OSHA has cited Packaging Corp. of America for exposing employees to unprotected machinery and amputation hazards.

July 24, 2018

U.S. Department of Labor Cites Alabama Manufacturer
For Exposing Employees to Workplace Hazards

OPELIKA, AL – 

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Packaging Corp. of America for exposing employees to unprotected machinery and amputation hazards. The cardboard box manufacturer, based in Opelika, Alabama, faces proposed penalties of $66,612.

OSHA cited the company for failing to provide written procedures to control the release of hazardous energy; exposing employees to struck-by, caught-in and amputation hazards; and allowing employees to operate forklifts without required training. The investigation is part of OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on Amputations.

“Packaging Corp. of America should have incorporated a comprehensive safety and health program that would have identified these hazards and protected their employees from the risk of serious injuries,” said OSHA Mobile Area Office Director Joseph Roesler.

Packaging Corp. of America has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education, and assistance. For more information, visit https://www.osha.gov. 

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Who We Are

At PCA, we think of ourselves as more than a box manufacturer. We are an ideas and solutions company. We seek to be the leader in helping our customers — large and small — package, transport and display products of all kinds. It just happens to be that corrugated products are our area of expertise.
So a partnership with PCA isn’t just about buying boxes. It’s about building a relationship with a knowledgeable, trusted, committed source; adding value to your business; and actively contributing to your success in the marketplace.
Whether you are looking for conventional shipping containers, custom-printed corrugated boxes, custom packaging or eye-catching retail visual displays, PCA is here to deliver the right packaging solution on time and on budget.

Why We Do What We Do

At PCA, our people are as sharp at posing questions as they are at providing answers. With good reason… We realize that the key to offering responsive customer service is never taking our customers for granted. That’s why at the same time you’re learning about our products and how we do business, we’re learning about yours.
So don’t be surprised if PCA people collaborate more than you’re used to, or engage you in conversations that go beyond flute profiles and stacking strength. For PCA people, it’s all about understanding customer service — doing our very best to give you the ideas and products that support your needs.

Electrician Ladarius Williams, 35, was electrocuted to death while working on a ladder inside the fieldhouse construction site at the new Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama

• Ladarius Williams, 35, was electrocuted to death while working on a ladder inside the fieldhouse construction site at the new Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama

  Studied Electrician at Lawson State Community College
• Went to Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School
• Lives in Birmingham, Alabama
• From Birmingham, Alabama

Electrical worker dies at THS fieldhouse construction site

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

By NEAL WAGNER

ALABASTER, AL –

A 35-year-old electrician was pronounced dead after he was electrocuted while working at a construction site on the new Thompson High School campus on the afternoon of July 24.

Ladarius Williams, of Birmingham, died after he suffered an electric shock while working in the fieldhouse construction site at the new THS, according to Alabaster Fire Chief Tim Love. Emergency crews responded to the scene at about 2:50 p.m., and found Williams unresponsive after he suffered the shock while working on a ladder inside the fieldhouse near the indoor practice field. He was transported to Shelby Baptist Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead, Love said.

The school’s athletic facilities have not yet been turned over to the Alabaster Board of Education – as the rest of the campus’ buildings have – and are still considered active construction sites. 

His Facebook profile says that he studied Electrician at Lawson State Community College.

This is a hard one to take.  He was a loving family man and God decided to take him.  Life sucks, really sucks.  RIP Ladarius, see you on the other side. 

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By Anna Beahm

abeahm@al.com


An electrical worker died Tuesday after he was electrocuted while working at Thompson High School, authorities said.

The worker, 35-year-old Ladarius Williams, was standing on a ladder doing some work on an electrical line in a ceiling inside the school when he was somehow electrocuted, said Shelby County Coroner Lina Evans. The incident happened around 3 p.m.

No one else was injured in the incident.

Williams was taken to Shelby Baptist Medical Center, where he later died, she said. He was from Birmingham.

Williams' body will be sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery, Evans said.

The Shelby County Coroner's Office and the Alabaster Police Department are investigating the incident.

Further details were not immediately available.

Former lieutenant with the Prattville Police Department, Leon Todd Townson, 51, has pleaded guilty to insurance fraud in one case and burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary in an unrelated case.

Former Alabama officer pleads guilty to insurance fraud

  July 24, 2018

By Associated Press
PRATTVILLE, Ala. —

A former police officer in Alabama has pleaded guilty to fraud and theft charges.

Local media reports that 51-year-old Leon Todd Townson of Prattville pleaded guilty to insurance fraud in one case and burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary in an unrelated case.

Circuit Judge Ben Fuller has scheduled Townson's sentencing for August 13.

The charges carry penalties ranging from two to 20 years in prison.

The burglary charge carries a penalty ranging from one year to 10 years. Townson was a lieutenant with the Prattville Police Department before he resigned in 2005.

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PRATTVILLE, AL — A former high-ranking member of the Prattville Police Department has pleaded guilty to fraud and theft charges.

