Mount Pleasant Public Works employee Dan Huck was wearing a reflective vest and his vehicle’s flashers were on when he stepped into the road and was struck by Amy Hoecherl, 55, of Mount Pleasant and killed

Mount Pleasant Public Works employee Dan Huck was wearing a reflective vest and his vehicle’s flashers were on when he stepped into the road and was struck by a female driver of a car and killed




UPDATE: Mount Pleasant Public Works employee dies after being hit by car while on the job 

By: David Schuman 
Posted: Sep 18, 2018 8:30 PM CDT

Updated: 8:30 p.m. September 18, 2018

MOUNT PLEASANT, Wis. (CBS 58) -- 

Amy Hoecherl, 55, of Mount Pleasant

Friends and neighbors are remembering Dan Huck as a beloved family man, employee, and neighbor.

"He just became a grandfather this July and he was very proud about that,” said Mary Siuta, who lived across the street from Huck for decades. “I feel very sad that he's not going to get a chance to see this granddaughter because it was a big event for him in his life."

Siuta also says Huck would shovel snow off the sidewalks for the people around him, and mowed the grass of an elderly neighbor.

Chief Tim Zarzecki of the Mount Pleasant Police Department says Huck was wearing a reflective vest and his vehicle’s flashers were on when he stepped into the road Monday and was struck by a car.

“The driver of the vehicle's been very cooperative,” Zarzecki said. “It was a sudden incident and quite shocking for all involved."

In a statement, the Village of Mount Pleasant said,


"We are heart-broken by the loss of Dan Huck. Dan was struck by a vehicle yesterday while doing his job. Our thoughts are with Dan's family as they grieve his loss. Dan was a 22-year veteran of the Village’s Sewer Utility. He will be missed by his co-workers. Dan is survived by two daughters and a grandchild."

"Most veteran people here knew him or knew of him,” Zarzecki said. “We're very sad to learn of his passing. The employees are dealing with it as best they can but it is quite devastating."

Zarzecki says there’s nothing to suggest at this time that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash.

No arrests have been made.

-----

Updated: 10:51 a.m. September 18, 2018

MOUNT PLEASANT, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Village of Mount Pleasant has confirmed that the Public Works employee hit by a car has died.

He has been identified as Dan Huck, a 22 year veteran of the Village's Sewer Utility.

According to the Mount Pleasant Police Department, Huck was marking utility locations along the median of Hwy 31 when he was hit by a car.

The crash remains under investigation.

------

Posted: 8:40 p.m. September 17, 2018

MOUNT PLEASANT, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Mount Pleasant Public Works employee is in critical condition after he was hit by a car while on the job.

It happened around 1:00 p.m. Monday afternoon at Green Bay Road near Shirley Avenue in Mount Pleasant.

Police say the driver, a 55-year-old woman, was going northbound when she hit the worker.  She has been identified as Amy Hoecherl, 55, of Mount Pleasant.
He suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to a Milwaukee hospital by helicopter.

Authorities do not believe alcohol was a factor in the crash and say the worker was outside of his truck and wearing reflective clothing when the crash happened.


===========================



Daniel Keith Huck, age 61, passed away Monday, September 17, 2018, at Froedtert Memorial Hospital following a tragic accident. Daniel was born in Racine, July 31, 1957, son of the late Richard and Magdelena (Nee: Lema) Huck.

Dan graduated from Washington Park High School, “Class of 1975” and attended U.W. Parkside. He was employed for the past 22 years by the Village of Mt. Pleasant. On May 19, 1984, he was united in marriage to Melissa L. Haas who preceded him in death April 20, 2010. Dan was a member of North Point United Methodist Church. He enjoyed bowling and for many years playing softball with the City of Racine Softball League. He also enjoyed his annual fishing trip with his brother-in-laws, painting, music, and dancing. Above all it was time spent with his family that he treasured most. He will be dearly missed.

Surviving are his daughters, Sara Huck, Leigh (Tim) McCarren, Christina Peters; grandchildren, Louise McCarren, Isaiah Robinson; his girlfriend, Michelle McCarthy; siblings, Larry (Ellen) Huck, Timothy (Karen) Huck, Kathleen (James) Pease, Jeanine Bozich; aunt Darlene (Rich) Larsen; in-laws, Steven (Michelle Zjala-Winter) Haas, Randall (Allison Ford) Haas, Jeff Haas, Sue (Michael Sommers) Haas, Rick (Patti) Haas, Linda Haas and Deb Lester; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his brother Kevin and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jerome and Mary Haas.

Contract worker Jeffrey Lamar Wolfe, 43, was on a flat-bed truck, starting to unload water pipe when he fell from the truck and hit his head on the road, dying at the scene.

 Contract worker Jeffrey Lamar Wolfe, 43, was on a flat-bed truck, starting to unload water pipe when he fell from the truck and hit his head on the road, dying at the scene.

By Effingham Now


September 23, 2018



Effingham County, Georgia -

 
A Statesboro man died while unloading water pipe in Effingham County Sept. 19.

