collector, commented, "Carroll Shelby will be forever remembered as the man who single-handedly took the fight to Ferrari and beat them at their own game on their own race tracks. His spirit, his ingenuity and his ever-present sense of humor will be missed."

Godspeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

edit: added video

Small-Town Police Chief / Vol. Firefighter Charged With Sexual Assault

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One of Those "Over Many Years" Cases

OLD FORGE, PENNSYLVANIA, POLICE CHIEF LARRY SEMENZA was arrested Wednesday and charged with six counts of aggravated indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent exposure, and failing to report suspected child abuse.  Another police officer and a third vol. FF are also implicated in the unfolding story following formal complaints filed by a woman who was age 14 when the series of sexual misconduct began.

Semenza being led into the courthouse for
his arraignment Wednesday  (Times-Tribune)

Semenza was also a volunteer fire captain in the local VFD and the incidents covered in the complaints took place in the firehouse between November 2004 and March 2007.  The Scranton Times-Tribune continues:

The alleged victim is the same girl Old Forge police Capt. Jamie Krenitsky and former volunteer borough firefighter Walter Chiavacci are accused of sexually assaulting between 2004 and 2005.

The victim, now 23, was 14 when she became involved the Old Forge Fire Department, where Chief Semenza was fire captain at the time, according to the criminal complaint. The victim said she attended fire house training taught by Chief Semenza, describing him as a friend, teacher or mentor, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim told police Chief Semenza took her for coffee, gave her rides to training and took her to purchase new fire equipment, which she was not required to pay for, the complaint says. He also took her to purchase a new fire helmet that cost several hundred dollars, which she did not pay for, according to the criminal complaint.

During the fall of 2004, the victim said the relationship progressed to more of a dating relationship, with the victim visiting Chief Semenza dressed in her Halloween costume in 2004, according to the criminal complaint. Shortly after the Halloween visit, "things became hot and heavy," between her and Chief Semenza, the victim said in the complaint.

The Scranton Times-Tribune has a more detailed report outlining the series of complaints HERE.

The Times-Tribune provided this brief video taken at the courthouse following Semenza's arraignment:

 

Apparently Semenza took recorded admissions from the other two men that they had also participated in the long-term indecencies.  The State Police raided the Old Forge police station earlier this week and seized several records.

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More Municipal Motorcar Malfeasance

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Detroit Can Make Pikers of Any Other Band of Incompetents

IN YESTERDAY'S MORNING LINEUP (HERE) we told you about Miami-Dade County hiding away as many as 1,200 brand new yet unused, vehicles in various parking garages around the city.  Did I say "new"?  They were bought six years ago and have been parked ever since (excepting the bi-monthly maintenance).  If you missed it, follow the link for the story.

You might have thought that was bad, as I did, but we briefly forgot that the National Champion for Corrupted and Incompetent Cities is still owned, without any immediate threats to it's position, by Detroit, Michigan.  The city that fails to function every day of the year and is thinking about closing another 20 fire stations because they don't have any money to fix all the broken fire engines that are in the shop (behind the entire fleet of ambulances).

Feeling the pinch just as badly as the FD is the city's police department (which had a former police chief convicted for embezzling over $2 million in 1992, and another who was forced to quit 10 years ago while being investigated for numerous Federal crimes).  Now exposed is a matter more about incompetence than illegality, the excessive use of leased autos for the PD that are years beyond their leasing contract expiration but still being paid for.

Jalopnik reported on the costly scandal:

The Detroit Police Department is paying millions in full lease payments on cars with leases that expired up to six years ago. One of the cars is a 2004 Dodge Intrepid they've been paying $608 per month to keep.

The Motor City's 7 Action News sicked a team of investigative reporters on the Detroit Police, discovering that this mighty Dodge is one of a compliment of 110 vehicles with expired leases that the Department is paying to keep around. With model years ranging from 2004 to 2007, the city had two-year contracts for all 110 vehicles, and all of them are still on the road. Most have passed their initial mileage limit, racking up 15 cents per mile on top of the regular lease payments.