Leon Todd Townson, 51, of Prattville, pleaded guilty to insurance fraud in one case and conspiracy to commit burglary and burglary in an unrelated case. Circuit Judge Ben Fuller has set sentencing for Aug. 13. Townson appeared before Fuller dressed in blaze orange jail garb and restrained in handcuffs.

He entered what is know as a “blind plea” since the prosecution did not recommend a sentence.

The insurance fraud and conspiracy charges are both Class B felonies with a punishment range of two to 20 years in prison. The burglary charge is a Class C felony with a punishment range of a year and a day to 10 years in prison.

The other charges Townson faced were dismissed as part of the plea negotiations.

Townson had reached the rank of lieutenant before resigning from the force in 2005.

Townson was indicted in a 2015 incident where they were charged with breaking into a home in the 1100 block of Honeysuckle Drive. He faced burglary, theft of property, possession of burglar tools, conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit indictments in that case, court records reveal.

In another unrelated case, in March of 2017, Townson was indicted with defrauding Travelers Insurance by filing false information on an insurance claim that allowed him to obtain more than $100,000 from the company, courthouse records show. The indictment reads that property that he had reported stolen from his business was later recovered from his home after a search warrant was served, records show.

Also in 2017, Townson was arrested on a truancy charged for allegedly not making his children attend school, court records show. He told authorities he was home schooling the children, but court records showed he had not filed the proper paperwork with the Autauga County Board of education showing he was home schooling the children.

In March, he was arrested again for obstructing governmental operations, court records show. He refused to allow a Department of Human Resources case worker toinspect the family home, records show. Townson allegedly became combative with the case worker. He has remained in jail since the March arrest. Fuller revoked the Townson’s bonds in the theft and fraud cases after the March arrest.

Townson resigned from the force in 2005 before pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of misappropriation of property, courthouse records show. At the time of his resignation, Townson was second shift supervisor and had headed the department’s drug unit. While on the force, he took an AR-15 rifle that had been seized in a narcotics case from the drug unit’s evidence locker, courthouse records show. Townson used the rifle, then used its receiver to build a more accurate rifle. He then tried to sell the rifle in a Montgomery gun shop, records reflect. When questions about the ownership of the rifle came up, he retrieved the rifle from the gun shop and destroyed it, records show.

Townson's co-defendant in the burglary case is also another former high-ranking member of the PPD.

John Wayne McDaniel, 49, of the 400 block of Bedford Terrace, pleaded guilty in October to impersonating a police officer and theft of property in one case in an unrelated case, and burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary in the case where he is a co-defendant with Townson, courthouse records show.


McDaniel (Photo: Booking)

Both men had reached the rank of lieutenant before resigning from the force. McDaniel had more than 20 years on the force before resigning in 2013 before he was arrested on theft of property, extortion, impersonating a police officer and possession of a controlled substance charges, records show. McDaniel pleaded guilty to stealing the sleep aid Ambien from a local pharmacy, and impersonating a police officer, the records show.

In the unrelated case, McDaniel and Townson were indicted in a 2015 incident where they were charged with breaking into a home in the 1100 block of Honeysuckle Drive. Both men were indicted on burglary, theft of property, possession of burglar tools, conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit burglary, records show. McDaniel pleaded guilty to burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary in that case, record show.

McDaniel is also set to be sentenced by Fuller on Aug 13, court records show.

The cases are being prosecuted by the Alabama Attorney General's Office. District Attorney Randall Houston. requested the AG's involvement, since Townson was a former police officer in his district.

Minnesota Vikings offensive line coach Tony Sparano, 56, died from arteriosclerotic heart disease

Vikings assistant Sparano died of arteriosclerotic heart disease
By National Football Post

Minnesota Vikings offensive line coach Tony Sparano died from arteriosclerotic heart disease, the Hennepin County (Minn.) medical examiner’s office announced Monday.

Sparano was found dead at his home in Eden Prairie on Sunday morning by his wife. He was 56 years old.

“This individual’s cause of death is arteriosclerotic heart disease and manner of death is natural,” the medical examiner office’s press release stated. “There is no further information to release at this time.”

According to the Mayo Clinic website, arteriosclerotic heart disease “occurs when the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body (arteries) become thick and stiff– sometimes restricting blood flow to your organs and tissues.”

Sparano died at 8:54 a.m. on Sunday, shortly before he and his wife, Jeanette, were going to head to church.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that Sparano had gone to the hospital complaining of chest pains on Thursday and was released on Friday.

Sparano, the former Miami Dolphins head coach, joined the Vikings in 2016. He went 32-41 in parts of five seasons as an NFL head coach.

He began his NFL coaching career in 1999 as an offensive quality control coach with the Cleveland Browns, then was promoted to the offensive line coach in 2000. After stints with the Washington Redskins, Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys, he was hired by the Dolphins as their head coach in 2008.

He went 29-32 with the Dolphins over nearly four seasons.

He also worked as interim head coach with the Oakland Raiders in 2014, finishing the season 3-9, but was not retained.

Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer paid his respects on Sunday after hearing the news.