Coroner David Exley said Jeffrey Lamar Wolfe, 43, was on a flat-bed truck, starting to unload water pipe that was being installed underground along Blue Jay Road when the load apparently shifted. 

He fell from the truck and hit his head on the road, dying at the scene.

The accident occurred about 2 p.m. in the 2900 block of Blue Jay Road, between Hodgeville and Midland roads.

The coroner said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the death.

=========================================

By WTOC Staff

September 20, 2018

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, GA (WTOC) - 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the death of a contract worker in Effingham County.

It happened Wednesday afternoon on Blue Jay Road. Crews continue to work at the site where the worker had a tragic accident, falling off a trailer.

Some questions still remain and OSHA is working to find out more details. So far, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office says the victim was standing on the trailer, holding the water pipes being delivered. The victim’s name has not been released, nor has the company he was contracting for.

“I think OSHA is going to come in and investigate it as well, and it’s probably going to be a job-related accident,” said Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie, Effingham County Sheriff’s Office. “He had pulled up to unload the truck on the highway. That’s when he fell off and hit the highway.”

OSHA tells us they are sending an investigator to survey the area and continue the investigation.

A portion of Blue Jay Road was closed after the accident, but has since been reopened.

Brian Ricker (the owner of Clean Duct LLC out of Rincon, GA), Jeffrey Stites and 18-year-old Jake Sapp died on their way to a job site when their 2017 Ford Transit and a Hino box truck driven by Alton Soles, of Jacksonville, Fla., collided head-on on Highway 27

Brian Ricker (the owner of Clean Duct LLC out of Rincon, GA) (right) died in the crash.  Jake Sapp was the boyfriend of his daughter Alaina shown here next to him

18-year-old Jake Sapp is number 4

 This is a typical 2017 Ford Transit vehicle. 

Jeffrey Stites also died in the head-on collision

 Coroner identifies 3 men killed in Hawkinsville head-on collision
The three men killed in the wreck were on their way to a job in Albany, Georgia


Author: WMAZ Staff


September 17, 2018

The three people killed in a weekend wreck in Pulaski County have been identified.

According to Deputy Coroner Christopher Clark, it was a Savannah-area business owner and his two employees on their way to a job in Albany, Georgia.

Clark named the three as: Brian Ricker (the owner of Clean Duct LLC out of Rincon), Jeffrey Stites and 18-year-old Jake Sapp.

According to the Effingham Herald, Sapp had just graduated from South Effingham High in May 2018 and he played baseball for the school.

Details on how exactly the crash happened are under investigation, but Georgia State Patrol says a 2017 Ford Transit and a Hino box truck driven by Alton Soles, of Jacksonville, Fla., collided head-on around 7 a.m. Saturday on Highway 27.

The three men inside the Ford Transit were pronounced dead at the scene.

Soles was taken to the Medical Center in Macon. His condition is unknown.



=================================



Mark Lastinger Effingham Herald
September 17, 2018


RINCON, GA — 

John DeRing was hundreds of miles away but his heartbreak was evident in Effingham County.

DeRing, a former South Effingham High School head baseball coach now in Ohio, learned that Jake Sapp, one of his former players, was killed in a fiery traffic accident Saturday morning in Pulaski County.

"It's just awful," DeRing said via telephone Sunday. "It's never good when somebody passes suddenly but, God Almighty, Jake was getting ready to join the real world. He was fresh out of high school."

Sapp, a 2018 graduate, died when the 2017 Ford Transit he was travelling in collided with a Hino box truck. He and the Transit's other two occupants, Rincon's Brian Ricker and Jeffrey Stites of Clean Ducts LLC, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Pulaski County coroner.

DeRing's memory bank is loaded with fond recollections of Sapp.

"Jake was an absolute blast to coach," DeRing said. "The biggest things that he brought to the ballpark everyday are that he was there and he was going to have a good time. He always kept us loose."

Sapp's fun-loving demeanor didn't detract from his competitiveness.

"I think his leadership ability was kind of under the radar," DeRing said. "A lot of the young kids looked up to him. And to top it off, he was a good baseball player."

Sapp led by deeds, not words.

"One thing that comes to mind is him hitting a pop-up against Richmond Hill last year," DeRing said. "They dropped it and it fell between the pitcher's mound and where the second baseman plays. Lo and behold, Jake was standing on third base.

"He went hard out of the box and didn't stop. He didn't even look for my signal coming from second (base) to third (base). I just looked up and — boom! — he was there. He was an impact baseball player.

"Without saying, he was a great young man. We had a ball coaching him. When he got on base, he had the ability to wreak havoc."

DeRing expressed deep sadness for Sapp's parents, Keith and Lori.

"They are wonderful people," he said. "His dad was an integral part of the booster club and just one of those guys that loved South Effingham baseball and was going to keep loving it even after his son was finished playing there."

The Georgia State Patrol is investigating Saturday's crash. The driver of the other vehicle, Adam Soles of Jacksonville, Fla., was transported to Medical Center, Nacient Health with serious injuries.
=====================================



By Effingham Now

Posted Sep 24, 2018 at 4:50 PM Updated Sep 24, 2018 at 4:55 PM


Alaina Ricker was crowned South Effingham High School homecoming queen on Friday, “fulfilling her Daddy’s last request.”