By now the cars are well used and aging, so maintenance costs are a real thing, too, with the potential of being compounded by wear and tear charges that are part of the lease agreement. Alan Reinstein, an accounting professor at Wayne State University told 7 Action News that the total cost for keeping 110 vehicles that should have been turned in years ago is about $4 million.

 Here is the video report from WXYZ-TV referred to in Jalopnik's story:

 

As you saw, the cops are rightly miffed about going without their pay raises to help pay for these valuable cars.

In 1933 the DPD bought an entire fleet of Chevrolet patrol cars

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Promotional Opportunities

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Twin-Hatter Chief Faces Felony Charges

A LOUISA, VIRGINIA, POLICE OFFICER will be appearing in court today to be tried on felony charges that he embezzled thousands of dollars from a volunteer fire department where he also served as volunteer fire chief.

Mark McGhee, 31, was arrested February 24 following an investigation into the Trevilians VFD financial accounts following a tip.  McGhee had resigned from the fire department six months previously and that is when the investigation began.  He was also placed on administrative leave by the Town of Louisa Police Department.

WTVR-TV Ch. 6 Richmond filed this video report following McGhee's arrest in February:

 

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Ambulance Abuse Leads to Immigration Bust

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They Learn the Tricks Early

A GROUP OF SIX ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS from Mexico, relying on tips learned through the underground apparently, called for an ambulance when they were stranded and needed a ride in Huron County, Michigan, Wednesday.  The group had been provided transportation to a construction job site to work on a grain elevator project.

The Huron Daily Tribune continues the story:

Deputy Brad Strozeski was dispatched shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday following a request for an ambulance at the Cooperative Elevator Co. grain elevator construction project location along M-142 near Moore Road in Oliver Township.

Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson said when Strozeski arrived on scene, an ambulance was not needed. However, the deputy found six males from Mexico who had been working for an out-of-state construction company at the site. The men were standing near the roadway.

"Apparently, the men had a disagreement with the on-site construction supervisor, and quit their jobs," Hanson said. "(The men) were in need of transportation out of the area and the situation was remedied when deputies took them (the illegal immigrants) into custody."

Huron Sheriff photo

The CEO of the Cooperative, owned by 900 local farmers, emphatically announced that the illegals were not employees of the Cooperative, but of a sub-contractor that their construction contractor had hired to complete one of the jobs.  The contractor is working closely with the sheriff to get the situation straightened out.  The sub-contractor said that he is "looking through his paper work" to see if the proper documents have been provided.

Sheriff Hanson said that there isn't any searching needed.  "There is no way the federal authorities would have them into custody without being certain they were here illegally," he added.

Firegeezer notes:  The unemployment rate among the honest citizens in Michigan is 8.5%.

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Thieving Firefighter Avoids Jail Term

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Costly Prosecution for Small Town

KEVIN HOWARD, 44, WAS ONCE PRESIDENT of the Nahant, Massachusetts, firefighters union local and most recently served as the town's acting fire chief.  Now his current title is "convicted" following his recent trial in Lynn District Court.  Completing an investigation and trial that all began two years ago, Howard's case was continued after he admitted that he had stolen several thousands of dollars from the Local 2718's treasury during his tenure as president.

Kevin Howard  (Daily Item photo)

The Boston Globe is reporting today:

The case was continued without a finding after Howard admitted to sufficient facts to the charges and agreed to pay $14,000 in restitution. Howard also read a letter of apology.

Judge James LaMothe’s sentence also includes administrative probation, which carries an automatic two-year sentence if the terms are violated. The Essex district attorney’s office asked for a two-year sentence with six months served, and the balance suspended for three years of probation, plus restitution and an apology.