“I love Tony Sparano,” he said. “He was a great teacher, a grinder of a worker and had a toughness and fighting spirit that showed in our linemen. He was a great husband, father and grandfather and a great friend to me. This is just sinking in for us but Tony will be sorely missed by all.”

Sparano went 41-14-1 at Division II New Haven from 1994-98 before beginning his NFL career.

Sparano is survived by his wife Jeanette and three children. 

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What You Can Do to Prevent Atherosclerosis

Your good health has an enemy — atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is common. And its effects can be very serious. This condition can lead to strokes, heart attacks, and death.  But, you can take steps to protect yourself from this disease.

What is atherosclerosis?

The inside walls of healthy arteries are smooth and clean. This makes it easy to transport the blood your body needs. But arteries can become clogged. Fatty substances like cholesterol can stick to artery walls. These deposits are called plaque. Plaque can eventually slow or block the flow of blood. This blockage is atherosclerosis. It can affect any artery in your body. When atherosclerosis affects the arteries that supply blood to the heart, it is called coronary artery disease. Two things may occur where a plaque develops. A plaque may break off or a blood clot may form on the plaque's surface. If either of these situations occur, it may lead to a blockage of an artery and ultimately a heart attack or stroke.

How is cholesterol measured?

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends that all adults older than 20 have their cholesterol level checked every 5 years. This is done with a blood test. The test should measure total cholesterol, LDL ("bad") cholesterol, HDL ("good") cholesterol, and triglycerides. Talk with your healthcare provider about your target cholesterol levels. 

Am I at risk?

These factors put you at greater risk for atherosclerosis:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• A family history of atherosclerosis or heart disease
• An inactive lifestyle
• Overweight or obesity
• Diabetes

Having more than one risk factor can increase your risk even more. You can control most of the above risk factors. The following tips can help prevent atherosclerosis and improve your general health. If you have atherosclerosis, you may be able to stop it from getting worse.

Smoking

If you smoke, stop. Scientists have shown smoking damages the artery walls which can lead to atherosclerosis. This makes it easier for plaque to build up. Smoking is even more risky when you have other risk factors like high blood pressure or diabetes. If you want help quitting, talk with your healthcare provider. He or she has information on medicines, nicotine replacement products, and programs to make it easier. Also, avoid places where there is cigarette smoke. Research suggests that smoke from others can increase your risk of atherosclerosis.

Diet

Make changes to your diet. A diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol can raise your cholesterol levels. When you have high cholesterol, there may be more plaque to line artery walls and narrow your arteries. The American Heart Association recommends that you reduce the amount of meat, eggs, milk, and other dairy products in your diet. Check food labels to find the amount of saturated fat in a product. Also, avoid large amounts of salt and sugar. Be careful with processed foods like frozen dinners. They can be high in fat, sugar, salt, and cholesterol. Choose lots of fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, lean meats and fish, as well as whole-grains like oats and whole-wheat. Choose unsaturated vegetable oils like canola oil instead of saturated fats like butter.

Exercise

Exercise regularly. Regular aerobic exercise can help fight atherosclerosis by reducing the amount of fat in your blood, lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol, and controlling your weight. It's never too late to start exercising. Brisk walking, swimming, and bicycling are good choices. It's OK to start slowly and work up to at least 30 to 40 minutes, 4 to 5 days a week. But before you begin, ask your healthcare provider's advice about what kind of exercise program is right for you.

Checkups

Get regular checkups. Have your healthcare provider check your blood pressure and cholesterol. High blood pressure can further complicate atherosclerosis by causing artery walls to harden and thicken. This condition is called arteriosclerosis. Talk about your health and your risk factors for atherosclerosis with your provider.

Diabetes

Control diabetes with your healthcare provider's help. People who have diabetes develop atherosclerosis more quickly. If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar level carefully. 

Will I know if I have it?

Because symptoms appear only after the damage has been done, don't wait for symptoms to develop before doing something about atherosclerosis. Begin by making the above lifestyle changes even if you feel well.

Together, you and your healthcare provider can decide what steps you need to take to stay healthy.

A three-year-old playing with a lighter caused a fire in a Fort Lauderdale home after he lit a paper on fire and accidentally dropped it on a bed

Fort Lauderdale, FL

 A three-year-old playing with a lighter caused a fire in a Fort Lauderdale home on Monday.

The single-family house, at 1212 NW 11th Place, was ruled “a total loss” by firefighters who put out a fire a few minutes after they were called about 4 p.m., Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan said.

The three-year-old, who was standing outside the house with a seven-year-old and their father, told firefighters he lit a paper on fire and accidentally dropped it on a bed, causing the fire to spread.

No one was hurt, but the children and their father were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene, Gollan said.   
 
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Firefighters had difficulty getting to the flames because the house had hurricane shutters up and was cluttered with miscellaneous furniture and items, Gollan said.

“Always get your hurricane shutters down when they aren’t needed,” he advised homeowners.

The family, which was displaced, is being assisted by American Red Cross, Gollan said. The children will be required to attend a fire-starter educational program.