Her father, Brian Ricker, and her boyfriend Jake Sapp died in an automobile accident Sept. 15 in Pulaski County, along with family friend Jeffrey Stites of Savannah.

Sapp, 18, was a 2018 graduate of SEHS, where he was a starting outfielder. He was remembered with a moment of silence before the game. And before the fourth quarter, fans held up four fingers to honor Sapp, who wore No. 4.

Brian Ricker owned Clean Duct LLC in Rincon and Sapp and Stites worked for him. They were on their way to a job when they were killed.

Brian Ricker was married to Christi Ricker, who served on the Rincon City Council until this year.

Christi Ricker said Alaina becoming homecoming queen fulfilled her father’s last request.

The roof of Old Dominion Floor Co. Inc., in western Chesterfield County, VA collapsed after a tornado slammed the building and killing employee Ronald Douglas Bishop, 60.

Police Release Name of Victim From Tornado Event


September 18, 2018

Police

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VA – 

Chesterfield County Police have identified the victim killed during the tornado and subsequent building collapse on September 17, 2018. Police responded to 3350 Speeks Drive for a report of a tornado touching down and damaging several buildings in that area.

Police said Ronald Douglas Bishop, 60, died when the building he was in collapsed as the tornado moved through the area. Bishop, of the 11000 block of Coalboro Road, was an employee of the business that was severely damaged.



=======================================



CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. - 

One person was killed after a building in Chesterfield County was hit by a tornado and collapsed Monday afternoon.

The roof of Old Dominion Floor Co. Inc., on Speeks Drive in western Chesterfield County, reportedly collapsed after a tornado slammed the business.

On Tuesday, the National Weather Service confirmed that an EF-2 tornado touched down on Speeks Drive with wind speeds up to 125 mph.

Authorities said the person killed was 60-year-old Ronald D. Bishop, who was an employee of the business.

One other employee was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Our sister station WRIC spoke with Eric Webster, an employee at Old Dominion Floor Co. Inc., about the tragedy.

"We were blessed to have him there," said Webster.
Webster has worked for the company for about a year, so he didn't know the victim well, but said that for the short time they knew each other, the victim made an impact on Webster's life.

"He was a very good man. Like he'd always lighten up people that were around him," said Webster.

Webster was supposed to be inside the building today during the storm but luckily was sent home.

"But one of the managers let me go home early today of all days," said Webster, "and then there was just instant panic in my house."

Also weighing heavy on him, Webster works in the far end of the building.

"Just thinking about the fact that if I was there, what would have happened, and just stuff like that," Webster said. It's just, I can't even think man."

Ironworker and welder Matthew Smith, 32, of Tilden, Illinois employed by Rock Branch Iron Works was killed while working on a construction site at Centralia Junior High School in southern Illinois.

Death of Man on Centralia Junior High construction job under investigation 

September 20, 2018 | by Bruce Kropp

An ironworker has died on the room addition project at Centralia Junior High School.

Marion County Deputy Coroner Doug Krutsinger says 32-year-old Matthew Smith of Tilden was using a welder before he was found passed out and unresponsive Thursday afternoon on a scissor lift by a co-worker. The worker had left four to five minutes earlier to get a drink of water.

Efforts to revive Smith on the scene were unsuccessful. He was later pronounced dead in the emergency room of St. Mary’s Hospital.

Krutsinger says no one saw what happened and it’s not clear what caused Smith to collapse. There were burns on his neck which could possibly indicate contact with something electrical.

Coroner Troy Cannon says an autopsy scheduled for Friday morning in Champaign will hopefully determine whether Smith came into contact with electrical current or experienced an unknown medical event. Foul play is not suspected at this time.

OSHA officials were also on the scene Thursday afternoon to investigate since the death was on a construction site.

Krutsinger says Smith was working to put up the skeleton for an addition to the junior high along the Pine Street side of the school. He worked for a subcontractor on the project, Rockbranch Iron Works in Coulterville.

Centralia Police and Fire initially responded to the call.
===========================


Ironworker killed at southern Illinois construction site



Associated Press 



September 21, 2018

CENTRALIA, Ill. -- 

An ironworker was killed while working on a construction site at Centralia Junior High School in southern Illinois.

Marion County Coroner Troy Cannon said Friday that 32-year-old Matthew Smith of Tilden appeared to have been electrocuted. His death would have been instant.



Cannon said Smith had been using a welder operated by a gas generator. Smith was working with a supervisor at the time of the incident. However, that supervisor left for a few minutes and found a collapsed Smith when he returned.

John Schmitt of Iron Workers Union Local 392 says Smith, who had seven years of welding experience, was working with Rockbranch Iron Works on the project.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration confirmed on Friday the agency has opened an investigation into Smith's death.



Matthew Smith, age 32, of Tilden, IL, passed away on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 2:50 p.m. in St. Mary’s Hospital, Centralia, IL.