His troubles began more than two years ago when, as president, he acquired an ATM/debit card for the Local's bank account without anybody knowing about it.  He then began a systematic pattern of using the debit card to make thousands of dollars in cash withdrawals plus purchases of personal items for his home and use.  When he was promoted to the acting chief position in March 2010, the officers of the Local – acting on a tip – reviewed the union's books and discovered the unauthorized withdrawals.

At an April meeting with Howard, the Local's directors made a few offers to allow him to make good, including to resign from the fire department without making restitution.  Howard declined the offers and instead mounted an ill-conceived plan to obfuscate his way out of trouble by inventing personnel problems.  First he told the Town Aldermen that none of the firefighters were properly qualified as EMT's.  Then he told that cocaine use was rampant in the department and had recently been confronted by the current Local president who threatened to kill him (Howard) if he went public with the EMT scandal.

All of the allegations were quickly proven to be false and his defense collapsed.  The Globe continued:

"We can see the court’s side – they don’t want to hurt his family – and the union accepts the decision,’’ (union president Joshua) Mahoney said. "Obviously we’re disappointed, and we’d like to see him do jail time, not for [stealing money], but for what he did afterward. He lied, tried to slander us, and did everything he could to ruin our reputations in a small community where people have to trust us.’’

Neil Rossman, attorney for the union, said that members suspected that Howard took as much as double the $14,000 he agreed to make in restitution.

The Daily Item has additional details HERE.

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Train Parking Only

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It Must Have Been the Rough Road That Tipped Him Off

A YOUNG MAN DRIVING IN PARIS, FRANCE, Tuesday was looking for a parking place when he thought he saw a driveway to an underground garage.  Instead, he began down a set of stairs leading to the Chaussée d'Antin-Lafayette subway station.  He quickly put on the brakes and stopped, but was unable to move his SUV back out.

AFP

Le Parisien reported:

Luckily, there were no injuries or damage. But a huge crowd of onlookers has been busy photographing the car stuck in the stairs.

"There is a sign" Parking Haussmann department store "that is placed just before and as there is no plot at the entrance of the stairs, I was wrong. Luckily there was nobody on the stairs, "said the distracted driver, Johan, 26 years.

AFP

The police immediately conducted an alcohol test driver, which was negative.

Of course, right away somebody posted it on YouTube:

 

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Nefarious Nepotists Nipped for FD Treasury Dipping

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Checking Out Life Behind Bars

KEVIN DEGROAT, 49, AND HIS WIFE THERESA, 46, are now known as the former fire chief and former treasurer respectively of the Matamoras Fire Company in Pike County, Pennsylvania.  They lost their positions in the department after it was found that they had stolen at least $67,000 from the company's Bingo proceeds during the span between 2002 and 2009.

Theresa and Kevin Degroat in February 2012.  (Pocono Record)

The Pocono Record reported:

Police uncovered purchases for DVDs, men's shoes, a computer monitor and household goods, with purchases amounting to more than $2,800, according to court records. Fire officials told police those purchases were "absolutely not" related to departmental business.

Theresa DeGroat admitted to opening sealed money bags from the firehouse bingo games and changing the deposit slip and writing out a new one to be deposited in the bank, according to court documents. Also, Kevin DeGroat told police he used $400 in bingo cash to buy tools, according to court papers.

After previously pleading guilty in February to the theft charges, they were in court last Friday for sentencing.  Judge Joseph Kameen ordered them each to serve 60-days to 23-½ months in jail plus an additional five years of supervised parole.  He also ordered them to pay $26,000 in restitution to the fire company.  Following their sentencing Friday they were both immediately incarcerated and began serving their time.

Company vice-president Scott Gillette told tv station WNEP:  "We were very lax. We got caught up in this and any organization, whether it be Girl Scouts, little league, football fire department, churches, don’t go single signature on any checks."

The Matamoras Fire Company serves a tiny borough of one-square-mile in the Poconos.

Read the complete account from WNEP HERE.
Matamoras Fire Company WEBSITE.