Matthew was born on November 1, 1985 in Sparta, IL, the son of Rodney E. and Annette M. (Vuichard) Smith. He previously worked at Pistol City, Coulterville, IL and currently worked as an ironworker for Rockbranch Ironworks Local 392. Matthew loved riding motorcycles and four-wheelers.

Survivors include his father, Rodney E. (Cathy) Smith of Tilden, IL; his paternal grandparents, Earl (Grace) Smith of Farmington, MO and Linda Woodside of Coulterville, IL; one sister, Maria Smith (Matthew Pierce) of Coulterville, IL; and two brothers, Zack (Jaycie) Wright of Marissa, IL and Jordan Wright (Abby Knope) of St. Louis, MO.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Annette Smith; his maternal grandparents, Charles “Chuck” and June Vuichard; and his paternal step-grandfather, Wilmer G. Woodside.

A construction worker was working on the interior elevator electrical system on the 24th floor of the building under construction when he was electrocuted to death in Miami, Florida

Construction worker electrocuted while working on elevator in Miami, authorities say.
Incident occurred on 24th floor of apartment building under construction.

By Liane Morejon - Reporter, Amanda Batchelor - Senior Digital Editor 

September 25, 2018


MIAMI, FLORIDA - 

A construction worker was electrocuted Tuesday while working on an elevator electrical system in Miami, authorities said.

The incident was reported just after noon at an apartment building that is under construction in the area of Northeast First Avenue and 30th Street.

City of Miami Fire-Rescue Capt. Ignatius Carroll said the victim was working on the interior elevator electrical system on the 24th floor of the building when the incident happened.

A fellow worker noticed something was wrong and ran over to help his colleague. But before he could get to him, the victim fell to the ground and stopped breathing, Carroll said.

The worker's colleagues performed CPR on him and brought him to the first floor.

He was unconscious and not breathing when authorities arrived.

Carroll said paramedics continued performing CPR on the victim as he was being taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center. The worker died at the hospital.

The Fire Marshal, along with City of Miami Building officials, the Miami Police Department and Florida Power & Light representatives responded to the building after the incident.

Authorities said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has also been contacted.

Operations at the building have since been halted. FPL has also cut power to the building.

US Postal worker Peggy Frank, 63, died of hyperthermia, or abnormally high body temperature inside her mail truck in July after delivering mail in extreme heat in Orange County, California

US Postal worker died of overheating while delivering mail on scorching hot day, coroner says



  By Katherine Lam | Fox News

  Peggy Frank, 63, was found dead in her truck in July after delivering mail in sweltering heat, her family said. (Facebook)

A U.S. Postal Service worker found dead in her truck in July died from overheating, as temperatures in California soared to 117 degrees, the coroner’s office said Monday.

Peggy Frank, 63, died of hyperthermia, or abnormally high body temperature, the Orange County Register reported. Frank, who was found unresponsive in her truck in Woodland Hills, had pre-existing health conditions including obesity and heart disease. 

Frank, a grandmother, had been working for the U.S. Postal Service for 28 years. Temperatures hit 117 degrees in the area the day Frank died.

Robert Tipton, one of Frank’s neighbors, told FOX11 in July the sweltering heat the day Frank died was like “a wall” hitting him.

"It was almost 120 degrees outside — when I came out it was just a wall of heat just hitting you," Tipton said. "It's one of the hottest days I've ever experienced out here in the valley.”

"She loved what she did because she loved the people...I don't think they realize what kind of job that it is....it is not an easy job," said Frank's sister, Lynn. "She was a type of person where she wanted to do it right and she wanted to do a good job.”

Another elderly person dies in New Jersey from the West Nile virus. Mosquito bites to blame. Tips for reducing mosquitoes around homes

LODI, New Jersey (WABC) -- 

New Jersey health officials have confirmed a second fatality from West Nile virus this year, part of what they say is a record number of cases in the state.

There have been a total of 31 human cases, with both deaths associated with the virus in Bergen County.

"The number of human West Nile virus cases is the highest we've seen since 2012, and the season is not over yet," New Jersey Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal said. "The pattern of hot and wet weather this summer has led to an increase in mosquito populations and associated viruses."

The two deaths so far this year were among a 62-year-old man and an elderly woman. Both passed away this month. In 2017, there were eight human cases of West Nile, and Dr. Elnahal noted the number of positive West Nile virus mosquito pools is the highest ever reported. This is particularly true in the northwestern and central parts of the state, where levels usually are not high. There has also been an increase in reports of dead and ill birds.

"Residents should protect themselves by using repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants and avoiding the outdoors during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active," Dr. Elnahal said. "West Nile Virus most often causes mild symptoms, such as fever, headache, body aches or a rash for healthy individuals, but it can cause severe illness in the elderly and those with compromised immune systems."

The virus is spread by the bite of a mosquito infected with the West Nile virus. It is not spread from person to person, and many people infected do not become ill and may not develop symptoms.

About 20 percent of infected people will develop West Nile fever. When symptoms occur, they may be mild or severe.

Mild symptoms include flu-like illness with fever, headache, body aches, nausea and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back, while severe symptoms include high fever, neck stiffness and swelling of the brain (encephalitis) which can lead to coma, convulsions and death.

Less than 1 percent of infected people will develop severe symptoms. People over the age of 50 and people with weak immune systems are at greater risk of developing severe illness.

Tips for reducing mosquitoes around homes

Mosquitoes require water for reproduction. The following are measures that can help reduce mosquitoes:
-Eliminate standing water suitable for mosquitoes
--Dispose of water-holding containers, such as ceramic pots, used tires, and tire swings
--Drill holes in the bottom of containers such as those used for recycling
--Clean clogged roof gutters.
--Turn over objects that may trap water when not in use, such as wading pools and wheelbarrows
--Change water in bird baths on a weekly basis
--Clean and chlorinate swimming pools. When pools are not in use, use pool covers and drain when necessary

Tips for avoiding mosquito bites when outdoors

Mosquitoes require a blood meal for reproduction. The following are measures that can help reduce bites from mosquitoes that feed on people:
--Be particularly careful at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
--Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Clothing material should be tightly woven.
--Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors.
--Consider the use of CDC-recommended mosquito repellents, containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR3535, or 2-undecanone, and apply according to directions, when it is necessary to be outdoors.
--When using DEET, use the lowest concentration effective for the time spent outdoors (for example, 6 percent lasts approximately two hours and 20 percent for four hours) and wash treated skin when returning indoors. Do not apply under clothing, to wounds or irritated skin, the hands of children, or to infants less than two months old.

Also, be sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good repair to avoid mosquito bites when indoors.

MOST DRUNK/IMPAIRED DRIVERS DIE IN THE EARLY AM HOURS: Another drunk or otherwise impaired driver, Freddie Butler, trainer at JABS GYM Eastern Market, dies in a fiery crash in Detroit, Michigan after he hits a pole on I-94 and burns to death

Freddie Butler, a well-known Metro Detroit trainer, died in a fatal fiery Romulus car crash on Sunday, September 23, 2018. He had a bit too much to drink during a party and he smahed his car into a defenseless pole. The pole survived, but he did not, as his car caught fire and he burned to death. The crash occurred in the morning hours on westbound I-94.

Freddie Butler was still in the car when police arrived at the scene of the Sunday, September 23, 2018, Romulus car accident

Police said when they arrived at the crash scene, the car was engulfed in flames with Freddie Butler still inside. Personal trainer Armond Harris, of JABS GYM Eastern Market, spent a lot of time exercising with Butler.

“He just reignited a fuel in me, just when it came to fitness,” Harris said. “He was always positive.”

Tributes have poured in for the deceased Romulus trainer who was last seen by friends at 2:30 before the I-95 crash

Harris said Butler’s positive attitude was contagious. Butler’s mindset brought people to JABS GYM Eastern Market day in and day out. Harris said that’s the reason the business is expanding, and they celebrated at his home.

“A few friends said, ‘Hey, we’re going to head out,'” Harris said. “It was probably around 2:30, and then I said, ‘See you guys later.’ I even have him on camera at my house.”

Harris said it was the last time he saw his friend.

Friends, family, and sympathizers mourned Buttler across Metro Detroit

On Monday, people across Metro Detroit mourned the loss of Butler. Execution Coach Keyon Clinton said he wants to honor his friend in the same way they met.

“He actually started the 1 Percent Better Fitness boot camp with me about a year and a half ago,” Clinton said. “I’m challenging everybody in the city. If you’ve ever known Fred, ever met Fred, or ever heard of the good things Fred has done, come out and show Fred that we love him just like a brother.”

“He was one of the few people in the fitness world who really cared about you,” Harris said.  He just did not follow the rules of the road: DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE, UNLELESS YOU WANT TO DIE.

The trainer’s funeral is set for Sunday, September 30, 2018

Family members said Butler’s funeral is scheduled for Saturday. The Fitness Boot Camp to honor Butler will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at 1500 Atwater Street in Detroit. The expansion of JABS GYM is scheduled for Oct. 1.
===============================

DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE, UNLESS YOU WANT TO DIE


Well-known trainer killed in I-94 crash in Romulus
Car engulfed in flames on westbound I-94 near Middlebelt Road
By Larry Spruill - Reporter 

September 24, 2018
 


ROMULUS, Mich. - 

A well-known trainer was killed early Sunday morning in a fiery crash on westbound I-94 near Middlebelt Road in Romulus.

Police said when they arrived at the crash scene, the car was engulfed in flames with Freddie Butler still inside.

Personal trainer Armond Harris, of JABS GYM Eastern Market, spent a lot of time exercising with Butler.

“He just reignited a fuel in me, just when it came to fitness," Harris said. "He was always positive."

Harris said Butler’s positive attitude was contagious. Butler's mindset brought people to JABS GYM Eastern Market day in and day out. Harris said that's the reason the business is expanding, and they celebrated at his home.