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More downsizing?

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London Fire Brigade's Latest Fleet

When I first saw this, thought about the recent article posted by Bill "Firegeezer" Schumm:  UK Decision to Sell Off National Fire College Brings Widespread Complaints, where he covers the difficulties in maintaining the firefightng fleet.

This is different, related to the Olympics.  From the London Fire Brigade Facebook page:

Introducing … Olympic MINIs! We'll be using these to attend to small incidents, like bin fires, on the Olympic Park during the Games. What do you think to them? They'll be out & about in London over the next few months so if you're lucky enough to spot one, do take a snap and upload your pics here.

Fire engines will still be mobilised should larger incidents occur, but the MINIs will provide an immediate response to tackle small fires without unnecessarily disrupting the Games. They are fitted with blue LED lights and a siren. They will carry a range of equipment, such as foam, water and dry powder fire extinguishers to tackle various types of small fire. They also contain first aid equipment.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

How a structural engineer/firefighter looks at buildings

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The things I learn at FDIC

Scott Nacheman is a Long Island volunteer firefighter who ended up as a engineer/Vice President at Thornton Tomasetti:

Scott Nacheman’s diverse professional experience includes the investigation and repair of existing buildings in addition to the restoration of contemporary and historic structures. He is involved in many facets of emergency response and structural stabilization efforts.

Scott Nacheman  (photo by Larry Shapiro)

Scott coordinates the firm’s Property Loss Consulting Practice within the Midwestern region. These services include response and condition assessment of damage caused by hurricanes, tornados, structural collapses, building envelope and curtain wall failures, fires, and a variety of common and complex property loss scenarios.

His proficiency in fire-safety design and post-incident investigations builds on his 15 years of experience as a firefighter, fire lieutenant and instructor in New York and Illinois. He serves as a Structures Specialist with Illinois Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Task Force 1 as well as DHS/FEMA US&R IN-TF1 and serves on the DHS/FEMA IST incident management team. He is a Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator.

more bio HERE

His presentation on Friday morning at FDIC was fantastic.  Some of my twitter notes:

  • load path
  • most new commercial structures have 2 to 3 different structural systems in place
  • fiberglass framing
  • light gauge steel framing
  • nanomaterials
  • self-consolidating concrete
  • concrete formwork failure
  • osb / eps sandwich … structural insulated panels. … ultra-airtight … mold degrade structure … high heat retention during fire
  • modular construction … much smaller labor force …. less robust / stability than a frame system
  • doubleskin facade … new balloon type structures … LEED friendly.
  • Green roofs are much heavier … snow load? retrofit performance
  • above ground MRI facilities / healthcare
  • delayed finishing … incomplete construction with 2-4 year delay in completion … condition of components
  • precast concrete … gravity & friction holding things together …. often overloaded from initial design

The codes are not keeping up with the built environment.

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward

America’s “Oldest Teenager” Passes On – Age 82

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Dick Clark – The Cultural Icon of the 20th Century

DICK CLARK, THE AGELESS DISC JOCKEY and tv personality who spent more than 65 years in show business, died this morning (Wednesday) following what his agent referred to as "a massive heart attack" in Malibu, California.

Clark was born November 30, 1929, in Mount Vernon, New York.  While still a teenager he began working at a radio station owned by his father and uncle, soon filling is as a disc jockey and he never looked back.  In 1952 he landed a job at WFIL in Philadelphia hosting a pop music show, "Dick Clark's Caravan of Music."  Shortly thereafter his duties expanded to a new afternoon television show for teenagers called "American Bandstand."  The program that featured teens dancing to current pop hits went national when ABC picked up the program and Clark became a national favorite with the program running for 30 years.

ABC has posted an early obituary with a summary of Dick Clark's long and productive career HERE.