“A few friends said, 'Hey, we’re going to head out,'" Harris said. "It was probably around 2:30, and then I said, 'See you guys later.' I even have him on camera at my house."

Harris said it was the last time he saw his friend.

On Monday, people across Metro Detroit mourned the loss of Butler. Execution Coach Keyon Clinton said he wants to honor his friend in the same way they met.

“He actually started the 1 Percent Better Fitness boot camp with me about a year and a half ago," Clinton said. "I’m challenging everybody in the city. If you've ever known Fred, ever met Fred, or ever heard of the good things Fred has done, come out and show Fred that we love him just like a brother."

“He was one of the few people in the fitness world who really cared about you,” Harris said.

Family members said Butler's funeral is scheduled for Saturday.

The Fitness Boot Camp to honor Butler will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at 1500 Atwater Street in Detroit.

The expansion of JABS GYM is scheduled for Oct. 1.

=====================================

Man dies after vehicle hits pole, catches fire on I-94 in metro Detroit
Lori Higgins, Detroit Free Press 


September 23, 2018



A man died Sunday morning on I-94 in metro Detroit after an accident caused his vehicle to become engulfed in flames.

The accident happened at 2:50 a.m. on westbound I-94 at Middlebelt in Romulus.

In a news release posted to Twitter Sunday morning, the Michigan State Police said troopers were dispatched to investigate a crash involving a car that hit a pole and caught fire.


"OVERNIGHT CRASH: On 9/23 at 2 50AM Metro South Post troopers were dispatched to W/B I-94 - Middlebelt to investigate a crash involving a car that hit a pole and caught fire".

"Troopers arrived on the scene and observed a person inside the engulfed vehicle," the release said. "Troopers unsuccessfully attempted to extinguish the fire. The male victim died at the scene."

The cause of the crash hasn't been determined and an investigation is ongoing, the release said.

============================================

 

Jabs Gym has doubled the size of its fitness center in Eastern Market after extending its lease to include the 2,200-square-foot second floor. The new level will offer cross fit training to complement the boxing gym on the third floor when it opens Oct. 1.


August 28, 2018 06:00 AM

Jabs Gym doubles its space in Eastern Market


Tyler Clifford

• Jabs Gym adds second floor, extends lease at 2501 Russell St.
• Workforce will double to 20 employees
• Gym to offer more exercise options beyond boxing and kickboxing

Jabs Gym expanded its presence in Eastern Market and there's so much room for more activities.

The boxing gym, which opened its second location there in 2015, has added the second floor and extended its lease to double the size of the fitness center. While the third floor of Jabs will maintain its current setting as a boxing and kickboxing venue, guests can find additional exercises when the lower level opens for training Oct. 1.

"One of the biggest requests we were getting is [visitors] wanted more," co-owner David Tessler said. Many "have a membership here, but many are also going to Planet Fitness and elsewhere for other workouts."

To complement boxing and capture those clients, Jabs Gym Eastern Market LLC is dedicating the 2,200-square-foot second floor to cross training. There, gym goers can focus on weight, cardio, strength and conditioning and more diverse trainings, Tessler said. The floor will be outfitted with custom red turf and weighted sleds, squat racks and total resistance exercise, among other workouts.

About $100,000 was invested in the updates by Tessler and his squad of co-owners, Armond Harris and professional boxer Willie Fortune. Tessler's Recraft LLC of Birmingham handled design work, which asked for cosmetic work, and received build-out help from the landlord.

"We're doing more to complement the boxing with weight training, boot camps and yoga," Tessler said. "We want to become a one-stop shop for people downtown."

Jabs Gym expects to call 2501 Russell St., Detroit home until 2025. The ownership group tacked on an additional five years with options to the original lease that was set to expire in 2020. The four-story building, which includes Beyond Juicery + Eatery and Detroit vs. Everybody LLC on the lower levels, is owned by Southfield-based Russell Street Investments LLC.

With the new space, Jabs looks to double its staff at the Eastern Market gym to 20 employees. The gym, which is open to the public, has roughly 150 members, which Tessler hopes will grow to 500. He estimates about 2,000 visits per month and expects that number to expand to more than 5,000 over time.

The gym is popular among the 25-35 year-old-age group. Among the membership, 77 percent of its base is women, while more than 80 percent live in Detroit, Tessler said.

Tessler is expecting as much as $400,000 in revenue in 2018. He projects revenue to reach $750,000 in 2019.

The Eastern Market gym plans for a soft opening of the second floor in mid-September prior to its grand opening on Oct. 1.

The first Jabs Gym opened in Birmingham in 2013 under Fortune and Tessler, who sold his stake in that site to his partner more than a year ago.
================================

Large anhydrous ammonia leak in Aurelia, Iowa forces significant evacuations after a tank valve broke at the First Cooperative Association

AURELIA, Iowa -- 

Aurelia residents who were forced to evacuate their homes Monday morning after a large anhydrous ammonia leak, were able to return that evening.


The Aurelia Police Department said the evacuation order was lifted at 5:30 p.m. Monday.


Shortly after 10 a.m., a tank valve broke at the First Cooperative Association. For safety reasons, all residences and businesses east of Main Street and north of Highway 7 were evacuated. The evacuation area was later expanded to the west, as the wind changed direction.


Emergency crews, including a HAZMAT team from Sioux City, responded to the leak.

=========================================




AURELIA, Iowa (KTIV) – 

Five-hundred people from the in the town of Aurelia were evacuated early Monday morning due to an ammonia leak.

Residents in the area were urged to leave the town right away, with emergency officials surveying the town and the neighborhoods making sure everyone was warned.

Officials say the bin leaking at First Cooperative Association could hold up to 30,000 gallons of ammonia.


 The streets in the town run dry with no activity.

===============================



Aurelia Location Remains the Hub of Activity

"Good enough" is not good enough for the team at First Cooperative Association's Aurelia location, which provides superior agronomy, grain, and energy solutions for customers throughout the area.
"We know efficiency is important, and this year's challenging spring proved it more than ever," said Cory Weiler, a Remsen native who became Aurelia's location manager in February 2013.
Aurelia's 13 full-time employees, including assistant manager Seth Elder, work hard to get the job done right by providing:

• Fertilizer and agronomy expertise.  Aurelia's premier dry fertilizer plant supplies urea, DAP, potash, and micro-nutrients to farmers near Aurelia, Linn Grove, Holstein, Cherokee, Webb, and beyond.  The plant which is managed by Kevin Dessel, also contains a storage area for liquid chemical storage, so these liquid products can be impregnated into the dry fertilizer.  Thanks to a computerized batching system and two mixers, a tractor-trailer can be loaded with blended fertilizer in a little as eight minutes.  With a storage capacity of 2,700 tons, the plant can hold the equivalent of 270 rail cars of fertilizer.  "We can unload an entire train car in 15 minutes," noted Weiler, who has worked in the cooperative system more than 18 years and joined FCA in 2011 as the Larrabee location manager.

Aurelia Dry Fertilizer Plant
In 2012, FCA installed two new 30,000-gallon anhydrous ammonia tanks at the 1-million-gallon liquid nitrogen plant located next to the dry fertilizer complex.  FCA's Aurelia and Alta locations rely on these supplies, said Weiler, who works with Joe Brady, agronomist; and Kendra Wall, agronomy department/business office staff at Aurelia.
 
Anhydrous ammonia tanks at Aurelia's Liquid Nitrogen Plant

• Grain management.  Aurelia boasts approximately 4 million bushels of grain storage, including additional outside storage capacity.  The location can hold 2.6 million bushels of corn and 1.3 million bushels of soybeans, says Weiler, who noted that Aurelia also has a 50-car rail load-out facility.  Two years ago, FCA added a 500,000-bushel steel bin, along with a 7,000-bushel-per-hour grain dryer.  "The new dryer increased out capacity to 10,000-bushel-per-hour between our two dryers," said Weiler, who noted that Les Moland, Kevin VanRoekel, and Jeff Hoban handle grain operations.  "This way we can keep things moving efficiently, especially during harvest."

• Energy products and services.  The Aurelia location offers a number of energy products, including gasoline, diesel, and liquid propane (LP).  With approximately 300,000 gallons of fuel storage, the location also includes a diking system to contain any spills.  Two LP specialists, Dave Pierce and Jim Meier, are based in Aurelia but serve FCA's entire trade territory.  FCA also offers a cardtrol station in Aurelia, complete with ethanol, E85, blender pumps, and diesel.  The pumps accept major credit cards and FCA cards, noted Allison Diischer, energy department/business office staff.

Other services are provided through the Aurelia location, said Weiler, who noted that Land O'Lakes Swine Specialist, Doug Davis serves the local area.  "Since Aurelia is located in the middle of FCA's trade territory, there's a lot going on here."

Four acetylene and nitrogen tanks fell off a truck near Merrimack College, creatin a hazmat situation

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.— 

Four gas cylinders that likely fell off a truck forced the closure of the portion of Route 114 that runs along Merrimack College for around two hours Monday afternoon.

North Andover police Chief Charles Gray said two cylinders contained acetylene, a flammable gas used for welding, while the other two had nitrogen. Some of them appeared to be leaking, he said.

The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services Hazardous Materials Response team sent two trucks to the scene and worked with North Andover police and firefighters to safely remove the cylinders and clear the highway.

The road closure caused a traffic jam for commuters who were trying to get home.

The cylinders were strewn across the eastbound side of Route 114. Lynnell Schield of Salem, New Hampshire, saw them while she was traveling in the opposite direction to get to a dental appointment in North Andover shortly before 3 p.m.

"They literally rolled across the road," she said.

Vehicles were attempting to navigate around the cylinders, she said, adding, "That was really dangerous."

Merrimack College sent out a message to students and staff saying the campus was safe.

Police closed the section of Route 114 between Andover Road and the Andover Bypass at around 3:45 p.m. North Andover Engine 2 was stationed near the cylinders, ready to hose them down in case they ignited, according to fire Lt. Timothy McGuire. Engine 1 and an ambulance were also sent as a precaution.