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Last Month’s German Ka-Boom May Lead to Auto Assembly Lines Shutdown

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A Risk of the Just-In-Time Supply System

THE EXPLOSION AT AN EVONIC INDUSTRIES chemical plant in Marl, Germany, on March 31 may lead to a severe cutback in automobile production world-wide.  The destructive blast in the Marl Industrial Park (reported in Firegeezer HERE) has shut down the portion of the plant where a chemical Cyclododecatriene, also known as CDT or PA-12, is produced.

Reuters

This chemical is a vital component of a specialized resin that is used in making automotive brake, brake lines, fuel lines, gas tanks, and several other related products.  Evonic Industries makes about 50% of the world's supply of CDT and the stock on hand will run out in a few months.  Executives from the world's largest automakers are meeting today (Tuesday) in Detroit to discuss finding alternative sources or even different products that may be safe enough to replace the CDT-based parts.

Businessweek is reporting today (in selected quotes):

At stake is whether automakers can keep assembling cars and trucks after another breakdown in supply chains that are stretched taut around the world to minimize investment and parts inventory.

TI Automotive Ltd. warned its customers in an April 12 letter of severe shortages interrupting production "in the next few weeks." The Auburn Hills, Michigan-based company supplies brake and fuel lines, as well as fuel tanks and pumps, to all major automakers, including General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp. and Volkswagen AG according to its website.

While automakers and their suppliers have reacted quickly, it may be difficult for the industry to find a solution in time to avoid losing production because of the nature of the parts that use CDT and PA-12, De Koker said.

"Brake lines and fuel lines are safety products, so you don’t make changes overnight," he said. "You have to do them very carefully with the right testing to prove out the product."

OregonLive

Evonik has begun repairs at its factory in Marl, Germany, Ruben Thiel, a spokesman for the Essen, Germany-based company, said in an e-mail. "Every conceivable effort" is being made to rebuild the plant "before winter," he said.  Evonik plans to add capacity in Asia, (but) a new factory won’t be ready until the end of 2014.

Other makers of PA-12 are France’s Arkema SA (AKE), Switzerland’s Ems-Chemie Holding AG (EMSN) and Japan’s Ube Industries Ltd., Thiel said.

Read the entire Businessweek article HERE.

One international automotive organization is predicting that the shortage will "likely be serious."  The Detroit Free Press adds:

IHS Chemical analyst Paul Blanchard said in a report that Evonik wouldn’t regenerate production capacity for at least six months, leaving the auto industry scrambling to find substitute parts for a resin that was already in short supply.

"The ability of Evonik and Arkema to find alternate sources of CDT is very limited and it is doubtful that the CDT shortage can be made up," Blanchard said. "In the short term auto and truck production will be affected."

Read more in the Detroit Free Press HERE.
Daily Finance has a unique view of the situation HERE.

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Kansas Grain Elevator Ka-Boom Update – Penalties Proposed

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OSHA Comes Down Hard

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS CITED a grain company for "willful" safety violations and is proposing a large fine on the Bartlett Grain Co. of Kansas City.  The charges stem from a violent and deadly grain elevator explosion last October 29 in Atchison, Kansas, that killed six people and blew the top off the silos.  See the original Firegeezer report HERE.

Kansas City Star photo

The Associated Press is reporting:

U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said in a news release the deaths at the Bartlett Grain Co. elevator in Atchison "could have been prevented" if the operators had addressed hazards known in the industry. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is seeking $406,000 in penalties in addition to the citations alleging five willful and eight serious safety violations.

Among the willful violations, OSHA alleges Bartlett Grain allowed grain dust, which is nine times as explosive as coal dust, to accumulate and used compressed air to remove dust without first shutting down ignition sources. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.

The serious violations, defined as those with a substantial probability of death or serious physical harm, include claims that there was a lack of preventative maintenance and that the housekeeping program was deficient because it didn’t prevent grain dust accumulations.

Bartlett and an independent inspection service company that was also cited, are both planning to appeal the charges.

Read the entire article HERE.

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