Two troopers assigned to the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad, wearing helmets and protective suits, placed the two cylinders containing acetylene in the back of a North Andover Division of Public Works truck. They wrapped the cylinders in bomb blankets and placed them upright.

Two cylinders containing nitrogen, a less hazardous gas, were put in another truck by Massachusetts Department of Transportation workers.

The highway was reopened at 5:45 p.m. While the cylinders probably dropped from a truck, no driver reported reported they fell from his or her vehicle, according to Lt. E.J. Foulds, spokesman for the North Andover Police Department.

The police are investigating to find out why the cylinders fell on a busy highway and who is responsible, he said.

"We will work toward that end," Foulds said.

Most likely, they fell off a welder's truck.
==================================

Tanks fall from truck, prompt hazmat response in North Andover


Nathalie Pozo


NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. (WHDH) - 

A busy section of Route 114 in North Andover was shut down during the height of Monday’s evening commute after acetylene and nitrogen tanks fell off a truck near Merrimack College, officials said.

The need for a hazmat response prompted officials to close the east and westbound sides of the road between the Route 125 Bypass and Wilson’s Corner for about two hours, according to the North Andover Police Department.

Four tanks in total fell from the truck, two of which were leaking, officials said.

Video from the scene showed crews loading the tanks into the back of a dump truck for transport.

Heavy traffic built up in the area but Route 114 has since been reopened.

Negligent Atlantic Aviation employee spilled more than 1,300 gallons of jet fuel at the Aspen, Colorado airport when he overfilled a fuel tank

Contractor spills 1,300 gallons of jet fuel at Aspen airport
  Jason Auslander
September 24, 2018
 
A contractor at the Aspen airport spilled more than 1,300 gallons of jet fuel Friday, though it was contained and did not reach water sources, an official said Monday.

The spill occurred after an Atlantic Aviation employee failed to follow protocols and did not check a fuel tank at the fixed base operation area before he began filling it, said Jonathan Jones, Atlantic Aviation general manager.

While it is difficult to estimate exactly how much fuel spilled, Jones said Monday his best guess was that it was about 1,325 gallons total.

Rick Balentine, Aspen fire chief, said he did not know about the spill until he was asked about it Monday.

"Something of this size, we should have been called immediately," Balentine said, noting that fire officials will investigate what happened.

Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo, whose agency also was not notified, agreed.

 
"I do think someone should have alerted the Fire Department and the Sheriff's Office about it," he said Monday. "I hope they notified Environmental Health."

Karen Koenemann, Pitkin County public health director, said the county's Environmental Health Department was not told of the spill, either.

Estimates of exactly how much fuel spilled Friday morning varied widely throughout the day Monday and into the evening hours.

Fil Meraz, director of operations at the airport, initially told The Aspen Times that 200 gallons spilled about 9 a.m. Friday as a tanker truck was filling one of the four 25,000 gallon fuel storage tanks at the airport's fixed base operation area.

However, Balentine said later that a report submitted to the state by Atlantic Aviation notes that "perhaps 1,000 gallons" of fuel spilled after a staff worker filling the tank didn't notice it was full. The report says fuel escaped out a side vent, into rocks and soil and eventually onto an asphalt area, Balentine said.

He declined to release the report to the Times.

State regulations require petroleum releases of more than 25 gallons, including spills from fuel pumps, to be reported to the state oil inspector within 24 hours. Jones said the incident was reported Friday. A spokesman for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment confirmed Monday the spill was reported.

Later Monday night, Meraz explained that the 200-gallon number was the amount of fuel initially reported to airport officials by Atlantic Aviation. Upon further investigation, Meraz said he learned that 200 gallons was the amount that was cleaned up, though the semi-truck fuel tanker actually emptied far more fuel.

Jones said he didn't know where the initial estimate of 200 gallons came from. It may have been the amount of fuel that spilled out of the fuel tank containment area and onto the road where fuel trucks park and was cleaned up by an emergency hazmat team from Grand Junction, Jones said.

The remaining 1,125 gallons soaked into the containment area of the tank farm and will need to be cleaned up by another, non-emergency hazmat team as soon as possible, he said.

The emergency hazmat team checked the storm drains and confirmed that fuel did not reach any water sources, he said.

"All appropriate authorities were immediately notified of the incident," Jones said in a written statement. "Atlantic Aviation employees took immediate action to contain the spill and engaged a professional hazmat spill response team on Friday to ensure the area is properly contained and mitigated."

The jet fuel spilled into a containment area designed to handle fuel spills, Meraz said.

The rocks and soil in the spill area will be cleaned up and replaced by Atlantic Aviation, he said.

Meraz characterized the spill as "medium"-sized and said he's never seen a similar situation in 25 years of working at the airport. At $7.90 a gallon — the price listed by Atlantic Aviation for jet fuel Monday — the 1,325-gallon spill was worth $10,467.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency does not have to be notified of fuel spills unless they enter water ways, said Lisa McClain-Vanderpool, a spokeswoman in Denver.